Originally Posted by swag

I'm looking to spoil a special someone for her birthday weekend, which also happens to be the 4th of July holiday. She's mentioned that she's like to go to the beach.

I haven't planned a beach vacation in a long time, so I'm a bit lost and looking for advice.

Criteria are a good beach, a romantic but casual setting, water that's not too cold, price, availability, and convenience. She probably couldn't leave until later on Friday afternoon. Tuesday return. Don't want to spend too much of that time travelling. And I don't know if she has a current passport.

I'm DFW based, and she's in the midwest.

Idea 1 is somewhere on the TX gulf coast. Galveston? Corpus? S. Padre? I've not been to any of them. I've heard that he further south you go, the better. Is that so?

Idea 2 is somewhere in Florida. But no idea where. Miami? Gulf Coast? Panhandle?

Idea 3 is Puerto Rico. I've checked, and AA has award seats available. But is it worth the longer trip and greater hotel cost (?) for a long weekend?

Anywhere else I should consider?

Thanks in advance.