Want to spend long lazy days soaking up the sunshine on a hot, sunny beach? Then this is the update you’ve been waiting for!

There’s nothing better than taking a non-stop flight.

No hassle, and no worrying about if you’ll make your connection or if your baggage will make the flight with you. Most people agree that it’s worth paying a little extra for.

Which is why it’s such good news that Delta are launching 3 new nonstop international flights to sunny destinations from Minneapolis-Saint Paul.

Here’s what you need to know:

Aruba

On December 20, 2024, Delta will launch brand new twice-weekly flights from Minneapolis-Saint Paul to Aruba.

This route will fly twice a week, on Fridays and Sundays, and return on the same days so perfect for taking a weekend in the sunshine if you’re short on time!

But if you’ve got the vacation days, I recommend you stay for a full week: there’s so much to see and do here.

A couple on the beach of Tres Trap Aruba Caribbean Island.

Perhaps the thing Aruba is most famous for is its incredible white-sand beaches, and you’ll want to spend hours stretched out on your own patch of tropical paradise.

With bright white sand and impeccable turquoise waters, it feels like heaven.

If you can bear to tear yourself away from the beach, then it’s time to get active.

Visit Arikok National Park which feels a world apart from the tropical beach and has a rugged, desert-like landscape instead.

Quadirikiri Cave, Arikok National Park, Aruba

This is a great place to hike, take a wild jeep ride, or visit the natural caves that occur here.

Less into caves and more into cities? Me too! So visit Oranjestad, which is the capital of Aruba. It boasts vibrant Dutch-inspired architecture in a rainbow of colors and is the top spot for shopping or visiting museums on the island.

St. Maarten

If you fly from Minneapolis-Saint Paul airport then you can now fly directly to St. Maarten for the first time.

This flight route will launch on December 19 2024, and this route will operate twice a week on Thursdays and Saturdays.

JetBlue plane landing in St. Maarten

Like most Caribbean islands, St. Maarten is famed for its beautiful beaches. But there is one beach in particular that you’ll have definitely seen photos of before!

Maho Beach is home to the most photographed airport runway in the world.

The beach meets Princess Juliana Airport’s Runway, so it looks and feels like a Boeing is landing on your head! Definitely an experience worth trying.

And if you prefer a quieter beach then the uncrowded shore of Grand Case Beach has a long and expansive coastline that makes it an appealing spot if you want to escape the crowds.

aerial view of st maarten beach

Away from the shoreline? Foodies rejoice, because St. Maarten has been given the unofficial title of “Culinary Capital of the Caribbean.” From traditional dishes like conch and dumplings to high-end steak houses, there’s something to appeal to every palette here.

Just don’t expect food here to be cheap.

With the exception of seafood, most foods have to be shipped or freshly flown into the island, which means prices are between 20-30% higher than in the U.S. Not good news for budget travelers like me!

Mazatlan, Mexico

Just when you thought there wasn’t anywhere else in Mexico left to explore, Delta is launching flights from Minneapolis-Saint Paul to Mazatlan 3 times a week.

View of a beach in Mazatlan, Mexico

This route will launch on December 21, 2024, and will unlock a whole new perspective on Mexico’s Pacific Coast.

Mazatlan can get busy, but never Cancun-level busy.

The destination seems to fly under the radar with the masses, and it offers better value than those crazy-busy resorts on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, too.

As well as boasting beautiful beaches Mazatlan also has a rich and fascinating history, and plenty of cultural attractions. So if you’re struggling to choose between a beach break or a city break then this destination offers the best of both worlds.

Church in Mazatlan

Visit the Centro Histórico, which is the Old Town heart, to explore spots such as the performance hall Teatro Ángela Peralta and the towering Immaculate Conception basilica.

It’s worth noting that Mazatlan is considered Mexico’s big game fishing capital too, so if you like to fish then this is the place to be!

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