Chaweng Beach (Koh Samui, Thailand): Chaweng is real fun in the sun. The beach itself is gorgeous, with bungalows nestled in the trees just beyond the sand. Behind the beach lies a small town full of life, from wonderful Thai and seafood eateries to shopping and wild nightlife options.
Mai Khao Beach (Phuket, Thailand): Look to your right -- nobody. Look to your left -- nobody. Just 17km (11 miles) of deserted beachfront, the longest beach on Phuket, with only one resort (which also happens to be one of the island's best) dotting its shores. Not a place to come if you want to party, though, since the only excitement occurs during the Songkran festival in April, when hundreds of baby sea turtles are released into the ocean.
Mui Ne Beach (Phan Thiet, Vietnam): Just a few hours from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Phan Thiet is the latest getaway in Vietnam. Oceanside development is in full swing here, and there are some great boutique resorts along the stunning white sands of Mui Ne Beach. Golfers will enjoy the Nick Faldo-designed course, the seafood here is good, and the town of Phan Thiet itself is an interesting little fishing port worth a wander. There are some great day trips to enormous remote dunes and smaller fishing villages.
Tanjung Rhu (Langkawi, Malaysia): This huge, secluded cove has one of the longest stretches of private beach ever. Wide with soft sand, the beach has cooling shady spots provided by palm trees overhead and beautiful deep-blue waters for good swimming. Best of all, there's only one resort here (and the beach is kept picture perfect), so you won't have to elbow for space or suffer jet skis.
Lombok (off coast of Bali, Indonesia): The pure white-sand beaches of Lombok, with clear aqua-blue water lapping against them, are sometimes so private that you can have one all to yourself. And Lombok is just a short hop from neighboring Bali.
