Top 10 Beaches

On my flight to St. Lucia yesterday, I picked up the Delta Sky Magazine and started thumbing through it. I found an article you’re bound to ooh and ahh over. Calling all beach lovers! It’s time to pack your bathing suit, sarong and those Hollywood sunglasses and jet off to one of these spectacular beach destinations.

1. Playa Punta Paloma { Tarifa, Spain } The southernmost point of mainland Spain - about 8 miles across the Strait of Gibraltar from Africa - possesses the best windsurfing and kitesurfing conditions in all of Europe. To visit this destination fly into Malaga, Spain. I can tell you firsthand that this is an amazing site to see windsurfers and kitesurfers alike in action. I studied abroad in Malaga and we did a daytrip to Tarifa. Absolutely gorgeous!

2. Ipanema { Rio de Janeiro, Brazil } Rated by Travel Channel as the Sexiest Beach in the World, the sandy shores that line Rio's coast are the place to see and be seen. Head over to Posto Nove for a full dose of celebrity sightings. To visit, fly into Rio.

3. Grace Bay Beach { Providenciales, Turks and Caicos } - Often named the most beautiful beach in the world, Grace Bay is home to crystal clear waters, 12 miles of white sand beaches and Jo Jo, the bottlenosed dolphin. To visit, fly into Providenciales. I can also tell you about this destination firsthand. The beach is absolutely breathtaking. The water is a beautiful shade of turquoise and when the powdery white sand gets between your toes you’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven.

4. Pink Sands Beach { Harbour Island, The Bahamas } - Three miles of hardpacked light coral sand line the pristine waterfront of Harbour Island. The sand is made upf of tiny bits of coral, crushed shells and red-shelled single-celled organisms called foraminiferas. To visit, fly into Nassau.

5. Palawan { The Philippines } While Alex Garland’s The Beach took place in Thailand, he drew inspiration from the jagged limestone islands, subterranean rivers and sugary sand beaches of Palawan for the tumultuous tale. To visit, fly into Manila.

6. Lanikai Beach { Oahu, Hawaii } Considered to be one of the best swimming beaches in Hawaii, the turquoise waters remain calm year-round thanks to an offshore reef. Couple that with sprawling white sand beaches and swaying palm trees, and it’s obvious why Lanikai translates to “heavenly sea.” To visit, fly into Honolulu.

7. Bora Bora { French Polynesia } One of the most romantic and picturesque beach destinations, Bora Bora is known for its pristine cerulean waters and stilted accommodations – and it boasts black and white sand beaches. To visit, fly into Papeete.

8. Paradise Beach { Mykonos, Greece } If you are looking for a party beach, this is it. Expect large crowds during the high season (July/August) and loads of tanned and toned beachgoers. To visit, fly into Athens.

9. Plage de la Briande { Saint-Tropez, France } One of the most secluded beaches along the Cote d’Azur is perfect for those looking to sunbathe in solitude. Parents, be forewarned: many beaches in Europe are topless. To visit, fly into Nice or Marseille.

10. Crane Beach { Barbados } Located on the island’s south coast, the beach possesses all the draws of the Caribbean, but with bigger waves, leaving the waters littered with surfers waiting on the next swell. To visit, fly into Barbados.

Article written by Elizabeth Doyle. February 2010 Delta Sky Magazine.