The ultra luxury hotel collectionBeachfront hotels
Hotels on the sand.
Hotels where the beach starts at the edge of the garden, from the Andaman coast of Thailand to the Atlantic shore of the Algarve.
How to choose
A beachfront hotel changes the shape of a day. There is no car to wait for and no towel to carry, just a path through the garden to the water. Every hotel in this collection sits directly on a beach, with its own stretch of sand or a cove below the rooms. We have left out hotels that are only near the sea, however good their views.
The beaches themselves are very different. On the Andaman coast of Phuket and Phang Nga, the sand is fine and pale and the water warm from November to April. On Koh Samui, the Gulf of Thailand follows its own calendar and stays fairly dry in the middle of the year. In the Algarve, the Atlantic is cooler and clearer, with golden cliffs behind the sand and long summer evenings.
When choosing, think about the season first. The Andaman coast is at its best in the European winter, the Algarve in late spring and early autumn, and Samui in the months when the west coast of Thailand takes the monsoon. Then think about the shape of the bay. A private cove feels like a house by the sea, while a long open beach is better for walks at either end of the day.
Most of these hotels have villas or rooms a few steps from the water, and many keep loungers and service on the sand. Ask us which rooms face the sea directly, because at some resorts the hillside villas have the better view and the beach rooms the easier access.
Questions
Good to know.
What counts as beachfront here?
A hotel with direct access to a beach from its own grounds. Hotels a drive or a boat ride from the sand are not included.
When is the best time for the Thai beaches?
November to April on the Andaman coast around Phuket and Phang Nga, and roughly January to September on Koh Samui.
Is the Atlantic warm enough to swim in Portugal?
In summer, yes, though it stays cooler than the Mediterranean. Most of these hotels also have heated pools.
Which rooms are closest to the water?
It varies by hotel. Ask us and we will tell you which room types open onto the beach.