Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner: Deluxe suites
When you realize that some seafaring suites can run more than $4,000 per night for a couple, an all-suite ship, such as the Seven Seas Voyager or Seven Seas Mariner, can start looking pretty good. A $556-per-person Deluxe Suite is 301 square feet with many of the same amenities as bigger, pricier suites, including a king-size bed with good linens, a separate sitting area, and free soft drinks and beer in the fridge. And while cruise-ship bathrooms are often dinky and dark, these are akin to a nice hotel room's facilities, with a surfeit of marble, full-size tubs, and separate showers. Of course, you could push up to a Penthouse-class suite, which is roughly the same size but includes a balcony and butler service. But we suggest you consider using those extra bucks on blow-out port excursions.
Best detail: Interactive TV systems allow you to order room service or book a shore excursion without picking up a phone. And room service is worth ordering—butlers bring silver-domed plates piled high with treats.
Set sail: Voyager: summer, Europe; winter, Caribbean and around-the-world voyages. Mariner: summer, Alaska; winter, around-the-world voyages

Cunard Line

Leave it to the Brits to do hierarchy well: These two duplex suites may be the best staterooms at sea. The names themselves—Balmoral and Sandringham—sound awfully regal, and the sea views through two-story glass walls overlooking the stern don't disappoint. Each duplex measures 2,249 square feet and can be combined with four other suites to total more than 9,000. (In which case you probably have a very big family or are claustrophobic.) The 1930s-era Art Deco feel hearkens back to the grand old days of cruising (or what we imagine them to be, anyway), with a premium on good lighting and gleaming dark wood. And if the three polished marble bathrooms don't make you feel giddy, then take several star turns on the sweeping staircase leading to the second floor (and massive bedroom). The in-suite dining room seats eight, so you can invite your new hoity-toity friends to join you for elegant predinner canapés, served each evening by your butler.
Best detail: On Cunard, cabin category determines where you're allowed to eat. Guests in the Grand Duplex Apartments feast in the Queens Grill, where caviar, truffles, foie gras, and Champagne are a few of the menu's delights.
Set sail: Summer, transatlantic crossings; winter, around-the-world voyages

Slickest Suites at Sea

If you're like us, you get slightly seasick at the idea of spending a week inside a tiny cruise-ship cabin, with those tacky round portholes and bunk beds with lumpy mattresses. OK, maybe they're not like that anymore, but we'd rather not take chances. When we set sail, we'd much prefer, say, a private butler at our disposal. Or a private terrace large enough to ballroom-dance upon. Many of the better cruise lines now have at least one truly impressive suite onboard, the kind of room that would wow you even if you found it in a swank hotel. Some suites are a good bang for the buck, others cost a whole lot of bucks—but you won't feel cramped in any of them. And if you want to see what you're missing by not booking a crowded little cabin, you can always lock yourself in the walk-in closet.

Krabi, Thailand

Bring the heat: Get a load of all that drama: those lances of limestone that tower hundreds of feet out of the sea; the sea caves; the intense color of the water. Love at first sight.
Select sand: The embarrassment of sandy riches is the main reason people travel so far to Krabi and its neighboring Andaman Sea islands—and the reason they return time and time again. But once you arrive, you'll find that the best beach, Phra Nang (pictured), can only be reached by boat.
Hookup rating: Forget about having to set the mood with embellishments like candles and wine. This place is the mood.
Privacy: 5. Krabi is no longer off the map, so you'll have to share. Once you get back to your private balcony, though…
Pillow talk: Rayavadee is mad fancy, with 98 two-story rooms spread over 26 verdant acres; there's a spa, four restaurants, and yada, yada, yada. What you'll most care about is the to-die-for location, at the very edge of Krabi Marine National Park.

Peter Island, British Virgin Islands

Bring the heat: Eight miles long and a half mile wide, this private island's sole apparent purpose is to provide you with a postcard-perfect backdrop for making out with the one you love (or at least the one you brought).
Select sand: Deadman's Bay (pictured) is the beach to beat, and it's right out your door. A classic U-shaped stretch of golden sand with views to Tortola, it's the kind of place you'd wash up on after walking the plank of a pirate ship—if you also happened to be starring in a Hollywood movie.
Hookup potential: Strictly couples only. Unless you don't mind being a third wheel among googly-eyed honeymooners.
Privacy rating: 5. Deadman's Bay is bustling, but make your way to White Bay Beach on the windward side for pounding surf and private nooks. Resort staff will set up a fancy picnic lunch on the sand and then leave.
Pillow talk: Peter Island Resort is the only option. Happily, it's a good one, with fewer than 150 guests and lots of space to play in. The simple A-frame villas have bright splashes of Caribbean color inside—more fun than chic. And nobody will mind if you spread the sand around.

Fire Island, New York

Bring the heat: If the Hamptons can feel stuffy or elitist, 31-mile-long Fire Island, along Long Island's south coast, is the friendlier, easygoing alternative. Each stretch of beach attracts its own demographic—Fire Island Pines, the gay crowd; Ocean Beach, the young professionals—but instead of long lines at nightclubs, it's all about house parties. Drinks in the hot tub, anyone?
Select sand: Which demographic are you looking for? Both Ocean Beach and the Pines see some very outré goings-on along the surf—and it's easy to take the action back to the rental house. For a wide, classic East Coast beach that attracts all kinds, the five-mile stretch in Robert Moses State Park is a good bet.
Hookup rating: You're single? Why, so is Jake. And Sally. And seven other people in the house. See you in the hot tub?
Privacy: 0. The other people in the house will know everything by morning.
Pillow talk: This is a house-rental world. You can book a week at a time, or for the entire summer. A good place to start is to take a look at FireIsland.com or a directory such as vacationrentals.com, which allows you to contact the owners directly.

Lake Nyasa, Mozambique

Bring the heat: This is the interior of Africa, but looking over a sealike expanse of clear liquid blue, you wouldn't believe it. The ninth-largest freshwater lake in the world touches Mozambique, Tanzania, and Malawi (where it's called Lake Malawi). Gaudy beach tourism? Not a whisper of it—remote, pristine, sublime.
Select sand: A clean white beach that squeaks as you walk along it, this is unlike any lakefront you'd recognize. And with waters so clear they cry out for snorkeling expeditions to see bright fish, it's unlike any lake you'll find in North America, either.
Hookup rating: Unless you count the leopards and elephants in the neighboring Manda Wilderness Preserve (your lodge will set up a safari), the only game you'll be stalking is the lovely creature sharing your chalet.
Privacy: 6.9. The lake is quiet, with just the occasional fisherman gliding by, and the Manda Nkwichi Lodge accommodates only 14 at a time. With the leopards about, however, it might be best not to wander into the woods alone.
Pillow talk: An eco-lodge that can only be reached by boat over the lake, Manda Nkwichi has seven modest cottages amid the trees. They have outside showers and hammocks, and the staff will set up private dinners on the shore.

Natal, Brazil

Bring the heat: So your globe-trotting friends have Brazil-beach-hopped from Salvador, Bahía, all the way south to Florianópolis, but we bet none have been to the northerly city of Natal. Imagine a sea of sculptured sand dunes that push up against the perfect blue waters of the Atlantic—the juxtaposition is fantastic. Take a thrill ride on the dunes (pictured) with one of the region's lunatic buggy drivers before diving in the warm sea among the black dolphins. And expect an all-nighter in the town's ready-for-anything Alto de Ponta Negra neighborhood.
Select sand: The sexy crowd hangs out at Morro do Careca, where you'll find fine bodies working up a thirst playing beach soccer and volleyball, and then quenching it with ice-cold Brahma beers while chilling under yellow umbrellas.
Hookup potential: Through the roof. When you're wondering if you should invite along a romantic interest on your trip to Brazil, first consider the local saying, "Why bring sand to the beach?" Natal, with a population of around a million people, doesn't see a lot of tourists, so chances are the trim, black-haired surfer dudes and dark-skinned, white-teethed garotas in tiny bikinis will be very pleased to show you around.
Privacy rating: 1. This scene is all about showing off.
Pillow talk: Natal can be a bit rough around the edges, so go for the service and comfort of the Pestana Natal, which has three pools just off the beach and a staff that mostly speaks English. It's also where you can hire a dune-buggy driver who's less maluco ("insane") than most.

Gotland, Sweden

Bring the heat: The funny thing about Stockholm is that when it finally gets warm, all the Swedes leave. They make for their summer homes on the thousands of islands that dot the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland. There they roast in saunas, sit by the shores of lakes and the Baltic, and drink bottomless bottles of aquavit. If you think the Swedes are good-looking people, and you would like to get to know them and their mating rituals better, get thee to the thousands of islands in the Åland Archipelago.
Select Sand: Gotland is the biggest island in the north Baltic Sea, drawing ruddy-cheeked visitors from around Sweden. The countryside is a riot of greenery, and as the sun never sets in the summer, you can spend as much time as you like on the miles of empty beaches.
Hookup potential: What's the Swedish phrase for "sure thing"? The society is quite permissive, and Midsummer's Eve is the biggest (and longest) party day of the year.
Privacy rating: 10. The Åland Archipelago is packed with 6,500-plus islands.
Pillow talk: While the medieval town of Visby is the place to go out at night, better to base yourself in Gotland's countryside. Hotel Toftagården is close to the water, has its own sauna (an important thing to the Swedes), and has both cute little private cabins and traditional hotel rooms to choose from.

St. Philip, Barbados

Bring the heat: It's only 21 miles long, yet Barbados has a bit of everything: Fine dining and bawdy beach shacks, cricket matches and Mount Gay Rum tours, the posh Caribbean Platinum Coast and the rough-and-tumble (and Highland-like) Scotland District up north. Gauge your partner's whims and go.
Select sands: Been fantasizing about pink-sand beaches while sitting in your beige work cubicle? Imagine waking up, running out of the hotel with your lover, and straight onto Crane Beach, backed by tall cliffs and baby powder–fine sands that glow pink. It's a primal place that might encourage a detour back to the hotel.
Hookup potential: Minimal. There are other tourists to check out, but Barbados is really about spiriting out of town for a week with somebody you'd like to know better.
Privacy rating: 8.3. The western coast packs 'em in, leaving your side of the island just as it should be: empty.
Pillow talk: Unless you're desperate to hang around the crowds, the Crane's remote location—on an east-coast cliff overlooking Crane Beach—is ideal for intimacy. You have a choice between the rooms in the original section (built in 1887) or the new private residences, which come with private plunge pools.

Perth, Australia

Bring the heat: The Aussies may be world-class friendly, but even they get tourist-weary in places like Sydney. To achieve that "I'm an outsider, wanna buy me a drink?" sizzle, it's hard to beat the west coast, near Perth. The locals pride themselves on being a little wilder, a little more independent, and a lot more entertaining. Challenge a cute one to a drinking contest.
Select sand: This photo was shot at Mindarie Keys—a perfect spot on the 20-plus miles of Sunset Coast that run north from Perth. Think long washes of bone-white beaches and a clear Indian Ocean that blushes brilliant red at sunset. If you set off from Perth's busy city center, you'll be here in less than 30 minutes.
Hookup potential: Great-looking locals. Lots of them. You're the one with the accent. Do the math.
Privacy rating: 7.7. Chances are, new acquaintances will love to show you their favorite swath of solitary sand. If you're in the mood to duck away on dry land, ask for a tour of nearby Yanchep National Park, famous for some 600 natural caves and colonies of fuzzy-wuzzy koalas.
Pillow talk: Perth's a lovely city, but there's no reason to listen to the sound of traffic when you wake in the morning. Opt instead for the sound of boats clinking softly together at the Mindarie Marina, which has really nice suites at even nicer rates. Each has a balcony overlooking the water and access to the swimming pool and tennis courts, and—most importantly—the hotel is about a three-minute walk to the beach where this lass was photographed.

St. Lucia, Caribbean

Bring the heat: If curious couples once fantasized about Jamaica—a sensual green-and-blue paradise that's still close to home—these days St. Lucia has assumed that role. The verdant island has an increasing number of top-tier properties, a host of possible land and water adventures to spice things up, and plenty of sand to roll around in as the surf breaks over your bodies.
Select sand: The island has archetypal Caribbean beaches such as Reduit—which, while oh so pretty, are sardined with sun-reddened tourists. If lying around doesn't suit, Cas-en-Bas on the Atlantic coast is more geared towards the adrenaline set, with pursuits such as kiteboarding or racing in the surf on horseback, like the handsome fellow pictured. You can rent horses from the International Riding Stables in nearby Gros Islet (though we'd suggest springing for the saddle rental, too, unlike this guy).
Hookup potential: If all that sunshine, good food, and beautiful scenery doesn't help your game…well, there's always the priesthood.
Privacy rating: 6.5. The island keeps getting more popular, so ditch the crowds and slip away to a hidden spot—underneath the waterfall at the Botanical Garden's mineral baths, for instance.
Pillow talk: The newest resort property is Landings St. Lucia, in the north (only 15 minutes or so from Cas-en-Bas). The one- to three-bedroom villas are sparkling new, there's an 800-foot private beach dotted with pools and hot tubs, and the huge RockResorts spa will get the kinks out.

Oahu, Hawaii

Bring the heat: Oahu gets its share of loud shirt–wearing tourists, but it's surprising how few venture around the entire island, choosing instead to nurse fruity drinks in Waikiki. Which leaves the North Shore and nearby beaches to the hot surfer boys and girls and superfit locals. And you're free to mix it up with them.
Select sand: In winter, the North Shore's Sunset Beach is legendarily sexy—have you ever seen so many hard bodies toting around their surfboards? Great ogling, but you don't want to get in that pounding surf yourself. A short drive away is Kailua Beach, a sweet arc of sand where the pretty girls and sporty guys from the moneyed enclave of Kailua like to body-board.
Hookup potential: Score! Oahu is a no-shirt, no-shoes, no-problem island. Mix in all the athletic types who travel here for the swells, the young military people stationed here, and the happy-go-lucky locals, and you get sparks.
Privacy: 2. Sorry, bud, it's a small island, and the locals have claimed the most secluded bits as their own.
Pillow talk: Turtle Bay is right at the North Shore—and after a long evening hanging out at the house where all the surfers live, you won't want to drive all the way south to one of the big resorts. If possible, book one of the 42 cottages, which have more personality than the 400-plus rooms.

Lanzarote, Canary Islands

Bring the heat: Looking for heat, you say? Well, this is a volcanic island, after all, and despite Lanzarote's location 100 miles off the coast of Africa, it's Spanish (and the locals are, well, passionate). Much of the interior is made up of jagged lava fields, and the black sand beach pictured here is called El Golfo.
Select sand: If quiet splendor (and skin) is your thing, head south: Caleta del Congrio is a remote beach at the island's southern tip where fair young things are known to shed all their clothes. Choices abound, though: The island is ringed by some 90 white-, golden-, and black-sand beaches.
Hookup potential: You'll find a steady flow of tourists, from Spain and beyond, chasing a fun weekend in the sun. For those who like surfer types, make for the north of the island and the wild, four-mile-long Famara Beach, where board-lovers do their thing.
Privacy rating: 8.7. We already said it: 90 beaches.
Pillow talk: The influx of budget vacationers hurts the lodging around the island, but the Hesperia Lanzarote, which has sister hotels in Madrid and Bilbao, gets it right. Located in Puerto Calero, it has 46 suites and 289 standard rooms; four swimming pools; comfortable cabanas on the water; and a good, clean design that plays up the Mediterranean influence.

Providencia

Bring the heat: The Caribbean islands sprinkled off the coast of Nicaragua offer a tantalizing cultural brew—one part Afro-Caribbean, with two jiggers of Latin America. Providencia, under Colombian jurisdiction, is a back-to-basics paradise where beach shacks hum with both reggae and salsa, beers are cheaper than bottled water, and there's nothing to do but back-float in calm, sun-dappled waters.
Select sand: Only three miles long and two miles wide, Providencia won't take long to explore, but once you hit the khaki crescent of Playa Manzanillo, with palm trees hanging over the water, it's unlikely you'll want to go any further.
Hookup potential: Love the one you're with. The neighboring island of San Andrés sees tourists from Colombia, but Providencia is gloriously quiet.
Privacy rating: 4. There are no T-shirt shops on the beach, but there will be a number of locals enjoying the surf as much as you are. And they like to visit.
Pillow talk: Long sunny days, the slow pace, and cheap lobster dinners are more than a match for more typical luxury. The 35-room Sol Caribe Providencia sits on a quiet bay and has its own restaurant, bar, and swimming pool. By the end of the first day, you'll be on a first-name basis with all the ladies manning that restaurant and bar.

Pemba Island, Tanzania

Bring the heat: There are places to get away, and there are faraway places. Take Pemba Island: You'll know you're off the tourist route when you finally reach Zanzibar, in East Africa—and you've got another flight to go. When you and your lover fantasize about chucking it all (the jobs, the stress, the kids…) and living off the grid in a remote land, this Spice Island is the place you're dreaming of.
Select sand: They simply call them the sandbanks: the beaches that are reborn when the iridescent waters slide back with the tide. These strings of white-sand pathways make for ideal strolls or launching points for snorkeling.
Hookup potential: It's an insular community with very few travelers. Plan ahead and travel with someone you really like.
Privacy rating: 3, on the island itself. (You don't want to scandalize the locals.) Charter your property's traditional dhow to whisk you to uninhabited Misali Island to achieve the perfect 10.
Pillow talk: Tourist infrastructure is scant, so the Brit-owned Fundu Lagoon (pictured) comes as a bit of a shock. The infinity pool is the tip-off to the luxury on offer here, as are the thatched superior suites that sit on the beach and come with two private terraces and a plunge pool.

Loreto, Mexico

Bring the heat: Mexico has long been a haven for Americans looking to to escape—from posses on horseback, from unpaid taxes, from the FBI, angry exes, or even oneself. But in Spring Break towns like Cancún, that mystique is as dead as Raymond Chandler. Not so in Baja's Loreto, 700 miles south of San Diego. It's still the kind of place where you might meet a mysterious brunette at a beachside watering hole who's happy to share her tequila—but not her last name.
Select sand: Even on the edge of town, the Sea of Cortez is a magical thing, soft and azure one moment, sparkly neon green the next. But to truly experience the isolation and grandeur of this as yet unadulterated area of Baja, hire a boat or pilot a kayak to Danzante, one of the small desert islands in the 800-square-mile Loreto Bay National Marine Park.
Hookup potential: While Loreto isn't anything like its hard-partying southern sister, Los Cabos, this is still Mexico. There's always trouble to be found if you know where to look.
Privacy rating: 9.7. The waters are calm, the locals aren't nosy, and a kayak will take you to many a dead-quiet cove.
Pillow talk: Since you're hiding out, best not stay in town. Rather, book an off-the-radar bolthole like Danzante Eco Resort, 25 miles south of Loreto. The nine simple rooms have views to Danzante Island and even free kayaks to get you there. And since there are no phones or Internet, nobody from the outside world will be able to track you down.

Paros, Greece

Bring the heat: There's just something about the Greek Islands that encourages exuberant behavior. This outcropping of sand and craggy rocks in the Cyclades, 13 miles long and 10 wide, is giving Mykonos a run for its ouzo-fueled reputation, and attracts a heady mix of sun-loving Europeans and on-the-make locals.
Select sand: Kolymbithres Beach, pictured, is dominated by curiously shaped rocks rising out of the aquamarine Aegean. Perhaps they were shaped by centuries of gentle winds—or maybe it's the friction from all the scantily clad bodies sunbathing on top of them.
Hookup potential: Extraordinary. Even the locals act like they're on vacation, and the very late nights in the town of Naousa usually segue directly to naps on the beach. The shedding of clothes can occur at any point on this continuum.
Privacy rating: Not applicable. Everybody's topless anyway.
Pillow talk: Since you'll be spending the day sleeping at Kolymbithres and the nights in Naousa, stay at Astir of Paros. This 57 room hotel is built in traditional style and sits in tropical gardens on Kolymbithres, a five-minute drive to town. And if you're in a hurry to arrive on Paros from the mainland, take advantage of its private helicopter pad.

Malibu, California

Bring the heat: Why Malibu, you ask? Angelina Jolie, Cindy Crawford, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Pamela Anderson…in swimsuits
Select sand: If Malibu's beaches were supermodels, Zuma would be Cheryl Tiegs: blond, well-proportioned, and friendly. It's open to the public, and there's parking too. (Head to the volleyball courts for great, um, people-watching.) For the more attitudinal side of Malibu, look to the Naomi Campbell-esque Carbon Beach (a.k.a. Millionaire's), which is great to look at but can be vicious to outsiders (think security guards, "No Trespassing" signs, and lawsuits).
Hookup potential: Surprisingly good, though you may find that Ms. Aniston's bodyguard accompanies her on her morning beach stroll. Make the approach to Tinseltown's sexiest off the beach first, perhaps in the valet line at the swank restaurant Geoffrey's Malibu or at one of the chichi shops in the Malibu Country Mart. You are a producer, right?
Privacy rating: Zuma Beach: 2. Millionaire's Beach, that nearly inaccessible bit of sand and rock fronted by a $20-million mansion: 9.8.
Pillow talk: Position yourself on the same beach as the stars' homes. The Malibu Beach Inn is owned by movie mogul David Geffen, and your very private balcony will look onto Millionaire's Beach itself. Plus, it's only a short walk to David's own house for Saturday night drinks…your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to secure an invite.

Kaş, Turkey

Bring the heat: Do you daydream of the old world Mediterranean? The ancient architecture, the sagas of wars over beautiful women, the…togas? Look and you'll find it in southwest Turkey, rife with historic seaside towns and Roman ruins along the sea. Imagine the private recreations: "You, Venus; me, Adonis."
Select sand: A crumbling amphitheater, tombs, a Roman temple, and, yes, one helluva nice beach. Archeologists have made a rich historical find at Patara, not far from the town of Kaş. The other upshot, other than being able to explore the ruins on your own, is that the beautiful, 10-mile-long Patara Beach is protected from development.
Hookup potential: Kaş is like a much smaller version of Antalya, a former seaside village that draws crowds of Turkish tourists. And you'll soon find that this bunch loves to party.
Privacy rating: 3 out of 10. This part of the world has been well populated for many thousands of years.
Pillow talk: With a vista toward the Greek island of Meis, the hillside Villa Hotel Tamara has three terraced platforms, two of which have pools (one filled with saltwater). The third terrace is almost level with the sea, so you can dive right in. Suites have French doors that open onto glass-enclosed balconies and hot tubs.

World's Sexiest Beaches 2008

You know the saying: Put two people together and let nature take its course. Well, put two people together in a locale with sunshine, sand, and turquoise waters…and watch the clothes come flying off. Whether this summer finds you and your Pucci two-piece looking to break a few hearts, or whether it's a matter of you and your mate defrosting passions after a long, cruel winter, we've got the surefire solution. These beaches, quite simply, bring the heat. We're not responsible for what happens the morning after.

HALEIWA, HAWAII

The sand: Oahu has 112 miles of coastline and 130 beaches, but the stretch surrounding Haleiwa has 40 surf breaks and is known as the Seven-Mile Miracle. Aloha.
Marine life: Maybe if you'd been born in Haleiwa, you'd write lyrics like Jack Johnson. OK, maybe not. But the surfer and musician was certainly inspired by the surroundings of his sleepy hometown on the north shore of Oahu, with tumbling turquoise waves that swell to 25 feet, pineapple plantations, and dozens of hip little eateries, shops, and studios tucked among the prodigious palm trees. Surf N Sea, one of the island's oldest surf shops, has rentals and lessons, plus scuba diving. In between sessions, hit the Haleiwa Arts Festival, which takes place in mid-July and exhibits sculptures, watercolors, photos, and jewelry by 130 island artists. Another work of art: a banana-coconut-pineapple shave ice from the legendary M. Matsumoto Grocery Store.
The sanctuary: Indulge your daydreams at one at the five beachfront bungalows at Keiki Beach. They have kitchens, grills, and cable, but the real amenities are the hammocks, tropical cocktails, and gorgeous sunsets.
Keiki Beach Bungalows

CANNON BEACH, OREGON

The sand: Four miles of Pacific Northwest grandeur, with towering rocks, tidal pools, forests, and waterfalls, all connected by soft stretches of sand
Marine life: Picket fences, surf shops, and glassworks boutiques have helped tame Cannon Beach, a town of 1,700 artsy and outdoorsy souls 80 miles west of Portland, into a perfectly stroll-worthy seaside escape. But its wild side still rules: Born of volcanoes and still constantly smashed by the sea, the Oregon outpost overspills with fascinating formations, from the 235-foot basalt Haystack Rock and the forest-shrouded waves of Indian Beach to calmer spots at Arcadia Beach and the Tolovana Wayside. All but the most adventuresome (and wet suit–clad) will want to look, but not touch, as the tides can be deadly and the water rarely rises above 60 degrees. But you'll find plenty of gentle warmth in the surrounding community, which celebrates Sandcastle Days in June. At the Wayfarer Restaurant & Lounge, you can feast on Dungeness crab and sip an Oregon pinot noir while gazing at Haystack and all those crashing waves.
The sanctuary: Views from the 45 rooms at the stone-and-timber Ocean Lodge will blow your socks off; luckily, the place is pet-friendly, so Fido can go fetch 'em.

JEKYLL ISLAND, GEORGIA

The sand: A barrier island with ten miles of dune-swept beaches, a Prince of Tides feel, and 63 holes of golf
Marine life: Though you won't find Mr. Rourke and Tattoo, Jekyll could be Fantasy Island, thanks to its array of fun-time activities. You can go horseback riding on the beach. There's kayaking and canoeing through salt marshes and estuaries, plus biking along 20 miles of trails along the sands, notching birds in the Audubon book, and visiting a water park to work off the kids' waffle-cone sugar highs. This bounty of outdoors options is matched by the historic district, a 240-acre compound on Jekyll Creek. Named in 1734 for a financial backer of the Georgia colony, the island long belonged to co-owners J.P. Morgan, Joseph Pulitzer, and William Rockefeller, and their moneyed manners still linger in elegant boutiques. But just about any budget can afford Blackbeard's Seafood Restaurant, where the fried oysters and flounder almondine are better than the restaurant name suggests.
The sanctuary: The Queen Anne–style Jekyll Island Club Hotel, with 157 rooms, has been hosting guests from Joseph Pulitzer to regular Joes since 1886. It's also where you'll find the four golf courses.

SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA

The sand: You've struck gold in the Golden State, with 29 miles of beaches and a seaside amusement park.
Marine life: Our teeth hurt and our stomachs drop just thinking about all the cotton candy to be consumed and the roller coasters to be ridden at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the oceanfront park that's been whirling and twirling Californians for more than a century. But it's only one source of amusement in this college town on Monterey Bay, where bookish students and buff Laird Hamilton types alike spend their downtime mountain biking, long-boarding, and refueling on organic, farm-fresh fare (or at least a great fish taco). Rookie surfers should head to Cowell Beach, while volleyball players can pick up a game—or maybe a new friend—at busy Main Beach. On the menu at the Pearl Alley Bistro, diners discover hormone-free short ribs and sustainable cod, helping to make up for all that cotton candy.
The sanctuary: Invoking the jumbled, whitewashed villages of the Greek Islands, the Pleasure Point Inn has four tropics-themed rooms overlooking a surf break; ask about their learn-to-surf specials.

PORT ARANSAS, TEXAS

The sand: An 18-mile stretch of beaches, marinas, and seafood shacks on the Gulf of Mexico. You'll find "Port A" (pop. 3,300) at the tip of Mustang Island, near Corpus Christi.
Marine life: So you're building a sand castle here? Be prepared for some competition, pal. Port A has its own official Sandcastle Guy, who can whip up intricate turrets, archways, moats, and stairways faster than you can whip out your towel. Lucky for you, Mark Landrum also offers lessons, making the Gulf Coast hideaway a must-sea spot for family bonding. The older kids (or kids at heart) will dig surfing the swells off the town jetty, kiteboarding off the beginner-friendly sandbars, and casting the bays and flats for trophy tuna and tarpon. Fishing tournaments nearly every weekend in July and August add to the competitive spirit, but everybody's chummy over burgers and beers back at the oceanfront Beach Lodge.
The sanctuary: Stash your shovels, sandals, and saltwater tackle at the Tarpon Inn, an 1886 hotel whose 24 rooms have antiques and air conditioning but no phones or TVs.

CORAL BAY, ST. JOHN, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

The sand: There are more than 40 beaches on the island—many protected by a national park—with hiking trails to nearly all of 'em.
Marine life: As one of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, St. John may fly the red, white,and blue, but an expat vibe runs through the well-sheltered harbor of Coral Bay. Long a hippie-ish hideout for old salts and new beach bums alike, the funky little town—on the far side of the island from the main settlement of Cruz Bay—has none of the bling and bustle of sister islands St. Thomas and St. Croix, with their cruise ports and duty-free shop-o-ramas. Here, the entire economy depends on the sale of tropical trinkets from rickety shacks and bikinis from a VW bus. The unofficial town hall is Skinny Legs, a beachfront bar where the burger selections are scrawled on an old windsurfing board and an old sail serves as the awning. For those who insist on earning their Heinekens with a bit of exercise, Crabby's rents sea kayaks and snorkeling gear.
The sanctuary: Forget staying at a hotel—truth is, there aren't any this side of the island. Instead, lord over the coast in a villa like the Starlit Escape, a 2,500-square-foot house with five bedrooms and a freshwater swimming pool.

SAUGATUCK, MICHIGAN

The sand: Dunes that will remind you of Cape Cod, and khaki beaches that mimic Malibu—right in the heart of the Midwest.
Marine life: Combine an awe-inspiring landscape with the aw-shucks attitude of a small town, and you get Saugatuck, just across the Kalamazoo River from a surprisingly sandy stretch of Lake Michigan's eastern shore. The historic, gallery-lined town (within a three-hour drive from Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee) has long drawn those seeking a watery muse, rugged adventures, or simple beach pleasures. Beachgoers can cross the bridge or, more fun, board a 1913 hand-cranked ferry that chugs from Saugatuck across the Kalamazoo. The quick and quaint ride costs just $1 and rewards passengers with the unspoiled stretch of Oval Beach, which frequently finds itself listed as one of the world's best—despite being miles from any ocean. For an even less populated place to stake your umbrella, there's the nearby Saugatuck Dunes State Park, with two miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, 200-foot-tall dunes, and 1,000 acres of hiking terrain. "Dune schooners" (think stretch ATVs) rumble through here from 10 am to 7:30 pm most summer days; some folks might want to retreat to the Saugatuck Drug Store, a soda fountain as sweet and as storied as the ferry.
The sanctuary: Silver Palate cookbook co-author Julee Rosso runs the Wickwood Inn, so expect complimentary hors d'oeuvres like crab crostini as lovely as the 11 guest rooms, each based on a different theme, like an English garden or mountain cabin.

FOLLY BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA

The sand: A six-mile barrier island with room for surfers, beachcombers, and shellfish aficionados, 15 minutes south of Charleston
Marine life: Officially, Folly Beach is part of the Charleston metro area, but there's not a smidgen of anything metropolitan here. Communing with nature is more common than commuting to the office, honking is what the birds do, and a board meeting is a bunch of surfers hanging out at the Washout. Newcomers' first stop should be McKevlin's Surf Shop, here since 1965. They'll set you up with a rental and one-hour lesson for $40. Or head straight for Folly Beach County Park, which is quieter than busy Center Street beach, but still has boogie boards, umbrellas, and bikes for rent. Take those wheels to Folly Beach Crab Shack, grab a hammock chair, and munch on buckets of seafood as "traffic" goes by.
The sanctuary: The new Water's Edge Inn, just three blocks from the Atlantic, is shaded by palms trees and has eight rooms with crisp white sheets and flat-screen TVs.

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND

The sand: Beaches for every budget, from exclusive clubs to free, secluded spots on Aquidneck Island
Marine life: Hey, if we were a Vanderbilt, we would have built a summer cottage here, too. Only an hour and a half from Beantown, Newport has a dramatic, ocean-crashing-on-rocks side facing the Atlantic; a cutesy, colonial side facing Narragansett Bay; and a third, Rhode Island Sound–oriented side that's swept with beaches. Easton's Beach—better known as First Beach—is the classic Americana spot, with a carousel, snack bar, and cabanas; Sachuset (Second) Beach is a 1.25-mile stretch below St. George's prep school that catches the crowd runoff. Few make it as far as Third Beach, a quiet spot for kiteboarding, kayaking, and bird-watching. Fewer still know about Bailey's Beach, reached at the end of the mansion-lined Bellevue Avenue. Most of the sand belongs to the blue-blooded members of the Spouting Rock Beach Association, but the west end is open to the public, with no fee for parking. Spend your cash instead on a platter of fried clams from Flo's Clam Shack.
The sanctuary: The Victorian furniture at the Chanler at Cliff Walk invokes the Gilded Age of the nearby mansions, and most of the 20 rooms have views of First Beach, plus Vanderbilt-quality niceties like Fili D'Oro linens and working fireplaces.

MEXICO BEACH, FLORIDA

The sand: Around these three miles of confectioners'-sugar sands, you'll see bald eagles, sea turtles, dolphins—and only a few footprints.
Marine life: Never heard of Mexico Beach? Exactly. South of Destin, on the Florida Panhandle, the 1,200 residents have avoided high-rises, strip malls, and theme parks like the plague, keeping their low-slung town to themselves. The "government" is a five-person council that's put the kibosh on anything taller than 48 feet, and the focus is on small-town fun, with gumbo cook-offs, kingfish tournaments, and fireworks fundraisers. You can kill two beach birds with one stone at the souvenirs-and-seafood shop Shell Shack. If you want to get off the beach, pop into the pool bar at the El Governor motel or take a scuba dive through a sunken oil tanker just offshore.
The sanctuary: The Driftwood Inn has four-poster beds in its rooms and DIY barbecue grills on its back deck. If you want to play at being a local, opt for one of the separate, two-bedroom Victorian houses.

OGUNQUIT, MAINE

The sand: Three and a half miles of white-sand beaches on a long hook of land, separated from the mainland by the mouth of the Ogunquit River
Marine life: Lobster? Ach, you can find that anywhere in Maine. But only in a few select spots along the state's 5,500 miles of rocky coastline will you find actual soft, bottom-inviting sand, and that's outside the hamlet of Ogunquit. To avoid the traffic of crustacean-seeking crowds, you'll also want to ditch the car. Snag a parking spot at Footbridge Bridge early in the morning ($15 for the day) and take the trolley back into town for blueberry pancakes at Bessie's. Then stroll with a cup of coffee through the galleries and too-cute shops. Cross back over at Ogunquit Beach to find the spot you've staked in the sand. Then you're free of obligations until your dinner reservation at Ogunquit's acclaimed Arrows Restaurant. It goes beyond typical beach fare, serving foie gras-and-oxtail dumplings, sea salt–roasted rabbit loin, and mango bubble pudding. And, yeah, Maine lobster, too.
The sanctuary: Book one of the 19 cottages at Dunes on the Waterfront: They have screened porches and Adirondack chairs just 200 yards from the main beach.

Great American Beach Towns

Enough with your fancy remote beaches. The Maldives? St. Tropez? With the economy what it is, we'll be lucky to get to the next state on a $73 tank of gas. We want close. We want old-fashioned. We want a town where we can park the car, drag a beach chair and a book to the sand, and then shuffle down the boardwalk in our flip-flops for fried clams and an icy-cold can of beer: a place with fireworks, friendly locals, and sticky scoop shops. So we dug up 11 great American seaside escapes, from classic fun-in-the-sun California to New England colonial charm. Because when it comes to precious summer weekends in the sun, there's no place like home.

HARBOUR ISLAND, BAHAMAS

What the kids do: Lose next year's tuition at the slots on Paradise Island; get smashed at Nassau's massive, multibar Zoo Club and Café.
What you'll do: Not much. That's the beauty of this flat speck in the sea—just 50 miles and a universe away from Nassau's cruise port and megaresorts. Okay, scratch that: There's plenty to do, including horseback riding, scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, and cycling. But you'll probably spend your time getting up close and personal with the island's famous pink sand. And with Pink Sands, the legendary 20-acre property popular with music, fashion, and Hollywood tastemakers ("Would you like an umbrella in that drink, Mr. De Niro?"). The 25 cottages are pastel-colored and decorated in a breezy Indonesian–Caribbean style, and the number of local birds perched about adds to the quiet, low-key vibe. Don't worry: It's no monastery. Folks here know how to enjoy the occasional rum-filled Bahama Mama or Goombay Smash. Just not in the same way those kids at the Zoo do.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

What the kids do: Wander drunkenly between the 15 bars and three discos in the five all-inclusive hotels that make up the Barceló Bávaro Palace. Do body shots off of strangers' stomachs.
What you'll do: Do your body some good. The so-called Dominican Alps rise higher than any mountains east of the Mississippi—up to 10,417 feet—and the runoff creates great white-water rafting and adrenaline-fueled canyoning. Local outfitter Iguana Mama puts you in along the longest river, Yaque del Norte, which has Class II and III rapids. They'll also show you the area's first-class mountain biking, like the rough-and-tough, 27.5-mile "El Choco Loco" route. You don't want to stay at altitude overnight—temperatures can drop to a decidedly nontropical 60—so head for the north shore ("the Silver Coast") and check into the Casa Colonial Beach & Spa resort in Puerto Plata. Despite its name, the hotel has a look that's more Ian Schrager than colonial—a neon bar, dramatic lighting, acres of white drapery. But no matter: There's a complete spa where treatments include a papaya and pineapple exfoliation ($106) and mango body cocooning ($138). If that's making you hungry, head to the restaurant, where dinner combines Indonesian, Mediterranean, and Caribbean flavors. After a fresh lobster salad with tropical fruit and lemon–tarragon vinaigrette, and a seaside yoga class, your abs will be ready for some body shots, too.

SOUTH FLORIDA

SOUTH FLORIDAWhat the kids do: Cruise the beach in Daytona in hip-hop-blaring SUVs by day; throw down red rum drinks at the open-air, reggae-playing Ocean Deck by night.
What you'll do: Go to the place where Spring Break got its start: Fort Lauderdale. From the 1960 movie Where the Boys Are to its heyday in the mid-'80s when nearly 400,000 students rolled in, the town was breakers' Ground Zero. Today, this is the place for you: The kids are long gone. The big trend here is in luxury condo/hotel projects such as the St. Regis (opening in September), but you'll marinate just fine at Starwood's year-old Atlantic. In a town that's not always a paradigm of refinement, these rooms are tasteful and restrained, featuring cream-colored sofas, espresso-hued furniture, granite countertops, and marble baths. Take advantage of the 7,000-square-foot Spa Atlantic, which specializes in facials; the staff analyzes your skin type and advises on the best type of treatment, whether it's vitamin C, seaweed, or aloe ($126). Just don't tell the therapist you're heading out to the fifth-floor pool, which can only encourage more sun damage. But if you're going to catch some rays, you may as well do it from a yacht; Fort Lauderdale, after all, is a boating capital. Water Fantaseas will rent you anything from a 41-foot sport yacht ($2,750 a day) to a 72-foot luxury model for $8,500. Yeah, like the kids know how to have a wild time.

RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO

What the kids do: Dance, jiggle, and mug for the Girls Gone Wild cameras; pound Cancún's bottom-shelf margaritas; hurl.
What you'll do: Enroll in Bikini Boot Camp—not the sequel to the aforementioned video series, but rather a program for men and women of power-walking, body-sculpting, and yoga-practicing held at Amansala, a 16-villa resort in Tulum, two hours south of Cancún. File this property under "chic," subset "boho" (see also: "fun, relaxed"). With a group of pals, you might consider renting Amansala's new, high-end digs, Casa Magna, an eight-bedroom villa where you'll feel like a kingpin—and not just because it was built by late Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. There's a staff of housekeepers, a groundsman, concierge service, and a private chef who grills up fresh-caught fish, makes corn tortillas from scratch, and squeezes watermelon juice. When you're done lolling about the color-saturated pillows, there are Mayan ruins to explore, a jungle with freshwater holes to snorkel, and a traditional sweat lodge, heated by burning coals, for melting sore muscles. So it's not what you might have loved at age 18, but hey, things change. Call it Girls Gone Mild

NEGRIL, JAMAICA

What the kids do: Buy a night pass to Hedonism II's "Pajama Party"; dare one another to jump off the 33-foot cliff at Rick's Cafe; try to score ganja from the locals.
What you'll do: Hide out at The Caves, an intimate, ten-room resort just up the road from the thick of things. It runs 500 feet along the seaside cliffs and has an organic feel, with stone structures blending into the rocks; the candlelit dining room and hot tub are actually carved into the grottoes. Guest cottages are made of wood, stone, and thatch, and have boldly colored, hand-carved furnishings. The Aveda mini-spa should take care of any residual stress. For kicks, charter a 60-foot catamaran from the company Wild Thing, and tip your Red Stripe at the teens jumping on the offshore floating trampoline. Later, taxi down to Seven Mile Beach and treat yourself to some New World Caribbean fare—red snapper poached in a cream-caper sauce; oven-roasted chicken with fresh coconut flakes—at Norma's on the Beach, run by Norma Shirley, Jamaica's answer to Julia Child. While you're in town, take a quick peek inside a shoreside bar like Risky Business, with its wet T-shirt contests and umpteenth repeat of "Buffalo Soldier"—just to see what you're not missing.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO

What the kids do: Hang upside down from ankle bracelets while drinking tequila shooters at the Giggling Marlin bar in downtown Cabo. Hurl soon thereafter.
What you'll do: Skip Cabo San Lucas and head to Los Cabos, 15 miles away, where the Sea of Cortez licks the mountainous desert. You'll be crashing at the One&Only Palmilla, a 172-room enclave with an Old Mexico look—iron-studded doors, custom-painted tiles, whitewashed walls, an old bell tower—and luxurious trappings, such as 24-hour personal butler service, beds on swings for lounging by the sea (pictured), and an aromatherapy turndown menu. Jack Nicklaus designed the golf course; at the decadent spa, you can order the Aztec Aromatic Ritual ($270), a warm body wrap that uses ginger and cloves. At the restaurant, C, Charlie Trotter has created dishes such as quail breast with truffle butter and triple-seared bison tenderloin with a garlic flan. It's not easy to leave this lap of luxury, but adventures beckon on the lower Baja Peninsula: Deep-sea fishermen can chase enormous marlin (Palmilla will set up eight-hour excursions starting at $980), or you can head into the desert—via horseback or Hummer H3—and follow dry arroyos to a swimming area with natural springs and waterfalls. And yes, you can still hit Cabo San Lucas, but we recommend putting on your dancing shoes for a Champagne party at the hip and expensive nightclub Nikki Beach—definitely not the kind of place known for its upside-down shots.

Spring Break for Adults

Signs that the claws of winter are finally loosening their grip are plentiful: buds opening anew, windows flung open to receive cool breezes, college kids rolling onto the beach like so many drunken locusts. Yes, it's time for Spring Break, and all the swimsuit-swapping, tequila-slamming, MTV-televising madness that comes with it. But wait a minute: Haven't you also survived the cruel winter? Where's your spring break, your chance to baste in the sun and rock that bikini? Don't get stuck at home planting azaleas: For every beach hot spot luring the college kids with booze cruises and booty-shaking contests, we've found a sophisticated, adult version nearby. Sure, you might have to share the plane with a bunch of overstimulated adolescents, but that's why we grown-ups have first-class upgrades.

Motu Tane, French Polynesia

The vibe: Fashionista air kisses and catwalks on the beach
Picture this: A short boat hop from Bora Bora, this private island is available for rent to those with serious cash. French interiors guru Christian Liaigre designed the chic thatched-roof bungalows. Strike a pose on the blanc sands, take a private four-wheel-drive excursion, go whale and dolphin watching, ask the caterers for a torchlit Polynesian feast on the beach. Paradise by design.
The crowd: Size 0 fashion doyennes, the design glitterati, supermodels posing for cover shots. Not a love handle in sight!
The sundowner: Whatever your heart desires, sweetie
Come to bed: To ensure exclusivity and privacy, Motu Tane can only be rented by one select group at a time. The 12 beach bungalows are stuffed with enough sumptuous furnishings and high-tech toys to keep the pickiest Parisian happy. Stay in touch with New York and Milan with the state-of-the-art IDD telephone system

The Similan Islands, Thailand

The vibe: Wash my hair tonight? Why bother?
Picture this: Nine tropical jungle islands, each ringed by troves of hidden-away beaches and surrounded by magnificent reefs. So unspoiled that they're known by numbers rather than by name, they're located across the water from the Phang Nga mainland, just north of Phuket.
The crowd: Barefoot beachcombers kissing in quiet coves, and pairs of snorkelers disappearing into the reefs
The sundowner: Take a sunset cruise around the islands and wine and dine on a boat moored in a shimmering bay.
Come to bed: You'll have to stay on the mainland, which, trust us, is not a hardship. Slip between the sheets at the Sarojin in Khao Lak, where the concierge staff call themselves "imagineers." The hotel offers tailor-made packages for couples, including private boat trips to the Similans on its 38-foot Lady Sarojin luxury boat.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

The vibe: It was this big—honest!
Picture this: Out to land a big one? Then it has to be Cabo San Lucas. Where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean, with the towering Sierra de la Laguna mountains as backdrop, Cabo's whole raison d'être is interesting mash-ups—whether you're fishing for billfish or blonds. The long sandy main beach, El Médano, is the place for swimming and more adrenaline-pumping water sports than you can poke a rod at. Go deep-sea angling, snorkeling, surfing, or exploring. Or curl up on the beach with a very steamy novel and a very tall drink.
The crowd: Rippling muscles, toned torsos, rich kids on spring break, cruise ship day-trippers, and city slickers turned barefoot surf gods
The sundowner: Margaritas, by the bucket. Or a Michelada cocktail—that's Mexican beer kicked up with lime, Tabasco, and Worcestershire—perfect "hair of the dog."
Come to bed: Check into your private villa at Montecristo Estates, an exclusive mountainside hideaway owned by Pueblo Bonito Oceanfront Resorts and Spas in Los Cabos. There's plenty of room to sun yourself beside gorgeous infinity pools, on terraces, and in outdoor Jacuzzis.

Kaanapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii

The vibe: Chilled-out aloha spirit
Picture this: A big romance only comes along once in a lifetime (or maybe thrice…)? So embrace the Hawaiian cliché of sunsets, fresh-flower leis, and warm waters of the island's upmarket west coast. You could stroll in the charming nearby town of Lahaina with its art galleries and restaurants, or explore the small coves of Napili. Or, just chill under the Hawaiian sun together and neck.
The crowd: Vacationers in Hawaiian shirts, artistic types in floaty caftans, bleached-blond boys. Ignore 'em all and pay attention to the person you came with.
The sundowner: Pull up a bar stool and ask for a Tanned Beach Bum: dark rum, Kahlua, ice, and milk.
Come to bed: Set on 40 beachfront acres, the centerpiece of the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa is a 750,000-gallon free-form pool with an underwater cave and grotto bar. Heat things up on your private lanai, or get amorous on the pillow-top mattresses floating above the Plantation-style wood beds.

Grande Plage, Biarritz, France

The vibe: Beach bums meet fashion plates.
Picture this: A few folks are saying non to St. Tropez these days—too much lizard-skin cleavage and too many bad toupees. Instead they're opting for Biarritz, the surfer paradise on the Atlantic Ocean that's attracting a more discreet clique of glitterati and showbiz stars. Come for the gloriously snooty restaurants gastronomiques, the sexy surf dudes, or the famous cellulite-shrinking thalassotherapy spas.
The crowd: Lolitas in board shorts and floppy hats, celebrities (look for Karl Lagerfeld, Isabella Rossellini, and Paco Rabanne), and Parisian socialites on spa weekends
The sundowner: Kick off with a citron pressé then fall off the wagon with a thud—make mine a magnum of Moët, mon chéri.
Come to bed: Quiet time is best at the Maison del Mar, a traditional Basque cliffside villa with views of the Atlantic Ocean from the wooden sundeck.

Paradise Beach, Mykonos, Greece

The vibe: You're only young once. If you're not, keep drinking—you'll feel young soon enough.
Picture this: Every hedonist worth his or her margarita salt comes to frolic on Mykonos, the naughty little Greek party island. Of the island's dozen or so fun spots, Paradise Beach is one of the most playful. Think Club Med with your clothes off, spring break for grown-ups—where the afternoon scene is hotter than the nightlife of most other islands. The drill is simple: early drinks, late dinner, dance all night, sleep all morning, come to Paradise in the afternoon for swimming, schmoozing, and power-napping. Rinse. Repeat.
The crowd: Naturists and exhibitionists, bikinied girls on bar tables, gay boys with washboard stomachs, lots of red eyes
The sundowner: Join the party people at Tropicana Beach Bar right on the sand and knock back a few shots of Mastika, a herbal spirit that'll remind you only a little bit of turpentine.
Come to bed: The frolicking continues at the Belvedere Hotel on the edge of Mykonos Town, where jet-setters stake out their favorite rooms months in advance and where professional party-thrower Colin Cowie just opened a new cocktail lounge. But despite the stream of celebrities, the Nobu outpost, and the general air of decadence, this is actually one of the island's most elegant places to stay.

Playa Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

The vibe: City kids get physical in a tropical playground.
Picture this: This supple slice of sand on the north Pacific coast in the province of Guanacaste is perfectly suited for surfing, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, boogie-boarding, or horseback riding. Sound like too much activity? It's also suited for kicking off flip-flops, dropping your butt into the sand, and chilling out.
The crowd: Freshly tanned New York City boys grappling with Windsurfers; curvy babes in gold metallic bikinis, broad grins, and black-n-blues
The sundowner: Find a beach shack bar, make new friends, and sample a guaro—the local liquor that's similar to rum and is served as a shot or mixed with juice or soda.
Come to bed: Five luxury villas are tucked away at El Jardín del Edén, a boutique hotel set on a hillside just three minutes' walk from the beach. Villas have terraces with magnificent views of the entire Tamarindo Bay, and the hotel also offers surfing and sport fishing.

Ihuru Island, Maldives

The vibe: Just say no to shoes.
Picture this: Remember the show Fantasy Island? It had nothing on the reality that is Ihuru. Located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka, it's got palm-fringed beaches, a lagoon, even a reef teeming with marine life and a kaleidoscope of coral. Trust us, when you see the plane, you'll be sorry.
The crowd: Leggy Brit sophisticates in batik sarongs—plus lots of folks wearing fins.
The sundowner: Coconut water. There's no better drink for a hangover. Really.
Come to bed: Bed down under a thatched roof in one of 45 villas with private gardens and verandas at the Angsana Resort & Spa, which operates a policy of sustainable tourism.

Laguna Beach, California

The vibe: California lovin'
Picture this: This prime slice of California coastline combines the wealth and glamour of La-La Land with a seriously hip surfside culture and artists' haven. Strike a pose on your beach towel, check out the talent from behind your Wayfarers, and if you can actually surf, get out there and earn some cred.
The crowd: Pierce Brosnan, Tiger Woods, and Kelly Slater. Not to mention the hotties playing beach volleyball and wannabe actors in lifeguard training.
The sundowner: The Hippolyte Bouchard, the signature cocktail at the Studio at Montage, made with spiced rum, Chambord, house sour, and cinnamon sugar. It's named after a pirate who supposedly buried a hidden treasure off the coast.
Come to bed: Overlooking the Pacific Ocean on a 50-foot bluff, the Montage Laguna Beach is especially worthwhile for its oceanfront spa laced with soothing whirlpools, saunas, 21 treatment rooms, and a lap pool.

Santa Maria Beach, Ilha do Sal, Cape Verde

The vibe: The calm before the storm
Picture this: Ilha do Sal, the jewel of the ten Cape Verde islands off the west coast of Africa, is a place you'll be reading more about. Young in-the-know fashionistas are heading en masse to the sublime beaches and laid-back nightlife of Santa Maria town. Lap up the eye candy, go deep-sea fishing, and swap tall stories in the mellow bars when the sun goes down. Get here before the stampede.
The crowd: Steaming-hot French and Italian kite-surfing hunks (they discovered Sal first) hang with the equally buff locals, while lithe beauties sun themselves on dive boats.
The sundowner: The lethal sugarcane brew Grog at Tam Tam bar in town.
Come to bed: Sleep late at the inviting Hotel Morabeza—the current "in" hotel on the beach. It has 140 guest rooms with private terraces, a gym, plus tennis courts and a freshwater pool.