I'm almost positive DW and I are going to the beach in July...which will be the first vacation we've ever taken 100% alone! I'm really excited! Since I've never really been a beach-goer and he LOVES the beach, I'm not sure I should be the person in charge of finding the perfect spot. Then it dawned on me that I could ask for help...
Anyone have any suggestions of their favorite beach or even a condo or house they've rented and just love? I'll take all ideas, locations, links, and most importantly, recommendations!
Help!
(ETA: I should have said we're only going for a long weekend so it's gotta be a quick flight or a days drive away from GA!)
33 comments:
Good Question, only beach I've been to is Jamaica and honestly I didn't care for it very much...we may be going to Cancun in November??
Oh my goodness....I could go on and on about beaches! I love Aruba since it is easy to get to from the South. When I lived in CA, I would fly to Maui for long weekends so I'd advise either of those. If you want, I can give you pics and hotel info for Aruba. I have never been but I heard Turks and Caicos is wonderful. I have been to all the other carribbean islands and loved all of them except Jamaica. I'm sure that was of no help to you!!!!
Hello Amy!! I found you through Lianne's blog. Maui is my favorite but pricey! More affordable is Mexico (all inclusive) resorts. We really like the Palace Resorts in Mexico. The have several in Cancun, Playa de Carmen, Riveria Maya, and Cozamel (not sure I spelled all those right?) We like to stay in the Adults Only resorts. We really like Adventura Spa Palace in Riveria Maya. Check out this website http://www.palaceresorts.com Hope this helps! Enjoy your time together.
Lisa :)
Orange Beach or GULF shores... my vote
We have to been to Jamaica twice ... loved the beaches there! :) California and Mexico have nice beaches too, but Jamaica has been our favorite.
I would suggest Bermuda. My family stayed at a Fairmont hotel and it was a really great experience. There are two there and you can use the facilities at both hotels, including the ferry to and from the city. So if the beach is not your favorite, you could still do a lot of other fun things in town! It is so beautiful and not that far away from the east coast. Also, every meal I ate there was delicious.
can't go wrong with florida panhandle. destin has good beaches, eating and shopping. if you want something more quiet i'd go with st. george island, FL or tybee island, GA. i'd suggest rosemary beach, but i hear you already have plans for that later. :)
We love St John, but what about Rosemary Beach, Santa Rosa Beach or even WaterColor on the Gulf?
If we are driving, we rent a good place in Seagrove (FL panhandle) that is right on the beach. Last month we went to Key West and loved it. We stayed at the Marriott Beachside resort...great condo for a good price. Plus it was an easy flight. We also love Hilton Head and the Outer Banks but those take a little driving after the flight. Well actually, Fl or Hilton Head aren't that bad of a drive from where you are, huh? Ok, I love the beach and could go on and on. Let me know if you want any specifics!
The Outer Banks is my dream!!!
The most beautiful beach on earth is positively Destin, FL!
Heaven on earth -- shangri-la caribe in Playa del carmen, mexico. It's less than a 2 hr flight from florida, and while it has some of the benefits of an all-inclusive (amazing breakfasts and dinners included), it's utterly peaceful, laid-back, and absolutely perfect. Close by to the town of PDC, as well (can walk there within 10 minutes), so you still have the benefits of nightlife, but the peace of the hotel when you return to it. My husband and I went for the first time in 2008 (a full 6 years after our honeymoon, and the first true 7-day vacation we'd been on since then!), and we went back again this year. We've met tons of other guests who've been going for 10-15 years in a row, so you know it's a keeper! Check out the guest comments on Trip Advisor, and then check out the pricing thru Turquoise Reef Group - www.mexicoholiday.com. I booked mine thru Brenna@mexicoholiday.com, or you can call at 800.538.6802. It's truly a wonderful little place!
Coronado Island(near San Diego, Ca) or Outer Banks, NC....both are amazing!!
Destin is definitely beautiful--we were there for a week over Memorial Day & just loved it. The sand is amazing & the water is super fun to play in. Plus Destin has just the right mix of dining, shopping, & relaxation! If you're looking at renting a condo I would recommend going through VRBO.Com--you can rent directly from the owners here & they are fairly good about negotiating! They have all sorts of price points--so I'm sure you can find something reasonable! Good luck!
Gulf Shores AL, Destin or Seagrove FL are our favorite beaches. Gulf shores is quiet and has shopping and just the right amount of entertainment. Seagrove is only about 30-45 mins either way from PC or Destin.
In Destin, we stay at the Silver Sands condos. In Gulf shores we rent a friends condo for $150 a night.
Destin is beautiful and very relaxing. ;)
Our favorite is Ocean Isle in NC. However, there isn't much else to do on the Island except relax at the beach. It is easy to drive for anything you need. Although, I think in July, it will be difficult to find a house for a weekend. There are several nice hotels. Now, if you want to fly...I love Tortola.
My vote is Charleston!!! You are about 4-5 hours away and they have a beach and other stuff to see! Matt and I spent our honeymoon there and had a great time!! Lots of good food!
I'm with Laurie: Charleston! Right behind that would be Pawley's Island or Litchfield which is just an hour to hour and a half north of Charleston. Yummy food, great beaches, not too touristy! Love it!
If you're doing a long weekend, I'd think most condo rentals are out b/c they usually rent (at least ones we've always used) by the week. If you're not a big beach person, you may want a place that has other stuff to do... and also consider whether you wanna bring the dogs. Some beaches are doggie friendly and many are not.
Hmmm... anyway, my favorite beach for total-veg-out-do-nothing-but-soak-up-sun-and-read is St. George Island in Florida. Great place - all residential w/ only hole-in-the-wall restaurants on the island. 6 hr drive from Atlanta...
If you're looking for a fun city with a beach, Charleston is great. 5 hrs from Atlanta - awesome place!
Can't wait to hear what y'all decide!
100% alone! What do you guys do on your honeymoon? But have fun! I am so jealous!
Ft Walton Beach, FL is my Favorite! It's about 10 minutes from Destin on Okaloosa Island! So beautiful and quiet! I've stayed at a couple of condos there and absolutely loved it! That's where my hubby even proposed!! A great place to look for affordable condos is www.vrbo.com. I've never had a problem with any condo rented through there.
Watercolor or Seaside (both down the road from Destin) My favorite beach ever!
HILTON HEAD ISLAND! It is a great beach that is very close to GA. If you choose to go there, I would stay in Sea Pines so you have access to the beach club. I would eat at the Old Fort Pub (my absolute favorite), Old Oyster Factory and the Brick Cafe. I would get spa treatments from Faces Day Spa. I would play golf on the course where the Heritage golf tournament is hosted. I would visit Harbor Town to see the beautiful yachts and the lighthouse. I would get ice cream and t-shirt from Salty Dog Cafe. I would go to "the triangle" for nightlife. If you decide to go, email me and I'll be glad to provide you with details. It is my favorite beach. :)
Who in their right mind goes to the beach in July?!? It's too HOT!!!
But if you must go...
I love the beaches were I live...
1. Siesta Key in Sarasota, FL - extremely popular. Romantic, beautiful, lots to do. Low key area.
2. Venice Beach (30 mins south from Sarasota) - I go here every month. So so so beautiful. Aqua water. Famous for its shark teeth - you should find dozens of them if you look for an hour. Not super touristy, which I love. You can find a place alone on the beach.
3. Sanibel Island (1 hour south of Venice) - world-famous for its shells. Just rated the #1 destination in the US for shelling.
The great thing about SW Florida is that it's a day trip to both Orlando & Miami, so there's plenty to do.
Who in their right mind goes to the beach in July?!? It's too HOT!!!
But if you must go...
I love the beaches were I live...
1. Siesta Key in Sarasota, FL - extremely popular. Romantic, beautiful, lots to do. Low key area.
2. Venice Beach (30 mins south from Sarasota) - I go here every month. So so so beautiful. Aqua water. Famous for its shark teeth - you should find dozens of them if you look for an hour. Not super touristy, which I love. You can find a place alone on the beach.
3. Sanibel Island (1 hour south of Venice) - world-famous for its shells. Just rated the #1 destination in the US for shelling.
The great thing about SW Florida is that it's a day trip to both Orlando & Miami, so there's plenty to do.
I'd definitely go with one of our beaches in SC. Depending on what you want to do, how much you want to spend, etc. there are several options. Someone mentioned Charleston, which is wonderful- and you could go to either Folly Beach or Isle of Palms- both are different but appealing. However, if you want something really low key and are truly just there for the beach, Edisto Island is great! No commercialization whatsoever, except for the neighborhood Piggly Wiggly. And Charleston is still only a short drive.
Another wonderful place is Fripp Island which is outside of Beaufort, SC. There are several bloggers who frequent this beach. It's a private island only open to homeowners and vacationers staying on the island and has many things to do on the island.
I could go on and on about any of the beaches in SC- I'd say stay away from Myrtle Beach- too touristy- but just south of there are Litchfield and Pawley's Island which are wonderful spots, as well.
I'm willing to offer any other suggestions via email if you want them- usc_emily@hotmail.com
Well I have 2 suggestions for you!
1)Deerfield Beach, FL
I'm not sure how far it is from you, I'd have to say 5-6 hours because I know its about 4 hours away from Clearwater FL which is another beautiful beach. Deerfield has a really nice motel called the Carriage House Resort Motel. It's soo nice for the price and only about a block away from the beach. The beach is super clean and the water is so clearr and warm. It's about 1/2 an hr from Ft Lauderdale and about 45 mins from Miami!
2)Ocean City, MD
I have gone there since I was three. It's a really super cute town. It's got a 2 mile boardwalk, plenty of shops and miles of condos and hotels. go to google and type in cb vacations for condo rentals. I know they do a long weekend..friday thru monday. its know as a mini week.
Hope you have an amazing vacay!!! =)
orange beach, al...family friendly, clean...great food. you can look up condos on vrbo.com. there are some great deals out there right now too!!!
Hi girl, it's me again. We are champions at the run to the beach and back. Well, we were before we had kids but we still do it, just not as easy.
But, my recommendation is VRBO.com we have got some of the most awesome deals there and many times if an owner hasn't rented out by Friday morning for a particular weekend, they will drop rates just to get the condo rented.
We usually go the first week in September because that's when rates go down. I've got a condo several times for that entire week that would sleep 6 to 8 people for less than $500, same condo goes for about $1200 a week in peak season and I've seen them go on Firday morning for much less just because they want to get it rented so they don't lose money.
Condo's are absolutely the way to go. My recommendation for you would be Celedon at Panama City Beach and I even have the realtors name and number because she now knows us and can get us the best deals on the late renting condos for a the upcoming weekend.
The biggest hassle is you normally have to send in the deposit in time for them to get it before you arrive but if you wait til the last minute, they will work with you....
VRBO.com is everywhere, they have places all over the nation so there is no way we will rent another way.
Wait, I said that but we did get a good deal on a complete resort in Orlando off of expedia or priceline or orbitz one......it was $79 a night and it was a full resort on the lake with like 8 pools, jacuzzi's in the condos but the condos were more like studio hotel rooms than the condos we get on VRBO.com
Good luck and have fn
Ocean City MD. Lots to do! great hang outs, great boardwalks! Good luck!
don't do a SC beach-- they're not that pretty.
i'd go to gulf shores, al/perdido key, fl. our family has been going there every summer for years and the beaches are so beautiful and there is so much to do-- or not do if you just want to hang out.
I love Fort Walton Beach and the Destin Area in Fl. Also, Emerald Isle in NC is great-very relaxing. Also, Charleston is great too!! Laid back and great places to eat.
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