Aug 26
A beach vacation can be one of the easiest trips to imagine and one of the easiest to overcomplicate. At first, the plan seems simple. Pick a beach. Book somewhere to stay. Pack a swimsuit. Go. But the difference between an easy beach vacation and a frustrating one often comes down to decisions made long …
Aug 25
A beach vacation can cost a few hundred dollars for a simple weekend road trip—or well over $10,000 for a week at an upscale oceanfront resort. The beach itself may be free. Getting there, sleeping nearby, eating, parking, renting chairs, and finding things to do are what determine the real price. For many travelers, a …
Aug 24
For most people, four to five days is enough for a satisfying beach vacation. That gives you time to settle in, enjoy several real beach days, eat at a few local restaurants, explore the destination, and absorb a less-than-perfect weather day without feeling as though the entire trip has been ruined. A three-day trip can …
Aug 23
Should you stay in a hotel or book a vacation rental for your next beach trip? There is no universal winner. A hotel can be perfect for a three-night couples getaway where you want housekeeping, a pool, restaurants, and nothing to manage. A vacation rental can be much better for a family staying a week, …
Aug 22
Choosing a beach vacation sounds simple until you actually start comparing destinations. Do you want calm turquoise water or big waves? A quiet island or a lively beach town? Excellent shelling or excellent swimming? White sand, rocky coves, tide pools, boardwalks, nightlife, snorkeling, wildlife, surfing, or simply a comfortable place to put a chair and …
Aug 21
A beach vacation with kids can be wonderfully simple. There is sand to dig in, water to splash in, shells to hunt for, waves to watch, and enough open space for children to spend hours exploring without anyone needing an elaborate itinerary. But traveling to the beach with children also introduces a different set of …
Aug 20
A romantic beach getaway does not need rose petals on the bed, an expensive resort, or an itinerary filled with couples activities. Often the most romantic beach trips are much simpler. You wake up without an alarm, drink coffee overlooking the water, spend the afternoon wandering along the shoreline, dress up for dinner, watch the …
Aug 19
A beach vacation does not have to be expensive. You can spend thousands of dollars on an oceanfront resort, restaurant meals, rental cars, watersports, and excursions. But you can also build an excellent beach trip around a modest hotel or vacation rental, simple meals, free days on the sand, and a destination close enough to …
Aug 18
Packing for a three-day beach trip should be simple. You do not need seven outfits, five pairs of shoes, or an entire closet of beach gear. For most weekend trips, the goal is to bring enough clothing and essentials to stay comfortable without hauling around things you never use. Three days is also short enough …
Aug 17
Packing for a full week at the beach sounds as though it should require a very large suitcase. Usually, it does not. Most beach vacations revolve around swimsuits, cover-ups, casual clothes, sandals, and a handful of practical items that get used repeatedly. If your hotel or vacation rental has laundry, you can pack even less. …
