The most complete GUIDE to the INSIDE
The Insider’s Club September 2015
Hot Spot of the Month
U.S. Virgin Islands + Things to Know About Where to Go + Suggested Itinerary + Tips From the Locals Featured Experience
SeaDream Yacht Club + Featured Expeditions + Exclusive World Travel Experiences
Tech News
Travel Toys Shared Discoveries Every edition of The Insiders Club comes with the latest Virtuoso Life!
Choose Your News
Explore: U.S. Virgin Islands 1-2
What To Do While You Are There 3-4
Tips From The Locals 5-6 Featured Experience: SeaDream Yacht Club 7-8 Exclusive World Travel Experiences 9-17
Tech News: Travel Toys 18-19 Shared Discoveries 20-25
A WORD FROM YOUR TRAVEL ADVISOR
Dear Fellow Travelers & Adventurers,
In this month’s newsletter we are featuring the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as our monthly tech news, travel tips, things and places to see in our Hot Spot, and exclusive travel deals around the world. As always we welcome any suggestions you may have for this newsletter. Please let us know if there is a specific location, hotel, restaurant, excursion, etc. you would like us to feature. Thank you for your business and the opportunity to collaborate on your travel dreams.
I look forward to arranging your next great adventure.
-Beth
Backpacking Magazine - page 3
Explore
U.S. Virgin Islands
Explore
U.S. Virgin Islands + Things to know about where to go
Referred to as “America’s Paradise” the U.S. Virgin Islands consists of three main islands; St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John.
St.Thomas
St. Thomas is the most popular cruise port in the Caribbean. St. Thomas is home of Charlotte Amalie which is the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Charlotte Amalie is both the principle cruise terminal as well as home to the island’s airport.
St. Croix
St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands at 82 square miles in area. St. Croix consists of two distinct towns; Christiansted and Frederiksted. St Croix has a great selection of hotels, beaches, shopping and excellent dining options.
St. John
St. John is mainly a US National Park. St. John offers incredible vantages of nature in the Caribbean. This is a great island for hiking or spending the day at one of it’s many beautiful beaches.
U.S. Virgin Islands
What to do while your there Coki Beach If you want to recline in the sun; choose Magens Bay or one of the more peaceful shores of St. Thomas’ southern coast. But if you want to literally swim with the fishes, there’s no better spot on the than Coki Beach for snorkeling and diving.
Coral World Ocean Park This indoor-outdoor aquarium is filled with baby sharks, stingrays and touch starfish. Located on the northeast coast of St. Thomas, Coral World also has as walkthrough aviary and an offshore underwater observatory with an 80,000-gallon coral reef exhibit.
Mahogany Run Golf Course
Don’t forget to check out the latest Virtuoso Life!
Located on the island’s northeast side the 18 hole par 70 course is sprawled across 6,022 yards of golf bliss. The course was designed by George and Tom Fazio and is known for holes 13, 14 and 15 referred to as ”The Devils Triangle”.
Zip Line St. Thomas
St. Thomas zipline course is situated high in the rainforest of St. Peter Mountain where you can catch breath taking views of Magen’s Bay, Jost van Dyke, Tortola and beyond.
Fly Boarding If you need a real adrenaline rush then strap a water jetpack to your back and try out flyboarding. Take in the beautiful island scenery from caribbean sky.
Shopping Who can resist the best duty-free shopping in the Caribbean? With an allowance of $1,600 (double that of other islands) U.S. residents can enjoy shopping without duty or taxes. Whether it’s quaint local shops featuring handmade jewelry and works of art or big name brands your seeking they have it all!
Dining
World renowned for their seafood and indigenous Caribbean cuisine there are more than enough options to keep your taste buds happy.
U.S. Virgin Islands
Facts and Tips from the Locals
High season runs from mid-November to mid-May. Rates are typically much lower during off season.
Motorists drive on the left side of the street. All U.S. drivers can drive for up to 90 days with a current driver’s license.
Temperatures in the Virgin Islands are warm year-round so any month is a good month in terms of enjoying warmth and sunshine. The water is safe to drink at most establishments. Your hotel or villa will tell you if they recommend against drinking tap water; if they don’t mention it you can ask. The legal drinking age is 18 years old.
U.S. citizens are not required to have passports or proof of citizenship when ENTERING the U.S. Virgin Islands from a U.S. airport. All arrivals to the U.S. Virgin Islands from foreign airports are required to show proof of citizenship and pass through customs. All persons leaving the U.S. Virgin Islands, whether American citizens or not, must be prepared to show proof of citizenship upon leaving the islands to return to the mainland.
Currency Since these islands are territories of the United States, their currency is the U.S. dollar. Overall, tipping etiquette is the same in the Virgin Islands as in other parts of the United States; 15 to 20 percent is considered the standard.
Attire Dress is casual, but proper attire (shirts and shoes) should be worn in public areas. Bathing suits are worn at the beach and pool only.
Featured Experience SeaDream Yacht Club
What better way to soak in the beauty of the U.S. Virgin Islands than on a Yacht? SeaDream Yacht Club offers a unique and valuable option for travelers looking to island hop but not have to worry about the legistics of doing so.
9 day recommended itinerary for your next trip Day 1 Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas Day 2 Cruz Bay, St. John
Day 3 North Sound, Virgin Gorda Day 4 Sandy Ground, Anguilla
Day 5 Marigot, Saint Martin (morning) Day 5 Gustavia, St. Barts (evening) Day 6 Gustavia, St. Barts
Day 7 White Bay, Jost van Dyke Day 8 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Day 9 Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SEADREAM YACHT CLUB
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Exclusive
World Travel Experiences
The Resort at Pelican Hill California
Valid through January 2016
Experience Includes: Book 3 nights get the 4th night free $100 credit for Villa guests $50 Breakfast credit daily for Bungalow guests Upgrade upon arrival, if available A $100 USD equivalent Golf or Spa Services credit Early check-in/ late checkout, if available
Exclusive
World Travel Experiences
Sanctuary on Camelback Mt. Arizona
Valid through December 27th 2015
Experience Includes:
Book 2 nights ger the 3rd night free Suite upgrade at time of booking Continental breakfast for 2 Complimentary 30 minute spa treatment Early check-in/ late checkout, if available
Exclusive
World Travel Experiences
Gansevoort Turks + Caicos, A Wymara Resort Turks + Caico’s
Valid through December 20th 2015
Experience Includes:
Book 4 nights get the 5th night free Welcome amenity in room Early check-in/ late checkout, if available
Tech News: Travel Toys
A i c t
BauBax’s Travel Jacket
This is the jacket that travelers have been waiting for. The coat has 15 different travelthemed functions that even the most seasoned of gadget hoarders can appreciate— blow-up neck pillow, earphone holders, hand-warming pockets, gloves, passport pocket, and an eye mask, just to name a few. Not only is it a great conversation starter but you will be amazed at how organized you will be and how much lighter your carry C on is.
TO LEARN MORE OR TO ORDER CLICK ON PRODUCT IMAGE
o n f
PlugBug World An international adaptor that allows you to charge your MacBook and your iPhone or iPad at the same time. Five different snap-on plugs allow you to convert power in just about any country, and it’s fast — a 2.1-amp charge that’s about quadruple the juice you’d get from any laptop’s USB port.
Coin Coin works by letting you add all of your debit, credit, and loyalty cards onto one piece of technology, the Coin. Once you have uploaded your cards all you need to do is press a button, choose a card and swipe to pay! This is perfect for the traveler who doesn’t want to bring a bulky wallet along for the ride.
Shared Discoveries
Discovering Iceland: Tina Posila
I recently experienced this incredibly beautiful island. There is much to see and do..Including whale watching, glacier walks, ice cave tours, horseback riding, hiking, cycling, fishing ....the list goes on and on...
We based ourselves in Reykjavik and booked days tours to the most popular areas...including a city tour (which I always recommend), The Snaefellsnes Peninsula in the west of Iceland, is almost like a miniature version of the entire country. It included the Snaefellsjokull glacier, white and black sandy beaches, rich trout lakes and salmon rivers, lush valleys and charming fishing villages.
The Golden Circle, another popular tour, starts with the Geysir geothermal area where the Strokkur geyser shoots water up to 98 feet in the air every 4-6 minutes. We also visited the Gullfoss (Golden Falls) waterfall...and included the historical and geological wonder that is Thingvellir National Park. Lastly, we visited the Frioheimar greenhouse cultivation center, where they grow pesticide free tomatoes and cucumbers with the air of geothermal heat that Iceland has in abundance.... FYI,these tomatoes make great bloody mary’s!
The Reykjanes Peninsula where we saw mountains, volcanoes, geothermal hot springs and lava fields. We even walked through an underground lava tube...incredible!
The South Coast Tour is one of the country’s most scenic regions. Along the way we stopped at the gorgeous Seljalandsfoss waterfall... We also stopped at the majestic Skogafoss waterfall with its impressive 196 ft. drop. Throughout, we had stunning views of glaciers, black sand beaches and impressive rock formations.One definite must do is the famous Blue Lagoon, considered to be one of the 25 wonders of the world.... I would recommend visiting on a free afternoon...... A few tips.... Currency is the Icelandic Krona...many restaurants/shops accept the Euro and US dollar. Credit cards are used for everything... Tipping is not customary or expected, however greatly appreciated... Iceland is very casual...warm clothing, wind breakers, gloves, hiking boots are a definite must. The weather can be cold and windy in rural areas.
Shared Discoveries
Wheels and Waterways River Cruise Bike Tour: Ashley Newhaller New for 2015 was the Backroads/AMA Waterways “Wheels and Waterways River Cruise Bike Tour” from Budapest to Prague on the Danube River covering Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany & the Czech Republic. This trip is so relaxing in that you only have to unpack once and you can make the biking component as difficult or easy as you like.
I did a pre cruise in Budapest staying at the beautiful Four Seasons and did a post cruise in Prague.
Participated in Backroads’ hosted city bike tours in Budapest and Vienna; Pedaled across the former Iron Curtain in the Slovakian and Austrian countryside; enjoyed a mellow ride along the Danube through the vineyards of Wachau Valley meeting up with the boat at the next stop at the Melk Abbey; pedaled through the German countryside, lunch at a wonderful German Inn, and lastly ending up in Beautiful Prague . It was stunning, educational… but most of all FUN!
Shared Discoveries
New Orleans: Jeannine Bottorff
New Orleans in July is Hot.. but still WELL worth the visit. 4 Days, 8 restaurants, 12 Bars and jazz, jazz, jazz!
We enjoyed a cocktail tour and a haunted tour of NOLA, both were fascinating, as was the Segway tour of the French Quarter and a visit to the Mardi Gras Museum. New Orleans is wonderful any time of the year!
Shared Discoveries Loving Latvia: Riga, Latvia Ken Sause
Ken just returned from (5) days in Riga, Latvia and think it’s the poor man’s Prague, plus much more. The medieval quarter of the old city is stunning. The Art Deco architecture is beyond description and the recently refurbished Rundale Palace ( designed by Rastrelli designer of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg) is a Versailles- level item not to be missed.
The country palaces are only one hour’s drive out of town. It is an excellent place for WW2 buffs, Jewish history, as well as Baltic highlights. Very friendly to Americans ( most locals speak four languages) , you can dine on $25 a day.
Fancy hotel: Gallery Park with one of the top ten restaurants in Europe, or Budget: lots of well located Radisson Blu properties or boutique alternatives.
Suggested: City canal riverboat rides ( about $12), Hop on/off passes ($13 for two days), and even getting private guides for personal walking of the old alleyways. Latvia love performances and the elegant opera house offer international operas or ballet top price tickets around $30! Latvia is on the value priced Euro, and the local beer is awesome.. The local Black Balsam drink is an acquired taste. Try the black vodka too! Travelers may want to mix with regional tours of Estonia, Lithuania and Poland... good highways and trains.