Idyllic Archives - 7x24ticket.com

American Travelers Can Visit These 5 Idyllic All-Inclusive Destinations Without A Passport This Spring

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:54:45 +0000

Want a relaxing and luxurious all-inclusive getaway without the hassle of applying for a brand-new passport? Then you’re in luck!

There are five overseas destinations that American travelers can visit without a passport right now.

This is because these destinations are U.S. territories or Freely Associated States. And the good news is that they’re all breathtakingly beautiful!

These idyllic locales are:

Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
Guam
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
American Samoa

Here are the best all-inclusive resorts that each destination has to offer:

U.S. Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands offer everything you would expect from a tropical island paradise but without a passport!

There are very few all-inclusive resorts on the islands and these are almost exclusively 5-star resorts but our pick is a highly rated 3-star hotel that pairs both quality with affordability.

Oceans at Divi Carina Bay is an adults-only resort in Christiansted and every single room in the resort has amazing ocean views. With good food and a relaxing vibe, this is a great place to choose if you really want to get away from it all.

A three-night stay from April 1 – April 4 would cost US$1,727. This price is based on two adults sharing.

And the good news is that flights to the U.S. Virgin Islands are both affordable and regular from across the U.S. For the dates above, a nonstop round-trip flight to Cyrill E. King Airport in the U.S. Virgin Islands from New York JFK would cost just $278. This flight is with Delta Airlines.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a remarkable country with incredible beaches, a rich and unique culture, and contrasting landscapes that include both mountain vistas and lush rainforests.

There are few all-inclusive resorts in the country but the best tend to be close to the beach. And one in particular stands out from the rest. The Hotel Lucia Beach by Tropical Inn is a small, family-friendly resort next to a stunningly beautiful beach.

A three-night stay from April 1 – April 4 would cost US$1,257. This price is based on two adults sharing.

One of the benefits of choosing to take a vacation in Puerto Rico is that the air links to the mainland U.S. are plentiful, giving you plenty of options to choose from and at great prices. In April alone you can fly nonstop to San Juan from 18 U.S. airports.

Return flights for the same dates (April 1 – April 4) to San Juan in Puerto Rico start from $87 per person. This is based on a nonstop economy-class flight from New York JFK flying with Frontier Airlines.

Guam

Guam is a lesser-known island in Micronesia that’s located halfway between Australia and Japan and it’s said to have some of the best beaches in the Pacific.

Tumon Beach and Ritidian Point are considered two of the most beautiful thanks to their sugar-white sand.

The best all-inclusive resort on the island is the Pacific Island Club Guam which sits in Tumon Bay’s 82,000 sq. yards beachfront paradise.

This is a 4-star resort that’s fully loaded with 8 different restaurants and unlimited access to over 70 recreational activities. This includes a huge water park, dinner shows, and water sports on the beach. You certainly won’t be bored!

A 3-night stay from April 1 – April 4 will cost $1,382 based on 2 adults sharing a standard room.

Of course, because Guam is so far away from mainland America, prices will be significantly higher than to Puerto Rico of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The only destination you can fly to Guam nonstop is Hawaii. A nonstop round trip flightto Tamuning in Guam from Honolulu would cost $1,703 with United Airlines.

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Also, in the Pacific and just north of Guam, you’ll find the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

This is a U.S. commonwealth in the Pacific Ocean that comprises 14 tropical islands with beautiful beaches and a rich cultural heritage.

All inclusive resorts here tend to be huge entertainment hubs with large waterparks and plenty of on-site entertainment. The best of these is the Saipan World Resort, which is a 4-star resort that has a waterpark, a lazy river winding around the hotel, and direct beach access.

There are 2 restaurants to choose from, and American-style breakfast is served every day.

Thrill seekers will love that canoeing, windsurfing, and snorkeling are all included in the resort, too.

A 3-night stay from April 1 – April 4 will cost $1,095, based on two adults sharing a twin room.

American Samoa

American Samoa is the third of the Pacific islands on this list. Fun fact: This is officially the only U.S. territory that sits south of the equator!

The destination boasts tropical rainforests and incredible coral reefs, making it a great vacation destination for snorkel and scuba enthusiasts.

And you want to be by the beach here, which is why I’ve singled out the Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort. This is a 5-star resort with its own private beach. It boasts 5 onsite restaurants and bars, 224 acres of tropical grounds, and a huge lagoon-style swimming pool.

It’s also surprisingly affordable with a 3-night stay from April 1 – April 4 costing $889, based on 2 adults sharing a standard room.

You can fly to American Samoa nonstop from Honolulu or with one stop from Los Angeles. A nonstop return flight from Honolulu would cost $981. This flight is operated by Hawaiian Airlines.

The one stop flight from Los Angeles would cost £1,465 based on a return economy class flight that’s also operated by Hawaiian Airlines.

How Is Passport-Free Travel Possible?

Traveling passport-free is a great idea (and a great tagline for this article!), but you may be wondering what it actually means.

For many of us, traveling overseas without a passport seems incredibly unusual. So, what documents will you need to travel with instead?

If you’re traveling to a U.S. Territory, you can use any government-issued ID as a valid travel document instead of a passport. Examples of this would be a driver’s license or state ID card.

Make sure this is valid before you travel.

The only exception is American Samoa. Like the other destinations on this list, American Samoa is a U.S. territory, but the rules are a little stricter. To take advantage of passport-free travel, you will need a certified U.S. birth certificate to enter the island.

Tor Brierley

Tor has been writing for more than 20 years and has visited 25 countries (and counting!) She specializes in European and family travel and never says no to new adventures.

↓ Elevate Your Travel↓

Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!

✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel buddies!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS

Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

Source link

The post American Travelers Can Visit These 5 Idyllic All-Inclusive Destinations Without A Passport This Spring appeared first on 7x24ticket.com.

Idyllic Bungalows & Turquoise Waters: Visit These 2 Unspoiled Beach Destinations In Thailand

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 03:36:00 +0000

As the general hordes of holiday shoppers are in full force, we can surely all relate to avoiding crowds.

Whether it’s opting for Uber Eats, Amazon Prime, or traveling to places you didn’t know existed, the common denominator is all the same.

When it comes to Thailand, two places you want to avoid for these types of frustrations are definitely Phuket and Bangkok, albeit the latter is an urban sprawl, making it easier to find your inner Zen as needed.

Phuket, on the other hand, has been dealing with overtourism concerns, so that may be the last Thai beach paradise you’ll want to find yourself in to unwind.

The good news for you is there are many tranquil spots along Thailand’s mainland shores and numerous postcard-worthy islands.

Lonely Planet just highlighted a pair of such places – one on the mainland, along with a gorgeous island you may have never heard of.

Best of all, they’re both very affordable, virtually untouched, and studded with idyllic beachside bungalows up and down the pristine shores.

Ko Wai: Thailand’s Unspoiled Island Escape

The island life is appealing to all of us, and when it comes to Thailand, there seems to be a never-ending list of off-shore paradises from which to choose.

Lonely Planet showcased Ko Wai as one of the best alternatives to Thailand’s resort-lined beaches rather than embracing the unknown of unspoiled coastlines with traditional bungalows.

Before Thailand became a global icon where vacationers flock to the urban delights of Bangkok or the pristine beaches of numerous destinations, the latter looked a lot like Ko Wai.

Coming here now can be seen as a time capsule, especially as prices are still ridiculously low and landscapes virtually untouched.

Long-held local traditions are still in effect, so don’t expect to see billboard eyesores, mega cruise ships, or towering resorts.

Ko Wai perfectly sums up one of Thailand’s most popular types of travelers: those of us ballin’ on a budget!

Ranging anywhere from $15 to $45, check out Koh Wai Paradise, home to 30 thatched-roof bungalows or slightly cheaper Good Feeling Bungalows, where one recent visitor claimed it’s ‘Heaven on earth’.

Golden Beaches & Traditional Stays: Welcome To Bang Saphan Yai

Turns out Bangkok isn’t the only Thai getaway to go out with a ‘Bang’.

Bang Saphan Yai isn’t a place you’ll see highlighted in bold on the map like the country’s staples of Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok.

Small yet mighty in terms of untamed beauty, this quaint beach town is located in the trendy Prachuap Khiri Khan province, yet this side remains hush-hush for locals to enjoy.

Lonely Planet mentioned ‘sublime sunsets’ overpowering golden beaches lined with bamboo huts, and while bearing witness to the fiery skies is certainly a must, there’s a lot more to make your trip worthwhile.

One such way for an epic adventure is to take a $4 train from Bangkok to Hua Hin and make your way down by bus or train on 12Go.

The coastal views are a sight to behold and a far cry from beach crowds elsewhere, as this tranquil side of the country is a whole different vibe.

Upon arrival, there are ample beaches to scout for endless bliss in the sunshine, especially if bungalows are more your jam than ritzy resorts.

This is not to say that these traditional-style stays are run-down by any means, but don’t expect swim-up bars and silver platter room service.

And if you must visit an island, tour operators can make arrangements to visit lesser-known Ko Thalu. But, with idyllic huts, sensory overload markets, and snorkeling and kayaking the turquoise waters as options, there’s no harm in staying on the mainland.

Check out Sangjun On Beach Resort, which has $25 beachside bungalows with top reviews claiming, ‘Big balcony with a fantastic view of the ocean’ and ‘If you want absolute peace and quiet, this is the place for you’.

New Thailand Rule For U.S. Travelers

On the one hand, Thailand has done Americans a favor by extending their visa-free allowance to 2 months rather than the prior 30 days.

But now, there’s a new annoyance – dreaded forms!

That’s right; all Americans crossing into Thailand beginning in December have to fill out the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) in advance, but the good news is there are no fees.

For deeper insight and peace of mind to ensure you dot your I’s and cross your T’s, check out our recent article covering the new entry rules and benefits.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.