Beach Holidays

We're looking to do a beach holiday at Christmas time.  Anyone have any tips?  Anyone have any favourite destinations?

We are looking at:
Lanzarote
Cyprus
Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt)
Morocco

I haven't been to any of the places, but my parents and my brother visited Lanzarote in October a couple of years ago.

Although one of the attractions is the volcano there, they said that it wasn't the nicest places they'd been to - the beaches weren't all that attractive (alot of dark volcanic soil, sand and rock due to lava flows and deposits from the volcano) and there wasn't that much to do there unless you're there to play sport - my brother plays badminton and was there for a week of training at 'Club La Santa' - a holiday/sports resort on the island.

Lanzarote can be very touristy. If I were going, I'd be looking for a quieter more out-of-the-way place, so I probably wouldn't choose it. But if you're looking for somewhere with stuff for the kids to do, it might work for you.

If you want to travel a bit further south east Asia has some fantastic beaches.  In Thailand the island of Phuket, Indonesia has Bali and Malaysia has Lankawi.  I also hear that Goa in India is beautiful.  If you go to Thailand/Malaysia be sure you are on the western side of the continent as it is monsoon season on the eastern side meaning the seas can be very rough.

Consider Tunisia, Morocco's cheaper but just as beautiful cousin.  White sand beaches, hot weather, etc.  The SO has done this holiday & I'm so jealous - GORGEOUS pictures!

Cyprus is just gorgeous and the people are very friendly!  I had a blast when I went there to visit a friend and her family! 

Cyprus is just gorgeous and the people are very friendly! 

Lots of Brits there (on the Greek side) & they drive on the left there too.   And excellent Greek food!

We're headed to Crete in early September, and I am so excited. DH has been once before and had a really good time, but this will be my first time. My ILs are going with us, and even my parents are coming over from the U.S. to join us. They never would have dreamed of going to Crete before I moved to the U.K., but suddenly Europe is at their back door.

Will you be taking children or just hubby and wife?  If just 2 of you I would suggest the Maldives.  We went to the Maldives for Christmas 2 years ago and it was so much fun.  Of course we are also scuba divers and really enjoyed that part too.  But if you don't dive, you can learn while there.  We stayed at the White Sands and were spoiled!  Beautiful beach surrounding this island.  Couple of restaurants - all just part of one hotel setting.  There are beach bungalows or over the water bungalows.  There is also a wonderful spa - you can have his/hers massages.  And even though this area is mostly muslim, they really knew how to put on a wonderful Christmas spread with the waiters all wearing santa hats!  It was an amazing Christmas for us that year.

Thanks for the suggestions! 

We are going with my sister and her family - 4 adults and 4 kids.  And we're leaning toward Tunisia in a self catered villa so that we can party til the wee hours and never have to worry about child care.  We'll be going in between Christmas and New Years. 

I've never, ever done a holiday like that (except living in San Diego but I don't think that counts) so I'm really, really looking forward to it. I've never really gone snorkeling either.  Excited to do that too!

(except living in San Diego but I don't think that counts)

It counts!  It's like one never-ending holiday!