You Won’t Need a Passport to Visit These 10 Spectacular Islands
You Won’t Need a Passport to Visit These 10 Spectacular Islands
Noah Densmore/Shutterstock
https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/experiences/news/photos/10-stunning-u-s-islands-you-can-visit-without-a-passport
Skip the passport and discover 10 spectacular U.S. islands, from Alaska and Puerto Rico to California and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Wanting to skip the hassle of international travel this summer? Worried about the new EES system in Europe, or don’t want to brave a long intercontinental flight, but still want an international-feeling escape from the everyday? We’ve curated a list of islands that you won’t need to dig out your passport for. We’ve got islands both tropical and temperate, forested and sand-castled, from Florida to Alaska—and even Asia (yes, Asia!)
We’ve also focused our list on islands that aren’t obvious, overcrowded, or overpriced, so getaways to them will be secluded, serene, and affordable for most budgets.
Read on for the full list of no-passport-needed U.S. island getaways.
PHOTO: RYAN LONGNECKER-LEVI THOMPSON
1 OF 10
Catalina Island
WHERE: California
Catalina was already an attractive resort colony in the 1920s when Al Jolson crooned about a vacation romance in the town of Avalon. Today, the trappings of the era remain, from the famous circular oceanfront casino, where visitors can roller skate in the Art Deco Wrigley Ballroom, or ride horses along the mountainous island’s winding trails to scenic overlooks. The island has largely maintained the character it had during Hollywood’s Silent Film era, so if you’re looking for throwback vibes and a positively Mediterranean atmosphere, this is the place.
Getting There: The Catalina Express runs ferry trips from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point daily. There are also helicopter flights from Santa Monica and Long Beach.
Lodging: The recently renovated Pavilion Hotel or the rooms with a view at Avalon Hotel.
INSIDER TIP: For getting around Avalon quickly, the city has a new all-electric fleet of shuttles offering on-demand point-to-point rides seven days a week with fares starting at $2.
PHOTO: LANA2011/ISTOCK
2 OF 10
Baranof Island
WHERE: Alaska
Also known in Tlingít as Sheet’-ká X’áat’l, Baranof Island is home to the city of Sitka—one of the most picturesque towns in Alaska, with totem poles and a historic Russian Orthodox church nestled between the spruce-blanketed mountains and the open ocean. Sitka was the capital of Russian Alaska until its 1867 sale to the United States, and remained the primary city until the capital moved to Juneau in 1906. Today, shops sell Russian and Tlingít crafts and souvenirs, and you can even get a steaming hot bowl of Russian pelmeni dumplings to refuel after hiking through the temperate rainforest.
Getting There: Alaska Airlines offers daily jet service into Sitka’s Rocky Gutierrez Airport.
Lodging: Southeast Resort or Aspen Suites.
INSIDER TIP: Car rentals here are expensive, and generally unnecessary for short stays. Rideshares and taxis are a good way to get around outside of the very walkable downtown, to spots like The Raptor Center, Fortress of the Bear, or the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, where all the attractions, such as the Alaska Odyssey Dome, shopping, and dining, are open to non-cruise passengers.
PHOTO: ROBERT HARRISON
3 OF 10
Lopez Island
WHERE: Washington
Washington State’s San Juan Islands are in a microclimate. The islands are often sunny when the rest of the region is blanketed under clouds, and the atmosphere is rural and laid back. Lopez Island, like the other islands in the group, has no stoplights, shopping malls, or chain stores (not even Starbucks!) Visitors can rent a bicycle (or bring their own) to explore the island’s “pocket beaches” and historic farmsteads, intimate ocean-view restaurants, and funky boutiques.
Getting There: Washington State Ferries runs from Anacortes, and reservations are recommended if taking a car onboard during the summer months. There are also several seaplane services available from western Washington and British Columbia.
Lodging: The Lopez Islander Resort
INSIDER TIP The resort offers free parking in Anacortes and free pickups at the ferry terminal on Lopez Island for visitors who prefer not to bring their vehicles to the island.
PHOTO: UA-VISIONS/ISTOCK
4 OF 10
Anna Maria Island
WHERE: Florida
Just off the coast of Bradenton, Anna Maria Island maintains a less-developed atmosphere, with the white sand beachfront mostly dotted with low-rise boutique hotels and guesthouses. The island is also a hub for ecotourism, with many buildings and businesses using solar power and harvesting rainwater. The island also focuses on maintaining the vitality of its beaches as a sea turtle nesting ground, dimming beachfront lights, and educating visitors to remove their personal belongings overnight when the turtles are known to come ashore to lay eggs.
Getting There: Anna Maria Island is 35 minutes from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport or an hour from Tampa International Airport.
Lodging: Bali Hai Beach Resort offers a number of oceanfront accommodations, some with kitchenettes or full kitchens.
INSIDER TIP: Help keep traffic low-key on the island by using the free, air-conditioned trolley.
PHOTO: PLEASURE PIER
5 OF 10
Galveston Island
WHERE: Texas
It’s Texas, but the vibe on Galveston Island, just south of Houston, has shades of the Caribbean. There are miles and miles of beach here, and a historic 1940s Pleasure Pier that invokes a carnival atmosphere. For the full carnival experience, the island also hosts one of the region’s largest Mardi Gras celebrations. Texas history buffs will get their fill at the Bryan Museum, and animal lovers can check out the pyramids recreating rainforest and undersea habitats at Moody Gardens.
Getting There: Galveston is a 30-45 minute drive from Houston.
Lodging: The Grand Galvez Hotel, a pink oceanfront tower over a century old, recently underwent a top-to-bottom renovation.
PHOTO: STEPHEN SMITH/DREAMSTIME
6 OF 10
Vieques
WHERE: Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is worth visiting in itself, but the tiny island of Vieques off the island’s eastern shore—also part of the territory—is a world unto itself. Half the island is taken up by one of the most ecologically diverse wildlife refuges in the Caribbean; the rest is a tranquil stretch of sugar sand beaches (including at least one black sand beach) fronting the unattractively-named Mosquito Bay (take bug repellent). The bay is also known as Bioluminescent Bay, where visitors take nightly paddling trips (the best kayaks have clear bottoms) and spend their days exploring historic forts or spotting wild horses.
Getting There: Vieques is a 25-minute flight from San Juan on Cape Air. There’s also a ferry from Aguas Claras on Puerto Rico’s east side.
Lodging: Try the hilltop boutique hotel Finca Victoria, which focuses on ayurvedic wellness.
INSIDER TIP: Plan your trip around days when the moonlight will be at its nadir—it washes out the bioluminescence in the water. Several parts of the island don’t have cell service, so if you’ve taken a taxi to a beach, arrange a pickup time before letting the driver go.
PHOTO: U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
7 OF 10
St. Croix
WHERE: U.S. Virgin Islands
Quieter than the more built-up island of St. Thomas, St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, has a distinctly international feel. The USVI is the only U.S. jurisdiction where traffic moves on the left side of the road (vehicles are North American standard left-side drive). In the town of Christiansted, the national historic site preserves 18th-century Danish architecture, including Fort Christiansvaern and the Steeple Building (the U.S. purchased the islands from Denmark in 1917). There’s another historic fort in Frederiksted, as the island was once frequently threatened by pirates. Grog fans can get their daily ration at the Captain Morgan Visitor Center, take to the crystal-clear waters on a boat charter or from one of the island’s beaches, or simply kick back and relax at any number of restaurants or bars.
Getting There: There are numerous daily flights to the island from U.S. continental gateways on a number of major airlines.
Lodging: The Buccaneer Resort is noted for its three stretches of white sand beach and 18-hole golf course.
INSIDER TIP The U.S. Virgin Islands has the most generous duty-free limits for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, at $1,600, more than twice the typical allowance. U.S. citizens can also import 5 liters of alcohol, provided at least one liter is produced in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
PHOTO: GEORGE GRAY – THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTY
8 OF 10
Aquidneck Island
WHERE: Rhode Island
Fresh off a starring role in the HBO series The Gilded Age, Aquidneck Island is home to Newport, playground to the “Four Hundred” of New York high society of that era. Visitors can stroll stretches of the dramatic Cliff Walk, explore mansions like the Vanderbilts’ The Breakers, or poke through the local boutiques and seafood restaurants of the downtown Wharfs. A brand-new Center for Black History by the Newport Historical Society will open on Juneteenth. To get out on the water, sign up for sailing lessons or take a scenic cruise on the waters of the bay.
Getting There: Newport is 40 minutes from T.F. Green International Airport in Providence or 30 minutes from the Amtrak station in Kingston, RI.
Lodging: The historic Hotel Viking celebrated a grand reopening in May to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
INSIDER TIP: Parking can be an issue during the summer. Check out the city’s free parking guide or take the ferry from Providence (there’s free parking at the terminal in Providence) to avoid the vehicular crush.
PHOTO: GEORGE FISCHER/1000 ISLANDS
9 OF 10
Wellesley Island
WHERE: New York
Set in New York’s Thousand Islands Region on the St. Lawrence River, Wellesley Island is so international that its northern shore is also the US-Canada border (and yes, there is anecdotal evidence that the chain of islands is the same “Thousand Island” of salad dressing fame, and there are actually closer to 2,000 islands between the US and Canada). Visitors can take sightseeing cruises to the mansions of the Gilded Age, like Boldt Castle and Singer Castle, or discover the wineries, breweries, and distilleries that make use of the region’s fertile soil and abundant supply of fresh water.
Getting There: Wellesley Island is 30 minutes from Watertown International Airport by car, or 90 minutes from Syracuse.
Lodging: 1000 Island Hart House is a historic bed and breakfast.
INSIDER TIP: Looking to beat the crowds? The region is generally a seasonal destination, and early-season visitors can beat the crowds by coming in May or early June.
PHOTO: ZIGGYMARS/DREAMSTIME
10 OF 10
Saipan
WHERE: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Yes, you can go to Asia without a passport. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, just north of Guam, is an unincorporated territory of the United States, and U.S. citizens and permanent residents do not need a passport to visit (provided they don’t transit another country to get there). Visitors here will enjoy uncrowded beaches, world-class WWII wreck diving and snorkeling, and the rich, ancient culture of the Indigenous Carolinian and Chamorro people. Adventure travelers can paddleboard alongside sea turtles or try their hand at paddling a traditional outrigger canoe.
Getting There: To visit Saipan without a passport, visitors must transit Honolulu and Guam by air. United Airlines offers daily flights from Guam, with onward connections to Honolulu. Connections via Japan or a third country require travelers to have a passport.
Lodging: Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.
INSIDER TIP Be sure to use a navigation app when driving on the island. It’s a major cruise port, and the cruise ship arrivals and departures can back up traffic around the piers, so an app can help find the fastest route around the congestion.
This Century-Old Hotel Was Once One of America’s Most High-Tech Places to Stay
Kirk Fisher/Shutterstock
https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/washington/spokane-and-eastern-washington/experiences/news/this-century-old-hotel-was-once-one-of-americas-most-high-tech-places-to-stay
Spokane completely surprised me.
When this hotel opened in 1914, it was one of the most technologically advanced in the U.S. It featured central air cooling, circulating ice water, and a central vacuum system. Its founder, Louis Davenport, is known for shaping modern housekeeping practices, including the housekeeping cart.
Over a century later, the historic Davenport Hotel, the crown jewel of the Davenport Hotel Collection in Spokane, Washington, stands as a living piece of history, holding the timeless elegance and spirit of Spokane’s Golden Age.
Even before its restoration and reopening in 2002, my mom recalls always bidding for Spokane when she was a flight attendant in the ’70s and ’80s, just to have the chance to stay at the Davenport Hotel.
Spokane is an urban-meets-outdoor destination and gateway to the beauty of the Inland Pacific Northwest. The Davenport Hotels is a collection of five distinct properties, all within a 15-minute walking distance of one another. In addition to the original Davenport Hotel, The Louie is Spokane’s newest luxury hotel, offering a serene escape complete with butler service, custom-made furnishings, and even its own shade of green made just for it.
The Davenport Grand brings contemporary sophistication with sweeping views overlooking Riverfront Park. The Davenport Tower offers a bold safari-inspired design, and the Centennial provides a retreat along the Spokane River.
I could not get enough of the Lobby Bar, renovated in 2024. Set in the center of the hotel’s Spanish architecture-inspired lobby, the space beautifully reimagines what locals fondly call “Spokane’s Living Room.” Designed around the lobby’s original historic light posts, the rounded bar feels timeless, elegant, and inviting. The menu pays tribute to the Davenport’s 1920s Prohibition-era heritage. As someone who is sober, I especially loved seeing offerings like Mocktail Mondays and an elevated and sophisticated mocktail menu.
The Davenport is the perfect stay for the upcoming Pacific Northwest Food & Wine Festival, taking place from October 9th to 11th. No matter the season, Spokane is a city to experience, with the Davenport at the heart of it all. Highlights include afternoon tea, Sunday brunch, rooftop Pilates with The Union, and my favorite, the signature peanut brittle made fresh daily in the hotel’s confectionery. Oh, and the mattresses are so comfortable, they can actually be bought, with 30 to 40 sold each month.
It’s been 15 years since my last visit to the city where I spent my undergrad, and Spokane completely surprised me. I was blown away by the charming bakeries, boutique shopping, how clean and safe it felt, and the beauty flowing through Riverfront Park. Spokane feels vibrant and elevated. The most full-circle moment of all was staying at the iconic Davenport Hotel, where architectural beauty and modern luxury continue to captivate guests more than a century later.
Lower cost of debt main driver of the increased US deals pace, JLL Hotels exec says
The bid-ask gap continues to narrow
https://www.costar.com/article/2139037492/lower-cost-of-debt-main-driver-of-increased-us-deals-pace-jll-hotels-exec-says?
NEW YORK CITY — Hotel transactions in the U.S. are picking up in size and volume, and it's because a few key elements are "moving in a positive direction," said Kevin Davis, Americas CEO of JLL's Hotels and Hospitality group.
Chief among those: lower cost of debt.
Despite increasing treasury rates tied to geopolitical and economic movements, Davis pointed out that the financing scenario for hotel investors is improving.
"A lot of the investors in our sector tend to borrow against floating rate, which is tied to the Fed funds rate ... and that continues to be relatively low," he said. "The lower cost of debt, the ready availability of debt, has contributed to an increase in transaction volume."
Davis spoke with CoStar News at the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum in early June.
All in all, that lower cost of debt to finance hotel purchases, plus the higher cap rates Davis noted, "has facilitated a bridging of the bid-ask, and that's why I think you've seen more transactions take place."
Add in strong revenue per available room performance trends for U.S. hotels so far this year, a still-low hotel supply environment, and continued demand for luxury hotel and resort assets, and the transaction environment is solid, he said.
Davis also shared insights on JLL's involvement over the years with the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida. Earlier this year, JLL arranged a refinancing on the soon-to-be Signia by Hilton-branded resort for owners Trinity Investments and UBS Asset Management's Global Real Assets business. JLL had previously worked on the hotel's 2023 sale to Trinity and subsequent refinancing.
Davis said this hotel reflects "the definition of irreplaceable."
"It illustrates the power of the Sun Belt and Florida and resort markets in particular, but what you have at the Diplomat is a strong group hotel, with the ability to flex into leisure," he said. "There was incredibly strong investor interest for that profile of asset several years ago, and I would argue even stronger interest in that profile of asset today."
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