Best beach?
 

My husband and I are in desperate need of a vacation, but as usual, we're finding it difficult to nail down a location. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Here are our parameters:

1. Wednesday night to a Sunday afternoon in June (specifically, June 8 - 12).
2. Flying out of Atlanta
3. It's important that we can fly out on Wednesday after work - it's a short trip and I don't want to eat into Thursday by traveling.
4. Beach, beach, beach

This is potentially our last vacation as just the two of us and we want it to be a good one. I'm terribly interested in the Aruba or St. Lucia or somewhere exotic and wonderful, but I'm having a difficult time getting down there Wednesday night.

Is Miami and/or Key West our best option?

We love food and wine and generally spend our vacations searching out one or both of them, but I'd like this trip to be all about relaxation - even if I'm not necessarily in my bathing suit in the water. I don't need to be in my bathing suit on the beach to have a good time, but I'm having a hard time thinking about California because I simply don't know enough about the beaches.

Ideas?

If you want warm (hot) time on the beach, then you want Florida not California - especially for a short trip from Atlanta.

Do you want busy beach or quiet beach? How much do you want to spend on your hotel?

If busy, I'd pick South Beach - with tons of restaurants, bars, etc. in walking distance.

If you want quiet, my favorite "quiet" place in South Florida is the Four Seasons Palm Beach. It's the perfect little, luxury hotel with a great pool and beach for relaxing.

Key West is too far - if you are driving from Miami - and it really doesn't have great beaches. It's fun though. But I'd fly into KW and not Miami.

On the west coast -
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Proper...es/Default.htm

http://www.loewshotels.com/en/Don-CeSar-Beach-Resort

I've stayed at all but the Don Cesar. It's on my bucket list.

It definitely sounds like you are looking for Florida rather than California. Our beaches in California are great, but the water is cold and we have fog - so relaxing in your bathing suit isn't guaranteed. Sometimes it is gloriously sunny and warm (rarely hot), but it can also be foggy and very cool.

It definitely sounds like you are looking for Florida rather than California. Our beaches in California are great, but the water is cold and we have fog - so relaxing in your bathing suit isn't guaranteed. Sometimes it is gloriously sunny and warm (rarely hot), but it can also be foggy and very cool.

Florida. The Keys would be perfect. California is way too far and Maine is not warm enough for what you are seeking.

If you really want the Caribbean, check on Jamaica. I flew thru Atlanta to get to Jamaica last summer. It's a very quick flight (less than 2 hrs). I recommend Negril.

Which beach in the Keys do you recommend, suze?

There are many beautiful beaches in Florida but they are not in the Keys. I have been to many beaches in Florida and the best is Siesta Key, near Sarasota.

Thanks, all. I'd like a quiet beach and really, we're not terribly concerned with budget. The only problem I'm having with Florida is just that.. Well, we both grew up going to the beaches in Florida for family vacations and it doesn't really have that excitement factor for us the way an island might have done. That doesn't mean it's out of the question - was just hoping for some ideas that maybe I hadn't thought of before.

We aren't really looking for active nightlife, though we'd like a few good restaurants to try. Would Miami fit the bill or would the Keys be better? If it were your last vacation for several years (probably), would you pick there? Where would you go if time was your biggest constraint?

Well, here's an island -
http://www.greyfieldinn.com/

You'd have to make your own nightlife. Food is included in the rate.

Oh, miles and miles and miles of gorgeous beach. And wild horses. And quiet and solitude. And a gorgeous romantic inn with delicious food. <sigh>

Looked into Jamaica, Suze, and having the problem of getting there Wednesday night. I might have to break my "rule" on that and simply fly somewhere Thursday morning, but for now, I'm trying to stay strong!

Starrs, thanks for the idea. I'm a sucker for Caribbean water, so nothing off of Georgia will work!

$395/night for a shared bath? Breakfast must be somethin' else!!!

Look for flights into RSW (Fort Myers) and go to one of the gulf coast beaches. They tend to be very quiet in June and lodging will probably be less expensive than in the winter. Some places to check: Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, Captiva, Bonita Beach, Naples, Marco Island.

Tell me you cannot get to SAN JUAN on a Wednesday night!!!!

I was thinking San Juan also. Continental offers straight thru from Cleveland, which we did, so I imagine Atlanta would offer the same. We stayed in Old San Juan which we loved and walked, walked, walked. The Fort is a beautiful walk and we loved the rainforest. The next time we go I want to include Fajardo and the Bio Bay which looks amazing. Talk about warm!

Well I really enjoyed the beach at Bahia Honda state park in the Keys, but we were camping.

If you want to try Jamaica, fly into Montego Bay on the earliest flight, arrange your shuttle with Clive's ($20 per person, 90 min. drive) and go to the 7-mile beach in Negril. It's pretty darn spectacular. www.charela.com Charela Inn is low-key and has some directly beachfront rooms.

ps- I know there are early morning flights because I was on one, I connected thru Atlanta coming off a red-eye from Seattle. On Delta. Arrived MoBay ~11:30am.

With your beaches, beaches, beaches in mind, my first thoughts were Provo in the Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman, and St. John via St. Thomas, but it looks like there are no evening flights from Atlanta. I was in the Keys and South Beach a couple of years ago. Really enjoyed the Keys but not for a beach vacation. Loved South Beach. By the way, I also grew up in Florida with family beach vacations. Other possibilities on the Gulf side I know of secondhand are Venice and Captiva.

what about Bermuda? June is a great time to go, should be warm enough for sunning and swimming. And its so close!

the main objection to Bermuda is the resorts are a little pricey, but you said money wasn't an issue.

We went to Pompano Beach Club in June a couple years ago and loved it.

Bermuda was actually the first place I looked into, but we can't get there Wednesday night.

On the San Juan conversation.. Here are my concerns and please correct me if I'm wrong:

San Juan faces the Atlantic, so the resorts there, while beachfront, will not look like the beach I went to last year in the Bahamas, right? I'd like the traditional Caribbean beach - white sand, clear water. Is that the case in San Juan? Somewhere in the middle maybe?

You know, that's really my only concern with San Juan. Just got a book on Puerto Rico at the library today, so maybe I'll learn something incredible (though knowing me, I'll probably just ask y'all!).

Current options, in my opinion:
1. Miami
2. Key West
3. San Juan

Forgot to mention, Captiva/Sanibel as an option! We've actually been talking about heading there, but it never really crossed my mind for this trip. I'll start looking into it!

Bermuda would be my choice! It is pricey, but it is a short flight from the US and several choices of beautiful hotels and beaches.

Shoot, I can't seem to get it all out in one post. Regarding San Juan facing the Atlantic - I understand that all the islands are in the Atlantic - but I read somewhere that the beaches look different in PR. From looking at hotel pictures, the beaches look beautiful and very similar to what I've seen, but I know how amazing Photoshop is! Will I be happy with the beach in San Juan? The Ritz Carlton on Isla Verde?

June in California is our grayist, coolest, most overcast month. Good advice to go to Florida.

you had me at desperate
knew bermuda would not work, but thought Puerto Rico or Palm Beach might
you lost me with will we be happy at the Ritz

Another possibility:

Atlanta to Cancun
Nonstop on Delta at 5:55 p.m.

Atl -> Jamaica that afternoon/evening

Puerto Rico, specifically Rincon.
Key West is not a 'Beach' destination. Don't get me wrong, I love EYW, but not for that reason.

Ritz Carlton Rose Hall Jamaica - easy flight from Atlanta
We stopped there for a night on the way to St Lucia

Naples or Siesta Key, both have beautiful white sand beaches & plenty of places to eat & shop.

Not for beaches, but for speedy travel, there are direct flights from Atlanta into Key West. The beaches are marginal at best, but the food is wonderful and there are lots of things to do (or not do, if you prefer).

If you want glorious white sand beaches, brilliant blue water, and great food, it's hard to beat the Yucatan area south of Cancun. Places like Playa del Carmen, Akumal and Tulum are amazing. You can hang on the beach, explore Mayan ruins, snorkel, etc. Check out locogringo.com

The Florida Keys are an excellent destination for all sorts of reasons: great boating, diving, fishing, snorkeling, etc. BUT, they are NOT known for the beaches. There might be a couple slivers of beach like Bahia Honda, and a few hotels have manmade beaches, but this is coral reef country, not beach country. For beaches do the islands on the west coast of florida like Siesta Key, Anna Maria, Captiva or Marco. or, you can do the busier beaches on the Atlantic like South Beach.

Great beaches are on Gulf coast of Florida. I lived near Palm Beach in Boca Raton for a while. Plenty of beach, however brownish Atlantic waters. The strip in Ft. Lauderdale has nice hotels, condo's, cool beaches(still Atlantic water). Strip is on one side and beach located across street. Lots of roller bladers, exercising, lying out. Ton's of food, bars, music. Las Olas Blvd., right around corner (walk or short cab) with fine dining and shopping. That would be a 1,2,3 destination. 1. depart plane check-in hotel, 2. beach wear & beach 3. Relax-shower where are we walking to for food & entertainment. Get lots out of a few days.
I agree that keys are great, however no beaches.

The Keys have very few beaches. I'd pick Miami or Fort Lauderdale. Both have beautiful beaches. Fort Lauderdale is less expensive.