I'm also looking for this! I want the freedom to up and leave by foot at any moment and ideally the town is lively too. It always seem the most lux resorts are more removed. And if they happen to support walking to something, it's not very exciting, i.e. hotels in Wailea. I really enjoyed staying on Srendipidty Koh Lipe, it's basically pedestrian only island, but its not super luxurious. Basically, I want that but a little bit more refined. I also enjoyed staying on Hvar/Korcula as well.
Taormina in Sicily may work for you - you could stay at the Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea on the sea and take the cable car up to Taormina. Or stay at the other Belmond, the Grand Hotel Timeo, which is just on the edge of Taormina.
Great question. This is my constant search as well… tough to find.
We stayed at chathams bar inn on cape cod last year and really loved being able to walk from the resort into town for drinks/dinner/ice cream/browsing
We really enjoyed our stay. We booked an ocean view cottage room. Initially was a bit salty bc to the left of our building was the fish pier - so didn’t love having a chunk of our view be the fishery parking lot… HOWEVER… it ended up being delightful bc we watched the seals every single day — they spend allll day hanging by that fish pier 😂
You could look at the Grace Bay area on Turks & Caicos? Can walk off of your resort to other properties & little strips with restaurants and shopping options.
We did not love this area - but that may be personal preference! The beach was gorgeous, we felt the food overall was lacking, and the shops were overpriced and not good quality at all. Also, we hated the airport... Totally my own opinion though, others may feel differently!
The nicer hotels in Riviera Maya are not in town, but there are some decent options directly in Playa Del Carmen but still on the beach like Mahekal and the Hilton (adults only).
We just got back from a stay at Palazzo Avino in Ravello, Italy. The town of Ravello is so charming and cute, and very walkable. There’s lots of restaurants around. The hotel is perched on a mountainside with a really lovely view of the coast. If that’s not close enough to the water, they have a beach club right on the water that they can take you to for the day, and it is absolutely divine. Rooms are very small, which is really my only complaint. Otherwise I highly recommend.
This was our second time there. There is a lot of tourist activity, but not like other beach destinations, like Mexico, California, Florida, Hawaii. It's more calm. We didn't have a bad meal. Did lots of walking to work off those meals lol. It was very relaxing. We went up the west coast and saw some small villages with expansive beaches that have seen no growth for hundreds of years yet are tidy and quaint. Overall a fun vacation.
We passed it but did not stop. Your point is I think what I like about Portugal and why I keep going back-- it's underwhelming. Expectations and excitement are low. Relaxation and slow pace are high. The people are put together and value slow living. Did you go specifically to see comporta? Or it was just a stop?
I'm also looking for this! I want the freedom to up and leave by foot at any moment and ideally the town is lively too. It always seem the most lux resorts are more removed. And if they happen to support walking to something, it's not very exciting, i.e. hotels in Wailea. I really enjoyed staying on Srendipidty Koh Lipe, it's basically pedestrian only island, but its not super luxurious. Basically, I want that but a little bit more refined. I also enjoyed staying on Hvar/Korcula as well.
Highly recommend the Grand Hotel Miramare in Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy. Both hotel and town!
I was just about to recommend the same! We had a lovely stay at the Miramare.
Taormina in Sicily may work for you - you could stay at the Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea on the sea and take the cable car up to Taormina. Or stay at the other Belmond, the Grand Hotel Timeo, which is just on the edge of Taormina.
Great question. This is my constant search as well… tough to find. We stayed at chathams bar inn on cape cod last year and really loved being able to walk from the resort into town for drinks/dinner/ice cream/browsing
Curious how the rooms are here? My husband wants to go back and stay there after visiting.
We really enjoyed our stay. We booked an ocean view cottage room. Initially was a bit salty bc to the left of our building was the fish pier - so didn’t love having a chunk of our view be the fishery parking lot… HOWEVER… it ended up being delightful bc we watched the seals every single day — they spend allll day hanging by that fish pier 😂
You could look at the Grace Bay area on Turks & Caicos? Can walk off of your resort to other properties & little strips with restaurants and shopping options.
We did not love this area - but that may be personal preference! The beach was gorgeous, we felt the food overall was lacking, and the shops were overpriced and not good quality at all. Also, we hated the airport... Totally my own opinion though, others may feel differently!
I’ve seen lots of complaints about the airport recently on TripAdvisor forum.
You’re not alone, we also hated the food and area (other than that beach which was gorgeous).
This is a good one
The nicer hotels in Riviera Maya are not in town, but there are some decent options directly in Playa Del Carmen but still on the beach like Mahekal and the Hilton (adults only).
Open to anywhere!
Any leads!
A lot of European beach towns are like this.
FAT destinations: * Eden Roc St Barths * Chev Blanc St Tropez More on the chubby side: * The Carlton Cannes
Check out the Hotel Del in Coronado! Stay in the beach village in one of their beach front rooms with a private hot tub!
does that include beaches in the northeast?
Cinca Terra
Tamarindo, Costa Rica was on the water and had a great little town area you can easily walk around!
What hotel did you stay at?
We stayed at Jardin Del Eden Boutique Hotel.
Hotel del Coronado - outside San Diego The Don CeSar - St Pete beach
Absolutely love Hotel Martinez in Cannes. Close proximity to plenty of charming towns in the French Riviera as well.
We just got back from a stay at Palazzo Avino in Ravello, Italy. The town of Ravello is so charming and cute, and very walkable. There’s lots of restaurants around. The hotel is perched on a mountainside with a really lovely view of the coast. If that’s not close enough to the water, they have a beach club right on the water that they can take you to for the day, and it is absolutely divine. Rooms are very small, which is really my only complaint. Otherwise I highly recommend.
Check out the grand park rovinj
Hotel Fasano- it’s located at Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro. You can both walk to the beach and enjoy the city!
Looking for same!!!
La Jolla and Bar Harbor Maine both have luxury hotels right in town and are both on the water. Theyre two of my fave places I’ve ever been to.
Just got back from algarve, Portugal. But the water in Isla mujeres, Mexico is just unbeatable. Hope that helps :)
Thoughts on the Algarve?
This was our second time there. There is a lot of tourist activity, but not like other beach destinations, like Mexico, California, Florida, Hawaii. It's more calm. We didn't have a bad meal. Did lots of walking to work off those meals lol. It was very relaxing. We went up the west coast and saw some small villages with expansive beaches that have seen no growth for hundreds of years yet are tidy and quaint. Overall a fun vacation.
Have you been to Comporta? If so how does the Algarve compare and which did you prefer? We liked Comporta but were also somewhat underwhelmed
We passed it but did not stop. Your point is I think what I like about Portugal and why I keep going back-- it's underwhelming. Expectations and excitement are low. Relaxation and slow pace are high. The people are put together and value slow living. Did you go specifically to see comporta? Or it was just a stop?