Puerto Rico: Officially, this island group is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean. But for anyone who has traveled there, they’ll tell you that it’s absolutely nothing like the mainland. PR is one of America’s most precious gems. For the most part, the original culture remains intact; Spanish is the primary language, locals live on island time, and the architecture oozes with history. There’s a sense of adventure here that doesn’t exist in mainland beach communities, and I dare you to find a place as gorgeous as Culebra within the contiguous 48 states.

St. John: As the smallest and least populated of the U.S. Virgin Islands, this guy is oft overlooked. True, accessing it requires a small amount of planning, as you’ll need to fly into neighboring St. Thomas and then take a quick ferry over to St. John, but it’s well worth the effort. Approximately 60 percent of the island is protected as Virgin Islands National Park, which is one of the most infrequently visited parks in the entire system. What you’ll find are pristine, untouched beaches that are shielded by the Department of the Interior, and plenty of Caribbean flair in the local hotels and eateries.

Key West: Arguably, this is the easiest of the three recommendations to access. Daily flights from the southeast will put you into Key West, which is known by locals as the Conch Republic. You’re seemingly millions of miles from even mainland Florida, and outside of how easy it is to rent a car, use your mobile phone, complete transactions and interact with the locals, you’ll forget that you’re actually in the United States. If you want to feel even further from the grid, hop a ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park. It’s nearly 70 miles west of Key West, and if you’re trying to check each national park off of your bucket list, this is one that very few people will be able to match you on.

Have any favorite passport-free islands that aren’t listed here? Tell us about them in the comments below!

Accessing Culebra isn’t exactly easy, per se, but it’s hardly complicated. If you’re on the main island of Puerto Rico (that’s the one with San Juan), you’ll need to point your rental car to Fajardo. That’s on the eastern edge of Puerto Rico, and it’s the primary ferry port on the island. For intrepid travelers, you can show up at the docks and buy yourself an inexpensive (under $10) ticket for the ride, which lasts right around an hour each way. If the ferry is sold out (which was the case when our editor, Mike Barish, visited the island), you can book a quick puddle jumper flight at the airport in Fajardo and land on Culebra in about 10 minutes – though a one-way flight can start at $35 per person, so consider taking the ferry back. To make life easy, however, I’d recommend reaching out to Kayaking Puerto Rico.

It’s a local tour company that serves both the main island and Culebra, and while I generally encourage travelers to strike out on their own, Culebra Aquafari is an exceptional excursion. If you’re on the main island, $69 gets you a ferry ride that departs Fajardo at 8:00AM. The journey itself is beautiful, and you’ll want to make sure you have your camera ready as you start to close in on Culebra. The tour takes you to Flamenco Beach – a patch of paradise that looks as if it’s ripped straight out of a screensaver. But rather than sticking strictly to the sand, I’d encourage you to walk down a bit to the fabled painted tank (shown here). It’s a relic of years past when military training used to occur on both Culebra and it’s sister island, Vieques. Instead of letting it rust away at sea, locals have converted it into a work of art.

After you depart the sand, you’ll get a serious workout via kayak. Rather than just dumping guests at a snorkel spot, the guides all you to kayak out, tie up your boat, and then hop in the water for over an hour of underwater sightseeing. It’s hardly unusual to see sharks – but fret not, the ones here aren’t looking for trouble.

Light snacks are served throughout, and you’ll get plenty of island history from the guides. While at Flamenco Beach, make sure you visit the nearby food stands. If you’ve never tried fried shark, you’ll have your chance here. (And yes, before you ask, it actually does taste a bit like chicken!)

As the sun sets, you’ll hop back on the ferry and return to mainland Puerto Rico, adequately exhausted from a day of wind, water, and gorgeous views.

See our Puerto Rico destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights.

January is one of the best months to visit Orlando, especially later in the month, when crowds at the theme parks are down after the holidays, and temperatures are in the perfect mid-70s. Hotels follow suit and dip down in pricing, like the 4-star Melia Orlando Suite Hotel, which starts at just $125 per night in January – a 45 percent savings on high season rates. The Melia is the closest all-suite hotel to the Disney Parks, and includes a full kitchen in each unit, plus a 360 -egree infinity pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and complimentary breakfast. Dozens more 4-star Orlando hotels are available for low rates in January, like the Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orlando – Orange Lake Resort from $80 per night, the Westgate Lakes Resort and Spa from $97 per night, and the Mystic Dunes Resort and Golf Club from $105 per night.

Skiers know that prime ski season begins in January, and Wyndham Vacation Rentals are offering great savings at resorts throughout Colorado, Utah, and Idaho, this winter, like 30 percent off condos in Steamboat Springs, and 25 percent off vacation rentals in Breckenridge and Keystone – plus discounted lift tickets. In Park City, Utah, spy on celebrities during the Sundance Film Festival in January and ski down the same slopes as the 2002 Winter Olympians. Choose from a number of reasonably priced 3- and 4-star hotels throughout the month, like the Yarrow Resort Hotel from $129 per night, the Zermatt Resort and Spa from $139 per night, and the Park City Marriott for $190 per night (rates will be higher during Sundance, January 17-27).

If you’re itching for a beach vacation instead, try the Caribbean Resort & Villas in Myrtle Beach for an incredible $49 per night. The recently renovated family resort is located between the Atlantic and Myrtle Beach’s popular strip, the Grand Strand. Or, for a more exotic oceanfront escape, take a real Caribbean vacation and stay at Puerto Rico‘s Embassy Suites Dorado Del Mar for $127 per night (for stays of four nights or longer).

Don’t let dreary January get you down – get out instead in 2013!

As long as you’re not visiting Orlando over Christmas or New Year’s, you’ll find much lighter crowds and shorter lines in the weeks surrounding the major holidays. Stay at one of the area’s newest hotels, the Wydnham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek, and save 35 percent when you stay three nights or more, on starting rates as little as $139 per night. Enter the code DISCYB when booking, and enjoy 500 acres of lush woodlands while being minutes from the theme parks. Or, skip over to the Angler’s Boutique Resort in South Beach, Miami, where rates at this stylish 4-star property begin from $219 per night – a 25 percent savings (booking code is CYBER25, or call 866-729-8800).

Is Florida not far enough south for you? A number of Marriott hotels in the Caribbean are offering incredible rates with their Cyber Monday sales, like the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and the Royal Beach Casino from $129 per night (booking code: D51) and the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino from $132 per night (booking code: D3Q). These prices are some of the lowest you’ll find in the Caribbean during the area’s high season. You can also enjoy the bio-diversity, rain forests, warm temperatures, and beaches of exotic Costa Rica at hotels like the Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose from $99 per night or the Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort from $119 per night (booking code for both: PRO).

Do your holiday shopping on Chicago‘s Magnificent Mile and stay at the central, 4-star MileNorth for $159 per night – and receive a $50 credit to a nearby spa (booking code: CYBER). Or head west and save over 50 percent at the Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles Airport, with rooms from $89 per night and extras like a free beer every night at the onsite craft beer bar (an added bonus: you can book this deal for three days, from November 26-29. Use the promo code CYBERMON).

Finally, our beloved New York City needs serious love right now after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. Help the city recover during the holiday season and stay in Midtown Manhattan, near all of the major seasonal attractions like the tree at Rockefeller Center, the holiday windows on Fifth Avenue, and the Rockettes at Radio City. The Wolcott Hotel offers three nights for the price of two, with rates as low as $240 for all three nights – an amazing price, considering many Manhattan hotels cost about that for one night’s stay (use the promo code “STEP3” when booking). Affinia Hotels throughout Manhattan are offering rooms for as low as $143 per night – until November 2013 (booking code: CYBER).

So set an alarm now for midnight on November 26 – these amazing rates will sell fast.

See our Destination Guides for more trip-planning information, then use our TravelSearch price comparison tool to book your flights.

Then we looked at our plane tickets. Yes, we were leaving Sunday morning and returning Friday night, but we actually had just four full days in St. Lucia – and eight hours in the San Juan airport in both directions. While more and more direct routes to smaller Caribbean islands are becoming available, the cheapest flights still require layovers, and often long ones, in the Puerto Rican capital.

As it turns out, Old San Juan – which is full of charming cobblestone streets, colonial architecture, fantastic Caribbean dining, and bay views to boot – is only a twenty-minute drive from the airport. We hopped in a cab – extremely easy to find once at the airport – and paid $20 for a friendly driver to drop us in what we called, “the center of Old San Juan” (since we didn’t know a single landmark that could serve as a starting point).

We arrived in Plaza Colon, next to a large statue of Ponce de Leon. (We later learned we could have taken a much cheaper bus – 75 cents per person – to near the same spot. Ask someone working at the airport where to find the bus stop if you have trouble finding it, but be prepared to wait as there doesn’t appear to be any set schedule to which the service actually adheres.)

We sat outside and ate lunch at Café Berlin (407 Calle San Francisco), overlooking central Plaza Colon, which served flavorful vegetarian fare like citrus-tofu wraps and large glasses of sangria, to start our vacation off right. Those looking for more traditional Caribbean fare should check out La Fonda del Jibarito (280 Calle Sol), a no-frills restaurant with mouth-watering homemade specialties like conch ceviche and shredded beef stew, or the famous El Patio de Sam (102 Calle San Sebastián), which has been around since 1953. If you’re looking to spend a little more, try Marmalade (317 Calle Fortaleza), where we had dinner (yes, we were there long enough for two meals), one of the trendiest restaurants in the city.

From Plaza Colon, you’ll have old city at your fingertips, with cobblestone streets perfect for ambling and full of boutiques that sell everything from Caribbean kitsch to dried chili peppers to hand-crafted jewelry. A free trolley through the city is available if you want to cover more ground than you would by foot. You can’t miss the numbered stops throughout the city, and you can hop on and off wherever you please.

A must-see spot is Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a 140-foot citadel constructed in the 16^th century to defend San Juan against enemies. It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most visited attraction in Puerto Rico; entrance costs just $5, and kids and adults alike will love exploring the six levels of ramps, barracks, dungeons, turrets, towers and tunnels. Just outside El Morro, as it’s called, is a large expanse of grass overlooking the bay, where we spent an hour relaxing while local families flew kites and picnicked on the sunny Sunday.

Another top destination is the Catedral de San Juan, one of the only examples of authentic medieval architecture in the New World. Just a couple blocks south is Paseo De La Princesa, a tree-lined promenade with local street vendors and artisan stalls.

No matter where you end up wandering, you’re likely to stumble upon even more historical gems (like the impressive 18^th century fort, Castillo de San Cristobal) and narrow streets with colorful homes and storefronts. You’ll find it doesn’t get much more charming, friendly, and manageable than Old San Juan.

Note: You’re best off taking a taxi back to the airport in order to give yourself plenty of time before your flight. The white vans are impossible to miss on the main streets throughout Old San Juan; there’s also a taxi stand at Plaza Colon.

Our friend Josh recommended Wamberal Beach near Terrigal, New South Wales, Australia. Just 90 minutes from Sydney, it’s a great escape from the city and the hordes of people at Bondi Beach.

Reader John likes to get out of Los Angeles by heading north to Carpinteria State Beach in Carpinteria, California.

Huffington Post Travel Editor Paul Brady raved about the beaches of Uruguay and chose Playa Grande as a favorite.

Reader Brenda advised visitors to Puerto Rico to look beyond San Juan and head to Playa Sucia in the southwest corner of the island.

Our Twitter follower Dana Curatolo very excitedly suggested Cefalù on the island of Sicily in Italy.

Reader Star told us about a Bahamas escape at Sandy Toes Beach on Rose Island.

Our travel writer friend Terry Ward, a Florida native, offered up some Sunshine State beaches: Vero Beach (south of Melbourne), Anna Maria Island (near Sarasota) and Atlantic Beach (near Jacksonville).

Lastly, I’ll chime in with two of my own. For people looking to flee the oppressive heat in New York City, Fort Tilden is the perfect blend of convenience and serenity. And, if you find yourself near the Bay of Islands on the North Island of New Zealand (a beach destination suggested by another Twitter follower, Lorianne Lacey), hop on a ferry to Russell and enjoy a quiet day on Long Beach (pictured above).

Have your own opinion on the best underrated and lesser-known beaches? Share your thoughts in the comments. We’d love to hear from you.

Booking now for new JetBlue service from D.C. to San Juan (daily) and JFK to Samana, Dominican Republic (twice weekly) will score you big savings. Launching August 23, one-way fares on the San Juan route will be as low as $129 for travel through November 14 if you book by July 13; this will be the only non-stop flight between the U.S. capital and the Puerto Rican capital. Similarly, book by this Friday to secure one-way fares to Samana starting at $169 for flights from the November 14 launch date through February 9.

Delta has also new flights to announce, including weekly service from JFK to St. Maarten starting December 15 and daily hops from LaGuardia to Bermuda beginning April 8, 2013. Other formerly seasonal routes from JFK will increase to daily, year-round flights; Montego Bay, Jamaica and Aruba go full-time on December 15 and increased Punta Cana service starts February 14, 2013.

Finally, Chicagoans can bask in the Caribbean glow with weekly, seasonal service to Nassau in the Bahamas starting February 9, 2013.

See our Bermuda and Caribbean destination guides for general trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates and travel deals on flights.

Launched March 2, Delta now takes New Yorkers from Laguardia to Nassau, Bahamas. JetBlue has three new routes with deals to match:

• Newark to San Juan, PR: starts April 25, from $163 one-way
• Fort Lauderdale to Kingston, Jamaica: starts April 30, from $107 one-way
• West Palm Beach to San Juan, PR: starts May 15, from $113 one-way

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates and travel deals on flights.

Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the El Yunque Caribbean National Forest, the Wyndham Rio Mar is a lush hideaway with plenty of dining, lounging, and entertainment options. The resort offers seven restaurants, which range from casual to elegant, and four bars and lounges, both indoor and on the beach.

Active guests can take advantage of two championship golf courses, 11 tennis courts, two large swimming pools, water sports, and a fitness center. Looking to simply relax?  Enjoy the full-service spa, lounge on the white-sand beach or at the pool, or retreat to your spacious room with a private balcony overlooking the resort gardens.

Book this trip by April 8 and travel from April 9-December 23. As an added bonus, if you book by March 15, all children under 17 years old stay for free, and you’ll receive a $100 food and beverage credit per room. Book online at www.wyndhamriomar.com or call 800-474-6627.

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights to Puerto Rico. For general trip-planning information, see our Puerto Rico destination guide.

Vieques

What you saw: All of Ben and Courtney (mean-spirited model and exhibitionist) as they took a midnight skinny dip, and not enough of the beautiful beaches of Vieques, an island located eight miles off of Puerto Rico’s southeast coast; Old San Juan (a 20-minute helicopter ride away on the main island of Puerto Rico) on Ben and Nikki’s rain-soaked date; Roberto Clemente Stadium in San Juan on the group baseball date; the two-year-old W Retreat & Spa – Vieques, the chicly designed 157-room beachfront resort (shown at right) where the ladies and Ben stayed, spa-ed, and dined on cuisine from Alain Ducasse’s miX on the Beach, from $389/night.

What you didn’t see: The most famous attraction on Vieques, the bioluminescent bay, where when the moon wanes, you can kayak out onto the bay where phosphorescent organisms in the water glow all around you; the island’s many pristine beaches, such as Sun Bay Beach, Blue Beach, and Green Beach.

Bachelor-inspired package: The W Retreat & Spa – Vieques is offering two packages. The first includes daily breakfast for two at miX on the Beach, dinner for two at miX on the Beach, a one-day Jeep rental with a packed picnic basket, and a couples massage with a sunset Jacuzzi experience, from $590/night with a three-night minimum. The second incorporates elements directly from the show and includes four nights in a WOW Suite, daily breakfast at miX on the Beach, a private dinner date at Paradise Edge, a one-day cabana rental with a bottle of rosé wine and fresh tapas, a one-day Jeep rental with a packed picnic basket, and a couples massage with a sunset Jacuzzi experience, from $1,260/night with a four-night minimum stay.

Panama

What you saw: On the group date, Ben and the ladies cruise down the Chagres River to visit a local tribal village – where Courtney once again proves she’s not shy by donning a skimpy beaded tribal top without her bikini underneath; the beautiful and secluded San Blas islands, where Ben and Kacie have their castaway “survival” date; and the Trump Ocean Club International Hotel & Tower in Panama City, an architecturally striking (it resembles a sail, shown at left) 70-story tower on the city’s Punta Pacifica peninsula featuring 369 spacious and contemporary rooms and suites with private balconies, as well as a 13^th-floor deck with five pools, from $239/night.

What you didn’t see: Although the Chagres River cruise showed a bit of Panama’s lush rainforest, there’s plenty more nature to enjoy as the trees and landscape are filled with monkeys, sloths, and more tropical birds than you can imagine; the engineering marvel that is the Panama Canal, as this series of locks and lakes link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans for almost 50 miles and provide transit for as many as 14,000 ships a year.

Bachelor-inspired package: You can enter to win a four-night “Discover Panama” Grand Prize in The Bachelor Ultimate Getaway Sweepstakes, which includes airfare for two to Panama City, four nights in an Executive Suite at Trump Ocean Club, and daily breakfast. Enter daily until 11:59pm on March 19, 2012.

Belize

What you saw: The offshore island of Ambergris Caye, where Ben stayed at Coco Beach Resort, featuring hotel rooms, one- and two-bedroom villas and casitas with Belizean wood accents and Balinese furniture, as well as two free-form pools, from $271/night; the Blue Hole, a famous dive spot, where Ben and Lindzi jumped from a helicopter into the sapphire-blue water (shown at right); Caye Caulker, a small islet where Ben and Emily rode bikes (there are only bicycles and golf carts on the island) and hunted for lobster before enjoying cocktails at the Lazy Lizard Bar and Grill; Lamanai, the famed Mayan ruins in Northern Belize where Ben and Courtney climbed to the top and played with a tarantula; Victoria House, the elegant and romantic 42-room Ambergris Caye resort where Ben and Courtney had a torch-lit dinner, from $185/night; Ben, Kacie, Nikki and Rachel snorkeling with sharks; and Rojo Lounge, the Ambergris Caye night spot where the rose ceremony took place.

What you didn’t see: Belize is also home to several other Mayan ruins (such as Caracol and Xunantunich) as well as an intricate network of caves (the standout being Actun Tunichil Muknal, home to the intact skeletal remains of sacrificed young Mayan woman known as the Crystal Maiden because her calcified bones sparkle); and the third largest reef on the planet, which attracts divers from all over the world.

Bachelor-inspired package: Coco Beach Resort on Ambergris Caye (shown at left) is offering “The Bachelor Island Romance Package,” which includes four nights’ accommodation, daily breakfast, chilled bottle of champagne, one-hour couples massage, three-course candlelit dinner on the beach, sunset cruise, and more, from $1,399 per person. The Belize Tourism website also features 10 romance-themed packages. You can also enter to win the eight-night “Belize Grand Prize” in The Bachelor Ultimate Getaway Sweepstakes, which includes five nights at Victoria House and three nights at Coco Beach Resort, both located on beautiful Ambergris Caye. Enter daily until 11:59pm on March 19, 2012.

See our Puerto Rico, Panama, and Belize destination guides for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rate on flights, hotels, packages and more travel deals.