Sometimes it’s only the salt gently dancing in the air and the sound of crashing waves that can cure the exhaustion of our daily responsibilities. A beach vacation can be the perfect remedy for a family that needs to reconnect and recharge. And, if you go off the beaten path, there are ways it becomes affordable, too. The rooms are nice and, in some cases, spectacular. But who stays in their room on a beach vacay anyway?
Visit the first hotel built in Nuevo Vallarta, a 25-minute drive from bustling Puerto Vallarta, and stay steps from the Pacific Ocean. In the peak season, get a standard room for a family of four for just more than $100. In off season, get it for less than $100. Even the newly built deluxe rooms are less than $150 in peak season. Choose between all-inclusive or a la carte options. There are free daily breakfast buffets. Boogie boards, kayaks and bicycles are available to borrow. A kid’s club gives parents time for romance or adventure. The zen spa features one of the best massages we’ve ever experienced, a bargain at $30 per hour!
© Rina Nehdar
Tip: Get your adrenaline kicking at nearby Vallarta Adventures.
Dine: There are four restaurants at the hotel but nearby Dona Tere is also wonderful. Its outdoor playground gives kids a chance to make new friends while parents enjoy a margarita and authentically prepared dishes.
Located just two blocks from world-famous Waikiki Beach, this pet-friendly hotel has a rooftop sun deck with partial ocean views. There are plenty of room categories, easy on budgets, starting at just more than $100 a night, depending on the day. Check its calendar for exact rates.
Tip: Don’t miss the chance to take surfing at Waikiki Beach off your bucket list! No experience? No problem! Hans Hedemann Surf School will teach you and provide everything you need.
Dine: The Rainbow Drive-In is a 15-minute walk and the place to meet locals and taste some of their favorite “plate lunch” specials. Don’t miss the favorite Loco Moco, an explosion of taste.
Posada de las Flores Loreto © Rina Nehdar
A block from the beach, in the best little Mexican city you’ve never heard of, Loreto languishes on the Sea of Cortez. A half hour from Loreto International Airport, a glass-bottomed, rooftop pool illuminates their eclectically decorated lobby. You won’t know if you want to explore the beaches or melt into the artistic ambiance. Standard rooms start at just more than $100 but look into its special deals to make it even better.
Tip: Take a boat to Isla Coronado for snorkeling and abundant sea life viewing. If you go between January and March, you’ll see Blue Whales giving birth around the pristine Loreto Bay National Marine Park.
Dine: The restaurants in Loreto are culinary masterpieces, but try Mi Loreto for unbelievable handmade tortillas, freshly caught seafood and the tamarind margarita.
About 45 minutes from Maui’s famous Kaanapali Shores is Kihei. Just a stroll across the street is Kamaole Beach Park II, where you’ll find plenty of sand and ocean and not many tourists to compete for them. Prices during peak season are less than $200 and some rooms include kitchens and washers/dryers.
Tip: Snorkel at nearby Molokini Crater.
Dine: Cafe O’Lei is a must try. Housed on the second floor of a strip mall, with stunning ocean views, the blackened mahi-mahi, poke bowls and ceasar salad are favorites.
Read This Next
5 Family-Friendly Museums in Charleston
Destinations / North America
Aug 22, 2024#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Sep 17, 2026Fort Lauderdale Just Got a Lot More Accessible for Families
Fort Lauderdale is already known for great weather and great beaches, but for family travelers who need accessible destinations, the city just got even better. Greater Fort Lauderdale recently collaborated with KultureCity, a nonprofit organization working to increase sensory awareness, accessibility and inclusiveness in public spaces. Through this partnership, the Greater Fort Lauderdale area has recently become the world’s first KultureCity-certified sensory accessible and inclusive beach destination. While that title is bit of a mouthful, it means great things for families traveling with special needs.
Sponsored Content
Celebrating 25 Years of The Peninsula Chicago
June marked The Peninsula Chicago’s 25th anniversary, commemorating a quarter century for the hotel as a pillar of luxury on North Michigan Avenue.
Destinations / North America
Sep 17, 20267 Sarasota, Florida, Destinations for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Sarasota, Florida, with us.
Airlines
Sep 17, 2026Turkish Airlines Holidays Introduces New Family Campaign for Children
The holiday brand of Turkish Airlines recently launched a global campaign to make family travel more flexible, rewarding and convenient. Under the new campaign, children aged 11 and under fly complimentary on eligible holiday package bookings made by Sept. 29 for travel by March 29, 2027.
Sponsored Content
GET TO KNOW TAP FORBIZ
Unlock flexible, refined business travel with TAP Air Portugal’s program, TAP FORBIZ. Developed for small, medium and large Companies, with options for corporate events, TAP FORBIZ offers exclusive advantages adapted to each type of business.
Travel Tips
Sep 16, 2026On Location: Experience The Real-Life Settings of Your Favorite Films and TV Shows
Set-jetting is more than just a cute play on words. It’s a travel concept that lets you visit the real-life settings of some of your favorite movies and television shows. At one time you had to go someplace like Universal Studios in Hollywood to visit your favorite movie and television show sets. While you can still take studio tours (the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London is the place to go if you are a diehard fan of the Harry Potter franchise), these days there are filming locations all over the world, and the tourism industry makes visiting them in person as easy as buying a plane ticket.
ShareThis