It’s not just New York and Miami anymore. The surge in demand for Caribbean travel has seen more airlines look to connect source cities like Milwaukee, Providence, Detroit, Austin and Los Angeles with the region.
One airport that’s been seeing more and more growth? Minneapolis-St Paul, which has quietly added a wave of flights to top Caribbean destinations from Turks and Caicos to Punta Cana.
Now, another carrier is planning a big island expansion out of MSP airport: Delta, which is set to kick off a trio of new flights to the Caribbean beginning in December (after adding Minneapolis-Turks and Caicos flights earlier this year.)
So where is Delta headed? Two top Dutch Caribbean islands: St Maarten, with flights twice each week on Thursday and Saturday; and Aruba, with service every Friday and Sunday.
But that’s not the only addition. Delta is also expanding service from Minneapolis to Grand Cayman (with one more flight every week) and San Juan, Puerto Rico, where it’s set to increase service with two more flights every week.
Are you planning a getaway to St Maarten or Aruba? For the former, it’s the French side of the island that’s hotter than ever, from new hotels like The Forest to the buzzing food scene in the beloved town of Grand Case. Even better? The island’s signature place to stay, the Grand Case Beach Club, is adding a brand-new rooftop poolscape.
In Aruba, the story is about diversity; from the growing movement of chef’s table concepts that have been popping up all over the island to a pair of major new resorts set to open before the end of this year: the first-ever St. Regis in the Dutch Caribbean, and a sleek new adults-only resort opening up soon under the Joia Aruba by Iberostar brand.
If you’re headed to Grand Cayman, you’ll find a destination that’s better than ever. Yes, Seven Mile Beach is still a magnificent stretch of sand; but there’s so much more, whether you’re shopping and noshing your way through Camana Bay or checking into one of the area’s brand-new resorts like the Hotel Indigo (a hotel we fell in love with on our last stay in Grand Cayman) or the boutique, wellness-focused Vida Cayman.
As for San Juan, there’s not much to say other than that Puerto Rico continues to post record-breaking visitor numbers, with travelers drawn to its combo of cheap flights, affordable hotel prices and mix of culture and entertainment.
So what about the prices on these new Delta flights?
Right now, a basic Minneapolis-St Maarten fare starts as low as $892 round trip in a late December itinerary, according to a sample booking on Delta. That number goes up to $1,012 in the main cabin. For Aruba flights, prices start at $980 round trip in the main cabin.
