4 Affordable Escapes to Picture-perfect Beaches

Have you ever stood on a beautiful beach, facing the lapping waves and felt bathed in the serenity of it all? Did you breathe in the fresh saltiness of the air, suck in the power coming off the waves and embrace the breeze under the clear blue skies?

Did you feel a tremendous sense of tranquility, abandon to the elements and truly thought ‘…I could live here forever’? Then, '…hey, I remember this scene... in that movie!'

I was ‘there’ recently, in a moment of déjà vu – going about my daily chores on a hot sunny afternoon, when a sudden gust of breeze jolted me. In that moment of cool caress… I walked the soft sands, chased the waves and was washed by the ocean. I went to the cinematographically-acclaimed beach in The Blue Lagoon. I romped the cliffs with the kids like they did in Mamma Mia. I let the raw atmosphere charge my emotions the way it happened in The Piano.

I would have happily sacrificed my vain quest for fairness of skin, for sun, sea and sands (preferably spiced with romance like in From Here to Eternity)… if I could have a moment on an idyllic beach.

Having run out of inspiration for this year’s holiday, I had just found one!

I live in the hub of Asia where the coolest great beaches are mere hours away by flight or a totally-not-back-aching drive away. I have been to beaches but never aimed for that picture-perfect escape… just like in the movies… on as low a price as I can get!

Where shall I go? Hawaii will be daunting without a bikini-perfect body – Bo Derek in Ten? Haha! Not! Miami is possible only if I am prepared to feed the kids (cheap?) McDonalds’ meals every day.

And here are what I found – the bucket list, closer to home:

♦ Airasiago.com.my offers to get me to Kuala Terengganu with its Get Your Flight for FREE when book together with Hotel! promotion.

Terrapuri Heritage Hotel is on the beach, rated 4 out of 5, a steal at RM791 per person, packaging flight, 2 nights’ hotel stay, full breakfast and free parking – all in one. The kids will love the on-site kayaking, bicycling and scuba diving while I chill by the outdoor pool or on the beach by this water-front villa.

♦ Trivago gives a whopping 60% off their listed Australian and Oceania Hotels.

I could compromise and stay at a camping or caravan site if it will help ease my finances for having to fly to that picture of perfection? There are 517 camping sites listed here, from South Autralia to Queensland and New Zealand, averaging RM300 per night for a family of four.

♦ Agoda reveals its Secret Deals to Koh Phangan in Thailand. The Delight Resort price-tags as low as RM139 per night with rave reviews as a ‘comfortable, clean’ and ‘excellent place’ with ‘good laundry’, popular during the Full Moon party season or nice and quiet outside that season.

Who knows… along with finding my peaceful moment with the sea, I might also find my closest claim-to-fame by finding that rock Leonardo DiCaprio sat on when he was there filming The Beach :) .

♦ Travelio allows me to decide (my) own price and make a personalized offer for (my) chosen hotels.

I can stay at Seminyak in Bali, away from Baywatch-esque Kuta, at the interestingly sounding Brown Feather Boutique Hotel, from RM208 per night. And that is just a listed price before I make an offer for a lower deal! It boasts of Tripsadvisor’s no.3 place to stay in the Kerobokan area, walking distance to the beach, easy stroll to nearby attractions, next to the U-rated entertainment and sporting Canggu Club, easy ride to the surfers’ Echo Beach.

Such exciting choices! I am feeling closer to my beach paradise… one just like in the movies!