By Chris Leadbeater
There's nothing like watching the sun fall from view (ideally with a drink in hand) to bring a fabulous end to a great day on holiday. But where to find those sunsets that will linger long on the camera - and in the memory? Try any of this fantastic five:
Best for sun-kissed explorers: Oahu
Who can do it? Those who like to fly to far-off destinations,
but want a few familiar luxuries when they land. The third biggest of the Hawaiian
islands, Oahu does superb
mid-Pacific sunsets, whilst its main city Honolulu offers all-American comforts
into the bargain.
Let's go! Many visitors to Oahu fail to skip beyond Honolulu.
But then, there is much to do there. Pearl Harbour is a place for sober reflection.
The top of the Diamond Head volcano offers views across the island. And Waikiki
Beach is more than just a famous strip of sand. Largely west-facing, it is a
fine spot for watching sun meet the Pacific ocean. Try staying at the Outrigger
Waikiki on the Beach - which does what it says on the tin.
Top Tip:If you feel adventurous, take in the sunset near Kaena Point, the westernmost corner of Oahu, on the north side of the island. Although reaching the point itself is tricky (the road runs out), the nearby town of Mokuleia is an excellent substitute.
Best for lovers of the easy life: Tobago
Who can do it? Anyone who fancies a week on a Caribbean
beach with a dash of tropical scenery thrown in, all served at a thoroughly
unhurried pace. (All of us, then.)
Let's go! Tobago
is a place where things do not move fast. Not that you want them to. You need
time to explore underwater in the east-coast scuba paradise of Speyside or absorb
the beauty of the north coast (Englishman's Bay especially). However, the best
beaches for sunset are on the west corner of the island. The luxurious Coco
Reef resort, on Store Bay, has a private sandbar where you can enjoy the
show with a cocktail.
Top Tip: If you have the energy, walk to Pigeon Point, just north of Store Bay, and witness the sunset from the shelter of one of its small beach bars. Sheer heaven.
Best for wildlife watchers: Masai Mara, Kenya
Who can do it? Fans of furry, roaring wildlife - those who dream of seeing a wide-screen African sunset, but would like a lion to walk into shot at the moment of truth.
Let's go! The classic African sunset - a lofty Acacia tree
silhouetted against a blazing red sky, perhaps a giraffe nibbling at the leaves,
the savannah stretching away into the distance - is a daily occurrence in Kenya's
Masai Mara reserve.
You should certainly be able to appreciate this spectacle from Mara Porini Camp,
a comfortable enclave of just six (en-suite) tents, which offers sunset game
drives. Life rarely gets much better…
Top Tip: Keep your eyes peeled. A pride of lions lives in the same area as the camp.
Best for fans of the US of A: San Francisco
Who can do it? Discerning admirers of the Golden State. Sunsets
are easy to come by in San
Diego and Los Angeles
- but in San Francisco,
you have to work just a little bit harder for them.
Let's go! Regularly shrouded by banks of fog, San Francisco
may not be an obvious place to seek sunsets - but their comparative scarcity
only makes them more special; that orange disc dipping into the chilly Pacific.
Of course, even on a misty day, San Francisco is blessed with sights - the Golden
Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the Coit Tower. The four-star Westin
St Francis hotel sits at the heart of matters, next to Union Square.
Top tip: Pick your moment. Autumn, winter and early spring make for better sunset conditions - particularly if you head to Ocean Beach, a long line of sand on the far west of the city that borders the Sunset District. What bigger hint could you need?
Best for starry-eyed lovers: The Maldives
Who can do it? Honeymooners. Young couples. Not-so-newlyweds celebrating a key anniversary. A Maldivian sunset will be the crowning point of any doe-eyed day.
Let's go! If waiting for a sunset in San Francisco sounds like
too much effort, the antidote is undoubtedly the Maldives.
A cluster of pinprick islands in the warm blue waters of the Indian
Ocean, here is a country built for sunset-ogling. Not sure where to find
Mother Nature's technicolour end-of-the-day extravaganza? Keep walking along
the beach until you find it. It won't be far away. There. Isn't that romantic?
Top tip: Hole up at the luxury Royal
Island Resort & Spa, a perfectly rounded coral island ideal for a sunset-drenched
evening. Assuming you can take your eyes off each other...
If you're in need of a sunset-filled holiday, check out our last
minute deals!
Chris Leadbeater is a freelance travel journalist. He writes regularly for the Daily Mail. His favourite destinations are Cuba, the USA and Paris.