bor-scouts.com » Beaches

10 Best Beaches of Seychelles

guider — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:09:06 +0000

Seychellesis a group of about 115 islands, located northeast of Madagascar. There are five main islands; Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, Frégate, and North Island. Much of Seychelles is protected sanctuaries devoted to preserving and amazing array of flora and fauna. The giant Alabra Tortoises are fascinating and should not be missed when visiting the islands, Birds huge bird colonies can be found on certain islands

While tourism is absolutely their main industry, the Seychelle Islands are a relatively unknown vacation hideaway. If you are looking for a snappy nightlife you might be a little disappointing. One of the charms of the Seychelles is that they are not commercial and overdeveloped. The group of islands offer the perfect Honeymoon getaway.

Beau Vallon

This beach is located on the island of Mahé on the northern side, and is one of the more popular beaches on Mahé. This long and sandy beach has magnificent views of North Island and Silhouette. There are various diving and water sport centers as well a Teddy’s Glass Bottom Boat Tours.

Anse Royale

This beach is the longest on Mahé and it provides beaches that are protected in most cases from choppy seas and provides a safe and comfortable swimming experience. This makes for very favorable conditions for swimming and beach fun from May to October.

Intendance Beach

This is a very wide beach, which provides huge swells that are favored by surfers. Multi-directional currents make it a little challenging at times to swim and the Banyan Tree Resort will notify swimmers of dangerous conditions with flags. Anse Intendance is one of the spots that turtles still nest.

Anse Cimitiere

Cimitiere is a very hidden beach and is quite hidden. Monsoon season is from May to October and is a time of large waves and dangerous surf. There are a few natural swimming pools created by protecting rocks on the beach. If you are looking for a nice change there is the inland forest that can be explored by horses from the Riding Centre Utegangar.

Port Launay

This is one of the most beautiful beaches on Mahé and is located on the west side of the island. This beach will have the largest population of beach goers on weekends. Swimming is great here and the beach is very well maintained.

Anse Georgette

Rated as one of the top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world, Anse Georgette is located on the island of Praslin. Only accessible by boat the beach offers the luxury of the Lemuria Resort. This is a favorite of Honeymooners because of the intimacy of the private beach.

Anse Bois de Rose

This beach is known for its fishing and there is a great spot for swimming located next to the hotel Coco de Mer.

Anse Source D’Argent

This beach is one of the most popular beaches in the Seychelles. Huge granite boulders separate it from Anse Lazio and make this a hotspot for filming and photography. This beach is a favorite for magazines as well as TV travel programs.

Anse Bamboos

Located on the island of Frégate, Anse Bamboos has the main hotel on the island. It boasts of has some currents but they are not too dangerous to swimmers and there is a lifeguard stationed here for your safety. Sun chairs with large shade umbrellas line the beach for your comfort.

Anse d’Est

Anse d’Est is located on the east side of North Island and this is where large coral beds are located just off the beach. The North Island Lodge offers a swimming pool, restaurant, library and diving center.

10 Best Beaches of France

guider — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 09:09:18 +0000

When I think of France I don’t immediately think of beautiful beaches, I think of Paris. But I stand corrected because southern France has some of the most beautiful beaches on the world. There are actually a variety of beaches to please every kind of taste. France is surrounded by water, the English Channel, Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea.

The French Riviera is located on the eastern Mediterranean coast from Cannes to Menton. This is the France holiday you want to take if you are looking for upscale adult vacationing. The Côte d’Azur is the coast to the south and is the ideal spot for “alone time” although it can get a little crowded in some spots. It is also a great spot for surfing. Brittany on the north Atlantic coast and the surrounding area has beaches with family attractions.

Cannes

While the world famous film festival may keep tourists busy, there is no denying the beach here is fun. This is a lighthearted beach town, steeped in the arts and film. Check out the sand castles while you are on the beach. If you hunt for bargains, this can be a reasonable beach vacation.

Beach at Nice

This beach is enormously popular on the French Riviera. The actual beach is comprised of pebbles instead of sand. It is very crowded in the summer.

Menton Beach

Menton is a quaint little beach town and of all the beaches on the French Riviera, Menton’s beaches are the most family friendly. The atmosphere is much more relaxed and it isn’t the wild partying beach town that its neighbors are.

Monaco

The beaches in Monaco are upscale and are adjacent to opulent high-rise hotels and casinos. This is an adult environment and there is plenty of fun to be had sun bathing during the day and gambling at night.

Arcachon Beaches

The small town of Arcachon sits next to the Atlantic Ocean. This beach area is free of crowds except at peak time of summer vacation. If you visit this beach you must walk along the Dune du Pyla, which lies between the ocean and the largest forest in France, Les Landes. This is huge dune elevated and overlooks the Atlantic.

Biarritz Beaches

While the Biarritz beachfront was once wildly popular, in the last forty or fifty years tourists have migrated to the French Riviera to empty their wallets. While these may not the most ideal beaches, they are less crowded, have less traffic, and have less expensive accommodations. Beaches are free to visit.

Garoupe Beach – Cap d’Antibes

This is a very exclusive beach that is split off into sections some of which are free to the public. This beach faces the east so when you are on the beach the sun is not in your face. It is also sheltered from the wind and this makes it pleasant.

St. Jean de Luz St.

Jean de Luz beach is located just south of Biarritz in the town of St. Jean de Luz. This is a clean well-kept beach with a nice sea wall separating the beach from the town. The architecture of the town has been carefully preserved and the old 17th and 18th century structures are just gorgeous. This is a quiet and peaceful beach experience.

Cap d’Agde

Located next to Montpellier, Cap d’Agde is famous for their nude beaches. But apparently the tendency to divest one’s clothes may extend to the entire city. Maybe we should leave the kiddies at home.

La Rochelle

This is a quaint port town located on the Atlantic coast. The beach has shallow waters and is great for families with young children.

How to Choose the Best Beach Resorts

guider — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:13:34 +0000

No matter your beach destination, choosing the best beach resorts is essential to have a great beach holiday. Beach resorts are different from each other; some beach resorts offer an all inclusive plan while others resorts offer a private beach among their amenities. Prepare to have the best beach resort holiday. Here are some tips:

First of all you have to know what you are really looking for in a beach resort; cozy rooms, big pool, kids club, private beach, 24 hour room service or anything else that you want.

Now that you have a list of the amenities you want for a beach resort is time to start searching the best beach resort, to do that you only have to do the search in websites like Expedia, Orbitz or Tavelocity and select the advanced search criteria with all the amenities you want for the beach resort.

Ok, we’re doing fine. At this time you should have a list of beach resorts you’ve selected from your search on the travel sites, but before start booking you must read a couple of reviews about these beach resorts, and to do that there are plenty of websites with reviews and articles about hotels, resorts and destinations, you can try Mybeachconcierge.com to get some advice.

Now is time to book your beach resort and next, in order to be sure to enjoy your stay at a beach resort, write a complete list of everything you want to bring with you, remember to carry with you a couple of swimsuits, extra money, dress clothes, a calling card, sandals and shoes and just in case, some aspirins for the hangover.

Enjoy your next Beach Resort holiday!

Top 10 Beaches in the Caribbean

guider — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:09:27 +0000

A holiday to the Caribbean offers you the chance to visit some of the most spectacular beaches in the world. Virtually every island of the Caribbean will have beaches that amaze; with crystal clear blue seas, sugar white sand & palm trees.

To help you choose where to go and more importantly what beach to choose, we have compiled a list of the top 10 beaches in the Caribbean.

1/ Palm Beach (Aruba) – Idyllic beach setting with superb white sand.

2/ Grand Anse Beach (Grenada) – 3km beach with sugar-white sand, lots of space & shallow waters.

3/ Johnson’s Point (Antigua) – Made up of secluded coves; these white soft sand beaches are a must for snorkeling & swimming

4/ Pink Sand Beach ( Bahamas) – One of the world’s most photographed beaches, often voted world’s best by travel publications. 5km’s of salmon pink coloured sand, due to red plankton that has mixed with the fine white sand.

5/ Crane Beach (Barbados) – Often voted as Barbados’ most beautiful beach. Imposing cliffs, a natural coral reef and soft white sands make for a perfect beach.

6/ Negril Beach (Jamaica) – Laid back atmosphere and Jamaica’s prettiest beach. A lot quieter than Seven Mile beach.

7/ Englishman’s Bay (Tobago) – A sheltered beach with fine white sand, crystal waters & surrounded by a palm jungle.

8/ Grace Bay (Turks & Caicos) – Part of a national marine park, this beach has fine white sand, calm turquoise waters and is protected by a barrier reef.

9/ Trunk Bay (US Virgin Islands) – A beautiful beach with crystal clear waters, considered one of the best places for snorkeling in the Caribbean.

10/ Shoal Bay (Anguilla) – Put Angullia on the tourism map; sugar-white sand, crystal clear blue waters & coral reefs.

Top 10 Hawaiian Beaches

guider — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:12:37 +0000

These Top 10 Hawaiian Beaches are known for offering mixes of all the right ingredients to give travelers and families the best vacation resort experience. Everyone wants something different in a holiday beach resort. Plus, if you are a family traveling with kids it is even more important to find the right balance between sea, sand and surf. What makes a good beach is the way it let’s everyone relax the way they like. Families need sandcastles and surfers need big waves while a scuba diver wants a beach with a reef and calm water. A beach with all these things makes it a wonderful place to vacation in a resort atmosphere.

These top locations and luxury resorts are the best places to go if you need services like telephones, restrooms and picnic areas. Many have seasonal surfing and also snorkeling to offer adventurous travelers. Many beaches also have grass and shady areas also provide cover for sun worshippers and families with small children. Rentals of water sports equipment will vary although most beaches will be able to help out visitors with some type of rentals from snorkels to boogie boards. See the list of top Hawaiian beaches and resorts below for families and solo travelers.

1. Lanikai Beach
2. The North Shore
3. Punalu’u Beach
4. Hookipa Beach
5. Lahaina Beach
6. Poipu Beach
7. Kauna ‘oa Beach
8. Kaanapali Beach
9. Honaunau Bay
10. Waikiki Beach

1. Lanikai Beach is located on the island of Oahu off Kailua Road, Kailua -East Oahu. Clear water and sparkling white sand make Lanikai Beach known for its beauty. Just off in the distance are two tropical islands of Mokumanu and Mokulua where there are designated bird sanctuaries. This combination of sand and sun make Lanikai Beach a well known to travelers and locals. The sunrise if not to be missed on this part Oahu where visitors can find sand, large rocks, shady areas and good swimming and snorkeling.

2.The North Shore is part of three separate areas: Waimeia Bay calm which is peaceful in the summer with big winter surfing waves in winter; the Pipeline whose name inspires surfers shooting through waves; and Sunset Beach that is known for what else – fabulous sunsets! If you are not a board-type there are plenty of other things to do nearby such as: Golf, Ocean Fishing & Tours, Sport Fishing, Shark Tours, Whale Watching, Horseback Riding, Jet Ski, Picnics, Scuba and Snorkel . . . plus lots of shopping!

3. Punalu’u Beach is located off Highway 11 on the South shore and is nothing short of dramatic. Black sand beaches and tall coconut trees make this beach memorable and very comfortable. The beach park even has a freshwater wading pool to cool off with for the whole family plus there are ducks for the kids. Punalu’u actually “diving spring” because Hawaiians used to get fresh water from these springs using gourds. The location is well known for the endangered green sea turtle that makes it’s home here while the turtles are protected by law, snorkeling is a great way to see them in their natural habitat.

4. Hookipa Beach is well known for world-class windsurfing competitions. It is located off the Hana Highway in North Maui. While not everyone is an expert windsurfer there is a small coral reef that provides an excellent calm area for taking a relaxing few minutes on this unique beach. The dramatic rocky beach and sandy shore are complemented with barbeque picnic areas, showers, kiosks and payphones. The range of services make this beach a success for hosting the Aloha Classic, Red Bull surfing competitions and the Maui Sports Foundation events for expert windsurfers and sun worshipping tourists.

5. Lahaina Beach is on West Maui and the town is full of ancient history with a long tradition of whaling. Many people are familiar with the wedding ceremonies and famous Luau dances. The Luau dance is the traditional Hawaiian dance that celebrates the unique island culture with the hula dance, flower lei ceremonies and roasted pig dining make any evening a memorable experience.

6. Poipu Beach is on the southern island of Kauai it is well know for calm waters. The beauty of calm waters and tranquil beaches are a photographers dream come true. The area is picturesque with sandy beaches and shallow areas that provide safe areas for parents and children. Snorkeling is also good around the point and there is grass and shady areas for sun worshippers to lounge in. There are also many services available on the beach including lifeguards, picnic areas, showers and picnic facilities.

7. Kauna ‘oa Beach is a large sandy beach located on the big island of Hawaii. The beach provides plenty of room for sand castles, volleyball, swimming, snorkeling and boogie boarding. It is one of the best beaches on the island with a rock reef that provides some protection from the surf. Golfers will even love to hate the sand traps at the famous Mauna Kea Golf Course.

8. Kaanapali Beach is one of the best beaches on Maui and for that reason it fronts many Ka’anapali resorts. Travel up and down the beach is made possible by a concrete path so wherever you are staying the path is nearby for morning walks and sunset strolls. Local services include: lifeguards, restrooms, showers and seasonal high surf. Many visitors that prefer calm waters will enjoy fantastic snorkeling at Black Rock. Adults with children will be pleased to see that many resorts have childrens programs so everyone in the family has a memorable experience.

9. Honaunau Bay is the City of Refuge by locals because of ancient traditions that gave warriors and law-breakers refuge here. The bay is refuge to many fish and coral that skin divers often visit due to the ease of entry provided by smooth lava rock flats. Scuba divers also frequent the area because is is so remarkable. Dolphins are regulars to the bay and give everyone a bit of excitement. The clear blue waters and even the occasional sea turtle offer rich diving experience for all.

10. Waikiki Beach on O’ahu’s south shore is the beach of beaches. Two miles of beach fronted by hotels and by the beautiful Kapiolani Park. The beach can be crowded but it is popular for a good reason. Access to amenities includes: lifeguards, sand and reef areas, picnic areas, phones, showers and restrooms. Outrigger canoes can also be rented for a paddle through sun-drenched waves in the afternoon sun.