World's Best Beaches
August

St Jean de Luz, near Biarritz, SW France, Atlantic coast

Mediterranean:

- Many fantastic Greek beaches, see pictures

- Some enjoyable and characterful Turkish beaches, see pictures

- Some deservedly famous French beaches; the Cote d'Azur is overcrowded, with St Tropez heading the bling list and Cannes or Juan-les-Pins close behind with Nice's stony strands much better value. Corsica beaches [an island] are less busy, less costly and more beautiful. Take a ferry from Nice or fly there.

- There's still a little space left in Spain but generally it's overbuilt, overrun and overheated in August, though this is the best time for Spain's Atlantic Coast.

- Superb, dazzling, emerald seas and golden rocks of Sardinia and Lampedusa islands, Italy.

- Croatia beaches, not the Med, but the nearby Adriatic offshoot and one of Europe's newer destinations offering a handful of attractive, secluded and low cost beach holidays.

Pacific Ocean: See also Pacific Beach Pictures

- USA: Fine sands and warm waters in Hawaii and California unless the fog rolls in...

- Chile: Anakena beach, Easter Island. Not a huge beach but soft sand, clear sea, palm trees and six huge moai monitoring the traffic.

- French Polynesia: Matira Beach, Bora Bora. One of South Pacific's best beaches, beginning at the famous resort Hotel Bora Bora.

- Yasawa Islands, Fiji, a group of islands with small sandy beaches and low cost backpacker resorts.

- One Foot Island Beach, islet of Aitutaki Island, the Cook Islands.

- South coast of Ofu Island, American Samoa. A wonderful landscape with very few tourists.

- Lefaga Beaches and Aleipata Beach, Upolu island, Western Samoa. Little known but one of the cutest beaches in the South Pacific.

- Ha'apai Beach, Foa island, Ha'apai islands, Tonga. Low cost with the friendly locals.

Indian Ocean:

- Indonesia: Bali's beaches range from big and busy with surfing [Kuta] to calm resorts with outdoor dining [Jimbaran], but there's plenty to do, culture too!

- Madagascar: Ile Sainte Marie is an idyllic island resort fringed by peaceful beaches.

- Tanzania: Zanzibar's best beaches are on the north and east coasts, though experienced travellers often enjoy neighbouring Mafia Island's isolation. A perfect way to end the holiday after doing a Tanzania wildlife safari.

Atlantic Ocean:

USA: Florida's beaches are overheating now on east and west shores; the Keys are getting uncomfortably humid and storms start stirring up the waters and blow-drying the coast.

- UK: The shores are craggily attractive, the water temperature is tolerable now and British beaches are looking tempting, especially those on the warm south coast such as Dorset and Cornwall.

- Many excellent beaches in Portugal.

- Some great stretches of soft sand on the west coast of France, such as La Rochelle, Arcachon, Biarritz and St Jean de Luz.

- Essaouira, Morocco. A tranquil seaside resort popular with independent travelers.

Malaysia:

- Berjaya Tioman Beach Resort, a secluded, palm-fringed beach, or Kampung Juara for total serenity, Tioman Island.

- Long Beach, Kecil Island, Perhentian Islands. A popular destination for budget travelers.

- 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.

Australia [Northern Coasts]:

- The north-west shores above Perth are home to the amazing Ningaloo Reef and massive stretches of dazzling, people-free sand. North East Coast [Cairns & Great Barrier Reef islands] is hot all year [above 26C] but Jan-March gets some rain and cloud while December-January is crowded and super heated, so April-November is best for swimming.

Beaches that are probably not a good idea in August:

Australia [South East Coast]:
- it's winter and water is chilly in southern Australia, go north but don't expect much surf, just toxic jellies.

Caribbean:
Depends on the island but rain, wind and choppy seas may be visiting though lots of tourists won't be. Low cost but a little risky!

Mexico:
No thanks! Storm season means frequent rough seas, cloud, wind, rain.

Thailand:
May - October is the worst time to go, particularly on the west coast due to heavy rains.
The Gulf [east] Coast has a less rain than the west but for longer periods, from June - December .

Seychelles: Stunning islands hosting some of the world's best beaches, but July to September are the worst months to be on sands due to the south-east trade winds, while it is a good time for surfing.

- Palau, the Rock Islands known for their coral rock formations, colourful underwater life and stunning beaches, but typhoons can be expected between June and August.