09/23/2026
Hear me out: What if your Thanksgiving plans included an ocean view, room service, and absolutely no dishes?
If you’re considering using the holiday weekend for a warm-weather escape, these are four destinations I’d put on the list:
ARUBA
Great for beautiful beaches, reliable sunshine, fun restaurants, and an easygoing island experience that doesn’t require spending your entire trip at the resort.
CURAÇAO
Perfect if you want colorful culture, hidden coves, snorkeling, street art, and plenty to explore between beach days.
CANCUN OR RIVIERA MAYA
One of the easiest options from Phoenix, with everything from smaller adults-only properties to luxurious family-friendly all-inclusives.
CABO
Ideal for gorgeous resorts, dramatic desert-meets-ocean scenery, fantastic restaurants, and a long weekend that feels a little extra fancy.
Thanksgiving is premium travel time, so I won’t pretend it’s the week to find bargain-basement prices. But the right destination, travel dates, and resort can make a huge difference.
If you would happily trade cooking and cleanup for cocktails and a beach chair this year, let’s start looking at what’s possible.
The resort can be gorgeous but it still needs to feel like it was chosen for you.
What’s one thing that can immediately make or break a resort for you?