Check out the Virgin Islands' balmy temps & cheap deals

ST THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands - Many travelers think they know St. Thomas from a cruise ship stop. That's like ringing the doorbell and believing

you've seen the house.

St. Thomas looks better now than it has in about 15 years. It struggled for a decade to recover from Hurricane Marilyn in 1995 and the downturn after 9/11. Now, it seems buoyant and in better shape than some places back home. Sister island St. John remains pristine, most of it a national park. Forty miles to the south and 21 years after Hurricane Hugo flattened it, St. Croix survives vibrantly.

Existing under the radar of most Americans, the U.S. Virgin Islands attracted only 600,000 overnight visitors last year as the U.S. mainland economy ailed.

The upside for tourists? The USVI suddenly is nearly as affordable as Florida. I paid $306 round-trip airfare from Detroit and rented a condo near the beach on St. Thomas for $165 a night.

It's as if Nordstrom suddenly has Sears prices.

So without disparaging Florida's many attractions, here are 12 reasons I recommend visiting the Virgin Islands this year.

1. The water and vistas. Did you ever buy Navajo turquoise jewelry? That's the color of the water here. And the water temperature is 80 degrees in February. The hilly vistas rising out of the sea are what you dream about in winter. It's your screensaver back home.

2. The weather. Unlike Florida, USVI temperatures rarely vary from daytimes in the 80s and nighttimes in the 70s. If it rains, the wet stuff generally yields quickly to blue skies.

3. Cheaper flights. Despite a decline in the number of visitors, there were more airplane seats last year, due to heavy lobbying by tourism officials. That means deals. On busy holiday weeks, it might still cost $600 round-trip, but if you are flexible with dates or days, you can find round-trip airfare for half that.

4. No passport or jet lag. It's a U.S. territory, which means you need only a driver's license and a birth certificate (you can use your passport). And time here is only one hour ahead of Eastern time, so there's no jet lag.

5. The beaches, snorkeling, sailing and scuba. You can walk off the beach and snorkel amid schools of tropical fish. The diving is good, too. My favorite beaches are Coki and Sapphire on St. Thomas and Trunk Bay on St. John. Busy or empty, beaches are everywhere, all with fine white sand and velvety water.

6. Interesting side trips. The USVI is ferry distance from the stunning British Virgin Islands. Plus, St. Thomas and St. John are only 15 minutes apart on the ferry for just $6 each way.

Want traffic, stores, lots of people and dining? Choose St. Thomas. Want to see nobody? Choose a remote beach on St. John. Want a combination of the two? Try St. Croix. There's also a lot of history on these former Danish islands that gives them a cultural richness beyond palm trees and pirates.

7. Hotels and rental units really, really want you. Many resorts have "buy two nights, get one free" promotions. Also look for travel packages that include airfare and lodging. Check resort Web sites for specials, or rent a condo or villa.

8. You can drive around. At many Caribbean and Mexican resorts, tourists are warned not to leave their resorts or drive. The USVI has its share of crime (mostly drug-related), but it's generally safe. Roads are narrow and winding, though, and traffic follows British rules, which takes getting used to.

9. The Virgin Islanders. Talkative, opinionated and direct, they also represent a place where manners and "Good mornings" still count.

10. The exotic yet familiar atmosphere. Folks in the USVI speak English and use the dollar. You'll find American TV stations in your hotel, and your cell phone will get a good signal. There's even a Kmart on St. Thomas. Still, this is the Caribbean, and efficiency is a relative term.

"If you require speed and order, stick with Florida," said David Bello, owner of Fair Wind Sailing School in Red Hook, St. Thomas. "This is the U.S., but it's not the U.S."

11. The shopping. St. Thomas is famed as the biggest tax-free, duty-free shopping hub in the Caribbean. Visitors are allowed to exit St. Thomas with $1,600 in duty-free goods - double that of most destinations.

12. Bragging rights. The Virgin Islands are simply more glamorous than Florida. It's just a sexier vacation. And no, you don't have to tell anyone how little you paid.