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Beach and island holidays

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The bulk of foreign visitors stay in or near the capital, Reykjavik.

See this spectacular destination before the tourist crowds arrive

This remote region will welcome more tourists than ever this year. Here’s why you should beat the rush of visitors (and Donald Trump).

  • Ben Ross

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Just one of the magical views from Four Seasons Koh Samui.

Thanks to The White Lotus, Koh Samui is this year’s hottest island escape

Ever since word got out that the latest season is set on this Thai island, there has been an uptick of interest in Samui as a luxury destination.

  • Ute Junker

Get to this idyllic but overlooked South Pacific island before the crowds do

It’s as much a slice of paradise as the most beautiful of its neighbours.

  • Craig Tansley
Beachfront bliss.

Iconic ’90s resort’s new must-see island spectacle

This is a tranquil, eco-friendly base to explore the beauty, landscapes and wildlife of the biggest sand island in the world.

  • Kerry van der Jagt
Arriving in Rarotonga feels like stepping into a living postcard.

A short(ish) flight away, this place is like stepping into a postcard

There’s plenty to do when visiting the Cook Islands, or you can choose to do nothing at all.

  • Tatyana Leonov
The barge and the tip of North West Island, Queensland.

No running water, no escape, but this trip became my idea of paradise

I still can’t believe we did this – camping on a remote coral cay. We cooked our own meals, slept in basic tents, spent days conducting “science” experiments. Now I realise it was brilliant.

  • Ben Groundwater
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Koh Lipe, Southern Thailand.

Go west: 16 highlights of the other great ocean on our coast

The Indian Ocean stretches from WA to the east coast of Africa and offers a wealth of islands, many with white-sand beaches ringed by coconut palms and aquamarine water.

  • Lee Cobaj and Craig Tansley
An island affair only lasted as long as the holiday, but it recharged my self-esteem.

When my fiance broke up with me, he said my moods were to blame

Swinging alone in a hammock designed for two at an exotic beach resort I began to feel hopeless. Until I saw him.

  • Kathy Lette

This affordable retro surf hotel has a five-star Mexico location

On a stretch of coast where bland luxury mega-resorts dominate, this secluded (and relatively budget-friendly) stay is a beacon of ’90s nostalgia and charm.

  • Katherine Scott
The shadow of Mount Agung looms over Amed.

I found the Bali of my dreams (and it was only $45 a night)

You won’t see multi-storey hotels, corporate logos lining streets or Lycra-clad influencers in this quiet village.

  • Julia D'Orazio

Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/topic/beach-and-island-holidays-l5j