Please help. I’m planning my better half’s 50th Birthday trip for end of Feb 2023.
Looking for recommendations on your favourite beach vacation. Want to spend 10 days at the location, not including travel time. TIA

Are you thinking all inclusive...or private house rental?

Chris Either! I am totally open to suggestions:) If it’s a house rental, would need to be somewhere a bit close to a town preferably and of course the Beach

Iberostar Paraiso Beach / del Mar / Lindo / Maya / Grand Resort Group Page is AMAZING!! We have celebrated our 20th anniversary there and my 45th birthday. You are waited on hand and foot.

Imperial Valentin was amazing

Last Oct I went to Dominican, Punta Cana. Stayed at an adult only, all inclusive called Ambar. Restaurants were great and the swim up rooms were phenomenal. Beach was clear and sandy...it was great and easily affordable...

Huatulco is my favourite beach destination

Definitely Aruba! Amazing beaches, food, people!! Best snorkelling we have ever seen.

We celebrated my husbands 50th at Excellence Riviera Cancun in an ocean view swim out suite.
The rooms are massive. There are 2 jetted tubs - one in the room and another on the deck. You could probably fit 3 people in the shower.
The food - especially the steaks & lobster were amazing. The service was exceptional.
If you book the refundable rate (room only) it includes free private transfer to & from the airport in a gorgeous SUV.
It’s our new vacation spot as nothing else has ever compared on all levels.

Sharon Elizabeth we’ve been to 2 Excellence resorts. By far the most luxurious resorts we’ve been to

Laurie we’re hooked!!!!

Sharon Elizabeth well. I’m glad we went when we were both working. In retirement it’s a little out of our price range. And. westjet does not offer them as a part of their vacation packages anymore

Laurie book a year plus out and prices are much better.
We always fly United first class for less than westjet economy.

Sharon Elizabeth oh. Good idea! Thanks for the tip!

Laurie Wow. This looks incredible thanks!

Hawaii

Maui!

Our absolute favourite is Jamaica at Couples Swept Away in Negril. Excellent food and by far the best beach we’ve ever been to

We went there for our honeymoon in 2013 We wanted to go back next year for our 10th but it's so damn expensive

Turks and Caicos.
Beautiful. The sand is as soft as pancake mix.

Sue ahh I could use this now!

Sue did you stay at a resort there ?

Lynda yes…Ocean Club

Following

Ixtapa!

Betty where in Ixtapa please?

Darlene Mexico pacific side below pv

Betty Hi Betty. We are going to a condo in Ixtapa in February. Any tips?

Darlene go to la ropa, travel around on bus or walk! Great music at the general! Watch sunset at ixtapa.

Betty will do. Where did you stay. Please pm me if you like

Betty where did you get your PCR test to come home!

Darlene we were not there this year.

Betty thank you

Bavaro beach... Dominican..water Fabolous.. very warm like bath water ..have been there 4times!!!

Hawaii. My personal favorite island is Kauai. But for 10 days you could quite easily do 2 islands. Maui is wonderful, I also loved the Big Island. Oahu I was just meh about. You could just go to Miami for the same vibe.

Maui!

Hawaii

Greece

Ashley Michelle Hi Ashley. Any idea where in Greece and if it’s hot in March?

Lesley not sure about temp in March it was nice in June. I went to Mykonos

Lesley I took this, no filter

Ashley Michelle wow!! So pretty. But the weather in March isn’t as warm as we are looking for. I will plan for a trip in late spring maybe for Greece:)

Maui!

Antiqua -AMAZING.

Just get out and back pack!
I will go back to Europe n for 10 days? U will have the best.
Don’t plan too much
What matters is we are alive n another year added!
Blindfold and put ur finger on the map! There u go!

Oh i missed that part! That’s for next year??
Pray n plan!
That’s too far ahead.
We live one day at a time.
One plan one step at a time.
You are way ahead .
Take it easy! I won’t even say save up!
Pray n entrust God everything.

Min I’m looking to book a year in advance. That’s not too far ahead. It’s smart and it can save you money:)

no, don't think of it that way. 3 months is the best allowance. i travel a lot, and never booked longer than 3 months,. and i travel with my family. fam of 5. look around for deals.,

Min I’ve been to hundreds of places. Well travelled and always book ahead. It works for us.

Puerto Vallarta

i second mexico

Secrets Akumal or Maroma Beach. Both in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. Also liked Majestic Resorts in Punta Cana, they have several options with Adult only. Previous comment mentioned Ambar, which I believe they are referring to the Bahia Principe complex. It is very nice.

Barbados. ARBNB at Rockley Golf & country club. Beautiful white sandy beaches.

I would highly recommend somewhere in the Bahia of Banderas area (the big bay immediately north of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco). Bucerias, La Cruz, Punta de Mita, San Pancho, Chacala are all lovely and not overly crowded like Sayulita. It's beautiful, the weather will be fabulous and that particular part of Mexico is doing very well with keeping COVID numbers down.

Judith royal decameron is good. Beautiful sunsets and walking distance to Bucerias. Not a high end resort but had good food and lots to do. Love ixtapa better for the ocean.

Huatulco, secrets

Love Huatulco, guaranteed good weather

For a special birthday, don't do the typical resort destinations. Definitely consider going to Roatan. Having traveled all over the world, I believe this is the most beautiful place. Stay at Infinity Bay Resort and Spa in West Bay. Include breakfast but don't do all inclusive, there are so many lovely little places to eat all up and down the beach. The snorkeling is better than the Great Barrier Reef in my opinion. Seriously, google some pictures of West Bay.

Amanda As a "jumping off point", since you mentioned Roatan. I would suggest "Sandy Cay". It's an entire little private island you can rent for yourself. You get there by a little private water taxi from Roatan/Utila. It's a magical experience to have a little island all to yourself.
http://www.utilacaysrentals.com/sandy-cay.html
UTILACAYSRENTALS.COM
Sandy Cay

Bali or Koh Samui, Thailand. The flight times are worth it.
I would recommend moving locations after five days. Even though the islands are small there is so much to experience.

Carolyn we’ve been to Koh Samui and all over Thailand. Great suggestion. I should have mentioned I’m looking for an exotic place. I also moved to Calgary from Hawaii….So the Hawaii suggestions are just too bland for us. No one has suggested Maldives or Philippines. Have you been to either?

The Algarve in Portugal....awesome beaches, great food & wine, people are amazing, golf courses are plenty, lots of sightseeing possibilities, oh and Port!

Cody I love this. But what’s the Weather end of Feb or early March?

Great question...I have only been there in September......

Roatan during a full moon phase.

Murray where is Roatan?

Robbin Honduras. Tabyana beach is amazing in Roatan.

Ramona thank you.

I will second, third and fourth Roatan!
Or for something EXTRA special look up Anse Chastenet in St Lucia. Unforgettable.

For my 50th we went to Waikiki ... as in Hawaii 5-0

The best beaches.....Aruba, turks and Caicos, and Barbados. If you want to do something cool and different check out the island of Mustique. Magical, private and an incredible experience.

Choose something with direct flights. So much nicer, less complications.

Bali

Katie Leclair

I spent my 50th in St. Maarten, and it was the best time. Loved the vibe, the weather, and the scene. It’s as busy or relaxing as you want. Expense-wise, compare it to Hawaii for your $

Patty love St Maarten, the beach and the ambiance!

Patty thank you. Where did you stay? This is one of my top choices so far.

Lesley We booked a penthouse condo in Maho on the Dutch side. It was super close to everything. It was pricey, but worth it. Keep in mind it was just before the major hurricane that wiped out the island, so I’m not sure of a good place to go there now. They’ve certainly rebuilt, but I don’t know that the condos we were at have rebuilt. They were called Blue Marine. You could check out some places on Simpson Bay if you like nearby nightlife and restaurants.

Patty no tax in St. Maarten. Cheaper than Hawaii.

Ramona what about the price of food/drinks?

Lesley I found it cheaper than Hawaii. But it may have changed since we were there. A beer on the beach was like $2

Ramona I’m referring to the overall cost of living there. I stand by my opinion it’s close to Hawaii in overall cost, considering currency exchange. Yes, alcohol is cheap, but groceries and other daily living expenses are not.

Patty loved St Maarten!

Little Corn Island Nicaragua

I’d love to go to Bora Bora for my 50’th!

Ramona me too!

If you want exotic, off the beaten path and have travel time to get there - look up the Perhentian islands in Malaysia.

Bermuda best trip we ever took from glass bottom boats to crystal caves to dances on the beach it was awesome

Jamaica Sandals resort with the cabanas over the ocean - adults only resort

Tiffany this sounds incredible. Thank you.

Australia
maybe too far to go for 10 days though

Tessa Myrfield Not too far at all. Where do you recommend there specifically

Lesley if you’re looking for spectacular beaches, I was so impressed with the east coast. Surfers paradise is lovely but a bit commercial. I’m a bigger fan of far North Queensland so Cairns area, bonus here is you have good access to the Great Barrier Reef. Another awesome option is the Whitsundays- absolutely spectacular. My personal favourite beach experience in Australia though was at staying overnight in our camper van at Birubi beach in New South Wales. Amazing place with sand dunes and I think we might have done a beach walk on camels lol.
Have a great trip!!

Lesley if you’ve never been down under before and only have 10 days, I’d go North to Cairns and see the reef. It might not be with us much longer due to pollution etc. Tons to do up there as well, the Daintree rainforest is amazing. Go see Mossman Gorge.

Tessa Myrfield Whitsundays is definitely a wonderful option. Thank you!!

Lesley I recommend The intercontinental hotel or the resort on daydream island in the Whitsundays! And a trip to Sydney for a show and dinner at the opera house! (Bennelong restaurant)

Have you ever been to Chile?
My folks have a Hostal in the outskirts of Pucon, one of the most touristic town in Chile, there’s lots of adventurous things to do and most people in town speak English. Is not a resort but is one of a kind outing,
Here’s a photo of the surroundings and algo their Facebook page.
Mirador Laguna el León y Turismo Rural Paihuen