There are few things better than rolling out of bed and straight into the ocean. Skip the car rental and the sweaty walks to the beach carrying everything but the kitchen sink and spend your days soaking up the sea and fall asleep to the sound of the waves.
Save yourself time and effort and dedicate your entire holiday to entering maxo relaxo mode with these beachfront hotels which put you directly on the sand. From the thyme-scented Greek coastline to the powder-sand luxury of a Maldivian atoll, you'll leave these hotels salty and happy.
The best beachfront hotels
Sani Resort
Greece
Comprised of not just one, but five different properties all set within a stunning eco-reserve in Halkidiki on the mainland, Sani is the stylish super-resort you never knew you needed. Heading away with little ones? Book into Sani Beach, the biggest, equipped with a creche, kids clubs and a splash park, or Porto Sani, which caters for new parents with special baby menus by nutritionist Annabel Karmel. Those who prefer the company of grown-ups should check into Sani Dunes, which has adults-only areas and a more sophisticated feel, but all five are clustered around the coast, with access to dreamy, long Blue Flag beaches and views over the warm, shallow waters of the Aegean. If you tire of that (unlikely), you can sharpen your serve at the resort’s Rafael Nadal tennis centre, hone your end-of-the-world skills at the Bear Grylls Survival Academy, or attend a coaching session run by Chelsea FC.
From £183 per night; sani-resort.com
W Ibiza
Ibiza
Set far from the madness of San An, W Ibiza is tucked away in the calm bay of Santa Eulalia on the east coast of the White Isle. The palm-tree-fringed beach is just a short trot across the promenade where W has its own beach club, Yellow Fish, with loungers and cabanas exclusively for both guests and non-guests. The vibe on the sand is chilled, but if you want to experience the island’s party beats, hang out by the hotel pool, where the DJ cranks the sound up as the sun rises higher in the sky. The W brand has always focused highly on design, and this is no different, with interiors taking inspo from the history, patterns, and colours found throughout the island. The sculptured rope ceiling is a nod to its fishing traditions, while the fabrics reflect Ibiza’s ties to Moorish culture. The heart of the hotel, the sunken W Lounge, is inspired by the steps of Ibiza Town’s cathedral, Dalt Vila. Don’t miss a sundowner at the rooftop bar, Glow, which offers 360° views.
From £297 per night; marriott.com
D Maris Bay
Turkey
Set on the evocatively named Turquoise Coast, on the undeveloped and protected Datça Peninsula, this secluded hotel is the perfect place for switching off. A forty-minute drive from buzzy Marmaris, you have to make your way up a three-mile-long, densely wooded lane before you even get there; relax, no one’s going to find you. Here, you’ve got access to five gleaming, white-sand beaches, and if you fancy taking to the water for the day, luxury yachts and gulets are available for hire. There’s also a water-ski school, a vast spa, a Technogym and an Olympic-standard running track around the grounds; useful if you need to work off the incredible food from the resort’s five restaurants which include high-end Japanese, Zuma, and an outlet from the Sultan of Salinity himself: Salt Bae’s Nusr-et.
From £365 per night; dmarisbay.com
Hôtel Martine
France
The view from the penthouse apartments
Add some Riviera chic to your holiday with a stay at one of the South of France’s most iconic hotels. Set proudly on Cannes’ main artery, the Croisette, the Martinez dates from the 1920s and this Art Deco gem has played host to film stars, musicians and royalty alike. It’s just steps away from its own private beach, but you might want to try and celeb-spot around the exclusive Carita spa, or L’Oasis, a beautiful enclosed garden housing an azure swimming pool. When it comes to booking a room, will you go for one with a sea view, like Rihanna did, or a city view, like Susan Sarandon? If you’ve just won the lottery, go for the two adjoining penthouse apartments, which together add up to a sizeable 13,455sq ft and offer a stunning 180° view over the sparkling bay. C’est magnifique!
From £1,401 per night; hyatt.com
NEST Tulum
Mexico
Tulum’s USP is that it’s the quieter, more nature-focused antithesis of the louder, flashier Mexican resorts further up the coast, such as Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Its hotels are less 500-roomed concrete monoliths and more small, eco-chic, luxury boutique properties, and NEST is no exception. Featuring just 12 stylish rooms and one private villa, the cocooning ‘nest’ theme extends to the rooms’ thatched roofs and balcony hammocks, with earthy-toned decor and natural materials such as bamboo and rattan. In true hippie style, the hotel has a rooftop space for meditation and yoga sessions, and if you’re feeling even more active, day-trip to swim with turtles in a cenote, explore ancient Mayan ruins or cycle through the jungle landscapes. Or, you know, just settle down on a lounger on the hotel’s own stretch of beach.
From £243 per night; nesttulum.com
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Maldives
Home to the Maldives’ first undersea restaurant, where you can have the slightly unsettling experience of tucking into fish while also watching them cavort above your head, the Conrad is the very definition of barefoot luxury. Composed of two private islands in the South Ari Atoll connected by a bridge, both are fringed by golden sand. Water babies rejoice - this particular area is known for its great diving sites and the possibility of spotting whale sharks. And if you’re incredibly bouji, you can even book into the Muraka, a James-Bond-style stand-alone residence with a master suite submerged under the Indian Ocean.
From £440 per night; conradmaldives.com
Palm Heights
Grand Cayman
This stylish boutique hotel is a welcome addition to an island more commonly, and mundanely, known as a tax haven (see: Tom Cruise film, The Firm). Sunshine yellow parasols line the glorious stretch of dazzling white sand known as Seven Mile Beach - one of the best in the world - contrasting with the sparkling, aquamarine sea. Pops of yellow feature throughout the whole property, a buzzy, hip, all-suite lodging evoking understated Caribbean glamour with a laid-back, mid-century modern aesthetic. You’ll find carefully sourced vintage pieces rubbing shoulders with furniture by the likes of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and contemporary artworks. The Garden Club Spa is the perfect place to be pampered, while the Palm Heights Athletics training programme will whip you into shape, with classes, retreats and residences led by world-class athletes and coaches.
From £469 per night; palmheights.com
Jamaica Inn
Jamaica
Sharing its name with a former 18th-century smuggler’s inn in Cornwall (the location in Daphne du Maurier’s Gothic thriller) this Jamaica Inn - an elegant, family-run hotel - has only been around since 1950. You’ll find no pirates here (shame), but in the comfortable library is a series of photos of past guests, who include Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, and Megan Markle. Every single suite, cottage and beach bungalow has a view out onto the iridescent Caribbean Sea, with a stretch of private beach that’s just begging you to while away the hours with a Planter’s Punch - or three.
From £1,058 per night; jamaicainn.com
One&Only The Palm
Dubai
View on Instagram
Only in Dubai could you find a man-made island made from reclaimed land in the shape of a giant palm tree. Tucked away on the tip of the circle which surrounds the tree is the luxurious One&Only, a surprisingly small and tasteful Andalucian-style hideaway. Moorish and Arabesque design details dazzle at every turn, with lattice panels, ornate pendant lights and curved archways adding to the look. There’s a seriously impressive pool, lined with swaying palm trees, but you’ll want to nestle into one of the widely-spaced-out cabanas on the private beach. Don’t miss dinner at Stay by Yannick Alléno; the French chef holds 16 Michelin stars, so you know your tastebuds will be in good hands.
From £245 per night; oneandonlyresorts.com
Ifuru Island
Maldives
View on Instagram
A youthful, playful addition to the Maldives’ sometimes staid hotel scene, Ifuru shakes things up with the inclusion of an on-site skydiving drop zone, meaning you can get a bird’s eye view of that insanely blue sea, studded with coral reefs and tiny islands. For those who don’t want to raise their heart rate above relaaaaaaxed, you can chill by the pool, have a blissful massage in the spa, or graze your way around the six restaurants. There are also four bars to tackle, so you can reward yourself with a cocktail after a dolphin-watching excursion, sunset cruise, or snorkelling session. Or, of course, after a terrifying yet thrilling plummet to earth at 120mph from 13,000ft above the ocean.
From £470 per night; ifuruisland.com
