A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
Updated on Jun. 28, 2025
Seaside bliss starting at $140 per night? Pack your bathing suit and get the vacation started with these cheap hotels on the beach you won't believe cost so little!
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Rates: Starting at $140 per night
Located on Florida’s A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, the beachfront Nautilus Inn feels more “pinch me” getaway than “cheap beach hotel.” It’s ideal for families for a variety of reasons: For starters, kids stay free (no double-occupancy rates after two guests!), and accommodations feature kitchens with full-size appliances—great for satisfying picky pint-size eaters and staying healthy on your travels. Rooms also boast private balconies perfect for spying dolphins at play, and kids and adults can splash around in the oceanfront swimming pool…or walk just a few steps farther to frolic on the white-sand beach.
And while Florida may be famous for its amazing beaches, Daytona is, of course, also known for racing, cultural offerings and golf. The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, which is just a 15-minute drive away, is a special treat for car aficionados of all ages — and you can take a tour of the Daytona International Speedway. Another highlight is the Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS), a nationally accredited, Smithsonian-affiliated museum which sits on a 90-acre nature preserve. The impressive facility features an interactive experience for kids at the Charles and Linda Williams Children’s Museum and a state-of-the-art planetarium. And for golfers, you’ll find 20 courses, including LPGA International, a highly-acclaimed 36-hole course designed by Rees Jones and Arthur Hill.
To avoid the crowds and high prices, don’t plan your vacation in February, during the Daytona 500 festivities. Summer brings the lowest rates, but you can also find deals during the spring and fall.
Rates: Starting at $249 per night
Relax and reconnect with your besties on a girls weekend getaway at the AAA-rated Four Diamond Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes. With its oceanfront setting and indoor and outdoor pools, it’s pretty darn perfect for catching up with friends and much-needed time for R&R. Exhausted after a busy workweek? The resort’s Hibiscus Spa features signature massages, body treatments and facials. As the sun sets, reminisce over handcrafted cocktails at the Ocean Blu Restaurant and Lounge, or head into town for dinner and drinks. Summer here is busy, of course, but you’ll see a dip in rates (and crowds) once September hits and the kids head back to school.
Oh, and don’t forget to go shopping guilt-free. After all, one of the perks to saving on your hotel is that you just might have some extra cash to spend elsewhere! While you’re at it, check out the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade, and take a spin on the 187-foot-high SkyWheel for some memorable Atlantic Ocean panoramas.
Rates: Starting at $168 per night
This modern pet-friendly oceanfront property sits directly on Virginia Beach, offering views of the Atlantic Ocean and the boardwalk. The spacious rooms and suites feature separate living areas where you, the kids and your furry pal can spread out and unwind. You may even see dolphins and whales when you’re relaxing on your private balcony. Additional amenities include an indoor and outdoor pool, a fitness center with Peloton equipment, a complimentary breakfast and a casual lounge and bar area, The Placery. While the prime time to visit isthe summer because of the warm weather, you can take advantage of cheaper fares and rates during the shoulder season, which is typically late spring (May to early June) and early fall (September to October).
Take time for a walk along the 3-mile-long Virginia Beach Boardwalk, which features a kid-friendly playground on the beach called JT’s Grommet Island Park. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants along the boardwalk — and make sure to visit 31st Street Park for live performances. Looking for other types of family adventures? A 10-minute car ride will lead you straight to two excellent options: the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (where you shouldn’t miss the Sharks After Dark experience) and the seasonal Ocean Breeze Waterpark, which is waterslide heaven.
Virginia Beach is a pet-friendly destination, but check the times you can bring your pup on the beaches and on the boardwalk as it varies throughout the year.
Rates: Starting at: $269 per night
If you’re ready for a dream wedding on the beach, consider planning your special day at One Ocean Resort & Spa, a beachfront property, less than 20 miles west of Jacksonville, Florida. This upscale resort sits on the Atlantic Ocean and offers coastal-inspired rooms and suites, many with ocean views and balconies. They also have Pure Wellness rooms, designed to be 99.99 percent free of allergens, and there are pet-friendly rooms so your pup can join you for the big celebration. Best of all, their wedding specialist can take away the stress of planning the event, assisting with everything from vendor selection and menu planning to create either an intimate, elegant affair or a lavish reception for hundreds of guests.
Before the ceremony, check into The Spa at One Ocean for a relaxing massage or body treatment. There’s also an on-site restaurant with ocean views, Azurea, which features local seafood and dishes inspired by Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas. For lunch and shopping or a night out with your spouse-to-be or bridal party, the resort is next to Beaches Town Center, where a few venues feature daily happy hours and live music. And for guests arriving from out of town, the hotel is just 26 miles from Jacksonville International Airport.
For some of the nicest weather and best hotel rates, look at traveling (and getting married) between March and May or in the fall, from September to November.
Rates: Starting at $204 per night
Situated on Miami’s famed Collins Avenue, the recently renovated Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel features interiors inspired by the glamour of South Beach’s Art Deco history, with a palette of neutral and muted tropical tones and black and white patterns. Many guest rooms have garden or city views, while some king-bedded oceanfront accommodations offer Atlantic Ocean views from the private terraces. At the onsite K’Alma Spa, you can indulge in the South Beach lifestyle with a massage or signature treatment in the privacy of your guest room or at the Daydream Spa Cabana. The hotel also has two dining venues, the social club and High Tide Beach Bar & Grill. And you’ll find activities throughout the day at the hotel, including yoga classes, Aqua Zumba, pool games and a daily social hour.
When you’re ready to hit the town, the hotel is just minutes from two popular parks, Flamingo Park and Lummus Park, and the pedestrian-only Lincoln Road Mall, which is a bustling shopping, entertainment and cultural arts district. You’re also close to museums, theaters, Espanola Way (known for its international cuisine, live music and more) and Ocean Drive, with its stunning Art Deco architecture, historic hotels and vibrant nightlife — which is one of the reasons why you came to visit Miami and South Beach.
To score some of the cheapest hotel rates for your stay, consider traveling to Miami during the summer—and even into late fall (November), which is considered the low season due to potential hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean.
Rates: Starting at $271 per night
Tolvana Inn sits on Cannon Beach in Oregon’s northern coast, approximately 80 miles west of Portland. The popular destination is known for its rugged beauty and Haystack Rock, a sea stack that rises 235 feet from the sand and the ocean. In fact, National Geographic named Cannon Beach one of the world’s most beautiful places. The pet-friendly suites at the inn feature private balconies, kitchens and fireplaces; some offer panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Haystack Rock. The property also has an indoor saltwater pool, a whirlpool spa and sauna, a fitness center and an onsite restaurant where you can sample local fish and shellfish, Mo’s Seafood & Chowder. In addition, there’s a Fresh Foods Marketplace conveniently located across from the inn where you can purchase items to stock the kitchen for your stay.
While there, you and your family can go birdwatching at Haystack Rock, which is home to many species of birds, including gulls, tufted puffins and cormorants or take hikes through the rainforest at Ecola State Park and along the beach. Be sure to look for migrating gray whales from mid-December to mid-January or from late March to May — and you may see seals and sea lions frolicking in the water or along the shoreline, but be sure to keep at a distance, especially if you’re walking with your pup. In addition to the birds and marine life, don’t be surprised if you encounter herds of Roosevelt elk during the quiet season (typically September through May), especially early in the morning or late in the evening (which is also when you’ll find the best rates).
Rates: Starting at: $269 per night
Cape Rey Carlsbad is a Hilton resort and spa set in a nature reserve on the northern coast of San Diego, just steps from the water. You can’t beat the location, but that’s just the beginning. Carlsbad is a golf lover’s paradise, known as “The Golf Manufacturing Capital of the World,” where golfers can play at some of the country’s best courses — and get fitted by companies like Titleist, Callaway Golf, TaylorMade and others. The resort also offers a Stay to Play package in partnership with one of the nearby courses, The Crossings at Carlsbad Golf Course.
The hotel’s aesthetic is vibrant and modern, plus, as with most beachfront hotels, there are plenty of seaside activities. Take a surf lesson, enjoy butler service on the beach from the comfort of your personal cabana or go on a whale-watching adventure. These amenities span all ages, but golfers with families will additionally love this hotel for its proximity to some of the area’s best kid-friendly attractions, including LegoLand California and the San Diego Zoo. Look for lower rates in January and February and after the summer, between September and early November.
Rates: Starting at $198 per night
This family-friendly oceanfront resort, located in Jekyll Island’s Beach Village, features rooms and suites with island and ocean views, some with balconies and sweeping panoramas of the Atlantic Ocean. The modern beach-inspired accommodations offer Westin’s signature amenities, including their Heavenly Beds — and the resort is pet-friendly, so you, the kids and your BFF (best furry friend) can have a restful night on the comfy bedding. There are several onsite options for dining, including the popular Willett’s Lowcountry and Pour Tabby, where you can sample local favorites like pickled Georgia shrimp, Lowcountry boil and Brunswick stew. You’ll also find a fitness center and an outdoor pool. In addition, you can rent bicycles, which is one of the best ways for your family to explore the island.
Jekyll Island, one of Georgia’s Golden Isles, is known for its unspoiled beaches and unique historic area, which was once an exclusive winter retreat to some of the famous “Robber Barons” of the late 1880s Gilded Age, including J.P. Morgan, Marshall Field and William K. Vanderbilt. You can visit the historic area and beautiful mansions around the Jekyll Island Club Resort on foot, by bicycle or take a guided trolley tour. Other family-friendly activities around the island include mini golf, a dolphin tour by boat and a visit to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, the state’s only sea turtle rehabilitation and educational facility.
You’ll find pleasant weather with cooler temperatures and less humidity after Labor Day and into the winter, which is considered the low season for this coastal destination.
Rates: Starting at $220 per night
Rarely (if ever) is the top-ranked place to stay in an area this affordable, but the AAA Four Diamond–rated Grand Galvez is a delightful exception. Open since 1911, the “Queen of the Gulf” is the only historic beachfront property on the Texas Gulf Coast. In addition to its ideal location, this Spanish Colonial icon flaunts a recently renovated saline pool with a swim-up bar and hot tub. There’s also the Grand Galvez Spa, ideal for unwinding with a Texas Ruby signature massage, a visit to the steam room and a Swiss shower.
When exploring Galveston’s 32-mile coastline, you’ll want to visit the Moody Gardens complex, which features the 1.5-million-gallon Aquarium Pyramid, a Rainforest Pyramid with more than 1,700 endangered animals and exotic plants, a zipline and ropes course, a paddlewheel boat and a 3D theater. And plan to visit the four districts in Downtown Galveston: The Strand, West Market, Pier 21 and Postoffice Street. Each diverse area offers a variety of attractions, eateries, shopping and entertainment.
You’ll find fewer crowds and lower prices during Galveston’s shoulder season (late fall and early spring) and in the winter, from December through February (avoiding the holidays in December).
Rates: Starting at $295 per night
Once a fabled retreat for celebrities in the 1920s, La Casa del Camino reads less “Old Hollywood” these days and more “new-wave surfer.” The high point of the hotel—other than its prime position overlooking the Pacific Ocean—is the 10 Surf Suites, designed in partnership with Billabong, Roxy, Rip Curl, Etnies, Quiksilver, LSPACE and Lost. Upstairs, the rooftop lounge impresses with frame-worthy panoramas and mojitos made with fresh fruit.
And there’s much to see and do in Laguna Beach. Aside from beach volleyball and a charming village filled with shops and plein air art galleries, the area is home to a variety of art festivals. Check out the seasonal Laguna Beach Sawdust Festival for work from local artisans, as well as the magical Festival of the Arts Pageant of the Masters, when well-known works of art are recreated by onstage actors.
The low season is typically between November and February, but you may still find good deals on the hotel in March and April or October, which are the shoulder season months for Laguna Beach.
Rates: Starting at $283 per night
The Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel is known as Hawaii’s first craft hotel. The oceanfront property is designed with an island vibe and features Hawaiian artwork and photographs, locally made beer, artisan foods, local entertainment and more. Couples will also have plenty to do in the capital city of Honolulu with its exciting culinary scene (check out the poke bowls, kalua pig and shaved ice), shopping, entertainment, golden sand beaches and nearby outdoor attractions, including waterfalls and volcanoes. For a special celebration, splurge on a one-bedroom ocean view suite for your stay, which features two balconies and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.
One of the top things to do in Hawaii is to explore the scenery by helicopter, and some companies even offer doors off tours for the spectacular views and optimal video and photo opportunities. You can also go snorkeling with sea turtles and manta rays, take surfing lessons, kayak and whale watch and linger at sea as the sun sets over the Pacific on a catamaran cruise. Back at the hotel, you’ll want to spend an evening at Cirque di Soleil’s exclusive new show, ‘Auana, a Hawaiian-inspired spectacle with live music, comedy and mesmerizing acrobatics.
Check the rates between mid-April to early June and September to mid-December for some of the best pricing on your hotel stay.
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on the best beaches with warm water, writer Gwen Pratesi tapped her experience as an avid traveler and freelance writer. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
