Sometimes, you just need some quality time at the beach. Unfortunately, beach vacations can be expensive, especially if you want to extend your stay beyond a weekend. With that said, you don’t always have to spend a fortune to enjoy a beach vacation. In fact, there are multiple lovely destinations across North America and the Caribbean where you can find your perfect spot on the beach without emptying your wallet.
Here are some vibrant and charming coastal destinations that won’t break the bank but will impress with their great views and various amenities.
1. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
When it comes to Caribbean coastal destinations, Punta Cana offers great year-round value. If you’re willing to go during the summer “low season,” you can save even more at Punta Cana’s all-inclusive resorts. You can save even more if you opt to stay at a hotel that’s a little more inland. But with the great deals you can find even at the area’s higher-end properties, you don’t have to feel guilty about splurging a little on a nice room or suite with an ocean view.
2. Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
While Puerto Vallarta and the nearby Riviera Nayarit do have some of Mexico’s fanciest coastal resorts, they also have plenty of great bargains at all-inclusive resorts where you can stretch your dollars without feeling like you’re skimping on nice accommodations and dining options. And if you’re not the all-inclusive type, you can also score great deals on inns and vacation rentals in town that place you in the heart of the local action.
3. San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA
Since airfares to and from Puerto Rico are among the cheapest in the Caribbean, you can start saving on your Puerto Rico vacation right from the start. Even during the peak winter travel season, you can find condos and other vacation rental units in and around San Juan for as cheap as $125 per night. If you feel like splurging a little, you can also find deals at various beachfront hotels and resorts, especially during the slower summer season.
4. Oahu’s North Shore, Hawaii, USA
Though Hawaii hardly ever seems like paradise for bargain hunters, it’s possible to keep costs down on an idyllic Hawaiian getaway. By opting for a hotel or vacation rental on Oahu’s more rugged North Shore, you can avoid the sky-high prices of Waikiki while enjoying the stunning natural beauty of this region’s beaches and jungles. Even better, since the North Shore is surfer country, you can find all sorts of tasty cheap eats up and down the highway.
5. Willemstad, Curaçao, Caribbean Netherlands
In many ways, Curaçao feels like the Goldilocks of the Dutch Caribbean ABC Islands: It’s less developed than Aruba to the west, yet it also has more urban amenities than Bonaire to the east. Curaçao’s capital city of Willemstad overflows in exciting urban adventures, yet you’re never more than a short drive away from some of the Caribbean’s most scenically pristine beaches. It’s also easy to find good deals on hotels and resorts throughout the island.
6. Coronado, Panama
Even as Panama gains popularity as a fun and exciting go-to Central American destination, it still abounds in phenomenal bargains for discerning travelers. Located about 54 miles (or 87 kilometers) southwest of Panama City, Coronado’s beaches provide room to roam, while the gentle waves are perfect for ocean swimming.
The town also has plenty of affordable accommodation options catering to American visitors. But if you want more peace and quiet, the town of Nueva Gorgona is right next door.
7. Tybee Island, Georgia, USA
If you want to head to the Savannah area and be on or near the beach while also getting a break from the usual Hilton Head scene, try Tybee Island. From birdwatching and ship spotting at North Beach to fishing at Back River, there’s plenty to see and do throughout the island. Yet whenever you’re itching for more action, you’re only 18 miles from Savannah’s vibrant city life.
8. Carlsbad and Encinitas, California, USA
San Diego County may have some of California’s (and the nation’s) most expensive real estate, but you can nonetheless find great deals on hotels and vacation rentals in the coastal cities of Carlsbad and Encinitas.
Not only do these towns have some of the region’s cleanest and most beautiful beaches, but you’re also close to the Legoland California theme park. Plus, Carlsbad and Encinitas have great downtown villages full of cool and exciting bars and restaurants.
9. Martinique, France
While Martinique doesn’t typically attract the billionaire jetsetters who descend upon its fellow French Caribbean island of St. Barts every winter, that means lower costs and more relaxing vibes for you. In fact, you can often score flight deals thanks to the locally based low-cost airlines. Yet once you’re there, you can enjoy plenty of delectable Creole cuisine, the wonderful beaches of Plage des Salines and Grand Anse d’Arlet, and fantastic locally-produced rum.
10. Puerto Plata and Cabarete, Dominican Republic
Situated on the Dominican Republic’s north coast, Cabarete is great for windsurfing, kitesurfing, snorkeling, and many more outdoor activities. In addition, the nearby town of Puerto Plata is chock full of historical treasures, from some of the world’s oldest amber fossils at the Amber Museum to the Caribbean’s largest collection of preserved Victorian-era homes. Even better, this corner of the D.R. also has incredible bargains for accommodations.
11. Old Orchard Beach, Maine, USA
If you’ve always dreamed of summering on the New England coast but you’ve always feared the steep prices at resort towns like Kennebunkport, try the nearby Old Orchard Beach. Situated between Kennebunkport and Portland, Old Orchard Beach places you right in the heart of Southern Maine’s picturesque coast. Plus, it has its own seven-mile stretch of sand perfect for strolling and playing.
12. Cancún and Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico
With a constant supply of affordable flights and a crop of all-inclusive resorts, Cancún continues to abound in great deals, even as it’s become the top international destination for American vacationers. For a spot at the center of the action, you probably want a resort in Cancún’s famed Hotel Zone. For something quieter, try an inn on the nearby Isla Mujeres.
13. Cannon Beach, Oregon, USA
If you prefer cooling fog over scorching sun, then Cannon Beach might be your ideal coastal getaway. Roughly 80 miles northwest of Portland, Cannon Beach looks and feels like a world away with its serene beaches and the iconic Haystack Rock. Meanwhile, in town, you can enjoy cozy (and affordable) hotels, as well as farm-to-table restaurants and art galleries.
14. Cape May, New Jersey, USA
No matter what you remember from that eponymous MTV show, the Jersey Shore has much more to offer beyond drunken debauchery. In fact, Cape May, on the very southern tip of the Garden State, is great for a laid-back beach holiday with its stately Victorian architecture and soft, sandy beaches that open up to the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean. At the same time, you’ll easily find affordable accommodations.
15. Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland and Virginia, USA
When you can use an easy-breezy getaway from the hustle and bustle of Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Assateague Island is less than 150 miles from both major cities. This island looks and feels like the ultimate escape with its wild horses roaming along the shore and ample opportunities for swimming, surf fishing, kayaking, and biking.
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