UK Edition
14 beach destinations where the terror threat is low
As French authorities deploy armed police on popular beaches to counter the threat of a terror attack, we unearth 14 sun and sea destinations where the terror threat is “low”, according to the Foreign Office.
1. Malta
The terror threat is “high” in Spain, France and Turkey, according to the Foreign Office, “general” in Italy, Cyprus and Greece, and “underlying” in Croatia and Portugal.
In fact, just one out-and-out sun and sea destination in Europe falls into the “low” category – Malta. The island, which lies to the south of Sicily, gets more than 300 sunny days a year and is surrounded by clear blue waters, some of the cleanest in the Mediterranean. There’s plenty more to recommend it, however, including prehistoric temples, Roman catacombs and medieval towns.
See our guide to the best hotels in Malta
2. Latvia
If you can stand the chilly waters, you'll find plenty of options in the Baltic; the terror threat is “low” in Poland, Estonia, Lithuania – and Latvia.
Just 15 miles west of the Latvian capital, Riga, lies Jurmala, a summer holiday favourite of Brezhnev and Khrushchev with an impressive 21-mile sandy beach. Temperatures can top 20C in high summer, so you might even need sun screen.
3. Iceland
If you don't mind black sand, head for Vík í Mýrdal on Iceland's south coast – once named among the most beautiful beaches in the world by a US magazine. It's easy to see why, with its soaring cliffs and basalt sea stacks.
4. Slovenia
The Slovenian Riviera, while just 30 miles long, is home to a handful of seaside resorts. Portorož is the best known, and was once one of the grandest in Europe. Be sure to stay at the Kempinski Palace Portorož, which opened in 1910 and has welcomed the likes of Josip Broz Tito, the first president of Yugoslavia (his favourite suite was no. 112) and Orson Welles.
5. Vietnam
Vietnam’s popularity has soared in recent years, and it is certainly not short of beautiful beaches. When it comes to food and drink, they are also the cheapest in the world, according to a price survey published this week.
Head for the island of Phu Quoc, tipped to be the country's next seaside hot spot. A new international airport opened in 2012 (daily flights arrive from Ho Chi Minh City) and the dirt roads are steadily being paved, but for now it's still possible to find a quiet place to escape the mainland crowds. Try eco-friendly Mango Bay (mangobayphuquoc.com).
6. Cambodia
The terror threat is also “low” in neighbouring Cambodia. Sihanoukville is the best-known base for a beach break, but for something truly luxurious, spend a fortune at the private island resort of Song Saa in the secluded Koh Rong archipelago. Lee Cobaj, our south-east Asia expert, says: “Song Saa offers ultra-luxurious villas built into the jungle or perched on stilts over the sea. The food is fabulous, there’s a soporific spa, and a ravishingly relaxing vibe. Rates are expensive, but include all meals and most drinks – it’s worth saving up for.”
7. Seychelles
The Seychelles are home to some of the world’s best beaches – but are not for the budget traveller, with rooms at the top resorts costing upwards of £2,000 a night. Cabanes des Anges on the island of La Digue is a more affordable option, with rates from £84. Lizzie Porter, writing for Telegraph Travel, said: “A ferry ride and a world away from the archipelago’s large luxury resorts, La Digue is a relaxed and relaxing sort of place, where most of the accommodation is in small guesthouses and transport is by bike or foot. It also has some of the world’s best beaches, including the much-photographed Anse Source d’Argent, and other beauties such as Grand Anse.”
See our guide to the best hotels in the Seychelles
8. Cuba
The thawing of relations with the United States has returned the Caribbean's biggest island to the tourism mainstream. But Cuba has always been a solid option for a sunny escape – thanks in part to the broad beaches dotted along its north coast, all within easy reach of Havana. Varadero works well for families. Virgin Holidays (0344 557 9266; virginholidays.co.uk) offers breaks at the five-star Iberostar Varadero.
9. Barbados
The Foreign Office rates the terror threat as “low” across much of the Caribbean, including Barbados. This winter sun stalwart can feel like a dislocated chunk of the UK, with its red postboxes and mid-range celebrities sunning themselves on the west coast – even if the temperatures seem rather less British. Travelbag (0871 402 1638; travelbag.co.uk) proffers decadent escapes to the five-star Fairmont Royal Pavilion, which comes with two gourmet restaurants, a spa and kayaks for use in the waters which nuzzle its beach.
10. Uruguay
Often overlooked in favour of neighbouring Brazil and Argentina, Uruguay has an unspoilt coastline of golden beaches, rolling sand dunes, green peninsulas and lagoons teeming with wildlife.
A collection of former farming and fishing villages – La Juanita, José Ignacio, Cabo Polonio, Punta del Diablo – boast modernist beach houses, pop-up art galleries, gourmet beach restaurants and a bohemian, low-key atmosphere that has drawn comparisons with the Hamptons of the 1960s.
11. Cape Verde
Unsurprisingly, the threat from terror is “low” in this tiny volcanic archipelago off the coast of Senegal. It’s best known as a winter sun destination and is ideal for a week of doing very little under a parasol. Otherwise, Cape Verde Experience (0845 330 2047; capeverde.co.uk) sells a 14-night "Island Discovery" jaunt which allows for hopping between the beach-focused isles Sal and Boa Vista, culturally-minded Sao Vicente, and the rugged outpost of Santo Antao.
12. Japan
It’s a long way to go, but Japan has some of the most gorgeous beaches anywhere on Earth. The islands of Okinawa are the place to go. They are home to coral reefs, dolphins, turtles, whale sharks and manta rays and stretches of white sand that look like they’ve been lifted straight from the Caribbean. Curiously, the residents of Okinawa also live for a remarkably long time. There are 34.7 centenarians for every 100,000 inhabitants, five times more than the rest of Japan. Explanations have included diet (low-fat, low-salt foods, such as fish, tofu and seaweed are popular here), low-stress lifestyle, and the spirituality of the inhabitants. Head there and some of it might rub off on you. BA flies (indirect) from Gatwick and Glasgow to Okinawa Naha.
13. Mozambique
Portuguese colonial heritage mingles with blissful beaches on the Indian Ocean in Mozambique. Head for the Quirimbas archipelago – 32 soft sandbars which include Ibo Island, where fractured fortresses and faded churches hem the shoreline. Steppes Travel (01258 787 560; steppestravel.co.uk) sells an "Island Hopping Dhow Safari" which charts these warm waters across 10 days of snorkelling, sea-kayaking and sailing. It concludes with a stay at Ibo Island Lodge – a 19th century property reborn as a boutique hotel.
14. Mexico
The terror threat is also “low” in Mexico. Cancun and the Riviera Maya are easy to reach and convenient for day trips to the ruins of Tulum and Chichen Itza, or else try Baja California. This narrow peninsula is Mexico's most fabulous sunshine enclave – luring Hollywood stars from LA to genteel Cabo San Lucas, at its southern tip. Baja California is also an oceanic playground – framed by the Pacific and the Gulf of California. Audley Travel (01993 838 670; audleytravel.com) offers "Cruising Baja California" – an 11-day holiday which allows for kayaking, paddle-boarding and whale-watching in the Gulf.
Best of the rest
Other beach destinations where the terror threat is “low” include Madagascar (the island of Nosy Be is the most popular tourist resort), Ecuador (Montanita is a magnet for partying backpackers), Belize (better known as a diving hotpot – it is home to the spectacular Great Blue Hole), and, er, Turkmenistan (it has grand plans for Awaza on the Caspian Sea – though our correspondent reckoned it was “the most ill-conceived resort ever built”).