Mexico to Boost Passenger Rail in Bid to Reduce Freight's Dominance

Tucked at the bottom end of the Riviera Maya, Tulum is Mexico’s “it” tropical vacation destination at the present time.

Hawaii is looking for ways to help those displaced by the Lahaina wildfire in August, and Maui mayor Richard Bissen has proposed tax incentives to turn short-term rentals into long-term housing.

Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday may be over, but Delta Air Lines is still rolling out the deals for travelers eager to get away.  The airline recently published a list of “Fly Into A Winter Wonderland” deals on their website, which offers discounts both in cash and using Delta SkyMiles redemptions for flights both within the United States and internationally.  “Redefine the winter blues and take advantage of low seasonal fares to destinations from cozy cities to tropical escapes and alpine adventures,” Delta shares on their website about the sale. Travel + Leisure spotted deals from nearly every one of Delta’s hub cities in the United States. The current promotion offers deals between December 2023 and January 2024. The lowest miles fare was 14,000 miles and $12 for a round-trip flight from Seattle, WA, to San Francisco, CA.  Some of the other top flight deals include:

While tequila has cemented itself as an all-time top seller in the global spirits industry, its close relative mezcal has enjoyed skyrocketing popularity across the globe since the dawn of the 21st century—and for any hardcore agave aficionados hoping to learn more about the history of tequila, it’s best to pay a visit to where it all began. Roughly 400 years ago, the first large-scale agave distillery made its debut in the town of Tequila, and in the modern era, this vibrant community comes complete with luxurious hotels, a stellar food scene and—of course—more delicious distillate than you could possibly dream of.

In November, 2023, Time Out magazine named Mexico City as the #1 city in the world for culture. In the 1990s and early 2000s Mexico City, was known for smog, sprawl, and street crime, and was not usually near the top of the list of cities most international tourists wanted to visit. But, over the last ten to fifteen years, local government officials and private sector entrepreneurs have worked to spark a new wave of urban renewal and transformed the way Mexico City is seen around the world. In 2016, The New York Times listed Mexico City as its number one recommended destination to visit. While urban planners, architects, and police have all played big roles in Mexico City’s evolution, a new group of globally renowned chefs has also helped catalyze Mexico City’s transformation, and also helped boost Mexico’s soft power by elevating Mexico’s gastronomy to be more universally regarded as one of the most complex and tasty cuisines on the planet.

Aerial view of Guanajuato, Mexico. (Photo Credit: Juan Antonio Oseguera)

Miami and Orlando are among the growing list of cities offering direct flights from the United States to Mexico's Yucatan region with the help of low-cost Mexican airline Viva Aerobus.The new flights from Florida will launch in July 2024 and will land in Merida, the capital city of the state.Orlando joins Miami, Houston and Dallas in offering direct flights from the U.S. to Yucatan.2023 has shown that Mexico’s safest state is in high demand, with no signs of slowing down.From spectacular beaches to the ruins of Chichen Itza, Yucatan has much to offer. The list includes the famous underground swing pools known as cenotes.Viva Aerobus has confirmed that Orlando International Airport (MCO) will be part of the new routes flying directly to Merida’s Manuel Crescencio Rejon International Airport (MID).

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly flight down south—you’re in luck. Southwest Airlines has announced it will be expanding its international flight schedule by next summer—with new routes flying to Mexico, Costa Rica, Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos, and more.

The ancient Maya thrived for some 3,000 years and created a monumental legacy that still inspires pop culture, from animated series to video games. Their stepped stone pyramids and glyph carved temple walls can be found in Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico, home to the well known sites of Tulum, Chichén Itzá, and the Uxmal pyramids.

WHY IT RATES: The resort is an homage to the Mexican culture, history, and gastronomy and offers the top-notch All-Fun Inclusive® concept. --Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Managing Editor

United Airlines announced that it will offer non-stop flights from the U.S. to Mexico's soon-to-open Tulum International Airport from New York/Newark, Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago beginning March 31, 2024. 

After years of strength during the pandemic, travel suppliers and sellers say that Mexico bookings softened this year as U.S. travel demand moved to long-haul destinations and cruises.