American Islands & city combo - 4 destinations, 1 holiday

Take advantage of the US dollar by travelling on a four destination holiday – tax free shopping, duty free jewellery, American cosmopolitan life, heart shaped beaches, rum cocktails, too many to remember, and an eco-friendly island.

New combinations offered include 3 nights in Philadelphia, and an extended stay on St Thomas, St Croix and St John, which make up the US Virgin Islands.

With no tax on clothes and shoes, Philadelphia is the perfect city choice for buying your beachwear for your next stop! But before you relax on the beach, there’s loads of culture to soak up. Once the capital of the US, Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park is home to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.

Art is in abundance: the Barnes Foundation features one of the largest private fine art collections, the Rodin Museum is the largest outside Paris, while 2,500 murals decorate the city. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is easy to recognize for its steps used in the recent Rocky Balboa film and where Live8 was staged. In between, get a taste for the trendy restaurant and bar scene, try one of the celebrity chef, Stephen Starr’s stylish venues and the night life in Old City.

There are direct flights from Philadelphia to the busiest of the three islands, St Thomas, which offers great dining and duty-free shopping. Charlotte Amalie is a bustling harbour town full of character, warehouse shops and historic monuments while Magens Bay has been voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. St. Thomas offers a guided kayak tour through its marine sanctuary and mangrove lagoon, led by experienced naturalists and biologists or try Snuba, a unique sport that combines snorkelling and scuba diving.

St John, in contrast leads the way in eco-tourism with award winning eco-accommodation as well as conservation activities. St. John’s National Park protects two-thirds of the 19-square mile island as well as 5,600 acres of offshore marine habitats. Visitors can explore the Park by following one of its 22 self-guided nature trails with subtropical vegetation, and ancient Arawak Indian rock carvings on the Reef Bay Hike Trail or snorkel through an underwater trail amidst the Bay’s colourful marine life at Trunk Bay.

St Croix is characterised by its diversity and is the largest of the three, lying entirely in the Caribbean Sea. Pastel buildings and charming shops can be seen in the historic towns of Christiansted and Frederiksted while the Cruzan Rum factory introduces many a new flavour to island life. Off the shores of St Croix, Buck Island offers visitors a snorkelling experience at the only underwater national monument in the U.S while the Buccaneer Resort offers an 18-hole golf course, designed by Bob Joyce.

Travelling between the islands is also convenient with regular ferry services between St John and St. Thomas and seaplane connections between St. Thomas to St. Croix. Accommodation ranges from five-star resorts, inns, villas and b&bs.

For more information, contact the US Virgin Islands Tourism Office at Usvitourism.vi

For combination holiday packages, contact America AsYou Like It by visiting Americaasyoulikeit.com.