The Best Beach Holidays by Month

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Where are the best beach holidays in December and January?

What ever the time of the year no matter the month, somewhere in the world the best beach is there waiting for you to visit. Sure Las Islas Cies beach in Galicia, Spain may be one of world's top ten beaches, but do you really want to vacation there in the middle of winter? In this guide we take a look at what is the best time to visit some of the top beaches in the world meaning that you can find the best beach holidays no matter what time of the year it is.

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January

Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

One of the most famous beaches in the world, Bondi beach, with it's famous life guards is located in New South Wales on the east coast of Australia and is a kilometer of pure beach and surfers paradise.

Just over a half an hour from Sydney's Circular Quay, this beach is as you would guess very popular especially in summer with a vibrant surf scene that overflows into Campbell parade, the main drag behind Bondi's dunes. Bondi is not a beach to go to if you are looking for solitude, but it has an excitement and energy about it that is infectious.

Best time to visit is during Australia's summer peak in January, when Aussies are on holiday and the beach is has it's most energy. If you want to mess with your senses, visit during Christmas for the unique combination of bikinis and santa hats.

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February

Leblon Beach, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Leblon beach is located in an affluent neighborhood right in the centre of Rio, adjacent to Ipanema and separated by Allah’s Gardens. Of all the beaches in Rio, this is the quietest of beach, although it will still get busy. Leblon is not a place to come for peace an quite, more to soak up the atmosphere and vibrancy of the beaches in Brazil.

Watch people jogging and biking along the beach in the mornings, or playing beach volleyball during the day and by night, the various beach side bars buzz with the cool and funky of Rio.

Leblon is a good beach for families or anyone who wants to be left to sunbathe and swim without being hassled.

When to visit: You just have to visit Leblon beach during carnival month when Rio is at it's most vibrant and exciting and that is during February.

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March

Tulum Beach, Tulum, Mexico

Tulum is located about two hours south of Cancun on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico and is a wonderful place to escape and relax, where you can you'll appreciate the simpler things in life.

Tulum's white sandy beach is the perfect place to laze and is backed by limestone cliffs and the ruins of a walled city that dates back to the 6th century. Tulum features on the list of the World's Most Beautiful Beaches.

There is cabana style accommodation just steps from the ocean available all along a coastline lying between the sea and the jungle.

March is a good time to visit as the temperature is still comfortable, with a 28ºC average and it falls after the New Year rush and before tourists arrive for Easter holidays, when it can get busy.

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April

Honeymoon Beach, Seychelles

Located on the private island resort of North Island, Honeymoon Beach lives up to it's name and has everything you would expect and more from a romantic island getaway.

The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean almost a thousand miles east of mainland Africa. North Island lies only a few kilometers north of Silhouette (Seychelles' third largest island) and is the smaller of two visible in the distance from the beach at Beau Vallon on Mahé.

Of the four beaches on North Island, Honeymoon beach is the smallest and most private and makes for a perfect romantic getaway or for those seeking a natural environment with peace and tranquility.

Because the Seychelles is blessed with all year round warm, tropical climate anytime is a good time to visit, however April makes a great time to visit during the Easter Holidays.

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May

Tuerredda Beach, Chia, Sardinia, Italy

If it wasn't for the much shorter flight, you could be mistaken into thinking that you had arrived on one of the Caribbean islands. The stunning beauty of crystal clear waters, surrounded by its very fine, light-coloured sand and towering dunes flanked by juniper trees is undeniable.

This part of the coast on Sardinia is characterised by it's beautiful small sandy beaches separated by rocky outcrops and is perfect for taking long scenic costal walks.

The Town of Chia now stands on the ancient Phoenician city of Bithia.

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June

Holkham Beach, Norfolk, England

The stunning wide open landscape and scenery of this beach in Norfolk was used as a location for the film Shakespeare in Love and it is easy to see why, the sandy Holkham beach is massive: almost a mile wide at low tide and four miles long.

On a windy day, the pinewoods and dunes that sit behind the main beach providing excellent shelter and make a great place for a picnic.

In summer, especially during the weekends the car park may get full as it attracts all sorts of people. From birders to cyclists, dog walkers to horse riders, families to kite-fliers and wind surfers.

June is a great time to visit Holkham Beach as this is before the summer school break and the beach is still lovely and quiet during the week.

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July

East Hampton Beach, Long Island, USA

The south shore of Long Island is one of the grandest stretches of beaches along the coast of the USA.

The Hamptons three fantastic beaches are the best on Long Island, Southampton, Westhampton and the world famous East Hampton beach. All three beaches extend for miles and miles and in some places are over a hundred yards wide. You won't find high rise developments anywhere in the Hamptons, but it is the East Hampton beaches are the least developed it's Main Beach, the best of all the beaches as this area provides the perfect balance of nature and human developments. This is mainly because the beaches are protected by a conservation law dating back over 300 years which prevents unwise development.

The Hamptons are easygoing but very fashionable, attracting very wealthy summertime residents, from New York millionaires, artists (Pollock, de Kooning, and Lichenstein all had studios here) and writers like Tom Wolfe.

July is a good time to visit Long Island as their is great weather and this is when the fashionable crowd make the Hamptons come alive.

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August

Anse du Grand Colombier, St Barts, French West Indies

The tiny island of St. Barts is a Caribbean paradise with over 20 spectacular beaches where you can enjoy the unique flavor of France, under the West Indies sun. The island is known as Saint Barth in French or St. Barts in English and only covers an area of 21 km² with a population of just over 8 thousand.

Anse du Grand Colombier beach is located on the very northwestern tip of the island, known for it's incredible sunsets, and sometimes called "Rockefeller's Beach", because for many years, David Rockefeller owned the property that surrounds it.

It's isolated position and the fifteen minute hike down from the village of Colombier mean that it has remained an unspoilt paradise and so for me makes it the best beach in St. Barts.

To get to St. Barths, there are daily flights from both the USA and Europe, through Juliana Airport in nearby Dutch St. Maarten and the best time to visit is August.

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September

Super Paradise Beach, Mykonos, Greece

Mykonos is a renowned for its cosmopolitan character and its intense nightlife and is said to be one of the best nightlife spots in Europe. Super Paradise in Mykonos lies in a small bay on the south of the island and is a beach for those who like to party as it has a vibrant nightlife.

In the past the beach was thought of as a "gay" beach but now it is more mixed and as with may greek beaches it is also a popular nude beach in Greece. This beach is not recommended if you are looking to get away from it all.

September is a good time to visit as the weather is not as hot as in the peak of summer, but you can still enjoy the nightlife and great weather with nice warm daytime temperatures.

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October

Bay of Fires, Tasmania, Australia

Located on the edge of Mt. William National Park, on Tasmania's north-east coast, 10km from the town of St Helens you find 29 kilometers of magnificent wilderness coastline known as the Bay of Fires.

The scenery could not be more stunning, with it's colourful curve of turquoise water, burnt orange lichen covered rocks and white sand. Named the Bay of Fires because of the many fires that Captain Tobias Furneaux of the HMS Adventure noticed along the coast in 1773.

Originally named by for the numerous fires he noticed along the coast, the beach was once occupied by Aboriginal people, whose middens (shell and bone remains dating back millenia) are still found in the sand dunes.

Beach activities include camping, birdwatching, fishing, walking and surfing and the best time to visit is October, during spring in Tasmania and the island is lovely and green.

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November

Clifton Beach, Cape Town, South Africa

South Africa is one of the best winter sun holiday destinations and whilst Cape Town's water is not the warmest, it's city, stunning scenery and beautiful beaches more than make up for it.

Clifton Beach is made up of a group of four beaches at the north-west tip of the Cape Peninsula and are all fantastic, but the 4th (Fourth) beach has to be the best, with it's view of Table Mountain in the distance and the glamorous yachts come and put anchor in the bay.

Parking is limited and in summer as these beaches can get busy. You reach the beach from the road via a steep flights of rocky stairs. November is the best time to visit because the UK is heading for the depths of winter and the coast in Cape Town is lovely and warm!

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December

Soneva Fushi, Maldives

Soneva Fushi Maldives is located on the privately owned paradise island of Kunfundhoo, which is situated in the Baa Atoll, to the north of Male Atoll in the Maldives.

The Maldives are made up of a chain of nearly 1,200 islands which lie off the Indian sub-continent. Most of them uninhabited and to reach this island you either take a three hour journey by boat or a thirty minute seaplane or helicopter flight from Male International Airport and it this remoteness that is central to its charm.

The island is surrounded by sandy beaches, aquamarine lagoons and lush green vegetation. The best sandy beach on the eastern side of the island and offers a spectacular location to take photos of the sunrise.

December is a good time to visit Sonerva Fushi, it's great weather make the perfect Christmas hideaway.

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