I consider myself really fortunate and as someone who has traveled pretty much a substantial chunk of the world ever since I was a toddler. But not till recently was I truly inspired to do travel blogging on a serious and regular basis, and in no small part because of the infectious enthusiasm of the following travel bloggers.

I'm grateful to you all for being in my life!

LeslieTravel (or Downtown Traveler, as she has rebranded herself): I reached out to Leslie out of the blue, since I saw some of her articles on Examiner.com and thought they were pretty swell. I'm glad to say she is such a key part of my travel inspirations now, and I read her work on a daily basis.

Tom Johansmeyer: I met Tom while I was in line to win a free round trip ticket for the 10th Anniversary of Jet Blue, and am sure glad I did. Tom made me fully realize the power of niche travel writing (he loves his cigars), and the need to blog "constantly."

ScenebyLaurie: Laurie's enthusiasm for everything is really infectious. If you read her work, you'll fall in love with pretty much everything she writes about, from the U.S. Open to Mexican restaurants. She does everything so thoroughly too that I often feel her motto is, "leave no reporting stone unturned."

RunawayJuno: I love reading the sprightly Juno's reads since she writes so much about her adventures in the Far East. Her verve and energy (not to mention terrific photography) leave me wanting more.

MyMelange: I am completely addicted to Robin's site. From the quality photographs to the writing to the layout, I feel as though I am in real travel heaven when I visit.

Journeywoman: Evelyn is a true inspiration when it comes to travel and I love reading tips from visitors all over the world. A real storyteller and lover of customs and cultures, she's a true "citizen of the world."

TravelingAnna: I adore Anna for her fearlessness and her storytelling abilities. I met her at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City and loved her passion for travel and nothing less than the very best.

AndiPerullo: Is there anyone on the planet who doesn't love this incredible girl? Now one of my best Tweeples, Andi goes the extra mile to make people real FEEL her "Beautiful Adventures." 

BrooklynNomad: I always turn to the Nomad's writing to learn how to chronicle my adventures. I'm getting better but feel I have a ways to go. Thanks for setting the bar!

MissAdventures (MelanieRenzulli): I adore Miss Adventures for her honesty and sense of travel style. She's also one of the most humorous tweeters in the social media galaxy.

TheExplorateur: Love the guides and love the tweets. Plus, he has a book out…need we say more?

Elliot.org: A passionate consumer advocate, Chris' site is on my daily read list. I often find his persona so much easier to digest than that of Ombudsman of CNT.

TravelingGreen: As a vegan, I'm always on the lookout for green and eco-friendly travel and try never to miss this site's daily bounty (and there's a LOT of daily bounty).

TravelingSavage: I totally love the rich, vivid and raw writing style of Keith, and his first persona narratives remind me of the poetry of Derek Walcott, who's one of my all-time favorites. I read his blog almost daily (yup….a genuinely larger than life reading list).

WanderngAramean: Seth never fails to expose the stupidity and incompetence of the TSA and other usual suspects in the theater of the boarding area. His adventures are also highly unusual and entertaining, not unlike a sit com. The Jay Leno of Boarding blogs? I think so.

TravelDudes: I am always inspired by these guys' tweeting frequency and their genius social media campaign, TNI. No travel writer would really want to miss those!

JeffTitelius: I am so proud and honored to have met Jeff through Twitter. Not only is he an effusive Twitterer, he's one of the most encouraging. To not follow him would be sacrilegious.

InsiderPerks: I had the good fortune to meet Brian at the Haunted Hayrides trip, and he was able to get us complimentary tickets. I will forever be grateful! And check out his site and cool Small Biz Challenge tweets, because they're Jack Kerouac entertaining.

AllAboutCara: Cara's twitter feeds, insider tips and information about Mexico are a must read for any traveler who wants to travel West. A journalism major from NYU, this gal truly knows her stuff and loves her travels.

If I've left out anyone, it's certainly NOT intentional. It's just that it's getting close to crunch time and I wanted to put this post up as quickly as possible.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Charu

Each winter, I try to escape the blanket of snow that's all over the Northeast, and head over to warmer climates. I was born in India and still haven't managed to fully LOVE the cooler months of New York City that most people do.

A few months ago, I WON a round trip ticket to any destination that Jet Blue flies to, in a contest that celebrated their 10th Anniversary. Needless to say, I was giddy with delight: I am a huge fan of Jet Blue for several reasons: no baggage check in fees, free food (that includes Terra Blue chips and water) and spacious seats.

This round trip ticket allows you to fly to any destination that Jet Blue flies to, and I didn't even hesitate for more than a hummingbird's wing flap before I decided that Aruba would be my destination of choice, and the most auspicious time to visit would definitely be February, when the weather in New York City is at its valley.

This would be my third visit to the island; and here are the reasons why I keep going back:

1. It's always 80 degrees and sunny there. Aruba is a desert that gets no more than 12 inches of rainfall each year, and I often joke that the meterological department there has the best and most predictable job known to man. You know exactly what temperature you're going to receive, and that's a comfort unlike any other.

2. Activities Galore: from windsurfing (my favorite outdoor sport!), to visiting the Aloe factory, to renting and riding ATVs on the rockier part of the island, Aruba really has everything for everyone, and then some.

3. Bonbini and the Dutch hospitality: The Dutch sense of hospitality is truly infectious…there is genuine love, laughter and smiles everywhere, and the Papiamento (dialect) language is pure music to the ears. The word "Bonbini" means "welcome" in Papiamento, and it sounds like a "bon bon" — a musical morsel to the ears.

4. Vibrant Nightlife: The Dutch know and love their casinos and night life.  Oranjestad, the country's capital, is vibrant with clubs and cafes. So, in effect, you can release your inner Britney Spears, yet you can seek the comfort of the quiet shadows of the island. Truly, this is the best of both worlds.

5. A range of accommodations: from all-inclusive resorts to boutique-y hotels to the big names, Aruba has something for everyone. Think of it as a Dylan's Candy Bar of hotel choices.

6. Last but not least, the Beachfront and Ocean: Eagle Beach is the top reason I go back to Aruba, time and time again. This pristine beach has often been voted as among the top beaches in the world, and I have been to very few places that have boasted such a silky stretch of perfect sand.

Clearly, though the Dutch Tourism Board has not paid me to be their spokesperson, I'm never going to stop tooting the Aruba horn because it is one the most memorably islands to visit — and don't let what the media says sway your impression or desire to visit the island.

Bonbini!