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Top 10 beach holidays
From dramatic coastlines to sun-filled surf spots, Expedia picks the best destinations for the perfect beach holiday. Whether you're looking for calm turquoise waters, soft white sand beaches or big surf, check out our Top 10 Beach Destinations below.
1. Antigua
Antiguans claim to have a different beach for every day of the year and their island's many beautiful soft, sandy beaches and coves certainly constitute its main attraction along with a variety of water sports.
2. Phuket
A stunning variety of beautiful beaches are scattered all over Thailand from Phuket on the Andaman Sea to the shores of the Eastern Gulf. The Koh Phi Phi Islands are the real gem - the smaller of the two was used for the film, The Beach, in 2000.
3. Barbados
For the perfect beach holiday, look no further. Water sports galore and draw-dropping scenery combine with great music and delicious food. The Platinum Coast boasts white sand and clear, turquoise waters while the Atlantic coast has a rugged beauty.
4. Sydney
You're unlikely to find more beaches in one country than Australia. From the coral sands of the Great Barrier Reef, to the deserted shores of Western Australia, you'll not find a wider variety of coastline on the planet.
5. French Riviera
The towns of the Côte d'Azur, or French Riviera, are generally accepted as some of the most beautiful resort spots in the world. Nice, Cannes and St Tropez among others play host to huge crowds in summer but offer golden beaches all year round.
6. Algarve
One of the smallest countries in Europe but certainly the greatest concentration of sports cars you'll ever see. Step into the rich and famous playground for a holiday of luxury! And if you're travelling on a shoestring, you can also stay elsewhere on the charming Cote d'Azur and only come to 'The Rock' for the day.
7. Jamaica
A tropical island of lush green vegetation, waterfalls and dazzling white beaches. One of the larger islands of the Caribbean, it offers excellent tourist facilities and superb beaches and scenery
8. Tenerife
The largest of the islands, Tenerife is dominated by a central mountain range and several spectacular valleys. It has a national park, a gigantic natural crater some 19km (12 miles) in diameter and, to the north, the Pico del Teide, the highest mountain in Spain.
9. St Lucia
The second-largest of the Windward Islands, St. Lucia is a mixture of lush vegetation, great beaches and brightly-coloured towns. Miles of palm tree-lined coastline, combine with sheltered coves and volcanic, black sand beaches to create a truly stunning destination.
10. Honolulu
One of the world's finest surf spots, where massive waves roll onto golden sands, but Hawaii's islands also have a huge selection of safe swimming and snorkelling beaches. Maui offers some of the best beaches, while almost all the islands cater for surfers.
