Anonymous wrote:Bali if you can deal with the long flights to get there. Has both beaches and rain forests, which very few places mentioned in this thread can claim. Plus the exchange rate is quite good.

Where did you stay? We were thinking of doing SEA next spring or summer and would love to get any inputs!

Where to stay in Cayman?

Bali if you can deal with the long flights to get there. Has both beaches and rain forests, which very few places mentioned in this thread can claim. Plus the exchange rate is quite good.

For us, it was Anguilla. We try to visit 2x a year.

It's big enough that maybe it doesn't quite count, but the Big Island of Hawaii was one of my favorite trips ever. Varied terrain, the best coffee I've ever had, great weather, good snorkeling, nice people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catalina?

For the wine mixer?

Did we just become best friends?

Naxos, Greece
Kiawah island, SC
Mallorca
Cinnamon Bay, St. John

I am a self-proclaimed beach expert. I believe it is the only thing in life I am an authority on.

I hit St. Barths on a $300 million dollar yacht. Was quite the trip.

Flamenco Beach on Culebra is my all time favorite beach - above every other beach considered great that I've seen incl Sugar Beach, 7 Mile, CR, Pink Sands, Antigua, DR, got engaged on Grace Bay, honeymooned in Tahiti, any well known FL beach and whatever beaches that are famous I forgot to name incl the ones in W Europe. There's something so magical about the expanse of it. So accessible, huge but still somehow intimate. It's not Turks white sands beautiful or St. Lucia scenic. It's not anything actually really special per se but just the energy of it. I love OR Coast and it is the only beach that has the warm waters that is laid out like those coastal beaches out west. Most of the other warm water beaches are awesome but somehow below only with warm waters. There's just something so magical about this one.

BUT I will say this was decades ago before crowds, before sargassum, early 2000s. I'm not sure how it is anymore? Flamenco Beach is on Culebra with the most beautiful beaches there, but I disagree that there's that much to actually do/see.

Culebra. Puerto Rico or Puerto Rico in general. It’s an island packed with so much to do and see!

Anonymous wrote:Catalina?? Really??

Catalina has some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. It is truly spectacular.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/catalina-island-california-best-scuba-destination-usa-11763267

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in Hawaii so my beach standards are pretty high.

I've been to these other beaches:
Thailand
Croatia
Bahamas
Puerto Rico
US Virgin Islands (St Croix)
Aruba
Bermuda
Ireland
Iceland
Greek Cyclades
Japan / Okinawa - Island Zamami Ji*
Florida Atlantic Coast
Virginia
West coast WA, OR, CA
Great Lakes (Superior, Erie)

I thought Zamami Ji was really incredible. The snorkeling, hiking, views. Spectacular. Although, I really enjoy a wide variety of the beaches mentioned above.

You lost me with Virginia making the list 😭 which beach blew you away in Virginia?

They’ve all seemed pretty bad and forgettable and I’ve lived here my whole life.

I grew up in Hawaii so my beach standards are pretty high.

I've been to these other beaches:
Thailand
Croatia
Bahamas
Puerto Rico
US Virgin Islands (St Croix)
Aruba
Bermuda
Ireland
Iceland
Greek Cyclades
Japan / Okinawa - Island Zamami Ji*
Florida Atlantic Coast
Virginia
West coast WA, OR, CA
Great Lakes (Superior, Erie)

I thought Zamami Ji was really incredible. The snorkeling, hiking, views. Spectacular. Although, I really enjoy a wide variety of the beaches mentioned above.

Flying Point Beach, Southampon NY

Ibiza!!!