For Hawaii I would google 'safe beaches for swimming hawaii' and see what comes up. I do believe there are a lot more places to worry about safety/waves/rocks/undertow in Hawaii than in FL.

You don't say what time of year you'll be travelling, what your budget is (moderate top upscale can very a lot from person to person) and what you want out of your beach experience. Do you want soft, powdery sand, a hard packed beach, is super clear water essential, do you want to sit at a pool that overlooks a beach, etc? There are many places on the gulf side where there are gentle waves, lots of shelling and clear, warm water. I'm sure others will chime in if given a little more information.

(BTW, the water in the Atlantic is 85 degrees F in August off the coast of SC and that is not too chilly for most folks, but the SC beach experience is completely different than a FL gulf side experience.)

Thanks, good tips and info. I'm interested in personal experiences and recommendations. I've already googled and that's helpful but keep in mind I am looking for a resort on the beach (that is a resort which ends [or begins] as the case may be in sad (not picky about color of sand or texture thereof]. The ocean lapping up on the beach must be swimmable, not seaweed infested, not rocky, etc.

Moderate to upscale for me means $250-$500 per night.

I have never met anyone who has stayed at the Ritz Carlton on the beach in Naples, Florida, who has not loved it. They also have a golf resort in Naples, so make sure you check out the right one, though they transportation between them if you want to eat or play golf at the second resort.

It is not moderate, but it is very likely a lot cheaper to fly to Florida than Hawaii, so your net cost is likely to be the same.

Mauna Kea Resort on The Big Island of Hawaii is on a glorious beach. It's sister hotel, the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel is on another really great beach.

I would suggest the Sheraton in Kaanapali area of Maui. Or any of the hotels at Wailea Beach in Maui.

We loved the Hapuna Beach Prince on the Big Island. There's also some nice hotels in Wailea on Maui.

Florida's Gulf Coast has calm and warm water lapping on white, flat firm beach.
In the summer months the water is very warm.
Some resorts that come to mind are the Marco Island Marriott, Naples Ritz as above, Don Ceasar St. Pete. Locations that I can't recommend resorts that have highly regarded beaches are Sanibel and Long Key in Sarasota.

Have fun. Your post should solicit many strong opinions.

Never swam there but have heard good things about South Padre Island Texas. Not Florida or Hawaii but still a nice warm beach.

Another vote for the Sheraton Maui in Kaanapali. You can swim/snorkel alongside giant sea turtles right in front of the hotel, and the beach is very long and very empty, especially at the other end, near Kaanapali Ali'i.

I think the Mauna Kea resort on the Big Island of Hawaii is great. Not just the swimmability and the sand, but the view!! The water is aqua blue against white sand, with the ocean view (can't remember, but I think some days you can see Maui in the distance.

For Hawaiian beaches, you can check them out on this website. I know it's a rental website, but if you go to each individual island, and click the Beaches tab, you can get an idea of what the beach looks like.

www.hawaiigaga.com

Another place I really like is the Makena Resort on Maui. It has one of the very nicest hotel beaches on Hawaii. No other hotel on it, so it remains relatively quiet. Great snorkeling, too.

I always go to Waikiki. I love the island of Oahu. It's not "Miami Beach" but it is a city and likely too crowded for what you seek.

Hopefully the Kauai-lovers folks will show up with some suggestions. That sounds more what you're after. Or Maui.

I go t Kauai whenever I can, have been there at least ten times now. I stay at the Marriott because I have a timeshare but it is not on a beach, it is on Kalakapi Bay which is not open to the ocean. Normally it is pretty calm, it is a big bay so besides swimming I see people boogie boarding, surfing and standup paddleboarding as well.

There are not really that many "resorts" on Kauai as compared to Maui and Oahu and even Big Island. Hyatt would be my choice if I could afford it but its beach is not normally considered swimmable, which is why they have the beautiful complex of multiple pools and lazy river.

Take a look at Sheraton on Poipu, it is normally considered to have a good beach.

On Oahu, there is Ihilani resort out on the west side, or turtle Bay on the North shore. Keep in mind that Hawaiian beaches tend to have the biggest surf on the north side in the winter. In the summer the south sides have more waves (but not like winter on north shores.

The Sheraton Kauai would work. Nice beach, decent hotel. Garden rooms would come in under the budget you mentioned.

Florida or Hawaii? That’s like asking, “Sizzler or Ruth’s Chris?”

Hawaii is paradise. Florida is only for people who can’t get to real paradise. I know. I grew up there (mostly in the Gulf Coast area, but also living for some years in Miami). And next month my husband and I will go on our eighth trip to Hawaii.

The water in many parts of Florida is thick pea green soup. In Hawaii, the water is a stunning rich turquoise (not aquamarine, but turquoise) home to spinner dolphins, sea turtles, island breezes and tropical magic.

For Hawaii, some great suggestions have already come up here.

* Hapuna Beach Prince on the Big Island. I stayed there in April. This is perhaps my favorite beach in the world. The resort needs some updating, but, man, what a beach. We'd walk right out of our room onto this amazing beach where spinner dolphins put on occasional shows and snorkeling with a few friendly sea turtles was just a few breast strokes away. (Hapuna Beach Prince's sister property, Mauna Kea, is more upscale and on an almost-as-nice beach. I visited but did not stay at that property.) The Big Island is my least-favorite island, but it's home to my very favorite beach: Hapuna.

* I got engaged on the beach at the Sheraton Kauai on Kauai – another very good beach for your purposes, though kind of small. It's on the south side of Kauai, which is swimmable year-round, unlike other sides of Kauai, which can be treacherous.

* Turtle Bay resort on Oahu (my favorite Hawaiian island) is right on its own small beach that’s swimmable year-round. The resort could use a little upgrading, but it’s the best of both worlds: natural, pristine Oahu a short drive from exciting Waikiki, not to mention tons of other gentle and not-so-gentle beaches.

* If you like crowds and touristy areas, there are literally a dozen places in Honolulu/Waikiki to consider. The best beach-wise are Hilton Hawaiian Village (where I've stayed twice and am about to stay again) and the Outrigger Reef on the Beach and the Halekulani (where I have not stayed). More secluded by close by is the Kahala. The water isn't quite as clear and sparkling at Waikiki. But it's still much better than Florida. Plus you can explore many of the island's amazing beaches while you're there.

* Maui has some great swimmable beaches, too, and plenty of gorgeous resorts sitting right on them. (I’ve only been to that island once. Stayed at Royal Lahaina resort, which was on a very nice beach. I don’t know for sure which of Maui's beaches are consistently swimmable enough for your standards. But I’m sure you could find lots of places on Maui that blow Florida away.) We visited the beach at the Sheraton Maui, which someone here recommended. An amazing beach. (Go to SeeHawaiiLive.com to watch live webcam views of Starwood beaches.)

True, a larger proportion of Hawaii’s beaches are dangerous (especially in winter) than in Florida. But the dangerous beaches are very, very easy to avoid with just the little bit of homework you're doing now.

As I said, I'll be staying at Hilton Hawaiian Village next months (three nights there, then we're going to try Royal Hawaiian for three nights). So, obviously, that's my preference. But if you don't like touristy, I say go Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu, or Hapuna, or research

The Sheraton Kauai is way more moderate than upscale, but the beach is good. There are other hotels on the essentially the same beach, including a Marriott timeshare resort that has beautiful grounds (look on Tripadvisor -- the "traveler's photos" are very accurate) and nice pools (Waiohai) -- not the one jamie99 mentioned. Also Kiahuna (condos, not hotel, but great place) and a new luxury boutique hotel whose name I can't recall.

... (msg got cut off): Or research Maui options.

Thanks everyone, great response and good suggestions to check out. I totally appreciate it.

I was intrigued by the Makena suggestion; that's a definite possibility, thankee! Going to look at Turtle Bay, too.

What do y'all think of Cheeca Lodge in the Keys?

I should have indicated we're partial to the less humongous resorts. Although I've heard good things about Hilton Hawaiian Village.

>Florida or Hawaii? That’s like asking, “Sizzler or Ruth’s Chris?”

No, not so. We've vacationed in Hawaii at Manele Bay, the Lodge at Koele, Four Seasons Hualalai and the Halekulani -- the beaches were nothing to speak of. Manele Bay has access to a decent beach but it's a small hike and not part of the resort but a state park beach, the water was rough when we were there, and jelly fish can be a problem. In general, I haven't had great luck with Hawaiian beaches. The beach at Halekulani is quite decent but crowded and the hotels there are all cheek-by-jowl. Whilst I love sitting and sunning on a beach whilst reading or dozing or watching people, I especially adore playing and floating in the sea, that's the whole point for me.

I don't know Florida beaches other than the area around Clearwater.

If airfare will not be an issue, you might consider focusing on the wonderful beaches of Maui, the Makena area (or Wailea) or Kaanapali(Kehei [Kamaole beach parks] might be a tad crowded for you). Sounds as though you've picked the wrong resorts, if you can't find a great beach in Hawaii! (Go for the oldest, maybe; the ones that grabbed the best beachfront first!)

Hilton Hawaii Village is a huge, multistory hotel complex on Waikiki, with man-made sand bar/lagoon, full of kids. If you weren't happy with Halekulani, I can't see how HHV would be an improvement.

I don't see it matching any of the other beaches that have been recommended.

Ditto what Placename said! Hilton Hawaiian Village has all the stuff you disliked about Halekulani, plus it's nowhere near as upscale. (And if you've stayed at Four Seasons/stuff in that range, I'm sure you'd find HHV very disappointing!)

Based on everything you've said, I'm starting to the Maui is the place for you! But, as I've said, I don't know enough to recommend a specific beach on that island. I'm sure you'll find a great one, though!

Have a great trip, wherever you finally decide!

<The beach at Halekulani is quite decent but crowded and the hotels there are all cheek-by-jowl.>

Well sure, it IS *Waikiki Beach*. I'm crazy about it myself and it is world-famous. That said it is not that large of an area and it is pretty much always crowded... because it's so beautiful and popular.

<The beach at Halekulani is quite decent but crowded and the hotels there are all cheek-by-jowl.>

Well sure, it IS *Waikiki Beach*. I'm crazy about it myself and it is world-famous. That said it is not that large of an area and it is pretty much always crowded... because it's so beautiful and popular.

I'm a huge fan of Kona Village Resort, so much so that I've put up a website devoted to it. The bay is pretty sheltered, the beach is nice (salt and pepper), the snorkeling is among the best (and all the snorkeling stuff is included in the price, and that includes the meals and a lot of other things as well). Take a look at www.davidskvr.net and see if it seems interesting to you.
David

Thanks all, for the good Hawaii info and suggestions.

I f you do not want the lengthy travel and expense, enjoy Florida.

another vote for the mauna kea beach hotel. we stayed there in december. wonderful beach for swimming, snorkelling, lounging. took hotel shuttle over to the Hapuna Prince; equally lovely and more expansive beach there. nice rooms, beautiful surroundings, great staff at mauna kea beach hotel.
lots to do and see on the big island. have stayed previously at the hyatt in kauai and the four seasons on maui.