If the snow, ice, and biting winds of February have the Beach Boys' "Kokomo" lyrics playing incessantly on your mind's internal iPod, maybe it's time to listen to that little voice in your head and book a trip to an island paradise. Instead of shoveling snow, you could be digging your toes in warm sand. Tropical breezes would replace harsh winter wind, and the only ice you'd encounter would be the cubes floating in your Margarita. And now that you can reach so many islands through Atlantic City International Airport, getting there is even more appealing. "This year, we've seen the largest allotment of Caribbean destinations out of Atlantic City ever," says Carol Parlin, a travel agent with Preferred Travel in Northfield. "It's just huge. ACI is always the first choice for our clients because it's so much more convenient." According to Sharon Gordon, director of communications and marketing for the South Jersey Transportation Authority, the demand for flights out of Atlantic City has always been there. "Whenever we have new flights come into the market, the seats get filled," she says. "Flying out of Atlantic City is a civilized experience," Gordon says. "It puts the fun back in travel. It's absolutely a world of difference. The drive experience is not bumper-to-bumper traffic, it's very accessible, there's easy parking, free shuttle service, and parking is a fraction of the cost of the metro airports." Added to that, Gordon boasts of the airport's personal touch. "Passengers coming in the door are greeted individually by a customer service ambassador and they're given special assistance if they need it." Even the security screeners are customer-friendly. "Even though they have an important job to do, they know that they're a part of that travel experience," Gordon says. "They're thorough, but they're expeditious. You don't have that tension or anxiety that you're going to miss your plane." Just where can you get to from our friendly local airport? Through Spirit Airlines, you can fly from Atlantic City to Nassau, Bahamas; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Cancun, Mexico; Kingston, Jamaica; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands; and Puerto Rico. Your most difficult vacation decision might be choosing which island to visit. "Each one of them has its own flavor," says Parlin. "They all have great weather, beautiful beaches, and a variety of accommodations from budget to ultra-deluxe hotels, but each one also has something to set it apart." [Dominican Republic] The thatched-roof airport of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic will make you feel like you've stepped onto the set of Gilligan's Island. "Punta Cana has beautiful white-sand beaches and clear blue water," says Parlin. "It's a great place for rest and relaxation because they don't have a lot of nightlife. They're basically geared to daytime activities." Popular area attractions include: Manati Park, with exhibitions of tropical animals, birds, and fish, along with performing dolphins, sea lions, and parrots; touring a replica of an ancient Taino Indian Village; jungle walks; and 4x4 motorbike excursions along the beach. Contrast that with Santo Domingo, which is also located in the Dominican Republic but worlds apart when it comes to vacation entertainment options. Santo Domingo is the oldest city in the New World—where the settlement of all the Americas began. Here you can wander down cobblestone streets among Spanish colonial architecture, some of which dates to the 1600s. Billing itself as a city that never sleeps, it features a great variety of restaurants and nightlife. [Bahamas] Another island destination with plentiful nightlife is Nassau, Bahamas. "Along with great beaches and shopping, you have the casinos in neighboring Paradise Island," says Parlin. That particular feature could be especially attractive to casino employees who hold a key license and are not permitted to gamble in New Jersey. Nassau, the Bahamian national capital, traces its heritage back to the shipwrecking days of the legendary pirate Blackbeard. The city features beautifully preserved colonial mansions, cathedrals, 18th century fortresses and a Queen's Staircase whose 66 steps lead to a spectacular view. A 600-foot bridge connects Nassau with Paradise Island. This island has been developed almost exclusively to accommodate travelers, with resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, a golf course, an aquarium, and a casino among its amenities. [Jamaica] On the island of Jamaica, you can choose from a variety of activities including horseback riding, polo, golf, tennis, scuba diving, and deep-sea fishing. There are three primary resort areas: Ocho Rios, Negril, and Montego Bay. Ocho Rios is on Jamaica's northern coastline and features stunning waterfalls and colonial period buildings. Ocho Rios is probably best known for its Dunn's River Falls, a 600-foot high waterfall that cascades over a series of rock terraces on its way to the sea. The stepping-stones of the falls allow tourists to actually climb within the shower of water. Negril is famous for its sunsets—and for its seven-mile stretch of white sand beach, which some have judged to be the most beautiful in the Caribbean. "A lot of people love to visit Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville restaurants when they're in Jamaica," says Parlin. "Ocho Rios, Negril, and Montego Bay all have Margaritavilles and they're more than just restaurants. They all feature water parks with swim-up bars, water slides, giant water trampolines… It could be a whole daytime activity." [Puerto Rico] Puerto Rico is a U.S. Commonwealth, which makes travel there easy. The capital of San Juan features a variety of nightlife, including fine dining and casino gaming. Daytime activities include surfing, golf, scuba diving, horseback riding, parasailing, kayaking, and fishing. Puerto Rico is also home to El Yunque, the only rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. Featuring 240 different species of trees, El Yunque is actually a series of forests, each one determined by its altitude. Another unique natural resource is Camuy Caverns, the third-largest cave system in the Western Hemisphere. Visitors can ride a trolley down into one sinkhole and hike into others. [St. Thomas] "St. Thomas is a beautiful island with wonderful shopping," says Parlin. "It's relatively quiet in the evening, but all in all it's a very nice island to visit." The town of Charlotte Amalie is also the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands and is the most-visited port in the Caribbean. The city's reputation as a shopping Mecca draws visitors from all over the region and around the world. Bargains can be found on perfume, liquor, cameras, china, crystal, clothing, leather goods and jewelry. U.S. citizens are granted a $1,200 duty-free shopping quota—twice that of any other Caribbean island and three times that of European countries. [Cancun] "Because of Hurricane Katrina, Cancun itself is not in such great shape," says Parlin. "But the area south of Cancun is fine. It's bizarre. Cancun was devastated, but the Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya areas are totally up and running." From Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya you can take short day trips and visit Mayan ruins hidden in the jungle at Coba, or overlooking the sea at Tulum. You can also visit the natural aquariums at Xel-Ha or Xcaret. On a coral reef located off the nearby island of Cozumel, you'll find some of the world's best diving and snorkeling. The area's crystal-clear water allows visitors to view an astounding array of marine plant and animal life. So there you have it. The island-hopping virtual tour is over. All that's left for you to do is choose your destination, make your reservations, and pack your sunscreen. As the Beach Boys put it, "you can get there fast and then take it slow." For current fares and destinations, visit spiritair.com or call your travel agent.

By Heidi Heath

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