6 Beach Vacations That Are Trending in 2025

If your ideal vacation includes ocean breezes, turquoise waters and a lower travel bill, good news: There’s still time to plan a beach escape before 2025 winds down — and use your points and miles to do it.

According to Chase Travel, bookings are surging for destinations where sunshine and culture collide. For example, Labor Day travel to Puerto Rico is up 116% year-over-year, while Maui and Miami are also seeing sharp increases. And whether you're looking for an island steeped in history, a glamorous resort you can book with a free night certificate, or even a private Caribbean island, there are more ways than ever to stretch your rewards.

Here are six hot beach destinations — and smart ways to use your points and miles to get there.

Puerto Rico tops the list of fastest-growing beach destinations, and it’s easy to see why: no passport required for U.S. travelers, vibrant culture, and some of the best beaches in the Caribbean.

For a true San Juan experience, book a stay at the Caribe Hilton, the birthplace of the piña colada. Located between Old San Juan and Condado, this beachfront resort offers direct ocean access and sweeping views. Rooms can often be booked with Hilton Honors points or a Hilton free night certificate.

Despite higher airfares, bookings to Maui are up 37% year-over-year according to Chase Travel — and it’s an excellent time to redeem points while supporting the island’s tourism recovery.

Splurge-worthy and serene, Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, is one of the top ways to use a Hilton Free Night Certificate. You’ll enjoy sprawling pools, beachfront access and proximity to Haleakalā and the scenic Road to Hana.

With a 55% increase in bookings over Labor Day according to Chase Travel, Miami remains a perennial favorite for a lively beach-meets-nightlife vacation. Stay steps from the sand at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, where you can redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for oceanview luxury.

Miami is the cruise capital of the world, so you might use that as a jumping point to get to other great beaches — and those are private islands owned by cruise companies.

One of the most exciting updates for points travelers? You can now book cruises through Voyages by Chase, using Chase Ultimate Rewards points to reserve your spot at sea — including those itineraries that stop at exclusive private islands.

• MSC Cruises offers beach access at Ocean Cay, a marine reserve in the Bahamas with eco-conscious vibes. Its accessible on sailings including the MSC World America.

• Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay delivers waterslides, overwater cabanas and swim-up bars.

• Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay is undergoing major renovations, including upgraded cabanas and new dining.

Nestled outside the hurricane belt, Aruba is a late-year beach haven with high sun reliability. Right on Palm Beach, the Holiday Inn Resort Aruba is a rare beachfront deal where rooms often start around 46,000 IHG points per night.

» Learn more: Your guide to booking award nights with IHG Hotels

Looking for something a little more exotic? Something far, far away?

World of Hyatt members can find their slice of heaven in the Indian Ocean, about 1,500 miles off the southeast coast of Africa, at the beachfront Heritage Le Telfair.

The property sits on an old sugar plantation turned nature preserve, allowing visitors to explore the island’s history and natural beauty.

The beaches and the too-green-to-believe mountain peaks are the very definition of island beauty. Yet we found rooms starting at just 25,000 Hyatt points per night.