Beach lovers unite: 5 best island destinations for the summer

The ultimate luxury escape that makes for a popular honeymoon spot owing to its secluded beaches, luxurious summer island resorts featuring stunning over-water villas and a romantic vibe. The Maldives is home to over 1,000 coral islands and some of the best tropical beaches in the world. Many luxury hotels in the Maldives offer activities like snorkelling, surfing, scuba diving and other activities to make it a memorable vacation. It also has an impressive number of all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean-style luxury, complete with private pools and bungalows offering panoramic views of the ocean.

Slowly but surely emerging as one of the best tropical island getaways for summer in 2025, Seychelles is home to iconic beaches like Anse Source d'Argent that feature granite boulders and turquoise waters. It is a unique island destination for summer that offers breathtaking Seychelles beaches, exotic flora and rare wildlife. Another reason it is a popular pick amongst travellers is that it is an affordable summer island destination when planned well in advance, and one where you don't have to compromise on luxury to have a full experience.

A Bali holiday offers a perfect blend of clean beaches, ancient temples and lush forests. Whether you prefer a surfing adventure at Kuta or relaxing at Seminyak, or climbing up to Uluwatu, Bali is popular for one of the best summer island vacations in 2025. You can choose to hire luxury villas in Bali or go for affordable stays and truly experience both kinds of trips, whether affordable vacations or luxury getaways. Bali is also a hub for island-hopping summer vacations, with nearby islands like Nusa Penida and Gili Trawangan.

We can never get enough of Hawaii, can we? Some of the best beaches in Hawaii, like Waikiki, Lanikai and Hapuna, are the go-to destination for an island vacation as they offer everything from snorkelling to surfing. It is a family-friendly island vacation for summer since they are home to the best family resorts, and the lively local culture is an experience you must witness. Hanauma Bay and Maui are some of the top clear water beaches for summer and make for ideal swimming spots.

A trip to the all-inclusive haven – The Caribbean. From the Bavaro Beach resorts in Punta Cana to the stunning Eagle Beach in Aruba, the Caribbean is one of the best summer vacation islands. You can explore Playa Varadeo in Cuba, or the Siesta beach in Florida, or some of the best white sand beaches in Turks & Caicos, and you can do it all in the Caribbean. There are even all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean for you to experience a true beachside vacation, and they offer island hopping services that take you to Barbados, St. Lucia and the Bahamas.

These are some of the best island destinations around the world but if you wish to travel closer to home, India also offers some stunning beach destinations for summer 2025 such as the Radhanaga Beach at Havelock Island, Palolem and Baga Beach in Goa, Kovalam Beach in Kerala, Om Beach in Gokarna and the Puri Beach in Odisha.