Seeking a special beach vacation with top-notch amenities and a stunning stretch of shore? Look no further for the ideal hotel beaches than this lineup of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
Marriott Bonvoy polled our Insiders — our most well-traveled members — to get the scoop on which of our properties are the “best of the best” for epic hotel beaches, and they’ve chosen these five spectacular resorts.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort
Set on the largest of southwest Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands, right on bustling South Collier Boulevard, JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort still feels secluded, unfurling along its three-mile private shoreline on the Gulf.
Warm, sea-glass-green water meets flat, bright-white sand in a shell hunter’s heaven: The wide beach is strewn with conch, scallop, and murex, as well as sand dollars. The best time to shell-comb is at low tide or while a sunset casts its peachy glow.
You can see the all-but-translucent Gulf from almost every corner of the property, but the most soul-soothing views are from thatch-roofed cabanas set right on the beach, or the private, adults-only rooftop pool.
Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
Set on Aruba‘s gorgeous Palm Beach, Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is a sure bet for those who want a combination of rest and play.
Known as the island’s high-rise area, mile-long Palm Beach is where the action is — with beach bars and exciting eateries, a shopping mall, and the resort’s own splashy casino. But the water itself is calm enough for snorkeling directly from the expansive shore, which is gently layered with pearly white sand.
In the early evenings, head outside for a view of the Caribbean, be it for an al fresco cocktail or catamaran sail. At Palm Beach in Aruba, the red, orange, and lilac sunsets could just about knock your flip-flops off.
JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
Perched on a jaw-dropping strip of white sand in the heart of Cancún, is bordered by the glassy turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Laguna Nichupte.
The resort’s pools and restaurants face the Caribbean side, where the breezes, currents, and waves are stronger, making for good windsurfing and dramatic views. You can glimpse the Caribbean and its palm-tree-lined shore from just about anywhere here, including beach chairs, shaded chaise lounges, and thatch-fringed palapa beds.
Be sure, though, to check it out from the swim-up bar at the adults-only infinity pool where you can order from an array of margarita options and gaze out at a perfect hotel beach and shimmering sea as you sip.
W Maldives
Within the North Ari Atoll in the central Maldives, the five-star W Maldives sits on a private island, surrounded by plush ivory sand, thick mangroves, fluffy coconut palms, and a stunning resort reef.
Beach villas ring the island, each with a small curve of shore that feels softly exotic and private, snuggled by lush greenery yet open to the windswept sky. Overwater bungalows perch above the reef shallows, which spill gently from pale turquoise to navy blue in the wide, gleaming Indian Ocean.
This reef is like a life-size aquarium. Stroll the web of reef boardwalks or relax on your bungalow terrace and watch the ocean teeming with thousands of species of fish, plus green turtles, manta rays, and a rainbow of coral. Snorkeling is just a splash away, or take a scuba excursion to swim with gentle whale sharks.
Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
At the center of Honolulu’s most beloved shore, tucked beside the epic Diamond Head on Oahu, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa rises high above the palm-lined, pale-gold Kuhio Beach. This hotel beach is known for its calm, lagoonlike shallows. Lightly crinkled by breezes, the water here invites you to wade right in.
The resort features a massive outdoor entertainment space featuring a swanky, elevated pool deck overlooking the famous Queen’s surf break. From the pool or sand, listen to the strum of ukuleles and the rustle of palm fronds as you watch some of Hawaii‘s best surfers sluice the waves along Waikiki Bay.
The St. Regis Langkawi
On a 99-isle Malaysian archipelago in the Andaman Sea, the island of Langkawi is home to Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark, the Pulau Payar marine reserve, and The St. Regis Langkawi.
The five-star resort sits on the island’s southern tip, beside a private shore of smooth golden sand and glassy blue-green water, with far-off glimpses of other islands. Lush rainforest covers dragon-spine mountains, sunsets are blazing pink, and outcroppings of Cambrian rocks are some of the oldest on Earth.
April to November is the rainy season here, but the water is clear enough to see into the lively coral reef from the overwater spa and bungalows. You can also take in the views from the beachfront Pantai Grill and the oceanfront villas’ private pools.
Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui
The lushly landscaped, family-friendly Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui on the island’s southwest coast is set on one of the most beloved beaches in Hawaii. Stretching toward neighboring Ulua Beach, the resort spans a wide, crescent-shaped cove with flawless golden sand, arching palm trees, and clear, shallow water.
The surf here can get pretty big (and beautiful) during southern swells, typically in mid-April and mid-October. On a calm, clear day, though, you can wade in the water’s ripples and see the islands of Kahoolawe, Molokini, and Lanai from the shore.
Once you’ve hit the resort’s massive waterslide, head out on the cove for a snorkel, swim, or kayak session in the royal-blue Pacific. It’s common to see triggerfish, wrasses, tangs, turtles, and tobys. In the winter months you might even catch sight of a migrating humpback whale.
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Along celebrated Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman‘s west coast, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman stretches beside an expansive and tranquil Caribbean Sea cove. Waves around the rest of the island can be choppy, but here you’ll find only calm, warm turquoise water lapping clean, soft, creamy-white sands.
Sixty yards offshore, the crystal-clear shallow sea drops into a snorkeler’s paradise full of parrotfish and triggerfish, sea fans, tube sponges, hawksbill turtles, and resting nurse sharks. Even if you’re just swimming or parasailing, though, you’re sure to see marine life.
And while you shouldn’t miss the resort’s restaurants, Cousteau-designed adventures, or luxurious spa, you could spend entire days on this blissfully relaxing shore waiting for yet another lilac sunset.
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
On the northwest tip of Maui, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua overlooks the Pacific Ocean at Dragon’s Teeth, a rock formation with a mystical labyrinth jutting into the surf, and marks Kapalua Bay’s northern boundaryy. A hiking path from the resort meets the Kapalua Ridge Trail, following the Ironwood Cliffs to wide, clean, and quiet Oneloa Beach.
Here, a quarter mile of soft white sand curves around deep-teal water, bordered by the gray lava cliffs rising 20 feet above the shore. For a soft, sandy shelf that’s easy on the feet, enter the water toward the left end of the beach.
When the surf picks up on windy days, Oneloa can be a boogie boarders dream, but beware of occasional strong rip currents. The water here is still frequently ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and — at low tide — exploring the craggy Kapalua tide pools. Keep an eye out for technicolor wrasses and triggerfish, and take in all the dreamy views.
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