Try Something New, Adventurous and Fun in St. Thomas

It's one thing to visit a tropical vacation destination, such as St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and simply sit at the beach or pool in order to get an awesome tan. That's certainly a lazy, but relaxing way to enjoy a trip.

Others might prefer to party, drink and dance the night away (and then sleep most of the day), while some people might opt to take full advantage of their vacation by trying new, exotic, and/or a bit adventurous activities that they couldn't or wouldn't experience at home. If this is what you're looking to do, at least for a few hours during your vacation, keep reading!

Whether you're visiting St. Thomas and staying at a resort, or its one of the ports-of-call you'll be visiting during a Caribbean cruise, one way to really enjoy a few hours and experience something unique (that very few other vacation destinations offer) is to take a Breathable Observation Submersible Scooter (BOSS) tour. (It's like riding a Segway, but underwater. And, it's a great alternative to scuba diving or snorkeling, especially if you don't consider yourself to be an adventurous person or risk taker.)

In St. Thomas, to participate in a BOSS tour, call Aqua Adventures, LLC at (340) 777-3549), visit www.bossusvi.com, or check with your cruise line's shore excursion desk. The company works directly with several major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess and Carnival.

Riding a BOSS may seem a bit scary, and you might think it requires a lot of physical strength and skill, but this is not the case at all!

No experience is needed, and you don't even need to know how to swim. If you can breath on land, sit still, and press a button with your thumb while holding onto handle bars, you'll be able to ride a BOSS with no problem whatsoever. During my tour today, a 10-year-old girl and several older people did it with no trouble. (That's me in the photo to the left, by the way.)

As I just mentioned, I had the chance to try this today, and it was a lot of fun! It was truly a memorable experience. I'd recommend this to anyone looking to try something new and who wants to see the Caribbean's marine life up-close, but who is not a certified scuba diver. (Riding a BOSS is easier than snorkeling and less physically taxing.)

The Aqua Adventures tour itself lasts about 3.5 hours, although participants only spend about 30 minutes riding a scooter underwater. The rest of the time is spent aboard a comfortable 60-foot, custom-built dive yacht. Free snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are served throughout the voyage. When not riding a BOSS scooter, participants can relax on the yacht or go snorkeling (all of the equipment is provided).

The cost of the tour is about $115.00 for adults and children alike, but I assure you, the experience is well worth it. You'll want to bring along an underwater camera or purchase a disposable underwater camera aboard the boat for an additional $20.00. Although, this is not an experience you will forget anytime soon. It's a totally awesome experience and well worth the time and money!

Throughout the tour, you'll be instructed and guided by a crew of skilled, experienced, friendly, funny and highly-professional certified divers and boat captains whose collective goal is to keep everyone safe, while also insuring an amazing time is had by all.

Currently, Aqua Adventures only operates in St. Thomas (not elsewhere in the Caribbean). Due to the popularity of this tour, it often books up well in advance, so make your reservations early - especially during peak travel seasons.

When you show up at the dock ready to experience your tour, along with an underwater camera, be wearing a bathing suit, and bring a towel, hat, sunglasses and sun block. Everything else you need will be provided. On the boat and scooter you'll be barefoot. If you wear prescription eyeglasses, you'll be able to wear them throughout your tour (even while riding the scooter).

So, the choice is yours. If you're visiting St. Thomas, you can do what every other tourist does and have a run-of-the-mill vacation experience, or you can participate in a BOSS tour with Aqua Adventures, and try something unique that you'll be able to tell all of your friends and family about when you return home.

St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands) Offers The Perfect Weekend or Week-Long Getaway

I am currently visiting St. Thomas (part of the U.S. Virgin Islands) as a guest of the lovely Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa (340-777-7100). I arrived last night and have spent a fun-filled day today exploring the resort and enjoying its many amenities and activities.

One great thing about this resort is that it is all-inclusive and offers all of the services and amenities you could ask for, including a private beach, tennis courts, multiple swimming pools, an incredible ocean view (overlooking St. John and Tortola), several restaurants, a casino, a day spa, a putt-putt golf course, and a supervised kids' club.

At the resort's private beach/pool area, you'll find all kinds of water-based activities (most of which are included), such as snorkeling, sail boats, and paddle boats. Jet skis and scuba diving are available, but for an additional fee.

The Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa here in St. Thomas operates as a traditional resort hotel (you can pay by the night), but I'd recommend taking advantage of the all-inclusive option during your stay. Not only will this help you manage trip costs, it also offers convenience and significant savings (all-you-can-eat meals are included).

St. Thomas is a Caribbean island, 32-square-miles in size. It's part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, which is comprised of 50+ islands located about 40 miles west of Puerto Rico (1,100 miles southeast from Miami and 1,500 miles from New York City).

While vacationers feel like they're visiting a foreign country that's tropical and exotic, St. Thomas is an English speaking island which is considered a self-governing unincorporated U.S. territory. In other words, the U.S. dollar is accepted here and American citizens do not need a U.S. Passport to visit.

In addition to its tropical location, the weather is what attracts many vacationers here. Throughout the year, the average temperature is in the 80s. The peak season to visit St. Thomas is between November and June, however, it offers a great weekend getaway throughout the year. Multiple major U.S. airlines (including U.S. Airways, American Airlines and United Airlines) fly from popular U.S. cities directly to St. Thomas, so getting here is easy.

Plus, St. Thomas offers plenty of duty-free shopping, so if you're looking to purchase jewelry for a designer watch, for example, this is a great place to come for a bargain. During the peak season, multiple cruise ships dock here on a daily basis. However, many of the resorts and hotels, including the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, are located on the opposite side of the island (about a 20 to 30 minute taxi ride away).

The Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa is an ideal vacation destination for families, since the resort is very kid and teen friendly. However, this resort also caters to people wishing to have a memorable destination wedding or honeymoon. Wedding and honeymoon planners are on-site, since the resort hosts over 100 weddings per year.

If you're looking to visit the Caribbean, St. Thomas offers something for everyone, plus it's affordable and easy to get to. (Anyone with a U.S. cell phone will have full-service here, without having to pay international roaming charges. Plus, high-speed Internet access is readily available.)

When you're planning a visit to St. Thomas, be sure to experience some of the water-based activities - whether you opt for jet skiing, motor boating, parasailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing or sailing. These activities can be coordinated through the resorts and hotels. There are also a handful of attractions worth visiting, such as Coral World (a small but interesting marine life park), and the St. Thomas Skyride (which offers an amazing view of the island).

If you're not a certified scuba diver, but wish to see incredible underwater marine life, consider experiencing BOSS (Breathing Observation Submersible Scooters), which are available on St. Thomas in the Havensight and Crown Bay areas (340-777-3549 / www.bossusvi.com). These are personal underwater motor scooters which you literally drive along the ocean floor. No diving or swimming experience is necessary. The experience is truly unique and is much more exciting than snorkeling. Check out the company's website for details about this very unique and fun activity. By the way, St. Thomas offers amazing snorkeling and scuba diving, even for people who have never tried these activities.

For more information about St. Thomas, visit the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism's website at www.usvitourism.vi or call (800) 372-USVI.

Below are some photos from my visit to St. Thomas...

All images (c)2009 Jason R. Rich. All rights reserved.

Myrtle Beach Day 3: Freestyle Music Park and Hibiscus Spa

My third day in Myrtle Beach began with a visit to Freestyle Music Park (843-236-7625). It's a brand new, music-themed amusement park that offers a wide range of coasters and thrill rides, plus kid-friendly rides, a handful of attractions, and several entertaining shows presented throughout the day and evening.

As one of Myrtle Beach's newest attractions, Freestyle Music Park is offering excellent deals on admission tickets and dining options, making this attraction particularly affordable to families on a budget.

During its first full summer season (going on now through September 2009), Freestyle Music Park, offers at least one full day and night's worth of fun and entertainment - all packed into a 50-acre amusement park. In time for Summer 2010, the park will undergo additional expansion, and will offer an even broader selection of rides, shows and attractions.

Freestyle Music Park offers something for everyone. There are several hardcore thrill rides and coasters suitable for teens and adults, but also plenty of rides and shows that younger kids will enjoy. In fact, for kids, there's a whole section of the park, called "Kids In America," which includes over a dozens rides and attractions, plus the up-beat "Flip 5 Live!" music, singing and dancing show.

Teens and adults will find more thrill-oriented rides and attractions within the park's other areas, which include "VIP Plaza," "Country USA," "Across The Pond" and "Myrtle's Beach." During the peak summer months, the park is open daily, from 11:00am until 10:00pm. A flat fee admission ticket offers unlimited rides and admission to the shows and attractions. Food is extra, but very affordable.

Apple iPhone users should be sure to download the free, interactive Freestyle Music Park application from the App Store. This application offers an interactive map of the park, plus information about each ride, show and attraction, show schedules, and other tools for planning and experiencing the best possible day/evening at the park.

If you'll be visiting Myrtle Beach for a week or more and want to spend several days at the park, consider buying annual passes, priced at $64.95 (adults) and $39.95 (kids) each. However, for one day admission, two people can enter the park before 4pm for just $19.99. After 4pm, the single day ticket price is $19.99 per person. This special promo rate is only valid during the 2009 summer season. Visit the park's website for details, to purchase admission tickets online, or to learn about other special promotions and events happening at the park - www.freestylemusicpark.com.

Every evening after dark, be sure to catch the "Kiss the Sky" fireworks show. It's a 7.5-minute pyrotechnic presentation that's very impressive. During the day and evening, guys (ages 6 to 18) will enjoy the "Adrenaline Rush" show. It features a live showcase of extreme sports. Kids will love the up-beat "Flip 5 Live!" show. Adults will appreciate the "CSI: Live" show (based on the TV series), as well as "Ice Cold Country" ice skating/music show.

When visiting any outdoor attraction or theme park, be sure to bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Wear comfortable shoes (there's plenty of walking involved), and drink plenty of water, especially on hot and sunny days when the Myrtle Beach heat is intense.

Considering 2009 marks Freestyle Music Park's debut season, the park is very impressive and offers an excellent value. It's well worth visiting if you're in the Myrtle Beach area.

Check out these photos from my visit to the park...

All photos (c)2009 by Jason R. Rich. All rights reserved.

Need to Relax?

Visit Hibiscus Spa at the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

After really enjoying my visit to Freestyle Music Park, I returned to my hotel (The Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes), and experienced an absolutely incredible 80-minute signature Hibiscus massage, followed by a "Gentleman's Facial." Talk about getting pampered! The spa visit was amazing! I am so relaxed, I can barely type right now.

The Hibiscus Spa (843-449-8880), which is located within the resort, is a full-service and lavish day spa. It offers a vast menu of massages, facials, body treatments, nail treatments, waxing and other treatments, along with the amenities and extras you'd expect from an upscale spa (including comfortable and clean locker rooms, steam rooms, saunas, etc.).

In addition to specialized treatments for adult men and women, The Hibiscus Spa also offers specialized massages, facials, body treatments and make-up lessons for teens, plus lavish spa packages for adults. The service here is top-notch and extremely professional, which makes it that much easier to indulge, let go, relax and allow yourself to be pampered.

What I liked best and appreciated the most about my treatment at this spa was that the therapists paid careful attention to my specific needs. While most massage therapists will go through their pre-choreographed 60, 90 or 120 minute massage routine, and they won't deviate from it, my massage therapist at The Hibiscus Spa discovered exactly where I held my stress (my lower back and between my shoulders), and then spent time focusing in on those specific areas in order to relieve the tension that those specific areas held using a variety of different massage techniques. Without being told, he found my most stress filled areas and catered to them, which demonstrates her skill and training as a massage therapist, plus her dedication to each client,

Whether you're staying at the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes or not, if you're looking for an awesome spa experience that's well worth the fees charged, I highly recommend visiting The Hibiscus Spa. It's conveniently located at 8400 Costa Verde Drive in Myrtle Beach.

The Carolina Opry: More from Myrtle Beach

It's been a very busy and fun-filled few days. I've been running around trying to see and experience as much as possible during my trip to Myrtle Beach.

Despite my best efforts, there's no way I'm going to be able to see everything. There's just so much to do here in terms of attractions, shows, spas, shopping and dining opportunities. Plus, there's golf, beaches and all sorts of other land and water-based activities which are suitable for people of all ages.

Today, I had the pleasure of experiencing an incredible spa treatment at the new Cinzia Spa at North Beach Plantation in North Myrtle Beach. This is much more than a traditional day spa. It also serves as a destination spa (for people who want to spend several days or a full week here). The spa offers traditional and extremely exotic treatments that you won't find elsewhere. In addition, the spa has teamed up with top doctors and specialists to offer an array of medical treatments, in addition to the regular spa offerings (massages, facials, body wraps, manicures, etc.).

At the spa, I enjoyed the signature "Fijian Ritual," which offers two full hours of relaxation and pampering. The Cinzia Spa is new (having opened in March 2009), but the 17,000-square-foot facility has already developed an incredible reputation for helping its guests achieve health, fitness and overall well-being.

As for local entertainment, since I arrived here in Myrtle Beach, I've been seeing all sorts of ads and billboards for the many shows offered here. Variety shows, Las Vegas-style shows, comedy, magic and interactive dinner shows are among the many offerings which will appeal to people of all ages.

Tonight, I attended The Carolina Opry (800-843-6779), one of the most famous and popular shows here in Myrtle Beach. Having seen so many "variety shows" all over the country, I've become cynical and really didn't have high expectations for tonight's show. I figured it would include bad lip-syncing musical acts, unfunny comedians, and not-too-impressive dancing. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong! In a word, this show was amazing!

The Carolina Opry was one of the most entertaining, fast-paced, upbeat, impressive and fun shows I've seen in a long time. The entire cast of singers, dancers, entertainers, musicians and comedians are extremely talented and entertaining. This show is suitable for the entire family and features different genres of music from the past and present, plus funny comedy skits and energetic and perfectly synchronized dance performances by All That! (from NBC-TV's America's Got Talent).

Unlike many shows in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Orlando and other tourist areas, this one features all live music and vocal performances. There's no lip-syncing whatsoever. Thus, it's easy to see just how talented the cast members are.

I really enjoyed the performance and strongly recommend it to anyone and everyone who visits the Myrtle Beach area.

In October 2009, The Carolina Opry presented its 6,560th performance. While the show has been around for more than 23 years, it's constantly updated to keep it timely. So, even if you've seen the show in years past, it's well worth seeing again, because the musical numbers and acts change annually.

In addition to the talented cast, the 2,200-seat theatre is impressive onto itself, offering a state-of-the-art sound and light system, impressive sets, and comfortable seating - all of which contribute to the overall quality of the show itself.

During the summer and holiday seasons, you'll want to book tickets in advance, since performances sell out. Even with tickets, you'll want to arrive at least 20 minutes early for the pre-show.

During the Christmas season, The Carolina Opry features a special holiday show that's also been extremely popular for more than 23 years in the Myrtle Beach area.

If you're looking for a fun, uplifting and highly entertaining way to spend an evening in Myrtle Beach, reserve tickets for The Carolina Opry! You won't be disappointed. Adult ticket prices range from $34.95 to $49.95. To order tickets online, click here.

Exploring Myrtle Beach: A Wonderful Family-Oriented Vacation Destination (and a Great Place to Play Golf)

I'm spending a few days exploring Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This is my first time visiting this extremely popular, family-friendly vacation destination. From what I've experienced so far, Myrtle Beach offers a ton of fun, unique and exciting activities, culture and shopping for people of all ages. Plus, there are hotels, resorts and timeshare properties that are available at all price points.

Myrtle Beach is best known as a golfing and beach vacation destination, which it certainly is. But, there's so much more to see and do here.

I'm staying at Marriott's Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa At Grande Dunes (843-449-8880), which is a lovely, high-rise hotel/resort, located right on the ocean. The rooms are spacious and extremely comfortable, plus the property has plenty of amenities, including beachfront access, several pools, tennis courts, a day spa, and multiple restaurants. The resort hotel is located adjacent to a luxurious Marriott Vacation Club timeshare property.

During my first day in Myrtle Beach, I visited Broadway at the Beach - a unique dining, shopping and attraction area that offers at least one or two full days worth of things to see and do. For example, you can spend several hours visiting Ripley's Aquarium (an 87,000-square-foot indoor aquarium). It offers many impressive exhibits. The aquarium's phone number is (843) 448-2331.

The Broadway at the Beach area also features an IMAX Theatre which shows a selection of 3D IMAX movies. You'll also find a traditional movie theatre here, a handful of restaurants (including a Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood), Dragons Lair Mini Golf, and many one-of-a-king shops.

For kids, teens and adults alike, one of the coolest and most impressive attractions at Broadway at the Beach is MagiQuest (843-916-1800). This is a massive, fully-interactive experience which is a cross between a video game and a role-playing adventure filled with quests, challenges and puzzles to solve.

Every MagiQuest participant is given a magic wand (which really works). Casting the wand allows players to interact with their surroundings. Kids will like the "Harry Potter"-like experience, while teens and adults will be challenged and entertained by the more advanced quests.

Each visit to MagiQuest can be a 60, 90 or 120 minute experience. All of your progress is automatically tracked (via your magic wand), so your collected gold, experience points and progress is saved after each visit. Anyone who enjoys RPG video games or the "Harry Potter" books/movies will really enjoy MagiQuest. It's a very impressive and fun attraction that's well worth the price of admission. Each visit and each quest will be totally different, especially if you spend a little extra money and time to fully customize your wand.

MagiQuest is definitely one of the more fun, unique and addicting family-friendly attractions I've experienced in a long time. There really is no other attraction anywhere that offers a similar interactive and immersive experience. (Several MagiQuest locations are now open around the world, however, the location in Myrtle Beach was the first.)

If you're more interested in experiencing traditional museums, galleries and theatre, for example, Myrtle Beach offers all of this and much more, plus just about everything here is very affordable (including the flights to get here). For example, Spirit Airlines offers direct flights from several popular East Coast cities that are convenient and affordable. Plus, driving to Myrtle Beach is easy from many cities.

June, July and August are the most popular months to visit Myrtle Beach (since it is a beach-oriented area), however, the weather is very pleasant here throughout the year.

Check out photos from my visit to Myrtle Beach below. For more information about this awesome destination (which is ideal for families, as well as golfers, spa goers and shoppers, for example), visit the official Myrtle Beach Conventions and Visitors Bureau's website at www.visitmyrtlebeach.com.

Greeting from Tenerife (Canary Islands)

So, I was invited by the Department of Tourism for Tenerife (aka Turismo de Tenerife) to visit for a week. Tenerife is in the Canary Islands and is part of the country of Spain. Thus, Spanish is the primary language spoken here and the local currency is the Euro.

In the past, this has been an extremely popular vacation destination amongst Europeans (since it's only about a two hour plane trip from Madrid, Spain). However, in recent months, Air Europa has begun flying to Tenerife from JFK Airport in NYC (with a connection in Madrid), and directly to/from Miami (non-stop), which has made it a lot more convenient for Americans to also enjoy this tropical vacation destination. (Because the flight is a long one, I recommend flying Business Class, if you can afford it. You'll be much more comfortable.)

There is a lot that this island has to offer - much more than tropical beaches. In fact, you'll find more five-star hotels here than in Barcelona.

While much of the architecture, for example, is old (and predates anything you'd find in America), from a technological standpoint, Tenerife is as modern as any U.S. or European city - plus it's absolutely gorgeous. Being part of Spain, Tenerife has a strong Spanish influence and culture, which makes it that much more interesting for tourists to experience.

For several nights during my trip, I stayed at the Hotel Botanico in Puerto de la Cruz. It's an extremely luxurious five-star resort with an amazing spa and excellent restaurants. On the opposite side of the island, I also stayed for several nights at the equally impressive Gran Melia Resort (in Palacio de Isora), plus I've visited a handful of other resorts that are also well worth staying at, including the lovely and prestigious Abama Golf & Spa Resort (a Ritz-Carlton property).

Overall, the quality of the food everywhere I've dined has been top-notch, and the island is known around the world for its fine wines.

I would recommend Tenerife as a unique and exotic vacation or honeymoon destination for anyone traveling from the East Coast (especially New York City or Miami). While more than five million tourists travel to this island every year, less than six thousand of them are Americans, which makes Tenerife a unique tourist destination for people looking to experience something new, exciting, exotic and beautiful.

You'll find top-notch resorts, restaurants, shopping, golf courses located along the ocean, stunning beaches, day spas, boating, fishing, scuba diving, hiking, plus countless other activities, including Loro Parque (a massive, SeaWorld-like theme park - complete with whales and dolphins, shows, rides and attractions, that I can't wait to visit firsthand). There's also Siam Park, a fun-filled water park for kids and teens, which is one of many family-friendly activities to be experienced here.

Don't Forget About Travel Insurance Before You Leave (Regardless of Where You're Going Overseas)

In terms of travel advice, I have written extensively about the need for travelers to purchase travel insurance when going abroad. For this trip, I am very happy to say that I have practiced what I've been preaching.

I acquired insurance through Travel Guard before departing. As luck would have it, my baggage was delayed for more than 48 hours. However, when I discovered one of my bags "missed my flight," I simply called Travel Guard's toll-free number and they had someone from their luggage recovery team deal directly with the airline to locate my bag and arrange to have it delivered to my hotel. Because the bag was more than 12 hours late, I was given an allowance of $500.00 to purchase clothing, toiletries and other items I've needed.

If I didn't have the insurance, the airline delaying my luggage would have been a huge inconvenience. Thanks to Travel Guard, my trip has gone that much more smoothly. I did not have to deal directly with the airline (sitting on hold from my cell phone while paying $.99 per minute), and I was able to purchase clean clothing to wear.

So, once again, I urge anyone traveling abroad for business or pleasure to acquire travel insurance prior to their departure. In addition to covering lost or delayed luggage, the insurance also protects travelers if they get injured or encounter some other type of emergency.

Obtaining travel insurance for a trip takes under five minutes. It can be done online, and the cost is typically less than five percent of the overall trip cost. For this trip to Tenerife, the Travel Guard insurance cost $97.00, and it was money well spent!

I urge you to learn more about Tenerife by visiting www.webtenerife.com. In the meantime, below are some photos from my trip.

All images (c)2009 Jason R. Rich. All rights reserved.

Frequent Flier Programs: Choose The Best One For You

Please check out my recent article that was published in the New York Daily News newspaper about choosing the best frequent flier program, and getting the most out of its perks, based on your personal travel habits. To read the article, click here.