When the temperatures drop below freezing, you likely long for sun-drenched beaches, warm tropical air and frozen drinks poolside. And you probably want to escape the crowds, too.
When you’re in the mood for a tranquil beach vacation, here are our picks, from Florida to Fiji, for secluded sands to hide out on until spring’s thaw.
Rosewood Little Dix Bay, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
Calling all sand seekers. Set on 500 acres of Virgin Gorda wilderness, Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Rosewood Little Dix Bay beckons. Almost all of the rooms here are just a skip and a hop from the beach. If you want space and privacy by the shore, the Beachfront Cottage’s outdoor garden shower and furnished patio will serve you well.
The Virgin Gorda hotel is positioned on a calm, crescent-shaped bay that’s safe for little ones to venture out on as well. Two pools are onsite, with servers ready to keep the soft drinks flowing for them and the rum punch going for you.
Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Surrounded by a lagoon and lush, tropical fauna, Five-Star Banyan Tree Mayakoba is within the Mayakoba gated mega-complex in Mexico’s Playa del Carmen, along the Caribbean coastline. There are canals, mangroves and tropical vegetation galore, with an Asian-influenced Five-Star spa and various bars and restaurants, including the Italian eatery Cello and immersive, Mayan-style Haab.
For the ultimate escape, book a beachfront suite. They have incredible floor-to-ceiling ocean views, a Jacuzzi, an outdoor shower and a patio pool. Another perk is a personal bike to cruise around the 595-acre complex.
Although the beach is public, the only way to access it is by boat — unless you’re a guest of the four hotels inside the complex. Unlike many other beaches in the Cancun area, no matter the season, the Banyan Mayakoba beach is seaweed-free due to offshore nets and a fastidious early-morning cleaning crew. Every Tuesday afternoon, a fisherman docks in front of the hotel and delivers his catch of the day, which you can purchase at lunch or dinner to have cooked precisely how you like it. Sands, a new adults-only beach club, features an elevated Spanish-inspired menu available only to Banyan guests.
Four Seasons Resort Lanai, Hawaii
The public Hulopoʻe beach is at the foot of Five-Star Four Seasons Lanai. But rest assured, outside of a few fishermen and hotel guests, you’ll pretty much have the calm waters and welcoming marine life all to yourself on this sleepy, small island.
For the best beach vibes, book the hotel’s oceanfront or partial oceanfront rooms. Speaking of beachfront bliss, one of the many perks of staying at Four Seasons Lanai is the beach concierge. A friendly crew provides complimentary snorkel gear, water and beach towels and delivers food and beverages from the hotel’s Malibu Farm restaurant (the catch-of-the-day fish tacos are amazing).
And for premier pampering, don’t miss an otherworldly spa treatment at in-town sister property Four-Star Sensei, Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort. Services take place in your personal Bali-style hut and include heavenly outdoor onsen pools and a shower.
Montage Los Cabos, Mexico
The Five-Star getaway boasts the only swimmable beach in Los Cabos, which is on a tranquil bay with soft, silky sand. The resort rests on 39 acres fronting Bahía Santa María and the Sea of Cortez. The aforementioned beach, also called Santa María, is one of a small group in Mexico to receive an internationally recognized Blue Flag certification for meeting stringent environmental standards for cleanliness, water quality, safety, services and sustainability.
Experience the water’s splendor by trying the resort’s Ride & Surf expedition that ends in Cabos’ most secluded surf spot. Or you can learn to scuba in a private dive location. And if offshore excitement isn’t your beat, a lounge session at the private pools recently added to 31 suites will lift any winter blues.
Nestled in the heart of the Caribbean paradise, the gorgeous Baoase Luxury Resort welcomes winter-weary travelers with warm, azure waters; an infinity pool overlooking the ocean; and a sun-kissed beach.
Opt for one of the 23 Balinese-style villas or go big for the ultimate getaway: book the private island and have the stunning four-bedroom house, with a grand piano and full kitchen, as your centerpiece. A host of activities, including snorkel safaris, mountain hikes and aloe-based spa treatments, help complete the dreamy Curacao trip.
If you’re seeking a stress-free (and uncrowded) getaway for the whole family, look no further than the Five-Star Dolphin Island, a hideaway roughly a 30-minute helicopter ride from Fiji’s major airport, Nadi.
The private island is a safe zone, with no cars and no dangerous wildlife, so kids can roam freely on its 14 acres. That doesn’t sound so reckless once you realize you can have the whole island to yourself and your friends or family. Book Dolphin Island for as few as two people or as many as eight. The island, the activities and the kitchen all run on your schedule, with gracious Fijian staff to fulfill your every whim.
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, The Florida Keys
While many Florida vacations center around Orlando, you will want to venture a bit more south for your next Sunshine State excursion. The adults-only Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, which can only be reached by boat or seaplane, is America’s only private island resort.
The Forbes Travel Guide Recommended stay embraces quiet elegance with a beach filled with parasol-shaded cushioned loungers that greatly outnumber patrons. The palm-enveloped saltwater pool also promises uninterrupted waterside days and romantic nights. The efficient staff can turn any setting around the island into the ideal dining spot, from ocean-side banquets to romantic meals on the sunset dock.
Stay tuned for our 2024 Star Awards announcement on February 7, 2024.
