Changing the way you travel doesn’t always require a new route.
Sometimes there are additional daily departures that allow you to depart after work rather than before dawn. Sometimes they fly not just a few times a week, but sometimes every day. Sometimes all it takes is knowing that you have another option if the weather changes your plans.
That’s exactly what JetBlue has been doing since July of this year. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International AirportIt quietly provides easy access to three of the Caribbean’s most popular destinations.
start July 9The airline is increasing service for the following flights: Aruba, st martinand saint dominiqueOffering travelers more flexibility in one of South Florida’s most important Caribbean gateways.
The changes won’t generate the headlines associated with the launch of a new destination. Arguably more useful.
More flights generally mean more choices throughout the week, more opportunities to redeem your points, more convenient departure times, and a better chance of finding the right fare for your trip. If you’re planning a Caribbean vacation this summer or have a fall and winter trip ahead, it’s a good idea to know about these additions.
JetBlue has spent years building Fort Lauderdale into one of the most important gateways to the Caribbean. The airport is now connected to dozens of island and coastal destinations throughout the South Florida region, making it one of the easiest places to start a Caribbean vacation from the United States.
This latest itinerary update provides even more convenient access to three key destinations.
Aruba receives daily JetBlue flights
Aruba scored the biggest win in its latest schedule update.
start July 9JetBlue will add it 4 weekly frequenciesFetching path to: daily service Fort Lauderdale and Queen Beatrix International Airport.
Daily flights change the way you plan your vacation.
Instead of organizing your itinerary based on airline availability, you can choose the dates that best fit your hotels, vacation time, or budget. This flexibility is especially important during hurricane season, and having different departure options makes it much easier to change plans.
Aruba has long been one of the most reliable destinations in the Caribbean. Located outside the main hurricane belt, the island offers reliable beach weather year-round, making it a popular destination for returning visitors.
Palm Beach is one of the region’s best-known white sand beaches, lined with resorts, beach bars, water sports operators and restaurants. Eagle Beach offers more coastline and a quieter atmosphere with a wide sandy beach and consistently calm waters. As you travel farther north, the landscape changes dramatically, with limestone terrain, rugged coastlines and protected landscapes. Arikok National Park.
The island’s dining scene continues to evolve with a mix of Dutch, Caribbean and Latin American influences and an impressive collection of independent restaurants. Oranjestad has become a walkable city with colorful architecture, cafes, waterfront shopping and a growing food scene that will keep you occupied long after the sun goes down.
Daily JetBlue service makes long weekends much easier, especially for travelers throughout South Florida.
Where we like to stay in Aruba
Our favorite family-friendly accommodations remain on the island. Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort.
This hotel offers something that is becoming increasingly rare in Caribbean travel. In other words, it offers real value without sacrificing comfort.
All stays include an impressive breakfast buffet each morning. This is one of the best free breakfasts you can find at a Caribbean resort. Families also appreciate evening happy hours, another perk that helps stretch their vacation budget.
Spacious suites provide space for parents and children to relax after a day at the beach, while the location provides easy access to Aruba’s famous coastline. Add in daily breakfast and an evening reception, and this becomes one of the smartest family hotel choices anywhere in the Caribbean. period.
Santo Domingo adds second daily flight
JetBlue is also expanding its services to: saint dominiqueaddition Add 1 daily frequency start July 9.
get that schedule 2 flights daily Fort Lauderdale and Las Americas International Airport.
Santo Domingo is often overlooked by vacationers who immediately think of other beach resorts in the Dominican Republic.
They’re missing out on one of the Caribbean’s great cities.
that colonial area With centuries-old cobblestone streets, squares, churches, museums and cafes that can be explored for hours, it remains one of the most rewarding areas anywhere in the region. It’s the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, but it doesn’t feel like an open-air museum. People live here, work here, eat here, and gather here every day. (If you want to stay in the old town, I like this option too.)
walk along El Conde StreetStop by one of the local cafes for a coffee and then continue on in the next direction. Colon ParkThis is where musicians, families and visitors fill the square all day long.
Beyond its colonial roots, Santo Domingo has developed into one of the Caribbean’s premier culinary destinations. New restaurants continue to open across the region, including: sapling and whyRooftop bars and modern cocktail lounges have expanded the city’s nightlife beyond what many visitors expect.
coast pier It remains one of the city’s iconic landmarks, especially in the evenings when locals head out and the Caribbean breeze blows.
Operating a second JetBlue flight each day will provide more flexibility for both vacationers and the huge number of people visiting friends and relatives. This is one of the airline’s strongest customer segments in the Dominican Republic.
Short city trips have also become much easier, allowing for combinations of itineraries that were previously impractical.
Where we like to stay in Santo Domingo
Our choice remains JW Marriott Santo Domingo.
The hotel symbolizes luxury. Blue Mall Santo Domingo It is complex and consistently offers one of the city’s best luxury experiences.
The highlight is the rooftop infinity pool overlooking the Santo Domingo skyline. This is one of those places where you spend a lot more time than you originally planned. Especially after a day of exploring the colony area.
Inside, rooms have a sleek, modern feel, and service is consistent with what Marriott travelers have come to expect from the brand. It’s also close to the capital’s best restaurants, making it a great base for discovering a side of the Dominican Republic that many Caribbean travelers have yet to experience.
St. Maarten returns to daily service
The third major schedule improvement benefits one of the Caribbean’s busiest air destinations.
JetBlue is added Three weekly frequencies to Princess Juliana International Airport to st martinFetching path to: daily service start July 9.
This additional flexibility comes at a perfect time.
Saint Maarten continues to welcome strong visitor demand following the complete transformation of Princess Juliana International Airport, where the new terminal dramatically improves the arrival and departure experience.
This island remains unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean.
On one side is St. Maarten in the Netherlands. Cross an almost imperceptible border and you’ll suddenly find yourself in St. Maarten, France. Bakeries, cafes and beach restaurants create a completely different atmosphere.
Its dual nature keeps visitors coming back year after year.
In the afternoon, you can watch the aircraft descend. Maho BeachExplore another boutique phillipsburgHeading north for lunch. grand caseRestaurants line the waterfront, and French pastries appear in bakery windows every morning.
The island also remains one of the Caribbean’s best jumping off points for nearby destinations, including: Anguilla, Sabah and st barthAll can be reached by ferry or short regional flight.
Daily JetBlue service gives travelers more options if they are staying on St. Maarten or connecting to other islands in the northeastern Caribbean.
Where we like to stay in St. Maarten
Here are some of the best ways to experience Saint-Martin: Wimco Villa.
Instead of booking traditional hotel rooms, Wimco offers an extensive portfolio of private villas across both the Dutch and French sides of the island.
The resort offers an experience that cannot be replicated.
Depending on the type of holiday you are planning, you can choose a hillside home overlooking Simpson Bay, a beach villa in Baie Rouge or a modern estate near Terres Basses.
Many villas include private pools, spacious outdoor living areas, fully equipped kitchens, and concierge services to help arrange everything from grocery deliveries to personal chefs and boat charters.
For families or groups of friends traveling together, this is one of the most rewarding ways to experience the island.
Fort Lauderdale continues to grow as a gateway to the Caribbean
These schedule additions also reinforce what we have been observing for many years.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport It has quietly become one of the country’s most powerful gateways to the Caribbean.
While nearby Miami often gets the spotlight, Fort Lauderdale has developed into a standout airport for Caribbean travel thanks to its extensive nonstop service, relatively easy navigation and continued investment from JetBlue.
The airline has steadily expanded its Caribbean routes from Fort Lauderdale, giving travelers the option to fly directly to destinations throughout the region instead of transiting through larger hubs.
This is important because direct flights are one of the biggest factors travelers consider when choosing a Caribbean vacation.
Each additional frequency strengthens the network.
It offers more opportunities for families planning a week-long vacation, couples looking for a quick getaway, and travelers using TrueBlue points.
It also provides additional flexibility when operational issues arise, giving you more opportunity to accommodate passengers when schedules change.
These improvements may not sound dramatic, but anyone who travels regularly understands how important schedule flexibility is.
Whether you’re looking for Aruba’s ever-sunny beaches, Santo Domingo’s unparalleled history and growing culinary scene, or St. Maarten’s unique combination of two cultures on one island, getting there from South Florida just got a whole lot easier.
Sometimes the biggest travel improvements aren’t entirely new. It may mean that another flight is waiting for you when you need it.
price for this flight
Flights vary and fuel prices bring unusual volatility, but we have an idea of how much these flights cost.
For example, FLL-St Maarten flights are currently running for about $408 round trip, starting with an expansion on July 9.
Fares for flights to Santo Domingo are unusually high, at about $571 round trip, according to Google.
From what I’ve seen, the price in Aruba for the same date is around $497.
