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Go on, dive in
Maldives, in the Indian Ocean. The beautiful 26 coral and sandy beaches of the Maldives are to die for.
With summer temperatures of about 30C and the humidity kept down by the cooling sea breezes, it's the perfect place to catch a little sun.
Club Med Kani is the ultimate carefree base, with its new lagoon suites built on stilts over the water offering a panoramic view of the little island of Kani and the vast ocean stretching away beyond.
Each private suite has a terrace and you can go snorkelling right from your doorstep.
Say 'hi' to Bali
If you're in search of an exotic beach on a foreign shore but don't want to travel too far afield, then the sandy expanses of Bali should be on your list.
Why not plump for a stay at the 4-star Grand Istana Rama Hotel, right on Kuta beach, with some of the best surfing in the world a few steps from your room?
It's a laid-back place to spend a few days, with the shops of Kuta Square a short walk away and the vibrant nightlife of party street Jalan Legian also close by.
For music-lovers who want to kick on into the night, there's the Double Six club and Hard Rock Cafe Bali within staggering distance.
Malaysian around
The beaches of the Langkawi archipelago in Malaysia will have sunseekers spoilt for choice.
There are so many you won't have enough time to catch some rays or splash around on all of them - but Burau Bay, fringed by rocky outcrops, is a common haunt of migratory birds.
Pantai Cenang, rimmed with towering coconuts and casuarinas, is as pretty as a picture and neighbouring Pantai Tengah, around a tiny headland, is home to the Federal Villas Beach resort.
Monkey's the business
Monkey Mia, in Western Australia's Shark Bay, is one of the few places in the world where you can play with wild dolphins.
A recognised natural beauty and World Heritage landmark, Monkey Mia has attracted schools of dolphins to its peaceful shore almost every day for more than 40 years - it's a rare day indeed when the friendly mammals don't turn up.
But while they're the main attraction, the remote Monkey Mia is surrounded by kilometre upon kilometre of unspoilt beach.
If you can't find a quiet bit of beach here to claim as your own, you're simply not trying.
When you get sick of the beach there's plenty to jump into - snorkelling, sailing or bush-bashing in a 4WD. There's even a camel ride, if you're bold enough.
Pack the sunscreen
Of course, you don't have to go hotfooting huge distances in search of the perfect beach. Australia's a sun-kissed paradise in its own right, and where better to hit the beach than the Sunshine State? Queensland's beach climate is ideal for summer and there are kilometres of beach from which to choose.
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