Best Beaches for 2014

Where: Belize

The beauty of Belize just got closer with Delta’s new non-stop weekly service from Los Angeles to Belize City. Delta joins a variety of carriers that already offer non-stop flights from places like Houston, Dallas, Newark, Atlanta, and Miami. The ease of getting to this striking Central American nation is helping to boost Belize’s status as one of the most compelling getaways for nature-lovers. The country is home to the massive Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System—the largest reef in the Atlantic Ocean—as well as the awe-inspiring . Many travelers peg Ambergris Caye as their home base. Its Belize’s largest island and it’s situated in the northeast, surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. The mangrove island is 25 miles long and one mile wide with white-sand beaches ringing the atoll. Visitors spend lazy days on the beach, bird watch, bike, golf, and take a variety of tours in the Caribbean Sea to fish, snorkel, dive, windsurf, or sail. Those interested in Mayan culture can take day trips to , or in the Petén district of nearby Guatemala.

Insider Tip: Just 11 miles north of San Pedro town on Ambergris Caye you’ll find , which debuted on Fodor’s 100 Hotel Awards in 2013. This one-year-old resort touts “barefoot luxury” and lures couples that want to lose themselves on the secluded beach. The property consists of 13 very private thatched-roof villas—four of them are beachfront—all outfitted with private pools.

Plan Your Trip: Visit

Where: St. Lucia

Honeymooners have long understood the allure of , a small but vibrant town on St. Lucia’s west coast. Formerly the domain of French plantation owners in the 1700s, today Soufrière is the epicenter for tourism on the island. People come here for both luxurious and laid-back resorts, gorgeous beaches, and other natural attractions like The Pitons, the now-dormant volcano Qualibou, Sulphur Springs, dozens of waterfalls, and the expansive St. Lucia Rainforest. In welcome news for those on the East Coast, United Airlines recently launched nonstop service from Newark to St. Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport (UVF).

Insider Tip: It’s hard to define the most enchanting aspect of the new in Soufriere. It’s situated on 100 acres of lush rainforest and is gifted with amazing views of the most breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site in the Caribbean: the dual mountains of . The meticulously landscaped resort was once an 18th-century sugar plantation and still holds that old-world charm. Sugar Beach is blessed with a particularly wide swath of white powdery sand that fronts Pitons Bay with excellent opportunities for swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling. Viceroy rebranded the resort (formerly The Jalousie Planation) in late 2012 after a $100 million dollar renovation and it’s already a favorite with travelers as proven by its place on Fodor’s 100 Hotel Awards 2013.

Plan Your Trip: Visit

Where: Colombia

If you haven’t gotten around to visiting , don’t delay much longer. As the country’s government and economy stabilize, more and more travelers are heading to this diverse destination in South America. The historic walled city on the coast is a study in Spanish colonial architecture and monuments to both military and religious figures. The city is now also home to all types of restaurants, chic art galleries, and trendy bars.

Insider Tip: Take a day trip to the Islas del Rosario archipelago, one of Colombia’s protected Natural National Parks. This group of 27 coral islands in the Caribbean Sea, just 30 miles south of Cartagena, offers superb beaches for sunbathing and coral reefs where you can see 170 species of fish and 52 different types of coral. Day tours generally include the boat transfer from Cartagena, lunch, a visit to El Oceanario aquarium, and a visit to Playa Blanca on Isla Baru. This beach, with its soft, white sand is the one you want to visit. Be sure your tour includes a stop there.

Plan Your Trip: Visit

Where: France

The island of in the Mediterranean may be part of France but it has a vibe all its own. Where else can you find a beach retreat that’s both hip and chic (it’s a favorite summertime vacation spot for Parisians) while retaining its old-world charm and culinary traditions? Best-known for being the birthplace of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1769, his ancestral home— —in Ajaccio is now a museum. While hikers consider Corsica’s mountains a Mecca, its coastline consists of nearly 200 beaches that should not be missed. You’ll find powdery white sand, coarse golden grains, and beaches strewn with pebbles polished by the sea. Some of the best beaches can only be accessed by boat or a hike.

Insider Tip: Porto Vecchio on the southern coast of Corsica is home to a number of popular beaches such as Palombaggia, Santa Giulia, Pinarellu, San Ciprianu, and Cala Rossa. Nestled by a lush hillside dotted with gorgeous villas, Cala Rossa is known for its red-sand beach lapped by perfect turquoise water. There’s no better way to explore the area than to stay at hotel situated right on the beach. The Relais & Chateaux property, , fits the bill.

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Where: Greece

If you’ve only visited Corfu for the day while your cruise ship was in port, you’re missing out. This lovely island in the Ionian Sea played an important role in the development of the but was also home to Venetians, the French, and the British throughout the years. You can see layers of those influences in the iconic palaces, monuments, and fortresses that still stand on the island today. Corfu Town, with its narrow, shop-lined streets and outdoor cafes, is the most-visited part of the island but sun worshippers also head south for sandy beaches or north for beautiful, but more pebbly, options.

Insider Tip: Summer crowds and the heat bother some. If you’re in that camp, visit Corfu from October 8–12, 2014, for the in Arillas. Arillas Beach on the northwestern side of the island is a favorite for its shallow, clear water and the nearby shops and tavernas.

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Where: Croatia

There is one place on the Dalmatian Coast that’s currently raising some eyebrows: . It’s long been a favorite stopover for sailors and the yacht set, but a wave of hotel development, most notably by , is bringing a whole new generation of couples and families to this island in the Adriatic Sea. The 115-square-mile island is notable for its lush hillsides that are dotted with olive groves, vineyards, aromatic lavender fields, pine forests, and fruit orchards. Hvar’s St. Stephen’s Square is the main gathering place with restaurants, shops, and a port that is nearly always packed with yachts and sailboats.

Insider Tip: All beaches in Hvar are covered in pebbles so be sure to bring water shoes. They won’t be the softest beaches you’ve ever walked on, but the water will be perfectly clear and turquoise and many of the cove beaches are nestled against shady pine scrug. Dubovica cove, near Stari Grad, is a popular beach that’s just a 10-minute walk from the road. A lovely seafood restaurant is right on the beach.

Plan Your Trip: Visit

Where: New Jersey Shore

Thousands of travelers flock to the Jersey Shore every year but it’s more important that you plan a visit in 2014. The fact is, tourism to New Jersey’s shore communities—with 130 miles of beautiful beaches—still hasn’t fully rebounded after October 2012’s category 3 Hurricane Sandy. The towns have rebuilt and are better than ever and that’s one reason the is on Fodor’s 2014 Go List.

Insider Tip: Towns like have worked hard to rebuild their little bit of paradise and they want to share it with you. Established in 1869, Victorian architecture is still a major draw of the area as is the beach and boardwalk. The downtown district—with cute shops and restaurants—is just two blocks from the famed boardwalk. But, you go to the Shore for the beach and Ocean Grove’s is pristine. It’s popular with families for its annual sandcastle and kite-flying contests, volleyball games, and boogey board races. Ocean Grove is a one-hour drive from Manhattan and Philadelphia, or you can take the train.

Plan Your Trip: Visit

Where: Brazil

Soccer fans are busy planning their vacations for this summer when the city hosts the from June 12–July 13, 2014. But, don’t stick to the soccer fields and pub! Explore the city, visit the nearby Amazon rainforest, and check out a few of Rio’s chic beaches.

Insider Tip: Locals will tempt you to visit well-known Copacabana Beach on the Atlantic. You’ve got the waves crashing on the beach in front of you, high-rise hotels behind you, and mountains towering above it all. Definitely spend some time on Copacabana, but don’t stop there. Just beyond Copacabana is Ipanema. It’s decidedly more upscale and the beach vendors are plentiful, selling everything from water and beer to beach towels and sunglasses to Brazilian bikinis. This is not a quiet beach but rather one where you can join an impromptu volleyball game or try a watersport like boogie boarding or surfing.

Plan Your Trip: Visit