Posted By Tom W. on Nov 27, 2013 in Beach Bars - Anguilla, Beach Bars - Aruba, Beach Bars - Bali, Beach Bars - Belize, Beach Bars - British Virgin Islands (BVI), Beach Bars - Florida, Beach Bars - Maldives, Beach Bars - St. Kitts, Travel | 2 comments

Tagged: ambergris caye, ayana, beach bar, bunker bar, conrad hilton, cow wreck, dune preserve, islamorada, palapa bar and grill, postcard inn, rock bar, rumrunners, shiggidy shack

Tomorrow is the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States and it’s a time of year we take a moment to reflect on what we’re thankful for. In my case, I have a lot of things I’m thankful for – my faith, my family, my friends, my good health, Cancun so I can vaction there next week … and beach bars. Eight of those beach bars are listed below. The number of beach bars I was originally going to include on the list started at five but since I’m in a thanks giving spirit, I increased it to eight. Note that these aren’t necessarily my claim to be the best beach bars in the world or even my favorites but I’m thankful for each of them in their own unique way.

Dune Preserve, AnguillaBankie Banx’s beach bar on the island of Anguilla not only turned me on to how music can be integrated into a beach bar’s culture but also introduced me to a whole island that I had rarely thought of before. Now Anguilla sits firmly at the top of my list of islands whose sand I want to sink my toes into. Photo source

Mr. X’s Shiggidy Shack, St. KittsThe Shiggidy Shack is the beach bar that introduced me to “The Strip” in St. Kitts, a sandy strip of beach bar nirvana where there are almost two beach bars for every day of the week. Beach bars have come and gone on South Frigate Bay beach but Mr. X’s beach bar still reigns supreme. Photo source

The Bunker Bar, ArubaLocated at the Tamarijn Aruba All-Inclusive Resort, the Bunker Bar is proof positive that resorts can have amazing beach bars. You can watch cruise ships come and leave, the sun set and when the tide is in, you can literally step off this bar into the impossibly clear azure waters off Aruba. Photo source

Rock Bar at Ayana Resort, BaliIf I had my choice and could pick a beach bar based purely on the view, Rock Bar would be at the top of the list. The view is only matched by the luxury of this high end beach bar. Photo source

Cow Wreck Beach Bar, Anegada, British Virgin IslandsCow Wreck Beach Bar has convinced me that an island hopping trip on a boat through the British Virgin Islands should be at the top of my bucket list. It’s not easy to get to but from all the beautiful photos, it looks like the journey would be well worth it. Photo source

Rumrunners Beach Bar, Islamorada, FloridaEvidence that not only can a beach bar spread out, it can spread up. The views of the amazingly smooth Atlantic Ocean from the palapa covered circular perches of this multi-story beach bar will grab a hold of you and you may never want to leave this beach bar at the Postcard Inn in Islamorada in the Upper Keys of Florida. Plus, if it’s good enough for Zac Brown and his band, it’s good enough for me. Photo source

Palapa Bar and Grill, Ambergris Caye, BelizeThe Palapa Bar and Grill is the perfect argument to anyone who claims a beach bar has to actually be on the beach. Sitting at the end of a pier, it has the vibe, culture and view that qualify it as a beach bar in my book. Throw in the fact that you can float around in inner tubes as they lower your drinks down to you and you’ll be hard pressed to find any beach bar lover who wouldn’t want to spend a lazy afternoon at this beach bar. Photo source

Sunset Bar and Grill at the Conrad Hilton, MaldivesIf you need another reason to put Maldives in your future travel plans, look no further than this beach bar on Rangali Island. Like most everything else in this archipelago nation, the beach bar sits out over the Indian ocean, peering at water so smooth you’ll swear it’s glass. Getting there and staying there is expensive so start saving your money now.