The tropical region runs along the equator with temperate weather and warm, sunny days. Tropical resorts can be found in most of the countries of Africa, northern South American countries such as Brazil and the Caribbean islands, as well as parts of India and Asia.

Tropical Sun Beach Resort, Sarasota Florida

• Located on Siesta Key in Sarasota Florida, Tropical Sun Beach Resort is a 2-minute walk from Crescent Beach. It has 18 rooms, some with whirlpool tubs. All rooms include luxury furnishings, and the resort offers a heated swimming pool and shuffleboard courts. Guests can also rent bikes and paddle boats from area businesses or go on a kayak tour. There are also numerous restaurants, bars and night clubs on Siesta Key.

  Tropical Sun Beach Resort
  6717 SaraSea Circle
  Siesta Key, Sarasota, Florida 34242
  941-349-3330
  800-235-3493
  tropicalsunresort.com

Meliá Caribe Tropical, Dominican Republic

• This all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic includes all meals, snacks, alcoholic cocktails and drinks, hotel taxes and non-motorized water and land sports in the package price. The resort has more than 144 suites modeled after European hotels. Facilities include a spa; the Flintstones Land, a small theme park; 10 swimming pools; a world-class golf course; and eight tennis courts.

  Meliá Caribe Tropical
  Playa de Bávaro, Higuey
  Altagracia Dominican Republic
  809-221-1290
  meliacaribetropical.com

Tropical Garden Resort, Phuket, Thailand

• This four-star seaside resort is on a hill overlooking the Andaman Sea. It is only a block from Kata Beach, nearby shopping areas and tourist attractions. Most of the 209 guest rooms offer sea view balconies, although some look out onto the pool or a lush tropical garden.

  There is WiFi access and the hotel has two pools with a swim-up bar, three restaurants, a spa, a tour desk and a mini shopping arcade.

  Tropical Garden Resort
  247 Kata Beach, Koktanode Road,
  Muang, Phuket, 83100,Thailand
  011-66-76-285-2119
  tropicalphuketresort.com

Rivertime Ecolodge Resort, Vientiane, Laos

• This family-owned and operated eco-resort is situated in the forest along the Nam Ngum River. They contribute $2 per guest to local education and community development initiatives and was chosen Best Small Hotel/Accommodation in Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards program in 2009, according to ResponsibleTravel.com.

  Guests can enjoy a floating restaurant or participate in activities such as local village tours (Hmong and Lao Loum ethnic groups), Lao cooking classes, traditional “Baci” ceremonies, fishing from hotel boats or the floating restaurant, trekking through local forests, tubing down the Nam Ngum River and even experiencing rice farming. The resort also offers a library and book exchange, Hmong dance performances, riverboat trips and traditional Lao massage.

  Rivertime Ecolodge Resort
  PO Box 5272
  Vientiane, Laos
  011-856-20-551-3672
  rivertimelaos.com

Topas Ecolodge, Vietnam

• Topas Ecolodge is located on two cone-shaped hills set in the Sapa valley of Northern Vietnam. While not technically a resort, this lodge, consisting of 25 individual lodges with views across the valley and villages below, offers numerous tours, hiking trips and mountain biking for visitors. Hoang Lien National Park lies conveniently close, right outside Pada village. The Thai stilt house restaurant offers Vietnamese-style meals three times a day.

  Topas Ecolodge
  Hanoi office address:
  52 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho, Hanoi
  011-84-4-3715-1005
  topastravel.vn

  Sapa office address:
  24 Muong Hoa, Sapa, Lao Cai
  011-84-20-387-1331
  topasecolodge.com

Pangkor Laut, Malaysia

• This exclusive award-winning luxury resort is located on the privately owned 300-acre island of Pangkor Laut, 3 miles off the west coast of Malaysia. Amenities include two swimming pools, a jet pool and cold dip, a gymnasium, three tennis courts and one squash court, a gift shop, a library, a lounge, an outpatient clinic, a hair salon and an award-winning spa as well as conference and banquet facilities available for weddings, events, conferences or business meetings. This resort island also offers several upscale restaurants, as well as casual eateries and bars.

  011-800-9899-9999
  pangkorlautresort.com

Coconut Lagoon Resort, Kumarakam

• Coconut Lagoon Resort, Kumarakam on the shore of Vembanad Lake is rated by “Condé Nast Traveler” as among the 25 best getaways in the world. Across the river from Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, the resort is reachable only by water. Bathrooms are open-roofed while incorporating modern conveniences. The cuisine at Coconut Lagoon is famous, specializing in seafood and fresh local ingredients. The resort offers big-game fishing, scuba diving, kayaking and snorkeling, and there is a bioluminescent lagoon.

  cghearthhotels.com/coconut-lagoon.html

El Conquistador Resort, Fajardo, Puerto Rico

• Part of the Waldorf Astoria Collection, El Conquistador Resort is a family-friendly resort with amenities that include a world-class golf course, an over-18 spa, a casino, a water park, wind surfing, tennis courts, four pools, scuba diving and a private marina for those who enjoy fishing. Camp Coqui is a children’s activities club and features kayaking, snorkeling and nature walks as well as other activities. El Conquistador has 23 on-site restaurants and lounges to choose from, ranging from casual to formal dining.

  El Conquistador Resort
  1000 El Conquistador Avenue
  Fajardo 00738
  Puerto Rico
  888-543-1282
  elconresort.com

Rose Hall Resort & Spa, Montego Bay, Jamaica

• With seven types of suites and hundreds of rooms, Rose Hall Resort & Spa is available for groups, conventions and family vacations. Amenities include a water park, a spa, a private beach, a golf course, tennis, a fitness center and a children’s program featuring snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, windsurfing, kayaking, swimming, volleyball, fishing, boat tours, jet skiing and basketball. This Hilton resort offers nine dining options ranging from elegant to casual dining.

  Rose Hall Resort & Spa
  PO Box 999
  Montego Bay, Jamaica
  866-799-3661
  rosehallresort.com

W Retreat & Spa Vieques Island

• Vieques, 8 miles from the coast of Puerto Rico, is a 20-minute flight or 45-minute ferry ride from San Juan. The 157-room W Retreat & Spa Vieques Island is a luxury resort open as of March 2010. Activities include snorkeling, horseback riding and tennis.

  Guests can dine at Mix on the Beach, a Mediterranean-Caribbean fusion restaurant. Guests can also visit the bioluminescent bay at night and swim with glowing fish. Amenities include a fitness center, a lounge, conference rooms, a spa, a pool, tennis courts, bottled water in rooms, flat-screen TVs in rooms, high-speed Internet, laundry service and a masseuse.

  W Retreat & Spa–Vieques Island
  State Road 200 KM 3.2 – HC1
  Vieques Island
  Puerto Rico
  787-741-4100
  starwoodhotels.com

Source: eHow

A tropical destination for your vacation or special trip with the warm weather, stunning beaches and varied cultures of the islands attract millions of tourists to tropical islands around the world. These vacations also offer a chance to explore the tropical landscape, partake in cultural and beach activities, and provide pure relaxation and quiet.

Maui, Hawaii

• The island of Maui in Hawaii is consistently ranked among the top island destinations year after year. The main attraction is Maui’s seemingly endless beaches. One of the more popular beaches is Wailea, which features golden sand and calm waters. The Polynesian culture is strong and deeply rooted in Hawaii’s identity.

  Guests can enjoy Polynesian hula dancers, fire eaters and eat authentic Hawaiian dishes such as Kalua roast pork, and lau lau, which is pork wrapped in a luau leaf. Aside from the beach, guests can visit popular attractions such as the Maui Ocean Center, a state-of-the-art aquarium and the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens. There is no shortage of accommodations on Maui, including the Grand Wailea Resort, directly in front of Wailea Beach.

Bali, Indonesia

• Bali is an island of tremendous beauty, culture and spirituality. Visitors to Bali return to surf, play on the beach, meditate in a hidden temple and party at Bali’s vibrant nightlife scene. Bali has active volcanoes and lush forests that adventurous travelers like to explore. Visitors who lwho enjoy the party scene should check out the Seminyak and Ubud areas, with their strip of nightclubs and bars along the beach.

  Try local Balinese cuisine, such as babi guling, a tender pork dish, and chicken satay, a spicy skewered chicken. Visitors should also check out one of Bali’s beautiful temples or take a sunset cruise around Bali.

  There are plenty of accommodations to choose from as well. There are affordable and luxury hotel options as well as beachside rental villas. The Haven Hotel in Seminyak offers a variety of hotel rooms, suites and villas close to the nightlife action.

The Maldives

• The Maldives, a series of coral islands in the Indian Ocean provides both luxury and privacy, making it particularly attractive for honeymooners and couples. The natural beauty of the Maldives islands has drawn many developers, building luxury hotels with over-the-top features.

  The Huvafen Fushi resort, for example, features huts sitting in the ocean with glass floors, private plunge pools and an underwater spa. Your private butler will see to it that all your needs are met. If you tire of luxury accommodations, have your hotel arrange a visit to a local village to experience a bodu beru dance ceremony and eat an authentic Maldivian meal, typically consisting of fish, rice and spicy curries.

  Visit the bustling capital city, Male, to see the impressive architecture of the Islamic Centre and shop for local wares in the market. Jump from your ocean hut right into the water for swimming and snorkeling. Visit other resorts for dinner and to check out their facilities.