As the mainland shivers, Hawaii basks in tourism's glow

Video: Beach getaways within reach

Open in new window

2. Transcript of: Beach getaways within reach

   Advertise | AdChoices

   MEREDITH VIEIRA, co-host: This morning on TODAY'S TRAVEL , affordable beach getaways. If the winter months have you longing for warmth, Travel Leisure has rounded up some great destinations that you're going to want to consider. Nilou Motamed is the magazine's features editor. Nilou , good morning to you.

   Ms. NILOU MOTAMED: Good morning, Meredith .

   VIEIRA: Everybody wants some warmth. This has been a really hard winter on all of us.

   Ms. MOTAMED: It's been tough.

   VIEIRA: So let's start out west, Laguna Beach , California . This is an artists' colony. Seven miles of city beaches.

   Ms. MOTAMED: Yes. So Casa Del Camino , this is a place that has sort of embraced their Southern California spirit. So they have surf-themed rooms, 10 of them. And even if you can't hang 10 , doesn't mean you can't go here. The prices are so reasonable, $136 a night , and you have great access to lots of fantastic beaches in the area. And they have a gorgeous rooftop bar where you can have a drink and watch the sunset.

   La Casa Del Camino: Laguna Beach , California From $129 Per Night

   VIEIRA: And if you don't know how to surf, they'll teach you, right?

   Ms. MOTAMED: They will teach you.

   VIEIRA: Which is perfect. OK, we're going to go from west to east to Florida . You found a deal in Vero Beach , a property owned by Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio , yeah.

   Ms. MOTAMED: And her husband, yeah, exactly. Costa D'Este , so the whole spirit of this place feels like you're in 1950s Florida . Vero Beach is right between -- halfway between Orlando and Miami . And so this is a place you're going to go -- you're going to feel like you're in the '50s but with all the modern amenities.

   Costa D'Este Beach Resort: Vero Beach , Florida From $139 Per Night

   Ms. MOTAMED: So you're going to have flat-screened TVs , you're going to have great linens, you're going to have big, beautiful bathrooms and obviously access to great beaches. And, again, really reasonable price, $139.

   VIEIRA: Hundred and thirty-five. And those prices, will they still be good in the summer,or...

   Ms. MOTAMED: They are.

   VIEIRA: Really?

   Ms. MOTAMED: They are. This is the moment to go, though. Don't wait till the summer.

   VIEIRA: OK. Right. OK. Let's go from there -- we're going to go -- this is kind of odd to me -- going to Maine , Vinalhaven Island .

   Ms. MOTAMED: Well, we're going to book Maine now. Maine is something...

   VIEIRA: OK.

   Ms. MOTAMED: ...you're going to want to do in the summertime, but the great thing to do is, especially at a small property like Tidewater , is to book now. There are only 19 rooms.

   Tidewater Motel: Vinalhaven Island, Maine From $165 Per Night

   Ms. MOTAMED: What I love about Vinalhaven is, A, it's quintessential New England ; B, you have to take a ferry to get there, which is great; and, C, tons of lobsters. And the place you get to stay is only 165 a night , so book it now. And that's 165 a night in the summertime, which is so value-conscious for Maine .

   VIEIRA: And literally on top of the water, that place, which is really cool.

   Ms. MOTAMED: Right on the water. It used to be a mill, so literally you're hearing the water that used to power the mill.

   VIEIRA: OK, from there we're going to go to the Caribbean , Anguilla . Think of that as a place for the rich and famous , but you found a great deal.

   Ms. MOTAMED: Anacaona. Now, this is the property that is actually owned by a couple who were behind Cap Jaluca , which is one of those rich and famous kind of properties that's five star.

   Anacaona Boutique Hotel: Meads Bay, Anguilla From $250 Per Night

   Ms. MOTAMED: You're going to get lots of five-star amenities. So you're going to get rum punch on check-in. You're going to get...

   VIEIRA: Hello.

   Ms. MOTAMED: ...frette linens. You're going to get food service to your chaise right when you're sitting on the beach. And they have a beautiful beach. And it's 250 a night . And that's the highest price that it's going to go.

   VIEIRA: OK, and finally, an eco-lodge in Tulum , Mexico . Sounds like roughing it.

   Ms. MOTAMED: Well, you know what, a lot of people love to go to Tulum because it's very accessible from Cancun and also there are beautiful ruins there. It is true that it's an eco-lodge, but they actually have 24-hour electricity. And what's wonderful is they're solar-powered and wind-powered. So you're actually doing something good for the environment while you're lying in your hammock with a margarita in hand.

   Show transcript