Sun, Safe, Beach, Cheap, Private, Great food??
 

Our family is searching for somewhere to go at the end of May, beginning of June for 5-6 days that is an escape where there's plenty of sun, private/primitive beaches, safe area, great food, and affordable for our limited budget of $2500. We ideally want to go to the Caribbean but the costs seem to go beyond our limited budget. We are open to anywhere around the United States but are not sure where would be a private location fitting this description .... any suggestions??

It would certainly help if you were to tell us what your home state is and the ages and number of people in your family.

...and what do you mean by "private"?

Thank you ... I should have thought of that before. Our family of 4 consists of 2 adults, 8 year old, & infant. We aren't really wanting to do a lot of activities as much as we want to relax & escape & be together as a family. As far as 'private' I mean secluded ... not a lot of other families around. Not a crowded area but more like a 'beach' area to ourselves. Hope that helps!

Forgot one more thing .... our home state is TEXAS & would most likely fly out of Houston or Dallas ... we live about the same distance from each. Thanks!

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions to my question?

You can do RT Houston-Merida, Yucatan for $218, I think.

Merida puts you in striking distance of many beaches, including those South of Cancun.

BUT, consider little-known Celestun, just a hoot and a holler from Merida.
Uncrowded beaches and rustic boat trips to see the flamingos -- if they are in season.

Wow! If you can get to Merida for $218 rdtrp, that's where I'd go. Be sure to get some ciprocene in case the water gets to you.

If you want to stay in the US, why not try the Gulf beaches around Mobile. You could drive there. And what about Padre Island in Texas?

Hotel rates in Florida drop the day after Memorial Day (May 31) so if you can wait until after then, that will put you into the low season. If you want deserted beaches, try Melbourne, Florida. That's the beginning of turtle nesting season, and you might be lucky enough to see this unusual natural phenomena. Unfortunately, it will be hard to find great food in a primitive secluded area.

The area of Treasure Island that I go to, called Sunset Beach, is unbelievably private, considering it's in the middle of the large metropolitan area of Tampa/St. Petersburg. This is because there are only single-family houses along the shore, not condos. Try to find a place far from condos to get seclusion.

Good luck!

Tandoori Girl .... thanks for the advice. I'm checking into pricing to Merida ... have you been? If so, what'd you think?

Where are you referring to Mobile ... as in Alabama? Also Padre Island seems to be extremely crowded & less private.

YES, we could travel after Memorial day ... any suggestions in the Melbourne area & also Sunset Beach?

Thanks!

Going a little bit off course: Have you looked at western Florida?

Longboat Key has a nice Hilton there on a very quiet beach and a nice pool. You would need to fly into Sarasota (a 20 minute drive to the hotel) or tampa (2 hour drive). If you look into the Hilton ask about a suite they have a few and they are very nice for a family of 4.

We've been thinking of the MelBourne area of Florida ... nice accomodations & 1 hour from Orlanda for Disney World with the kids. Anyway, your suggestion is definitely worth looking into!

How about Belize? Non-stop flight from Houston...might not be cheap enough, though, I never could find a bargain airfare compared to the really low fares to Mexico.

At Sunset Beach, I'd recommend you rent this place:
http://www.mysunsetbeach.com

The house is very reasonable (Sandpiper Suite). And it is fabulous. It has some smaller units stuck onto it but you will not interact with these other people. This place has a lot of privacy. And Sunset Beach is wonderful. You are an hour and half away from Disney. Busch Gardens is a half hour away. Lots to do in Tampa.

I'll try to find some listings for Melbourne when I get a chance. But I don't know that area very well -- only go over to check out the turtles. It is mostly residential. Here's a house but it only has an apartment. But it gives you an idea of what the beach is like:
http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacat...als/12352.html

If you're still interested in Melbourne Beach then perhaps you could post with that in your title. Maybe someone over there would have more information than me (I'm in Tampa on the west coast, near Sunset Beach).

Have you considered the outer banks?

Thanks for the email links ... I'll have to check them out.

NO, I haven't thought about the outer banks ... tell me more?

Outer Banks, NC has been one of the most isolated, beautiful, relaxed beach vactions we've enjoyed.

Rent a beach house... they come in many varieties. We used surfandsound.com and ended up in a great beachfront home w/ views of the sound from the back decks.

That time of year should be lovely there. You may even opt to drive instead of flying...

Take the ferry to Okracroke(sp?) for a fun day. We enjoyed exploring around... checking out the lighthouses and local hangouts. It's a pretty low key type vacation, but if you're looking for private, OB would be nice.

Whatever you decide, have a great time.

Thanks Makai1 .... I'll check into that!

Sorry ssharris,

I gave you the wrong http...it's surforsound.com

happy planning!

makai1: Surforsound.com has houses in Hatteras area, and I have read/heard that that are hasn't really recovered from the hard hit it took from Hurricaine Isabel. When were you there, last summer before Isabel? Suggest checking into the hurricaince recovery in that area before booking now...

emd,

Good point... we were there summer 2002... may want to consider further north.

ssharris: I gave you info on Nags Head in other post re your OBX questions. More private beaches are further south, but the hurricaine took it's toll in southern areas last Sept. Suggest calling local OBX police/fire to get best up to date info- not sure I'd rely on the rentla agencies for that info. I think far Southern Nags head (close to the start of the Natl. seashore) may still be recovering some (some houses) but I know Hatteras (and I think Ocakroke) are still really recovering in the villages. Don't know about Waves, Radnathe, Salvo area. BTW, no lifeguarded beaches down there. But it is more secluded the further south you go. Other areas are open as usual and in very good shape.

Thanks EMD ... very good to know!

I know from your other posts that you are considering the OBX (and I've posted w/info on that) but that you have some concerns. Have you looked into the Florida gulf keys (Longboat, Siesta)? I was on Longboal Key mid-June and while we did not have the beach to ourselves in front of the nice condo we were in, there were not many people there at all (maybe saw 4-5 people on the beach while walking in the a.m., and maybe 10-20 out on the beach w/us later in the mornings, but no one anywhere near us.) The protected sea turtles were nesting on the beach, which was pretty cool to watch . The only time we ventured off the beach was to the good bird sanctuary. It gets hotter in June, but Memorial Day might still be nice. I have no idea how many owners go to their places there over Memorial day, but the snowbirds are gone by then. The water was brilliant and wonderful, great white sand also. We stayed out from around 8 a.m. til 11, then went in
or used the covered pool til later in afternoon (due to heat and sun- sun is a big issue for us due to skin cancer issues.) There is Sarasota nearby adn things to do there, but we never made it there. It was relaxing and quiet, and water was calm. Don't know what the rents are like over Memorial day though.

Thanks again EMD .... yes, we're still considering OBX, especially the Ocracoke area. We have received other suggestions in the past for Melbourne, Florida, Sunset Beach in Tampa area & also the Longboat Key area as some options to privacy, etc. Let me ask you ... out of those areas, are you still encouraging the OBX area? Just curious. Some how we're going to make up our mind ... we're so undecisive!

I'm not sure where you live, but you should try the outerbanks, NC. It is very beautiful down there. If you go in May, begining of June, you could rent a big house for around $1,000 a week.