Sure, the days of the boisterous spring break exist only as a memory now, but the seasonal getaway still certainly has its allure. Vacations of yore can be spruced up and evolved into new trips appropriate for your refined, adult self — and your larger bank account, of course. Here are a few spring break spots primed for some adult relaxation.
Kids: Myrtle Beach
Adults: Kiawah Island
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort stays true to its name — its palatial property situated right on the beach feels like a true escape from it all. The beautiful guest rooms at this Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel feature a calming palette of cream, brown and highlights of a sea foam green, bringing the serenity of the ocean right into your quarters. And the double whammy of the property’s Five-Star spa and Four-Star restaurant, The Ocean Room, ensures neither your spirit or your stomach will suffer.
But the true gem of this South Carolinian getaway is the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, boasting five courses, including the Ocean Course (home of 2012 PGA Championship), Turtle Point (designed by Jack Nicklaus) and the woods and four natural lakes of Tom Fazio’s Osprey Point. Any golfer worth his or her weight in tees will absorb as much course time as possible at this vast golf resort, and true amateurs should take note: The Tommy Cuthbert Golf Learning Center and its arsenal of high-tech teaching equipment, including a computerized video swing analysis system, is a haven for budding Rory McIlroys.
Kids: Cancun
Adults: Punta Minta
Thinking of a Cancun spring break undoubtedly conjures images of a mass of college students reveling in all kinds of beach debauchery. To carve another spring break out of paradise-rich Mexico, head up from Puerto Vallarta along the Pacific Coast to Punta Minta and the luxurious treasure, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort. Soak up some grownup relaxation at the adults-only infinity edge pool while being served by personal poolside butlers; get pampered at the Remède Spa; or, stretch your legs with more up-tempo activities such as scuba diving, tennis and a round on the two Jack Nicklaus golf courses.
Kids: Las Vegas
Adults: Las Vegas
Sure, there’s the Las Vegas you experience as a college student — doing what college students do while calculating just how many packs of ramen noodles to buy upon return home. But Vegas as an adult can be a much swankier affair. Settle into your Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star ARIA Resort & Casino penthouse corner suite featuring an array of comforts all controllable at the tap of a touch panel (everything from the curtains to the temperature) and a stunning view of the neon-lit Strip below. After basking in your technologically tinged suite, Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Jean Georges Steakhouse, with its smooth atmosphere of dark browns and black splashed with vibrant gold, will satisfy your rumbling stomach with prime cuts from the entire globe, including Japan, Argentina and Uruguay. Once you’re full, the tables are calling, and, if you’re feeling particularly ritzy, high-limit salons for VIP guests will test your gambling mettle.
Photos Courtesy of Kiawah Island Golf Resort, MGM Resorts international, Starwoods Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc
