9 Affordable Seaside Resorts in Florida That Feel High-Class

Who isn’t dreaming of a sunny resort escape in Florida?

Unfortunately, resort dream vacations are hard to come by. Even if you’re not breaking the bank on a flight to your destination, it’s easy to overspend when booking resort rooms—even with all-inclusive packages on the table.

Because resorts give you the keys to an all-in-one style vacation, from outdoor pools to world-class bars to bookable activities, those boosted prices make sense. Still, it can be hard to narrow down which amenities you actually want to pay for, and which resorts can deliver on them.

Once again, Florida is a prime spot to find these resorts. They dot the state, from Jacksonville to the Keys to Panama City Beach to Lake City.

But how can you find the right resort without going over budget? Even more importantly, how can you find cheap resorts that feel high-class?

Don’t worry—Florida’s got it all, including budget resorts that feel opulent. Here’s where to find them. At the bottom, you can also find two bonus picks that are located in Orlando near major amusement parks, along with one ranch-style stay away from the ocean.

Affordable seaside resorts in Florida at a glance

Beachcomber Beach Resort and Hotel (St. Pete Beach)
Sandpiper Gulf Resort (Fort Myers)
South Seas Island Resort (Captiva Island)
Capt Hirams Resort (Sebastian)
Shephard’s Beach Resort (Clearwater Beach)
Winter the Dolphin’s Beach Club (Clearwater Beach)
Perry’s Ocean Edge Resort (Daytona Beach)
Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo (River Ranch)
Parkway International Resort (Orlando)

Affordable seaside resorts in Florida that feel high class

Beachcomber Beach Resort and Hotel (St. Pete Beach)

Nestled on a 5.5-acre plot that’s layered with lush tropical landscapes, Beachcomber is a gateway to the Gulf of Mexico. Its white sand beaches are the perfect place to drift away under the sun for hours on end—or you can lounge at the outdoor pool, if you’d rather avoid the sand.

Beachcomber also has a large outdoor dining area that comes alive with live musical performances, making this great for anyone who likes live sets and boogying.

*Beachcomber Beach Resort is currently closed for renovations, but is expected to open its doors later on this summer.

Sandpiper Gulf Resort (Fort Myers)

Looking for an ultra-cheap stay? Sandpiper Gulf Resort offers beach views from its small balconies, along with a large outdoor pool for a standard resort experience—at a majorly slashed price. While Sandpiper Gulf Resort isn’t reinventing the wheel when it comes to décor and amenities, its direct beach access is pretty hard to beat.

South Seas Island Resort (Captiva Island)

Ready to explore over 330 acres of secluded coasts on Captiva Island? This Gulf Coast resort is all about giving you space to unwind. You can choose between traditional beachy villa rentals or more high-class homes of distinction. There are three tiers to choose from, letting you stay within budget… or drift up to the next level, if your wallet allows.

Capt Hirams Resort (Sebastian)

Welcome to the Florida resort you’ve probably never heard of—in an area you’ve never visited, too. Sebastian is a small town located on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, and it’s got a bit of a cult following.

The grounds are brightly decorated with fantastic hangout areas and four top-notch bars and restaurants. Expect plenty of live music, too. Because it’s a little off the beaten path, you’ll be paying a strikingly low price for this ultra-cool resort.

Shephard’s Beach Resort (Clearwater Beach)

Similar to Beachcomber, you get plenty of bang for your buck at Shephard’s Beach Resort—especially if you like live music. This resort offers live music seven days of the week at its gorgeous, kitschy tiki bar. During the day, you can lounge at the white-sand beach or by the pool. Despite the hotel’s popularity, it’s still highly affordable.

Winter the Dolphin’s Beach Club (Clearwater Beach)

This relatively new resort has one amazing twist: it’s hyper-focused on marine conservation, which you can feel in its overall aquatic, beachy design. There are even programs geared toward kids, helping educate them about the ocean and marine life.

There’s a small outdoor pool, along with direct beach access. Plus, it’s located in one of Clearwater’s best neighborhoods, letting you walk to nearby sites.

Perry’s Ocean Edge Resort (Daytona Beach)

With a large outdoor pool, indoor pool, atrium, and direct access to a private beach, Perry’s Ocean Edge Resort gives you the keys to Daytona Beach. Though the grounds are pretty casual, the rooms are clean with a Just watch out for spring break, as prices will rise and the area will fill up with partiers.

Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo (River Ranch)

I’m rounding off this list with two non-seaside options, just in case you’re a little burned out on all the Sunshine State’s coastline. And if you want a little yeehaw resort experience, head to Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo near Lake Kissimmee.

You’ve got a few choices on where to stay, including awesome glamping tents—but the cheap rooms are in the main villa. The Villa rooms are great, offering furnished balconies where you can soak up the forested view.

But the real appeal is the resort’s thrilling amenities, including a mini golf course, horseback riding, rock climbing wall, zip lining track, and—the holy grail—a mechanical bull.

Parkway International Resort (Orlando)

Once again, this isn’t a seaside resort, but I wanted to include an affordable resort-style option for any families heading inland to Orlando. If you’re looking for a top-notch resort while you have the time of your life at major resorts in Orlando, head to Parkway International.

This resort has a large outdoor pool and quirky safari-themed décor throughout the grounds. There’s also a small playground available in case the little ones aren’t tuckered out after a day of chasing Disney characters around.

What is Rooftopping? The Most Jaw-Dropping Form of Urban Exploration

Travel trends come and go.

Many sweep through social media channels before drifting back out of public view. I’ve covered a few of these types of fast-moving trends, from rawdogging flights to testing the limits of Airport Theory. But these are the lightning version of travel trends.

If you dig deeper, you can pull back quite a few layers in the travel world, and they’ll start getting dangerous faster than you think. Enter the realm of dark tourism.

Dark tourism covers a huge gamut, from disaster tourism to visiting museums that cover tragedy. Then there’s danger tourism, a subsection that revolves around putting yourself in harm’s way for thrills.

If you let yourself drift even further down the rabbit hole, you’ll come across urban exploration. Urbex is exactly like it sounds: daredevils sneak into manmade structures (both abandoned and in use) to delve deeper and climb higher, bringing followers into the fold with riveting videos that cover their spine-tingling exploits. See The Proper People for a case study.

Whether you’d ever get into Urbex yourself, it’s not hard to see how these YouTube channels gain millions of followers. They let you follow the bravest people in the world as they sneak around larger-than-life structures, skyscrapers, bridges, tunnels, and more.

But let’s keep going—further and further to the most terrifying ledge in Urbex.

Rooftopping.

What is rooftopping? It’s a spine-tingling genre of urban exploration that revolves around traveling to the world’s grandest cities with massive skylines and climbing to the tippy top of its most beastly skyscrapers, bridges, and construction cranes.

Welcome to rooftopping

Urban exploration took off in the 1980s and 90s, as underground daredevils made their names in major cities by decalring their exploits. Some had photos, but most had street cred. Enter the reality television takeoff of the early 2000s. With the advent of handheld cameras and portable recording devices, urban exploration took to new heights—literally.

One of the first breakout stories on rooftopping was published by The Guardian back in 2017. It shed light on an already booming but still mostly underground world of rooftopping. YouTube channels took off, while the world’s most daring urban explorers took on even grander challenges. Russia, in particular, saw a massive rooftopping boom that piggybacked on the popularity of parkour.

Fast forward to 2024 and rooftoppers are still making major headlines around the world. While rooftoppers once did their thing solo, couples soon entered the fold. And one even nabbed a documentary flick from Netflix, in case you really want to experience the madness behind rooftopping.

The new rooftopping

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 12: (L-R) Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau attend Netflix’s Skywalkers: A Love Story Tribeca Film Festival Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on June 12, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Netflix)

As outlined above, the rise of YouTube and other social media channels helped put rooftopping on the map. First, it gave rooftoppers a safe platform to post their most jaw-dropping photos. Second, it allowed them to network with one another more easily. Third, it allowed them to monetize their antics.

But the old guard did things differently. The Urbex world of the 1980s and 90s revolved around secrecy. The vast majority of rooftopping stunts were done illegally, and urban explorers often provided critical intel to help their fellow climbers gain access to skyscrapers, bridges, and other landmarks.

Today, rooftopping has become so popular that some stunts fully legal and hosted by marketing companies. In other words, the art of rooftopping has been partly commoditized—but many hardcore rooftoppers still do their thing as clandestinely as possible.

And yes, it’s still a very dangerous art, with a steadily rising death count. It’s also highly illegal. The couple linked in the Netflix film above have faced arrest and charges around the world for their stunts.

Where do people go rooftopping?

Rooftopping is a global phenomenon. Wherever there’s a skyline or a well-known building, there’s the possibility of a rooftopper stopping by.

That said, these are the cities where rooftopping is popular:

Toronto, Canada
San Francisco, USA
New York, USA
Moscow, Russia
Dubai, UAE
Hong Kong, China

How to Prepare for Altitude Sickness

Similar to seasickness, altitude sickness can throw a wrench into what’s meant to be the trip of a lifetime.

Altitude sickness is a taxing form of oxygen starvation that’s common for hikers and climbers who ascend above 8,000 feet. The air is atmospherically ‘thinner’, meaning there’s less oxygen. Less oxygen is problematic for any mammal, but for hikers and adventurers who head above that threshold, those low oxygen levels pose even more of a threat.

The more we push our bodies to do things like scale mountains, the more oxygen our bodies need to perform optimally. It’s a vicious cycle that intensifies the higher we go.

Even those who have extensive training in mountaineering can run into headaches and nausea, or even more serious symptoms like shortness of breath and severe fatigue.

Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix to altitude sickness. Even an oxygen mask might take a few minutes to kick in for someone suffering from severe symptoms.

If you’re heading to a high-altitude zone, you might want a crash course in how to prepare for altitude sickness. First up, let’s cover where the average traveler is most likely to run into it.

Where do most travelers get altitude sickness?

The most common places for travelers to get altitude sickness are when summitting peaks like Mount Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro, along with visiting sites like Machu Picchu.

Aside from these famous sites, be mindful when you’re heading to towering mountain ranges like the Andes, the Rocky Mountains, and the Alaska Range.

You might want to look out for plateaus, as well. While the highest mountain ranges in the world border Pakistan and China (home to the Himalayas, Karakoram, and the Hindu Kush Mountains), you’re more likely to end up in Tibet.

The region’s capital of Lhasa is located at around 11,000 feet, so be mindful that even flat landscapes might be closer to heaven than they seem. Now, onto how to prepare for altitude sickness before you head out on your climb.

How to prepare for altitude sickness

Prep your body

Earlier this year, one of my friends summited Mount Kilimanjaro. One thing he wishes he had done beforehand is train with a Stairmaster—and an oxygen mask.

Devices like the Breather Fit can help train your respiratory muscles for more stressful situations. In a high-altitude case, a Breather Fit can train the lungs to manage less oxygen.

Some mountaineers also recommend training in deep breathing. Deep breathing can help you maintain the right oxygen levels as you ascend, which is particularly helpful if you’re taking a challenging, steep trail.

Learn the early signs

Altitude sickness doesn’t always look the same. Every person is likely to experience different symptoms, and at different points in time. Before you head out, consider your previous experiences in mountaineering.

What challenges did you face? When did your symptoms intensify?

The more aware you are of any potential challenges, the more readily you can make an itinerary that will work for you. And when it comes to travel and high altitudes, it might be tempting to push forward and forge ahead.

But, as we’ll see by the tips below, it’s usually better to go slow. Very slow.

Give yourself a few days to adjust before the climb

Climbers, hikers, and mountaineers all have one consistent piece of advice for fellow travelers: bake a few days into your schedule to let your body adjust.

This is before you head into high-altitude zones. The farther you travel from home, the more time your body needs to adjust to its new time zone, diet, and sleep routine.

You want your body to be healthy and ready when you start your ascent. For this reason, don’t plan on showing up and taking off. Again, slowly but surely is the key here. This is also the perfect time to start carbo-loading, as many hikers swear by carbs before heading out on a long adventure.

Plan to ascend slowly

This tip should be obvious, especially if you have experience in high-altitude adventures. But know that you shouldn’t be ascending over 1,000 feet per day.

Many experts also recommend taking a day off once you’ve notched 3,000 feet. Obviously, your pace depends on the hike and your fitness, but if you want to prevent altitude sickness, you’ll be gracious when you plan your hiking schedule.

Plan to sleep lower

Again, this might not be possible depending on your route, destination, and fitness level—but whenever possible, sleep at a lower altitude to give your body a chance to truly rest. Your body won’t magically handle less oxygen better just because you’re asleep.

**Know what to avoid—and what to not avoid**

Drinking and smoking are going to wreak havoc on your health at high altitudes, so it’s highly recommended that you avoid both altogether.

That being said, many hikers recommend sticking to caffeine if it’s usually part of your schedule. Not only can it help with headaches, but if you’re reliant on caffeine, now isn’t the time to send your body into withdrawal. It will only intensify symptoms of altitude sickness.

How to Use the One-Stop Hack to Save on Transportation

I’ve got a city-dweller hack that you can use on your next vacation to save on transportation.

It’s a well-known trick that people who face packed train rides and bus rides use to get a seat after a long day at work.

Here’s how it works. You know that Train Stop C will be jam-packed at a certain time, meaning you’ll need to wait for a chance to board. Even if you do manage to squeeze onboard on the first train that comes in, you’re going to be cramped and uncomfortable for the whole ride.

So, instead of boarding at Train Stop C, you scurry over to Train Stop B, backtracking the metro map to skip out on the super-packed stop.

You board the train at Train Stop B and land a seat. Bada-boom, bada-bing. You miss out on all the madness at Train Stop C, having successfully MacGyvered your way to a comfortable seat.

The same idea can be used during your travels—in more than one way, too.

Ready to use your brain to save more and wait less? Here’s how to use the one-stop trick to save on transportation when traveling.

One-stop trick: save on transportation with cheaper airport taxis

The most impactful way you can use the one-stop trick to save on transportation is to wait to call for a taxi until you’ve left the airport grounds.

Oftentimes, taxis and rideshares must pay a fee to pick up passengers from the airport, which you’ll often cover in your fare. In some cases, rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft will also upcharge based on demand.

If you’re tired of overspending on taxis when leaving the airport, use the one-stop hack.

All you need to do is take a public bus or a public train one stop from your airport, then get off and order a ride from there. Now that you’re away from the airport, you won’t face any airport fees. You might even have cut down on high-traffic spots, saving you time and a bit more money, if the meter is running.

Just know that this won’t always work. I live in Barcelona, Spain, where the airport is around 20 minutes outside of town. There’s no train that will drop you off, and the first stop on the public bus is inside the city, meaning you might as well see the ride through at that point.

That being said, it’s a great hack to keep in your back pocket for more urban airports, especially if you’re traveling during peak season.

One-stop trick: how to save on transportation with car rentals

You can use the exact same logic to save on car rentals. Usually, the closer to the city center (and especially any tourist zones) a car rental shop is, the more expensive it will be in terms of add-on fees.

If you want to save big on a car rental, consider reserving a vehicle at a location that’s further outside of town.

To be clear, don’t rent from the airport if you can help it—airport rentals usually incur the highest costs. On the flip side, also avoid renting a car in the city center and in tourist zones. Instead, look for the middle ground—ie, a car rental spot that’s ‘one stop’ from your lodging, and a place a local would pick one up for the weekend.

One-stop trick: how to avoid huge lines for subways/metros

Let’s head back to the original one-stop hack: avoiding jam-packed subway cars during peak rush hour. Depending on where you’re going and what you’re doing, you (hopefully) won’t face too many journeys by rail at rush hour.

That being said, if you’re heading to a major concert or sporting event, it’s likely to happen when the experience wraps up.

It’s one of the most brutal experiences a traveler can face. You’re feeling exhausted after a long day and a big event, and you need to get back to your lodging, but all the taxis and rideshares are booked. Even if they aren’t, they might be out of your price range.

So you head to the metro or bus station to head back with the hordes of attendees, then end up waiting an hour or longer just to pack onto a busy, hectic car or train. It’s mayhem, and you get off feeling fatigued and overwhelmed.

Use the one-stop hack to plan ahead. Figure out the metro or bus stop before where all those attendees are likely to get on, then backtrack to its predecessor. Though you might need to walk a bit, you might land a seat, letting you cruise home in (relative) comfort—and without having overpaid for transportation.

Are There Any American Rivieras?

Italian for ‘coastline’, the term riviera today conjures opulent, sun-drenched images of gorgeous coastlines on the Mediterranean.

While the word originated in Italy, the most famous Rivieras belong to France and Mexico via the French Riviera and Riviera Maya, respectively.

But they’re just the tip of the iceberg. In terms of popular, visit-worthy coastlines around the world, other heavy-hitters can be found in Italy, Albania, Turkey, and even as far as China.

Even England has its own Riviera in the region of Torbay, which sits on the coast of the English Channel.

But what about the United States? While we’re home to plenty of coastlines that draw in tens of thousands of visitors to our beaches, do we actually have a bona fide Riviera?

Is there an American Riviera?

The United States is home to one well-known Riviera, which I’ll cover below. (I’d start writing down your guesses now—and get creative, because it’s not in Florida.)

But there’s no official rubric for what makes a Riviera; like the Italian word suggests, it could cover any stretch of coastline.

So, what makes for a Riviera? Aside from the beaches and saltwater, it’s about tourists. Any coastal area that becomes a hotspot (no pun intended) for sun-hungry visitors will steadily gain a reputation as a Riviera.

That being said, Rivieras also have an upscale and stately association, as the term was born on some of Europe’s wealthiest and most opulent Mediterranean coasts. Monaco, one of the wealthiest nation-states in the world, is a pretty great example of the historic vibes you could expect from a trip to the French or Italian Rivieras.

For this reason, you’ll see most American Rivieras listed on the West Coast in Southern California, where Santa Barbara’s more arid Mediterranean climate has created coastal scenes that look familiar to southern France and Italy.

But if we stick to the broader definition of a Riviera, the US is home to more than you might think.

3 American Rivieras

The American Riviera

Sunset on the Santa Barbara coastline above Butterfly Beach (Getty)

The (semi) official American Riviera is located on the West Coast around Santa Barbara, including areas like Carmel and Torrance. (Don’t get mixed up with La Riviera, which is a municipal district around Sacramento.)

In fact, Santa Barbara has a neighborhood called The Riviera, which is one of the most scenic hillsides facing the Pacific Ocean.

Like I just mentioned, this area became known as the American Riviera thanks to its Mediterranean climate, ample sunshine, and gorgeous scenes that bring to mind the French and Italian Rivieras.

On top of that, Santa Barbara is home to delicious restaurants with impressive wine lists. Even its pace of life is a bit slower than other Californian hubs, offering a callback to a more European approach to life.

The Irish Riviera (South Shore)

Dune’s edge, pitch pine, Marconi beach near South Shore (Getty)

There are a handful of American Rivieras that are unofficially dubbed Irish Rivieras—pretty much any East Coast shoreline that became home to Irish immigrants has landed on the list over the last century. Even New York City’s Rockaway Beach was informally dubbed an Irish Riviera for a short period.

However, the largest and most well-known Irish Riviera is Massachusetts’ South Shore. It’s got a dense population of Irish-Americans, and they’ve been flocking to places between Massachusetts Bay and Cape Cod for close to a century.

That being said, the Irish Riviera is a geo-cultural term that covers an area where Irish culture is still alive—not necessarily a coastal area where people flock for great beach days.

If you want to learn more, check out the South Shore Irish Heritage Trail. It’ll take you across nine scenic South Shore towns.

The Florida Riviera

Early light at Sunny Isles beach in Miami (Getty)

Depending on how loose you want to be with the Mediterranean climate factor, you could name a few Rivieras in the state of Florida. However, Sunny Isles Beach usually takes the crown.

Sunny Isles Beach is a barrier island located in South Florida in the Miami metro area and near Fort Lauderdale. It’s known for its nearly three-mile stretch of clear water and soft sand beach.

It’s hugely popular for beach getaways, high-class dining, and luxury resorts, giving a slightly more refined air than other parts of the Sunshine State.

Picture modern skyscrapers lining the beach for a Dubai-esque, tropical beachfront escape. When the land was purchased for development back in 1920, one goal in building the tourist zone was to foster an American Riviera.

While California took the title thanks to its climate, Sunny Isles certainly fits the bill when it comes to popularity. Each year, nearly one million vacationers head to the barrier island, making this a successful Riviera business venture.

AI Travel Hacks: The Easy & Free Jet Lag Prevention Plan

AI has steadily become one of the most reliable trip-planning tools in a traveler’s arsenal.

Sure, you need to know how to use AI for trip-planning, along with avoiding the most common mistakes and pitfalls. And it might be a good idea to use AI that’s created specifically for travelers and their itinerary-building.

But one of the latest AI-based travel hacks is beautifully straightforward and simple. It’s something even a non-digital-native who’s never heard of OpenAI could figure out—and I’m always a fan of uncomplicated solutions.

Ready to get a free jet lag prevention plan? Here’s how to do it.

3 steps to create an easy and free jet lag prevention plan

Step one: Head to ChatGPT and present your trip information

You don’t need to set up an account to use ChatGPT—just head straight to the website to start interacting. Start with a simple introduction explaining that you need a jet lag prevention plan based on the specific flight information for your trip.

Here’s what you need to include in this prompt:

The time zones you’re traveling between
Your departing location and final destination
Include information on any layovers that you have
Your sleep patterns, age, and other relevant health information
Clarify when you’ll arrive and that you want to be refreshed
Ask for information on when you should sleep and for how long

Step two: Add on meal suggestions if you want

That prompt will give you a list of ideal times to sleep, along with suggestions on how long. The duration of your naps will be driven by the amount of time you have on a flight or a layover.

Additionally, you can ask for prompts on when to eat. That’s a good idea for anyone who struggles more heavily with jet lag, as it not only affects our energy levels but also our body’s digestive system. Asking ChatGPT to incorporate meals into your overall sleep plan is an easy way to start optimizing your international trips.

Step three: Set yourself up for success

I always suggest you double-check any information presented by AI, including jet lag prevention plans. They aren’t foolproof solutions, and inquiry results can come from a range of non-medical sources.

Once ChatGPT generates a plan for you, I suggest double-checking that the suggested nap times fit with your flights and layovers, along with any meal plan suggestions.

Last but not least, make sure you have all the right items with you for a nap at 35,000 feet. Though some of us can power down for a nap just about anytime and anywhere, that’s not the case for all travelers.