Island Travel Minus the Passport!

Our last talk initiated us into the island culture by way of the U.S. Virgin Island of St. Croix.  Now before we head down and discover the rest of the West Indies as I promised, I wanted to glance over the remaining U.S. Virgin Islands for those who want to see a more organic side of the islands still without having to obtain a passport.  About 40 miles north of St. Croix are the remaining U.S. Virgin Island territories of St. Thomas and St. John.  These two islands offer a more laid back attitude than the hectic nightlife of St. Croix.  Being someone who’s traveling experiences began visiting U.S. National Parks, I wanted to give a shotgun tour of the more natural side of the U.S. Caribbean territories.

Before I put a machete in your hand, we’ll venture onto St. Thomas in order to get used to the tropical jungle, but with the hotel or hostile still nearby.  St. Thomas is the larger of the two islands and has more natural beauty than its commercial counterparts.  The island is surrounded by outlying tiny islands that give you a break from some of the harsh waves and deep waters of the larger Caribbean isles.  You will most likely arrive by a charter flight near the port town of Charlotte Amalie.  This former Danish territory was purchased in 1917 by the United States, giving a far different feel and décor from the French culture seen on St. Croix.  Being surrounded by Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St John also blocks the wind that your continental traveler may not be used to in the Caribbean.  After having a bite and looking around, find one of the many capes on the northern or southern parts of the island.  Here you can have a cocktail and enjoy one of my favorite phenomenon; watching the sun rise on your right, and set on your left. (Or vice-versa)  After witnessing this, I promise you will have the curiosity and primal energy to tackle our next stop:

If you’ve already left St. Croix for more esoteric waters, you’ll be able to enjoy the last stop on our tour of the Virgin Islands.  Because you are a savvy and curious traveler you’ll be able to navigate these shallow waters with little stress and even greater rewards.  Head down to St. Thomas Harbor and ask around Charlotte Amalie for a ride to St. John.  There are many ways to attack this.  If you prefer to leave the logistics during a vacation to someone else, go into a local hotel resort and ask the concierge. They will find you a cheap safe charter boat with a bar and all the amenities of the typical local tour boat.  They will also be able to book you a room on St. John for when you arrive.  If you find this too pampering just go down to the docks and pick a private boat that looks safe and tenured.  Make sure you bargain with your captain, and then finalize whether he is taking you to St. John for the day, leaving you there, picking you up in a week, etc.  The boat ride is short and beautiful, pick your captains brain for local knowledge and prepare for bliss.

Now that you’ve made it, here is your reward.  The U.S. Virgin Islands National Park and the famous Coral Bay.  The park takes up almost the entire island of St. John.  This island overlooking the water is stripped of all but a few hotel resorts and gives you peace and quiet almost anywhere you choose to explore.  Local guides are kind and will show you through the jungle if you want to hike to the top.  Here you can see the outlying islands from altitude including the neighboring British Virgin Islands.  If that’s too much effort on a vacation head to Coral Bay.  The beauty of this preserved natural harbor gives you the spoils of the islands without hundreds of boats blocking your view.  If you’ve made it this far, I trust you will enjoy the local music and outdoor shanty bars while you discover how we do national parks West Indies style.  Safe Travels!

A Connoisseur’s Note on Wanderlust Travel

Grown tired of spending the first 12 hours of your vacation stuck in airport terminals and airplanes?  Traditional bloggers would argue the time spent crossing the Atlantic is worth seeing Paris.  Personally, I’ve grown tired of trying to enjoy my morning baguette without being trampled by a herd of drunken American collegiate students.  With more young Americans having the confidence to visit the Rhone, or Greece, or spots once believed to be secret gems, I’ve investigated alternatives to visiting the tourist flooded cities of Western Europe.  Is there no solution?!  It’s a shame there are not more places of wonder and paradise near the continental United States.  Would you believe me if I told you it was possible to visit London, Barcelona and Amsterdam by taking a non-stop 3 and a half to 5 hour flight?  In our own backyard there is a chain of islands that not only brings you the sandy beaches and the crystal clear water, but the culture, food and architecture of Western and Southern Europe.  

Welcome to the Caribbean Lesser Antilles!  O.k. so I admit you may have been expecting something a little more exiting than your typical Carnival Cruise to the Bahamas.  But who said cruise, and who said Bahamas?  I’m talking about real culture in the lesser smaller islands of the Caribbean.  YOU are the savvy tasteful traveler so I have found you something more fulfilling than over-priced beach resorts serving burgers shipped from the U.S.  My time chasing music and exotic foods in the Caribbean brought me farther and farther away from Miami, to places so far down the chain, I could see Venezuela from my beach towel.  I found the Bahamas to be too full of crowded beaches and once again, drunken college students.  I tried Jamaica, but giving you a crash course on how to not get robbed away from your hostile didn’t seem too exiting either.  As I headed south, I found cultures and people that made me feel welcomed as a connoisseur and not a tourist.

We’ll start with the closest and tamest for you skeptics.  The U.S. Virgin Island of St. Croix.  Now here do we not only have sandy beaches, great weather, but everyone speaks English.  It’s the first of the Lesser Antilles just 50 miles east of Puerto Rico.  After going to St. Croix I felt the Jamaican Reggae music was a poor mans version of what the good people of St. Croix had going on.  Here in this small paradise are fewer tourists than the larger island, good food, music, and resorts for the pampered all the way to the rugged.  It is truly the best of both worlds, where English customs and currency are valid, but French cuisine, art, architecture and leisure make you feel a million miles from the red white and blue.  Because it was once a French colony the culture is very rich, and the taste of Paris can be seen at every town on the island.  Not only is it convenient in terms of how close it is from Atlanta, New York or Los Angles airports, but it’s a U.S. Territory.  What does this mean?  No passport, no problem!  If you’ve been worrying about taking your friend or even your children abroad but the hassles of obtaining your passports have killed your drive, no worries.  If you have a driver’s license, you can fly to the Caribbean and enjoy yourself with no hassle and no currency exchange needed.

This wonderful island was a blast, I found myself forgetting what time it was and not caring what kind of cuisine it was.  Truly a personal release and retreat full of rich food music and culture.  Check in frequently to follow me down the island chain to the Dutch territories full of the free spirit of Amsterdam and the French Territories where royalty used to vacation.  And after we’ve covered all the islands you get to choose from in the Lesser Antilles, I’ll show you how to survive and have a good time in the enigma of Cuba that will soon be letting connoisseurs like you in!  Safe Travels

How to Fly Without ID!

So disaster has struck and you are at the airport with no ID and the flight departs in 20.  You miss this flight and its game over, your girlfriend will drop you for that Law grad student she keeps bringing up and you will prove the family right that you are incapable of being on time or handling even the smallest of responsibilities.

Well don't worry! Your relationship is saved and your family will be none the wiser because you; my dear disillusioned friend can fly without an ID.

Step 1. Don't be frightened.  When you present your dilemma to the ticketing agent the responses will vary.  If you are not so lucky you will get the "freak out" and they will demand you produce some form of government issued picture ID.  They may even get snippy and insist that it is a federal law!  Well, fear not because this is far from the truth.  Actually to the contrary the law mandates that is illegal not to permit you to fly based on the absence of ID alone.  So take solace in this fact, take a deep and prepare for step 2.

Step 2.  Have you found your center?  Smile politely and request to be a "selectee."  This term comes straight from federal mandate security directive 26-05 that states:

1. IDENTIFY THE PASSENGER -

A. ALL PASSENGERS WHO APPEAR TO BE 18 YEARS OF AGE WILL PRESENT A GOVERNMENT ISSUED PICTURE ID, OR TWO OTHER FORMS OF ID, AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH MUST BE ISSUED BY A GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY.

B. THE AGENT MUST RECONCILE THE NAME ON THE ID AND THE NAME ON THE TICKET -- EXCEPT AS NOTED BELOW.

C. IF THE PASSENGER CANNOT PRODUCE IDENTIFICATION, OR IT CANNOT BE RECONCILED TO MATCH THE TICKET, THE PASSENGER BECOMES A "SELECTEE." CLEAR ALL OF THEIR LUGGAGE AS NOTED IN SECTION 6, BELOW.

6. CLEAR SELECTEE'S CHECKED AND CARRY-ON LUGGAGE, AND SUSPICIOUS ARTICLES DISCOVERED BY THE QUESTIONS ASKED;

A. IF THE SELECTEE IS ON A FLIGHT WITHIN THE 48 CONTINENTAL US STATES, OR TO MEXICO, OR TO CANADA, ITEMS CAN BE CLEARED BY EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS:

1. EMPTY THE LUGGAGE OR ITEM AND PHYSICALLY SEARCH ITS CONTENTS BY A QUALIFIED SCREENER, OR;

2. BAG-MATCH -- ENSURE THE BAG IS NOT TRANSPORTED ON THE AIRCRAFT IF THE PASSENGER DOES NOT BOARD.

B. IF THE SELECTEE IS ON AN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT -- CHECKED LUGGAGE, CARRY-ON LUGGAGE, AND SUSPECT ITEMS CAN BE CLEARED ONLY BY THE FOLLOWING METHOD; EMPTY THE LUGGAGE OR ITEM AND PHYSICALLY SEARCH ITS CONTENTS BY QUALIFIED SCREENERS.

This continues on but I think you get the point.

Step 3.  You should then be given some type of marking along the lines of an orange sticker both on your luggage and your ticket.  This serves to inform personnel that you are a Selectee and will require additional security screening.  Not scary stuff, but if you’re going to forget your ID then you’ll have to deal with the additional & thorough security measures.  You may also be provided with a form to fill out and carry with you.

Step 4.  Fly happy...

New York City: Top 10 Tourist Attractions

The big apple boasts big dreams and is one of the top tourist destinations in America. From retail therapy, architectural prowess and cultural immersion New York has got it all; including the Yankees (sorry Boston). Check out the Top 10 New York City tourist attractions!

The Empire State Building	This ominous National Historic Landmark soars more than a quarter of a mile into the atmosphere above the heart of Manhattan. Located on the 86th floor, 1,050 feet (320 meters) above the city's bustling streets, the Observatory offers panoramic views from within a glass enclosed pavilion and from the surrounding open-air promenade. You can skip the ticket lines by purchasing admission online.
The Statue of Liberty	Located on the 12 acre Liberty Island the Statue of Liberty stands 151 ft. above the harbor and has served as an international symbol of peace, democracy and freedom. If you're prepared to climb the 354 narrow step winding staircase, be sure to get there early because long lines can mean longer waits.
Grand Central Terminal	Massive rennovations from the terminals opening in 1913 have turned Central into much more than a hub for transportation. Now home to an assortment of shops, eateries and other event including the Grand Central Holiday Fair is must see.
Rockefeller Center	The Rockefeller Center in midtown Manhattan, is known for its Christmas tree, ice skating, Top of the Rock Observation Deck, Radio City Music Hall and numerous shopping and dining opportunities. Rockefeller Center is a great destination for visitors any time of year.
Ellis Island Immigration Museum	The Ellis Island Immigration Museum offers visitors a fascinating look into the immigrant experience. Interactive exhibits, walking tours and movies reveal the hardships and challenges faced by immigrants passing through Ellis Island.
Staten Island Ferry	The Staten Island Ferry is a free ferry from lower Manhattan to Staten Island, used by commuters and tourists wanting a view of the harbor and the Statue of Liberty.
American Museum of Natural History	Since opening to the public in 1869, the American Museum of Natural History has evolved and grown. In addition to the Rose Center planetarium and regular exhibits, the American Museum of Natural History hosts a revolving series of new exhibits, so there is always something new to see.
Central Park	Central Park has offered a welcome escape from the concrete jungle of New York City for over 150 years. Take a walk, a boat ride or just enjoy a picnic in Central Park and discover for yourself why Central Park is so popular.
Metropolitan Museum of Art	Over 2 million works of art from around the world and throughout history are housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is an iconic art museum that is well worth a visit.
The Museum of Modern Art	Founded in 1929 as the first museum dedicated entirely to contemporary art, the MoMA is host to an impressive collection of modern artistic efforts. From painting and sculpture to film and architecture, the Museum of Modern Art's diverse collection has something for everyone.

Celebrity Destinations: Dont Forget Your Camera

Looking to rub shoulders with the rich, famous or maybe even the infamous?  Maybe you just want to spice up your holiday with the glitz associated with the social elite and tabloid mavericks?  Or maybe you just bought a new digital camera and are looking for new memories to create, upload to facebook and share with the world.  Well, if youre going to get that shot of you and Paris Hilton flashing a peace sign or that YouTube video of LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian sneaking out of the back of a hotel...You need to know where to find them.  Lucky for you we have some of the top destinations for celebrity sightings and tabloid hangouts!

Barbados If you're looking to soak up some rays and indulge in the good life then look no further than the celebrity enriched Caribbean Island of Barbados.  With glistening turquoise waters and white sandy beaches, Barbados is a blend of sophistication and beauty.  Celebrity regulars include the Beckhams, Sting, Mick Jagger; even Tiger woods and long-time girlfriend Elin Nordegren eloped at the world famous Sandy Lane Resort. Check out Hotels in Barbados
Dubai Dubai is known for it's class, high rollers and hotels that boast unrivaled architectural prowess in resort development.  Not to mention the massive amount of retail and designer shopping at such mall monoliths as the 'Wafi City Mall' and the 'Mall of the Emirates'; known as the first shopping resort.  From Mischa Barton cuddling a dolphin to Joshua Jackson and Girlfriend 'Troys' Diane Kruger hitting the 264 ft. indoor slopes a the 'Mall of the Emirates', Dubai is a surefire spot to nail celebs in action. Check out Hotels in Dubai
The French Riviera Ah the French Riviera.  Extending from Menton near the Italian border the French Riviera is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeastern corner of France and is known as one of the worlds first resort destinations.  If you are looking to spot a few A-Listers, then clear your schedule and head to the Canne Film festival where every year celebrities amass in a frenzy in hopes of earning the prestige of a Canne Award.  There's no shortage of upscale nightclubs either.  Dress to impress and head to either St Tropez or Les Caves du Roi.  You may have to buy your way in but once you cross those velvet ropes you can be sure to share space with some of the entertainment elite. Check out Hotels in the French Riviera
Miami   When you talk about celebrity party destinations you have to mention Miami.  Classy and sophisticated with a Caribbean vibe; a multitude of celebrities call Miami their second home.  Try to catch events like the Winter Musice Conference and hit Nikki Beach where the party barons are sure to be held up at any number of the upscale clubs or mansion parties.  It certainly isn't rare to see a couple stars like Shaq, Jessica Simpson, Colin Farrel, Lindsay Lohan or Beyonce gallivanting around South Beach at a cool restaraunt or any of the hip hotels located on Collins Ave.  These chic South Beach Hotels on the water are among the celeb favs. Check out Hotels in Miami