Hi, I am Gabriel, 46 years old and a true passion for travelling!
Life is hard. When tired you dream about exotic beaches where chilling out. Despite all the information you can find on the web is not easy. Breathtaking photos can hide a happy surprise or a strong disappointment!
As a local guide, travelling a lot around the world, I always try giving a fair opinion on the sandy (or rocky) beaches I meet to help people in the right choice!
I will review the interesting beaches I have visited, all the way up to my favourite one! I am excited to hear your opinions and suggestions! To move fast from a place to the other we will use a Star Trek Teleport!
In Italy, you have a lot of nice beaches a useful meter of comparison. My favourite Italian island is Sardinia where you can find a lot of breathtaking beaches. My favourite is Murtas beach.
This beach is inside a site operated by the Italian Air Force and accessible only during summertime. It is long 4km and completely wild and virtually without people. You can easily find a lonely spot feeling like Robinson Crouse. The experience is great. Final score 8 (but I am biased because it is in Italy!).
Italians are crazy for the Maldives.
Apart from the coral and wide range of fishes in the water, one of the main difference I noticed was the colours of the sunset probably due to the latitude. Moreover, the clouds on the sky improve the atmosphere giving a touch of movement to the landscape. Final score 7 1/2.
Polynesian Islands are Maldives main competitor.
What a turquoise colour! Breathtaking. An immense salty swimming pool! When you splash you feel becoming turquoise as well! Am I dreaming? Polynesian Islands are awesome also for what is below the water: you can find whatever kind of fish and meet dolphins! However, some Polynesian Islands have a big “defect” for people loving sand: beaches are relatively small and crowded with resort guests. Final score 7 1/2.
Is there anything else I can visit over there? Let’s go to New Caledonia…
A group of tropical islands with pine trees on the beach? Come on, it can not be true! I visited in the month of June. Nobody was there because low season and I had the chance to have all the place for myself!
Beaches have a touch of originality having these rows of pine trees all around you. But take note: the place is expensive and if you go during the low season water is quite cold. It is definitely a great place worth to be visited once in life. Final score 7 1/2.
There is another Island which is well known in people imaginary but its beaches are not well reported around the web: Easter Island or Rapa Nui (rocks island).
This is definitely a place where you do not go to beaches. There is only one beach over there. Sand is white but it’s quite crowded and the water is cold. So if you are targeting Rapa Nui go there for seeing the Moai or for surfing on the huge waves, but not for beaches. Final score 5 1/2.
I had still 4 main options: Africa, Latin America, the Caribbeans and Asia.
Let’s jump to Africa. Basically, East or the West costs to visit and some islands (in particular Mauritius and Zanzibar).
I have been in Zanzibar when I was quite young and I do not have a nice digital photo to use in this post. So you will need to trust me on a word. Zanzibar (Spice Island) is a place where you can find wonderful beaches. The sand is soft like baby powder. The water is of a blue-green colour and sunset are breathtaking. The Island suffers, in most of its beaches, from a very strong tidal effect which is quite known around the world. During some hours during the day, the sea disappears and you need to walk and walk to get into the water. So far, so good. Final score +7.
And what about the East and the West? I went to Mozambique (East) and Ghana (West).
Beaches in Mozambique are fine. The water is not that crystal clear but it is nice.
In the end, the real experience from that country came from people who are friendly. Final score +7.
Ghana s less sophisticated. Beaches are very long but the water is not so appealing even if it was a very comfortable temperature. The country is also known for its castles which lay down on the beaches.
You can play with waves all day long having great fun! Ghana is cheap and wild and you can have a great time over there.
Final score 6 1/2.
It is now time to take again our Star Trek teleport to famous Latin America beaches of Brazil.
I visited substantially most beaches around Brazil but I post only someone because they are too many!
Generally, the beaches are not so breathtaking and are often very crowded. You have always someone selling you something to eat or to drink which is fine if you are a constant starving person but I must say, it can turn out to be lots of fun!
Fernando de Noronha is your outstanding place. This island is a protected natural Parque. 5 nights and a buggy to move will be perfect. I had a great moment over there. Finale score 7 1/2 (strongly due to Fernando).
Moving on the Caribbean area you cannot miss Mexico.
What I loved are the incredible monuments on the beach. I was also surprised by the colours of the sea even if there were a lot of seaweeds which sometimes can result quite annoying. Finale score 7.
Now is time for Cuba and Bahamas. The two are quite different.
Cuba has so many beaches along its coast that you can get easily confused. My best was playa Pilar Mr Hemingwayy’s favourite place. My SD broke that day and I do not have a single picture! You will need to do like I do: *www.google.it *So sad! Final note 8.
On the opposite, Bahamas beach was very disappointing. I do not if this is because of the season (August) or for my high expectation. In any case, I found a divergence between what I saw on photos and what I really see there. I let you comment on that. Final not****e +6.
Before moving into my best area of the world (Asia) I want to mention Miami Beach. Yes, it is worth to mention it. I generally do not like places like Miami. I feel they are overvalued. and I am a more natural, off the beaten track guy.
However, I felt that it is quite interesting that a place like this has a beach like that.
You are in your nice hotel a mix of American-Carribean style with not so much personality with a large swimming pool for people scared about sharks and…
…just in front of you a long, very long, beach with white send not bad at all and a mix of turquoise colours and painting of green, crystal water shaken in a glamour atmosphere of jogging people and women wearing big hats to repair from sun while a big boat cargo pass 30 miles away to reach the cargo port of Miami. I really enjoy that beach. Final note 7.
I close my eyes and I smell a spicy mix of vegetables, soy sauce and curry together with revenge of basmati rice. Our Star Trek machine is very fast…and I am definitely in Asia. This area of the world is well known for beaches but also over there we need to make some distinction.
I will start with a classic. Thailand.
Nice photo, isn’t it? But this is not the reality. Koh Samui has nice beaches but they are really full of people. Take a look at this other photo below I had from the same angle.
When you are looking for a relaxing place you must be careful about what you are looking for. If you are looking for a nice beach where you can have a lot of water and beach activities this is the right place for you. Koh Samui beaches were better than expected and I had a nice week over there. Final note 6 1/2.
What about Indonesia? I had only the chance to visit Bali and Lombok for the moment. The atmosphere over there is cool and you can really have a great time. Beaches have ups and downs. Sometimes are like Thailand sometimes you run into beaches forgotten by God.
How you can see colours and feelings change a lot from one beach to another. Too bad, if you have the spirit to explore you can find a really lovely place in particular in Lombok. Final note: ++7 (double plus).
After these two classic spots in Asia, I believe it is worth to take the risk of going to explore India beaches. Teletransport machine go! India is not famous for its beaches but more for its spicy sweetness and temples. It is a great country. Three different spots to mention: Pondicherry, Kochi and Goa. No one is worth to visit if you are not travelling in India for other tourism reasons. Send colours and sea shades are not particularly interesting but you really feel the power of the Indian Ocean with strong waves ( this is the reason people go in the Goa for surfing).
Ok, ok probably I did not find the best weather conditions, but trust me, no way to go there to find a nice beach.
If you really want to have some relax on an India beach then the only destination are Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The sand and the water is so beautiful you do not want to leave anymore! This is like the paradise for beaches lovers. Wilde and true nature with a unique sense of perfection. If you want a more deep view follow this link Andaman and Nicobar video Final note: 9 for Andaman -6 for other India beaches.
This long trip is ending and I am asking myself which place I loved the most. No one of them is my best.
There is another spot which I did not expressly mention. If you want to know which is please guess in with a comment below.
Stay tuned and follow me! If you need any insight just send a message!
Cheers,
Gabriel
PS Urgh! Indeed I have forgotten to mention Seychelles! My final note on these islands is +7. They have a lot of nice beaches there and in particular “La Digue”. I have no photo because I forgot my machine home! This is a nice alternative to the Maldives. A perfect mix between my beloved Sardinia and a tropical Island!