Top Destinations for Affordable Beach Vacations for Couples

Destin, Florida

Eat+Drink

Head to 9300 Emerald Coast Highway to hit the water with your sweetie and SunQuest Cruises. Board the SOLARIS yacht to enjoy a full bar and luxurious three-course meal before dancing to live music! Contact the company for a more intimate affair, and they’ll help create a seating arrangement or special cruise just for you.

For a seaside view without being on the water, visit Henderson Park Inn at 2700 Scenic Highway. Their Beach Walk Cafe features deck seating with incredible views of the Gulf of Mexico. Dine on fresh local ingredients, from shrimp cocktails to pork chops with vegetable sides.

See+Do

Visit 200 Henderson Resort Way to relax with your sweetie in a couples massage at Salamander Spa at Harrison Beach Resort. The 10,000-square-foot treatment center features many ways to relax, from buoyant baths to the Himalayan Salt Room. You’re sure to find a few options to get away together.

Pack a light picnic (think wine, cheese, and crackers) and head to the closest beach to take in a sunset or stare at the stars. Bring a blanket to lie on or wrap up in if you get chilly, and don’t forget to download a star gazing app ahead of time to learn the romantic stories of constellations like Pegasus and Cassiopeia.

Stay

As far as places to stay, book a beach condo with water views for under $100 per night! Bookings for this affordable vacation rental include a fun pass that covers activities like a round of golf, free admission to Big Kahuna’s Water Park, a free ride aboard The Sea Blaster Dolphine Cruise, and more!

San Diego, California

Eat+Drink

Michelin-rated Catania at 7863 Girard Avenue offers Mediterranean and Italian favorites like wood-fired pizza and seafood. Sit on the patio and hold intimate conversations with your loved one, with the Pacific Ocean as your backdrop. The Aperol spritz, made with orange, soda, and prosecco, pairs well with the shrimp risotto. Don’t forget a cardamom panna cotta or olive oil cake to share (or not!)

Altitude Sky Lounge at 660 K Street offers views of the surrounding Gaslamp Quarter and San Diego Bay. Sip a pink sky martini made with vodka, passion fruit liqueur, fresh strawberries, white cranberry, and champagne as you watch the sun go down. Or, try a spiced pear mule with horchata vodka, spiced pear liqueur, lime juice, and ginger beer. Food is also served, like Caprese flatbread and house club sandwiches.

See+Do

After grabbing dinner and drinks, head to Balboa Park to stroll hand in hand. The 1,200-acre green space includes 17 museums, the San Diego Zoo, and many eateries, and it is a popular place to meander and people-watch. Make sure to stop by the Botanical Building and Lily Pond to see the beautiful flora and reflections in the pool.

Steal a smooch with your sweetie on a gondola ride with Gondola Company at 503 Grand Caribe Causeway on the San Diego Bay. The romantic 50-minute rides take you through the Coronado Cays on a private tour or with up to four others. You’ll feel like you’re in Italy as you sip wine and cuddle under a blanket beneath the stars.

Stay

Couples will love snuggling up at this stunning vacation rental across the street from Sunset Cliffs. Soak up the sun in the zen backyard, beautifully landscaped with waterfall and fountain features. And when it’s time for dinner, fire up the gas grill for a breezy cookout, then dine alfresco in the cool SoCal air.

The view from one of many affordable San Diego vacation rentals

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Eat+Drink

Visit 5001 North Kings Highway to eat at The Melting Pot Restaurant, combining fondue and Southern cuisine. Try the four-course dinner menu starting with cheese fondue and salad before moving on to an entree and chocolate fondue for two. Try the Wisconsin cheddar or spinach artichoke fondue served with artisanal bread, cheese, and seasonal vegetables. Don’t leave without the signature flaming turtle fondue, a mix of milk chocolate, caramel, and flambéed candied pecans!

Head to 2005 North Ocean Boulevard to Strong Waters Craft Cocktails when you’re ready for drinks. The Prohibition-era establishment specializes in “Farm to shaker” drinks, using the freshest local ingredients. Notice the barrels behind the bar that are full of aging moonshine! You’ll love the signature cocktails like the hornet’s nest (gin, smoked honey citrus, and Yellow Chartreuse) and the rotating menu of craft beers with favorites like the Coast Dead Arm and Westbrook One Claw.

See+Do

Need a break from the hustle and bustle? Go to Brookgreen Gardens at 1931 Brookgreen Drive. Voted one of the U.S.’s Top Ten Best Public Gardens, this green space is perfect for strolling with a loved one and admiring the 9,127 acres of greenery. Make sure to stop in the butterfly garden to watch colorful insects float among equally stunning flowers.

Want to live a romantic comedy moment and ride horseback into the sunset? You can do just that with Grand Strand Horseback Riding. Trot along the beautiful beach or among 100 acres of horseback trails. The gentle horses will help you see parts of Myrtle Beach you’d never see on foot or by car, like woodlands and shorelines. Connect to nature and each other while enjoying the company of these awe-inspiring animals.

Stay

Wake up to the sound of ocean waves and views of sugar-white sand from the private balcony of this affordable vacation rental. For an average nightly rate of $75, couples will swoon over this oceanview condo on the 15th floor at Palms Resort. As a guest of this resort, you’ll also enjoy year-round swimming in the spacious indoor pool and soothing

Gulf Shores, Alabama

Eat+Drink

On your next date night, head to Perch at 21196 East Beach Boulevard for cocktails and sunsets! The bar and terrace serve fresh seafood and handcrafted cocktails, all with the ambiance of the ocean out every window. Enjoy a chilled seafood tower or Delmonico ribeye, and finish the night sipping an Irish coffee or espresso martini. The triple key lime pie is a favorite!

Pull up seats on the intimate patio at Big Fish Restaurant at 25814 Canal Road. The sushi here is fresh and flavorful, and diners enjoy watching chefs prepare their food in the open-air kitchen. Try glazed shrimp skewers and sauteed shrimp penne pasta with their impressive wine menu. Champagne cocktails like the Berri Sophisticated (Absolut Acai, blueberry liquor, lime juice, and sparkling soda) pair perfectly with their seafood dishes.

See+Do

Browse the sweets at Chocolate Corner at 200 West Fort Morgan Road. Pick your favorites from toffees and gourmet truffles and bring them on a dolphin cruise with Southern Rose Parasailing and Dolphin Cruises. Nom on your treats as you spot dolphins jumping and playing in the water. The boat leaves Happy Harbor Marina at 27212 Marina Road, with tours lasting from 1.5 to 2 hours.

Visit the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach at 26389 Canal Road to browse fine arts galleries. The waterfront gallery also hosts a clay studio and hot shop where you can try your hands at pottery (a la “Ghost”) or make blown glass creations! You can even do a gallery scavenger hunt if you’re feeling adventurous.

Stay

Score a stellar last minute deal on this updated Plantation West condo. This ground-floor beach rental boasts central access to resort features, including pools, tennis courts, an onsite bar and grill, and the beach access path.

Ocean City, Maryland

Eat+Drink

Sunset Grill at 12933 Sunset Avenue is the perfect place to celebrate your love with a waterside meal. Choose from the four bars and six dining areas with entrees like crab cakes and sesame-crusted tuna mignon. Sip on cocktails like peach and mango crushes or mojitos. The turtle brownie sundae is worth the trip alone!

Lighthouse Sound at 12723 Saint Martins Neck Road offers unparalleled ocean views on an 18-hole golf course. The upscale dining establishment is known for its crab cakes and specializes in seafood dishes such as Maryland crab soup. You’ll love the blackened fish sandwich with wild-caught white fish, avocado, pickled onions, and sriracha aioli served on a toasted brioche roll.

See+Do

Stroll the Ocean City Boardwalk, created in 1902, and pop in the many shops, restaurants, and amusement opportunities. Here during the summer season? Stop at Candy Kitchen for gummies and fudge to munch on as you revel in the water views. Then, visit the Funcade to school each other in pinball, skeeball, and air hockey. Off-season visitors love to bundle up and stroll the boardwalk, watching the wild waves.

When you’re ready to get pampered, go to A Perfect Face day spa at 12639 Ocean Gateway Village. The highly-rated relaxation experts will help you de-stress through massage, facials, nail care, and keratin hair treatments. You’ll leave feeling lighter and ready to spend more time with your loved one in beautiful Ocean City.

Stay

The sand and sea await in Ocean City at this charming condo just blocks from the beach. With bright, retro decor, a furnished balcony, and a full kitchen, you will enjoy all the comforts of home in a quaint beach setting. And at an average nightly rate of $61, you can afford to splurge on a few more dinners out.

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