As international air travel gets both more expensive and more onerous, exotic destinations that are within reach, and especially those that are part of U.S. territory, increase in appeal.

Recognizing this, jetBlue has just launched new direct service from Boston’s Logan Airport to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands — a tropical paradise that’s easy to get to yet a world away from the winter wonderland of the East Coast. Because it’s an “insular area” of the U.S., citizens need only have a driver’s license to fly there and of course you don’t have to go through customs or change currency. The climate is perfect year-round.

"Just as the cold weather is settling into New England, we're pleased to offer Bostonians a great escape to the beautiful, warm Caribbean with the start of nonstop service to St. Thomas," notes Scott Laurence, jetBlue’s vice president of network planning. "Our continued growth in both Boston as well as the Caribbean make this new city pairing a match made in paradise, literally!"

The eco-friendly airline known for its style and value has the most legroom in coach, while their 'Even More Legroom' seats offer inexpensive upgrades without costly extras. The Boston–St. Thomas service operates on their Airbus A320 fleet, which boasts the widest fuselage of any single-aisle aircraft.

Since launching service in Boston in 2004, JetBlue has added an average of five new destinations per year, and now offers non-stop service to 43 destinations across the country and throughout the Caribbean and Mexico. No airline has ever served as many destinations in Logan's entire history as an airport. In honor of the new service to the USVI, we’ll be taking a look at some of the luxe destinations on the idyllic islands of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, which are home to world-class resort brands such as Ritz-Carlton and Rosewood in addition to scenic beaches with swaying palms and perfect white sand, national parks and plentiful entertainment options. Visit jetBlue.com to learn more.

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