Marvel In The Colors Of The Caribbean

Beautiful Saint Croix Island, located in the tropical Caribbean Sea just 1,200 miles off the Miami coast, is the largest land body in the United States Virgin Islands.

Long, peaceful beaches, sugar and rum plantations shape the landscape. Homes, historic churches, commercial ports and plantations boast architecture dating as far back as the early eighteenth and nineteenth century and reflecting Spanish, Dutch, French, Danish, British, Knights of Malta and American influences. Thriving sugar crops gave way to tourism in the late 1960s as the islands primary source of income. So you're sure to be treated like royalty.

When visiting Saint Croix, you'll discover a wealth of indoor and outdoor activities from which to plan your days around. Outdoor adventures abound, with scuba diving along 702 acres of vibrant coral reefs, horseback riding across lush, green hills and pastures, snorkeling among underwater trails, sport-fishing, bicycle riding, hiking and island exploration. From wide streets to haunted plantation ruins, this enchanting island is a perfect vacation get-away.

Golf is another popular sport, with several notable courses including the award-winning Carambola Golf Club which hosts the annual LPGA tournament and has received Golf magazine's prestigious gold medal.

Nightlife abounds both at island casinos and clubs, and at seasonal local events. Many vacationers schedule their trip around Jump Up, a thrilling block party ideal for all age groups. Watch calypso and youth bands decorate the night, while streets are blocked from regular traffic. Enjoy face painting and watch the tall Mocko Jumbies, elaborately costumed characters on stilts, dancing and parading down the streets.

Indoors, you'll find the thrill of casinos, duty-free shopping and fine dining. Island cuisine is influenced by St. Croix's oldest crops, from okra to cabbage and corn. Food fair also includes succulent seafood, lobster, conch fritters, burgers, barbeque delicacies and savory mango salsa sauce. Then give your meal the perfect island twist with a Cruzan Rum infused Calypso Daiquiri.
Island tours and trails help you explore all of the island's beauty, attractions and beaches, as viewed through local eyes. When visiting, discover the natural beauty by air, open-air jeep, open-air bus, four-wheeler or foot. You'll gain a different perspective than you would staying poolside in your hotel or resort.

Purchased by the United States in 1917, visitors don't need a passport to enter. However you do need some form of identification which may include a valid passport, government issued ID card or drivers license plus an original birth certificate.

Discover Saint Croix today by booking your travel vacation.

About the Author
By Clinton Douglas IV of http://www.vasrue.com/ who provides free, quality articles for your newsletter, website or publication on topics such as Saint Croix: http://www.vasrue.com/ vacations.

Cheap Exotic Vacations for budget travelers

Why spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to travel abroad or visit a tourist ridden resort city? There are plenty of cheap exotic vacation destinations in Central and South America. Plus, the flights are shorter if you only have a week off (in comparison to European vacations) and the majority of the continent speaks Spanish, making communication easy. Here are some of the best and cheapest discount South American vacations.

Roatan Island, Honduras
Located thirty miles off the coast of Honduras, Roatan Island is an unspoiled Caribbean paradise. With blue skies, turquoise water, sandy beaches and year-round high temperatures in the 70's and 80's, Roatan Island offers everything a Caribbean vacation should. While Roatan Island is more expensive than mainland Honduras, it's a definite deal when compared to other Caribbean vacations.

Plus the island has less street crime and violence than the rest of the country, making it safer. Rooms run anywhere from $8 budget lodging to $175 resort hotels and a gourmet meal will set you back about $15. The island is also home to the second largest barrier reef, making it a popular dive location and scuba diving is a must. It also is one of the most reasonably priced places to get certified as a scuba diver and one of the best cheap exotic vacations.

Buenos Aires, Argentina
Once the most expensive country in South America, the economic collapse of Argentina has consequently created travel bargains. Argentina offers amazing scenery, exciting nightlife options, world-class dining and wine - all at budget prices. Budget travelers can easily get by on less than $50 a day. The well-known Argentinean nightlife makes it the perfect vacation destination for young budget travelers looking for adventure. Dinner typically is served around 10 p.m., followed by all-night partying. Argentina is a perfect party and discount South America vacation spot.

Margarita Island, Venezuela
This tropical island paradise is located off the north shore of Venezuela and is home to beautiful beaches and has an average of 320 days of sun a year. Margarita's daytime activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, beach-lounging and horseback riding. For great bargains and local culture, head to El Mercado de los Conejeros on the outskirts of Porlamar where you'll find unique souvenirs crafted by Amazon Indians and locals. Due to the country's steep economic decline and an amazing exchange rate, hostels can be found at as low as $13.50 a night, a delicious fish meal can go for around $7 and a cold beer will only cost a dollar. There are also plenty of bars, clubs and discos, offering an exciting nightlife.

Peru
For more family friendly cheap travel, visit the country of Peru. Adults enjoy the low prices and sightseeing options and the children love the animals and colorful country. The biggest tourist attraction is the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, but the country also has amazing Amazon rain forests, colonial cities, whitewater rafting and mountain trekking. Meals at local restaurants will cost from $2 to $5. Budget travelers will pay anywhere $20 to $50 a night for lodging in Peru cities like Lima or Cusco, but elsewhere the rates will be lower.

Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile is one of Latin America's most sophisticated metropolitan areas. Lying in a valley surrounded by the Andes Mountains, this capital city allows for a morning dip in the sea and world-renowned skiing in the afternoon. The country is cheap too. Nice hotels can be found for as low as $50 up to $150 and hostels cost from $10 to $25. The country has unique museums and art galleries, bustling markets and unique colonial architecture.

Restaurants can be found at reasonable prices, but some can be fairly expensive - so check them out before you sit down. The country also has decent wineries and wine tours are available. Chile is the perfect metropolitan discount South American vacation and a definite cheap vacation destination deal. Jillian Scheeler makes it easy and provide ways to enjoy best budget destinations in Central and South America. To recieve the free part mini course visit the Budget Travel Website.

About the Author
Jillian Scheeler is a spontaneous road-tripper and avid writer working on assignment for TravelPost.com - The Premier Source for Unbiased Hotel Reviews and Ratings.

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Caribbean Travel Deals And Information

If you want to travel to the Caribbean, you have many options to choose from. Your Caribbean travel destinations include:

Antigua and Barbuda, Haiti, Aruba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Martinique, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, Cuba, St. Lucia, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Turks & Caicos Islands, Guadeloupe or Virgin Islands.

Each destination offers its own experiences and exotic ambiance. Use this guide to learn about the Caribbean and what you need to know before you disembark on your trip.

Caribbean Weather
Most people travel to the Caribbean because of the region's amazing weather. Sunny with a steady breeze, the Caribbean provides ideal weather for hours of sunbathing and frolicking in the ocean. All islands, for the most part, offer the same climate with slight variations in weather patterns here and there (and the occasional tropical rainfall), making any island you select an ideal destination for your tropical paradise.

However, the majority of the Caribbean is within a hurricane belt. This means that during certain times of the year, the Caribbean can be hit by hurricanes. The official hurricane season in the Caribbean is June 1st to November 30th with August to October being peak months. Now even though the hurricane season is smack dab in the middle of prime summer vacation time, you need not worry.

With technology today and weather tracking, it's now possible to identify when a hurricane or major storm will hit. So, if you're planning a Caribbean travel trip, find out what the current hurricane season is like and how the island of choice will fair during it.

Southern islands such as Barbados and Aruba, on the other hand, lie outside of the Caribbean hurricane belt and almost never fall victim to hurricanes. If you don't want to worry about planning your Caribbean trip around the hurricane season, the southern islands of the Caribbean are the best way to go.

Caribbean Activities
Each Caribbean destination has its own terrain and landscape, providing its own unique activities. Almost all destinations have amazing beaches, but some also have tropical rain forests and mountains. Puerto Rico, for example, has the only rainforest that's part of the U.S. National Parks system. Aruba, on the other hand, is one of the only islands that offer a non-tropical environment, offering dryer surroundings.

So, depending on your Caribbean travel destination, your activities are limited to the natural makeup of the island. But in general, your activities will include sunbathing, playing in the ocean, nature hikes through the lush terrain (if available), trips into town to purchase the local merchandise, and experiencing the island nightlife.

Caribbean travel destinations are the key to a tropical getaway. With many island destinations to choose from, all offering optimal weather and relaxing activities, the Caribbean is definitely a destination to put on your list of places to visit.

About the Author
cFares is the first choice thousands of knowledgeable travelers are using right now to save hundreds of dollars on airfare. For more Caribbean travel info and cheap airfare to the Caribbean, visit www.cfares.com