7 Beaches That Are Actually Better Right Now Than in Summer

The Unpopular Opinion: These 7 Beaches Are Better Right Now Than in Summer

Everyone books beach trips for July. I get it — school's out, the days are long, and there's this cultural momentum that says "summer = beach season."

But after visiting 38 beaches in 12 countries, I'm going to tell you something that might save you hundreds of dollars and a lot of frustration: some of the best beach destinations in the world are objectively better in March and April than they are in June, July, or August.

Not "still good." Not "acceptable." Better. Better weather, fewer people, cheaper rooms, and — in some cases — better water conditions for swimming and snorkeling.

Here are seven I've personally experienced during shoulder season that blew me away.

1. San Diego, California

San Diego in summer is 85°F, packed to the gills, and the marine layer (locals call it "June Gloom") can smother the coastline in fog through July. San Diego in March? Crystal blue skies, 70°F highs, and you can actually find parking at La Jolla Cove.

I visited in late March two years ago and had Windansea Beach practically to myself on a Tuesday morning. That does not happen in August. The water is cold year-round anyway (wetsuit territory regardless), so you're not losing anything by going now.

The money angle: Hotels along the coast run 30-40% cheaper than peak summer rates. I booked a place in Pacific Beach for $149/night that would've been $240+ in July.

Go for: The tide pools at Cabrillo, sunset at Sunset Cliffs (yes, it lives up to the name), and fish tacos from a place that doesn't have a 45-minute wait.

2. The Grand Strand, South Carolina (Myrtle Beach Area)

I know what you're thinking: Myrtle Beach? Really, Kayla?

Hear me out. Myrtle in summer is a sensory overload of spring breakers, tourist traps, and traffic that makes you question every life decision that led you there. But Myrtle in March and early April — before the Memorial Day crowds descend — is genuinely pleasant.

Temperatures hover around 68-72°F. The 60 miles of coastline actually feel spacious. Brookgreen Gardens is in full bloom. And the seafood restaurants that are slammed in summer? You can walk right in.

The real move: Skip the main Myrtle strip and head to Pawleys Island or Litchfield Beach, about 25 miles south. Same gorgeous sand, none of the neon-sign energy. I spent a weekend at Pawleys in spring and it felt like a completely different state than summer Myrtle.

Go for: Affordable family beach time, golf (90+ courses, spring rates), and enough warmth to be comfortable without the oppressive humidity that hits in June.

3. Madeira & Porto Santo, Portugal

Most people think of the Algarve when they think "Portugal beaches." But Madeira — that rugged volcanic island 600 miles off the coast — is a spring destination that doesn't get nearly enough attention.

March in Madeira means wildflowers everywhere, hiking trails that aren't baked by summer heat, and water temperatures that are honestly similar to summer (the Atlantic around Madeira doesn't change much). Take the 2.5-hour ferry to Porto Santo Island and you'll find golden sand beaches with turquoise water that rival anything in the Caribbean.

The honest take: Madeira's beaches aren't its main draw — the island is rocky and dramatic, more cliffs than sand. But Porto Santo's 9km beach is legitimately stunning, and in March you'll share it with a handful of Portuguese families instead of the cruise ship crowds that show up in summer.

Go for: The combination of hiking + beach that's hard to find elsewhere. Also: poncha (the local drink) is dangerously good.

4. Gulf Shores, Alabama

Gulf Shores is one of the most underrated beach destinations in the entire U.S., and I will die on this hill.

The sand is white and fine (seriously, it's the same quartz-crystal sand as Destin and Panama City Beach). The Gulf water is warm enough to wade in by March — we're talking 68-70°F, which is refreshing but not painful. And because Alabama doesn't have the "beach brand" of Florida, it's always less crowded and less expensive.

In March specifically, you get the Wharf entertainment complex without lines, affordable beachfront condos, and the kind of laid-back Gulf Coast vibe that Florida's panhandle used to have before it got overdeveloped.

Real talk: The restaurant scene has leveled up significantly in the last few years. Fisher's at Orange Beach is doing Gulf-to-table seafood that would be a $200 dinner in Miami but runs about $60 for two here.

Go for: Budget-friendly beach time with genuinely good sand, warm-ish water, and no attitude.

5. Captiva Island, Florida

If you want a Florida beach that feels like the Caribbean but without the passport or the price tag, Captiva in spring is it.

This tiny barrier island off Fort Myers is accessible only by bridge (through Sanibel Island first), and that extra effort filters out the casual crowds. March is prime shelling season — the winter storms churn up incredible shells — and the water temperature is hitting that sweet spot around 74-76°F.

Summer on Captiva means afternoon thunderstorms almost daily, higher humidity, and the possibility of tropical weather. Spring gives you the sunshine without the sweat-through-your-shirt factor.

My favorite thing: Renting a kayak and paddling through the mangrove tunnels off Buck Key. In March, the water is calm, the manatees are still around, and the mosquitoes haven't reached their summer fury. That last point alone is worth timing your trip for spring.

Go for: Shelling, kayaking, and sunsets at the Mucky Duck that actually feel peaceful instead of like a mosh pit.

6. Vis Island, Croatia

Croatia in summer is beautiful but absolutely overrun. Dubrovnik gets so packed that the city literally installed crowd counters. Split is a cruise ship port of call that can feel claustrophobic in July.

Vis Island — the farthest inhabited island from the Croatian mainland — was used as a military base for decades, which means it missed the development wave that turned other Croatian islands into resort playgrounds. It only really opened to tourism in the 1990s.

March is early season, which means some restaurants may not be open yet. But the ones that are will serve you fresh-caught fish in a waterfront setting with maybe five other diners. The beaches — particularly Stiniva, which involves a short hike down to a cove framed by towering cliffs — are genuinely empty.

Fair warning: The water in March is around 57°F, so this isn't a swimming trip. It's a "walk on stunning beaches, eat incredible seafood, drink Croatian wine, and have an island to yourself" trip. If that appeals to you, book it.

Go for: The feeling of discovering something before everyone else does. Also the wine — Vis makes a white grape called Vugava that you can't get anywhere else.

7. Tulum, Mexico (Yes, But Hear Me Out)

Tulum gets a bad rap these days, and some of it is deserved. The Instagram-ification of the hotel zone, the sargassum seaweed problem, the overdevelopment — all real.

But March is actually when Tulum works best. The sargassum hasn't arrived yet (that usually ramps up in May-August). The weather is dry and warm without being brutally hot. And if you skip the overpriced hotel zone and stay in town or south toward the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, you get a completely different experience than the cliché.

I stayed at a small guesthouse in town last March, rented a bike, and rode to the ruins at sunrise before the tour buses arrived. The beach below the ruins — with those turquoise waters and ancient clifftop buildings — is legitimately one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. And at 7 AM in March, I shared it with about eight other people.

The honest caveat: Tulum's hotel zone prices are absurd. A beach club day pass can run $100+. But if you avoid that ecosystem entirely and do Tulum like a traveler instead of an influencer, it's still a special place — especially right now, before the seaweed and the summer heat move in.

Go for: The ruins at sunrise, cenote swimming (the water temp is perfect year-round), and some of the best Mexican food outside of Mexico City.

The Bottom Line

Summer beach trips aren't wrong. But they're often more expensive, more crowded, and — depending on the destination — not even the best weather window.

March and April are when smart travelers book beach trips. You get shoulder-season pricing, manageable crowds, and in many destinations, genuinely better conditions than peak summer.

My advice? Pick one of these spots, book it for the next few weeks, and see for yourself. The beach doesn't know what month it is — but your wallet and your stress level definitely will.

Have you visited any of these beaches during shoulder season? I want to hear about it — drop me a line or tag @beachboundblog on Instagram with your off-season beach photos.