I had the pleasure of visiting the public beach, as I couldn't quite stomach the thought of staying at the hotel. I must say, it's touted as one of the best beaches in the world, but I wasn't quite sold on the hype. The morning and afternoon presented quite the contrast, with the wind and currents being marginally better in the morning - at least that's what I experienced during my visit in June.
If you're into snorkeling, you'll be pleased to know that the corals are just a few meters away from the beach, and there's a plethora of marine life to explore. The sun is quite pleasant, and it's a great spot to play with the little ones.
While it wasn't a total nightmare, I wouldn't quite say it was my idea of paradise. On the bright side, it wasn't too crowded, so you won't have to worry about being elbow-to-elbow with strangers.