In a recent post I said that I’d stayed at a beach resort that I didn’t care for. I searched my memory, and then photos, for what I thought were the best beaches and beach resorts where I had stayed. So here is a brief list of what I consider good beach resorts.

The Maldives

There are possibly hundreds of choices of resorts in The Maldives. I stayed at Angsana Velavaru (turtle island) in 2010. It had all the things I like, including seclusion, unspoiled views, clean water, good food, and lovely accommodations. My sister and I took a flight from London to the Male airport in the Maldives, Velana International Airport (about 10 to 11 hours). From there it is another 45 minute seaplane flight to the island. The snorkeling if the Maldives was the best snorkeling of my life.

Angsana.com

Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef

Heron Island, in the southern Great Barrier Reef, is 50 miles north-east of Gladstone, Queensland, Australia. We flew from San Francisco to Sydney, about 14 to 15 hours, and Sydney to Gladstone, another 3 hours. From Gladstone a two hour boat ride takes you out to Heron Island. You can walk around the entire island in about 30 minutes. The accommodations were basic, but the views were unspoiled, the snorkeling was good, and best of all, we witnessed sea turtle nests hatching daily. Twice we saw the large turtles either laying their eggs in the sand or retreating back to the sea after laying their eggs.

Heronisland.com

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora was a true paradise. Beautiful beaches, beautiful people, snorkeling and stellar accommodations. From San Francisco we flew Air Tahiti Nui to Papeete, about 9 hours. It’s just under one hour on a smaller plane to Bora Bora. The resorts send boats over to the dock to pick up their guests. We stayed at two different resorts, Le Meridien and Hotel Bora Bora. We loved it. We snorkeled with turtles and ate at Bloody Mary’s Bora Bora. Le Meridien is still in business. I am sad to say that the Hotel Bora Bora, opened in 1961 and our favorite place, closed in 2008 for renovations and has not reopened. My brother visited years after my sister and I stayed there, and reported to us that it was abandoned and empty when he walked through the area.

Mozambique

I celebrated my 50th birthday at a resort on the coast of Mozambique. We had already been to South Africa, and ended our safari trip with a beach stay. From South Africa we had a private car transfer to the capital of Mozambique on fairly good roads. The trek from the capital to the White Pearl Resort was on very rough roads for about three hours. It was difficult to get to, but the resort was worth it. The resort was on the beach, had beautiful views and good food. My dear friend Augie was surprised and delighted to find a baby grand piano, which he played to entertain all the guests. Mozambique is one of the few countries that allow swimming with wild dolphins, under strict regulation. We did this for my 50th birthday.

Mnemba Island, Tanzania

In 2007, during my first trip to Africa, my sister and I spent three nights on Mnemba Island. It’s a private island off the tip of Zanzibar. I celebrated a birthday there. It is one of the most expensive and most exclusive places I have ever stayed. It was difficult to get to as well. From Stone Town, Zanzibar we drove to the northern tip of the island, where we were met by the resorts boat. I loved the open air huts and the hospitality was wonderful. They really knew how to celebrate a birthday. The snorkeling was memorable in that I was “inked” by a very small squid. You could easily walk around the island and we found very nice shells.

All these places were not easy to get to. I am aware of the environmental toll it takes to get to remote destinations. There is nothing eco-tourism about flying in a jet for 25 hours to get somewhere. More and more I believe tourism ruins the places we want to visit. Unless you travel by sailboat or foot or bicycle, you may have a huge carbon footprint. I have enjoyed my travel, but I’m feeling more and more concern (guilt) over the impact to the environment and the local people and wildlife.

We can try to minimize the damage we do during our travels. You can stay at accommodations that give back to the community, or volunteer with a conservation program, or donate to local causes.

Another small thing you can do is to use a sunscreen that does not harm the coral and sea life. I was just reading an article about this and went to my own bathroom cabinet and found sunscreens containing harmful chemicals. Oxybenzone, octocrylene, and homosalate, all on the harmful list, were in the products in my house. (I also have Neutrogena mineral sunscreen, which is ok). There are alternatives. The website haereticus-lab.org has a list of products that don’t contain harmful chemicals. From now on I will be using Badger, or Tropic, or Odacite. In Hawaii, SB2571 Hawaii Act 104, was implemented in 2021. It bans the sale of all sunscreen products containing oxybenzone and octinoxate.

Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit corporation, publishes an annual guide to sunscreen. Check it out.

ewg.org

Haereticus-lab.org

Badgerbalm.com

Tropicskincare.com

Odacite.com