The US Department of Transportation (DOT) under Secretary Pete Buttigieg already created new regulations to ensure passengers get refunds for cancelled flights, announcing in October that anyone whose flight gets cancelled or significantly delayed must get an automatic refund if they decide not to travel because of the change. But a new additional proposal could mean that passengers are entitled to monetary compensation for flight disruptions, not just refunds. But if you feel strongly that that’s the right thing to do, you’ll have to weigh in soon.

On December 5, 2024, the DOT announced that the public has 60 days to weigh in on a new proposal that would require airlines to compensate passengers with direct cash payments for significant delays. Airlines would also need to provide services like free immediate rebooking, compensate for lost luggage, and cover the costs of meals, transportation, lodging, and other expenses incurred due to the delay or cancellation. Right now, most airlines provide lodging and meal vouchers if the delay is caused by something in the airline’s control — which means you may be stuck sleeping on the airline floor if your delay is due to weather. But those comps are voluntary by the airlines, and not uniformly enforced.

Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized that such measures would shift the economic incentives and motivate airlines to minimize delays and cancellations when possible. Currently, there is no federal requirement for compensating customers for delays. The rule would bring the level of consumer protection for US flyers more in line with regions in places like the EU, where similar compensations are standard practice.

 

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Under the proposed framework, compensation would be tiered based on the length of the delay: $200 to $300 for delays of less than six hours, $375 to $525 for delays of six to nine hours, and $750 to $775 for delays of nine hours or more. The proposed rule would also require airlines to cover expenses incurred during delays, like meals and hotels. Finally, it would mandate that airlines must book passengers on the soonest possible replacement flight, potentially even on competing carriers, if necessary. (But remember that you may be entitled to much more than that if your’e involuntarily bumped from a flight.)

Airline industry trade group Airlines for America, whose members include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, has fought against the proposal, arguing that it would lead to increased operational costs, which would mean raising ticket costs for consumers. However, regions like the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada have similar requirements, and the rules are credited with improving service, reliability, and accountability within the aviation industry.

Anyone who wants to weigh in on the issue can do so, though the 60-day comment period will end during the Trump administration. That means the DOT will be led by a Republican secretary chosen by the incoming president. Traditionally, republicans are less likely to support any type of restrictions on capitalism and the free market, so it’s possible nothing will come of the current effort.

The full proposal is available online, and anyone with thoughts on the proposal is advised to weigh in at Regulation.gov, using docket number DOT-OST-2024-0062. Comments are due by February 4, 2025. The news also noted that the DOT is trying to finalize two additional regulations before the new administration takes office. Those regulations would both require that airlines allow families to sit together without charging additional seat assignment fees, and create new rules to make air travel easier for travelers in wheelchairs.

Emirates Airlines, based in Dubai, snagged the Matador Network Readers’ Choice Best Airline pick in 2024. If you’ve never flown it, you may be wondering why, since it’s not the largest network for travelers in the United States (that honor belongs to United Airlines), nor does it participate in StarAlliance or SkyTeam frequent flyer programs. If you’ve flown Emirates before, you’ll likely agree it’s not a surprise the beloved airline came out on top.

When it comes to comparing airlines, much is often said of the airline’s top-tier products. But the average traveler isn’t shelling out for a lay-flat bed – and quality across all classes is one the areas Emirates really shines. On its international flights to or from the US, economy-class flyers get 32 inches of pitch on most flights and 34 inches on some newer flights. That’s more than United, Lufthansa, Turkish, Delta, and many more airlines. When it comes to entertainment, the Emirates system has more than 6,500 movies and TV shows and some of the most reliable WiFi in the sky (for which it’s won multiple awards).

Emirates is also one of a handful of airlines to give Economy passengers an amenity kit on long-haul flights (currently, the airline is partnered with United for Wildlife to create the kits), and even economy class passengers get multicourse meals. In fact, it won “best airline for food and drink” from Food & Wine in 2024. The baggage allowance isn’t too bad, either – customers on the cheapest possible international fares to or from the US get a checked bag up to 50 lbs for free, and most get two.

However, for travelers who can afford an upgraded class, the difference between Emirates and other airlines really becomes evident. Premium economy on Emirates is akin to a high-end first class on domestic US airlines, with luxurious seats, high-end dining, footrests, and a noticeable amount of recline (even if it’s not lie-flat). It’s no wonder the airline’s premium economy has won awards from respected global organizations like Skytrax World Airline Awards and the AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards, for which it won “best premium economy” in 2024.

If you can fly Emirates business class, just know it’s probably going to be the highlight of your trip no matter where you’re headed, with lay-flat seats, plenty of room to socialize around a central bar, and luxury amenity kits that feel like the gift bag of your dreams from luxury designer Bulgari.

A series of new planes to be introduced in 2025 will have arguably the most comfortable first-class seats in the sky because they’re not just seats: First-class flyers will get completely private cabins, with floor-to-ceiling doors and turn-down service, among other swoon-worthy features and amenities. In case you’re wondering how fancy it is, it includes a chauffeur to drive you to the airport in Dubai and private boarding directly from the airport lounge.

Photo: Emirates

But it wouldn’t be the world’s best airline if it wasn’t affordable, and if you’re comparing economy rates, you’ll likely be surprised at the level of service and comfort you’ll get for a price comparable to lower-rated US airlines. Round-trip direct flights from NYC to Dubai in February 2025 are as low as $842 per person, including all taxes, fees, carry-on and checked luggage, and seat selection. Safety-wise, it also shines, as it hasn’t had a single incident that resulted in a passenger fatality, even though it’ll be celebrating 40 years of service in 2025.

While Emirates hasn’t announced any new flight routes for 2025, it has announced that it’s upgrading many of its planes, which will allow for more premium economy seats and bluetooth compatibility in Economy class. Interestingly, it also announced that the planes will have six-way adjustable headrests for economy passengers, “eliminat[ing] the need for neck pillows.” It may represent a decline from the “Golden Age of Flying” to say that not having to carry an airplane pillow is considered an upgrade, but if it means being a little more likely to sleep onboard and saving space in our carry-on bag, we’ll take it.

In the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, the Matador Network audience voted on their favorite adventure destination, sustainable destination, wellness destination, airline, and what they thought will be the next big destination everyone will travel to. The poll included nominations from the Matador Network team as well as a write-in option. Voting took place through November, and the poll was sent out to our 600,000-plus Instagram followers and 300,000 global newsletter subscribers.

The need for sustainable travel is not new. In the current climate, however, there is perhaps no more important time to focus travel on places that are actively working to improve the environment. Helsinki, the capital of Finland, has long been a sustainability leader. The Matador Network audience is well aware of, and appreciates, that dedication, as shown by the city receiving the most votes in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Sustainable Destination Award.

Helsinki scored a 92.43 percent in the Global Destination Sustainability Movement’s annual rankings. This is impressive in itself, but what sets the Finnish capital apart is both its current accomplishments and bold plans for the future. Helsinki’s government in 2017 set an ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2030, zero emissions by 2040, and shortly thereafter to be a carbon-positive city – actually removing or preventing carbon emissions rather than creating them. Its architecture, parks, public transit, and forward-thinking ethos makes Helsinki one of the most sustainable travel destinations on Earth.

Photo: George Trumpeter/Shutterstock

It’s easy to look at the wealthy, progressive Scandinavian countries and shrug your shoulders at their claims of sustainability. A good social safety net and strong per capita spending power allow cities like Helsinki to focus on a green future rather than simply surviving the present. But so often overlooked is how tough it is to continually do so in volatile geopolitical climates and across both public and private sectors. Helsinki has proven it is invested in a more sustainable life year after year.

In 2016, Helsinki scored a 58.41 in the GDS Index. It’s since improved the ranking year over year with the exception of 2019, when it dropped nearly 10 points from its 2018 score to a 64.69. The index takes into consideration the efforts and impact of the city’s environmental performance, social progress, supplier performance, and tourist marketing performance.

Helsinki’s approach to sustainability is full-circle. It’s not just a green city for travelers, but for local residents as well, with visitors able to witness forward-thinking leadership from the moment they arrive in the city. A notable example of this is the Greenest of the Green Block, a strip of apartments on Jätkäsaari island in southwest Helsinki featuring green roofs and buildings optimized for energy efficiency. It’s easy to reach this area by bike or public transit because the city has invested heavily in infrastructure for green transportation, meaning travelers don’t need a rental car to move about.

Photo: George Trumpeter/Shutterstock

To prevent overtourism, Helsinki tracks visitor numbers and promotes off-season travel to spread travelers across the city and prevent popular areas Kamppi and Kluuvi from being taken over by tourists. The city’s public transit operator, HSL, reaches extensively across the region.

Pedestrian-friendly zones are prevalent throughout Helsinki, often in places that tourists frequent, including Esplanadi streets, Kasarmikatu, Erottajankatu, Korkeavuorenkatu in front of the Design Museum and on Lönnrotinkatu. The best way to see the city is on foot or on bike, where you can stop off into pubs, cafes, shops, or museums in a circular route through these areas that starts and ends at one’s hotel or rental.

Suomenlinna Beach in the summer. Photo: George Trumpeter/Shutterstock

There are 51 hotels in Helsinki that maintain a “Sustainability” certification from Booking.com. Brand leaders in sustainable accommodations here include Scandic Hotels, which ensures all properties meet the rigorous standards of its Nordic Swan label. With 15 mid-range hotels from this brand spread throughout the city, and dozens of others from major chains and boutiques, it’s relatively easy to stay in a property powered by renewable energy and employing progressive eco-friendly food service and hospitality practices for about $100 per night.

Outside of accommodations, Helsinki has aggressively protected parks and green spaces throughout the city. The same is true of its coastlines. The Helsinki Convention was initially signed in 1974 to protect the Baltic Sea and its coastlines throughout the region, and since then the city has taken aggressive stances on preservation of the coastlines – which visitors can see and support by exploring the extensive system of trails along its coastlines.

It’s increasingly easier to get to Helsinki thanks to new airline routes and consistent ferry service from major Scandinavian cities like Stockholm. There are loads of free and cheap things to do in Helsinki, particularly if you visit over the summer. If you’d rather have an entire flat to yourself, the city has ample Airbnb offerings.

In the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, the Matador Network audience voted on their favorite adventure destination, sustainable destination, wellness destination, airline, and what they thought will be the next big destination everyone will travel to. The poll included nominations from the Matador Network team as well as a write-in option. Voting took place through November, and the poll was sent out to our 600,000-plus Instagram followers and 300,000 global newsletter subscribers.

Healing — whether through spiritual practices, traditional treatments, food, or simply being in nature — is woven into the fabric of daily life on Bali. Visitors pilgrimage to the peaceful countryside and beaches to reset, rejuvenate, and, yes, to find themselves. Although that can sound cliché, there’s good reason why the Indonesian island remains at the top of so many lists as the world’s leading place for a wellness vacation. In the 2024 Matador Network Readers’ Choice Awards, the majority of voters checked the box for Bali when it comes to their wellness destination of choice.

Few places live up to glossy descriptions, but Bali is one of them. The island’s landscapes, from the flowing banket of rice paddies, the Mount Agung volcano, hidden beach coves, and world-class surf breaks are draped in pastel pink as the sun rises and sets. It’s a place where you can simply be and feel refreshed. For all of the hype and parties in hot spots like Depensar, Kuta, Seminyak, and Nusa Dua, there are many more places to truly escape.

Many retreat to Ubud chasing an eat, pray, love spiritual awakening. Although the town has changed a lot over the years (it’s a far cry from the quiet jungle village it once was), there’s still magic to be found in the chaos of monkeys, mopeds, yoga sanctuaries, and streets lined with vegan cafes. And if you’re a solo traveler who wants to be alone but have the choice of company, it’s a fail-safe base.

Photo: StockFamily/Shutterstock

Ubud’s wellness offerings run the gambit. À la carte wellness warriors can easily create their own retreat and stay in affordable Airbnb villas with infinity pools, attend nourishing workshops at institutions such as the Yoga Barn, indulge in flower baths and Balinese massages, and eat very well from healing-from-the-inside menus.

For those who’d like to skip the planning process, Ubud has attracted some heavy hitters in terms of luxury hotels that offer indulgent self-care packages. COMO Shambhala Estate is one of the island’s most revered wellness resorts. It sits on the fringe of a valley north of the town engulfed by a forest and is your one-stop shop for holistic well-being. The multi-day “Wellness Paths” are individually designed to meet guests’ needs, but all promise to harmonize mind, body, and soul. A staff of world-class yoga and Pilates instructors, spa therapists, nutritionists, and acupuncturists means staying here is not cheap. Still, if you want an amenity-packed (there’s a long list of complimentary activities, too) retreat, you won’t find better.

Photo: Four Seasons

Three miles west of Ubud, the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan is the area’s most stylish five-star resort, and although it’s not technically a “wellness retreat,” the Sacred River Spa had a facelift in 2024 and now offers a revised menu of innovative, transformative water-centric treatments. From the arrival at the hotel via a whitewater raft to the many health and wellbeing activities, the Four Seasons at Sayan certainly lives up to the brand’s reputation of taking care of guests.

Outside Ubud’s offerings, many other hidden paradise spots attract fewer crowds. Balian Beach, midway up the island’s west coast, has outstanding surf and a more low-key vibe with a great selection of affordable surf lodges such as Pondok Pitaya and yoga retreats such as those run throughout the year at Yama Balian.

Photo: Denis Moskvinov/Shutterstock

Palau Menjangan, in the Taman Nasional Bali Barat (West Bali National Park) in the northwest, is my choice if you prefer the noise of birdsong to scooters. Here, you’ll find one of the island’s best dive sites and the wildlife hotel, The Menjangan Resort, with superb nature-driven packages.

Bedugul, in the centre-north region, is one of Bali’s best-kept secrets and worth considering if you’re looking for a quiet place to meditate. The mountain lake resort area is centered around three lakes: Denau Beratan, Tamblingan, and Denau Buyan, which are laced with sacred temples and mountain slopes. Five miles from the lakes is the sleepy small town of Munduk. There’s a selection of yoga retreats here. Munduk Moding Plantation runs multiple daily sessions for guests, and the nearby jungle tree-house resort, Munduk Heaven Luxury Villas, is an excellent option for a honeymoon wellness getaway.

Photo: Elevation Barn

There are a couple of other events and resorts in Bali worth keeping an eye on for 2025. If you want to reset, the Elevation Barn retreat at Jungle House outside of Gianyar Regency in central Bali is running self-belief courses from February 21 – 24 and April 11 – 14. If you are hellbent on visiting the southeast coast near Nusa Dua, Conrad Bali is a haven. It’s another five-star hotel that is upping its wellness program for next year. The signature JIWA Wellness Experience is as holistic as it gets, with spa therapies galore, sound healing, moon ceremonies, air and water yoga, chakra alignment therapy, sleep therapy, and world-class fitness facilities.

In the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, the Matador Network audience voted on their favorite adventure destination, sustainable destination, wellness destination, airline, and what they thought will be the next big destination everyone will travel to. The poll included nominations from the Matador Network team as well as a write-in option. Voting took place through November, and the poll was sent out to our 600,000-plus Instagram followers and 300,000 global newsletter subscribers.

It’s no secret that some of the world’s most popular destinations are suffering from overcrowding, and it seems like more and more cities and countries around the world are introducing tourist taxes and cruise ship bans. So perhaps it should come as no surprise that when the Matador Network audience was asked what the Next Big Destination was for the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, the majority, nearly a quarter of voters, opted for somewhere actually welcoming more visitors: Greenland, the world’s biggest island and an autonomous territory of Denmark that mostly operates independently.

There’s plenty to do across Greenland’s reaches, so you’ll have to narrow down what you want to see (unless you have several months available to travel). But no matter where you go, there’s one thing you’re guaranteed to find: space, and lots of it. In 2024, Greenland’s population was approximately 55,800. For comparison, Wyoming is the least-populated state in the United States and has 10 times that many people. Greenland covers 836,300 square miles, making it more than eight times larger than Wyoming.

Photo: Kertu/Shutterstock

That personal space to roam influences everything Greenland offers to tourists. Greenland’s historic and current cultural traditions are shaped by the isolated landscape. There are national costumes for men and women, and the styles date back to when Vikings first arrived. Today, the costumes are worn on special occasions, including every child’s first day of school. Authentic cultural activities led by Indigenous business owners, including ice fishing and dog sledding, are readily available, especially around the capital city of Nuuk.

Dog-sledding is a time-honored tradition, and one that still serves as a mode of transportation between some of the northern part of the country’s remote towns during winter. That means travelers can experience dog-sledding how it used to be, complete with seal-skin clothing to stay warm and routes that run along glaciers and across frozen rivers.

Photo: muratart/Shutterstock

Speaking of glaciers, most of the world-class adventures awaiting in the territory are set against the backdrop of truly jaw-dropping scenery. Greenland’s terrain is primarily a vast, flat ice sheet that covers about 80 percent of the island, surrounded by mountainous, rocky coastline. The center has wildly dramatic landscapes where coastal cliffs, fjords, and ice sheets meet the ocean. Adventurous travelers can book activities like multi-day paddle trips on impossibly blue glacial rivers, or travel to the northernmost city in the world to see Easter-egg colored buildings set against a snowy backdrop. Qaanaaq is a place where few people live and few have seen, with only a couple hundred tourists per year.

Photo: Simone Gramegna/Shutterstock

But that’s not to say Greenland isn’t booming with action. It’s one of the least-touristed places in the world to see polar bears, and with an average of 300 clear nights per year, the town of Kangerlussuaq is known for some of the best aurora borealis displays on Earth. (There’s also a nearby Igloo Lodge, reached by an extreme backcountry snowmobile ride, naturally).

In 2023, Greenland had only 100,000 visitors. Compare that to a place like Iceland (2.21 million visitors) or even Canada’s nearby province of Newfoundland and Labrador (487,000 visitors) and it’s clear why the wide-open appeal of Greenland speaks to so many travelers.

That will soon change, as access to the capital city of Nuuk is about to get easier. Starting in June of 2024, United Airlines will run the first direct flight from the United States to Greenland, offering two weekly flights from New Jersey’s Newark Airport to Nuuk. Plan your trip to the island sooner rather than later – just be sure to pack a few more warm base layers than you’d normally bring on an island vacation.

As the entry point for the vast majority of the country’s tourists, Nuuk is the starting point for most tourist activities, from snowshoe tours to puffin-watching sailing trips to hiking tours or guided food tastings of traditional Greenland dishes like dried cod and reindeer steaks.

Greenland is a country you can visit year-round, especially if you’re keen on skiing or seeing the northern lights. But the busier (not busy, just busier) tourism season is summer, as the slightly warmer weather opens the door to a wider range of activities, including biking, water sports, wildlife tours, remote cultural activities, and even scuba diving.

In the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, the Matador Network audience voted on their favorite adventure destination, sustainable destination, wellness destination, airline, and what they thought will be the next big destination everyone will travel to. The poll included nominations from the Matador Network team as well as a write-in option. Voting took place through November, and the poll was sent out to our 600,000-plus Instagram followers and 300,000 global newsletter subscribers.

When Matador Network asked its readers what place screams “adventure travel” to them more than any other, there was one clear favorite: the Galápagos Islands, which earned 22 percent of the vote.

Wildlife is the main appeal on trips to the Galápagos Islands. This remote Pacific archipelago more than 600 miles from the coast of Ecuador is packed with animals you can’t see anywhere else in the world: 80 percent of land birds, 97 percent of reptiles and land mammals, and more than 20 percent of the marine species are endemic to the islands, according to the Galápagos Conservation Trust. While a six-feet-from-wildlife rule stands in Galápagos National Park, it’s not always easy. You often have to step over hundreds of marine iguanas and circle around the dozens of Galápagos sea lions that rest on beaches and rocky shores to take a simple walk.

A walk on Santiago Island. Photo: Jesse Adams

That said, one of the best ways to see as much wildlife as possible is to get active. Walking, hiking, kayaking, SUPing, snorkeling, diving, swimming, and more show a deeper side of Galápagos than one can get from staying on the boat. Still, to get there, you’ll need some help: Galápagos National Park, which covers 97 percent of the islands, require a permit ($200 per person for non-Ecuadorian travelers) or a licensed naturalist guide by your side. While you are allowed to snorkel on your own near the inhabited communities, the best snorkeling and diving spots are only accessible with knowledgeable experts.

The good news is that it’s easy to hire a licensed naturalist guide, take a guided day trip, book a cruise, or a scuba liveaboard trip. There are many tour operators and outfitters on the four islands that have human settlements: Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabela, and Floreana, and there are options for every budget.

A Galapagos giant tortoise using a hiking trail as its own personal highway. Photo: Jesse Adams

Picking just a few animals to focus a trip around can lead you down a long rabbit hole. The good news is that you will likely see more types of animals for the first time here than anywhere else. Focus your hikes and snorkeling around seeing the marine iguana and the Galápagos giant tortoise and you won’t be disappointed. While you’ll see the iguanas even on the busy sidewalks of Santa Cruz and San Crisóbal, the biggest specimens are on Isabela and Fernandina islands. A guided hike around Punta Espinoza on the island of Fernandina is the best way to see thousands of them basking in the sun on the volcanic rocks. A snorkeling session nearby will allow you to get close to see the lizards swimming and feeding on algae underwater. A forest walk through the El Chato Galápagos tortoise reserve in the Highlands of Santa Cruz Island is the best place to encounter hundreds of tortoises that (slowly) run wild.

While remote, the islands are well connected to the Ecuadorian mainland. There are two airports in the archipelago that welcome flights from the continent: Seymour Galapagos Ecological Airport (GPS) on Baltra Island, and San Cristóbal Airport (SCY) on San Cristóbal Island. Both Avianca and LATAM fly to the two airports multiple times daily from the cities of Quito and Guayaquil.

A few inter-island flights shuttle people to certain islands, while ferries link the four inhabited islands of Isabela, Floreana, Santa Cruz, and San Cristóbal for the travelers who want to explore what they can of the archipelago on their own.

Our ship, Ecoventura’s Theory, anchored near Rabida Island. Photo: Jesse Adams

The best way to see the island and its unique wildlife, however, is to take a small-ship expedition cruise. There are nearly two dozen cruise operators in the islands, all of whom have naturalist guides on board to take you on and around many of the otherwise inaccessible islands, and guide you during outdoorsy activities like snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, and more.

Photo: Pikaia Lodge

Because there are only four human settlements in the archipelago, on the islands of Isabela, Floreana, Santa Cruz, and San Cristóbal, those are the only places where you can find accommodations if you’re not staying on a ship. There are Galápagos Airbnbs available, as well as hotels, but note that there are very few of them and they tend to be very costly.

The Pikai Lodge, an adventure-focused, five-star eco hotel located on the island of Santa Cruz, is one of the most reputed – and one of the best alternatives to cruising. The lodge offers land-based excursions guided by experts, as well as comprehensive tours at sea on board their luxury yacht, the M/Y Vision – Pikaia. The Pikai Lodge also has a private giant tortoise reserve so you won’t have to go far to see one of the most emblematic species of the archipelago.

The more adventurous travelers may want to give camping a try while in the islands. Just know that pitching a tent and sleeping outdoors is only allowed in a few places and requires prior authorization from the Galápagos National Park.

In the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, the Matador Network audience voted on their favorite adventure destination, sustainable destination, wellness destination, airline, and what they thought will be the next big destination everyone will travel to. The poll included nominations from the Matador Network team as well as a write-in option. Voting took place through November, and the poll was sent out to our 600,000-plus Instagram followers and 300,000 global newsletter subscribers.

For the second year in a row, United Airlines takes the Matador Network Airline Award. The reasons supporting last year’s choice still ring true today: a strong commitment to more sustainable flights, impressive lounges, and a generous reward program. What really stood out this year, however, was United’s long list of route expansions — often to places served by no other airline based in the United States.

On the domestic front, United is looking at its largest domestic schedule in company history with increased flights at nearly 140 airports from January through March. That’s in part to sunny destinations in Florida as well as Phoenix, San Diego, and Palm Springs, California. The other part is for snow lovers: United has the most service to top ski destinations among US carriers — nearly triple the average daily flights of the other airlines and nonstop service to 11 cities famous for winter sports in Colorado, California, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.

Then there are the international options. United flies to the most international destinations among US airlines, with 800 daily flights to 147 places by next summer. Forty of those are ports of entry not served by any other US carrier. That includes one-stop connections to Taiwan, the Philippines, Mongolia, and Palau through Tokyo, as well as direct flights to Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Senegal. The latter builds on United’s current roster of the most US airline flights to Africa that includes South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, and Morocco.

New or increased flights to the Caribbean with United make it easier to reach Dominica, St. Kitts, Bermuda, and Trinidad and Tobago. In Latin America, there will be more flights than ever to Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, and Guatemala. Both the Matador Network winner for Next Big Destination Award and the Readers’ Choice Award in the same category will also see service with United: El Salvador and Greenland (which United is the only US carrier to fly to).

In Europe, United has the only nonstop US airline route to Bilbao in Spanish Basque Country, as well as to the Portuguese destinations of Porto, Ponta Delgada, Madeira Island, and Faro. More transatlantic summer flights than ever (760 weekly) will be available in 2025 thanks to United’s largest international expansion that includes Venice, Athens, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, and Spain’s Palma de Mallorca.

Photo: United Airlines

Increased routes alone are a major plus, but how United gets people there matters, too. The company’s ever-improving Connection Saver AI technology helps relieve some stress from tight connections. Starting in 2025, United will start testing and rolling out free in-flight WiFi with the eventual target of being the airline with the largest free internet program for all passengers on more than 1,000 aircraft. The United app and mileage program continue to improve, with automatic changes to better seats and the ability for groups to pool miles for trips. United’s accessibility for people who use wheelchairs is unparalleled thanks to the industry-first digital sizing tool that has served tens of thousands of travelers.

Sustainability in the airline industry is tricky, but United continues to lead the way as the first to set a goal of net zero emissions by 2050 without voluntary carbon offsets. United has purchased more sustainable aviation fuel than any other US airline, and blends it into its fuel at five airports in Europe and the US. United even updated the livery on some of its planes to highlight the fuel.

These route expansions and commitment to a better flying experience make it easy to see why United continues to be a leader in aviation.

Nominations for the 2024 Matador Network Airline Award were sourced from across the well-traveled Matador Network team. The nominees were judged based on sustainability efforts, number of destinations and route growth, experience in all classes, affordability, rewards program, customer experience, and reliability.

Our other top nominees, in no particular order:

• Starlux
• KLM
• FrenchBee
• Turkish
• Qatar
• Emirates
• Alaska Airlines
• Delta

When it comes to travel, sustainability covers many different aspects. The environment, local impact, and overtourism management are the biggest — each with its own branches of topics from biodiversity, to housing, to over-trafficked trails, to safeguarding cultural heritage. Hawai’i has a system in place to tackle it all, and is doing so in a transparent way that allows everyone to track the progress of set goals through 2030 in its Aloha+ Challenge.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Hawai’i is a global leader in sustainable tourism. Tourism is the largest private sector industry contributing Hawai’i’s economy, though money isn’t everything. The state puts the goals for sustainability on all levels, not just economic impact, plain and clear: “Integrating sustainable and responsible practices that increase environmental stewardship, perpetuate Native Hawaiian culture, and support community well-being is paramount to long-term economic prosperity.”

Kipuka Olowalu guide welcomes volunteers. Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Mathieu Duchier

As of 2024, a regenerative tourism plan is even an official state legislature bill: SB2659 applies a regenerative approach to visitation through additions to the Hawai’i State Planning Act with required updates to the Tourism Functional Plan. Also this year, the Hawai’i Tourism Authority launched its Qurator certification program to help direct visitors to businesses with sustainable practices focused on the environment, community, and economy.

Those businesses cover the entirety of the travel experience from hotel check-in to food and activities. There’s the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa in Poipu, which has solar panels and a garden that supplies the restaurants (no small benefit considering the high carbon footprint of shipping food to the islands). Or help support wildlife through proceeds and research data while exploring expansive coral reefs, spotting sea turtles, and getting a close-up view of dolphins with Wild Side Specialty Tours. The opportunities feel endless.

Sam Ohu Gon of The Nature Conservancy guides visitors on a hiking trail. Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Heather Goodman

There is a responsibility for visitors to do their part as well, which done in Hawai’i by following mālama, translated as “to care for Hawai‘i” in a holistic sense: care for the coral reefs, Hawaiian culture, land and waters (inside and out of Hawai’i’s 51 national parks), wildlife, the youth, and yourself. Volunteering while vacationing. or “voluntourism,” can in fact make your whole trip.

The need for a sustainable action plan has only gotten stronger as the island of Maui continues to recover from the devastating August 2023 wildfires, with responsible tourism to Maui playing a major role in the rebuilding efforts.

Whether it’s your first time or hundredth time to the islands, you can bet sustainability will play a major role in your next visit.

Nominations for the 2024 Matador Network Sustainable Destination Award were sourced from across the well-traveled Matador Network team. The nominees were judged based on accessibility, land stewardship, responsible tourism initiatives, overtourism management, sustainable accommodations, leave no trace principles, and future development plans.

Our other top nominees, in no particular order:

• Helsinki, Finland
• Saba
• Colorado
• San José, Costa Rica
• Palau
• Bhutan
• Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Belmopan, Belize
• Gran Canaria
• Galapagos Islands
• Singapore

Nosara is no secret to anyone paying attention to wellness travel. The Costa Rican town and the nearby beach community of Playa Guiones is popular with travelers and expats alike in search of a healthy lifestyle, plenty of nature, and yoga retreats. So why put another spotlight on Nosara now? Because nowhere does sustainability like Costa Rica — nearly all of the country’s energy comes from renewable sources, and it has successfully fought deforestation — and that goes for the wellness infrastructure here, too. That’s no small feat in an industry too often defined by extravagant spas that pipe precious water to the desert, high-energy-consuming pools and saunas, and a large plastic waste footprint from personal-sized containers.

Wellness travel should focus just as much on the environment’s wellness, and it’s easy to see why in Nosara. The area is famous for its wildlife. Development is prohibited on the beach, which is an important breeding ground for Olive Ridley and leatherback sea turtles. The beaches are also a draw for surfers.

Guiones Beach. Photo: Stock Photos 2000/Shutterstock

The notable yoga retreats (there’s even Nexus, a yoga instructor certification school) and hotels here adhere to Costa Rica’s climate goals as one of the greenest countries in the world. Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort is one of the leaders, and it was designed to integrate into the surrounding jungle. Solar panels heat all of the hot water, the resort is plastic free, and its own water treatment plant ensures top water efficiency. All of this without compromising on world-class yoga and fitness experiences that focus on mind and body, meals for varying diets, and spa treatments.

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Many other businesses join Bodhi Tree in sustainable wellness. Blue Spirit is a home for spiritual growth and meditation with equally impressive solar and water reclamation designs, as well as used local building materials for the four yoga studios and cottages. Harmony Hotel is B Corp Certified and has full retreats as well as public classes and spa treatments that incorporate common plants of the area like banana, papaya, coffee, and chocolate.

Casado, a typical lunch in Costa Rica. Photo: Elena Berd/Shutterstock

The list goes on, but you don’t have to stick to resort properties to embrace the area’s naturally healthy lifestyle. A thriving vegan and vegetarian restaurant scene (on and off resorts) and array of Costa Rican restaurants that focus on local ingredients make it easy to eat as well as you want to feel. Surfing and being in the ocean is a way of life, and there is a wide range of hikes that span from more challenging routes to gentle forest baths in the biodiverse Nosara Biological Reserve. Howler monkeys may or may not fit into your definition of peaceful, but there’s no denying the restoring effect of being surrounded by a thriving ecosystem.

Nominations for the 2024 Matador Network Wellness Destination Award were sourced from across the well-traveled Matador Network team. The nominees were judged based on accessibility, range of experiences, sustainability, wellness accommodations, affordability, local adherence to traditions and practices, community enrichment, history, and classes and experiences.

Our other top nominees, in no particular order:

• Fjord Norway
• Istanbul
• Whistler, Canada
• Bagnoles de l’Orne, France
• Maui
• Donguibogam Village, South Korea
• Bali
• Morristown, Arizona
• San Marcos, California
• Monticello, New York
• Canyon Point, Utah

El Salvador has been off the tourism radar for decades. The country’s international reputation was too closely tied to expansive gangs like Barrio 18 and MS-13, which both started in Los Angeles in the 1980s by refugees from El Salvador’s civil war. When they were deported from the United States, they used indiscriminate violence and tactics learned stateside to control business and daily life in their home country. El Salvador became known as the “murder capital of the world,” and there was an average of one homicide an hour in the country of 6 million people in early 2016.

Today, El Salvador has a homicide rate of 2.4 per 100,000 people — lower than every country in the Western Hemisphere but Canada. Travelers are quickly taking notice. The number of foreign visitors grew 22 percent in 2024, and El Salvador is the fourth-fastest growing tourist destination in the world after Qatar, Albania, and Saudi Arabia, according to the United National Tourism Organization.

Metropolitan Cathedral in San Salvador. Photo: Elena Berd/Shutterstock

The transformation is being led by President Nayib Bukele, and has come with a cost — something even Bukele has acknowledged in interviews. Bukele instituted emergency powers in 2022 to fight gangs. Human rights organizations have criticized the measures as antithetical to civil liberties and due process. El Salvador has the highest incarceration rate in the world — triple the rate in the US. While critics outside the country worry about the authoritarian turn, public sentiment in the country is more positive as people start tourism-centric businesses, go out alone at night and find peace rather than chaos, and feel safe exploring the incredible nature and culture of the country.

The number of visitors is only expected to increase in coming years. And there’s plenty to explore, from natural wonders, to beaches and islands, to coffee tours, to city-focused food trips, to weeklong excursions to El Cuco off the typical tourist trail.

El Imposible National Park. Photo: chrisontour84/Shutterstock

For American visitors, there’s no need to worry about currency conversions, as the dollar is the official currency. El Salvador is about the same size of Massachusetts, so it’s easy to see a wide span of the country using the centrally located capital, San Salvador, as a base (and a great place to indulge in as many pupusas, the national dish, as your stomach allows). There are more than 20 volcanoes, and many can be seen on wondrous hikes with trails ranging from challenging to well-developed paths. El Tunco earned its nickname “Surf City” for its consistent waves that stretch down to La Libertad beach where international competitions are held, or chase nearby waterfalls and lakes instead of the shore. Perhaps most famous for anyone even tangentially interested in the outdoors is El Imposible National Park, the largest in the country.

Stops along the Ruta de las Flores. Photo: Omri Eliyahu/Shutterstock

One of the main tourist attractions is the Ruta de Las Flores (the Flower Route). It follows a path through small towns filled with art and market stalls, as well as coffee farms where you can try the country’s world-class beans from the source.

The Mayan ruins at Tazumal. Photo: Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock

Nature leads the way for tourist itineraries in El Salvador. It can be easy to do nothing else. But not to be overlooked are the historical sites and Mayan ruins. Three must-stop archaeological sites are all close by and reached by a day trip from San Salvador: the Joya de Cerén UNESCO World Heritage site, called the “Pompeii of the Americas” for the structures and artifacts preserved in volcanic ash; Tazumal Mayan ruins, which include a pyramid; and the San Andrés Archaeological Park where you can see artifacts from the Mayan era. If short on time, a trip to San Salvador’s National Museum of Anthropology gives some insight into history and art in the country.

It would have been hard to imagine El Salvador’s current position in the global travel scene a decade ago. Today, it’s harder to imagine missing an opportunity to visit the country.

Nominations for the 2024 Matador Network Next Big Destination Award were sourced from across the well-traveled Matador Network team. The nominees were judged based on international reputation, new and future travel initiatives, environmental and community sustainability efforts to manage tourism, accessibility, accommodations, affordability, and the range of experiences a traveler can have.

Our other top nominees, in no particular order:

• Greenland
• Armenia
• San Juan Islands, Washington
• Franschhoek, South Africa
• Southern Japan
• Kyrgyzstan