Spring fever has never hit us so hard with most mask mandates on planes, trains and automobiles being lifted. Here are some cool places to visit whether you want a surf safari, adults-only experience, the best beach for LGTBTQ+ or to simply just chill.
Hawaii
What’s New: We recently reported on how to spend Earth Day giving back on these islands and with its travel restrictions and mask mandate completely lifted as of March 25, Hawaii is one of the most sought-after U.S domestic destinations to visit this spring.
Where to Stay:
Hotel Wailea on Maui is an adults-only boutique luxury hotel that is great for couples, small groups and foodies. Guests can try traditional Hawaiian dishes during weekly Kiawe Nights, dine in a treehouse, explore the island in a 1957 Porsche, or embark on a private Surf Safari.
Kaimana Beach Hotel in Honolulu is great for families, friend groups and fitness lovers with newly reimagined oceanfront rooms at a reasonable $249 per night. Activities include stand-up paddle-boarding with a local longboard champ and lively beachside dining at onsite restaurant Hau Tree.
Also in Honolulu, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is a newly renovated oceanfront property is with a new open-air pool, amenity deck and exclusive partnership with the legendary Waikiki Beach Boys for water sports.
Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
What’s New: Riviera Nayarit was just named the best beach destination for LGTBTQ+ travelers in 2022 by the LGBT+ Travel Awards Mexico.
Where to Stay:
Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita: The resort just completed a comprehensive multi-year, multi-million-dollar renovation that revealed a sleek new mezcal bar called MEZ, newly renovated casita-style guestrooms, villas, beach homes and revitalized pools.
Turks & Caicos
What’s New: Grace Bay Beach on the island of Providenciales was just named 2022’s best beach in the world by TripAdvisor so the below options are definitely for a splurge or getting a group together.
Where to Stay:
Grace Bay Club: With a 1,100-foot stretch of beach in the heart of Grace Bay, there’s no better place to enjoy the world’s best beach than the first luxury all-suite resort in TCI. Stylish oceanfront suites are a home base for adventures like sailing, kayaking and horseback riding.
Private Villa Collection: For those who prefer private vacation rentals but can’t live without five-star service, these oceanfront luxury accommodations offer both. Villas start at 5,500 square-feet and feature private pools with beach access, a personal chef and private bartender.
Bahamas
Sitting only 50 miles off the coast of South Florida, the obscure seven-mile-long island of Bimini, Bahamas, boasts tropical, off-the-beaten-path vibes.
Where to Stay:
Resorts World Bimini is home to a chic hotel, spa, private marina, and a new Tulum-like beach with cabanas, hammocks and palapas. Here you can indulge in pool or beachside Bahamian snacks such as conch fritters or rent a golf cart and explore the sleepy town with food stands, dive bars, Bimini bread bakeries and crystal-clear water beaches.
Local tour operator, Bimini Blue Adventure can take guests out to Triangle Rocks to swim with reef sharks and to the S.S. Sapona shipwreck (a former rum runner ship that ran aground during a hurricane in 1926.) You can also snorkel the coral reefs, hand-feed stingrays their favorite snacks — shrimp and squid.
San Diego, California
What’s New: Oceanside, one of the last authentic surf towns in California, is exploding with new boutique hotels, restaurants led by well-known chefs and public art.
Where to Stay:
The Green Room Hotel on Pacific Coast Highway offers a dozen charmingly chic and affordable bungalows (starting at $155 mid-week) from studio rooms to larger suites with kitchenettes. Either way, there is a communal outdoor area with picnic benches, a firepit, hot tub and plenty of patio space plus a rack to hang your longboard at night.
Nearby, grab a coffee and cinnamon roll at Communal or a fish taco at Shootz Fish + Beer. Both are located in the cool Tremont Collective with a surf shop and large outdoor spaces for lingering.
If you would rather be closer to downtown San Diego but still out of the fray, the historic La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla (aka the Pink Lady), celebrating 95 years with an array of special offers throughout the year such as the “R&R Like a Hollywood Star” package.
This National Trust for Historic Preservation-recognized hotel is walking distance to all the quaint shops and cafes plus near the famed cove. And, there are not many properties that offer views of the pool, the beach and the village from one room. Head to the revamped Mediterranean Room for dinner or the piano lounge for a “Gilded Icon” cocktail with Basil Hayden bourbon, Grand Marnier and Piper Heidsieck 1785 Brut.
Los Angeles, California
What’s New: LA County’s mask mandate was relaxed in March, allowing spring breakers to visit certain places like Universal Studios Hollywood without a mask, negative test or proof of vaccination.
Where to Stay:
There’s a new rock-n-roll-themed hotel on Sunset Strip. On April 5th Hotel Ziggy open its music-inspired haven with West Hollywood’s largest saltwater pool, a retro pizza joint, vinyl record collection, and a jam room with complimentary music gear like guitars, headphones and recorders. Rooms start at $299.and you can walk to iconic haunts like the Roxy or Rainbow Room.
