5 Hidden, Affordable Beach Destinations

by Willy Volk on

Recently, we mentioned some of the world’s best islands. Admittedly, some of those were a bit high-end, so I was pleased when I stumbled over Smarter Travel’s run-down of hidden, affordable beach destinations.

The piece details five North American spots that are jam-packed with activities, food, fresh air — and beaches. Just to clarify up front: “affordable” means meals run $8-$20 and accommodation runs roughly $100 a night. Still interested? The list includes:

Smarter Travel did a nice job describing what makes each site unique and listing many of the activities available to travelers. If you’re dreaming about a getaway, this may be the list that inspires you.

Get more beach tips:

dig&sit

by Willy Volk on

If you want to enjoy your cold wine on the beach in a little more style than by sitting in a bottomless beach chair (I mean, come on!), you should consider the dig&sit, a flexible beach sofa. Made of two layers of damp-proof, pvc-coated nylon, the 3-person dig&sit features two quilted foam zones to make that hard beach sand just a wee bit softer. The dig&sit also features stainless steel grommets in the corners to secure it to the ground to prevent it from flapping in the wind.

How does it work? Simple. Dig a shallow, rectangular hole in the sand for the seat, pile the sand where the back goes, drop the dig&sit into the formation, and sit. Get it? Dig… and sit. Perfect for couch-surfing at the beach, the quilted foam padding retains your body heat, keeping you dry and comfortable while you relax. The $150 gizmo — available in 6 different colors — comes with a spade and a backpack for easy carrying.

Weekend In Miami: The Beach

by Willy Volk on

After changing clothes in our hotel, we hustled to the beach. We were anxious, as South Beach’s beaches are famous for their pristine sands, emerald waters, and strutting model wannabees.
One of the first things you’ll notice about many of South Beach’s beaches is the fabulous, dramatic entryways they offer. For example, this curving courtyard takes you from the major, car-filled thoroughfare of Ocean Drive to the quiet beach in about 60 seconds. You can literally hear the sounds of the city fading away, being replaced by the sounds of the waves. It’s like a real-life Corona commercial.

Once on the beach, I skedaddled straight to the water to look and feel it. It was so clear… but a bit cool.

I turned and saw how crowded the beach was.
Into the horizon, there were people everywhere.

I referred to this sign-less, nameless stretch of beach as “Lincoln Road Beach.” Just north of flashier and trendier Lummus Park Beach, and just south of smaller, quieter Collins Beach, Lincoln Road Beach is family-friendly and tourist-intensive.

Some people had encouraged us to go to Haulover Beach — several miles north — for some beach time. However, Lincoln Road Beach was close to the hotel, which was very appealing. Moreover, the north part (and only the north part) of Haulover is an officially-recognized naturist beach. In other words, it’s clothing-optional. My previous clothing optional-beach experience had been icky — lots of men cruising past, sizing me up — so we decided to avoid that.

In any event, this beach was nice, and the sun felt good on my face and back. Though there were a number of college-aged girls sunning themselves, there were no topless Saline Machines wandering around, like CSI: Miami would have you believe. As soon as I laid down, I fell asleep; if you want to see more of what the local beaches look like, check out Miami Photo Meetup or Miami Travel Photo.

If you don’t want to head to Lummus park, Lincoln Road, or Collins Park, there are a number of beaches in greater Miami. At the end of the weekend, our favorite turned out to be Key Biscayne’s Crandon Park Beach. But more on that later.

Previously: Weekend In Miami: The Greenview Hotel

13 Budget Beaches

by Willy Volk on

Beaches are my favorite holiday getaways. Unfortunately, many people prize beaches, and as such, they can be expensive to get away to. Enter Concierge, which has compiled a baker’s dozen of the world’s best affordable beaches. Of course, depending on where you live, some of the destinations may cost a few pennies to reach, but with accommodation prices this low, you can afford it. For example, the list mentions:

  • Ko Phi Phi, Thailand — Double rooms from $32
  • Samana Peninsula, Dominican Republic — Two-bedroom villas for four from $46
  • Georgia’s Sea Islands –Double rooms from $65
  • Yelapa, Mexico — Double rooms from $70
  • St. John’s, USVI — Two-bedroom cottages for four from $70
  • Mozambique — One-bedroom casitas with two twin beds from $89
  • Costa Rica — Bungalows for two from $95
  • Anegada, BVI — Double rooms from $95
  • Kauai, Hawaii — Double rooms, including breakfast from $115
  • St. Barths — Double rooms, including breakfast from $115
  • Cat Islands, Bahamas — One-bedroom villas for two from $135
  • Bahia Honda, Florida Keys — Two-bedroom cabins for six, $136
  • Los Roques, Venezuela — Double rooms, including breakfast and boat trip from $160

To the list, I’ll add Malawi’s Njaya Lodge, offering two-person bungalows for $10. Guaranteed, you’ll never want to leave.

World’s Best Active Beaches

by Willy Volk on

Living in South Florida, we head to the beach a lot. I love relaxing on the sand, in the sun, with a beer on one side, a dog on the other, and a magazine with lots of pictures in front of me. Occasionally, I gaze out at the paragliders and envy them their active lifestyles. Then, I take a long, slow sip of my cold drink and remember why I came to the beach. Yes… relaxing on the sand is wonderful.

If you’re among the people who thinks cooling it on the sand is boring, and you’re rather get up and DO something, you need to check out Concierge’s list of 11 Totally Active Beaches and their attendant activities, which includes:

  • Scuba diving in Turks & Caicos
  • Kiteboarding in Essaouira, Morocco
  • Sea Kayaking in San Blas Islands, Panama
  • Surfing in Bali, Indonesia
  • Hiking in Washington State
  • Mountain biking in Dominica
  • Sailing in Captiva Island, Florida
  • Fly fishing in Isla Holbox, Mexico
  • Golf in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Wakeboarding/Waterskiing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Tennis in Kiawah Island, South Carolina

To the list, I’d like to include whale watching in Hermanus, South Africa. Although it sounds passive, it can be a very active endeavor.