You are probably at your desk right now, thinking of the best places to travel in 2020, working your day off or in between multiple tasks in your day. Close your eyes and imagine yourself on a beach with a margarita or your favorite drink in your hand. The thought in itself is relaxing.

 

There’s something about beaches that make you feel relaxed and relieved. It’s probably the combination of sand under your feet and a vast sky above with the view of a blue ocean in front. It’s too much prettiness in one frame, isn’t it?

 

Glistening water, sunny skies, shades in the sky make it so magical, you start imagining if mermaids stayed put there. And the prettiness seems much more seductive during summertime. There’s something between summer and vast water bodies that go hand in hand.

 

There are many beaches of different kinds all around our vast bountiful world. Some are secluded beaches and some others; not so much, but all equally mesmerizing. Each beach different than the other, in its small and big ways.  

 

Are you deciding which beach to be at this summer? I know it becomes a real task when you have too many options to choose from. So I decided to make a list of the best beaches according to some famous travel bloggers and Travel websites. This will make it easier for you to decide your next beach for this summer.

 

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Stunning Beaches That Will Give You All The Mermaid Vibes

 

Black Sand Beach, Vik I Myrdal, Iceland 

 

Reynisfjara is a very famous black sand beach on the south coast of Iceland besides a mystical fishing village called Vik I Myrdal. This place has enormous basalt stacks with humungous Atlantic waves roaring in the background.

 

The backdrop has huge mountains and has black sand and makes for a very photogenic panoramic view. These sea stacks have many local folklores related to trolls attached to them. They also house many nesting seabirds, making it a must-visit for anyone taking a trip to the country.

 

This mystical beach is conveniently located in the middle of the south coast near Vik. It’s 2-3 hrs. drive from the capital of the country, Reykjavik. The black sand beach has been topping lists of the best places to travel in 2020.

 

best places to travel in 2018

 

Boracay, Philippines 

 

The world Borac means cotton and this beach has powdery, sugary sand. This is a small white sand beach that runs just 7kms in length. It manages to attract a lot of crowd with its insta worthy sand lines on one end, and an array of restaurants and bars on the other.

 

The ocean is filled with small romantic sailboats otherwise known as paraws. You can enjoy music breakouts and see fire dancers after you enjoy a beautiful sunset.

 

This beach is known to have night long parties. This adversely affected the ecosystem and the government shut it for a temporary 6 months. It’s around 315 kilometers away from the city of Manila and is just 2 kilometers away from the Panay Islands.

 

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Bora Bora, Polynesian Islands

 

This is one of the most celebrated beaches in the south pacific. This is one such beach that ranks high in most traveler’s bucket lists. Its clear blue water with greenery in the backdrop is mesmerizing. It’s a one-hour. flight from Tahiti. It looks like Picasso’s canvas from up top.

 

The bright blue and green palettes make you fall in love with this dreamy beach. It’s a white sand beach with blue water which has tropical colored fish contrasting the coral reef. There aren’t many things in the world that are as magical as this beach.

 

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Cala Goloritze, Italy

 

This is a white sand beach with pristine blue water on the Gulf of Orosei. Being located on the east coast of the Island, this place is comparatively difficult to reach. This is the reason why you won’t find many crowds here and is almost untouched. You can either take a boat or take a ride and then hike to the location.

 

If you are adventurous you can choose to hike the whole way, it’s a 4–5 hrs. hike. The path is certainly beautiful but make sure to pack food and wear your hiking shoes. The view that awaits takes away all the pain and makes it worth it.  It’s counted as one of the most sought-after beaches in the world.

 

best places to travel in 2018

 

Caramoan, Philippines

 

Caramoan is a secluded part of Bicol on the eastern side of Manila. This island has beautiful cliffs and the water here has an extraordinary Blue electric element to it. It’s very unlikely to see much crowd on this beach.

 

If you are the sporty kind, you can climb to the hilltop view on Kantanawan Island. Though sketchy, the view of the beach from this point is spectacularly beautiful.

 

You can shift to nearby islands Hunongan cove or the Cagbalinad Island if you still have time. You won’t find many crowds here either, giving you the true feeling of a castaway. It feels dreamy to be on a deserted island instead of being on a beach with too many tourists chatting and taking pictures.

 

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Chankanaab National Park, Mexico

 

It’s very likely to see negative reviews when you look up the place on the internet. This place is overly crowded with tourists and is flooded with cruise ship visitors. But trust me, this beach is a treasure house if you know where to look.

 

Chankanaab National Park is located within the Marine National Park of Cozumel. This is ideally not a national part but more of an adventure beach park. Though crowded, this place is filled with activities for everyone.

 

You can play games, snorkel, go tequila tasting, see a sea lion show or just be at the beach. The Chankanaab reef is roughly shaped and is populated by aqua life. If you decide to go snorkeling look at the sculptures they have put underwater to resemble a water museum.

 

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Columbus Cove, Haiti

 

This beach is located in the south of an island called Labadee, which is actually a peninsula in Haiti. There are many beaches around like the Barefoot beach and Adrenaline Beach etc.

 

What makes Columbus Cove so special is the availability of fun water toys. No matter how old you are, you will always enjoy being on an aqua mat on a big water body.

 

Columbus cove includes in itself the Arawak water park and the dragon’s splash waterslide. It’s a white sand beach with shady green trees on one side. You can hit the bar and eat great food after playing water games.

 

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Elafonisi, Crete

 

I know this beach as one of the most voted for beaches not only in Europe but in the whole world. It has too many magical things in the same place. It has sand dunes, cedar trees, black rocks, and exotic animals and birds apart from the blue water and white sand. In some places, the sand looks pinkish because of all the broken seashells.

 

It’s a small island located in western Crete, around 200kms off the shore.  Between the Island and the shore, you will find a shallow depth lagoon. It’s safe to swim across to the island in the shallow deep water. This beach is very organized yet peaceful.

 

best places to travel in 2018

 

Fryers Beach, Antigua

 

Set on the western coast of Antigua this beach has clear and calm water. This is a great location if you are planning to swim a lot. The ocean floor is clear and there aren’t any coral reefs and rock formations that you might hit otherwise.

 

This isn’t a very great snorkeling location though. It’s very easy to access and makes up for a very calm yet social beach.

 

It lies between Coco Beach and Darkwood Beach and is surprisingly less crowded than them. Its subtle dreamy beach and turquoise-colored water make you live your Caribbean dreams.  If you are here, make sure you visit the nearby city of Joly Harbor.

 

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Hanalei Bay, Hawaii

 

This semicircular bay is not a very new site for most of you probably. You might have seen it in popular movies like the South Pacific or the Descendants. Everything that you desire while on vacation is available on this 2-mile stretch along the Pacific coast.

 

This is the location if you are someone who loves the mountains and the beaches equally. The backdrop of huge celebrated mountains and the emerald blue waters keep you in awe. The waters are calm during summers and you can do nearly every activity.

 

You can snorkel, swim, sunbathe, do stand-up paddling or just go canoeing. The place is safe with trainers, making it an ideal location for families with kids. Make sure you visit the charming Hanalei town for some great food.

 

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And while you are at it, make sure you are not short of the right things at the right place. There’s nothing more saddening than being at a beach and not being prepared for it well. Here’s a list of things you should make sure to pack while on a beach this summer:

 

  1. Swimsuits and Bikinis, Obviously — It’s wise to have 2 sets of swimsuits during trips. This will give you the flexibility to change into a dry one as and when required.
  2. Floaters and a Beach Towel — You don’t want to walk on hot sand and rocky beaches during holidaying, do you? Pack a good pair that goes well with your swimsuit/Bikini and have a towel to dry yourself up.
  3. Sun Safe Moisturizer, Lipbalm, and Hairspray —  Pack a good moisturizer with ample SPF to reduce sun damage. Harsh sun rays can damage your eyes and skin severely. You don’t want your hair to get frizzy at the beach for your Instagram pictures, having your spray is smarter.
  4. Funky Float — Pack afloat in your bag. Who knows when the opportunity of a pool party comes up.
  5. Headphones and Sunglasses — There’s nothing more irritating than the sun rays hitting your eyes while you are trying to lay down on the sand after a swim. Be wise to pack a pair of sunnies and listen to your favorite playlists while you are at it.
  6. Snacks and Lots of Water —  While on an exotic beach you always have the option to try out the local cuisines there. But having something in hand is a cheaper and healthier option. You don’t want to get dehydrated during a vacation either.

 

There are certainly many other summer activities to choose from, but being at a beach is incomparable. Let us know which beach you decided to visit this summer and how was your experience there, in the comments section below.

 

Discover your own mermaid vibes in the sparkling waters and soft sand of these beautiful beaches. These are truly some of the most inspiring and best places to travel for a relaxing and exciting adventure.

 

Author

Nia is an Associate Editor at The Fairytale Traveler and self diagnosed travel junkie. Having traveled to 5 of the 7 continents, her love of good food and culture is a force to be reckoned with. When she isn't off adventuring with her husband, which she writes about on her blog CircaWanderlust, she can be found with a good cup of tea cuddling her pups and taking pictures of her food. She loves black and white movies and could listen to Elvis on repeat.

6 Comments

  1. Ariana Smith Reply

    Wow, looks amazing, splendid. I would love to add beaches on Jeju island also are just so mesmerizing, please include a blog on that too.

  2. Those are looking like some stunning collection of beaches particularly Boracay, Philippines looks to very good one and love to visit this in less time

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