Asia

Whispering PalmsNorth Goa India

The Whispering Palms Beach Resort sits just a short walk from a sandy stretch and lines up a chilled pool scene. This hotel's in a peaceful spot just five-minutes' stroll from the golden sands of Candolim beach. The suites are laid out like cottages, giving this place a home-from-home feel. The rooms span a couple of floors, and feature authentic Goan decor and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Holidays at the Hard Rock Hotel Bali get the rock star seal of approval. And it’s just a crowd-surf away from the sands of Kuta Beach.This place brings rock and roll luxury to the heart of Kuta – it’s across the road from a beach and you’ve got a bunch of shops, markets and restaurants within a five-minute stroll. Head inside and you’ll find the walls are hung with signed records and guitars of music legends like Slash.

Kuredu Island Resort & SpaMaldives

The elegant Kuredu Island Resort & Spa offers a diverse dining scene and the Maldives’ largest watersports centre – and all wrapped in white-sand beaches. This place is set on a teardrop island in the Lhaviyani atoll. That means 50 dive sites on your doorstep, plus a private sand bank and a beach where movies are screened after dark. Depending on the level of luxury you want, you can choose from thatched garden bungalows and beach villas kitted out in dark wood, to over-the-water villas.

Hyatt Andaz The PalDubai 

The Hyatt Andaz Dubai The Palm is pitched on a private beach and comes with an infinity pool that pulls right up to its edge. The hotel’s pitched on Palm Jumeirah within a stone’s throw of Nakheel Mall. Plus, you can ride the monorail to Atlantis, The Palm in eight minutes. Trips into Downtown Dubai are easy work, too – you can catch a taxi ride there in 20 minutes. The lagoon-style pool sits on the edge of a private beach. The other swimming spot is on a 14-floor rooftop – it's just for adults and comes with curtain-cloaked cabanas, sunloungers, and a bar.

Arinara Bangtao BeachPhuket Thailand

The Arinara Bangtao Beach Resort has a king-sized beach on its doorstep. And it’s only a 10-minute drive from the Laguna Canal Village shopping centre. This place sits on a big, wide band of beach – one of the longest in Phuket. It’s dotted with a small amount of seafood joints and a watersports hut offering surfing lessons and paddleboards. Traditional Thai décor lends the hotel its good looks, with dark-wood furniture decking out everything from the deluxe swim-up rooms to the restaurants.

Ellaidhoo by CinnamonMaldives

Right on the beach and home to a spectacular coral reef, the Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon makes the most of its private island setting. The Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon is just footsteps away from the clear waters of the Indian Ocean, and comes complete with its own house reef. Rooms range from the stylish understatement to all-out lavish. It’s the water bungalows that are really impressive, though – they come with uninterrupted ocean views and a restaurant.

The Haven Khao LakKhao Lak Thailand

The starring role at the Haven Khao Lak goes to the swimming pool. It’s right by the beach and, at its longest, is 380 metres long. The honey-hued sands of Khuk. Khak Beach and a natural lagoon bookend this property, giving it a real out-of-the-way feel. What’s more, it’s about a 10-minute cab ride away from the town centre. Looks-wise, there’s an east-meets-west feel about the complex. Traditional materials – thatched roofs and bamboo floors – are contrasted by contemporary furnishings, and in-room tech like 42-inch TVs.