Lounging on a beach and enjoying the sun is what many people look forward to on their holidays, but you don't need to travel far to find a "paradise" island.
New research found Pentle Bay on the Isles of Scilly to be one of the world's most stunning beaches.
Research by family travel specialists Kuoni analysed thousands of reviews across different platforms to find which was most often described as "paradise" by visitors.
Port Olry Beach in the South Pacific came in first place with 15.33 per cent of reviews calling it "paradise", followed by Parque Nacional de Bazaruto in Mozambique (14.29 per cent) and One Foot Island in Cook Islands (13.28 per cent).
Pentle Bay was among the world's most idyllic beaches
WIKI COMMONS
Beaches most often described as "paradise" (% of reviews)
"It is on the east coast of Espiritu Santo and has all the classic ingredients of heaven on earth; emerald-green foliage hugging golden sands and shimmering turquoise waters.
"But visitors praise this stretch of coast, not just because of its paradise aesthetic, but for its larger size (compared to the smaller Champagne Beach which ranks sixth in the study and is only a 10-minute drive from Port Orly), as well as its array of facilities. Travel reviews of this beach also tend to highlight the delicious sand and authentic food available from the rustic restaurants found here."
While most of the top beaches will require hours of travelling and can be costly to get to, Pentle Bay certainly offers a more accessible option for Britons. Navagio Beach in Greece is also the top European beach for something else closer to home.
The travel experts added: "Whilst the majority of beaches that feature in Kuoni’s paradise ranking are based in Asia and the South Pacific, there is a surprise entry from the United Kingdom within the top 20.
"With 8.7 per cent of its reviews claiming it’s paradise on earth, Pentle Bay found on the island of Tresco in the UK’s Scilly Isles, places 13th in the paradise beach shortlist. A number of reviewers describe it as the ‘English Seychelles’ – thanks to its white sands, cerulean blue waters and distinctive grey rock formations.
STAYCATION INSPIRATION
Navagio Beach was the top-ranking European destination
WIKI COMMONS
Port Olry Beach in Vanuatu ranked highest overall
WIKI COMMONS
"Its remote location means that there are no nearby shops or facilities, and visitors are encouraged by reviewers to bring their own food for a picnic in paradise."
Family travel expert at Kuoni Marco Rocha added: “Beaches can be one of the most important elements of a family holiday, they are where lifelong treasured memories are made. Beaches help to take away the stress, sights and sounds of everyday life and give visitors space and time to embrace a simpler life and reconnect with each other, and the natural world.
“People’s expectation of a ‘paradise’ beach will naturally include the classic formula of clean soft sands and turquoise seas, but with so many beaches meeting that criteria, it’s been super interesting to find out the other factors that cause visitors to deem a beach a ‘paradise’. Our analysis saw that the most common themes, besides the paradise-beach-aesthetic, are the opportunity to see exotic wildlife as well as a sense of privacy and ‘being alone’ – all whilst still having convenient facilities.”