Although winter has only recently ended and those first few days of good weather are being enjoyed in many areas of the country, lots of people are also considering cheap beach vacations, or affordable beach vacations. While the pandemic has forced most of us to stay at home, it hasn’t brought our desire to soak up the sun and the surf to an end, and that makes it an ideal time to scout out the best affordable beach vacations and waterfront destinations for the coming summer.
When we say cheap beach vacations, we might automatically think that this limits the options to domestic spots like Florida, North Carolina or California. While these are excellent sites for finding inexpensive beach vacations, they are not the only options. There are choices for cheap beach vacations in Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico, and parts of Europe. So, let’s take a quick look at some of these inexpensive beachfront rentals and figure out which are a good fit for your vacation goals.
Before we do, however, let’s take a minute to calculate just how these sites can be affordable.
What Makes the Best Affordable Beach Vacations?
When thinking of affordable beach vacations, many will automatically think of a resort or some sort of packaged vacation that includes everything from food to accommodations. That is a classic approach to a cheap holiday, but there are also villa rentals that bring many of the same benefits.
A luxury villa is a home away from home in a premium destination. It is a common option in beachfront areas, and it can actually save money by allowing you to have access to everyday amenities. For instance, think of the money to be saved by having use of a full-sized, often gourmet, kitchen. The quality of your food and meals will be the highest, and yet the costs within your control.
These luxury villas also typically have onsite, private amenities like pools and patios, game rooms or home theaters, outdoor gathering spaces and barbecues, and direct access to the waterfront. Add this up and you see substantial savings as well as the benefit of togetherness and privacy with family and friends.
You can find them in domestic as well as far away locations, with many tucked right along the sands of the best beaches! Affordable and economical, they can also be quite luxurious and unforgettable.
Cheap Beach Vacations in the USA
When you want to uncover the cheapest place to rent a beach house, you may be surprised to learn that it is often in the most popular beach destinations. As we already noted, in the United States, many people want to visit the warmer ocean waters and find that Florida and California have great choices.
Orlando, Florida is a vacationer’s paradise, and while it is home to an almost endless number of things to do, including the Disney parks, it is also ideal for beach vacations. There are many cheap beaches in Florida where you can spend days lounging on the sands and soaking up the sun before returning to your private villa or rental.
In San Diego, California, millions of people pay visits for the flawless weather the city enjoys almost every day of the year. It is the source of many cheap beach vacations, as well, and makes a perfect family destination for its array of parks, including the famed San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld sites.
Another idyllic spot visited by millions is the Outer Banks area of North Carolina. With its many lighthouses, walking trails, wild horses, and beautiful beaches, it is a popular destination. You might not think you can enjoy cheap beach vacations in a destination with so much competition, but there are many affordable and yet still luxurious rentals available.
Cheap Beach Destinations Afar
We noted that you can also find cheap beach vacation locations in some of the most coveted destinations outside of the continental United States. Hawaii, for example, was once viewed as the ultimate luxury destination. Today, however, its affordability is assured and travelers can opt for waterfront properties and affordable beach holidays in some of the most coveted areas of the tropical islands.
Whether you want to visit mysterious Kauai or the ever-changiing Big Island of Hawaii, you will be delighted at the affordability of such an adventure.
If you are willing to hop a flight, your options for cheap beach vacations multiply quickly. For example, a relatively easy flight to Mexico can bring travelers to the affordable delights at Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Punta Mita or even the stunning Riviera Maya.
Flying overseas can allow travelers to find affordable beachfront vacations in truly enchanting spots like Corsica, the Cote D’Azur in France, the different Greek Islands, Sardinia, Marbella, and so many more. Even enchanting cities like Barcelona have luxury villas close to the city’s beaches, enabling travelers to roll their affordable holiday into two types of trips- a city exploration and a beach getaway.
Of course, if you want one of the most affordable and accessible spots for a cheap beach vacation, it is to the Caribbean region you must turn your gaze. The Caribbean is one of the top spots for cheap beach vacations. Almost all of the islands feature an array of luxury rentals, with most sitting on the beaches or just a short distance from them. This is true of the stunning Platinum Coast of Barbados, the seemingly endless number of beach areas on St Barts, or the delightful assortment of waterfront areas that wrap around the different islands of Turks & Caicos.
A beach holiday is a must-have experience at least once every few years. With more affordable options, you can enjoy them annually. The choices listed here can allow you to even consider more than a single beach vacation each year, and allow you to find your favorite sort of sandy destination. Is it the golden sands of the Outer Banks? Maybe the white sands of Barbados? Perhaps it is even the far away and remarkably exotic scenery of French Polynesia? Only you can figure that out, and this year is a good time to start.