Every time we go on vacation it's usually to a metropolis somewhere... This summer we want to go somewhere with a beach. A nice beach (white sand and clear-blue water). We're not specifically looking for a major city on a beach, but want something that has a nice beach with lots to do ... maybe a casino, or respectable restaurants ...

 

Somewhere with a hotel on the beach is a major plus.

 

Also, cost is a major factor. I have a Passport, but the wifey would need to apply for one (for suggestions in the Caribbean, etc.).

 

As always ... thanks for your feedback and experiences!

 

before you plan much further, do the passport.  They are at least 6 weeks out, unless of course you expedite it for twice the cost.

Northern Michigan along Lake Michigan is absolutely beautiful.  Check out the Frankfurt/Manistee area.  The beaches are gorgeous, sand dunes are tons of fun, touristy shopping, great food options (try some cherries, root beer and seafood while there), casino nearby and plenty of picture-perfect small towns.

" We're not specifically looking for a major city on a beach"

 

If you DO want that, Honolulu - specifically Waikiki, dozens of hotels on or very close to the beach plus city amenities in easy access. I would go back in a heartbeat. Cost could be an issue but there are a lot of places cutting deals in this economy, so if you've never been, good god - go for it.

 

 

 

Rhodes Isle in Greece has beautiful beaches.  Costs to travel there can be lower than you might expect depending on the season.

Virgin Islands.  No passport, warm water, white beaches.  Or Puerto Rico.

 

If you DO get a passport, Tulum is always gorgeous down in Mexico, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, or Cabo San Lucas. 

hawaii no passport, gorgeous although expensive as heck to get there. It is a sick addiction you may not to start.  I finally had to cough up the big bucks to get the tickets for Christmas. the airfairs have not budged! Although- I was sent some specials through faretracker.com to Honolulu that did not work for me time frame wise but might for you...

If you can get the passport I am a big Mexico fan. Cozumel and Cancun have the blue water white sand you want.  Also if you get the passport think about a cruise. They are cheap now, and you can hit a great beach in every port if you grab a cab or local bus.  I love the  vacationstogo.com web site for the "90 day ticker" sales. There are awesome deals to be found. Truthfully it is the cheapest ways to have an island vacation. The entire Caribbean is full of clear blue water/white sand. ...except Puerto Rico-it is not as clear unless you get far far from San Juan.

 

example:

http://vacationstogo.com/fastdeal.cfm?deal=19195

How about the beaches on the NW Florida panhandle? (Redneck Riviera :D)  I stayed at Destin, Fla. twice, but the last time was over 8 years ago.  So, I couldn't tell you how pricey it is now.

 

The first time I stayed close to the center of the "action," and there were plenty of seafood restaurants and tourist shops--even an amusement park.  The second time, I stayed further out because I was only interested in relaxation and the beach.

rednecks aside, it is hotter than the sun in the summer. Beaches are nice although  the gulf water is not so refreshing in that heat . some people dont mind it is just a matter of how much heat you can handle.

if you can live live w/o the clear blue water thing you can have the best of both worlds in several places.

 

for example, fly out to portland, oregon, hang out, then rent a car & go to over seaside on the coast - it's classic old school style beachy fun. after that you can drive down the oregon coast to the dunes too. you'll thank me later! or you could do about the same in boston/cape cod.

 

otherwise, i also highly rec the michigan mitt suggestion above, that's a good one and closer to home, esp if you have kids or want a nice quieter vacation. do the dune climb.

 

whatever you decide have a good vacation -- let us know what you settle on.

 

 

clear blue water rocks though. especially if you are a diver or snorkeler

 

Every time we go on vacation it's usually to a metropolis somewhere... This summer we want to go somewhere with a beach. A nice beach (white sand and clear-blue water). We're not specifically looking for a major city on a beach, but want something that has a nice beach with lots to do ... maybe a casino, or respectable restaurants ...

 

Somewhere with a hotel on the beach is a major plus.

 

Also, cost is a major factor. I have a Passport, but the wifey would need to apply for one (for suggestions in the Caribbean, etc.).

 

As always ... thanks for your feedback and experiences!

 

[*]Why go to a beach in SUMMER?  It's not "high season" so it will be "blah".

[*]What is your price per person for flight? hotel? meals?  transportation?

 

If you want a quick hop

St. Barts

St. Martin

St. Thomas

Anguilla

 

Virgin Islands.  No passport, warm water, white beaches.  Or Puerto Rico.

 

If you DO get a passport, Tulum is always gorgeous down in Mexico, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, or Cabo San Lucas. 

US VIRGIN ISLANDS

 

 

rednecks aside, it is hotter than the sun in the summer. Beaches are nice although  the gulf water is not so refreshing in that heat . some people dont mind it is just a matter of how much heat you can handle.

Agreed.  Thats why I asked why he wanted to go to a beach in summer.

 

You could always do San Diego, FLL, MIA, Key West,

 

 

 

 

St Barts is so EXPENSIVE.  A beer at a beach bar is 12.00, a chair rental about 40.00. lol. Beautiful though. St Martin is a favorite. I like the French side best. I have to say I only go to these places in the winter. In the summer I like the more northern places like Maine. That said the Caribbean is not extremely uncomfortable in the summer . Florida and the south on the other hand are horrid. San Diego is good idea but the sand is not white nor the water blue.

clear blue water rocks though. especially if you are a diver or snorkeler

 

it's no carribean, but if money and time is an issue thats available close to home too.

portage quarry, just south of bg, is pretty famous among divers:

 

http://www.portagequarry.com/quarry.html

 

^I think I am going to check that out this summer

oh yeah for the carribean st. martin is definately great and relatively middle of the road affordable vs st barts and some others. absolutely the french side is way better than the dutch side. they have the casinos and variety. he would need to get the passports tho.

Oh hell, im out of inexpensive options.  I tried.  You could try, PR or DR.  DR is super cheap, but you'll need to have a working knowledge of Spanish and a passport.

Thanks for all of the feedback!

 

We're not really looking for something in MI because we want palm trees and the Floridan, Caribbean, etc. feel ... you know what I mean?

 

Hawaii's hotels weren't that bad, but as others have pointed out, the flying cost is through the roof. Plus, it'll take up 2 days of vacation time.

 

Someone mentioned Destin Beach ... that is the type of beach I'm talking about ... some of the best in FL., but I can't remember on the entertainment side how things are?

 

Chris's suggestion with the U.S. Virgin Islands sounds the best so far ... I was checking out hotel reviews and some people were talking about their hotels being too far away from the entertainment ... thoughts? Suggestions?

 

 

We're looking at something like July 31st-Aug. 4th ... that's enough time for passport I guess.

 

 

Also, we checked out cruises ... do you guys really suggest these? Is it relaxing? That's our main goal. Also, if it goes to Mexico as a stop for instance, will the wifey need a passport?

 

 

Keep 'em coming!

Also, we checked out cruises ... do you guys really suggest these? Is it relaxing? That's our main goal. Also, if it goes to Mexico as a stop for instance, will the wifey need a passport?

 

The hubby and i did a Western Caribbean cruise last year.  We had a great time, and we also got to relax a lot.  There are plenty of options to keep busy, but you can also make it relaxing.  Also consider that the price of the cruise includes your lodging and all the food you want.  It does not include alcohol or off-ship excursions, though. 

 

Your wife will need a passport if you do a Caribbean cruise.  We got passports last year, and we didn't have any problems.  Plus, it's another form of ID to have.

I'm looking for flight info ... I'm getting about 5 different locations for the US Virgin Islands ... which island should I choose? I'm assuming the most popular is the cheapest?

 

btw, there are 2 St. Thomas locations ... the "STT" was about $420 (w/tax & fees per person RT) out of CVG ... thoughts on this price?

try Siesta Key, FL, off the coast of Sarasota (with its excellent variety of restaurants and cultural activities--though obviously slower in the summer for the latter). As a matter of fact, all the nearby barrier islands are nice--Lido Key, Longboat Key (but very expensive and snooty), and north of that is Anna Maria Island (Siesta has the best beaches though).

 

Every time we go on vacation it's usually to a metropolis somewhere... This summer we want to go somewhere with a beach. A nice beach (white sand and clear-blue water). We're not specifically looking for a major city on a beach, but want something that has a nice beach with lots to do ... maybe a casino, or respectable restaurants ...

 

Somewhere with a hotel on the beach is a major plus.

 

Also, cost is a major factor. I have a Passport, but the wifey would need to apply for one (for suggestions in the Caribbean, etc.).

 

As always ... thanks for your feedback and experiences!

 

[*]Why go to a beach in SUMMER? It's not "high season" so it will be "blah".

[*]What is your price per person for flight? hotel? meals? transportation?

 

If you want a quick hop

St. Barts

St. Martin

St. Thomas

Anguilla

 

Virgin Islands. No passport, warm water, white beaches. Or Puerto Rico.

 

If you DO get a passport, Tulum is always gorgeous down in Mexico, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, or Cabo San Lucas.

US VIRGIN ISLANDS

 

 

rednecks aside, it is hotter than the sun in the summer. Beaches are nice although the gulf water is not so refreshing in that heat . some people dont mind it is just a matter of how much heat you can handle.

Agreed. Thats why I asked why he wanted to go to a beach in summer.

 

You could always do San Diego, FLL, MIA, Key West,

 

 

 

Pft.  Who goes to the British Virgin Islands anyway?!?!  Amy Winehouse?

surprised no one has mention NC - outer banks, Duck, etc.  Very cheap, you can drive, lots to do, and in the middle of the summer, not quite as nuts in terms of the heat...compared to Florida/Mexico/Carribean, etc.  Personally, I wouldn't touch that part of the country that time of year...humid, hot, regular afternoon thunderstorms (my wife is from Ft. Lauderdale - not an exaggeration).

 

Cruises are great, BTW, you can get a little bit of everything and can make the trip however you want it - busy, relaxing - up to you!

surprised no one has mention NC - outer banks, Duck, etc.  Very cheap, you can drive, lots to do, and in the middle of the summer, not quite as nuts in terms of the heat...compared to Florida/Mexico/Carribean, etc.  Personally, I wouldn't touch that part of the country that time of year...humid, hot, regular afternoon thunderstorms (my wife is from Ft. Lauderdale - not an exaggeration).

 

Cruises are great, BTW, you can get a little bit of everything and can make the trip however you want it - busy, relaxing - up to you!

I thought about it, but hilton head, savannah, etc. are over crowded in summers. 

Tybee Island's (Savannah) beaches suck anyways.  The same goes for the beaches near Charleston although slightly better than Tybee.

I'm not really a beach lover myself, but I've been dragged to my fair share of them. Here are the ones I remember.

 

I haven't been to the outer banks since I was a kid, so I couldn't tell you much about it except that the water was very cold even in mid June. (That might have been specific to that year though)

 

Myrtle Beach is still fun around spring break and right after schools let out for summer if you plan to drink like a fish, but otherwise its way overcrowded and overrated.

 

Hilton Head's beaches are only so so quality, (somewhere closer to really fine gravel than the soft white sand that everyone wants to find) but you pay way too much for a hotel and you feel like you're in the middle of a crowd the whole time you're on the beach. Hilton Head seems like a better place for a round of golf than an afternoon on the sand. (Also crazy humid in the summer.)

 

Tybee's beach is relatively quiet. Its never trouble getting a spot on the sand and not having people surrounding you. Also much cheaper than Hilton Head, though of similar quality.

 

The Golden Islands are south of Tybee and are a little nicer and still small crowds, but they get a little pricey (hotel wise) as they seem to be trying to portray themselves as "exclusive".

 

I don't remember what beach I was at near Jacksonville, but I was unimpressed. It looked like a shanty town next to a pile of gravel with water that smelled more like dead fish than anything else.

 

Cocoa Beach (East of Orlando) is not very nice unless you're trying to get a tan on a dirty beach while watching a shuttle launch.

 

My sister really likes Fort Myers, FL and has visited several times, but I've never been myself.

Bethany Beach, Delaware.  Not as crowded and hectic as Rehoboth or Dewey...still a nice coast shouldnt be too hot.

I still say (US) Virgin Islands. 

I'm not really a beach lover myself, but I've been dragged to my fair share of them. Here are the ones I remember.

 

I haven't been to the outer banks since I was a kid, so I couldn't tell you much about it except that the water was very cold even in mid June. (That might have been specific to that year though)

 

Myrtle Beach is still fun around spring break and right after schools let out for summer if you plan to drink like a fish, but otherwise its way overcrowded and overrated.

 

Hilton Head's beaches are only so so quality, (somewhere closer to really fine gravel than the soft white sand that everyone wants to find) but you pay way too much for a hotel and you feel like you're in the middle of a crowd the whole time you're on the beach. Hilton Head seems like a better place for a round of golf than an afternoon on the sand. (Also crazy humid in the summer.)

 

Tybee's beach is relatively quiet. Its never trouble getting a spot on the sand and not having people surrounding you. Also much cheaper than Hilton Head, though of similar quality.

 

The Golden Islands are south of Tybee and are a little nicer and still small crowds, but they get a little pricey (hotel wise) as they seem to be trying to portray themselves as "exclusive".

 

I don't remember what beach I was at near Jacksonville, but I was unimpressed. It looked like a shanty town next to a pile of gravel with water that smelled more like dead fish than anything else.

 

Cocoa Beach (East of Orlando) is not very nice unless you're trying to get a tan on a dirty beach while watching a shuttle launch.

 

My sister really likes Fort Myers, FL and has visited several times, but I've never been myself.

 

Myrtle, VA and Cocoa Beaches are all crap!

 

Go to malibu!

 

DO NOT go to Rehoboth Beach.  Unless you plan on going with Atlas, UR, and so-it-goes.  LMAO  LMAO  ;D  ;D  :o

yeah, sounds like that (or pr) would definately be the easiest thing to do if they are set on the carribean islands. not too expensive and no passport to worry about.

 

http://www.visitstcroix.com/

other than San Juan it is usually really expensive to fly to the Caribbean, that is why I like cruises. you only have to get to a port, usually in the US.  get that passport. It is very liberating to have it up to date and ready to go.

A couple I am more familiar with:

 

Folley Beach just outside of Charleston, SC.  Not too crowded.  Hotels and houses right on the water.  Charleston is an easy drive and lots to do.

 

Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington, NC.  Not too much different than Folley.  Can't remember what time of year to go, but there are parts of the season where you can be up to your hips in the water and still be able to see the dirt under your toe-nail.

 

The Outer Banks, NC.  More for the nature loving type but beautiful beaches and friendly people.  Renting houses is cheaper than you might think.

 

Hamilton, Bermuda.  Went there for our honeymoon.  Plenty to do for the whole family.  Expensive though.

Well ...

 

The wifey got her passport today and we're going all-inclusive to Cancun!!!

 

The price to travel there is so cheap right now.

Here's the hotel ... it's so cheap to travel to Cancun right now ... even after the CDC removed its warning against traveling to Mexico. The CDC site states that the original assumption of the H1N1 originating from Mexico wasn't what they originally thought either.

 

We booked through Orbitz (which was the cheapest) ... even after the $200 off from a coupon code I found online.

 

I am very surprised that nobody here mentioned about St.Destin, FL. You will be drunk without a beer. Miles of emerald beach with sugar white sand.

 

I had been there every years for the past 5 years. People from else where said that if just compare the sand, St.Destin should be the best quality sand on continental America.

^ Are you talking about Destin Beach, FL? Someone mentioned it upthread and we thought about it, but the cost of traveling w/hotel is the same for all-inclusive in Cancun, meals, drinks, tips, fees & taxes, flight, and hotel for the same price!