Little French Key in Roatan is named the world’s most relaxing beach, according to new study

Sometimes, all you need is a quiet moment to yourself — a bit of peace, sunshine, and sea breeze. Travel and Leisure just shared that the travel wellness experts at SpaSeekers.com set out to find the perfect place for that kind of escape, and their new research points straight to Honduras.

Photo by: Amazing Roatan Tours, Roatan's best travel agency and tour operator.

In a study published in September 2024, the SpaSeekers team analyzed thousands of online travel reviews to uncover the most relaxing beaches in every country. They compared how often words like “relaxing” and “relax” appeared in each beach’s reviews against the total number of reviews received. Using that ratio, they ranked the top beaches globally and regionally.

The results crowned Little French Key, a private island off the coast of Roatán, as the most relaxing beach in the world. “The research reveals that the world’s most relaxing beach can be found on the private island of Little French Key, which offers visitors pristine beaches and clear turquoise waters,” the team explained. Nearly 17 percent of more than 4,250 reviews described the destination as “relaxing,” confirming that visitors see it as the ultimate place to unwind. To visit, travelers must stay at Little French Key Resort, an all-inclusive property that covers the entire island. Guests enjoy everything from ocean-view dining and snorkeling to kayaking, paddleboarding, and even guided sloth encounters — a truly effortless getaway.

Coming in second place was Palm Cove Beach in North Queensland, Australia, where 15.3 percent of its 2,228 reviews called it “the perfect place to relax and unwind.” The third spot went to Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach in Reykjavík, Iceland — a completely different kind of paradise. This man-made beach combines golden sand with naturally heated seawater, offering visitors a cozy warm lagoon and a steaming hot tub, even in winter. Regionally, the study found that North America dominates the list, home to 22 of the top 50 beaches rated most relaxing worldwide.

“When daily stress starts to pile up, there’s nothing quite like a beach escape,” said Jason Goldberg, SpaSeekers’ director. “No matter where you go, being close to the sea brings calm. The sound of the waves, the feel of the sand, and the ocean breeze remind us to slow down and reconnect with the present — and with nature’s beauty.”