There’s something both beautiful and simple about a beachside escape. It’s the sun, the sand, the lapping of the ocean at your feet.

It’s the feeling that there’s nothing else to do, nowhere else to go. And when you can pair that experience with luxury accommodation, with good food, cocktails, leisure activities and all the mod-cons – then you have yourself one amazing holiday.

Phuket Graceland Resort, Thailand

There’s some serious romance to the Andaman Sea, the warm pocket of water that laps the coast of western Thailand, and there are few better places to appreciate its beauty than Patong beach, near Phuket.

The Graceland Resort (pictured top) commands a fine stretch of that beach, and offers luxurious rooms set amid tropical beauty, plus restaurants, bars, leisure activities and more. Alternatively, just relax beachside and enjoy.

Naviti Resort, Fiji

There are few things better than a Fijian beach, with all the white sand, the warm water and the swaying palms that you can point your cocktail-filled coconut at.

Naviti, part of the Warwick Hotels group, makes the most of its Coral Coast location with access to a lovely patch of secluded sand, as well as classic resort facilities such as pools, a golf course, rooms with ocean views, multiple onsite dining options, and plenty of bula (which is ‘hello’ in Fijian) welcomes from the friendly staff.

Kandima Hotel, Maldives

The Kandima Hotel, on the Maldives’ Dhaalu Atoll, has everything you’d expect from a beach resort in these parts: stunning island location, swaying palms, swoon-worthy ocean views, and luxury resort facilities.

But there’s more. The Kandima has a focus on excellent cuisine, with restaurants onsite catering to a variety of tastes, from Italian to Chinese, barbecue to cocktails, all presented with modern, breezy style.

Seabourn’s Orchid Isles cruise

Why stick to just one beach to escape to when you can have multiple? That’s what’s on offer for passengers aboard a Seabourn cruise through the Orchid Isles, from Singapore down through Indonesia to Benoa.

Though there’s plenty of luxury on board, there’s also the chance to see the beautiful coastline of Java, as well as some of Bali’s most stunning locales.

Boatshed Hotel Waiheke, NZ

Who said beachside holidays have to be tropical? Where is it written that palm trees are better than native blooms? The Boatshed Hotel on Waiheke Island, near Auckland in New Zealand, offers a beachy experience with a difference.

This boutique property boasts luxury in its own right, as well as providing access to world-class local wineries and restaurants – and it’s also located right near the white sandy beach of Oneroa.