Other than occasional Cabo R&R, we don’t really do beach vacations. But the rest of my family (wife and kids, ages 9 and 11) is begging for 4-5 nights or so at a luxe beach resort. Our default is Cabo (probably O&O), but interested in other places you’ve loved–ideally somewhere that has a direct flight from Houston. Turks? Bahamas? Jamaica? PR? Grand Cayman? I’d love somewhere not TOO humid (which is why we do Cabo), but I could be convinced otherwise.
We did a week-long dive trip to Turks and Caicos last November. The Ritz Carlton or Grace Bay Club are, perhaps, the sort of style you’re looking for. The beach sand there is among the softest sand we have encountered anywhere in the world. The island has a relaxed, joyful vibe that you expect from a Caribbean island but which is not always found. For example in comparison, the diving at Bonaire is excellent, beaches are great, but vibe overall is … less appealing than Turks and Caicos.
On Turks and Caicos, “Island Scoop” has some great ice cream flavors. The outdoor restaurant Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar (at Grace Bay Club) has great service and food with a real wine list. There are at least two wine shops on the island, as well. SJ Curry Club has surprisingly-excellent Indian food in a tiny restaurant. Chinson’s Grill Shack for jerk chicken. There are several parks which, we were told by other divers, had so many turtles in the shallow water it was difficult to swim around them.
A few years ago we visited Grand Cayman for diving. It was good overall and the diving was generally better than Turks and Caicos, but on land we did not enjoy Grand Cayman as much as we enjoyed Turks and Caicos – the vibe and restaurants were not as pleasant as Turks and Caicos.
With more days, consider also the Manuel Antonio area of Costa Rica. We only spent two nights there but they have nice beach, lots of hotels and restaurants in the area (most dense area for tourist stuff we visited during our entire Costa Rica trip). Overall, Costa Rica is great for its wildlife (sloths, tucans, monkeys, land crabs, turtles, frogs, insects), rain forests, coffee and farms. The Pacific side is very different from the Atlantic side and the mountains in the middle are chilly (relative to the heat of the coasts).
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A lot depends on the the destinations offered from Houston if looking for non-stop. And budget. Any info to share ?
Jumby Bay perhaps ?
hawaiiiiiiii - way better food than any of the places you listed. Also doesn’t feel like you’re in a fancy resort surrounded by poverty
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Agree, four seasons Maui
Also, there is no Sargassum in HI. We don’t even go to the beach in Delray from May-Oct.
I am partial to Anguilla. Thread here: Anguilla Recs?
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Galveston!
North shore of Kauai.
It’s where South Pacific was filmed, each song on a different beach.
I’m curious about the wide range of “in North America” 
. I guess the meaning is ‘accessible from’
Grand Turk has good diving at the wall. Very casual laid back island. Take your own wine though!
Shore diving Bonaire has been my best dive experience. haven’t been since COVID though
One of my favorite places on earth 