Many of the world’s top locations to visit are beach resorts, and with good reason. A leading travel trend for 2025 is JOMO (the “joy of missing out”), which refers to taking a peaceful vacation rather than an active one. What better place to relax than at the beach? When you’re on a tight budget, you may easily arrange an affordable trip to a beautiful beach.
To assist you in finding the finest beach vacation for your needs, U.S. News has picked many low-cost destinations throughout the world recognized for their gorgeous scenery, affordable facilities, and a variety of activities. (Keep in mind that room prices and activity expenses may change based on the season and availability.)
Clearwater Beach, Florida
Clearwater Beach, a barrier island about 25 miles west of Tampa, is a popular beach for both locals and visitors. It overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and Clearwater Bay. Its range of bayfront hotels and resorts makes it a more economical beach holiday option than other popular Florida locations such as Miami and Sanibel Island.
The Clearwater Jolley Trolley and Clearwater Ferry offer low-cost public transportation that may also be used for scenic trips. After relaxing on the beach’s quartz sand, head to Pier 60 for free weekly sunset celebrations. To save additional money, buy a Tampa Bay CityPASS: It covers admission to the Florida Aquarium and a number of other surrounding attractions.
Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Loreto, located on Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, is a delightful seaside town with a rich cultural past and a variety of outdoor activities on land as well as in the warm and gorgeous Gulf of California. Loreto is less pricey and busy than locations like Cabo San Lucas. Spend your days hiking, swimming, mountain biking, seeing old cave art, or visiting historical missions. Spend the night in a boutique hotel like Hotel 1697, Hotel Oasis, or La Mision Hotel.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Cheap beach vacations might be difficult to come by, but the tropical turquoise ocean and palm-fringed beaches of Punta Cana are frequently less expensive than other Caribbean destinations. Low-season bargains and “kids stay free” summer specials at various all-inclusive resorts provide excellent value. Even in the winter, numerous all-inclusive hotels offer accommodation rates of less than $300 per night for two people.
Iberostar Waves Dominica and Caribe Deluxe Princess are two surprisingly reasonable all-inclusive resorts in or near Punta Cana. If you stay at a resort further out, you may have to take a shuttle to the beach, but you will still have access to a variety of high-quality amenities, activities, and restaurants.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
The coarse gold sand and rocky palisades of Puerto Vallarta, protected from the Pacific Ocean by the quiet Banderas Bay, are perfect for water sports and eco-adventures. Competition among all-inclusive resorts and boutique hotels has resulted in reduced lodging and eating pricing compared to high-end Cancún resorts. Hacienda Buenaventura Hotel & Mexican Charm is an economical alternative.
Las Caletas is a beautiful private beach by day and an entertainment hotspot by night, with a fantastic all-ages dinner show. Visit art galleries, museums, restaurants, nightclubs, and other attractions along the seaside Malecón promenade and in the LGBTQ-friendly Zona Romántica area.
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort, built by British colonists in 1711, is an excellent location for families looking to see coastal plantation mansions, learn more about Gullah art, play golf, and sample local seafood. Hunting Island State Park, about 20 miles southeast of center Beaufort, is a popular neighboring beach with a resort and cottages; moreover, primitive campsites begin at $35 per night with a two-night minimum. Visitors may also utilize the free Green Book of South Carolina app to learn about over 400 area African American landmarks.
Oceanside, California
Oceanside used to be a less appealing tourist destination due to the Camp Pendleton military facility to the north. But in recent years, the city has made a concerted effort to engage in tourism, with new hotels and restaurants springing up all around town. The Brick Hotel, located within walking distance of the beach, offers rooms starting at less than $250 a night for two people. Surfing, fishing off the historic Oceanside Pier, biking along the Strand, whale watching, and visiting the California Surf Museum or Oceanside Museum of Art are all inexpensive activities in Oceanside.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Airfare to Puerto Rico is often lower than to other Caribbean islands, and Americans do not require a passport to visit. During peak winter months, you can stay in a gorgeous San Juan property for as low as $100 per night. Many Condado Beach establishments, like the family-friendly Embassy Suites by Hilton Dorado del Mar Beach Resort and the historic Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, provide facilities such as pools, casinos, and a variety of dining options. Puerto Rico even boasts many Blue Flag-designated beaches that are known for their environmental standards, such as Carolina Beach, a popular tourist destination in San Juan.
Huntington Beach, California
Self-proclaimed “Surf City USA” is less expensive and busy than adjacent Santa Monica or Los Angeles. At Huntington Beach, you may rent a wetsuit and take surfing lessons, play volleyball, or sit by a bonfire and watch the sun set. Take photos of the 42-foot longboard at the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum, or view the handprints and footprints of surfing icons in the Surfers’ Hall of Fame. Consider hiring a vacation rental to save money, and remember the ancient proverb “May gray, June gloom” while planning your trip.
The Florida Panhandle
Sunny days in the 60s (on average) add to the winter attraction of Florida Panhandle beaches, and superb weather in the spring, summer, and autumn make this location a top beach destination. Vacations in this area are frequently economical, although they are typically cheapest from November to February.
Choose Panama City Beach for its affordable hotels, restaurants, and clubs, such as Fairfield Inn & Suites Panama City Beach and Hampton Inn & Suites Panama City Beach-Beachfront. Visit Pensacola to enjoy a Blue Angels air show and see the National Naval Aviation Museum. Alternatively, share the expense of a vacation property with friends at Rosemary Beach, a gorgeous enclave with a magnificent beach, shops, and restaurants, or Grayton Beach, a quieter town that overlooks the Gulf of Mexico.
Waikiki, Hawaii
While beachfront hotels on Waikiki Beach may cost more than $400 per night, just a few streets away on Ala Wai Boulevard, you can find significantly cheaper lodging. Guests may stay at the Aqua Skyline at Island Colony or the Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki for less than $150 per night.
There are several inexpensive activities available, like resting at the beach, hiking Diamond Head, visiting the Waikiki Aquarium, riding about town on a Biki, renting a surfboard, or listening to live Hawaiian music. Marugame Udon and Steak Shack are both budget-friendly restaurants.