For seclusion
Yunokawa, Hakodate, Japan
Yunokawa may be known as an onsen (hot spring) district but there are lovely, largely deserted beaches all around town.
The true charms of the coastal city don’t show themselves until the winter months. The area is scattered with onsens directly facing out to the shore and we can think of few things better than bathing in a hot spring while looking out at a beach covered with snow. Yunokawa is largely ignored by both foreign and domestic tourists during winter, as most Hokkaido vacationeers opt for Sapporo for skiing, so shops close early, which adds to the town’s sedate ambience.
Bai Dai Beach, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
Phu Quoc is being fashioned as the ‘next Phuket’ and will soon be turning in a pretty profit for the Vietnamese government and resort operators. But if unsoiled charms are what you’re after, there’s still time for you to check out the island and find out why the government finds it bankable in the first place (the international airport won’t open until next year).
Phu Quoc is frequently touted one of Vietnam’s most beautiful islands and the Bai Dai Beach, which squats in a Viet military area, is blissfully secluded with white sands and expansive vistas stretching to the horizon.
Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka
With its political woes apparently easing, Sri Lanka’s efforts to become known as a tourism hotspot rather than a terrorism hotbed are no doubt aided by its world-class surf spots.
Surf Mecca Hikkaduwa, one of Sri Lanka’s most popular beach destinations, has close to a dozen reef breaks that stop short of being life-threatening, and plenty of sea corals to keep snorkelers happy.
To complete the Asian getaway experience, Hikkaduwa has sumptuously spicy local fare and Buddhist cultural spectacles for vacationers to write home about.
For local flavor
Akajima, Okinawa, Japan
The islet of Akajima of Okinawa’s Kerama Islands may be popular among Japanese day-trippers during the summer, but foreign travelers are a rare sight there.
Indeed, Akajima retains a blissfully sequestered charm even during peak season. The beaches are spotless, usually with just a handful of Japanese surfers, and locals are effusive and friendly. Further inland there is a quaint Ryukyuan heritage house open to visitors. If you’re lucky you may even befriend a local and have him teach you the shamisen while you sip on cold beer.
Beidaihe, China
Hainan Island may be China’s beach getaway de jour, but it’s Beidaihe up north that’s been amusing China’s upper echelons for decades.
Beidaihe is a few hours from Beijing and offers a fascinating alternative view of China’s bygone political intrigue. Rulers such as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping hashed out national policies in their private villas here, and it’s popular among Russian tourists — an offhand reminder of erstwhile Sino-Soviet ties.
Cloaks and daggers aside, Beidaihe’s restaurants offer simpler pleasures with good seafood and ice-cold beer.
The old favorites
White Beach, Boracay, Philippines
Boracay may be a pimped-out tourist central but there’s a reason why it remains a superlative on travel rankings.
Tourism and development have crept up on the tiny island but it still lays a respectable claim to its “tropical paradise” name. Boracay has something for everyone, from powdery beaches to water sports and spas. And while the famous White Beach is lined with luxury resorts and kitschy souvenir shacks, watching the sun go down over the water still rates as a very special moment for many.
Soneva Gili, Maldives
Nearly all the beaches in the Maldives are faultless, but in terms of beach-side luxury, the staggeringly expensive Soneva Gili resort reigns supreme. Each over-water villa is equipped with little indulgences that you didn’t know you needed — room service by speedboat and outdoor bathrooms, for instance — and private butlers will drop you off at deserted private beaches complete with hammocks and picnics on request.
Source courtesy of CNNGo
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