Best holiday destinations

Beach holiday destinations in Europe

Italy is one of our favourite destinations. We love Umbria, with its rolling hills, sparkling lakes and medieval hill towns, and little-known Le Marche for its luscious countryside and beautiful villas. Or head south to Puglia where you can stay in a five-star masseria or a luxury self-catering trullo with pools. For old-school Italian glamour it’s hard to beat the Amalfi Coast.

The Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia have great beaches: we recommend Forte Village in Sardinia and Verdura Golf & Spa Resort in Sicily.

In the Mediterranean, the Aegean coast of Turkey has many some outstanding boutique hotels while Croatia is one of Europe’s gems with a gorgeous coastline studded with islands and great-value hotels. The island of Gozo – next door to Malta – is ideal for a relaxing break.

Greece is all about simplicity: sun, sand, traditional cooking and great hospitality. For families, we recommend Sani Resort on a spectacular stretch of beach on the mainland. Paxos is a simple, laid-back island that doesn’t even have its own airport, while Crete offers great beaches and lots to do. Avoid the package resorts and stay at one of these gorgeous boutique hotels.

Spain has many great beach destinations. We like the coast of Catalonia for fishing villages, quiet coves and mountains, but if you want long stretches of fine white sand and dunes, rent a villa on the Costa de la Luz. The Balaeric islands of Mallorca and Ibiza both have wonderful beaches – just avoid the low-rent resorts. You know the ones we mean.

France boasts many fine beaches. The Atlantic coast has long stretches of sand with dunes and surf, while the charming Ile de Ré is a great island for families, cycling and eating out at village restaurants. If you’re on a budget, how about a value family break at a holiday parc in Brittany. Some of the best French beaches are on the island of Corsica, unwisely neglected by most British tourists.

You don’t need to go abroad to find beaches. Rent a cottage in Devon or Cornwall and you’ll find wonderful stretches of sand, while the Isle of Wight is great for a traditional buckets and spades family holiday. For tropical-style white-sand beaches head across to the Scilly Isles.

And you don’t need to be on the coast to find a great beach. Try the Italian Lakes for beautiful scenery, great hotels, food and culture.

Long haul beach destinations

If you are flying long haul, the world is your oyster. You could be sunning yourself in the Maldives, unwinding in Mauritius or shell-hunting on a deserted island in the Seychelles. If you like to combine beach and city, we recommend Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, Miami or Cape Town – four of the most amazing destinations on Earth.

Asia has more than its share of amazing beaches. We love Malaysia and Vietnam, though it’s hard to beat Bali or Thailand – especially Koh Samui. Lesser-known destinations include Borneo, which has superb beaches.

The Caribbean is an all-year round beach destination. Choose from the social whirl of Barbados, the charm and character of Jamaica or the small-town vibe of Tobago or Grenada. Divers should head to the Cayman Islands without passing Go, while romantics should savour the pink beaches ofBermuda. See our full selection of the best Caribbean holidays.

In South America, Brazil has some of the most wonderful beaches anywhere on the planet. Africa also has many first-class options, including Madagascar, while Kenya is great value.

You can’t get much further than New Zealand but it’s well worth the journey with some of the world’s most extraordinary scenery, along with great wine, food and friendly people. Try these tailormade holidays.

Best Africa destinations

As far as exciting destinations go, Africa is hard to beat. The continent really does have something for everyone. In the north, Morocco is a country of cultural riches, superb mountain and desert scenery and beautiful hotels. Check out these city breaks to Marrakech.

We also love Egypt whether it’s a luxury Nile cruise, or a diving holiday on the Red Sea coast.Jordan is another country that should not be overlooked: Petra is one of those places to see before you die, easily combined with the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum. Try one of these group tours.

And of course there are safaris. In Africa you can choose from 30 different safari types in Kenya, or go for an upmarket holiday in Botswana. For adventure it’s hard to beat the wide open spaces ofNamibia. Or why not try a self-drive holiday in South Africa.

For a relaxing beach holiday, head to The Gambia which is only six hours flying time from the UK. Or venture a little further to the spectacular islands of Cape Verde – where Africa meets South America – where you’ll find some great opportunities for island-hopping.

See 101 Holidays editor David Wickers’ Top 10 Africa holidays.

Top Asia holiday destinations

If world-class beaches and relaxation are what you look for in a holiday, then you need look no further than Asia. The island of Koh Samui is one of Thailand’s most popular destinations due to its powder-soft beaches, busy nightlife and fantastic diving.

The eastern coast of Malaysia teams a wonderful coastline with fantastic food and some of the country’s best hotels, while the clear blue seas of Bali provide the perfect backdrop for the country’s stunning scenery and spirituality.

Sri Lanka has lovely hotels, charming people, great food and many cultural treasures. India is quite simply amazing but don’t try to see too much of it in one attempt. We recommend a private tour orNorthern India and Rajasthan in a chauffeur-driven car.

Also in Asia, Burma is slowly opening its doors to tourism – a beautiful, fragile country that will fascinate and beguile you. You could also take a tour of Borneo which is renowned for it’s stunning wildlife.

Asia is home to three of the most distinctive cities in the world which are perfect holiday destinations. Tokyo combines the world’s most advanced technology with some of its oldest cultural rituals. Join a tour and see the rest of this fascinating country.

Beijing is also a wonderful mix of the old and the new, and as China slowly opens itself up to the West, there has never been a better time to visit. Meanwhile, Moscow offers unrivalled cultural pomp and grandeur as well as the political intrigues of the Kremlin. It can be combined with a visit toSt Petersburg.

Touring holidays

One of the most relaxing ways to do a touring holiday is on a river cruise. Watch the scenery slide past, enjoy great food and wine on board and hop off to discover some wonderful sights. Options include the Rhine and the Danube in Europe, the Mekong Delta in Asia and the Murray River in Australia.

If you want to avoid airports and enjoy the company of others, how about a luxury coach tour of Europe. Destinations range from Russia to Italy, as far as the Arctic Circle.

Rail is a great way to travel, particularly in Spain where you’ll find superb state-owned luxury trainsincluding the Transcantábrico and the La Robla. Or explore the Canadian Rockies by rail one of these classic Rocky Mountaineer holidays.

You can also do Canada on a self-drive Mountain Express holiday from Calgary to Vancouver taking in the Rockies, Banff and Jasper National Park.

If you want to see the countryside at a slower pace, how about joining a cultural walking tour – perhaps in Oman, Namibia or Italy. If you prefer to travel independently, we have found some fabulous hotel-to-hotel walking itineraries that explore some of the most beautiful regions of Europe. See a full selection of walking holidays in Europe.

You can just about see all the best bits of Australia in two weeks. Try this golden triangle which combines Sydney, Ayers Rock and the Great Barrier Reef.

In North America, we recommend a fly-drive California holiday, or a tour of Cape Cod.

Adventure holiday destinations

South America is one of the great destinations for adventurers. Argentina is great country, from the historic capital of Buenos Aires to the glacier fields of Patagonia and the wild pampas regions.

We rate Chile as an amazing holiday destination – a combination of outdoor adventures, extreme natural beauty (volcanoes, glaciers, salt lakes, long beaches), good food and wine and charmingboutique hotels.

North of the border, you could saddle up for a dude ranch holiday in the American West, or hire a car for a budget road trip. For more inspiration, see our Top 10 holidays in America.

Closer to home, Iceland is a fascinating country of mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and geysers – like a geography lesson come to life.

There are plenty of adventures you can have on the water. You could join a Club Flotilla holiday in the Greek Ionian Islands or arrange a bareboat yacht charter – choosing from a fleet of monohull yachts and catamarans – to sail the Med, or the Caribbean.

Trip of a lifetime? Top contenders include an exciting polar expedition to the Arctic or Antarctic. This is an amazing way to see the Earth’s most pristine wildernesses – not on a big cruise ship, but on a small expedition craft that will get you up close to whales, penguins and icebergs.