Guests have a private beach and dock at a private retreat on a private island in Lake Titicaca.

FORBES

Bargain beach massages in India can be hit and miss, but a stay at an Ayurveda retreat could be just the ticket (try Kerala's Somatheeram Beach Resort).

BBC: Beauty treatments abroad

If I'd been hoping to bump into Tom Hanks jogging on the beach, the location was much too remote, but as a retreat from civilization, it did quite nicely.

CNN: Staying in a stranger's home: A field test

Check in: A group of "cabins" in name only, this Zen-like retreat is set in a bamboo grove a couple of blocks from the beach, with private outdoor spas, sculptural firepits, and heated floors.

CNN: 10 dazzling hideaways by the sea

Walking along a quiet stretch of white-sand beach, I've come to appreciate this remote retreat of old-school fishermen, miles of mangroves and spectacular ocean views.

CNN: A beach break in Bimini