Beach vacation recommendations

[uscgPSU]

With it being the dead period of football, I figured it's a good time to ask the board.

I am looking for beach vacation recommendations for next summer. Next year I turn 45, my son starts kindergarten and my daughter starts middle school so we wanted to do something big for the family.

I've always loved Hawaii after being stationed there in the USCG, but we wanted to explore other ideas that people have gone to.

Anyone ever book through Costco Travel? Any recommendations for beaches or resorts you have been to and loved?

Thanks!

 

[FightingIrish44]

For how long are you going and how much is money a consideration (you don’t necessarily need to answer)? Is getting a passport under consideration or would you prefer to save that money? What other interests do you have? Are you willing to travel some once at your destination or do you prefer to stay in the same area and do some excursions?

St. Thomas and Puerto Rico don’t require a passport. Charleston SC has some nice beaches nearby plus you get to experience a historic city. Savannah GA is probably pretty similar with some islands nearby. Airfare is probably a little cheaper too depending on where you travel from.

 

[Hugh Laurie]

You'll normally find me during the summer on the beaches of the Hamptons out on Long Island. Normally I would recommend the Hamptons as the beaches are super nice, well managed, and not that crowded. The downside is that "on the beach" resorts there are all but non existent except for one in Montauk. Here is a "LINK" where you might discover something to your liking at other destinations. As for Costco travel, I've only used them for booking rental cars at my final travel destinations. I've found them to be about 30% cheaper than renting directly from the rental car companies and I'm able to book/change my own reservations directly on line.

 

[PSUPride1]

With it being the dead period of football, I figured it's a good time to ask the board.

I am looking for beach vacation recommendations for next summer. Next year I turn 45, my son starts kindergarten and my daughter starts middle school so we wanted to do something big for the family.

I've always loved Hawaii after being stationed there in the USCG, but we wanted to explore other ideas that people have gone to.

Anyone ever book through Costco Travel? Any recommendations for beaches or resorts you have been to and loved?

Thanks!

I still love Cape May and Wildwood Crest.

 

[Parkland Fan]

With it being the dead period of football, I figured it's a good time to ask the board.

I am looking for beach vacation recommendations for next summer. Next year I turn 45, my son starts kindergarten and my daughter starts middle school so we wanted to do something big for the family.

I've always loved Hawaii after being stationed there in the USCG, but we wanted to explore other ideas that people have gone to.

Anyone ever book through Costco Travel? Any recommendations for beaches or resorts you have been to and loved?

Thanks!

I have booked car rentals through Costco Travel with all positive experiences. Before booking I did a lot of research and Costco always beat the competition.

 

[liquid0623]

Well... depends on where you want to go right. I am going to Bali, Australia and Fiji in April/May. Then I am going to Split Croatia and Dubrovnik Croatia in August. There are nice beaches all over the world. I recommend that you go to Phuket Thailand.

 

[Nittany1997]

Maldives.

 

[dailybuck777]

With it being the dead period of football, I figured it's a good time to ask the board.

I am looking for beach vacation recommendations for next summer. Next year I turn 45, my son starts kindergarten and my daughter starts middle school so we wanted to do something big for the family.

I've always loved Hawaii after being stationed there in the USCG, but we wanted to explore other ideas that people have gone to.

Anyone ever book through Costco Travel? Any recommendations for beaches or resorts you have been to and loved?

Thanks!

My father was a teaching golf pro so I spent winters as a kid sometimes in Naples Florida and sometimes in Santa Barbara. My brother lives in Hawaii so I have been in Hawaii many times. In my mind Hawaii is way better than anything in the united states, but you've already experienced it.

Both Naples Florida with its pier and Santa Barbara are considered to be exceptional by many people. Also, the barrier Islands off of fort Myers have many famous beaches. In Santa Barbara, the leadbetter Beach and the Carpinteria Beach are both very fine and large beaches. Would also add that although the city of carpinteria is not cheap by any means, it is substantially less expensive than Santa Barbara and essentially provides the same amenities.

Finally, I have visited Venice Beach in Los Angeles and it is a very nice Beach. Unfortunately though it is located in Los Angeles, which is generally not a great place to be.

If you want to get really adventurous, you can make a visit to the Philippines. There are beaches all over the place, and the people speak English. However, at least from Ohio, it is a 26-hour flight.

 

[liquid0623]

My father was a teaching golf pro so I spent winters as a kid sometimes in Naples Florida and sometimes in Santa Barbara. My brother lives in Hawaii so I have been in Hawaii many times. In my mind Hawaii is way better than anything in the united states, but you've already experienced it.

Both Naples Florida with its pier and Santa Barbara are considered to be exceptional by many people. Also, the barrier Islands off of fort Myers have many famous beaches. In Santa Barbara, the leadbetter Beach and the Carpinteria Beach are both very fine and large beaches. Would also add that although the city of carpinteria is not cheap by any means, it is substantially less expensive than Santa Barbara and essentially provides the same amenities.

Finally, I have visited Venice Beach in Los Angeles and it is a very nice Beach. Unfortunately though it is located in Los Angeles, which is generally not a great place to be.

If you want to get really adventurous, you can make a visit to the Philippines. There are beaches all over the place, and the people speak English. However, at least from Ohio, it is a 26-hour flight.

Sanibel is awesome. Santa Barbara is really nice too. I lived in SWF for 2 years

 

[liquid0623]

With it being the dead period of football, I figured it's a good time to ask the board.

I am looking for beach vacation recommendations for next summer. Next year I turn 45, my son starts kindergarten and my daughter starts middle school so we wanted to do something big for the family.

I've always loved Hawaii after being stationed there in the USCG, but we wanted to explore other ideas that people have gone to.

Anyone ever book through Costco Travel? Any recommendations for beaches or resorts you have been to and loved?

Thanks!

I would highly recommend the beaches on the Gold Coast of Australia. Kinda like Cape Cod. Nice has good beaches, but they are pebble like Dubrovnik. My favorite beaches in the Caribbean are in St John's, Anguilla. St Maarten, Punta Cana, Tortola, Aruba and Antigua.

Maui is pretty nice as well.

 

[dailybuck777]

Maui is pretty nice as well.

Because they are so well known, I think the beaches on the North shore of Oahu are underrated. In particular I think Sunset Beach and the Banzai pipeline are really nice beaches.

 

[87 Penn St8]

I still love Cape May and Wildwood Crest.

I'd wait a bit and look at Jersey Shore Wildwood and South. Canadian cancelations will abound- possible deals to be had.

If money is less of an issue- where I live in SEPA is roughly equidistant from Seaside Heights to Rehoboth in travel times. There are as many styles of towns as there are people.

OCNJ is notoriously family friendly. Rehoboth is similar with small boardwalk. OCMD rivals it's bigger Jersey brothers. Cape May, Avalon and Stone Harbor are higher end haunts.

Oddly- being so close to many ocean options, a LOT of folks around me go to OBX for vacation....

Have fun looking- Charleston in Summer may be a bit much- but it is all a matter of choice. If set on the South- North Myrtle is much more family friendly than the rest of The Strand....plenty of rental options so you won't need to drive

I'm chilling and grilling in Chester County right now...looking forward to Spring!

 

[liquid0623]

Because they are so well known, I think the beaches on the North shore of Oahu are underrated. In particular I think Sunset Beach and the Banzai pipeline are really nice beaches.

I like Manley beach and Bondi beach outside of Sydney. Mossel Bay Beach in South Africa could be a good suggestion. Love it

 

[liquid0623]

I'd wait a bit and look at Jersey Shore Wildwood and South. Canadian cancelations will abound- possible deals to be had.

If money is less of an issue- where I live in SEPA is roughly equidistant from Seaside Heights to Rehoboth in travel times. There are as many styles of towns as there are people.

OCNJ is notoriously family friendly. Rehoboth is similar with small boardwalk. OCMD rivals it's bigger Jersey brothers. Cape May, Avalon and Stone Harbor are higher end haunts.

Oddly- being so close to many ocean options, a LOT of folks around me go to OBX for vacation....

Have fun looking- Charleston in Summer may be a bit much- but it is all a matter of choice. If set on the South- North Myrtle is much more family friendly than the rest of The Strand....plenty of rental options so you won't need to drive

I'm chilling and grilling in Chester County right now...looking forward to Spring!

Wilmington, NC is really nice and so are are the Outer Banks especially Duck.

 

[87 Penn St8]

I like Manley beach and Bondi beach outside of Sydney. Mossel Bay Beach in South Africa could be a good suggestion. Love it

I remember being awed by Bondi the first time I went during the 2000 Olympics. Awesome spot nestled not far from the city- accessible via public transit.

You'd get both a world class beach AND city. The history of British migration and The Rocks area could be neat for a middle schooler during the day. At night the area is like Temple Bar in Dublin- party central (and maybe not where you'd want to be with a young family).

I guess an odd question which is timely- would you risk anti- American blowback in Australia? No matter your politics- is it worth even having to deal with the possibility?

During the Olympics there was plenty of hate- but that was sports. This time in world affairs feels like it could be more pronounced.

The last thing I'd want to do on my beach vacation is discuss whether I support or do not support our current President and all that entails with a population pre-disposed to not like him. Recent polls show intense dislike for Elon Musk Down Under.

Just a thought. : (

 

[dailybuck777]

Mossel Bay Beach in South Africa could be a good suggestion.

I am sure you are right about the beach. However I have been reading that South Africa is very dangerous.

 

[dailybuck777]

I guess an odd question which is timely- would you risk anti- American blowback in Australia?

A little bit non-responsive to your question, but when I was in Shanghai in January I never encountered any Anti-American sentiment. (Somewhat surprising to me) My self and my son had an interesting interaction with a somewhat dour University Guard who was responsible for checking the permits of people who wished to go on campus at Jiaotong university. After our paperwork was approved, the guard smiled and shook the hand of my son, who speaks Chinese.

 

[87 Penn St8]

A little bit non-responsive to your question, but when I was in Shanghai in January I never encountered any Anti-American sentiment. (Somewhat surprising to me) My self and my son had an interesting interaction with a somewhat dour University Guard who was responsible for checking the permits of people who wished to go on campus at Jiaotong university. After our paperwork was approved, the guard smiled and shook the hand of my son, who speaks Chinese.

In the end- people are people. There was plenty of Ozzie pride and Anti- American jeering. We were The Empire and they the Jedi. But that was sport.

The Games were a way to get validation that Sydney was indeed a world class city. They had no clue how amazing they were. Being a New Yorker at the time, my opinions seemed to count even more. I spent 3 weeks there.

I guess that if most people are not thrilled to talk politics at home with people they know- I certainly would not want to spend my family vacation doing it with strangers abroad. Not ever, but especially not now. That would take the magic soothing power of the beach right out of me.

Just a consideration...

 

[Wandering Spectator]

The Gulf of Mexico America along Florida and Alabama has spectacular beaches and is very family friendly. It can be very hot in the summer if you’re not on the beach. Clearwater and south or the panhandle out to Gulf Shores would be my recommendation.

California beaches are nice but the water is usually pretty cold. San Diego or Coronado would be best in my mind if you really wanted CA.

Hawaii is great but a really long flight for little ones if you’re coming from the east coast.

 

[87 Penn St8]

I am sure you are right about the beach. However I have been reading that South Africa is very dangerous.

My sister works in The Peace Corps (at least for the moment) and has been in Africa for the better part of 15 years. She was in Togo- West Africa- when DT made the "shithole countries" comment. The Togolese were too polite to make it personal- but she said that the dynamic for boots on the ground changed.

In the late teens she needed to go to a hospital to be checked for potential internal issues. The US Government flew her to Johannesburg as the nearest top notch hospital. That is over 4,000 miles away which says something else about the developing world. As no stranger to public transit and being thrifty she stood outside of her hotel at a bus stop preparing to ride to the hospital which was a straight shot.

She was the only caucasian. A kindly woman approached her and asked her what she thought she was doing....and told her to go back and take a cab as it was very unsafe for her to get on the bus. That was a decade ago- while the current spike in violence was still an ember.

Our school district has many South African families who have relocated and their stories are pretty consistent. My sister was in Namibia from 2021-2023 and liked it there a lot and has returned for weddings and such of former colleagues. She is heading to Zimbabwe next week and was recently in Zambia and The Congo.

She still has no fears- but I'd avoid South Africa for "vacation" right now.

 

[87 Penn St8]

The Gulf of Mexico America along Florida and Alabama has spectacular beaches and is very family friendly. It can be very hot in the summer if you’re not on the beach. Clearwater and south or the panhandle out to Gulf Shores would be my recommendation.

California beaches are nice but the water is usually pretty cold. San Diego or Coronado would be best in my mind if you really wanted CA.

Hawaii is great but a really long flight for little ones if you’re coming from the east coast.

I think the stretch of La Jolla up through Cardiff By The Sea is one of the most beautiful parts of our country. Just be careful driving along the coast as real life surfers are always looking at the waves and not necessarily the road!

Good call!

 

[dailybuck777]

My sister works in The Peace Corps (at least for the moment) and has been in Africa for the better part of 15 years. She was in Togo- West Africa- when DT made the "shithole countries" comment. The Togolese were too polite to make it personal- but she said that the dynamic for boots on the ground changed.

In the late teens she needed to go to a hospital to be checked for potential internal issues. The US Government flew her to Johannesburg as the nearest top notch hospital. That is over 4,000 miles away which says something else about the developing world. As no stranger to public transit and being thrifty she stood outside of her hotel at a bus stop preparing to ride to the hospital which was a straight shot.

She was the only caucasian. A kindly woman approached her and asked her what she thought she was doing....and told her to go back and take a cab as it was very unsafe for her to get on the bus. That was a decade ago- while the current spike in violence was still an ember.

Our school district has many South African families who have relocated and their stories are pretty consistent. My sister was in Namibia from 2021-2023 and liked it there a lot and has returned for weddings and such of former colleagues. She is heading to Zimbabwe next week and was recently in Zambia and The Congo.

She still has no fears- but I'd avoid South Africa for "vacation" right now.

A Youtube blogger named Serpentza was originally from South Africa and he has extremely negative opinions about it. A friend of his was killed and his mother and father barely escaped murder in their home.

 

[ryoder1]

With it being the dead period of football, I figured it's a good time to ask the board.

I am looking for beach vacation recommendations for next summer. Next year I turn 45, my son starts kindergarten and my daughter starts middle school so we wanted to do something big for the family.

I've always loved Hawaii after being stationed there in the USCG, but we wanted to explore other ideas that people have gone to.

Anyone ever book through Costco Travel? Any recommendations for beaches or resorts you have been to and loved?

Thanks!

Kauai
Maui
Big Island
St John
Cayman Islands
Cancun
Cabo

 

[liquid0623]

I am sure you are right about the beach. However I have been reading that South Africa is very dangerous.

It is, but Mosell bay is notnthqt dangerous and is gorgeous

 

[liquid0623]

My sister works in The Peace Corps (at least for the moment) and has been in Africa for the better part of 15 years. She was in Togo- West Africa- when DT made the "shithole countries" comment. The Togolese were too polite to make it personal- but she said that the dynamic for boots on the ground changed.

In the late teens she needed to go to a hospital to be checked for potential internal issues. The US Government flew her to Johannesburg as the nearest top notch hospital. That is over 4,000 miles away which says something else about the developing world. As no stranger to public transit and being thrifty she stood outside of her hotel at a bus stop preparing to ride to the hospital which was a straight shot.

She was the only caucasian. A kindly woman approached her and asked her what she thought she was doing....and told her to go back and take a cab as it was very unsafe for her to get on the bus. That was a decade ago- while the current spike in violence was still an ember.

Our school district has many South African families who have relocated and their stories are pretty consistent. My sister was in Namibia from 2021-2023 and liked it there a lot and has returned for weddings and such of former colleagues. She is heading to Zimbabwe next week and was recently in Zambia and The Congo.

She still has no fears- but I'd avoid South Africa for "vacation" right now.

I was in South Africa last March. The only two places I felt comfortable were Mossel Bay and Cinstantia outside of Cape Town. Every where else I was always looking over my back. I am glad that I went, but have no interest 9f returning. Jo Berg is supposed to be even less safe.

 

[psu1969a]

With children this young, I would not go for an exotic/elaborate location. Keep it simple OBX is good as is Wilmington NC, or Charleston SC .

 

[Parkland Fan]

With children this young, I would not go for an exotic/elaborate location. Keep it simple OBX is good as is Wilmington NC, or Charleston SC .

Especially since you are traveling with kids, consider beaches with lifeguards. I have visited some lovely beaches in wealthy areas that did not provide lifeguards.

 

[diontechristmas]

These answer are all over the place.

Hard to beat the price and convenience of just going to an all inclusive in the Caribbean. Personally, I’m soured on Mexico as many of these resorts have Cartel money attached to them and I’ve heard of people getting “shaken down” for bribes by custom officials, especially in Cancun.

Dreams resorts are nice and not too outrageous. Beaches are really nice. There are lots of family friendly resorts in the Caribbean that have water slides and all that stuff for the kids along with all the water activities. Aruba is great if you’re worried about traveling to places like the DR or Jamaica, although I’ve never had an issue.

 

[Obliviax]

to me, the nicest beach on the east coast is Kiawah Island. Great golf, restaurants, beach, child care, bike paths, etc. You won't find a cigarette butt or beer can along the road on the entire island. It is also close enough to Charleston SC that you can have day trips to fun stuff if it rains. It is also inexpensive for rentals. It is also easy to get to since you can easily drive from anywhere in the east of Mississippi. The entire island looks like it was landscaped. Just beautiful with a great smell. Second would be Bald Head Island. You have to take a ferry boat there which lowers the noise and increases the ambiance of the island.

The west coast would be northern Malibu, Ventura, Santa Barbara.

Both of these lack that incredible blue caribbean water, though.

Worldwide? Bora bora and it isn't close. Bora Bora is like a target. the main land area is in the middle surrounded by a ring of water which is then surrounded by a barrier reef that has risen above sea level. The result is that the water between the island and reef is like bath water. It is incredibly calm, warm and the wildlife is abundant.

bora bora