Cancun if your group wants a big-club, big-crowd week. Punta Cana if you want everything handled and the party at your resort. Cabo if you're flying from the West Coast. Nassau if you're on the East Coast and want a short flight to a real beach. Fort Lauderdale if someone in your group doesn't have a passport. All five take 18+ travelers, though Riu hotels are 21+ during spring break, and Fort Lauderdale is where the 21 drinking age matters most.
Now the long version, because "Cabo or Cancun???" has been sitting unanswered in your group chat for three days.
The table your group chat needs
| Cancun | Punta Cana | Cabo San Lucas | Nassau | Fort Lauderdale | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Mexico | Dominican Republic | Mexico | Bahamas | USA |
| Passport | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Drinking age | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 |
| Hotel check-in age | 18+ (Riu is 21+) | 18+ (Riu is 21+) | 18+ (Riu is 21+) | 18+ | 18+ |
| Package from, per person | $699 | $649 | $1,099 | $884 | $699 |
| All-inclusive | Yes | Yes | Yes | Breezes yes, Atlantis no | No |
| Airport transfers | Included | Included | Included | Included | Not included (domestic) |
| Vibe | Big clubs, beach clubs, boat parties | Resort pool parties, DJs | Beach clubs, yacht energy | Atlantis, beach bars, island pace | Beach strip, pool parties, bars |
| Best for | Big groups with big energy | Groups who want it handled | West Coast crews | East Coast, short trip | No passport, tighter budget |
"From" prices are per person, are current as of September 2026, and are starting prices. Your actual price is confirmed in writing before you pay a deposit.
Heads up on the "from" prices: the lowest Cabo price ($1,099) is Riu Santa Fe, a Riu, so it's 21+ during spring break. If your group is under 21, look at the other Cabo hotels, which start higher. The same goes for the Riu properties in Cancun and Punta Cana.
Cancun: the classic
Cancun is where the big nightclubs live. Daytime beach clubs, boat parties, and rooms that hold thousands of students from every school in the country. If your group's energy level is "we don't sleep," this is your arena. The Party Pass (express entry, cover charge and open bar at the big Party Center clubs) is worth a look because the lines are real. It's a separate add-on.
Stay in the hotel zone. Downtown is cheaper for a reason, and a late-night cab back adds up.
Punta Cana: all-inclusive, zero decisions
You book once and stop thinking. Food, drinks, pool parties and the DJ are handled at the resort, and the resort is where the party is. It's the easiest trip to organize for a big group and the easiest to explain to parents.
Tip your bartenders on day one. They'll remember your face and your cup for the rest of the week.
Cabo San Lucas: the West Coast move
About two and a half hours from LAX, and it feels like a music video. Medano Beach clubs by day, boat parties out past the Arch, Squid Roe and Mandala at night. It runs pricier than Cancun, but for a West Coast group you get some of that back on airfare and travel time.
The booze cruise is the one thing you shouldn't skip. Plan the rest of the day around it.
Nassau: a short flight to a real beach
For groups in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, Nassau is one of the shortest flights to an 18+ drinking age and a beach that looks like the screensaver. Atlantis is the headline, but it isn't all-inclusive, so budget-minded groups look at Breezes on Cable Beach, which is.
If you stay at Atlantis, decide up front how you'll handle food and drinks. Without a plan, the bill adds up fast.
Fort Lauderdale: no passport, no problem
If someone in the group can't get a passport in time, Fort Lauderdale keeps the trip alive. The package includes the Maniac VIP card: a week of free entry, free drinks at select venues on scheduled nights (21+), and shorter lines. You can fly cheap from the Northeast or drive from a lot of the East Coast. The catch is that Florida's drinking age is 21.
Save Miami for one night, not the whole week. Your budget will thank you.
Final Thoughts
There's no wrong pick as long as your crew agrees and someone books before the room block fills. Choose your vibe from the table, get a quote for two destinations if you're stuck, and let the price settle the argument. For the two most common face-offs, read Punta Cana vs Cancun and the Cabo guide for West Coast groups.
