Heaven beaches at low cost

Hôtel l’Oursin in France is set on Cap Ferrat, between Nice and Monte Carlo. It is a charming hotel with Provençal flair (embroidered toile bedspreads; carved walnut headboards). Two of the largest rooms face the harbor, with its bobbing sailboats. Walk along the sunny waterfront promenade and stop at one of the numerous outdoor cafés for bouillabaisse, or stroll through the village down to the pebbled Mediterranean beaches.

Temple Tree at Bon Ton Resort in Malaysia where in the past, Chinese tin miners, Arab goldsmiths, and durian farmers once lived in the 100-year-old villas at Temple Tree, on Malaysia’s Langkawi Island. Each one is named after an indigenous flower (white frangipani; yellow orchid) and most are appointed with Turkish rugs and deep wooden tubs. The golden beaches of Pantai Cenang are a 10-minute walk away; take a small boat out to Daya Bunting, one of the 99 uninhabited islands nearby. Ocean Inn in Antigua and judging by the multimillion

dollar yachts moored in English Harbour, you wouldn’t expect to find an affordable hotel for miles. But that’s not the case: the intimate place, whose wooden walkways connect to its different bright rooms, is a steal.

Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa in Aruba has different simple rooms, most of which open right onto one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful stretches of sand. If you’re in search of palapas, azure water, and a cocktail, what more could you need ? Maybe a shiatsu massage at the beachfront spa, set in a tropical garden.

Hotel Banana Azul in Costa Rica embodies the area’s laid-back feeling. Bright wood-paneled rooms feature such tropical touches as dangling bromeliad plants and locally made easy chairs. Hammocks are strung under coconut palms, an ideal spot for piña coladas.

Ka’awa Loa Plantation in Hawaii which some of its stylish rooms comes with panoramic views of Kealakekua Bay. A breakfast of eggs, fresh star fruit, and coffee grown on site is served on the 2,000-square-foot wraparound porch. The nearby lava-rock beaches, Kealakekua and Puuhonua O Honaunau, are known for the best snorkeling on the Big Island. Furama Resort in Vietnam is located on China Beach, the famous 18-mile stretch of coastline in central Vietnam. A combination of colonial-era and traditional Asian design

defines this beachfront property. The resort offers everything from tai chi classes on the beach and tours of the four nearby UNESCO World Heritage sites to serene night dives with sea turtles in the South China Sea.

Calibishie Cove in Dominica is situated on the mountainous island’s beach-studded northeastern corner and it is a colonial-style hotel with few rooms, each with platform beds, large shutters, and a private patio overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Snorkel with sea horses and turtles in the warm waters off the near-empty Hodges Beach; or arrange for a picnic lunch of spiny lobster, borrow one of the hotel’s kayaks, and head to Treasure Island, an uninhabited islet 10-minute away.

Villa Scarpariello in Italy is located on a cliff a half-mile from Amalfi. All rooms are filled with family heirlooms and artisan handiwork (antique writing desks, pink-and-turquoise Vietri tiles) and have wooden shutters that open onto the Mediterranean. If you’re looking for a stretch of powdery sand, head to Baia di Castiglione, a 10-minute walk away, though the villa’s pool and waterfront deck are just as inviting.