Beach Vacation on LITTLE budget!

[Mrs.CLB]

Hello everyone.

My husband and I are wanting to take my two little sisters (16 and 13) on a roadtrip this summer to the beach. We live in MO, and were thinking of going to Myrtle Beach, SC, but the more I think about 18 hours in a car, the more I hate the idea. A few years ago, some gfs and I went to Destin, FL, and it was only 14 hours, but I figured it would be bad due to the hurricanes....

I need some input, as my google-searching is only further frustrating me! Does anyone know what our best bet would be to drive to a beach from here? Texas? Florida? South Carolina? What do you guys think?

My sisters don't have the best living circumstances so my husband and I try to do things for them whenever we can. I want them to experiece the beach!!!!

Please let me know what you think! THANKS!

 

[SC]

Beach Vacation

I used to live in Texas, and I know a lot of people love the beaches there, but to me they don't compare with those in Florida. My husband and I usually go to Gulf Shores, AL, and I think it has recovered from past hurricanes, but I'm not 100% sure. We usually get a good deal there, especially if we go really early or late in the summer. I'm not sure how far that is from MO, but it would be worth the drive.

 

[Miss C]

Pensacola?

My brother is in school in Pensacola. The beaches there are beautiful!

 

[Kiwi]

Destin

My hubby and I just got back form Ft. Walton Beach, which is just minutes from Destin. We found a decent rate on a hotel and it was beautiful and not very crowded. You can usually find great deals on Priceline.com.

 

[javamomma]

Destin

I love Destin.
I dont think they are that bad due to storms.
My favorite web site to rent from is www. VRBO . com (vacation rentals by owners)
you can save much more than the cost of renting a unit from a rental agency. We have done this several times and have never been disappointed.

Also, we have stayed just down the beach at Fort Walton

 

[javamomma]

just thought of something

Many one bedroom condos have the hall bunks, so you would have plenty of sleeping room without paying for a 2 bedroom.

 

[istoleahalo]

Don't worry about Florida beaches being messed up...most have bounced back beautifully! I live in Cocoa Beach and you can barely tell anything happened. Tourism (the beaches and DIsney mainly) is a large income for Florida so they were among the first to rebuild and open back up. Enjoy your trip wherever you go.

 

[Brooke S.]

Destin, FL

I live in Destin and we did not have much damage from the hurricanes. Believe me everything is back to normal around here. Have fun on your vacation. I you decide to come to Destin I will fill you in on everything you don't want to miss.

 

[slooper]

navarre beach

Check out the prices for navarre beach in florida. Last time I went they were quite a bit cheaper than destin and ft. walton.

 

[fun_friend]

I really like all the places mentioned that are on the Gulf.

The Atlantic coast is nice too. Fernandina Beach/Amelia Island is nice and cheap in the northeasternmost corner of Florida. I also like St. Augustine. If you need something to do off the beach, the town is nice and so is the old fort built in the 1500s.

 

[elmolisa]

Biloxi

Dh and I stayed in a hotel on the beach (well across the road as the highway runs along the beach in Biloxi/Gulfport) for 49.00 a night 3 years ago. This was during the week, the rates double on weekends. I would recommend going sometime Sunday-Thursday b/c of the discounts. We drove there from NW Arkansas and the drive wasn't too bad. Also, Biloxi is only about 3 hours from Pensacola, FL if you want them to be able to say they've been to Florida as opposed to Mississippi.

 

[istoleahalo]

St Augustine is AWESOME (I lived there for a while too during college). The beaches are beautiful and St Auggie itself is a full (or more) days adventure. You have the Castillo, the spanish mission, the lighthouse, Spanish village, Lightner Museum, and St. George Street all right there together, and a little further on is Fort Matanzas. You should also stop in and see a bit of Flagler College, it is beautiful!

 

[lauree]

I think you have the right idea about Destin. I live in St. Louis and we have driven there a few times. However, I think you can do it a little cheaper by going to Ft. Walton Beach, which is about 15 miles from Destin. I know someone whose vacation was cancelled last year due to hurricanes, but they are going to Destin this year, so maybe things are o.k.. If I remember correctly, it was kind of hit or miss in that area.

When we were in Ft. Walton we stayed at a very reasonably priced place called "The Sandman". It wasn't the fanciest room in the world, but it had a bedroom, kitchenette, a living room area. It was clean and it was right on the beach. The pool area there was very nice.

Good luck. My daughter really enjoyed that and she is 16 now also.

If you go anywhere in that area, be sure to visit "The Donut Hole" and "Gilligan's"