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Sri Lanka
- Entry rules: see here.
- Best time to visit: year-round because the seasonality depends on the region – in south Sri Lanka, the high season is in December, January, and February, but on the eastern shore, the high season is in June, July, and August. In the low season, the heat subsides, but, in general, the temperature changes just slightly throughout the year, and only the amount of precipitation varies. Rains shift from one coast to another throughout the year, but one thing you must know is that the tropical rains are beautiful and swift, and the second thing is that you can always move to another coast.
What to see: you probably know that now there is a coup d’état and economic crisis in Sri Lanka, but this practically has no influence on the tourism sector. Be aware of the following problems: the country has no gasoline (you can ride a bike if you want) and sometimes the lights go out, but this barely affects hotels. We advise you to focus on your own comfort and keep up to date with the news.
Best time to visit: year-round because the seasonality depends on the region. Photo: Dudarev Mikhail / Shutterstock.com
About vacation: if you feel like parties and surfing, head for the south-eastern region Arugam Bay. Here, you’ll find awesome waves, delicious cocktails, an endless party atmosphere, and a lot of deserted beaches.
Another mecca for surfers is the area near Weligama, where you’ll find surfing schools and surfing spots for both beginners and pros.
Hiriketiya beach has a European atmosphere: it’s a small beautiful bay with top-class waves, bars, and little restaurants; it is ideal for both romantic trips and gatherings with surfer friends.
Hiriketiya beach has a European atmosphere. Photo: Marius Dobilas / Shutterstock.com
If you’re looking for a destination for a family vacation, pay attention to Moragalla beach (a cozy, clean beach with a good infrastructure) and Bentota beach (a calm beach without waves and a smooth entrance).
If you feel like exploring the island, you can check out the nine-arch bridge to Ella and climb through the tea plantations to Adam’s Peak, ride the very train without windows and doors past the tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya, visit a sacred site to all Buddhists in the world – Sri Dalada Maligawa in the colorful city of Kandy, and also explore Galle Fort.
Where to stay
- Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa
- Marino Beach Colombo Hotel
- Tangerine Beach Hotel
- Cinnamon Citadel Kandy
- Goldi Sands Hotel
- Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa Sri Lanka
- Taj Bentota Resort & Spa
- Taru Villas-Lake Lodge
If you feel like exploring the island, you can climb through the tea plantations to Adam’s Peak. Photo: Anton Romanov / Shutterstock.com
Mexico
- Entry rules: see here.
- Best time to visit: the high season last from November until the end of April (during this season, it’s hot, beautiful, and the very best time for a beach vacation); the low season is from May until the end of October (there are rains, hurricanes, and high humidity, but, on the other hand, everything is cheaper and there are few tourists).
- What to see: each time you come here, you think about how you’ll see everything and not miss anything since Mexico is a country that twirls you into a whirlwind of colors, tastes, landscapes, and mysterious places!
The high season last from November until the end of April. Photo: mariakray / Shutterstock.com
If you want to hang out, head to trendy Tulum. Over the past couple years, it has become an absolute favorite: beaches of amazing beauty are accompanied by stylish bars and bars with endless parties.
If you want deserted beaches with snow-white sand, then welcome to Baja California peninsula, where the local beaches seem like they are straight out of a fantasy series. In February, you can take off from here on dates with whales, sea lions, and whale sharks!
If you want to hang out, head to trendy Tulum. Photo: Pawel Wieloch / Shutterstock.com
It is a sacred thing to visit the places of the Maya civilization, but we advise you to not only walk around the ancient city of San Juan Teotihuacán, but to also take a bird’s eye of it from a hot-air balloon—the impressions will last a lifetime!
If you want to fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of colonial cities, then don’t miss Morelia and Guadalajara, as well as the San Juan Parangaricutiro Church, which was buried (but not completely) under volcanic lava in 1944.
We advise you to not only walk around the ancient city of San Juan Teotihuacán, but to also take a bird’s eye of it from a hot-air balloon. Photo: Diegomezr / Shutterstock.com
If you are in urgent need of inspiration, you should head to colorful Oaxaca and the romantic medieval Val’Quirico.
Find tips on exploring the other cities in this article and learn what you should not do in Cancun in this article.
Where to stay
- Amansala
- Náay Tulum Curamoria Collection
- Hotel Barro Negro
- Hotelito Azul
- Aroma Tulum
- Hyatt Place La Paz
- JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
- Seven Crown La Paz Malecon
- Hotel Santa Fe Loreto by Villa Group
- Hotel Dos Playas Faranda Cancun
- Temptation Cancun Resort (Adults only)
If you are in urgent need of inspiration, you should head to colorful Oaxaca. Photo: eskystudio / Shutterstock.com
Socotra
- How to get there: Socotra is an island of the Republic of Yemen. Background: there has been a war in Yemen for many years, but the Emirates took the island under their wing and began to build infrastructure there, so although there are no regular flights, there is one flight a week from Abu Dhabi. It is a humanitarian flight that delivers food and medicine, and the remaining seats are occupied by tourists. Therefore, the route is as follows: first, you go to Abu Dhabi and then you fly to Socotra for a week (fares start at 850 USD for a round trip). We advise you to only take hand luggage because if there is a lot of humanitarian aid on the flight, your luggage will simply not be taken. To sum it up, it sounds like a great experience for true adventurers!
- Entry rules: see here.
- Best time to visit: October until the end of May is the best time to visit, June to September is monsoon season.
- What to see: it’s a wild and beautiful place with amazing nature. For example, you have probably seen the famous bottle trees and dragon’s blood tree in pictures on the Internet. The culture is equally as authentic – Bedouins, fishing communities, and, outside the city of Hadiboh, the island’s capital, there is no public transport, restaurants and even hotels.
You have probably seen the famous dragon’s blood tree in pictures on the Internet. Photo: javarman / Shutterstock.com
Now, let’s talk about the most interesting thing: you will have to live in a tent and move around the island with a guide as part of the tour, otherwise it will be a problem to even find a car for the trip. Local travel agents will take care of everything: help with visas, tickets, transportation, and meals. You can check out Welcome to Socotra, where a week-long tour will cost 2000 USD (not including visa and flight).
What’s on the program: beaches of incredible beauty on the Indian Ocean, snow-white sand dunes, bizarre endemic trees, cinematic lagoons (especially Detwah Lagoon, which will take your breath away), gorges, diving, and a variety of seafood.
If a force majeure occurs suddenly, there is a hospital on the island with new equipment and doctors who will provide medicines and the necessary aid.
Detwah Lagoon will take your breath away. Photo: Lukas Bischoff Photograph / Shutterstock.com
South Africa
- Entry rules: see here.
- Best time to visit: the best time to visit the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean is from November until the end of March.
- What to see: everybody know about the famous African safaris, but not everyone knows that South Africa has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and most notably, on two oceans at once! These beaches stretch from Cape Vidal – a paradise cape with wild animals – to the Wild Coast Region, where there is excellent infrastructure, as well as from Boulders Beach, where penguin colonies live (you can even swim with them in the season), to the elite Camps Bay Beach, located at the foot of the impressive Twelve Apostles mountains.
Boulders Beach, where penguin colonies live (you can even swim with them in the season). Photo: tonsa / Shutterstock.com
Cape Town itself is incredibly cool! The city is full of stylish little restaurants and bars for every taste, and the streets are reminiscent of decorations (one brightly colored neighborhood Bo-kaap alone is worth seeing!) If you’re seeking art and architecture, welcome to the Zeitz museum of contemporary art Africa, and if you’re craving breathtaking panoramas, take a helicopter ride for just 124 USD.
Of course, you can’t ignore these must-see places: Maclear’s Beacon, Cape of Good Hope, and Cape Agulhas. It’s convenient to travel between all locations by car; the roads are ideal here and the views along the way are stunning. The ocean is so beautiful that it’s hard to describe in words alone.
Cape Town itself is incredibly cool! Photo: Janice pama / Shutterstock.com
A cool location to get closely acquainted with the ocean is Tsitsikamma National Park, the first national maritime park on the shore, located in the very center of the Garden Route, the famous road of gardens. Here, you can even stay in the campground for a couple days and thoroughly explore the local forests, trails, and sandy beaches.
Moreover, South Africa is famous for its wines, and therefore it’s worth paying a visit to the wine mecca Stellenbosch! Take note of these essential places: Hidden Valley Wines, Alluvia boutique winery, D’Aria Winery, Waterford Wine Estate, Quoin Rock Wine Estate, and Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines – Franschhoek. You don’t need to thank us!
Where to stay
- Cape Town Lodge Hotel
- Krystal Beach Hotel
- 62 Camps Bay
- Camps Bay Terrace Suite
- Wild Coast Sun
- Boulders Beach Lodge And Resta
- Manor on the Bay
A cool location to get closely acquainted with the ocean is Tsitsikamma National Park. Photo: Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH / Shutterstock.com
Seychelles
- Entry rules: see here.
- Best time to visit: the excellent season for a beach vacation and surfing on the archipelago is from May until the end of October, and early spring and late autumn is a superb time for diving.
- What to see: Seychelles is comprised of 115 islands (of which only 33 are inhabited), so it’s no surprise that a beach holiday will be splendid!
Seychelles is comprised of 115 islands, so it’s no surprise that a beach holiday will be splendid! Photo: My Lovely Planet / Shutterstock.com
The landscapes, as in the advertisement of the same chocolate bar (still the main reference for a paradise holiday), are complete relaxation, surfing, fishing, yachting, and a spectacular underwater world. No matter which beach you choose, it will be free, even if it is located on the grounds of an expensive private resort or hotel.
Now, to be more specific: Beau Vallon Beach (Mahé Island) is one of the most popular beaches with cool infrastructure: restaurants with usual and local Creole cuisine, bars, as well as water attractions like diving, snorkeling, and swimming. On the same island, also pay attention to Port Launay Beach, with its emerald waters, fine sand, abundance of vegetation, and the most diverse underwater world, in other words, amazing snorkeling. Many people call Anse Soleil the best beach on the island, however, it has only a few visitors. Anse Lazio beach (Praslin Island) is a stretch of white sand surrounded by palm trees with convenient water access, famous Seychelles tortoise beetles, and splendid snorkeling. Anse Sourse d’Argent (La Digue Island) is a beach where, in addition to palm trees, snow-white sand, and turquoise waters, you will also find large stones and colorful sunsets. Another similar beach on the same island is Anse Marron.
Beau Vallon Beach (Mahé Island) is one of the most popular beaches with cool infrastructure. Photo: Simon Dannhauer / Shutterstock.com
Where to stay
- Paradise Sun Hotel
- Kempinski Seychelles Resort
- Constance Ephélia
- Patatran Village
- La Residence
- Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas
- STORY Seychelles
- Le Duc de Praslin
- Sailfish Beach Villas
- Le Relax Beach House – La Digue
- Villas des Alizes
Many people call Anse Soleil the best beach on the island, however, it has only a few visitors. Photo: leoks / Shutterstock.com
Portugal
- Entry rules: see here.
- Best time to visit: the luckiest time for a beach holiday continues from May until the end of June and ends in September-October, but Lisbon is beautiful at any time of year.
- What to see: Our dear Portugal, we really missed you! Besides its obvious famous locations, this amazing country can boast over 1800 kilometers of beaches, among which are both developed and wild beaches, beaches with the Blue Flag distinction, or the biggest waves in the world!
Our dear Portugal, we really missed you! Photo: Balate Dorin / Shutterstock.com
The southern Faro District is considered to be the very best, with its famous Mediterranean beaches and huge golf resorts and tennis courts. The atmosphere here is like in a movie (like in all the places on our list, to be honest): pretty colorful little houses on cliffs, water with hues of emerald, dark blue, and turquoise, and yellow sand, which excellently complements the overall picture. All the action is concentrated on the beaches of Lisbon: bars, restaurants, hotels, surfing, and everything fashionable that we love.
Diving lovers are better off going to the Azores (here you can see dolphins and whales), and lovers of dolce vita style relaxation must certainly go to Madeira.
If your plans are more ambitious than simply lolling about on the beach, go explore the full city life of Lisbon: begin your morning with a promenade along the Doca de Santo Amaro, then stop by the Campo de Ourique market for the freshest fish and cheese, and head to the Alfama neighborhood after breakfast. Next, we advise you to organize an art run: start at the Centro Cultural de Belém, then set off for the hipster mecca Marvilla Art District or to the former industrial zone and present-day LX Factory art space.
The southern Faro District is considered to be the very best. Photo: Pawel Kazmierczak / Shutterstock.com
In Lisbon, you must dine beautifully since there is no shortage of classy establishments here. You can go to Povo Lisboa or Prado restaurant, and after that head to the bars in the Bairro Alto neighborhood.
We strongly advise everyone who travels to Portugal to go to Porto (check out this article about what you can see there), and, of course, also go surfing.
Where to stay
- TRYP Lisboa Caparica Mar Hotel
- Hotel Inglaterra
- Sao Mamede Estoril Hotel
- Eurostars Cascais
- Amazonia Estoril Hotel
- Hotel Quinta da Penha de França
- Dom Pedro Madeira
- Residencial Colombo
- Sentido Galomar (Adults Only)
If your plans are more ambitious than simply lolling about on the beach, go explore the full city life of Lisbon. Photo: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com
We hope that all your dreams about the ocean will definitely come true this year. May your tan be even and bronze, the sunsets set against the roar of waves be meditative, and may you taste the most delicious piña colada in your life!
And, last but not least, be sure to try something new on this vacation, whether it’s surfing, diving, snorkeling, fishing, or an unusual fruit!
