Sand between your toes, salt water on your skin, something punchy and refreshing close at hand — dream of escaping the drudgery of the day to day and it’s the beach holiday that many of us picture first. Maldivian atoll or Cornish cove; serene inlet or wave-thrashed expanse; a frenzy of water sports or long, lazy hours on the sun lounger; whatever you’re looking for, it’s most definitely out there — though finding your own slice of sandy nirvana is seldom straightforward.

So, allow our expert writers to offer a little guidance. From California to the Caribbean, Thailand to Tahiti, the West Country to the Whitsundays, they’ve scoured the globe in search of the beaches that measure up to the fantasy, and the strands that really seduce. Then (not always willingly) they’ve agreed to share them with us.

We hope you find plenty of inspiration for your next break, but remember: when it comes to beaches, a large part of the thrill is in the discovery.

Main photo: the white sands and palm trees of a tropical beach (Getty Images)