Beach and coastal hotels

Greece, Italy and Spain cover most of it between them. The Cyclades and Crete for white towns and clear water, the Amalfi Coast and Puglia for cliffs and old farmhouses, the Balearics and the Andalusian coast for long sandy beaches. Portugal, Croatia and Turkey are the quieter alternatives, with the Algarve, the Dalmatian islands and the Turquoise Coast.

Most do. The rest sit on a cliff or in a harbour town, which is usually deliberate. Santorini's caldera hotels famously have no beach at all, only the view and a pool, and hotels in Positano or old port towns like Galle sit above the water rather than on it. Check the hotel page if a beach matters to you.

It depends which coast. The Mediterranean runs from about May to October, with July and August the busiest. The Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and Mexico's Pacific coast are at their best from December to April. Southeast Asia splits by coast, so Phuket and Krabi are dry when Koh Samui is not.

Greece, Portugal and Turkey are usually the gentlest, particularly in May, June and late September when the sea is still warm and the rates are not. The Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and French Polynesia sit at the other end. Rates move a lot month to month, so it is worth checking the same hotel across a few dates.

Many are, with pools, childcare and room to spread out. A fair number are adults only, which is common at the design-led end of the market and in places like Santorini and Tulum. The name or the hotel page usually says so, and it is worth checking before you book.

Yes. Open any hotel on the list for live rates and availability, then pay by card or with crypto.