4 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

I'd guess that Australia 'is' the best beach (according to their criteria): the longest, least spoilt, and least crowded. Only negative point are the occasional saltwater crocs and sharks. ?

You make a good point. Don't forget the box jellyfish, which makes most northern beaches non-swimming zones apart form the special enclosures over part of the year. Blue bottles are everywhere too. Not usually lethal, but no fun either.

I can name at least 10 beaches much better, cleaner, without pushy umbrella, mats, sarong, ice cream, fruit and 100 other things being forced in your face every 3 minutes. 

Of course, a gunfight on the beach between rival jetski gangs, or a speedboat operator beating the crap out of tourists they overcharged, could be a highlight that gets Phuket into the top 10.

12 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

I'd guess that Australia 'is' the best beach (according to their criteria): the longest, least spoilt, and least crowded. Only negative point are the occasional saltwater crocs and sharks. ?

Actually Australia is the least popular beach in the world. 

 

That's right, fewer people per square mile than almost anywhere else. ?

11 hours ago, tropo said:

You make a good point. Don't forget the box jellyfish, which makes most northern beaches non-swimming zones apart form the special enclosures over part of the year. Blue bottles are everywhere too. Not usually lethal, but no fun either.

Thats what stinger suits are for.

There's dozens of beaches in Vietnam better than any Phuket beach ...

7 hours ago, beechbum said:

Thats what stinger suits are for.

Sure, but people visiting pristine, best-of-the-world beaches may find that having to wear special protective suits in order to avoid untimely death takes the edge off a bit. LOL

 

Perhaps Australian beaches should be on the world's most dangerous list. Sharks, rip tides, lethal jellyfish, bluebottles galore and saltwater crocodiles. Did I miss any?

 

OK, I get it. I shouldn't have used Australia as an example, but putting Bali on the top 15 list was a stretch.

6 hours ago, Wallander4 said:

There's dozens of beaches in Vietnam better than any Phuket beach ...

They just wanted to make the list aimed at promoting Hawaii's beaches look a bit more genuine. Phuket is well known around the world, so it served that purpose.

Bang Tao beach July 29 2018 A picture is worth a thousand words...

I use to enjoy Kata beach, with good restaurants and Club Med and Kata Beach Resort

good swimming at the south end of the beach.