I’m considering a family vacation in December 2020 (if safe to travel) to a warm beach area preferably in the United States (California, Florida, Georgia, maybe Hawaii) but also considering Mexico, Bahamas, etc. We are looking for a location that meets a few criteria listed below. As an example...Playa Del Carmen, MX is one of our favorite locations but we have been there about 6 times and looking to try a new place. Any suggestions??? Here is what we prefer, cost is not a huge factor:
-Resort, nice hotel, or rental house with pool and either beachfront or close access to beach
-Abundance of nice restaurants within walking distance or short drive
-Pedestrian friendly downtown or boardwalk area to access restaurants and shops
-Location that does not require a lot of time in the car with heavy traffic
Curacao! We're going this October. We are super-excited, it's not super touristy, Willemstad has a great downtown area that is unique with lots of food trucks and restaurants. The Baoase is the top resort, and we're going and IN LOVE with it. But there are all kinds of amazing AirBnBs and other resorts.
Curacao is one of the islands we port at on our next cruise in February. I have never been there and really looking forward to it.
I’m considering a family vacation in December 2020 (if safe to travel) to a warm beach area preferably in the United States (California, Florida, Georgia, maybe Hawaii) but also considering Mexico, Bahamas, etc. We are looking for a location that meets a few criteria listed below. As an example...Playa Del Carmen, MX is one of our favorite locations but we have been there about 6 times and looking to try a new place. Any suggestions??? Here is what we prefer, cost is not a huge factor:
-Resort, nice hotel, or rental house with pool and either beachfront or close access to beach
-Abundance of nice restaurants within walking distance or short drive
-Pedestrian friendly downtown or boardwalk area to access restaurants and shops
-Location that does not require a lot of time in the car with heavy traffic
Almost any of the resorts in the Caribbean are great in the winter months for beach activities. But they do jack up the prices from Thanksgiving through New Years. We have found the best prices are late February early March. Lot of people love Jamaica, for its clear blue waters and white sand beaches, but the natives bother the crap out of you trying to get you to buy their crap. Its also not the safest place to be outside the resorts I have been told.
OP, you literally described Isla Mujeres to a T.
I spent two weeks in Belize about 6 years ago and absolutely loved it. The only downside was the locals will bug the **** out of you to sell you junk.Are you looking for all inclusives or since price doesn't matter something you can explore locally? What kind of activities? Or just looking to lounge on the beach.
I really want to do Belize or Costa Rica next.
Prices are high during holidays but not so high in early December. Highest rates are actually during the High Season which is January through mid April. I stay in a small Mexican Beach Hotel with only 18 rooms in Playa Del Carmen. Directly on the Beach. As in steps away with ocean view. Beach only access. Has a small restaurant on site with a Chef who makes great food from scratch and has a small beach bar as well. Fifth Avenue is just one block away with lots of restaurants. Lots of shopping. Walk to everything. It is very safe. You are in the Tourist Zone. Bucket of 5 beers on ice is around $10. Breakfast is around $6. Had fresh Lobster on the Beach once when the Fisherman brought in fresh caught for $40 per person. Good variety of choices on their menu including Jumbo Shrimp for about $15 or so. The hotel is not fancy. But has free WiFi and Cable TV. AC and kitchenette with coffee maker and Fridge. And nice balcony. The Service is impeccable. No fighting for your beach chair. A few bucks and the Beach Guy sets it all up for you. The pool is just a plunge pool. But the ocean is beautiful. As well as the beach.
I teach with a good friend and him and his wife own time shares in and around Playa Del Carmen, they go down for two to three weeks a year in June. They love that area and like to travel. She goes scuba diving while he just hangs out at the bar and drinks for days at a time.
He says the tourist area is fine, but it gets a little shaky if you go into town. But he also said they found a small hole in the wall restaurant that serves up great fish taco's for like $.50 cents a piece.
They own 7 or 8 time shares and travel a lot during the summer and over the holidays, he owns 2 in Maui and he says that allows him to trade those dates with other people that want to go to Hawaii.
If cost is no issue, Hawaii hands down.
Got married there. Hate that placeWe are going to St. Lucia in November. I can't wait!!!!!
This is a great answerGet a beachfront hotel in Maui close to Lahaina. Beautiful beach and plenty of restaurants.
Mrs and I took our first trip to Oahu and Kauai in December. It BLOWS AWAY almost every other place I've been.
Cost was about $5000 for the two of us too spend 10 days there . Flights where $1400 of that cost. First 3 nights in Oahu were free from hotel points with business travel. We rented a VRBO in Kauai and got a rental car to visit the island.
The most beautiful place I've ever been is the Hanalei Bay, Napoli coastline of Kauai. It really does take your breath away
I had round trip tickets from DSM to Oahu then to Kauai for first week in November for $530 and passed on it. 8 day stay with all I had to pay for besides flights was 4 days of hotels (would have used points) and food. Company would have paid the rest. Kauai is my favorite island.