Yahoo Travel

The World's Most Irresistible Islands

Yahoo Travel

Updated Thu, August 14, 2014 at 10:00 AM UTC

No. 1 Santorini, Greece — With its white villages atop lava rock cliffs and blue-domed churches overlooking a sunken caldera, this postcard-perfect Aegean island feels a thousand miles from modern civilization. Visit the black-sand beaches of Perissa and Kamari, or take a small caiki (a typical fishing boat) to the Red Beach from the prehistoric village of Akrotiri. The bungalow-style rooms of the Astra Suites hotel are a scenic 1.2-mile meander from the town of Fira and feature infinity pools and views of Santorini’s famous sunsets.

No. 3 Kauai, Hawaii — With miles of hiking and biking trails, golf courses, and ziplines, Kauai is more than just a pretty place. You can wander the art galleries and shops of laid-back Hanalei (not far from the spectacular Na Pali Coast) and take surf lessons on its crescent-shaped beach with views to Makana Mountain—a.k.a. Bali Hai from the 1957 film South Paci?c. Don’t leave without stopping at Puka Dog for Hawaiian-style sausages smothered in homemade fruit relish and wrapped in sweet bread.

**Related: Captain Your Own Boat Around the Island of Capri**

No. 4 Big Island, Hawaii — The largest in Hawaii’s island chain counts 80 diverse stretches of sand, along with a lava-oozing volcano, lush valleys, and so much more, including the one-of-a-kind Green Sand Beach on the south shore. The numerous and interconnecting Kapoho Tide Pools are deep enough for snorkeling, and some are even volcanically heated. Historic Hawi town has art galleries and Sushi Rock, which has won regulars for using fresh Hawaiian catch. (Photo: Roxanne Carter)

No. 1 Santorini, Greece

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With its white villages atop lava rock cliffs and blue-domed churches overlooking a sunken caldera, this postcard-perfect Aegean island feels a thousand miles from modern civilization. Visit the black-sand beaches of Perissa and Kamari, or take a small caiki (a typical fishing boat) to the Red Beach from the prehistoric village of Akrotiri. The bungalow-style rooms of the Astra Suites hotel are a scenic 1.2-mile meander from the town of Fira and feature infinity pools and views of Santorini’s famous sunsets.

By Kimberley Lovato

Deciding whether to watch the sunset from a hammock between coconut palms or from the infinity pool on a hilltop village sounds like a dream dilemma. But when you're overdue for a vacation, even that choice can feel overwhelming.

One surefire place to start: Santorini, Greece, whose blue-domed churches, blanched villages, and picture-perfect sunsets catapulted it to the No. 1 island in the latest T+L World's Best reader survey. The results are your shortcut to planning an easy, breezy beach getaway.

Turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and tropical settings fill travelers' daydreams and Pinterest boards. And many of this year's winners indulge those fantasies; notably, four Hawaiian Islands (Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, Kauai) made the top 10.

Whatever your fancy, there's something about being completely surrounded by water that puts you at ease and sets you loose from the daily grind. Here are 10 ways to plot your next escape.

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