We are STRESSED OUT and ready for a beach trip! Need some help finding a great location. Here are the criteria we are looking for:

-calm water (so our son can enjoy the ocean)
-soft sand - minimal rocks, etc
-easy to get to - we are using AA miles and would prefer to fly direct from DFW (which limits it to Cancun / Playa area unless we just can't find anything else).
-AI would be nice but not necessary, as we won't use a kid's club - but would like a nice pool for him to play in so preferably no small boutique hotels that we may choose if it were just the adults.

I hear such mixed reviews on Trip Advisor. Really want a great, soft beach that he can run around on. Thanks!

Oh! San Juan also is a direct flight from DFW... is it worth looking into?

Before you get set on place outside US, does 3 year old have a passport?

Yes, he has a passport and we are ready to go!

Look into Puerto Rico.

Sometimes, people get sick in Mexico.

Would you consider Florida?

Beaches Turks and Caicos is great. Grand Cayman has some amazing calm beaches. I can't find a flight map on AA so I don't know if they go direct.

Actually the Naples Florida area is great. The water is calm and there are lots of things to do. The zoo is very good. We just took our 3 year old on a pirate adverture boat down there. It was very cute.

Well after discussing this more, we may wait a little bit and go later in the spring.

Since we may go later (closer to summer / warm temps), we are more open to consider US beaches.

We have family in Tampa and love the beaches there, but want to get away - which is tough with family around. Any suggestions for the FL gulf coast? Kelliebellie - where did you stay in Naples with your 3 yr old and would you recommend it?

Re: T&C - I thought Beaches resorts were adults only - am I getting that mixed up?

laplaya - any lodging / beach suggestions in Puerto Rico?

Cape Hatteras, NC is great beach!
Some rent homes with private pools.

My mother-in-law has a condo in Naples, so I'm not any help on lodging. The Ritz Carleton has a nice beach resort there, but it is $$$ most of the time.

We were just there over Christmas and the weather was awesome! The Gulf was a bit cold, but the beach and pools were great.

Sandals are adults only, Beaches are for families. We honeymooned at Beaches T&C and it has one of the best beaches in the world. The resort was wonderful. We would hang out in the kids section sometimes.

Oh yeah, check out http://www.vrbo.com for condo and home rentals anywhere. It is ten thousand time easier traveling with a 3 year old with a condo.