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No more excuses.

Too often, regular Joes and Janes miss out on Mexico’s wonders because they’re glued to mainstream news trashing our southern neighbor despite statistics clearly showing the vast majority of Americans vacationing south of the border make it back home unscathed after the trip of a lifetime.

News just dropped that the first-ever U.S. flight will soon fly to one of Mexico’s safest destinations — a truly stunning destination that’s yet to be discovered by even seasoned travelers since it’s been harder to reach.

Set north of Puerto Vallarta and stretching over 200 miles lies the sprawling region of vibrant coastal towns and secluded beaches of Riviera Nayarit, where a new international terminal has been in the works for years.

Rumors have swirled regarding who will be the first U.S. destination connecting to this largely undiscovered sprawl of beaches and hidden gems and the first airline to skid the runway—and now we have answers to both.

Fly Nonstop From Los Angeles To Tepic This Summer

West Coasters are the lucky winners for the first-ever U.S. route to Riviera Nayarit. The 4th most connected U.S. airport is now adding yet another awesome international destination to its already impressive portfolio of routes.

The announcement is such a big deal the State Governor of Riviera Nayarit is the one who broke the news. Gavin Newsom was too busy combing his hair…

Slated to launch July 16, 2025, travelers can already purchase tickets online for the monumental flight.

Surely more U.S.-based airlines will join the chat at some point, but for now, Mexico-based Volaris is the only option.

For what it’s worth, I really enjoy flying with them because of their frequent sales to score cheap flights across Mexico (if only the pesky TUA tack on the bottom line!).

As of this posting, one-way tickets are as low as $85 in August. See what I was saying about those sale prices?

The New Tulum?

In a sense, travelers could look at Riviera Nayarit as “the new Tulum” as far as becoming Mexico’s new hotspot.

Just how travelers formerly had to fly into Cancun and make the hours-long trek south, it’s been the same way for Riviera Nayarit’s cluster of beaches lining the coast as you would have to fly into Puerto Vallarta, which is also why a new highway was built.

But here is the kicker: Tepic is not at all a beach town. So, if you want to experience real Mexico, you can easily make time to explore a timeless city before hitting up the coast.

In fact, Tepic is one of Mexico’s most underrated cities. Dating back 500 years, it’s stood the test of time with remarkable landmarks like Catedral de Tepic amongst picturesque plazas.

Not only is it a delight to explore for photo-ops, it’s safe and super affordable. Should you want to make a day trip or weekend getaway, charming Hotel Saint George is only $47 and walkable to the aforementioned cathedral and numerous cozy cafes and authentic eateries.

But let’s be real. You didn’t lose 5 lbs. and pack your swimwear to show off in Tepic; you’re eying the coast.

Best Beaches To Visit: What You’ll Discover In Riviera Nayarit

With over 200 miles to cover, there are definitely hidden gems we’ll miss here. That being said, there are some notable rising beach towns creeping up on travelers’ radars.

Costa Canuva:

Costa Canuva is the perfect example of why Tepic’s new terminal will benefit the region. This well-kept secret is an understated resort town, but it’s stayed hush-hush because it’s been quite a journey from Puerto Vallarta.

Aside from postcard beaches, Costa Canuva boasts underrated luxury hotels, a PGA-standard golf course, and miles of nature trails.

Rincon De Guayabitos:

If you’re looking for a place where you can leave your belongings on the beach without a bandito snatching your beach bag, Rincon De Guayabitos is just the place.

This small coastal town is safe, welcoming, and down right beautiful with calm waters and even a hot spring to enjoy.

Punta Mita:

I’m gonna leave this one brief as a tease since I’m traveling to Punta Mita next weekend.

This star-studded peninsula is laden with luxurious resorts and stunning beaches. Vacationers in Puerto Vallarta have found themselves skirting this way to avoid the crowds and in turn driving a new resort haven, which draws curious travelers like me who’ve heard of Punta Mita’s wonders through the grapevine.

Stay tuned for more!

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

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As if there weren’t enough white-sand Caribbean beaches to jet off to, those looking for their next paradisal vacation now have another option.

We all know the Caribbean is speckled with islands, making for unforgettable getaways amongst some of the world’s top beaches, some more popular than others.

As such, some of the most spacious untouched beaches are a trek to reach, even by cruise if that’s more your jam.

But American Airlines is making one such place easier to reach by offering Americans a pathway to one stunning island with new resorts, sugary white sand, and crystal-clear waters for the first time ever.

South Caicos: The Caribbean’s Budding Hotspot This Spring

If you think you know Turks and Caicos, think again!

Yes, we all know Turks and Caicos is in an exclusive club of picture-perfect destinations that has probably flashed before your eyes on your screensaver numerous times.

But vacationers often hit up the same beaches over and over again or find themselves in a tizzy trying to see all the sites in a tight squeeze so they can make it back to the cruise port on time.

Most travelers who visit Turks and Caicos find themselves on the island of Providenciales (a.k.a. “Provo”), home to the island’s main airport and stunning beaches like Grace Bay Beach as well as numerous resorts lining the vibrant coast.

But now visitors have a new entry point — South Caicos. This is a separate island set to become the new “it” destination of Turks and Caicos with American Airlines leading the charge.

While it’s true other Caribbean islands such as Jamaica and The Bahamas are more popular, beach crowds can be a nuisance anywhere, including right here in Provo.

In fact, in what could formally be described as one of the Caribbean’s crowd-free getaways, more travelers are now in on the secret, resulting in places like Provo skyrocketing in popularity recently.

On the flip side, South Caicos offers a wonderfully secluded experience with heaps of white sand, immaculately pristine waters, and a new name-brand resort, adding to an already impressive portfolio of lavish stays that we’ll get to in a moment.

Historic New Flight To South Caicos

On a day where many travelers are up in arms over Southwest putting the kibosh on their free-bag policy, kudos to American for taking chances on new destinations in 2025.

Adding South Caicos to their list of new flights, travelers can begin flying here as soon as March 15th, the date of the initial launch.

According to the Caribbean Journal, after unexpected delays, the new service is set for twice-weekly service on Wednesdays and Saturdays after kicking off this weekend.

Flights will depart from Miami (MIA) and land in South Caicos (XSC), joining only InterCaribbean Airways at this tiny airport.

Tickets are on sale online through February 4, 2026. Clearly, Americans believe this route will be a big success if you book almost a year in advance.

New Marriott Resort Now Open

Those who haven’t heard of South Caicos won’t need to worry about finding a nice place to rest their head at night, as there are already luxe resorts awaiting them.

The newest of the bunch is Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Turks & Caicos (a Marriott brand) — and they’re booking up quick!

This highly anticipated resort is in their soft opening phase and taking reservations. I searched random dates throughout spring and found you will need to fork over a hefty amount to stay here as I rarely found rates below $1,000 per night.

As mentioned, there are other resorts on the island as well. While not as new, they’re still luxurious, including the 5-star Ambergris Cay Private Island Resort — truly a bucket-list destination, but again, you’ll need to count your pennies.

The other resorts are 4-star Sailrock South Caicos and 3-star South Caicos Ocean & Beach Resort.

New Travel Advisory Issued For Turks And Caicos

You may have seen a new travel advisory was issued for Turks and Caicos by the U.S. State Department.

It was widely publicized due to being pretty surprising as this paradise island is largely deemed safe, overall.

Most travel advisories urge travelers to be aware of their surroundings as crime can happen anywhere, but in this case, despite mentioning most crime occurs in Provo, the concern is actually in travelers’ hands.

The U.S. State Department is warning travelers to double-check their bags as carrying firearms, or any ammunition is illegal and a surefire way to wind up on Locked Up Abroad in Turks and Caicos, facing stiff penalties of up to 12 years in prison.

If you’re what Turks and Caicos had to say in response to the new Level 2 advisory, click here.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

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Traveling to Europe in winter is not an idea that appeals to most people:

It’s cold, for sure, daylight hours are limited, especially up north, and across many countries, locals are not exactly at their most welcoming selves––can you really blame them when it’s 23°F out?

Like everything in life, there is always an exception to the rule: in this case, not the freezing temperatures, but how exciting, lively, and welcoming a city can be despite the bleak weather, or more interestingly even, as a result of it.

Believe it or not, Stockholm is the perfect city break during the festive break, ranking the highest for friendliness across the pond, according to Condé Nast Traveller, and offering a fairytale-like winter experience (with the medieval Old Town and fascinating History to go with it).

It’s far from being a sunny getaway, but it might as well melt your heart:

Discover Sweden’s Colorful Medieval Capital This Winter

The capital of Sweden, Stockholm is built across 14 islands distributed around an archipelago on the Baltic Sea, all connected by as many as 50 bridges, an extensive underground system––which we’ll get to in a bit––and multiple ferry routes.

With a population of over 1.6 million people, it is the largest city not only in Sweden, but the whole of Scandinavia, so it can feel a little overwhelming at first, with so much to see and so little time, but if you’re visiting this winter, a good place to start is Gamla Stan.

Swedish for ‘Old Town’, this centrally-located island is famous for its cobbled streets and skinny, ocher-colored houses dating back centuries.

It’s true Stockholm is kinder to sightseers in summer when it’s (somewhat) pleasant out, and there’s more sunshine compared to the rest of the year, but we’d argue winter is when it’s at its most magical:

It is the friendliest city in Europe, as per the latest survey conducted by Condé Nast Traveler, where it scored an impressive 94.07, and indeed, walking into any bakery or restaurant or asking locals for directions, you’ll be greeted with politeness and a hospitable smile.

Maybe it’s the mysa spirit, maybe it’s the fact you can never get grumpy with a happy tummy full of cinnamon buns from Café Saturnus, the pride and joy of Stockholm’s coffeeshop scene; either way, Swedes are ready to welcome you with open arms.

And you know what they say, there’s no bad weather, just bad clothing:

It’s So Beautiful You Won’t Mind Being Outside

Stockholm is meant to be seen on foot, and you’ll be spending a lot of time outside.

Temperatures range from the mid-20s to low 40s in winter, and this is the Baltic Sea, after all, so it gets windy––definitely make sure you wear enough layers to protect yourself from the teeth-chattering cold and don’t hold back on the mulled wine and hot choccie.

Warning given: don’t miss a snow-dusted, 13th-century Storkyrkan Cathedral dominating the skyline, the majestic Kungliga Slottet Royal Palace, the official residence of the Swedish Royal Family––yep, they have one of their own, in case you didn’t know!––and the spearing, red-brick City Hall.

For unashamed wintery fun and an overload of culture, make sure you pay Skansen a visit: a short ferry ride away from the city center, this is Stockholm’s world-famous folk park, depicting life in a rural part of Sweden as if it was still the olden days.

Add to that winter markets filled with stalls, offering a wide range of products, from fine smithing and ceramics to Swedish street food faves like sausages and pickled herring, and historical celebrations with traditional music and dance, and you get the gist of it.

Escape The Cold Underground

Stockholm is hella cold this winter, and while there’s definitely some sightseeing to be done, and the freezing temperatures shouldn’t keep you from exploring the picturesque Gamla Stan, you can always take refuge in one of many indoor attractions:

Check out Moderna Museet, a vast collection of modern and contemporary art housing lesser-known work from artists like Matisse and Picasso, or Vasa, a museum entirely centered around a well-preserved, 17th-century warship.

The ABBA Museum is another must-do while in Stockholm, a thrilling exhibit (and celebration) of Sweden’s greatest musical act, and don’t forget about the often-overlooked Stockholm Metro:

‘Wait, the metro?’

Yes, the metro.

Forget about London’s dirty tube seats and the rampant pickpocketing plaguing the Paris underground: Stockholm’s is a literal gallery of surrealist art, with stations that have ceilings that look like boiling lava or spaceships and any other creative design in between.

We’re not talking about one or two stations: each of them has a particular, individual characteristic that sets them apart, with bright colors or psychedelic patterns, and the metro system itself is considered the world’s longest art gallery.

All we can say to you is happy exploring!

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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History is still being made in a pair of timeless U.K. cities. As you know, getting from A to B in Europe is a lot different than the States.

Rather than be shuffled through security like nameless cattle and scrolling TikTok for hours waiting for a flight to board, you gotta hand it to Europe for their impressive rail system end to end.

I just took a high-speed train from Paris to Marseille and it couldn’t have been more flawless, and while the latest exciting train announcement won’t zoom through the French countryside, it will connect 2 must-see destinations for your next U.K. adventures.

CrossCountry’s new direct service will benefit travelers looking to explore more of the U.K. beyond the bright lights of London with at least one familiar name and another up-and-coming capital city.

History in The Making: First Direct Route Connecting Cardiff & Edinburgh

CrossCountry is excited to announce their first-of-its-kind route connecting Cardiff and Edinburgh.

As the U.K. has spiked in popularity, travelers will soon have an easier way to reach Scotland’s Gothic icon of Edinburgh and Wales’ trendy capital with plentiful hidden gems in between.

Set to launch December 15th, just in time to make use of your holiday vacation days or start 2025 off right, you can seek new thrills in the U.K. from either Edinburgh or Cardiff as the train will travel both ways every weekday.

Expected to total roughly 6 hours in length, there are 20 stops in between along the 455-mile journey.

Choose to hop off to explore a treasure trove of lesser-known gems, such as Gloucester or Sheffield or enjoy the full journey on CrossCountry’s Voyager trains.

Keep in mind, the route does split at Birmingham and Gloucester, so keep an open ear for announcements to make sure you’re heading the right direction!

Otherwise, you may end up on the English seaside in Plymouth or Penzance wishing you packed swimwear.

Why Visit Cardiff?

Cardiff is an up-and-coming destination, backed by Conde Nast’s article crowning this lesser-known capital as the U.K.’s ‘Best City‘ in 2023.

As we turn the page to 2025, the hype has only grown stronger for Cardiff, and now travelers have a more convenient way to discover all the delights of this city.

Equal parts timeless and modern, there’s no shortage of places to immerse yourself in Cardiff’s past timeline or enjoy there here-and-now with trendy neighborhoods lined with buzzing bars.

Hit up the unmissable medieval Cardiff Castle for a grand tour (only $5!) or visit the revamped Cardiff Market oozing Victorian vibes, where local vendors sell local goodies like Welsch cakes.

While British food may get a bad wrap from time to time, cuisine here goes way beyond endless tea and bland crumpets.

Skipping anywhere in the U.K. without grabbing a pint is a hard pass. Here, one of your best bets is The Duke of Wellington, a real traditional pub dating back to the 1880’s and still whipping up savory pub grub and pouring the best cold ones.

And don’t skip out on classic Fish & Chips on Caroline Street (known as ‘Chip Alley’ for a reason!).

Why Visit Edinburgh?

Edinburgh has a lot going for it, especially for Americans. As the only U.K. destination exceeding pr-Covid tourism numbers, there’s no reason to think the city will backtrack any time sooner.

With the soon-to-launch train and current nonstop flights from the U.S., Edinburgh makes for a great alternative to London’s chaos as a shrunken-down urban jungle with great attractions.

Perusing Old Town is an absolute must and will have you feeling like you’ve stumbled into a storybook no matter the season.

Home to towering grandeur castles like the rightfully named Edinburgh Castle, among others in and around the city, Edinburgh certainly holds its own against any other European icon in terms of architecture and history.

The only problem you may have visiting here is questioning if you want to continue on to Cardiff!
There’s no doubt Edinburgh is an easier starting point since there’s direct flights here.

No matter where you depart, you can book your journey now on CrossCountry’s website.

But keep in mind the U.K. will begin requiring a permit for American travelers January 8, 2025.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

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