With more than two-thirds of the globe covered by water, there’s plenty of seashore to go around in the summer. 

But some beaches are better than others, and one easy way to find them is to locate the best coastal resorts — they have a knack of planting themselves in the best places.

They’re not just banking on the beaches, either. These coastal resorts are the best because they have the architecture and amenities to do justice to their surroundings.

Here are the top picks, by continent.