Omio, an online booking platform for trains, buses, flights, and ferries based in Berlin, Germany, released its list of “The Best Budget U.S. Beaches” this year. For planners looking to book an event in an area with beach access that is both easy on the wallet and memorable for attendees, destinations in Illinois, New Jersey, and Georgia hold the top three spots. The rankings were selected based on public guest ratings; average summer temperatures; and this year’s rental prices and fees for on-site beach items including shaded sunbeds, ice cream, and alcoholic beverages.
Oak Street Beach in Chicago, Illinois, took the No. 1 spot as Omio’s choice for most affordable beach in the country. The beach is situated just north of Navy Pier along the shores of Lake Michigan. According to a press release from Omio, the beach offers “a shaded sunbed for just $20 per day [and] provides the perfect escape with its refreshing breezes and average summer temperatures hovering around 69 degrees Fahrenheit. What’s more, the affordability extends to its drink prices, with a beer from a nearby bar priced at $7 and a standard cocktail available for $10.” Additionally, the average price for a serving of ice cream at Oak Street Beach is $3.95.
Cape May Beach in Cape May, New Jersey, was ranked No. 2 and has an average summer temperature of 73 degrees; followed by Driftwood Beach in Jekyll Island, Georgia, as No. 3 with an average summer temperature of 81 degrees. Other destinations that made the list included beaches in Maryland, Michigan, California, Puerto Rico, Florida, Massachusetts, and New York, in that order.
Oak Street Beach sits close to downtown Chicago’s The Drake hotel, which offers meeting space and overnight rooms for attendees; The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago, featuring overnight accommodations and on-site dining and spa amenities; the iconic John Hancock Center; and Water Tower Place, which offers an abundance of shopping and dining opportunities.
