travel

Top 10 beach resorts for families on a budget from Parents magazine: 1. Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya, Bahamas 2. Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 3. South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island, ...

[Barbara]

I sure don't call these BUDGET beach resorts; takes quite a few big bucks to get there and stay at any one of these resorts.

[Carla]

These families are definitely on a different "budget" than I am!

[SaBa]

I have stayed at 3 of the 10 resorts listed here. The minimum that you need to spend for 2 adults and 2 children(food, hotel, etc.) per night at most of these places is > $325 (low-season) and $400 (high-season).
That is hardly "BUDGET" for 90% of Americans...
Can we get the reporters to write about true "BUDGET" locations? Please stay under $200 for a family of four...

[2day]

Acapulco used to be a bargain...but food has gotten quite expensive. And it's not for everyone. It is NOT a resort, it is a large city, with a lot of the problems of a large city.

However, it does have OK beaches if your aren't too picky. We went in March and Stayed at the fiesta Inn for US 110/night in a room which had a full view of the entire bay.(We went right after Easter which is high season... its' cheaper at other times).

BUT it's not for everyone... its for people who arent TOO picky, and don't mind seein the true side of other countries..and don't expect it to be just like the US.

Acapulco has hotels for every budget, but you get what you pay for. Of note is the family friendly Sands.. which has kitchenettes, across the street from the beach, and about $65/night.

[Pat]

I have stayed at Atlantis and am taking my family of 5 back in July. While we thoroughly enjoy this resort, it is hardly a "vacation on a budget." The author of this article really needs to get a clue!!!!!!!!!

What's next, "buying cars on a budget?" The list would probably include BMW, Ferrari, Infiniti, etc.

[EMD]

For a real budget trip, try Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. Most of the hotels offer rooms for a family for under $150 a night. For a couple, you can do better at $80-$100 a night. The beach is beautiful, plenty of shopping nearby, and great weather!

[Kiki]

Hawaiian Hilton is a BUDGET stay? On what planet? Any other reviewer puts it at one of the most expensive.
And let's not talk airfare to get to the island, either. I'm looking at taking a family of 5 in a few years... and planning on $4K in airfare at least.

[Curious]

I have never been - i would like to take my family this summer - any ideas as to a nice place to stay??

EMD wrote:

For a real budget trip, try Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. Most of the hotels offer rooms for a family for under $150 a night. For a couple, you can do better at $80-$100 a night. The beach is beautiful, plenty of shopping nearby, and great weather!

[Tom]

I agree with the other comments, whose budget are these people talking about?

With the rising cost of gasoline/airfare, my family budget beach vacation will be spent in town, along the shore of Lake Michigan.

[Smichael]

Atlantis? For families on a budget?

[Jen D]

Yes, do the beaches of the Great Lakes not count? Those are a bit closer to our "budget".

[jamal]

LABADEE is a great destination.SEING IT IS BELEIVING.IS GREAT.

[vanilla ice]

Get your kids some squirt guns and skip around the Bean in Millenium park. The Daley Resort,$ 10 dollar hot dogs and $ 4 dollar cokes. Vacation? If you live in Chicago and have the dough for family vacations, you all must be city employees or city contractors.

[EMD]

Curious wrote:

I have never been - i would like to take my family this summer - any ideas as to a nice place to stay??
<quoted text>

I've stayed at Sands Ocean Club Resort and Bay Watch Resort. If you search through expedia.com , you can get some amazing rates at places like the Sheraton, Hilton, etc. Make sure it is an oceanfront hotel so you can literally step onto the beach from the hotel.

I also want to mention the Kalahari Resort & Waterpark in Wisconson Dells. That place has everything for a family. The waterpark is huge, they have shops/restaurants, an arcade, a full spa/salon, bar, a paint your own pottery place, and daily planned activities for kids. I've gone for a weekend and never left the hotel. I highly recommend the couples massage at the spa, the giant strawberry daquiri at the bar, and get the room with the whirlpool hot tub and fireplace. I think I paid around $150 a night during peak season for the room, the waterpark is included with all the rooms.