Thailand:
This is the best season for beaches on both Thailand's coasts. Who can refuse low prices, lovely people, fascinating culture, exquisite food and of course magnificent sand to suit all budgets from Phuket to Pattaya and Phi Phi; see Thai beaches map and beach pictures.
Red Sea beaches: Egypt's Red Sea beach resorts as well as Israel's unattractive Eilat are low-cost holiday destinations with plenty of sun, luscious coral growth, warm seas and day trips to Luxor for a spot of ancient site-seeing.
The Red Sea's air temperature is generally about 23°C in March [19°C at night] and water temperature is 21°C with low humidity and little chance of rain.
Indian
Ocean:
- India: Palolem Beach, Goa. A major tourist destination and some hassle-factor but still
laid-back and appealing.
- Kenya: Diani or Serena beaches are good for families and great value
for money.
- Maldives [islands]: Banyan Tree, Cocoa Island, Nika, Soneva Fushi etc.
Perfect for luxury and pricey escapism.
- Myanmar: Ngapali Beach, Chaung Tha Beach beach, Ngwe Saung Beach.
Very little developed, very reasonable prices, very nice locals,
very vile military junta.
-Oman: Muscat beaches [Arabian Sea]. Over 1,000 miles of coastline
with endless unspoilt nature and very few tourists.
- The north & east coast of Zanzibar. Perfect for relaxing
after wildlife safaris.
- Unawatuna, Sri Lanka. An ideal destination for a beach and
culture holiday.
Mexico
beaches are
excellent and sizzling but uncrowded in March, both on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, with wonderful sights, tasty food and low prices.
Caribbean beaches are perfect in March, as are the beach
resorts.
Australia
[South-East Coast]:
- Bondi or Manly,
near Sydney
for convenience, style and surf.
- Byron Bay, between Sydney and Brisbane, for a neo-hippie 'alternative'
beach scene.
- North Stradbroke Island, near Brisbane,
for wildlife walks, quiet beaches and good surf.
- Noosa
Heads, Sunshine Coast, a tranquil, dispersed town with great, soft
beaches, parks and surf.
- Fraser Island's Lake
McKenzie; clear freshwater surrounded
by rainforest and the purest white sand.
Malaysia:
- Datai Beach, Langkawi Island. One of the world's most secluded
and picture-perfect hideaways.
- Pantai Teluk Belanga [Emerald Bay], Pangkor Laut. A luxury resort
on the brilliant crescent bay of a tiny private island.
- Berjaya Tioman Beach Resort, a secluded, palm-fringed beach, or
Kampung Juara for
total serenity. Both on Tioman Island.
- Long Beach, Kecil Island, Perhentian Islands. A popular destination
for budget travelers.
- Puraran Beach, Catanduanes Island, one of the Philippines' major
surf venues with with white sand that demands a hug.
- Redang Island, Redang archipelago, with a superb marine park,
is excellent for scuba/snorkel addicts.
- Turtle Beach and Golden Beach, Similajau National Park, Sarawak.
Well worth the hassle to get there for some of Malaysia's finest
beaches.
Philippines:
- Honda Bay, Palawan, Philippines. An area of outstanding natural
beauty.
- Malapascua Island, Cebu. Relatively unknown but highly rated as
one of the world's best beach/dives.
- Bantayan Island, Cebu. A low-key, laid-back resort with friendly
locals.
- Muelle Bay, Puerto Galera, Mindoro Island. An ideal place to go
island-hopping on to pristine beaches.
- Alona Beach, Panglao Island, Bohol. A picturesque beach near the
famous Chocolate Hills landscape.
- White Beach, Boracay Island. Exceptionally white, soft sand that
never gets hot, a long palm fringe and with a huge variety of small,
friendly accommodations.
Vietnam:
- Mui
Ne Beach, Mui Ne, near Phan Thiet. An upcoming resort area known
for its spectacular sand dunes.
- Hon Chong Beach, Ha Tien; a seductive beach near the Cambodian
border.
- Bai Tam [Long Beach], Phu Quoc Island. A secret jewel of Southeast
Asia.
Atlantic
Ocean:
- USA: the state of Florida is southerly enough to be warm by April, but keep on going south to the Florida Keys for smaller beaches but more heat.
- Canary Islands [Spain], a grand variety of beaches on offer from action-packed, to big and placid, to secluded and natural.
- South Africa, Camps Bay, with stunning views and easy access from
beautiful Capetown, but chilly water.
- Brazil is blessed with many massive, fine beaches, such as Rio's magnificent Copacabana- perhaps the world's best city beach- though the seas are usually rough and cold. [December-February
is Brazil's summer holiday season so a busy time and extremely hot, 40C+].
Pacific
Ocean.
- Rock Islands, Palau, known for their curious and beautiful coral
rock formations and great beaches.
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