Travel

Dream Beach Destinations

Six coastlines we return to, with the honest version: best months, what the water is actually like and the gear that earns its luggage space.

Maldives

Overwater villas, glass-clear lagoons and the calmest snorkeling water on earth.

Cliff-top beach clubs in Uluwatu, black-sand surf breaks and the best value per night.

Pink-sand shorelines a short flight from the US East Coast — ideal for a long weekend.

Volcanic coastline, turtle-filled bays and the Road to Hana as your beach-hop route.

Red and black volcanic beaches under whitewashed caldera villages. Peak golden hour.

The bucket-list lagoon: Mount Otemanu views, coral gardens and zero crowds.

Before you fly

Our printable checklist covers every one of these destinations — including the carry-on-only version.

Free download

47 items, sorted by bag, printable and tested on real trips. Plus one weekly email with the best new beach finds — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.