“Get me to the beach immediately.” It’s getting to that time of year, when going to the beach isn’t just a luxury — it’s an urgent mission. So we’ve collected a group of beaches that are easiest to get to to make your trip that much more convenient.
And when we say easy to get to, we mean a sufficient number of nonstop flights, a relatively short trip from the airport and, of course, great hotels to stay at and, naturally, a great beach.
We like to call them “nonstop beaches.” You can call them your next trip.
Cable Beach, Nassau, Bahamas
It might the most underrated beach in the Caribbean: Cable Beach, the famous stretch of Nassau coastline with almost impossibly white sand, shimmering turquoise water and a great selection of resorts and hotels, from Sandals Royal Bahamian to Breezes to the Marley Resort.
Half Moon Beach, Montego Bay, Jamaica
It’s hard to find a great beach closer to an airport than the one at the Half Moon resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, a simply perfect stretch of sand that’s attached to one of the Caribbean’s greatest resorts. And it’s all about 10 minutes from the airport.
Playa Bavaro, Punta Cana
Land, go through customs, head to the beach. It’s about that simple in Punta Cana, which is blessed with a tremendous number of nonstop flights and a sparkling, wide, seemingly endless beach. And you have all kinds of options, from EP hotels like the Westin Puntacana and Tortuga Bay to all-inclusives like the Barcelo and the Paradisus.
Eagle Beach, Aruba
There are a few stretches of beach closer to the airport, but when you have one of the world’s best beaches in reach, it’s worth a few more minutes. Aruba has great airlift as well and a host of options on this beach, led by the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort.
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
It’s just about a 15-minute ride to this beach, which was recently voted as the Best Beach in the Caribbean by Caribbean Journal readers. And then you have a plethora of options, from the new Kimpton Seafire resort to the grande dame of the strip, the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
Simpson Bay, St. Maarten
Breeze through Princess Juliana airport and take a quick cab to Karakter, the legendary beach on the mile-long, white-sand Simpson Bay beach in St. Maarten, home to several good hotel options, including the Mary’s Boon Beach Resort and Spa and Choice Hotels’ Alegria.
Dickenson Bay, Antigua
One of Antigua’s best-loved beaches, Dickenson Bay is notable for its calm water and, well, its proximity to the airport. There are all kinds of hotel possibilities, from the venerable Siboney Beach Club to the large Sandals Grande Antigua.
Grace Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos
There are an increasingly wide range of nonstop options to get to Turks and Caicos, from Miami to Fort Lauderdale to Chicago to Newark to New York and, well, you get the picture. And there is no more spectacular beach than Providenciales’ Grace Bay, about a 15-minute drive from the airport. Where should you stay? The Sands at Grace Bay, The Palms and the Grace Bay Club are all great options.
Condado Beach, San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan’s Condado neighborhood is getting increasing attention for everything from its hopping culinary scene to its luxury shopping. But it’s also a great little beach destination, with a number of hotels in the area from the Marriott (above) to the Condado Vanderbilt. The best part? It’s just about 15 minutes from the airport.
The Ritz-Carlton in Cancun.
Cancun
The limitlessly popular Caribbean destination of Cancun has some of the broadest airlift options of any destination in the hemisphere, and its famous Hotel Zone is just about a 20-minute trip. There, you’ll find more than one great area of beach, along with very good hotels, including Secrets: The Vine, Le Blanc Spa Resort and the Ritz-Carlton, Cancun, among others.