Best 4 Off-Season Beach Vacation Destinations Save Money

Off-season beach vacations can save money because the majority of travelers have children in school and can't get away. Parents who have a grandparent or sister or friend who can act as babysitter while taking a beach vacation off-season will be pleased at the savings on just about everything. Valentine's Day can be an especially good week to escape to a favorite beach destination, although booking up front is probably a good idea to get the best reservations. Here's my list of the best off-season beach vacations for the money.

About 2010 Airfares for Off Season Beach Vacation Destinations

From now until Jan. 15th, 2010, Expedia.com has $90 and up round-trip airfare deals.

#1 Best Off-Season Beach Vacation Destination 2010: Cocoa Beach, Florida

Orlando is one of the largest and often the lowest cost Florida destination airport. Stay at Cocoa Beach, only one hour of driving away. Note: off-season Florida has variable weather and can be cool at night but warm up into the high seventies.

Cocoa Beach has a lovely sandy beach. If the beach gets boring, a trip into Orlando to see the big amusement parks-Sea World, Disneyland, Universal Studios may make a long but satisfying day. The local golf course at Cocoa Beach Country Club is also lovely to play. Cocoa Beach has a nature reserve with a short nature trail. Nearby Kennedy Space Center is an all day outing as is the Merritt Island Wildlife Reserve and National Seashore. Beach hopping around the Cocoa Beach area at Titusville, or even up as far as St. Augustine beach may liven up the trip. Stay at the Best Western Cocoa Beach for about $100 a night off season.

#2 Best Off-Season Beach Vacation Destination: Kona,The Big Island Hawaii, Hawaii

The new refurbished King Kamehameha Kona Hotel in Kailua-Kona for about $120 a night with every third night free. The hotel has their own private beach and very reasonable rates, especially when compared to the condominiums up the Kona coast. Beach hopping is terrific fun and if out late, the native Hawaiian owl can be spotted. Shopping is very near to the King Kamehameha. A favorite beach with no services is Kapaa-au on the north coast. Direct flights to Kona are available from a number of airlines and via Expedia.

#3 Best Off-Season Beach Vacation Destination: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Beach is much colder than many of the other locations on this list but has miles of sand to walk along and is subject to seasonal temperature differences. Stay at the Ramada Beach on the Inn, Virginia Beach for $90-$120. Visit the many shops, walk the beach walk viewing information about famous Virginians and play golf at any number of golf courses. The Honey Bee Golf Course is very public friendly and reasonably priced.

#4 Best Off-Season Beach Vacation Destination: Jaco, Costa Rica

Jaco, Costa Rica is close to the airport in San Juan, the capitol of the country. Part of a day can be devoted to touring San Juan shopping. For deluxe service stay at the Best Western Inn in Jaco for about $125-$145 per night or any of the small beach front hotels for a much reduced cost. Jaco is central to four separate National Parks nearby parks for hiking and nature watching - Parque Manuel Antonio which has wildlife galore including Howling Monkeys and two types of sloths, Parque National Carara with many varieties of birds, poison dart frogs, poison snakes and toucans and which is very near the Tarcoles river which has alligator, Parque National de Playa Hermosa which is open beach and had scarlet macaque, and a privately owned nature park on the Valle de Parita. Jaco is known for the great surfing and has two beaches, camping, horseback riding, clubs, shopping and more.