We know not every traveler is the same. Sure, most of us would love to go to the beach this summer, but not all of us have the same type of beach vacation in mind. So we've broken down the categories for you to make your research a little easier. Below, see our top five picks for hot summer beach getaways, for five different styles of travel.
Summer Lovin'
A small, romantic resort that once drew Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller, the Jamaica Inn is about quiet luxury — a single thatch-roofed bar, a small pool, and beautiful rooms with oversize terraces and soft, colonial décor. This is not the place to party (the whole resort typically shuts down by midnight).
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Beachfront on a Budget
Punta Cana Hotel, Dominican Republic
Sometimes, we come across a deal so phenomenal, it makes us scratch our heads. That’s how we felt when we saw that the Punta Cana Hotel in the Dominican Republic is selling rooms for a mere $96 a night. Punta Cana Hotel’s 202 suites are steps away from the beach, on a giant property that includes the La Cana golf course, Six Senses spa, a nature preserve, eight restaurants, horse stables, and more. La Romana’s Casa de Campo is nearly identical, unless you’re a pro golfer — Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog beats La Cana.
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Family Fun
Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa, Maui
An extraordinarily elaborate pool complex — a veritable water park, in fact, with four waterslides, whitewater rapids, caves, a lazy-river pool, rope swings, and a “water elevator” inside a man-made volcano — puts the Grand Wailea in a class by itself when it comes to keeping the kids stimulated. Add in the 20,000-square-foot kids’ camp, complete with video arcade, Playstation room, and a small movie theater, and the only open question is whether your family will agree to return to ordinary life.
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Sandy Splurge
Paradise doesn’t come cheap. Striking but sober mood-lit design; impeccable service; huge, immaculate rooms; three pools, each a different temperature; and a prime beachside location make the Setai one of the best hotels in Miami.
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Bohemian Bliss
This ultra-remote, rustic luxe hideaway is worth the bumpy, two-and-a-half hour drive from Liberia Airport. The rooms aren’t as impressive as those at larger luxury resorts in the region, but the unparalleled views, stunning infinity pool, and ruggedly beautiful (if rocky) beach more than compensate. Plus, this is a hotel with a heart: Punta Islita is environmentally friendly, and gives back to the local community.
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More for you to discover:
- Oyster’s 9 Favorite Hidden Spot
- Secluded Island Retreats
- Paradise Unplugged: Our Favorite Tech-Free Havens
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