I don’t know about you, but I was made for the beach. I love to stare out into the ocean and float along with waves. I love the way the saltwater brings out the natural curl in my hair. I love the feeling of comfort that comes from a deep nap in the sun, listening to the waves crash in the background. When I dream of my first post-quarantine trip, all I picture is a beach, any beach—a beautiful, sunny destination with soft sand and an unending view of the ocean. Whether you’re the type of person who likes to be buried in the sand or prefers lounging in the shade of a cabana with a book and a cocktail, these sunny destinations should be on your post-quarantine radar.
St. Barts
Saint Barthelemy island, or St. Barts, is a gorgeous island in the Caribbean with pristine white sand beaches and a bustling food and drink culture. St. Barts is known for its upscale clientele, and it shows up to impress. Not only are mega-yachts frequently at port in St. Barts, but the various shops, restaurants, and bars are prepared to cater to their luxurious clients. Cabaret shows and private resorts award this island with a sense of elite mystery and adventure that can’t be beaten.
U.S. Virgin Islands
This collection of islands is a perfect quick getaway for anyone in need of some alone time to reinvigorate. The islands have a wide array of fine dining options as well as private beaches and resorts that will allow you to escape from your everyday stresses. Whether you’re looking for some quiet alone time to explore nature or some high-end shopping and nightlife, what you’re looking for is on the Virgin Islands. During the day, dive into the amazing coral gardens that encircle the islands, go sailing or unwind with your feet up. What makes this island series even better is that they are connected via ferry or private charter for a comfortable island-hopping journey.
Bali
Bali is incredible. It’s bursting with culture, food, music, activity, and in just about every direction you look, you can see the gorgeous coast. Around every corner throughout Bali, you will find something magical to experience, from street performances to wild monkeys. Head to the water, you can free dive with manta rays, sea turtles, and fish in every color you never knew existed. One of my favorite parts of Bali is also its proximity to other, equally incredible Indonesian islands. Bali is just a short boat ride away from the Gili islands, a series of three small islands, each known for their own personality, as well as from Flores, the famous island-home of the Komodo dragon.
Dubai
Most people probably think of bustling city streets and huge skyscrapers when they think of Dubai. It’s one of the most luxurious and modern shopping cities in the world with an active and elite nightlife, but Dubai is also a coastal city in which visitors can escape to a beautiful, relaxing shore. With such a long coastline, visitors can choose a beach vacation from relaxing and quiet private beaches to the world-renowned kite beach perfect for kite surfing to family-friendly sands with restaurants and cafes lining the shore. With so many options, you can enjoy the best of both worlds by having your city adventure with a side of relaxing, sun-filled fun.
Pick Your Dream Getaway
Let’s face it, we all deserve a nice long vacation after this year. While we may not all be able to jet off to our dream destination just quite yet, planning and dreaming about your first post-quarantine journey will give you something to look forward to until you can make your grand escape. Thinking about these beautiful sunshine-filled beach destinations will undoubtedly help me make the best of this year.
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Meet the Writer!
Taylor Fox is a New York-based travel and food writer, specializing in the impact of food within culture.
Learn more about Taylor at TaylorPerezFox.