Best Beachside hotel

World's Best Beachside Hotels

Luxist readers have nominated their favorite beachside hotels around the world. From Thailand to Costa Rica, what these hotels have in common are to-die-for beaches, in addition to luxurious accommodations and other incredible amenities.

The top five beachside hotels, according to our readers, include:

Amanpuri

Opened in 1988, Amanpuri was the very first Aman resort, named for the Sanskrit word for 'peace'. Located in Phuket, Thailand, this tranquil retreat (its beach is pictured above), which is the flagship property in the Aman family, is a nominee for a Luxist Award for Best Beachside Hotel.

Located in a secluded coconut grove overlooking a sheltered bay, the resort radiates from the private crescent-shaped beach lapped by the Andaman Sea. Private villas grace the peninsula affording guests spectacular views, while other facilities include a Beach Club and lap pool, a hillside gym and spa and a number of restaurants, situated in picturesque locations around the resort. Amanpuri captures the warmth and generosity of spirit so unique to Thai culture.

Amanpuri's spectacular beach is lined with sun loungers and umbrellas. Guests can enjoy complimentary windsurfing, snorkeling, sea kayaking and body boarding, as well as Hobie cat and Laser sailing, with attendants providing qualified instruction as needed. Searay Bowriders helmed by trained crew are available for waterskiing at a nominal fee. A nearby reef is flush with fish, and complimentary fins, snorkels and masks are provided. Snorkelers can hand feed or swim among the fish. All activities are available between December and April, weather and tide permitting.

Gallery: Amanpuri Resort in Phuket, Thailand

Tags: Amanpuri, awards-main, Best Beachside Hotel, Four Seasons Resort Bali, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, Grace Bay Club, Grace Bay Resorts, luxist-awards, Oberoi Mauritius, The Oberoi Mauritius

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The Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay: Island of the Gods

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

On an island that is beautiful almost beyond belief, The Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay is a worthy nominee for a Luxist Readers' Choice Award for Best Beachside Hotel.

A tropical haven with a relaxed pace, The Four Seasons offers guests expansive and elegant private Balinese villas, featuring separate sleeping, bathing and living pavilions and beautiful views from private plunge pools.

The hotel offers an abundance of activities from which to choose. At its breathtaking beach, the hotel offers complimentary water-sports equipment including Hobie cats, windsurfers, ocean kayaks, boogie boards, snorkelling equipment and Aqua shoes. The infinity-edge main pool seems to blend with the beautiful bay beyond. Water from the pool cascades over a 7-metre (23-foot) waterfall into the free-form soaking pool below. Hot and cold whirlpools are located nearby. The Hotel offers four-wheel-drive tours that depart every morning. The eight-hour excursion takes guests to see spectacular scenaries at traditional villages.

Gallery: Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay

Tags: awards-main, Bali, Best Beach Hotel, Best Beachside Hotel, Four Seasons Resort, Four Seasons Resort Bali, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, luxist-awards

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Grace Bay Club in the Turks and Caicos: Redefining Luxury

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Located on the celebrated Grace Bay, which is well-known for its award-winning beaches, the Grace Bay Club in the Turks and Caicos is nominated for a Luxist Award for Best Beachside Hotel.

The 11-acre Grace Bay Club boasts 1,100 feet of beach frontage, the largest of any resort in this Caribbean resort destination. The calm, reef-protected turquoise waters are an excellent destination for sailing, and the area's shallow reefs offer great snorkeling. The scuba diving is some of the best in the Caribbean. The coral formation, rich marine life and year-round warm water combine to create a sought-after diving location. The local deep-sea fishing is celebrated in the Caribbean. Tuna, Atlantic blue marlin and sailfish are among some of the most popular catches. The resort also has a selection of heated swimming pools.

Gallery: The Grace Bay Club, Turks and Caicos

Tags: Awards-main, Best Beach Hotel, best beaches, Best Beachside hotel, Grace Bay Club, Grace Bay Resorts, Luxist-Awards, Turks Caicos

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The Oberoi Mauritius: Idyllic and Unspoiled

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Oberoi Mauritius is known for its beautiful beach

The idyllic island of Mauritius with its unspoiled beaches and azure waters offers a unique experience of European, African and Asian cultures. The Oberoi Mauritius on Turtle Bay captures the spirit of the island in a resort that combines its abundant natural beauty with refined luxury. The resort, which is nominated for a Luxist Award for Best Beachside Hotel, is located in 20 acres of beautiful sub-tropical gardens with a 600 meter oceanfront.

The resort offers a range of water sports and recreation like wind surfing, water skiing, diving and sailing. The Spa at the The Oberoi Mauritius is a sanctuary where guests find peace, harmony and a new sense of well-being. State of the art facilities include a beauty parlor, sauna, steam bath, gym and individual spa suites with private jacuzzis. Traditional Mauritian treatments are featured, using natural local oils and fruits star alongside conventional therapies; one example is the blissful coconut husk body brush, followed by a deep massage with freshly ground coconut.

Gallery: The Oberoi, Mauritius

The resort offers 71 rooms and suites, each featuring a romantic four-poster bed. Wooden slatted ceilings and wall-to-wall restful neutral tones contribute to a feeling of relaxed grandeur. The hotel Villas, each with its own lush gardens and dining gazebo, most of them overlooking a private swimming pool with, views of the sea make an exclusive and luxurious retreat for those seeking privacy.

Rack rates range from 1,020 Euros for a luxury villa with a private garden to 2,400 Euros for a Royal Villa with a private pool.

Reservations can be made online or by calling its toll-free number (800) 562-3764 in the U.S. More information is also available by email by contacting reservations@oberoigroup.com.

Vote for the Beachside Hotel that you think is the best of breed. The winner will be announced on September 1st.

Tags: Awards-Main, Best Beach Hotel, best beaches, best beachside hotel, Luxist-Awards, Mauritius, Oberoi, Oberoi Group, Oberoi Mauritius

Amanpuri in Phuket: The Destination for Peace

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Opened in 1988, Amanpuri was the very first Aman resort, named for the Sanskrit word for 'peace'. Located in Phuket, Thailand, this tranquil retreat, which is the flagship property in the Aman family, is a nominee for a Luxist Award for Best Beachside Hotel.

Located in a secluded coconut grove overlooking a sheltered bay, the resort radiates from the private crescent-shaped beach lapped by the Andaman Sea. Private villas grace the peninsula affording guests spectacular views, while other facilities include a Beach Club and lap pool, a hillside gym and spa and a number of restaurants, situated in picturesque locations around the resort. Amanpuri captures the warmth and generosity of spirit so unique to Thai culture.

Gallery: Amanpuri Resort in Phuket, Thailand

Amanpuri's spectacular beach is lined with sun loungers and umbrellas. Guests can enjoy complimentary windsurfing, snorkeling, sea kayaking and body boarding, as well as Hobie cat and Laser sailing, with attendants providing qualified instruction as needed. Searay Bowriders helmed by trained crew are available for waterskiing at a nominal fee. A nearby reef is flush with fish, and complimentary fins, snorkels and masks are provided. Snorkelers can hand feed or swim among the fish. All activities are available between December and April, weather and tide permitting.

Tags: Aman Resorts, Amanpuri, awards-main, Best Beach Hotel, best beaches, best beachside hotel, luxist-awards, Phuket, Thailand

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Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, a nominee for best beachside hotel, is located on Costa Rica's northwest Pacific coast within the province of Guanacaste, about 160 kilometres from the border with Nicaragua.

The landscape is a spectacular and unusual mix of grassy savannahs, immense cattle ranches and tropical dry forest, backed by volcanic mountain ranges. Though it's the country's second-largest province by area, Guanacaste is the least populated, offering a calm, peaceful ambience.

The hotel is located in a secluded natural sanctuary and has two unspoiled beaches that provide abundant opportunities for guests to experience eco-adventure on land and in the water.

Gallery: Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo

Its indigenous spa offers a calm environment with ocean views from relaxation lounges. It has a comprehensive selection of facials, body treatments and massages highlights therapies using indigenous ingredients, such as mineral-rich rainforest muds from the nearby Osa Peninsula.

Tags: awards-main, Best Beachside Hotel, Costa Rica, Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, luxist-awards

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The Readers' Choice Awards for Best in Summer Travel

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Is there an adventure getaway that you think offers an unforgettable experience? Is there a beachside hotel that you believe is superior to all others? Which international summer destination provides the best in luxury, landscape and culture? Can you tell us about a luxury family summer destination that offers an incredible experience for both young and old? Which cruise do you think is the best one to take during the summer months?

If you can recommend what you believe are the best in summer travel, we want to hear from you! The Luxist Awards Readers' Choice Awards for Best in Summer Travel will be awarded based on your nominations and voting.

We're currently seeking nominations for the best-of-breed in the following categories:

Best Adventure Getaway
Best Beachside Hotel
Best International Summer Destination
Best Family Summer Destination
Best Summer Cruise

One nomination per category, please. Submissions can be filed until August 15, 2010. Winners will be announced on September 1, 2010.

Tags: awards-main, beach, beach hotel, best adventure getaway, best beachside hotel, best international summer destination, best luxury family summer destination, best summer cruise, cruise, luxist-awards