IMAGES: DAVID LOFTUS; MIKAEL KENNEDY


BEACH SANCTUARY Sand and sea are the stars at these three coastal retreats, mixing laid-back glamour with barefoot luxury


The Potlatch Club Bahamas Elizabeth Taylor holidayed at The Potlatch Club,


Greta Garbo felt the pink sand between her toes here and, in 1969, a honeymooning Paul McCartney wrote Beatles lyrics on the hotel notepaper. That vintage 20th-century glamour still abides at this hotel, a luxurious yet laid-back retreat recently resurrected to its former glory on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera after decades of abandonment. Accommodation takes the form of classic Caribbean


bungalows, shaded by palms and radiating local character with rose-coral floors, rattan four-posters and Adirondack chairs on the verandah. Views take in the gardens, while you’re never more than a short stroll away from the beach, where the powder-soft sand is lent a pink hue by tiny coral- dwelling organisms. Chances are you’ll be spending much of your time on the beach — The Fig Tree restaurant serves seafood right on the sand — where you can swim with rays, spot tropical fish and admire the pastel-hued clapboard houses of Eleuthera’s capital, Governor’s Harbour. From $475 (£360). thepotlatchclub.com DS


176 NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/TRAVEL


Runners-up DUNAS DE FORMENTERA, SPAIN Dunes slide into a sea so turquoise it looks photoshopped on Playa de Migjorn, a four-mile curve of sand on Formentera’s south coast. It’s even more heavenly staying at this eco-luxe resort, where footpaths lead to sunlit rooms and suites. Big on natural materials, they mirror the sea’s changing moods. A coast-facing infinity pool and the backbeat of gentle waves elevate this to one very special beach escape. From €350 (£295), B&B. dunasdeformentera.com KW


ONE&ONLY AESTHESIS, GREECE The whisper of the sea, the rustle of palms, the scent of pine on the breeze, sunsets like ripe peaches — it’s the Greece of collective imaginations, except you wouldn’t expect it a 30-minute drive from central Athens. In a 52-acre forest reserve in Glyfada, this vogueish seaside hideaway has a splash of mid-century glamour. The design is as fresh as the coastal breeze in nature-inspired beach bungalows and villas with private pools, vast terraces and al fresco showers. From €638 (£538), B&B. oneandonlyresorts.com KW


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