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Five Exotic Places You CanGo Without a U.S. Passport

(Photo:Three Flags Flying Over Fort San Felipe del Morro, Puerto Ricovia Shutterstock)Longing for a long-distance getaway but don't have a passport? No problem! We've found five faraway

places overseas where, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, you won't need to bring a

passport.

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(Photo:Streets of San Juan, Puerto Ricovia Shutterstock)

Puerto Rico

The island of Puerto Rico (officially an unincorporated territory of the United States) has long been a

favorite of travelers from the contiguous 48. Inexpensive airfare from Spirit, Southwest, and JetBlue makes

Puerto Rico an economical option for East Coasters. And its Isla de Vieques, aTripAdvisor Travelers'

Choice 2013winner for best island in the Caribbean, offers visitors a bioluminescent bay to kayak andunspoiled beaches to explore. In a 2012 referendum on the territory's political status, a record 61 percent

of Puerto Rico's voters were in favor of eventual statehood, so we may one day welcome the island as the

51st. Even so, right now, you can explore its wonders without a U.S. passport.

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Caneel Bay, St. John, USVI (Photo: Dara Continenza)

United States Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands lie mere minutes away from Puerto Rico by plane. Made up of three main islands

St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. Johnplus a scattering of smaller isles, the U.S.V.I. see some 2.6 million

visitors each year. In fact, tourism and rum (things we think go very well together) make up the majority of

the islands' economy. Each island has its own unique appeal. St. John, with its national parkland andlegendary diving, will charm true escapists. St. Thomas is a shopper's dream, with countless boutiques

and jewelers, as well as two bustling cruise terminals. And Dutch-flavored and diverse St. Croix is a

favorite of luxury-seeking honeymooners. Find accommodations of every stripe, from St. Thomas'

smartRitz-Carltonto the luxe and immersiveCaneel Bayresort on St. John.

Note: Travelers will need to have a passport to visit the neighboring British Virgin Islands.

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/StThomas/Default.htmhttp://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/StThomas/Default.htmhttp://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/StThomas/Default.htmhttp://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/caneelbay/http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/caneelbay/http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/caneelbay/http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/caneelbay/http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/StThomas/Default.htm

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(Photo:Aaron Headlyvia flickr/CC Attribution)

Guam

Much like the Northern Marianas, Guam to the south was colonized by the Spanish, changed hands during

WWII, and is now a tourist destination for Japanese and U.S. nationals. (Its second-largest source of

income is the U.S. military, whose navy, coast guard, and air force bases make up about one-third of

Guam's total land area.) Military aside, there is much to do on this vivid island: Tumon's beaches areknown for great snorkeling, and Guam's teeming seas are famous among divers for visibilities up to 150

feet. Two Lovers Point, a cliff-side lookout, offers some pristine panoramas from 400 feet above the

Philippine Sea (plusa dramatic legend of star-crossed lovers). And while flights to Guam don't come

cheap, accommodations do; resorts in Tumon and nearby Tamuning average around $200 per night.

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(Photo: National Park Service)

American Samoa

Rounding out this list is the unincorporated territory of American Samoa, a collection of five volcanic

islands and two atolls between Fiji and the Cook Islands. A truly off-the-beaten-path destination, there

are only a handful of hotels on Tutuila and the neighboring islands, scant tourism infrastructure, and,

beyond the fast-food restaurants, few commercial distractions to remind you of home. Find coral-filledwaters, craggy coastlines sculpted of lava, and untouched beaches whose only other sunbathers are the

seabirds. And unlike highly trafficked Polynesian destinations, the native Samoan culture is still undeniably

authentic here. In the village of Alega, drop intoTisa's Barefoot Barfor a drink, a meal (the chef will grill

your fresh-caught lobster for you), or a night's rest in the fale (a traditional Samoan hut). American

tourists can fly into Pago Pago via Hawaiian Airlines.

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