Best Budget Beaches

To be sure, an overwater luxury bungalow lost somewhere in French Polynesia has a certain allure.

But for most fans of sun, surf and sand, the pleasures of the beach are plain and simple.

Sugary sand. Cerulean skies. Turquoise water. Rustling palm fronds.

And perhaps easy access to a cocktail or two.

Have your sights set on the perfect oceanfront escape?

You could literally drown in all the options – after all, oceans cover some 70 percent of the earth’s surface.

We’ve taken the guesswork out of finding not only the most appealing destinations, but also the most affordable places to unfurl your beach towel for some fun in the sun.

And while some of our lucky 13 picks may be a bit far flung, what you’ll save in accommodation and Pina Colada prices is sure to help defray the cost of getting there.

Outer Banks, NC
Head south of upmarket Duck and built-up Kitty Hawk for the soothing stretch of mostly undeveloped sands between Oregon Inlet and Buxton, NC. The beaches here are bliss for surfcasters, birdwatchers, surfers and Sunday strollers. Some of the country’s most idyllic camping can be found just behind the dunes at Oregon Inlet Campground (near the fishing center of the same name), where you’ll pay $20 a night to toss out a tent. And rooms at the Tower Circle Motel in Buxton are only $65 for a double during the peak summer season.

Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia
A flowering paradise of surf and sand, Bali is one of the most exotic destinations on the planet. Budget backpackers, honeymooners and high-end travelers alike descend on this blip in the Indonesian archipelago, lured by the intoxicating Hindu culture, world-class waves and the sheer verdant beauty of a true island paradise. Kuta Beach, a short taxi ride from the airport, is a long crescent of sand with everything from five star hotels to bare bones rooms that go for less than $10 a night. You can have a fabulous lobster meal for about $10 at nearby Jimbaran Bay, and cocktails cost about as much as you’d pay for a bottled water back home.

Fraser Island, Australia
Australia’s fourth largest island – the biggest sand island in the world - is a World Heritage listed destination. Accessed by ferry from the mainland, Fraser Island boasts more than 100 freshwater dune lakes with sugary silica sand beaches, should you tire of the endless stretch of pristine oceanfront. Four wheel drive vehicles, which can be rented on the mainland and ferried over, are the best way to get around the island. Spend your days exploring the beaches, lakes and creeks, then pitch a tent at night for free camping anywhere along the beach or at one of the designated campgrounds (just remember to zip up as dingoes are frequent visitors).

Koh Lao Liang, Thailand
Bypass overrun tourist islands such as Koh Phi Phi and Koh Samui for this pristine isle located off Trang Province in southern Thailand. Thai tourists outnumber western tourists at Koh Lao Liang, where limestone cliffs that tower like prehistoric skyscrapers create a dramatic backdrop for the white sand beaches and glassy seas. ‘Sea camping’ in comfortable tents includes three daily meals (including a seafood beach barbecue), snorkeling gear and boat and bus transport from the mainland – all for 6500 baht per person (less than $200) for four days and three nights. For a little more, you can add a snorkeling excursion to your itinerary to discover the soft coral formations and cheeky clownfish communities thriving just offshore.

Essaouira, Morocco
This former Portuguese trading post on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, three hours west of Marrakech, offers idyllic seaside respite from the country’s hairdryer-like summer heat. For roughly $35 for a double room, you can stay in the romantic surrounds of a riad (typical Moroccan living quarters that center on an interior court yard) in the walled old city, with the sweeping stretch of wide sandy beach just steps away. Flopping fresh seafood meals go for about $5 per person at picnic tables at the historic port, and you can take windsurfing lessons from dreadlocked locals who speak French, English, Spanish and Arabic.

Dog Island, Florida
There’s only one hotel on this tiny island in the Gulf of Mexico, accessed by passenger ferry from Carabelle in the Florida panhandle (50 miles southwest of Tallahassee). You can’t bring a car to the ‘island that time forget,’ as the few locals who live here call their sanctuary. But you’re guaranteed quiet beaches with powdered sugar sand, shells galore and aquamarine waters. There’s nothing fancy about the Pelican Inn, where simple studios with kitchenettes and room for four people go for $850 per week during the high season. And there are no restaurants on the island, so you’re guaranteed to save cash by cooking in. It’s a true beach getaway, in the purest sense.

Hopkins, Belize
A traditional fishing village on Belize’s serene central Caribbean coast, Hopkins feels light-years away from the package tourist crowds that descend on diving hotspots to the north, such as Caye Caulker. Hopkins’ lure comes in the form of authentic village life (the town is known for its traditional Garifuna drum music) paired with uncrowded beaches and a purely Caribbean tranquility. Rooms at the oceanfront Tipple Tree Beya hotel come with the hammock ready-strung and go for $40 per night for a double. Walk into town for myriad eating options, including freshly caught lobster feasts for about $12 per person. Visits to nearby Mayan ruins, jungle treks and snorkeling trips can all be arranged if you tire of lounging on the perfect beaches.

Punta del Diablo, Uruguay
This traditional fishing village roughly185 miles east of Montevideo turns into a happening beach town during the Southern hemisphere summer, attracting Uruguayan, Brazilian and European tourists for a no-frills atmosphere and miles of unspoiled oceanfront. Colorful, simple beach houses dot the rocky dunes, and you can rent an oceanfront abode for as little as $40 per day. There are a few simple restaurants selling seafood specialties and fabulous Uruguayan steak, and every rental house is sure to come decked with its own parilla –the requisite Uruguayan grill for barbecuing (a national pastime).

Bahia Honda, Florida Keys
Wasting away in Margaritaville (also known as Key West) is not without its appeal. But if you’ve come to the Keys with postcard-perfect beaches in mind, park it about an hour before you get to Key West at Mile Marker 37. Bahia Honda State Park–a slender sliver of soft sand that slopes into clear, Caribbean-like waters - is regarded as one of the nation’s finest parks. And the campsites here – most within earshot of the gentle breakers – are some of the most sought after in the country (it’s $31.49 per night, and be sure to reserve in advance). If you’re not into roughing it, the park also rents simple lagoon-front bungalows that can accommodate six people for $136.30 per night. With a grill on the deck, kayak rentals at the ready and snorkeling at renowned Looe Key just offshore, the perfect family beach vacation is practically in the bag.

Long Bay, Jamaica
Leave the cruise crowds and all-inclusive tourists to Ocho Rios and Negril. This isolated oceanfront crescent in Jamaica’s quieter eastern half has long lured hippies and European travelers looking for a purist beach holiday at bargain prices. The one-mile stretch of soft sandy oceanfront is lined with swaying palms. And a few beach bars offer respite from the sun in the form of a shady perch, chill Rastafarian vibes and, of course, frosty Red Stripe beers at the ready. Yahimba Beach Cottages are a collection of colorfully painted round bungalows that sit atop stilts right in the sand ($75 for two people, per night). There are unimpeded ocean views from every window and you’ll sleep to the sound of the crashing surf.

Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Where there are world-class surf breaks, there’s almost always budget accommodation to cater to vagabond surfers in search of the perfect waves. And Puerto Escondido – about 250 miles south of Acapulco in Oaxaca on Mexico’s southern coast – is no exception. Playa Zicatela here is the prime surfing and sunbathing beach, not to mention home to Mexico’s best wave – an intensely barreling peak that breaks over a sandy bottom and has been compared to Hawaii’s pipeline. When the surf’s on, you’ll have plenty of entertainment while catching some rays. At Beach Hotel Ines, you can opt to sleep in a hammock for a few bucks a night, or splurge on a room or cabana with views of the main break for $33 per night for two people. What you save on staying you can put toward awesome local seafood and the cool Mexican handicrafts for sale.

Ericeira, Portugal
Roughly 30 miles north of Lisbon lies yet another laid-back fishing village that doubles as a great budget beach escape. Overall, prices in Portugal are markedly cheaper than in neighboring Spain, and what you save on your room rate can be invested in enjoying the fabulous seafood meals on offer at a roadside marisqueiras. There’s a small sandy beach near the fisherman’s port right at the base of the village, and the surrounding beaches are tucked into coves sheltered with high cliffs that protect from the wind. Rooms start at 82 euros per night at the stately oceanfront Vila Gale Hotel, but you’ll pay a lot less at the myriad of small family-run inns situated on the narrow cobblestone streets in the village itself.

Florianopolis, Brazil
Some of Brazil’s finest beaches can be found at Florianopolis, on the island of Santa Catarina in Southern Brazil. Roughly an hour’s flight from the megalopolis of Sao Paolo and you’ll find yourself in a paradise that’s known as much for its fine surf as for its arguably finer female inhabitants (Gisele Bundchen look-a-likes literally abound). Joaquina Beach is known as the best spot for hanging ten. And the beaches facing the open ocean on the eastern and southern sides of the island are considered the most beautiful. Double rooms go for about $40 per night at the A Mar do Leste Pousada at Barra da Lagoa Mocambique beach. Save the rest of your cash –not to mention your energy – for Floripa’s legendary nightlife.