It's too bad you've ruled out Hawaii, because if your priorities are "nice restaurants, nice hotels, and things worth photographing," Hawaii is THE place to be. It has the best selection of hotels, great restaurants, and spectacular scenery that you won't find at most island/beach resorts.

My vote would be for Maui--incredible resorts, absolutely stunning scenery (Haleakala, Iao Valley, Hana Highway), and great food.

How about PVR (Puerto Vallarta?)

AA flies there.
Cheap hotels/villas in town.
Really great food at many places for cheap to reasonable $- avoid handful of up-scale places if saving $$$.
The beaches are public access in Mexico.
Many small beach areas with idyllic settings, especially.
Nearly everything outside of a few run-down spots in town photograph beautifully.
Safe water/food.
Can arrange water-related activities fairly cheap, including boat snorkeling.
Low crime rate overall.
Nice friendly population.
English is widely spoken at least a bit, with a fair-sized ex-pat community too.
Widespread bus service at 4p/person per leg.
Lots of taxis too, not too expensive other than first airport-to-destination trip.

Down-sides
Beaches will not measure up to Cancun, etc, unless you are NORTH of the airport, and that is both more expensive AND has much more limited food options.
Not really a swimming/wading/shore snorkeling location as drop is fairly steep and wave action can be strong.
Timeshare salespersons are a plague, but I gather they are spreading everywhere
.

Another choice might be YVR (Vancouver, Canada)
MANY hotel/B&B/apartment choices.
Pretty and extensive beaches in town and along the shorelines.
Spectacular scenery.
Great food, at an average of 10-15% less than a typical US restaurant.
Lots of restaurant choices.
Good scuba diving trips available.
Buses are plentiful.
Ferries run to every part of town divided by water from the central core.
Generally low crime rates, with nice people everywhere.
English is main language.

Down Sides
Don't know if AA flies there, but assume yes.
Colder, except for those moderate summer days
Water is nippy, but OK for splashing about in the edge.
Rain is a real possibility much of the time (you can luck into an entire week with no rain tho...)
Hotels can be expensive if you do not do lots of research first.
Some areas of town are not-so-nice to traverse or stay in so do your research.

S

Edited to add come additional

[This message has been edited by sdl (edited Feb 23, 2004).]

An oldie but goodie:

FTers' Most Beautiful Beaches.

Actually, it's every second couple I think http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif We stayed well outside both Cancun and Playa, about midway, on a deserted stretch of white sand called Playa del Secreto. If you want to e-mail me I can give lodging details--two places at the beach are incredibly reasonable. You have to drive to reach any action, however.