Long Island MacArthur Airport offers stress-free Caribbean getaways

If you’re dreaming of a Caribbean getaway this fall, the shortest route to that palm tree-sheltered beach, festive cocktail in hand, can begin at Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma. The Islip Town-owned airport is emerging as an alternative hub for convenient, affordable and hassle-free travel to Caribbean and Caribbean-like destinations, officials say.

"The Caribbean is probably our highest demand for international flights," said Rob Schneider, commissioner of aviation for MacArthur. "When you walk through the doors you really do feel like you are on vacation," Schneider said. "It’s a stress-free environment" where travelers can relax before boarding in a craft brew pub that's a five-minute walk from the departure gates.

The airline choices include Southwest Airlines, which "can basically fly anywhere you want in the Caribbean," Schneider said. In February, Southwest is adding St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands to current destinations including Aruba, The Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.

If you merely want a Caribbean vibe, in December JetBlue launches weekly non-stop flights to Fort Myers and Tampa, Florida. Introductory rates start at $49 per ticket, according to an airline announcement.

Here are pina colada-ville escapes that can take off from MacArthur. Check Google Flights or airline websites for best prices on available flights.

Cancun and the Riviera Maya, Mexico

GETTING THERE: Southwest Airlines from MacArthur to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Baltimore to Cancun.

Not just for spring breakers, Cancun is a year-round destination boasting fine-dining restaurants, a street food market, shopping malls and dance clubs. Many amenities are in the hotel zone along Boulevard Kukulcán, on a barrier beach extending into the sparkling Caribbean Sea.

Cancun is part of the Riviera Maya (Mayan Riviera), a region of archeological sites, historic and folk art centers. The best time to visit is the November to April dry season, when temperatures are cooler, according to the Cancun-based Go Visit Cancun tourism service (1-866-387-6678, govisitcancun.com).

Christian Vega, of Go Visit Cancun, said the Cancun Hotel Zone’s shopping centers include the open-air Plaza La Isla, home to luxury retailers (Gucci, Burberry) and international restaurants. La Isla’s casino offers live Vegas-style shows and an outdoor Sky Wheel Cancun Ferris wheel for a whirling, panoramic view of the city. ($39 per ride)

The nightclubs open about 9 p.m. and include hot spots such as Coco Bongo, Mandala, Congo Bar and La Vaquita, where the playlists range from pop, traditional Mexican music and electronic to reggaeton, hip-hop and R&B.

Along the Riviera Maya, stop at Puerto Morelos to snorkel in Reef National Park in a historic fishing port. Browse beachfront art galleries on pedestrian-only Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) in Riviera Maya’s Playa del Carmen, or chill in bohemian, historic Tulum. "In every place you can find traditional souvenirs," Vega said.

Take a private bus tour to the Mayan Ruins of Chichén Itzá to explore the pre-Hispanic archaeological site and its massive stone pyramid. The 10-hour tour includes folk art shopping in Valladolid, a Colonial-era city, and swimming in the crystal clear waters of the underground Cenote Samula .  ($152; 1-866-387-6678, govisitcancun.com)

WHERE TO STAY The Occidental Costa Cancún, an all-inclusive hotel that is part of the Barceló Hotel Group, overlooks Linda Beach and offers a spa, a pool and a kids area. ($144 per night; barcelo.com)

Vieques and Culebra, Puerto Rico

GETTING THERE Cape Air/United to San Juan, connecting flights to Mayagüez, Vieques and Culebra.

Venture beyond Old San Juan and the El Yunque National Forest to Puerto Rico’s opposite coast to discover enchanting historic sites, natural wonders, local cuisine and unique small hotels.

"The locals are fighting hard to maintain their own identity and run BnB’s," said Debbie Molina Ramos, owner and tour guide with Tour Guide Debbie Landmark & Food Tours.

Molina takes visitors out for a Puerto Rican-style Thanksgiving Day dinner in Guavate, an hour south of San Juan, to tours of Aguada, the Colonial town in western Puerto Rico where Christopher Columbus is believed to have landed on his second voyage in 1493, and to Isabela, a coastal community known for delicacies like pinchos de pollo (barbecued chicken kebabs). Mayagüez, one of the three destinations served by Cape Air in addition to the islands of Vieques and Culebra, is about a 20-minute drive from Rincón, a popular surfing spot.

Just off mainland Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra are two small islands that offer a rustic retreat for beach and nature walks, history and architecture tours, Molina said.

Vieques, where the 1963 cinema classic "Lord of the Flies" was filmed, is known for its coconut arepas, a fried dough and coconut  treat, Molina said. The Vieques National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most ecologically diverse refuges for dolphins, manatees and other marine species in the Caribbean, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (fws.gov) For a truly enchanted evening, take a glass-bottom boat tour of Mosquito Bay, which lights up at night with bioluminescent marine life. ($55; mosquitobiobaytours.com)

On Culebra, Flamenco Beach is rated among the best in the world for its soft white sand and shallow turquoise bay, Molina said. Snorkel with sea turtles at Tamarindo Beach and explore hidden caves at Cayo Luis Peña.

WHERE TO STAY For a list of paradores, Puerto Rico’s small independent hotels, visit discoverpuertorico.com.

Fort Myers, Florida

GETTING THERE: Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines and JetBlue offer non-stop flights from MacArthur to Fort Myers. (JetBlue service begins in December)

Fort Myers on southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast boasts 50 miles of white sand beach, blue skies and lots of palm trees, said Tamara Pigott, tourism director of Visit Fort Myers. "We’re the Caribbean without a passport," Pigott said.

A historic, walkable downtown features brick paved streets and restaurants serving seafood delicacies like fresh grouper, pink gulf shrimp and stone crab. "There are lots of places to have a cocktail with a water view," Pigott said.

At The "World Famous" Cigar Bar downtown, choose your single malt Scotch from the bar and your cigar from a well-stocked humidor, and savor both relaxing in a wingback chair (worldfamouscigarbar.com). 

History buffs can get a charge touring Thomas Alva Edison and Henry Ford’s side-by-side riverside winter estates and gardens, on a 20-acre site including the 15,000-square-foot Edison Ford Museum and the inventor’s botanical research laboratory. ($15-$28; edisonfordwinterestates.org)

Fort Myers also offers fishing, jet skiing, parasailing and kayaking, the latter on the Great Calusa Blueway, a 190-mile marked paddling trail, Pigott said. (visitfortmyers.com)

Offshore from Fort Myers, small islands beckon visitors for a beach day or a romantic getaway. Rent a car and drive the causeway to Boca Grande beach and its lighthouse/museum. On Sanibel Island, also accessible via causeway, experience the good life at The Sanibel Inn ($404; theinnsofsanibel.com) or see the wildlife at the 7,600-acre J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, a flyway for hundreds of bird species, including wintering white pelicans.

Adds Pigott, "There are lots of islands you can only get to by boat, which make them a little more romantic."

WHERE TO STAY Downtown’s new Luminary Hotel boasts a rooftop bar and rooms overlooking the wide Caloosahatchee River. ($192 per night; 833-918-1512, luminaryhotel.com)

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

GETTING THERE: Southwest Airlines from MacArthur Airport, connecting flight at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Baltimore, to Punta Cana International Airport.

The Caribbean Sea encompasses over 1 million square miles and hundreds of islands. The most popular destinations for fun-seekers include Aruba, St. Lucia, Puerto Rico, Negril in Jamaica and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, according to a statement from the AAA Northeast travel department in Garden City.

Aruba is the No. 1 choice for Caribbean-bound New Yorkers, with attractions such as Eagle Beach and its Divi Divi trees, Oranjestad’s pastel-hued colonial architecture, and Arikok National Park, where hidden caves bear ancient petroglyphs, according to AAA travel counselors. St. Lucia attracts honeymooners with wedding trip packages at resorts such as Sandals (sandals.com). Negril, Jamaica’s serene, all-inclusive resort vibe features bar-and-restaurant hopping on Seven Mile Beach and snorkeling and SCUBA-diving on coral reefs. (visitjamaica.com)

Punta Cana is also known for all-inclusive resorts, with options for families, singles and couples, according to AAA. Beginning in December, Long Islanders can take JetBlue flights from MacArthur to Punta Cana with a layover in Tampa, leaving once daily, year-round, and costing $139, according to a JetBlue statement.

 Fill your days with snorkeling, zip-lining, and all-terrain vehicle adventures. 

WHERE TO STAY Ocean El Faro, a new all-inclusive resort on the beach in Punta Cana, features a water park with a lazy river, themed restaurants and a faro (lighthouse) for 360-degree sightseeing. ($223; 917-920-6228, oceanhotels.com)