Recommendations for warm US destinations?

[CrunchBerries]

Me and the wife are looking at vacationing in maybe Florida, or somewhere warm in the Feb-March time frame.

We are looking for deals on round trip flights from Toronto to US destination, and hotels/motels as well. My wife really just wants to sit by a pool and tan with a drink in her hand.

Do you guys have any recommendations for decent locations for around USD 70 / night, aka not a dirty crime area? We also don't mind driving from hotel to a nice beach.

Thanks

[ajaxlepinski]

First choice: Rincon, in Puerto Rico is inexpensive and beautiful.
Second Choice: Saint John, in the US Virgin Islands is a nice place to drive around beach hopping (if you don't mind driving on the other side of the road).
Third choice: Miami is OK and they have a variety of hotels with different prices. The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel has Vegas style shows at night (don't stay there, just go to the show)

[Ry Manchu]

I would probably do either Clearwater/St Pete (near Tampa) or Cocoa/Canaveral (near Orlando) or Jacksonville Beach.

https://www.kayak.com/hotels/Florida,Un ... /2guests#_

Add these filters:
2 Star
Rating 4+
Amenities: beachfront, pool, restaurant
Under $180/ night

You should get about 30 results. St Pete has the best sunsets, but they may still have red tide. There is no red tide in Jacksonville Beach.

I live in Miami and have been to all but a couple up in the panhandle, so if you have any questions just ask.

The Grand Lucayan in Freeport Bahamas or Cocoa Cottages in Green Turtle Cay is the way to go for the Bahams, but food and drink is a lot more there.

I have heard good things about the Dominican Republic all-inclusives. Don't bother with any Sandals or anything in Jamaica.

Take a look at Cancun. The hotels are nice, food is good, but the waves were brutal when I was there in the winter.

Bonaire and Grand Cayman are always warm and there are some nice small motels on the beach. They become fewer every year.

[sleewell]

We go to cocoa beach every spring. It's nice there.

[Tortuga]

Cocoa Beach is one of my favorite places to stay

Space Center tour is fantastic

Clearwater is really incredible, too. Whitest / smoothest beaches I've ever seen.

[itchyfingers]

San Diego is awesome, but I may be biased...

[Pepi]

First choice: Rincon, in Puerto Rico is inexpensive and beautiful.
Second Choice: Saint John, in the US Virgin Islands is a nice place to drive around beach hopping (if you don't mind driving on the other side of the road).
Third choice: Miami is OK and they have a variety of hotels with different prices. The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel has Vegas style shows at night (don't stay there, just go to the show)

Where did you fly into when you went to Rincon? Looks nice

[Ry Manchu]

These hotels should do the trick for you:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Revie ... =289597220

https://www2.otel.com/best-western-ocea ... TNTE7ca$5Q

https://www2.otel.com/sirata-beach-reso ... ROHqweOwMw

[Kardula]

having lived there I'm going to be biased towards Hawaii and SoCal.