United Just Made It Easier to Fly Nonstop to These 10 International Destinations
United Just Made It Easier to Fly Nonstop to These 10 International Destinations
Courtesy of United Airlines
https://www.fodors.com/news/news/united-airlines-announces-10-new-international-destinations-for-2027
United Airlines is launching its biggest international expansion yet, with 10 new cities and additional routes to Europe and Asia starting in 2027.
United Airlines announced the largest international route network expansion in its history on Tuesday. The announcement included 10 new international cities and three routes between existing cities on its network for the Spring and Summer of 2027. The new service includes one city in Japan, two each in Italy, France, and Spain, and one in Luxembourg, Portugal, and Slovenia. United will also add nonstop flights to Okinawa, Japan, from San Francisco.
With the exception of Olbia and Catania, Italy, United will be the only airline with nonstop service to each of the cities from the United States.
“The creative and strategic way we’ve expanded our international network since the pandemic has made all the difference, not only for our customers and employees, but also as a way to differentiate United and build a brand focused on customers,” said Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines in a statement provided to Fodor’s. “We offer the most flights across the Atlantic and Pacific, and Newark is the best Atlantic gateway in the country–so far this year, it’s the most on-time airport in the New York City area. We’re going to keep building on that momentum as we welcome the new A321XLR to our fleet and continue to elevate the travel experience for every customer who chooses United.”
Here’s what to know about the new flights:
Most of Them Are Summer-Only
The new destinations in Europe include Catania (Sicily) and Olbia (Sardinia), Italy; Ibiza and Valencia, Spain; Ljubljana, Slovenia; Luxembourg; Marseille and Toulouse, France; and Terceira, Portugal. Summer seasonal service for most of these destinations will end in September or October; Luxembourg is the only new city that will be served year-round. This can present logistical challenges for travelers traveling near the beginning or end of the nonstop seasons. Additional connections from these cities are typically available on United’s Star Alliance partner airlines, such as Lufthansa and SWISS, for dates the nonstop flight won’t operate.
Few of Them Are Daily
Travelers will want to pay attention to which days of the week they book their flights. Only Newark to Luxembourg, Washington Dulles to Toulouse, and Newark to Marseille are offered daily. The remainder of the flights will be flown three or four times a week. So, if a nonstop option doesn’t come up in a web search, check a day on either side, or be prepared to make a connection via a Star Alliance partner in Europe.
Many Flights Are on Smaller Aircraft
Many of the new flights will be operated onboard narrow-body aircraft, rather than the larger widebody aircraft common on many of United’s intercontinental services. Flights to Luxembourg, Toulouse, Ibiza, Valencia, and Marseille will be operated onboard United’s new Airbus A321XLR aircraft (which features a United Polaris cabin with lie-flat seats, and United Premium Plus in addition to United Economy). The flight to Terceira, in Portugal’s Azores Islands, will be flown by a Boeing 737 MAX 8 (which does not have lie-flat seats), and the United First cabin on that aircraft will be sold as Premium Plus, United’s long-haul international Premium Economy cabin; there will be no United Business or United Polaris Business offered on that flight.
The Airbus A321XLR is a new addition to United’s fleet. The aircraft will offer a new United Polaris suite with a closing privacy door, free Starlink Wi-Fi for Mileage Plus members, a new snack bar in United Economy, and a row of Economy Plus seats with a blocked middle seat.
The longer flights, including those to Ljubljana, Olbia, and Catania will be operated by widebody Boeing 767-300 or Boeing 767-400 aircraft, which also have a United Polaris cabin with lie-flat seats in ad. The much longer Transpacific flight to Okinawa will be operated three times weekly onboard a Boeing 777-200ER.
United Is Also Expanding Flights to Existing Destinations
Not all the flights will be brand new cities for United. In the Summer of 2027, United will also add a new nonstop from Denver to Paris; from Washington Dulles to Milan; and from Los Angeles to Osaka, Japan. United will also restart nonstop flights from San Francisco to Tel Aviv, Israel.
Mexico’s Most Exciting Culinary Scene Isn’t in Mexico City
https://www.fodors.com/world/mexico-and-central-america/mexico/los-cabos/neighborhoods/baja-california-beach-towns/valle-de-guadalupe/experiences/news/explore-valle-de-guadalupe-mexicos-napa-valley
The next great wine destination is on Mexico's west coast...
If you’re looking for a food and wine destination to add to your travel wish list, move over, Napa—Valle de Guadalupe is calling.
This underrated region in Baja California has quickly become one of Mexico’s most exciting culinary destinations, where a new generation of winemakers is carving out its own place in the global wine scene. From organic pours at Viñas del Sol to historic wineries like Pijoan and Mogor Badan, every tasting offers a chance to discover unique varietals and the stories behind them. Sip a glass of Chardonnay and slurp some oysters overlooking the vineyards at Las Nubes, try funky wines at Lechuza, or stay at Casa Relieve and walk just steps to Relieve Vinícola for a tasting right outside your room.
Of course, no trip to Valle de Guadalupe is complete without eating your way through the valley. Thanks to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the region is known for incredibly fresh seafood and farm-to-table cuisine that rivals the wine itself. Feast on seasonal dishes from acclaimed chefs like Solange Muris at Amapola, enjoy the inventive Baja cuisine of Diego Hernández, or order the famous oyster tower at the Michelin-starred Conchas de Piedra. Whether you’re winery hopping, savoring multi-course meals, or simply watching the sunset over the vineyards with a glass in hand, Valle de Guadalupe is the kind of destination every food and wine lover should experience at least once.
A Tourist Went Running Shirtless in Venice. Then He Found Out It Was Illegal
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
https://www.fodors.com/world/europe/italy/experiences/news/a-tourist-went-running-shirtless-in-venice-then-he-found-out-it-was-illegal
The internet has thoughts.
In July, an American tourist posted a video with a warning. Endurance athlete Mike Naccarella edited a video of himself running on the streets of Venice as a horror movie. The reason? He’s shirtless for his workout, which is prohibited in the Italian city. He clarified that he was unaware of the law, and once he realized it, he donned a T-shirt. But the incident has sparked a conversation: is breaking the law sometimes innocuous, or should travelers know better?
There is no doubt that tourists can be obnoxious. They far too often break rules and behave irresponsibly while traveling, disrespecting local culture and traditions. What’s worse is that when they’re caught in the act, they often double down. But Naccarella, who is from New York, seemingly did not know the rule existed.
His partner, Julia Latoff, who was also running with him, posted a video explaining that they did not know about the rule and had no issues in Florence earlier that week. In an interview with The New York Post, Latoff said that they discover destinations on their runs and normally go early in the morning to avoid crowds. After they started their run, locals gave Naccarella angry glares, and one yelled at him that this wasn’t the beach. That’s when the couple looked up the law in Italy. They abandoned their run and waited until his sister got him a T-shirt. Latoff also apologized in a video.
There are many positive comments on both videos, saying kudos to Naccarella for stopping and correcting himself. The choice of the T-shirt, with an image of an Aperol Spritz, also amused people. But both Naccarella and Latoff got called out for being American tourists who are disrespectful to local customs and laws. “I’m surprised at how angry people are, especially since we reconciled the situation immediately and our attitude was trying to be respectful,” she said.
It is absolutely the traveler’s responsibility to familiarize themselves with the laws of a destination. But what if it’s an honest mistake? If you’re not being a nuisance in public and simply did not know, maybe you should be given a pass. But if you’re fined by the authorities, that’s okay, too. No one should expect preferential treatment. And sometimes, “I’m sorry, I did not know,” and “I’m willing to pay the fine,” should be the end of the discussion. (This does not apply to people who swim in the Venetian canals or do stunts at Balinese temples—no excuses for unacceptable behavior.)
In this case, Naccarella rectified the mistake before he was fined. “Great reminder to read up on local laws and respect them when you are visiting new countries. Enjoy your Euro summers and pack running shirts lol,” he concluded. Latoff said that she hopes people treat others with kindness, instead of being frustrated with tourists.
Meanwhile, wearing a top or not wearing one is a whole other debate among runners and their spectators. Some people find it gross, saying that no one wants to see sweaty torsos while they may be eating on a terrace. Others don’t think it’s a big deal. Runners, especially long-distance runners, say that going shirtless prevents chaffing when they’re on the go for hours. It’s a frequent occurrence on trails and beaches, but some people put a shirt on when they’re in more crowded areas. A Reddit thread with people from different parts of Europe shared how their city views shirtless running, and the opinions are mixed. In many American cities, it’s not unusual or rare.
Additionally, it is acceptable in some places and not in others. In many destinations—including European cities like Rome, Sorrento, Nice, Cannes, and Albufeira—councils have introduced laws requiring people to cover up outside of beaches. These destinations want tourists to maintain social decorum and behave well when they’re visiting. In Venice, fines can reach $300 to ensure that people respect its religious landmarks by not wandering in beachwear or shirtless.
If you’re traveling to a new destination, it’s a good idea to quickly check what’s customary and lawful—laws change. In particularly fragile destinations and those overrun by tourists, locals have limited patience for faux pas. Tourists who have behaved deplorably have pushed them over the edge, so you might not get a pass. Try to do your best to adapt to the destination, instead of digging your heels in or assuming that the same rules apply.
Hoteliers adopt a ‘big mindset shift' from revenue management to profit management
AI could help sort through the complicated math of customer acquisition, labor costs, and fees
(Getty Images)
https://www.costar.com/article/670650578/hoteliers-adopt-big-mindset-shift-from-revenue-management-to-profit-management?
While hoteliers have a general understanding of which guests are most likely to drive profits — typically brand- or property-loyal travelers who book directly at retail rates and stay for more than three nights — the math of just how profitable any individual booking might be can get daunting and complicated quickly.
Experts say there are various data points to consider beyond a guest's nightly rate when it comes to determining profitability. Those include online travel agency commissions or other forms of customer acquisition costs, the costs of labor associated with providing service, and whether those guests are paying resort or destination fees.
Speaking during the "Finding Your Most Profitable Customers" session at the 2026 Hotel Data Conference, Allison Frazier, vice president of revenue management for Peachtree Group, said all of this adds up to a "big mindset shift" from traditional revenue management to profit management.
"As all these things evolve, distribution costs change and costs are going up — labor costs are getting higher — everybody's trying to say, 'Hey, how do we drive profitability?'" she said. "At our company, we try to make that part of our culture. We understand that it's not just about always selling the highest [average daily rate] and that's it, or that it's about getting that highest occupancy and that's it. But it's everything else that goes into that then drives overall profitability."
She noted this requires communication and coordination between different departments, particularly revenue and sales, to help understand the importance of repeat business and length of stay, or how food-and-beverage spend factors into the profitability of bookings in group contracts.
Nadia Panasyuk, vice president of revenue strategy for First Hospitality, said steep increases in labor costs, particularly in union-heavy labor markets such as Chicago, have made finding profits all the more difficult. First Hospitality manages roughly 10 hotels in Chicago alone, she said.
"Obviously we can't raise our rates 40% just because the labor costs went up 40%, but we can look at that lowest-rated layer of business and rethink that," she said. "We've also looked at remixing within the segment."
She said this has driven her team to take more risks in shifting their strategy, often prioritizing higher rates over higher occupancy due to the lower labor costs associated with selling fewer rooms.
"It's giving the teams permission and safety to try something new that they've never tried before because we're in an environment we've never been in before," she said. "And we've had a lot of success this year. We've got several hotels that are maintaining or growing share, but through a little bit of occupancy erosion and making it all up in ADR."
She said destination and resort fees are also key to maintain profitability, but it's still vital that you show guests some value for the associated fee, often through things like on-property food-and-beverage credits.
Guests "don't love the fees, and as a customer, they offend me, but the math is mathing," Panasyuk said. "The occasional complaint you're going to get does not offset the increase in profit that you're getting. I hate that that's the truth, but it is."
While heavy reliance on OTAs has typically been tied to lower expectations of profitability because of commissions and other costs tied to promoting listings on those platforms, experts said hoteliers can see positive results if they're used judiciously.
"I think it's about understanding your demand, understanding when you need which type of business to ultimately drive the most profitability," Frazier said.
Kathleen Cullen, executive vice president of PTG Consulting, agreed, saying you have to pay close attention to how you're spending money to raise your profile on those platforms.
"It's just being very smart and having a strategy behind it, really understanding the stacking of all the potential costs or discounts that are being added," she said. "It is easy to forget about one or two, then before you know it ... what you're netting is much lower than you intended."
Frazier said increasing hotel brand franchise fees and marketing fees makes the direct-versus-OTA booking profitability math even more complicated.
"It's difficult sometimes to truly put a number on because there's not a lot of transparency, but trying to understand what costs really are associated with each of those channels, whether it's brand or OTA, also helps you make better strategic decisions and drive overall profitability," she said.
Cullen said one complicating factor is that OTAs are making a focused shift to get more B2B bookings on their platforms after decades of being more consumer focused. A shift to more guests potentially booking on AI platforms means they're less likely to pay attention if a hotel booking is made direct or through a third party. She said the AI is mostly just going to try to find the lowest publicly available rate.
"Keep in mind, we're not asking 'Find me the lowest rate on this channel.' [The AI] doesn't care. It's not discriminating where it's finding it, so it will bring back that low rate that is undercutting your own rate, and our consumers are booking them," she said.
Ultimately, independent hotels might have a new advantage in the era of AI because they have greater control over how they appear online, Cullen said.
"We have to have a strategy behind that and understand all the different layers and how all of that is working," she said. "We cannot be dumping inventory out there without truly understanding."
The hope hoteliers have in terms of AI is that it could also be a significant tool in driving profitability and sorting through the disparate data streams required to get a full picture.
"I think AI gives us an opportunity to finally unify a bunch of data sources and look at data more holistically," Panasyuk said. "You know, a lot of hotel tech stacks are held together with duct tape, string, and a revenue manager who's afraid to go on vacation, so there's a lot of interface discrepancies, and reports don't all match. I think that's where there is an opportunity with AI to finally solve that, even if it doesn't come through system infrastructure, but something that takes all the different systems and brings it together."
DUHC&S | Strategic Hospitality Consulting & Advisory
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