Looking for Beach Vacay Ideas That Aren’t Just Resorts

[Anonymous]

We were in Aruba with a 10 and 7 year old and stayed at the Marriott Stellaris. It was....ok. Smallish pool, beachfront and a buffet, but not much else on property. Pretty crazy to reserve chairs on the beach area if I remember - an extra charge.

There is a walking path with the Ritz on one end, then the Stellaris and you end up at a Marriott Time Share (Ocean Club?) where you and your kids will stare longingly at the lazy river and wished you were staying there. We were there 7 days (really 5 with travel) and it felt long. If your kids are interested in the lazy river all day, maybe try a place there. That beach area was crowded as well.

We were lucky enough to have passes to the Ocean Club (they change the wristbands weekly and if you're not wearing the right one, you're out!) to use the Ocean Club so that saved us.

We were there in late July/August and it was crowded. Really crowded. People putting a newspaper and a flip flop on a chair at 6am to save lounge chairs crowded, which is kind of a bummer when you're on vacation and you're stressed about getting a place to even sit.

And, not that this is/was a problem for us overall, but a ton of big groups, families that go annually to the same place and stories of kids brought when they were 12 days old and are still coming. I only say that because if you are trying to eat or get food and get stuck behind big groups, it gets frustrating as a smaller family/group. Every restaurant, either on hotel property or not, was extremely crowded. There is a Dutch grocery store that a lot of people grab food/snacks from - I did go there and stock our minifridge and that was helpful.

There is an area near all the Marriotts that is walkable - about a 10 minute walk to restaurants, ice cream, etc etc. We did an excursion (Pink Jeep?) that was great. A little rough riding in some of the spots, but saw some beautiful parts of the island and had a great guide.

One of the most refreshing things is YOU CAN DRINK THE WATER. Right out of the faucet. Yes, really. Aruba has a huge desalination plant and after a lot of Caribbean/Mexico vacations where you can't even brush your teeth without using bottled water, this was awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out Las Catalinas in Costa Rica. I haven’t been yet but have 2 different friends who rave about it

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/l...osta-rica-beach-town

I’ve heard great things about this resort also. It’s on my list to visit.

[Anonymous]

Check out Las Catalinas in Costa Rica. I haven’t been yet but have 2 different friends who rave about it

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/l...osta-rica-beach-town


I’ve heard great things about this resort also. It’s on my list to visit.

Las Catalinas is gorgeous. The beach is divine. Very laid back vibe, family friendly and safe.

It is a "master planned community," a la Rosemary Beach or Seaside in FL. Gorgeous single family homes and car-free cobblestone streets. They will help you with Golf Carts to deliver your luggage and pick it up upon checkout. The town does evening activities and there are a few shops/restaurants in the area. We did not rent a car, but were able to rent one through the Main Check In desk (it was electric and they were very finicky about the time used and how much charge we would potentially drain) to get to a Pharmacy nearby as I had a medical issue. We had dinner at Sentido Norte - the big draw is to catch the sunset - make sure to be there and ready with your cocktail in hand - and it was a wonderful meal and experience.

Another family we met with two older teens did rent a car and went surfing among other activities and had a great time.

[Anonymous]

We are similar to your husband, and had a great Spring Break in St. Augustine, FL this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, Miami is perfect for your list. Not sure what your budget is, but both the One Hotel and Ritz are nice and in good (not crazy partying) locations, where there is a lot to walk and bike to.

+1 for One Hotel

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks all. I think Aruba might work, any recommendations of where to stay? Slightly below Ritz prices; mid-range

We stayed at the Divi. It’s on a quieter side of Aruba than the Marriott but there are still some things to walk to and they had a shuttle to take you to other places, like the butterfly farm. We really liked it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aruba definitely seems to fit the description of what he wants. There is an entire area right behind the main stretch of hotels filled with shops, restaurants, and cafes. And he could walk to other places that have activities out of them or be picked up from the hotel. It is also super easy to get into Oranjestad

OP no.

This area ie Aruba was never very large, and it hasn't bounced back since COVID.

Aruba is lovely, but it can feel a bit dull for anyone who isn't into lounging by the pool or beach all day.

If you're looking for more excitement, O'ahu in Hawaii has plenty to offer.

As for Florida, if he’s open to a little driving, he can explore Fort Lauderdale or Miami. Miami has some nice walkable areas, and Clearwater Beach is also great for strolling around.