The 15 Best Paradise Islands in the World


oahu beach

It wasn’t meant to be this way. 

Back when I was first planning to travel long-term, I didn’t think my journey would have a focus. I wanted to see it all: cities, villages, lakes, mountains, rainforests, glaciers, deserts, and beaches. 

I had no idea that last item on the list would become the main driving force for my decade of travels.

boracay white beach

It began with the Philippines.

I’d been travelling solo for three months at this point, hopping from city to city as I made my way through Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia. From Zagreb to Ljubljana to Budapest to Kyiv to Moscow to Taipei to Shanghai to Beijing to Seoul, and then I found myself in Hong Kong, unsure of where to venture next. 

My original plan would see me drifting back into China to explore the southern regions of the country, but after I found my first visit challenging, I was having second thoughts. 

I jumped on Skyscanner and decided to search for flights from Hong Kong to everywhere. I considered Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia… and then I saw the word Cebu.

Cebu? Where was that?

A quick search showed me that it was in the Philippines. Back then — this was in 2011 when blogging was in its infancy! — I had yet to read a single travel blog post about the country, so I opened up Google Images and searched for photos of the Philippines. Immediately, I was slapped in the eyeballs by a thousand breathtaking photos of the most incredible beaches I’d ever seen. 

“Holy shit,” I mumbled to myself. “I’ve gotta go to the Philippines.”

Three days later, I boarded a midnight flight to Cebu, then a second flight to Caticlan. From there, I took a ferry to Boracay, and a tricycle to my hostel.

boracay white beach

When I arrived in Boracay, I was smitten. 

You see, I thought travel was always about culture and ruins and gazing at historic monuments in ancient cities. You mean to tell me I can also spend my year in paradise, hanging out on beautiful beaches for weeks on end?

From that moment on, I made it my mission to visit as many tropical islands as possible.

Whether it’s attempting to visit every inhabited island in Thailand, making annual trips to isolated spots in the South Pacific, or planning my Africa travels around the best beaches — if there’s a destination with a beautiful stretch of sand, it’s probably on my bucket list. 

I’m excited, then, to share with you the 15 islands that I believe represent paradise. I’ve been to all of these in person, so you can trust that they’re as good as I tell you!

Fulidhoo, the Maldives

Bikini Beach, Fulidhoo
Talk about a desert island fantasy!

The Maldives has long held a reputation for being full of paradise islands, and for a long time, it was believed the only way to see them was to have a lot of money. 

I shattered those beliefs way back in 2014 when I booked a trip to this island nation and discovered it’s possible to visit the country for as little as $50 a day. The secret is simple: avoid all of the expensive resort islands with their overwater bungalows and $10 bottles of water, and instead head for the local islands. 

Having been to a resort island and a handful of local islands, I can say that the islands I visited in the Maldives were universally beautiful. The beach on Fulidhoo was just as impressive as the beach on the resort island of Olhuveli, but I was paying $50 a night rather than $500 a night to sit on it. The beaches on Fulidhoo were so freaking pretty. 

There were other benefits, too, to visiting Fulidhoo. By staying on a local island, you’ll gain an insight into local Maldivian life that is impossible to obtain on the resort islands, and get to try more of the typical island dishes, as opposed to the international food at the resorts. Maldivian breakfasts are my favourite type of breakfast of any country in the world!

And Fulidhoo is a great destination for solo women, too! Whenever I ventured out alone, I’d find myself chatting to a local woman, sharing a bar of chocolate, and comparing our different ways of life. That never happened when I was exploring with my boyfriend. 

Read all about it: Fulidhoo: The Only Tourists on the Island | How to Travel the Maldives on a Budget

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Dhow construction in Nungwi, Zanzibar

I decided to head to Zanzibar to celebrate the end of my twenties. 

I was about to turn 29 and that, combined with a cheap flight I spotted to Tanzania, had me setting off for white-sand shores. Yes, I set off for a solo birthday celebration.

I couldn’t have chosen a better place to do so.

Zanzibar is nicknamed the Spice Island, and there was once a time when it was the largest producer of cloves in the world. If you love your spices, you’ll adore this island. I know I did.

The capital, Stone Town, is a special place, filled with ornate doors, winding alleyways, and spectacular sunsets, but it’s the parts of Zanzibar outside of Stone Town that are most impressive. Head out into the centre of the island to Jozani Forest and you’ll stand a good chance of spotting the mega-rare red colobus monkeys that are only found in Zanzibar. Tour the slave caves to gain an insight into the island’s tragic past and take a spice tour to sample the flavours that made it such a wealthy part of the continent. 

And the beaches, of course. Most people come to Zanzibar for the beaches. 

My favourite was Nungwi, which is pictured above, at the northernmost tip of the island. There, you’ll be able to watch carpenters build fishing boats on the beach, sunbathe on pristine white sand beaches, and take a tour of the nearby village. 

One thing I regret not doing while I was in Zanzibar was visiting the famous Rock restaurant in Paje. When the tide comes in, you have to wade through the turquoise ocean to reach the restaurant, which is — you guessed it! — on a rock. It looks so incredible. 

Read all about it: Becoming a Spice Girl in Zanzibar | How to Visit Zanzibar on a Budget

Foa, Tonga

Matafonua Lodge
I’m not sure I’ll ever travel to somewhere as beautiful as this again!

Ask me about my favourite place in the world, and I’ll tell you about Matafonua. Yes, there’s nowhere quite like this gorgeous spit of sand on the small island of Foa, in Tonga. 

Have you ever stayed in a guesthouse that seems to attract only wonderful people? A place where it’s easy to make friends, where everyone is infinitely more focused on conversation than technology, and where you immediately extend your stay because you’re not convinced travel gets any better than this?

Thanks to the nightly communal dinners, being a solo traveller at Matafonua meant making friends and always having somebody to chat to. When you throw in the spectacular location that made everybody spend all day at the lodge — why would you choose to leave? —  this was a spot where, even in the low season, it was impossible to feel lonely.

For somewhere so isolated, there’s still plenty to keep you busy: kayaking, snorkelling, kite boarding, SCUBA diving, and even swimming with wild humpback whales if you visit in the dry season. Leopard sharks are a regular occurrence in the channel just outside the restaurant, and paddling out to the small island opposite means getting to swim alongside them. 

Part of me wanted to stay forever. 

Read all about it: Ha’apai: My South Pacific Island Paradise | What’s it Like to Travel in Tonga?  | The Cost of Travel in Tonga

Koh Mook, Thailand

Koh Mook from the ferry
Not many people have heard of Koh Mook, but it’s my favourite island in Thailand!

I’ve fortunate to have been to a dozen Thai islands over the past decade, and my favourite by far was Koh Mook. 

It has everything I could possibly need from an island paradise. 

I had so much fun here! The locals were seriously welcoming and it’s home to some of my favourite restaurants in Thailand. Koh Mook felt like one of those islands where you could just arrive and end up staying for months. 

There are two main beaches on the island — Sivalai Beach and Charlie Beach — and both offered up something different. Sivalai was quieter and we had it mostly to ourselves. There were shallow seas, soft sands, and hundreds of palm trees. Charlie Beach is more popular with backpackers — it’s beautiful and crowded, with Mong Bar offering up excellent mango shakes on the beach. 

I have to tell you about Koh Mook’s Emerald Cave, because it was one of my highlights from the year I’ve spent in Thailand. 

You start off by leaping off your longtail boat at the entrance to a small, dark hole. After paddling through the tunnel for around 20 metres, using a waterproof torch for light, you’ll suddenly turn a corner. In front of you will be the most incredible beach, surrounded by limestone cliffs and invisible from anywhere else on the island. If you time your visit right, you’ll have the entire place to yourself. 

It was one of the most magical moments of my travels. 

Read all about it: Why Koh Mook is My New Favourite Thai Island | The Ultimate Guide to the Trang Islands in Thailand

Aitutaki, the Cook Islands

The lagoon in Aitutaki, the Cook Islands. It definitely has to be the prettiest place I've ever visited
Aitutaki, the Cook Islands

More than anywhere on this list, Aitutaki meets my definition of a paradise island. 

I mean, just look at the colour of that water! Sometimes I can’t believe I actually took this photo. Sometimes I can’t believe a place like this actually exists. Sometimes I can’t believe that I was actually there. 

Aitutaki is amazing. 

When you take a tour of Aitutaki’s lagoon, you’ll typically be taken to four desert islands and three separate snorkelling spots, and they all look photoshopped. On my tour, I got to snorkel with giant trevallies, swim above giant clams, marvel at bright purple coral, explore a shipwreck in the shallow lagoon waters, get my passport stamped at the world’s smallest post office, and generally feel as though I was skipping through the pages of a travel magazine.

The white-sand beaches, the photogenic palm trees, the turquoise waters — it all comes together to make Aitutaki one of the most special places on the planet. 

Read all about it: You Have to Take a Lagoon Cruise in Aitutaki | What’s it Like to Travel in the Cook Islands? | How to Visit the Cook Islands on a Budget

Koh Rong, Cambodia

The pristine white sands of Koh Rong, Cambodia!

You know a place is something special when you get devoured by sandflies, but still come away listing it as one of your favourite places in Southeast Asia.

Still, it’s changed a little since I was last there in 2012. Back during my first visit, there was terrible internet access, little electricity, and what power there was regularly dropped out. It was a place that was all about isolation and living out your desert island fantasies. It was an island where you could walk along the soft sand for 20 minutes and find yourself on a deserted beach, then not see a single other human for the rest of the day. A place where you could dance in the sea after dark and watch the water glitter from the bioluminescent plankton.

There are plenty more guesthouses on the island these days, a handful of resorts, and even a road has been built to give access to more of the island’s beaches. And yet, it’s still relatively underdeveloped. You still won’t find an ATM on the island, for example, and while there’s internet, it sucks more often than not.

The reason why I wanted to include Koh Rong is because it has some of the best beaches in Southeast Asia. Because swimming in the water is like taking a bath. Because the beaches are so beautiful. 

As long as you apply plenty of insect repellent, you’ll have the best time ever here. 

Read all about it: Koh Rong: An Island Paradise Riddled with Sandflies | How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Cambodia?

Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique

Dhows in Mozambique
Dhows in Mozambique

If you’re looking for paradise that’s a little more off-the-beaten-path, the Bazaruto Archipelago in Mozambique could be exactly what you’re searching for. 

It has sandbanks for dayyyyyys

First of all, it’s affordable to visit. I based myself in Vilanculos and paid just $30 a night for a private room at a kickass hostel on the beach. Everybody is in Vilanculos for one reason: to get out on the water and explore the islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago. These are some of the most breathtaking spots on the planet. 

I decided to head to Ilha de Magaruque — the third largest island in the Bazaruto Archipelago — and had one of my favourite African travel experiences while I was there. I spent the day on a beautiful beach, snorkelling alongside octopi, keeping an eye out for the elusive dugongs that have made this coastline their home, tucking into a fresh seafood barbecue, sailing in an old fishing boat, and clambering up dunes to take photos of the sandbanks.

I love this part of the world so much. 

Read all about it: A Perfect Day in the Bazaruto Archipelago | What’s it Like to Travel in Mozambique? | The Cost of Travel in Mozambique

Huahine, French Polynesia

Road in Huahine, French Polynesia

Huahine is my favourite island in French Polynesia, which is really saying something, because I’ve been to Bora Bora. And while Bora Bora was just as incredible as you might imagine it to be, it has nothing on Huahine. 

Huahine is home to some beautiful beaches — just as beautiful as the ones on Bora Bora — but you won’t have to pay a fortune in order to see them. Huahine is one of the more affordable islands I’ve visited in French Polynesia. I paid $43 a night for a stay in a lovely guesthouse, hired a bicycle for $5 a day, and most meals came to around $10 a day. 

It’s relatively quiet, too. Most of the tourists in French Polynesia flock to Bora Bora, Tahiti, or Moorea, leaving Huahine calm, uncrowded, and relaxed. 

Huahine has everything you could possibly desire from a South Pacific island. You’ve got the amazing white sand beaches, palm trees lining every road, extinct volcanoes to climb, glistening lagoons to paddle in, dense jungle, old Polynesian ruins to explore, smooth roads to cycle along, vanilla bean plantations to wander through… It’s definitely a paradise island in my eyes. 

Read all about it: Why Huahine is My Favourite Island in the South Pacific | What’s it Like to Travel in French Polynesia?

La Digue, The Seychelles

Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue in the Seychelles

If you’re searching for a paradise island, then look no further than La Digue, in the Seychelles.

This island country is located off the coast of southeast Africa and comprises 115 beautiful spots of sand. Don’t let that overwhelm you, though, as there are just three main islands that you won’t want to miss out on: Mahe (the island you’ll fly into, with heritage buildings and fantastic hiking), Praslin (which is full of magnificent beaches), and La Digue (which is home to even more magnificent beaches).

On La Digue, you’ll want to head straight to Anse Source d’Argent, which is pictured above. Regularly voted the best beach on the entire planet, this is where you’ll bury your toes in the softest white sand, wade out in the warmest turquoise water, and marvel at the unique granite rocks that serve to give this beach a truly prehistoric vibe.

And most excitingly of all? It’s possible to visit this incredible beach on a budget.

Yes, really.

I booked a stay at the excellently-reviewed Chez Mera, which is rated 9.6 on Booking and priced at only $97 per night. On Praslin, you have La Residence D’Almée for just $98 a night. And on the island of Mahe, I recommend the incredible Chez Coco at $82 a night. Who knew you could visit paradise without spending hundreds of dollars a night?

Oahu, Hawaii

oahu beach

I spent three weeks island-hopping my way around Hawaii, checking out the Big Island, Oahu, and Maui and to be honest, I think I could put all three islands on this list. When I held myself down and forced myself to choose just one, though, I settled on Oahu. 

I loved sunbathing on iconic Waikiki Beach; driving the circumference of the island over the space of a week and stopping off at the most beautiful beaches. I loved spending Christmas Day watching the surfers out on the North Shore Beaches, snorkelling with sea turtles, taking a tour of breathtaking Kualoa Ranch, and eating so much good food in Honolulu.  

The one thing I wish I had done: hiked Diamond Head! I actually drove to the parking lot at 4 a.m. with the intention of hiking it for sunrise, but back then, I despised hiking, so decided to nap in the car. What a dumbass. 

Man, I really need to get back to Hawaii. 

Read all about it: My Quest to Find All of the LOST Filming Sites in Oahu | A Tour of Kualoa Ranch in Oahu 

Boracay, the Philippines

boracay white beach

I kicked off my introduction with a love letter to Boracay, and I couldn’t not include it in this list.

White Beach, on Boracay, is one of my favourite places in the world. Yeah, it’s touristy as hell and there are touts everywhere, but I simply don’t care. The beach here makes me so happy and it’s my definition of paradise.

The sand is bright white, the water is clear, calm and shallow, and the party scene is so much fun. This is a place where you’ll go drinking every night, sleep off your hangovers on the most perfect beach during the day, then do it all again the next evening. 

I still remember the first time I stepped foot on White Beach. 

I’d had high expectations because I’d seen all those pristine photos on Google Images, but I’d assumed they’d been heavily edited. I made my way out of my guesthouse and walked until I reached the sand, looked up, and let out an audible gasp. 

I had never seen anywhere like it.

Until I arrived on Boracay, I didn’t believe a beach could look so breathtakingly perfect. 

I’ll never forget that moment. It was the one and only time that a sight has literally taken my breath away. 

Read all about it: 23 Incredible Things to Do in Boracay, the Philippines

Sao Miguel, The Azores

Azores viewpoint

If you’re ever looking for a way to break up the journey between the U.S. and Europe, I highly recommend visiting the Azores. In particular, the island of Sao Miguel. 

SATA Airlines fly between Boston and Portugal, and offer a free stopover in the Azores for up to seven days. I opted for four and it was the perfect amount of time to spend on Sao Miguel. I spent one day roaming the capital of Ponte Delgada, one day scootering out west, one day exploring the centre of the island, and one day exploring the east. 

So, what’s so special about Sao Miguel?

Everything. Most of all, it’s such a foodie destination. You’ll find incredible wines, cheeses, and fruits grown here, and the restaurants are incredible. You can even eat a stew that’s been cooked inside a volcano! 

It’s an island of lagoons, as you can see from the photo above. There are waterfalls, hot springs, black sand beaches, beautiful villages, geothermal activity, and it’s so easy to explore by car or scooter. There’s even an old abandoned hotel to wander around.

It’s a ridiculously beautiful island that’s inexpensive to see and full of impressive viewpoints. 

Read all about it: 13 Reasons Why You Should Plan a Trip to the Azores | Exploring the Abandoned Monte Palace Hotel in Sao Miguel

Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Isla Mujeres

If you asked me where you could find the most turquoise waters in the world, I’d direct you to Isla Mujeres. The water here is the most incredible shade of aqua. 

Fortunately, the beaches are just as pretty. Playa Norte receives most of the tourists and for good reason, as it’s one of the best beaches on the island, but it’s still so easy to escape the crowds. 

Simply get on a scooter, or if you’re old and American, a golf cart. Kidding. I would have probably rented a golf cart had I not had a scooter-proficient boyfriend by my side. Anyway! Get your hands on some form of transportation and hit the road. You’ll find quieter beaches all along the coastline, as well as a shit ton of iguanas. The inland villages are so pretty and colourful, the food’s great — as it is everywhere in Mexico — and it just has such a lovely, laidback vibe. One of the cooler things you can do on the island is visit the Underwater Museum, where you can snorkel or dive to see hundreds of sculptures and statues on the ocean floor. So badass.

In the summer months, you can even swim with whale sharks off the coast of Isla Mujeres.

Read all about it: Isla Mujeres: My Mexican Island Paradise

Ithaca, Greece

Kioni from the water

I’m very fortunate to have friends who know how to sail. 

Every few years, we charter a yacht in the Greek Ionian and spend a week exploring paradise. Our favourite place to head to is Ithaca. I love this island.

It’s far less crowded than the more famous Greek islands, like Santorini and Mykonos. It attracts fewer tourists than its Ionian neighbours, Corfu, Lefkada, and Kefalonia. It’s chilled out, the food is incredible, the beaches are wonderful (although stony), and the locals so friendly. Most interestingly of all, the water is actually pretty warm around here! The Mediterranean normally makes me shiver, but there’s something about the Ionian that has me repeatedly jumping into the water. I just don’t feel the cold!

As for the spots on Ithaca itself, I love meandering through the adorable village of Kioni, pictured above from the water. I love spending time in the picturesque village of Frikes. I love eating at the incredible restaurants in Vathy’s bay. I love it all.

This isn’t just a destination for sailors, though. It’s easy to reach Ithaca from the mainland, and simple to get around once you’re there. In fact, I’m hoping to one day visit while not on a sailing adventure because all of my previous visits have felt far too short.

Read all about it: 11 Highlights From My First Trip to Greece | Conquering My Fear of Sailing in Greece 

The Glaring Omissions on My List

Island near Great Barrier Reef from above
The islands of the Great Barrier Reef allllmost made the cut!

Obviously, it’s the Caribbean. 

Yes, for all of my love of beaches and tropical islands, I have yet to make it to the Caribbean. I count it as one of my biggest travel oversights. Top of my Caribbean list at the moment is Jamaica, St Lucia, and the Dominican Republic, but it changes all the time. 

The Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe, and Cape Verde are also high up on my African island destination list. 

The South Pacific always calls my name, as you know, and I’m craving heading to Samoa, Vanuatu, and the Fijian Yasawa Islands, in particular. 

And there’s a whole bunch of islands in Latin America, too. The Galapagos. Easter Island. The San Blas Islands. The Corn Islands. Roatan. 

What about you guys? Which is your favourite island in the world, and which ones do you still have on your bucket list?

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About the author

Lauren Juliff

Lauren Juliff is a published author and travel expert who founded Never Ending Footsteps in 2011. She has spent over 12 years travelling the world, sharing in-depth advice from more than 100 countries across six continents.

Lauren's travel advice has been featured in publications like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan, and her work is read by 200,000 readers each month. Her travel memoir can be found in bookstores across the planet.

34 Comments

  1. Alex
    April 8, 2020
    Reply

    Bermuda! Beautiful pink sand beaches and really easy to get to from eastern North America (3 hour flight from Toronto). It is somewhat expensive compared to the Caribbean but they offer good deals in the low season (eg April). I was not a beach vacation person really until I visited here.

    • April 8, 2020
      Reply

      Ahhh, yes! I would love to get to Bermuda! After so many years spent focusing on the South Pacific, I’ve been feeling as though it’s time to start checking out the Caribbean instead. It’s a lot easier to get to from the U.K., at least :-) I’m off to google the pink sand beaches now…

  2. scott
    April 8, 2020
    Reply

    If you’re not a “just sit on the beach and read” kind of person (i.e. I like to do stuff) are most of these islands 3-4 day types of islands or are there any which are week long vacations?

    • April 8, 2020
      Reply

      Zanzibar definitely has enough to fill a week, and so does Huahine. And Oahu, obviously. You could easily spend an action-packed week in the Azores, for sure, visiting Sao Miguel and one other island.

  3. April 8, 2020
    Reply

    The Yasawas have some of the most stunning beaches in the world so I’m sure you will love them. I also loved Isla Mujeres. Some of my favorite islands are in Canada, not white sand beach tropical islands, but just as beautiful

    • April 9, 2020
      Reply

      I want to go so badly! I even planned to spend a month-long trip in the Yasawas a few years ago, but cancelled it after getting islanded-out in the Cook Islands and French Polynesia. One day!

      When I sent my mum this post, she replied to tell me her favourite island in the world is Vancouver Island! I definitely need to see more of Canada :-)

      • Donald
        March 8, 2024
        Reply

        Yes Yasawas Fiji

  4. Mark
    April 9, 2020
    Reply

    We were in Jamaica over NYE. It was incredible. The culture, the people, the food. It quickly became our favorite Caribbean island. Great post – I’ve added a few more options to our travel list (most likely for 2021).

    • April 9, 2020
      Reply

      That’s so good to hear! When I finally am able to travel again, I think Jamaica will be one of the first places I travel to.

  5. April 9, 2020
    Reply

    Your photography is absolutely gorgeous, Lauren! I’m glad you’re going to continue to share travel content and looking forward to more roundup posts!

    • April 9, 2020
      Reply

      Oh, thank you so much, Dale! :-)

  6. April 9, 2020
    Reply

    I went to Zanzibar in 2011 (wow, I didn’t realize it was almost 10 years ago!), and it will forever be one of my favorite places. I’m almost scared to ever go back, out of fear that it won’t live up to my memories (and I’m sure it’s changed so much since then). But I do really want to go to Pemba eventually!

  7. April 10, 2020
    Reply

    Love!! I’ve been dying to get to Mozambique ever since you went and started posting about it. That’s first up when I can get back on a plane!

    Zanzibar is absolutely amazing, and so is Oahu. And Greece never gets old!

    • April 15, 2020
      Reply

      Mozambique is just the best! It has some of the best beaches in the world and hardly anybody knows about them! You’re going to love it there :-)

  8. Seema jain
    April 11, 2020
    Reply

    I love Santorini and Mykonos

    • April 12, 2020
      Reply

      I can’t believe I still haven’t been to either! I’d like to go soon, though, and compare them to the Ionian islands I love so much.

  9. April 11, 2020
    Reply

    You have been to some very beautiful places – lucky you!

    • April 12, 2020
      Reply

      Yes, I’ve definitely been very lucky!

  10. Man, this list is incredible!!! The Diamond Head hike is nice, but there are lots of better hikes on Oahu, if you do get back there! I’m still mad that I didn’t go to Koh Rong, but we had to get to Thailand for Songkran! Having to actually schedule travels around events?? Dammit haha. Hopefully some time in the future!

    • April 15, 2020
      Reply

      Oh, and you know, I actually had to cut short my time in Cambodia to head back to Thailand to catch the Yi Peng lantern festival! So I can definitely relate to the frustration :-)

  11. Emily
    April 15, 2020
    Reply

    You have to get to Brazil! There are so many amazing beaches there, plus I love their beach culture in terms of it always being easy to get yummy food and drinks but without vendors hassling you.

  12. Mihika Iyer
    April 16, 2020
    Reply

    Mílos, Greece is my favorite.

    Thanks, Lauren for sharing this beautiful article.

  13. April 17, 2020
    Reply

    Wow, this is such a fantastic list! Sao Miguel is officially on my travel bucket list, it looks stunning.

    The islands off of the coast of Croatia are also amazing and absolutely worth a visit if you haven’t been. Since you have friends that know how to sail you would be able to see a lot of the hidden gems and visit some pretty spectacular islands :)

    Thanks for sharing!

  14. April 17, 2020
    Reply

    Very nice and inspiring post, Lauren. Honestly, I hoped to see Brazilian or Latin America islands/beaches on your list. These places are definitely worth the trip. Best, Francine.

    • April 18, 2020
      Reply

      I know! I was aiming to be in Brazil at this time, actually, but alas. Hopefully once the world opens up again, I’ll be able to finally spend more time in Latin America.

  15. Dan
    April 18, 2020
    Reply

    I went to Huahine inspired by your post and loved it! Paradise and much cheaper than Bora which of course is a must see …

    • April 18, 2020
      Reply

      That makes me so happy! I’m so glad you enjoyed it :-)

  16. April 29, 2020
    Reply

    Wow , Iwas so shocked to see that you started this blog with Boracay! I totally agree with you, it is just perfect. I’ve only been there once (although I’m a Filipino) and I really loved the place. We went to the different beaches and every one of them is awesome! Thank you for appreciating our country. :)

    Hope you can visit the Philippines again to check out other lovely places here!

  17. Cyndi
    May 14, 2020
    Reply

    Like Dan, my husband and I also went to Huahine after reading your blog post, and we loved it! So many great memories. I’m eager to try more of your recommendations after this pandemic.

  18. Lainie Hines
    August 7, 2020
    Reply

    I just found your blog today and am loving it! I loved Jamaica when I went (1995). We stayed in Ocho Rios which didn’t have great beaches, but the location made it possible for many fun excursions. We climbed the Dunn’s River Falls, bicycled down Blue Mountain, went to a tropical garden full of beautiful flora and fauna and did a catamaran day trip complete with snorkeling along the reef.
    While I personally haven’t been to these next two locations, my mother and step-dad called Dominica their favorite place on earth. The diving/snorkeling is nothing short of amazing given the photos they brought back. The next little gem I have recently started reading about a unique little island (some would say best-kept secret in the Caribbean) known as Saba (pronounced Say-buh). The flight into the airport is not for the faint of heart, but the island looks like an amazing adventure.
    Hopefully, the quarantine will be over soon and I can read about your Caribbean adventures!

  19. lacey
    August 18, 2020
    Reply

    i booked our trip to zanzibar & mozambique based on many of your suggestions – but we had to cancel…thanks 2020!
    i, like you, am a bit of a beach whore! :) seychelles was amazing and peaceful, we went during shoulder season and enjoyed practically deserted beaches! in the carribbean, imo anguilla has the best beaches i have ever seen (& ive hit my share of thai islands too!). bvi & usvi are great spots too (st johns is all its hyped up to be!)
    skip jamaica – its obligatory for US travelers…but there are far better and less american infested spots! sorry – had to be said!

  20. Susien
    November 19, 2020
    Reply

    You’d love the Caribbean.
    I’d recommend going South from South Vincent to Grenada by ferries, with Bequia, Tobago Cays and Carriacou on the way. Another good island-hopping route: St Lucia – Martinique – Dominica onto Guadeloupe. Flying to Miami from either ends of both routes is relatively easy.
    All are vastly different. Grenada – very low-key and lush, Carriacou is like the islands probably were in the 50s, totally unspoiled and rural with probably best beaches anywhere. Tobago Cays and St Vincent are where “Pirates of the Caribbean” was filmed, nuff said. Martinique: very civilized, with best food in 300 miles radius. Dominica, rarely visited, is probably the most authentic culturally. Then there’s Barbados – a fun combo of a party place, hilarious British retirees and ultra rich mixing it all up. Then there’s Tobago way to the side.
    Some are utterly americanized tourist traps, Punta Cana, Aruba and Caymans coming to mind, yet their immediate neighbors are anything but : Cayman Brac or Bonaire.
    Some are very rarely visited and hard to get to : Montserrat, Saba, Statia, all worth it.
    Island-hopping is expensive, inter-island flights ridiculously expensive in relation to distance (same as South Pacific), ferries are limited to few clusters (3rd is St Martin – Anguliia – Antigua) and not for everyone. But it’s fun and rewarding.
    Then you have the big islands, all as different as the 2 nations sharing Hispaniola. Jamaica and Cuba are in a league of their own. Even the South and Central American shores share this special je ne sais quoi vibe.

  21. Christine
    December 24, 2020
    Reply

    Just found your blog through backpackingbanter as I am thinking of going to the Maldives. I live in the Greek island of Kos and from Athens it is the only place open to visit. Like you I want to go to the local islands and had already picked out Maalfushi And Fulidoo so you have just confirmed my choice. I have been checking out trip advisor forum but it’s mostly asking which resort to pick. Just waiting for our lockdown restrictions to be reviewed in 7/1 but it’s looking like a distinct possibility

  22. Dario
    July 1, 2021
    Reply

    What an informative blog. Thank you for including Boracay in the list. I’ve been there four times already yet it looks like I never had enough of that place. The powdery beach front, the amazing view of the sunset and the beautiful clouds that made the sunset even more beautiful. A paradise indeed. Sugary beach on the other side of boracay made me love the place even more. God bless on your blogs.

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