Find accommodations of every stripe, from St. Thomas' smart Ritz-Carlton to the luxe and immersive Caneel Bay resort on St. John.

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

These Micronesian islands have been governed by many in their long history: first by Spanish colonists in the 16th century, then Japanese forces during WWII, and finally, the United States since the Battle of Saipan in 1944. Nowadays, the islands rely heavily on tourism from their northern neighbors Japan and Korea as well as the United States. History buffs will find much to see in Saipan, the largest island of the Marianas, which is home to several war memorials and museums. Adrenaline junkies can dive the Grotto, a limestone cavern whose 70-foot-deep waters arehome to sea turtles and reef sharks, or take a boat to the nearby lagoon surrounding Managaha Island. While the Mariana Islands are relatively remote, several major hotel operators, including Hyatt, run four- and five-star properties on Saipan.

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 are known for great snorkeling, and Guam's teeming seas are famous among divers for visibilities up to 150 feet. Two Lovers Point, a