A tropical vacation ain't exactly a hard sell this time of year. (You think it will really hit 20 degrees in New York today? Break out the sunscreen!) But the U.S. Virgin Islands' new website, VisitUSVI.com, gave us three more reasons to go Caribbean:

We've never gone diving and they'll take us as we are. A new diving promotion USVI operators are rolling out takes aim at newbies like us, from the middle-school-aged to the novice spouse. We don't have any prices yet, but we hear the new daylong packages include training in the morning to get you in the water, seeing the sights, by the afternoon.

Carnival in St. Thomas is the new Carnival anywhere else. It's later (kicks off April 29 with a local food festival) and guaranteed to be less crowded. St. John and St. Croix have their own carnivals (held around the 4th of July and just after Christmas, respectively); when we cornered USVI Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty, she shrewdly refused to say which was her favorite. Guess we'll have to figure it out ourselves.

If we can only get 20 of our friends to go, we can get a sweet deal. The Department of Tourism just launched a group rewards promotion where large groups get a $50 credit per person that can be used on the islands. And the only thing better than getting out of the rest of winter would be taking all our nearest and dearest with us.

Related Stories:
· In Case Anyone Has Any Money Left, The US Virgin Islands Are On Sale [Jaunted]
· Obamacation in the Virgin Islands [Jaunted]

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Yes, New Orleans and Brazil are probably first in mind when you hear Carnival, but Trinidad and Tobago also throws down. How serious is the island about pre-Easter partying? They've already had one Carnival fete and dozens more are on the island's official calendar before Ash Wednesday on February 25.

In late January, steel pan bands start competing in what's called the National Panorama, a contest that usually wraps the Saturday before Dimanche Gras, the Fat Sunday that kicks off Carnival week. Monday is then J'Ouvert, the opening festival that features soca and calypso bands parading through the streets, flinging water, mud and paint on each other.

The even bigger parading happens on Tuesday, and while you could just watch it, why not join a band and march around in a ridiculous costume? Register online to run with a crew like Spice and you'll be in the thick of things, with a skimpy get-up, unlimited booze and a willing band of cohorts. Ladies might choose the brown sugar look for $485 all-in while fellas can do Scotch bonnet for $445.

Related Stories:
· The Carnival Virgin's Survival Guide [Trinidad Carnival Diary]
· Notting Hill Carnival Shimmers [Jaunted]

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