Hawaiian luxury

If you've seen the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall, you've seen the Turtle Bay resort, which starred in the film as the place where a hapless jilted groom got wound up endlessly by Russell Brand. It looked nice enough on screen but the full magic of this corner of Hawaii needs to experienced first-hand.

It's all about the location; Turtle Bay is on to an immediate winner by enjoying as lovely a beach-front spot as you could hope to find anywhere else in the islands or, quite frankly, the entire planet.

Two bays curve together on a quiet stretch of Oahu's North Shore, and on the headland between them sits the hotel. It's the only place to stay for miles around, so the surrounding area is quiet and the vibe supremely laid back. The resort's twin beaches are chalk and cheese; one is calm, shallow and great for snorkelling and sunbathing. The other, the Turtle Bay that gives the hotel its name, is equally beautiful but is rocky, rugged and battered by big enough waves to attract surfers. It's also a spot where sea turtles hang out in numbers. Stroll on the shore at dusk and you'll see plenty of them frolicking in the surf and sometimes coming up to the sand.

The hotel's facilities are extensive enough that guests could easily be tempted to stay in the resort for their entire visit. As well as the beaches you get a decent-sized pool for lounging around, with an adjoining west-facing bar that is the perfect place for watching golden sunsets. There are several restaurants on-site and thankfully the hotel doesn't exploit its isolation to charge extortionate prices; you'll find meals to suit all budgets at the various eateries. Another great bar is positioned right on the smaller of the two beaches and serves a mean cocktail.

For a property as spectacular as this, the rooms themselves feel slightly ordinary. They're perfectly comfortable and spacious, but it's the resort in its entirety that justifies the price tag. And really, you won't want to spend a great deal of time indoors when there are such natural treasures on the doorstep.

As well as the beach-based relaxation options, the other big thing to do at Turtle Bay is tee off. Not one but two championship golf courses offer the chance to play 36 hotels and enjoy spectacular views toward the sea.

If you can drag yourself away from the greens, beaches, spa and pool, there's lots to explore just a short drive away from the resort. World-famous surf centres like Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay are just to the west, as is the rambling town of Hale'iwa. Tranquil bays and the fun-filled valley of Kualoa Ranch lie in the opposite direction and, though it's hard to believe, the hectic crowds and traffic of Honolulu are under an hour away.

For more information and to book, visit www.turtlebayresort.com.