Summertime is beach time! Here are our recommendations for the 10 best beach escapes.

It’s summertime, and where better to celebrate the season than at the beach? For me, something is cleansing about letting the ebb and flow of the water relax you. If you’re looking for a great beach vacation, here are my suggestions for the 10 best beach escapes.

Beach Vacation in Nevis, West Indies

One of my all-time favorite beach escapes is Nevis, a Caribbean island paradise. It is a 3-hour flight from Miami via St. Kitts (and then a short 7-minute boat ride to Nevis). This ideal beach vacation has white sandy beaches, tranquility, and peace.

Relax on the beach at Nisbet Plantation in Nevis. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Nevis is home to some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met, and Mount Nevis is at the center of the 36-square-mile island. If you’re after a beach vacation, you can opt to stay at Nisbet Plantation, a historic hotel situated on 30 acres in the Caribbean. Or, you can opt for the Four Seasons Resort Nevis, where you can enjoy a beachfront room or a luxurious villa.

When you take a beach vacation in Nevis, you can arrive and depart from the Four Seasons Resort’s private dock. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Beach Vacation on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii

If your idea of a beach vacation includes heading to Hawaii’s Waikiki Beach, the ideal stay is at the Sheraton Waikiki. I adored my stay there—you can read more about it here—and the hotel provides instant access to Waikiki Beach. How can you beat views like this from your guest room?

The view of Diamondhead from Sheraton Waikiki. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

The sunset that first night still holds a special place in my memory. The colors were so vivid. After dinner at Sheraton Waikiki’s Kai, we headed to the beach, where the evening breeze was perfect as we walked with our toes in the sand under a moonlit evening sky.

Waikiki Beach is ideal for playing, taking long romantic walks, or relaxing. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Beach Vacation in Puerto Vallarta

Despite how often I have traveled in Mexico, my first trip to Puerto Vallarta was perhaps my favorite destination in the country. I discovered so many great things to do while there. The beaches are amazing, both in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit. Be sure to read my Travelocity article about both places.

The Pristine Beach at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

However, my favorite place in Puerto Vallarta was where I stayed—Hotel Mousai Puerto Vallarta. It was one of my favorite stays anywhere because of the little details, specifically the amazing rooftop pool and the private hot tub on my deck. That was just a short (about 2-minute) tram ride to the beach. Be sure to read all about that magical stay here.

Find a Lounger and Spend the Day at the Rooftop Pool at Hotel Mousai. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Beach Vacation in Cancún

I enjoy escaping to Cancún for a beach vacation, and it is easy to access from most places in the US. I recommend two hotels, both of which offer something a little different. The first is the beautiful, adult-only, all-inclusive Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancún. Modern, chic, and relaxing, this is the place to escape life’s stress. Book a cabana where you can relax all day between the ocean, beach, and pools. Paradise indeed. You can visit amazing secluded beaches with CatamaranToursCancun.com and explore dreamlike beaches and vivid waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Book a cabana and relax on the beach at Live Aqua Resort Cancún. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

The other Cancún resort I suggest is Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancún, located in the center of Cancún. This resort is family-friendly, but if you want to spend adult-only time on your beach vacation, there are plenty of options.

Grand Fiesta American Coral Beach is home to Gem Spa, which provided me with my single best spa day ever. The central feature is the Pool of Sensations. Here, you can relax through hydrotherapy stations that will leave you more relaxed than you ever imagined. And ready to return to the water to continue your beach vacation.

The Pool of Sensations at Gem Spa. Photo courtesy Grand Fiesta Americana

Beach Vacation in Franklin County, Florida

Franklin County, Florida, has some of the most beautiful beaches anywhere. It’s a sparsely populated area on the panhandle about 80 miles southwest of Tallahassee. The county includes coastal enclaves of Apalachicola, St. George Island, Carrabelle, and Alligator Point on the Gulf of Mexico.

Franklin County, Florida, offers 250 miles of coast on the Gulf of Mexico. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Nowhere will you get better seafood than here. The oysters are world-famous, and I ate them the entire time I was there. You can find great B&Bs. I loved the Coombs Inn, and you can find more details here. There are also quaint streets filled with shops, plenty of outdoor activities, and wide-open beaches if you want to get away and relax.

Franklin County, Florida, has various lodging options that let you get close to the open expanses of the beach. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Beach Vacation in Antibes, France

The perfect beach vacation for me would be heading to the South of France. My favorite place in the world is Antibes, France. About 15 years ago, I had one of the most perfect lunches ever—in all my years of travel—at Plage Keller in Antibes. You can enjoy the public beaches or, as I did, find a private spot and spend an afternoon enjoying the Mediterranean with a glass of French rosé.

Plage Keller offers a lovely spot for lunch or dinner on the beach in Antibes. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

In typical European fashion, our lunch was extended by several hours. We watched yachts come and go, and children played in the sand at the water’s edge. This is an ideal beach vacation.

Spend time gazing out over the Mediterranean at the beaches of Antibes, France. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Beach Vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

I also enjoy escaping to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for a beach vacation. It’s another easy destination from the Western US, but there are flights to Cabo worldwide. And it’s worth the visit. The Pacific meets the Gulf of California on the Baja Peninsula, and the two Cabos—Los Cabos—offer great beach vacation destinations. My favorites are the Quivira Los Cabos resorts, which provide great luxury options. I recommend checking out the Montecristo Villas at Quivira Los Cabos. They are spectacular.

Coastline at Quivira Golf Club at sunset. Photo courtesy Quivira Golf Club

You can play golf, relax by the pool, enjoy spa treatments, and dine on gourmet meals. The all-adult, all-inclusive Pueblo Bonito Pacifica provided me with a luxurious stay. For an even more upscale experience, book a room in The Towers at Pacifica, which is complete with butler service. This will take your beach vacation over the top.

Sit poolside at the Pueblo Bonito Montecristo Estates. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Whatever you want at Quivira Los Cabos, ask, and someone will make it happen. Your beach escape is waiting.

Get away for a Mexican beach vacation at Pueblo Bonito and Quivira Los Cabos. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Beach Vacation in San Diego

No beach vacation would be complete without a visit to Southern California, and one of my favorite spots is San Diego. I adore Coronado Island, dominated by the historic and beautiful Hotel Del Coronado.

Coronado Beach is a beautiful beach vacation destination. Photo courtesy Hotel Del Coronado

I also enjoyed my stay at Paradise Point Resort & Spa. The spa offers great services, making Paradise Point a plus. I loved that the rooms had Adirondack chairs looking out over the marina.

Paradise Point Marina in San Diego. Photo courtesy Paradise Point Resort and Spa

Beach Vacation in Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach offers an escape to what I feel is classic California. When you visit Huntington Beach, you experience California surfer culture up close and personal. I enjoyed staying at the Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel. The views across the Pacific Coast Highway to the beach are breathtaking!

The Huntington Beach Pier is a Southern California classic. Photo courtesy Huntington Beach.

Sunsets at Huntington Beach are pretty spectacular. The Huntington Beach Pier is 1,850 feet long, and many fun things are always happening along its expanse. The funky Main Street in Huntington is always full of excitement. It’s simply one of my favorite California places.

Sunsets at Huntington Beach are unforgettable. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Beach Vacation in Oceanside

Oceanside, California, offers great beaches, and I like that it’s not always as busy as other Southern California locations.

The beaches in Oceanside are great places to play. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Some excellent restaurants are in Oceanside—try Hello Betty Fish House, which is just a block off the beach. Also, be sure to check out the California Surf Museum for a look at the unique surfing culture that makes SoCal memorable.

Hello Betty Fish House is a block off the ocean and serves up great food and drinks. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

You can jump on the train right in the center of Oceanside and spend the day exploring the coast. My choice for a place to stay in Oceanside? Unusual for me, but I will suggest the Springhill Suites Marriott. It’s a relatively new hotel overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It sits a block from the train, is within walking distance of almost everything downtown, and is adjacent to Hello Betty with a fabulous rooftop space. This is a great hotel!

Let the waves soothe your soul on your beach vacation. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

Articles Related to the 10 Best Beach Escapes

• Paradise Found: The Captivating Caribbean Island of Nevis
• Family Getaway in Oceanside, California
• Finding Wow Moments in Waikiki
• Caribbean Wow at Hilton La Romana All-Inclusive Adult Resort
• Marival Armony: Global Spa in Punta Mita, Mexico
• Ocho Rios: Oasis Along Jamaica’s North Coast
• 20 Ways to Beat the Heat When Traveling

Making Your Beach Escape This Summer

No matter which direction you decide to go, your beach vacation awaits. The waves are waiting to soothe your soul this summer. Where do you want to wander for your beach escape? Looking for even more great beach vacation ideas? Check out these other beach vacations on Wander With Wonder.

.