There’s nothing quite like sinking your toes into soft sand while gazing out at the sparkling waters of the sea. A beach resort can be the ultimate place to refresh and recharge, and even better if it’s one of the world’s most luxurious. Not only do they deliver those spectacular views, but they also offer VIP service, delicious cuisine, pampering spas, and a wealth of activities. For the best of the best, you’ll want to book one of the top luxury beach resorts around the world, from the South Pacific to the Caribbean and beyond.
St. Regis Bora Bora Resort - Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Spread across 44 acres with incredible views of Mount Otemanu, St. Regis Bora Bora has the biggest rooms in French Polynesia, with its bungalows starting at 1,550 square feet, located on land and water with a window in the floor for looking straight down into the sea. At this top-rated Bora Bora resort are two pools, with the main pool featuring a swim-up bar and the secluded Oasis pool for adults only. The wide stretch of pristine beach is a great place to relax or enjoy non-motorized water sports like kayaking, paddle boarding, and pedal boats. Snorkeling tours are available, and there are golf carts and bicycles for getting around the property. The spa is the place to go after a day of any type of play. Dining is impressive too, from a Tahitian buffet to a French-inspired eatery.
Key Amenities:
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Two pools, including one with a swim-up bar
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Lavish on-site spa
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Beach with complimentary non-motorized water sports
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Overwater bungalows
Motu Ome'E Bp 506 Bora Bora, Motu Piti A, au 98730, French Polynesia— +689 40 60 78 88
qualia Resort - Hamilton Island, Whitsundays, Australia
One of the world’s most romantic resorts, qualia Resort is an incredible adults-only resort located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef on the northernmost point of Hamilton Island. While it feels like a world away, it can easily be accessed by direct flight from Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. No expense was spared, with numerous facilities that include two infinity-edge pools, both with stunning views, a lavish spa, and a gym. Fine dining on-site includes tasting menus honoring the diversity of Australia’s produce and culinary culture. Guest rooms are called pavilions and have an open treehouse feel, all with private pools, and some offer uninterrupted views of the Great Barrier Reef.
Key Amenities:
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Great Barrier Reef views
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Two infinity-edge pools
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Luxe spa & fine dining on-site
20 Whitsunday Blvd, Whitsundays QLD 4803, Australia— +61 1300 780 959
COMO Cocoa Island - Maldives
A romantic Maldives property with less than a few dozen suites and villas, COMO Cocoa Island offers a dreamy setting on a private island with overwater bungalow villas that sit directly above the stunning turquoise water. All come with private sundecks, direct access to the sea, indoor and outdoor showers, and soaking tubs. A wide variety of activities are on offer, including diving, snorkeling, catamaran excursions, sunset cruises, and island-hopping trips. Paddleboarding to the reef is popular too. The indulgent spa offers holistic wellness treatments to enjoy afterward while dining is focused on organic South Indian-influenced fare.
Key Amenities:
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Overwater bungalow villas with direct sea access
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Activities such as snorkeling and diving and sunset cruises
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Luxurious spa with a menu of holistic wellness treatments
Makunufushi South Malé Atoll, 20109, Maldives— +960 664-1818
Hermitage Bay - Antigua
Hermitage Bay is world-renowned for its barefoot luxury. A five-star all-inclusive, it’s not your ordinary all-inclusive, with gourmet cuisine focused on locally sourced ingredients, Champagne, and premium-brand drinks included. Accommodation is in luxurious cottages that are nestled among its 16 acres of tropical gardens and fronted with a pristine beach with powder sugar-like sands. You’ll have your own private infinity plunge pool and access to a variety of activities like snorkeling, kayaking, and windsurfing. Yoga, Pilates, and meditation classes are available, along with spa treatments that are influenced by the ancient Eastern concepts of chakra.
Key Amenities:
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One of the world’s best all-inclusive resorts
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Pristine white sandy beach
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Spa treatments influenced by the ancient Eastern concepts of chakra
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Gourmet meals with locally sourced ingredients infused into Jamaican, Chinese, and Indian dishes
Jennings New Extension Hermitage Bay, Antigua and Barbuda— +1 347-527-4631
The Brando - Tahiti
A unique luxury resort on a private island, The Brando offers an extraordinary French Polynesian escape with lavish villas on pristine white sandy beaches frequented by sea turtles and exotic birds. The crystal-clear water that surrounds the island is known for its graceful manta rays. Most of the villas are spacious one-bedrooms that offer enticing indoor/outdoor living space, including outdoor bathtubs and large terraced decking areas that stretch over the island’s lush terrain, leading to private plunge pools. There are two gourmet restaurants, two bars, a luxe spa, and an organic fruit orchard and vegetable garden all on the property too.
Key Amenities:
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Two gourmet restaurants and two bars
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Spa offering mindful meditation, yoga, and sound baths
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Fitness center with coaching and classes
Cayo Espanto - Belize
One of the world’s best overwater bungalow resorts, Cayo Espanto is a luxurious private four-acre island just a short boat ride from mainland Belize. The ultimate place for pampering, it’s hosted quite a few celebrities and well-known personalities, from Tiger Woods to Bill Gates. It’s all about luxurious seclusion – in fact, you might not see another guest during your entire stay. Upon arrival, the staff will welcome you, including your own butler and personal divemaster. All of your meals and drinks are included, along with kayaks, paddleboats, standup paddleboards, and sailboats. Your villa sits at the edge of the aquamarine water, and you’ll have your own dock and private infinity plunge pool.
Key Amenities:
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Two personal butlers
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Daily menus based on consultation with the chef
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Accommodation in villas with private plunge pools
Turtle Island Fiji
One of Fiji’s most luxurious resorts, Turtle Island Fiji sits on a private island offering an exclusive stay that’s ideal for honeymooners and romance-seekers of all types. It was the filming location for the 1980s “The Blue Lagoon” starring Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins, but even if you saw it on-screen, nothing can prepare you for this dreamy setting. There are just 14 villas – all rented out to couples, so there can only ever be a maximum of 28 guests. Each one has a private veranda with a hot tub, day bed, and outdoor shower. It’s all-inclusive, where not only are drinks and meals included, but butler service, champagne picnics, scuba diving, horseback riding, and two half-hour massages as well. Dining is a treat here, with the menu featuring fresh-caught seafood and island-grown vegetables.
Key Amenities:
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Butler service
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Activities such as scuba diving and horseback riding
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Delicious meals with a focus on fresh-caught seafood and island-grown vegetables
Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection - Crete, Greece
Domes of Elounda offers a luxurious hideaway with a private beach and spectacular views of the Aegean Sea. Enjoy indoor and outdoor freshwater and saltwater pools, including the black mosaic saltwater pool at the spa, which also has a glittering black and gold hammam, sauna, steam bath, and Jacuzzi. There are four restaurants offering unique dining experiences focused on the island’s culinary traditions, while accommodation includes everything from chic suites with whirlpool tubs, robes, and slippers to luxurious villas with private pools.
Key Amenities:
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Indoor/outdoor freshwater and saltwater pools
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Spa with a hammam, sauna, steam bath and Jacuzzi
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Private beach
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort - St. Lucia
Nestled among 100 acres of lush rainforest between the Pitons on a picture-perfect white sandy beach, Sugar Beach boasts a prime location and lots of luxuries. It’s home to the best spa in St. Lucia when you’re in the mood to relax, and numerous complimentary water sports and activities on land can be enjoyed too. There are multiple on-site restaurants serving everything from casual fare like wood-fired pizza to upscale French-Caribbean cuisine. Accommodation is in elegant rooms that come with butlers, private decks, and plunge pools, as well as spacious cottages and villas, some with hot tubs and outdoor showers.
Key Amenities:
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Wide range of complimentary water sports
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St. Lucia’s best spa is on-site
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Spectacular white sand beach
Val Des Pitons Forbidden Beach La Baie de Silence, St Lucia— +1 758-456-8000
Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort - Mykonos, Greece
The design-forward Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort is a luxurious property set along the sands of Agios Ioannis Beach. Its whitewashed buildings are spread across five acres, and it includes a stress-melting spa, a beautiful pool, and a spectacular outdoor amphitheater where exercise classes are hosted. There are multiple restaurants on-site, including an open-air dining room that offers a menu of fresh seafood and other Mediterranean dishes, while the rooms and suites blend Cycladic architecture with soothing interior decor and flowing white draperies, creating a canopy above the beds. All rooms open to patios or balconies with pool, garden, or sea views.
Key Amenities:
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Open-air dining on mouthwatering fresh seafood
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Located on Agios Ioannis Beach
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Spa with a semi-caved Thalasso pool
Rosewood Mayakoba - Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Rosewood Mayakoba is a luxurious resort set along a one-mile stretch of white sandy beach just north of Playa del Carmen. It’s all about VIP service here, complete with personal butlers and a pampering spa that sits on an island offering locally inspired treatments using ingredients like agave and soothing aloe vera. Massages can be enjoyed beneath a leafy canopy that overlooks the mangrove forest. There are six pools and a wide range of eateries, all with outdoor seating and some with sea views. Luxury suites overlook a gorgeous lagoon and the mangroves from rooftop sundecks. If you want your own private pool, that’s an option too.
Key Amenities:
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Personal butlers and luxury suites with rooftop sundecks
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Pampering spa set on an island
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Mile-long stretch of white sandy beach
Ctra. Federal Cancún-Playa del Carmen Km 298, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico— +1 877-737-7538
NIHI Sumba - Sumba Island, Indonesia
NIHI Sumba is located on Sumba Island, a remote island about an hour’s flight from Bali. Named the world’s best hotel for two consecutive years by Travel + Leisure magazine, all guests get their own private butler, while the all-inclusive rates include many activities, from world-class surfing to snorkeling, outstanding meals and complimentary minibars. Guests can also take advantage of unique cultural experiences, including visits to the local villages and markets for local arts and crafts, monumental megalithic burial sites, and more. Accommodation is in one- to five-bedroom residences, all with private pools overlooking the beach and sea.
Key Amenities:
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Beautiful beach with a variety of included activities
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Spa with outdoor treatments
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Local cultural experiences
Hoba Wawi, Wanokaka, West Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia— +62 361 757149
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai - Hoi An, Vietnam
An all-villa resort on the white sands of Ha My Beach, the Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai boasts striking architecture that was inspired by the grand royal tomb of the 19th-century Emperor Tu Duc. Its crown jewel is the three tiers of cascading infinity pools, one of which is adults-only and just a few steps away from the beach. The blissful spa features floating treatment suites with indoor/outdoor decks and the fabulous nightly Goodnight Kiss to the Earth ritual that involves crystal singing bowls, music, and flickering lanterns. Guests can also take a lesson at the Nam Hai Cooking Academy that includes choosing ingredients in the property’s garden before heading into the state-of-the-art kitchen and concluding with the Vietnamese lunch you helped to make.
Key Amenities:
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Spa with floating treatment suites
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Cooking classes
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Three tiers of cascading infinity pools
Block Ha My, Dong B, Điện Bàn, Quảng Nam, Vietnam— +84 235 3940 000
Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun - Cancun, Mexico
Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun is a tranquil adults-only all-inclusive that offers the ultimate in luxury at the north end of the famous hotel zone in Cancun, starting with a welcome tropical drink at check-in. It has a huge spa with a free hydrotherapy area and unique treatments like Garra Rufa fish pedicures. It even offers spin classes in one of the three free-form pools. Two of the property’s pools have swim-up bars, and there is a dizzying array of dining options, with everything from ice cream at breakfast to seven-course dinner menus. When it’s time to retire to your room, your butler will draw your bath for a relaxing soak. All rooms come with two-person whirlpool tubs and breathtaking sea or lagoon views.
Key Amenities:
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Magnificent spa with unique treatments, including Garra Rufa fish pedicures
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Three free-form pools, two with swim-up bars
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Multiple dining options, including dinner menus with seven courses
