A good beach holiday can’t always take us to Nirvana or solve all our problems, but it can cause a fundamental shift in our outlook and improve our confidence levels. A simple beach holiday might be seen as unadventurous, but for total relaxation it’s tough to beat.

Luxury beach holidays set on unspoilt shores offer the most palpable way to escape the everyday hustle and bustle of busy lifestyles. Soak up the sun at a private island retreat where you won’t need to lift a finger; enjoy a more active beach with games on land and water sports offshore; or delight in the simple pleasure of watching your children play in warm, shallow waters.

You may like the idea of the placid blue waters, languid beaches and whispering trade winds of the Caribbean. Or perhaps the idea of a private picnic on a sheltered beach as offered by the Southern Indian Ocean islands of the Seychelles appeals. Alternatively, there is the thousand coral atolls of the Maldives offering dreamy barefoot luxury – blue lagoons, dazzling beaches and rustling palms provide the perfect setting for some real time-out. Here the pace of life is perfect for unwinding with a good book or dozing off in a hammock.

Alternatively there is the barefoot luxury on Langkawi’s (Malaysia) powder-white beaches, Greek island-hopping or a private over-water villa in Bora Bora? The choice is yours. Our luxury beach holidays come in every shape and size, to fit a family looking for somewhere with plenty to do for the children, a couple dreaming of candlelit dining on the beach, or those wanting a bit of beach relaxation with an element of adventure too.