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

In the US, embarking on a train trip means taking the track less travelled. Once the symbol of technological advancement and westward expansion, the country’s railroads have had a hard time moving into the modern era. But when you ride the rails in the US, you’re afforded the opportunity to peel back the layers of this land and experience it on a human scale. 

President Joe Biden is a self-described train fan, commuting between Washington, D.C. and Delaware on Amtrak for decades as a Senator. Now to beef up U.S. passenger rail, his administration is doling out more than $8 billion, including funds for two high-speed trains in California and Nevada.

There's no shortage of excellent opportunities to save and score exclusive perks at the top hotels and resorts throughout Mexico this holiday season.

The flight to Queretaro on the A321 aircraft is just under two hours and operates on Mondays and Fridays.

Perla La Paz, Tapestry Collection by Hilton and Tropicana Los Cabos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton mark the brand’s arrival in the region adding to the company’s Baja California portfolio of award‑winning hotels.

Grupo Posadas is Mexico’s largest homegrown hotel operator, but U.S. analysts rarely discuss it.

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

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).