Leave that passport at home in a safe spot. Yep, don’t worry your pretty little head about it one bit. You won’t need it when you set off on these no-passport vacations - our glorious, beachtastic destinations in the USVI and Puerto Rico. They’ve got everything you want in an Earth heaven and MORE.
(Sugar Bay Beach Resort, photo by: instagram.com/megamibear.)1. St. John. If you’re looking for seclusion, then this is your island. It’s a veritable nature lover’s Nirvana. Two-thirds of St. John is a protected national park. It’s not only full of nature preserves and pristine beaches, but there’s also a good mix of resorts, inns and villas. It’s also teeming with all kinds of epic things to do. Like snorkeling in an underwater trail at Trunk Bay. Carving out an escape haven (drink and book in hand) under coconut palms and Maho trees at Maho Bay. Or exploring the sweet Annaberg Sugar Plantation. St. John is an eco-tourist dream spot and one of the best no-passport vacations around.
(Coki Point, St. John, USVI, photo by: instagram.com/islandmanny.)2. St. Thomas. This bustling island has lots of large resorts and is a popular cruise ship destination. But this doesn’t eclipse the natural beauty and history you can find here. Speaking of, Blackbeard’s Castle is a fun jaunt and the only unmodified 17th-century fortified tower in the entire Caribbean. Life-size pirate statues greet you and you can get some great views of the crazy delicious teal water. 99 Steps, one of the island’s most famous landmarks, is a good workout. The 103, not 99 stone stairs (whose counting, right?) you’ll be ascending are from the stones that the Danes brought over 300 years ago in the hulls of their ships. Charlotte Amalie is the duty-free shopping capital of the world. Dig into trinkets, rum, smokes, electronics, designer clothes and more. The Butterfly Garden is where you can frolic with exotic winged creatures from all over the world. Magen’s Bay has breath-stealing mountains that roll right into the turquoise waters. No wonder this slice of heaven is dubbed one of the world’s 10 most beautiful beaches by National Geographic. Lots to do in this beachy paradise we know as St. Thomas. Put it on your list as yet another one of our spectacular no-passport vacations.
(Morning in St. Croix, photo by: instagram.com/alfredoperalta.)3. St. Croix. The biggest of the USVI, St. Croix is where you can do it all: dine on stellar grub, hang out at a rockin’ casino, tee off on gorgeous golf courses and dig into a bunch of cool historical stuff. To start, you must visit the Cruzan Rum Factory and taste their outstanding libations. King Street is the colorful shopping eco-center of the island where you can walk on cobblestone streets and get your fill of souvenirs. Last but never least, Divi Beach is a place you must hit: water sports out the wazoo, lip-smacking nosh spots, and of course, lots of poppin' bars. Whatever suits your beach fancy, you can get/do it here. Best thing, you can zip down, step off the plane and get to beaching ASAP. St. Croix is the third in a series of our aahh-mazing no-passport vacations.
(Gran Melia Puerto Rico, photo by: instagram.com/yesitsmebrooke.)4. Puerto Rico. Not too far away from our homeland is this blessed island that is a beautiful, intoxicating mash-up of natural beauty and history. For rum lovers, and we know there are many of you, you can’t miss the world’s largest rum distillery, Barcardi aka Casa Bacardi. The bartenders will give you a live demo on how to mix up the very best rum cocktails. When you’re good and relaxed, hit the capital city, San Juan, for brightly colored, old-world buildings that are brimming full of delish dining spots, quaint shops and rockin’ bars. The Yunque Rainforest is a tropical Eden for plants, animals, waterfalls and zip lining. But get ready for more pirate haunts, as there are huge forts (where they once lived) that overlook the turquoise ocean, one of which is Castillo San Cristobal. Killer views can be found right here. Puerto Rico is another one of the awesome places you can visit without a passport.
Oh, you’ve already started packing? Not surprising. You don't even need to remember to grab your passport! But if you ever want to start collecting stamps, we have deals to all your favorite all-inclusive destinations.
