Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

LA then where for beach holiday with teenager (16)?

25 replies

Bougis123 · 07/01/2023 14:44

We're going to LA at Easter then we'd like to go on a 5 day beach holiday 'on the way back' to the UK. Have looked at Mexico but put off by the seaweed problem. Florida - but so much hurricane damage to Naples/Sarato area. Ideally looking for lowkey beach town with nice hotel and enough to keep 16 year old entertained. Any suggestions very welcome please!

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 07/01/2023 15:30

Go south. You might find the weather is great at San Diego!!

Fivemoreminutes1 · 07/01/2023 16:33

Came on to say San Diego!

VanCleefArpels · 07/01/2023 16:41

San Diego or Huntington Beach

Kareah · 07/01/2023 16:52

San Diego isn’t what it used to be….

Id personally hop down to Costa Rica. The Tamarindo Diria Beacn Resort is fantastic.

Withholdingvitalinfo · 07/01/2023 19:22

Hawaii

CornishGem1975 · 07/01/2023 19:26

Florida Keys, lovely at that time of year. Not there are a few beaches and hotels are waterside. Loved it.

chipsandpeas · 07/01/2023 19:51

cabo san lucas, should be no seaweed in april

opoponax · 07/01/2023 21:30

Another vote for San Diego. Mission Beach is classic Californian beach and close. From San Diego you can also get short boat trip over to Coronado Island. We hired electric bikes with our teens there and cycled round the island to the Hotel del Coronado - lovely heritage hotel where Some like it hot was filmed - with its own beautiful white sand beach. Marina and Gaslamp quarter in San Diego are fun places to eat in the evening too. We stayed in the Hilton right on the waterfront, with pool overlooking the ocean. On another trip we did a week in Barbados for Easter followed by a week in Miami/Florida Keys. I wasn't too keen on Miami apart from South Beach and the art deco architecture but the Keys are stunning and Easter a great time of year to visit.

Bayleaf25 · 08/01/2023 07:57

Depends on budget really, could fly back via the Caribbean or Florida? Or somewhere like Santa Monica or Huntington Beach.

opoponax · 08/01/2023 13:39

Newport Beach LA is pretty too. I'm not sure about weather at that time heading the other way but Santa Barbara is a lovely seaside town. I also loved Big Sur and Carmel.

opoponax · 08/01/2023 13:41

Also not seaside more desert vibe but Palm Springs is fun for a few days and not a long drive from LA.

Original poster
Bougis123 · 09/01/2023 15:37

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions - much appreciated!

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 09/01/2023 18:17

@Bougis123 I wouldn’t waste time or enlarge your carbon footprint by flying anywhere else. You can see plenty in the San Diego area and relax too.

MusselMam · 09/01/2023 19:39

I'd also vote for California. The beaches are great and the temp will be low to mid 20s at that time of year. LA beaches fantastic for people watching. Kids will love it. Also depending on how long you are going for, the jet lag is debilitating for a few days.

opoponax · 09/01/2023 21:08

The only thing I would say is to take into account that LA is h-u-g-e and it can take some time to travel around.

EwwSprouts · 09/01/2023 22:04

Another vote for San Diego. Mission beach is much quieter away from downtown. Mission Bay the other side is calm enough for SUP. Not mentioned by PP, we enjoyed a baseball game, USS Midway and La Jolla for snorkelling, wildlife and pancakes. If your DS is a scientist we also went inland to Palomar Observatory.

LionsandLambs · 09/01/2023 22:14

Santa Monica is fun and nice beaches, Malibu just up the road, Venice Beach, all fun for teens. Or take a flight over to Maui.

opoponax · 09/01/2023 22:15

Yes, second Padres baseball game at Petco Park in San Diego, which is just across from the Marina area. La Jolla was definitely worth a visit for a swim to see the sea lions.

Dartmoorcheffy · 09/01/2023 22:17

Stay near LA. So much to do there.

opoponax · 09/01/2023 22:18

In LA our teens loved Venice Beach (beachfront open air gyms and basketball) and Santa Monica too. I'm enjoying remembering all this!

unclebuck · 09/01/2023 22:20

It's the opposite direction but from LA you really have to go to Hawaii - it is EPIC. We did LA-Hawaii-NY with our kids and they still talk about it all the time and it was 7 years ago! I've go again if I was in LA.

Citygirlrurallife · 09/01/2023 22:31

Agree with everyone saying stay in California - so many gorgeous beach towns to choose from (the beaches in LA aren’t exactly shabby)

Citygirlrurallife · 09/01/2023 22:33

You know what - Hawaii IS amazing. We just moved back to the U.K. after living in LA for 10 years and our favourite American holidays were in Hawaii

jackstini · 09/01/2023 22:44

Driveable from LA then Laguna Beach is my favorite area.
Really chilled out, great beach with water sports, on the pacific coast highway, next to Crystal Cove state park, fabulous restaurants, boat trips

What are you planning to do in LA? City stuff or any theme parks?

If you want to fly then Hawaii is a further 5 hours in the wrong direction - beautiful but a lengthy trip!

Florida beaches would break the journey a bit, or New York (Hamptons/Long Island)

Underparmummy · 10/01/2023 10:52

I agree with Laguna Beach! I loved it so much when I visited in the 2000's.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page