Top Reasons To Visit In France In 2016

France 2016 promises to be a fun and exciting year. With a stronger dollar almost at parity with the Euro, here are major developments and events that American visitors are sure to enjoy.

Norwegian non-stop flights

To Paris From 29 July, Norwegian will begin its first operations from Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport with low-cost nonstop flights to New York, Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale/Miami.

To Martinique & the Guadeloupe Islands
Starting December 3, 2015 It’s time to visit Martinique and the Guadeloupe Islands. This coming winter season, starting December 3, 2015 and through late March, the award-winning low-cost airline Norwegian is flying non-stop and very affordably to both islands from three East Coast locations: New York’s JFK, Baltimore’s BWI and Boston’s Logan airports. It is the first time in 20 years that residents of the Northeast will enjoy direct service to these French Caribbean Islands. 

Re-opening of the Unterlinden in Colmar, Alsace – December 12, 2015
Even further north and just in time for the Christmas market season, Alsace will welcome back the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar – home to the remarkable Isenheim Altarpiece. The museum will reopen December 12, 2015, after a reorganization of its extensive collections and three years of major works including a new wing dedicated to contemporary art.

Normandy’s Impressionist Festival – April 16 to September 26, 2016
As the cradle of Impressionism, Normandy will shine from April 16 to September 26, 2016, during the 3rd edition of its Impressionist Festival. It is the perfect time to experience both the works and sights that inspired masters like Monet, Pissaro, Caillebotte, Millet, Boudin, Renoir, Degas, and Cassat. They painted everyday life, depicting scenes from now-famed seaside resorts like Trouville, Deauville, Dieppe, and Honfleur. Over 25 exhibitions that will showcase portraiture – Read more (Main Impressionist exhibitions)

La Cité du Vin: Inauguration June 2, 2016 The gloriously restored wine capital of Bordeaux will include a Wine Museum and Cultural center, the Cité du Vin. Minutes away from Bordeaux’s elegant city center, the Cité will offer visitors immersive and multi-sensory technologies to explore a huge permanent exhibit about great wine cultures throughout the ages. Its opening will coincide with the lively Bordeaux Wine Festival scheduled for June 23 to 26, 2016. By day, visitors will be able to sample over 80 Bordeaux and Aquitaine wines and other culinary delights delivered on a mile-long stretch of the city’s magnificent Garonne River waterfront. By night and every night, this major biennial celebration features a music festival, followed by a spectacular sound & light show and grand fireworks display. Read More

Euro 2016 – June 10 to July 10, 2016
Sports and soccer fans have plenty more to celebrate in France, which, for the third time, is hosting the great European soccer tournament, Euro 2016, from June 10 to July 10. The month-long soccer fest will feature 24 of the top European teams. The 51 matches will unfold in 10 cities throughout France: Bordeaux – Lens – Lille – Lyon – Marseille - Nice – Paris – Saint-Denis – Saint-Étienne and Toulouse - 

Franco-American Museum of Blérancourt
Reopening & inauguration of new wing - Fall 2016
At the other end of the country, in Picardy, the Franco-American Museum of Blérancourt, will reopen in the fall of 2016 after an ambitious expansion that includes a new wing and reorganization to showcase its comprehensive collection of art and documents dedicated to the Franco-American relationship. The museum was founded by Anne Morgan, the remarkable daughter of U.S. industrialist, philanthropist and art collector J.P. Morgan. She transformed the Château de Blérancourt, her WWI and post-war headquarters in Picardy, into the Franco-American Museum. After she donated it in 1931 to the French Government, it was declared a national museum. The reopening will most likely be late September.

Lascaux IV – inauguration in Fall 2016
In the fall of 2016, the Montignac-Lascaux International Parietal Art Center, also known as Lascaux 4, is poised to become the leading tourist attraction and cultural tool associated with Lascaux's world-famous painted and engraved cave art. A new and complete replica of the Lascaux cave will be the beating heart of the Center, a sizable complex that uses new imaging and virtual technology for comprehensive interpretation purposes. Read more

2016 MAJOR ANNIVERSARIES

100th Anniversary of WWI - 1914-1918
The story of Anne Morgan’s war, the Chateau de Blérancourt and WWI all go hand in hand. There will be events to commemorate the WWI battles of 1916, most notably the battle of the Somme in Picardy and, of course, the battle of Verdun in Lorraine. Although the United States had not yet entered the war in 1916, it's never too early to experience the moving memorials honoring the American dough boys and allied soldiers who fought or lost their lives in Picardy and Lorraine during Great War. Read more

France & Loire Valley
500th Anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's arrival in France In 2016, France will celebrate the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s arrival with the Mona Lisa in tow, which could explain her cryptic smile. Invited by France’s great Renaissance King Francois 1er, da Vinci crossed the Alps to reach Amboise in the Loire Valley, where he settled and spend the last 3 years of his life at the Château du Clos Lucé, now a museum in his honor. It is the perfect opportunity to pay a visit to the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and admire Leonardo’s inventions at the Château du Clos Lucé. Read more

Normandy 2016
Stretching back even deeper into history, the 1,050-year-old Mont-St-Michel Abbey in Normandy has been restored to its island status at the highest tides. A major decade-long national ecological project tackled the problem of rising sand levels, which posed a threat to the monument. The area's new and improved water flow will safeguard Mont-Saint-Michel bay as a maritime area and protect the ecosystem of this varied and precious place. To mark the occasion, the Tour de France will begin on July 2, 2016, from the Mont-St-Michel.

It will also be the perfect year to explore Normandy’s medieval heritage. In 1066, 950 years ago, William the Conqueror became the first Norman king of England after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066. In the Bayeux Museum—also a storied D-Day site, resides a masterpiece: the 11th century Tapestry of Bayeux. Also known as the Queen Mathilda Tapestry, the 229-foot long and 19 inch high linen cloth, depicts through beautifully embroidered panels the Norman conquest of England.

ALWAYS NEW ACCOMMODATIONS

High on the radar of newsworthy items are new destinations to experience and new accommodations to enjoy. In Paris, there has been an impressive wave of boutique hotel openings. To name just a few, there are The Maison Souquet, the Grand Hotel Pigalle, the Bains Douches and the Champagne-themed and aptly named Bubbles of Paris Hotel. This coming winter there will also be the long-anticipated reopening of the legendary Hotel de Crillon and the Ritz.

Paris is not the only place where things are happening, of course. This fall, the Paris Region welcomed a boutique hotel of its own, La Demeure du Parc, in royal and beautiful Fontainebleau. This summer the Rhone-Alpes' classy Royal Evian Hotel reopened after extensive and innovative renovations. And Bordeaux has embraced the Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux & Spa, brought in July into the InterContinental family of hotels. It has turned to world-renowned chef, restaurateur and television personality Gordon Ramsey to oversee its gastronomic restaurant, Le Pressoir d'Argent

The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention Adds Eight Countries To Zika Virus Travel Guidelines

 There are no vaccines or treatments available for Zika. | File photo

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently added new countries to its travel guidelines concerning the Zika virus, warning people who travel to these regions that the virus is at large.

The countries include Barbados, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Saint Martin and Samoa. These are in addition to the previously added countries: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana,  Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Surname and Venezuela.

Health officials have found it difficult to determine the exact regions where Zika is most likely to be transmitted, as these areas and likelihoods will change as the virus spreads.

The CDC will continue to update its travel alerts as more information is revealed. Travelers should be aware of the risks they are taking when they travel to certain regions, which may also have higher chances of chikungunya and dengue viruses. It is most likely that people who contract these diseases will be infected while they are traveling, only showing symptoms after they return home.

Mosquitoes that transmit these three viruses are more aggressive, biting people during daytime hours. These mosquitoes also tend to live outdoors nearby people or indoors inside people’s residences.

There are no vaccines or treatments available for Zika.

CDC Expands Zika Virus Alert; More Countries Issue Pregnancy Warnings

By Debra Goldschmidt

Will Zika virus spread to U.S.? 02:25

(CNN)Pregnant women should not travel to Barbados, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Guyana, Cape Verde and Samoa because of Zika virus, the CDC said Friday.

This comes on the heels of last week's travel alert from the CDC recommending pregnant women postpone travel toBarbados, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Guyana, Cape Verde and Samoa Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. The recommendations also call for women who have traveled to these places during their pregnancy be screened and monitored for the virus if their visit took place while the virus was present in the country they visited.

What is the Zika virus?01:55

The decision is based on their ongoing monitoring of the Zika virus around the world and CDC say they will update as necessary in the interest of public health.

Zika virus is a mosquito borne disease. An individual becomes infected by the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms of the virus include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes and can last from a few days to about a week. But 80% of individuals infected have no symptoms.

So why is there so much concern?

The virus has been linked to an increase in cases of a rare neurological condition called microcephaly in babies. Microcephaly results in babies being born with abnormally small heads, and often serious, and sometimes deadly, developmental delays.

This is what prompted the Salvadoran vice minister of health to tell women there not to get pregnant for two years. "We're recommending that women who may get pregnant plan their pregnancies and try to avoid getting pregnant this year and the next," Eduardo Espinoza told CNNEspanol Thursday.

Colombia and Jamaica issued similar recommendations for women to delay pregnancy earlier this week.

Brazil was the first nation to give this advice in November after they saw a sharp increase in the rare birth defect coinciding with an outbreak of the virus there. The Ministry of Health has recorded more than 3,700 cases of microcephaly in 2015 and so far this year. In comparison, 147 cases of microcephaly were recorded in 2014.

The CDC conducted tests on human tissue from babies in Brazil confirming a the link between Zika virus and microcephaly.

Health officials there and in El Salvador, also suspect a surge of the rare disorder Guillian Barre Syndrome, or GBS, is connected to Zika virus. GBS is a rare disorder in which an individual's immune system attacks nerve cells, resulting in muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. The CDC is working with the Ministry of Health in Brazil and has a team on the ground conducting investigating a possible link between the two.

Dangers of Zika virus 01:39

"It's a strong message to tell people to stop getting pregnant for a couple of years," said Stephen Higgs, PhD, president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. He likens it to the message to promote safe sex for the prevention of HIV. "Some people will pay attention to this and realize they are at risk for something, others are obviously going to ignore it," he said.

Higgs believes a unified message could help, noting that El Salvador recommends a two-year halt on pregnancy while Jamaica, for example is recommending 6 to 12 months. This could come in the form of an overarching announcement from the World Health Organization or the Pan American Health Organization that applies to all Zika-infected countries, rather than individual countries making recommendations. The message will probably change too as more is learned about the virus.

What now?

"Zika in the Americas is in new territory and (as) we've seen with the microcephaly, it's showing different patterns of infection that hasn't been seen before. We don't fully understand what's going on," Higgs said.

He also expects the CDC to continue to expand the list of nations as the virus continues to spread.

In the U.S. there are confirmed cases of the virus among individuals who have traveled to infected countries, including in Illinois, Florida and Texas, among others. However, there are no known cases of locally transmitted illness. "These imported cases might result in local human-to-mosquito-to-human spread of the virus in limited areas of the continental Unites States that have the appropriate mosquito vectors," according to a new report on the spread of the virus issued by the CDC Friday.

There is at least one known case of a baby born with microcephaly believed to be linked to Zika in Hawaii.

How to keep mosquitoes carrying Zika, dengue at bay

There is no prevention or treatment, which is why the best course of action is for travelers to danger areas is toprevent mosquito bites by using mosquito repellant and covering exposed skin. The aedis aegyptia mosquito, which transmits the disease, bites all day long, so individuals need to reapply that repellant and not let their guard down. Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which are found throughout the U.S. and are known for transmittingdengue fever and chikungunya, may also transmit the virus, the CDC said Friday.

However, mosquito bites and mother to unborn baby aren't the only ways this virus is transmitted. The new CDC report notes documented cases of infection from sexual transmission, blood transfusion and laboratory exposure.

The good news is, while it's not certain, scientists believe once an individual has been infected with the virus, they are immune and won't become infected again, according to Higgs.

Follow CNN Health on Facebook and Twitter.

CNN's Shasta Darlington, Richard Beltran, and Merlin del Cid contributed to this report

Top Reasons To Visit France In 2016

France 2016 promises to be a fun and exciting year. With a stronger dollar almost at parity with the Euro, here are major developments and events that American visitors are sure to enjoy.

Norwegian non-stop flights to Martinique & the Guadeloupe Islands
Starting December 3, 2015
It’s time to visit Martinique and the Guadeloupe Islands. This coming winter season, starting December 3, 2015 and through late March, the award-winning low-cost airline Norwegian is flying non-stop and very affordably to both islands from three East Coast locations: New York’s JFK, Baltimore’s BWI and Boston’s Logan airports. It is the first time in 20 years that residents of the Northeast will enjoy direct service to these French Caribbean Islands. 

January 2016 service update

Re-opening of the Unterlinden in Colmar, Alsace – December 12, 2015
Even further north and just in time for the Christmas market season, Alsace will welcome back the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar – home to the remarkable Isenheim Altarpiece. The museum will reopen December 12, 2015, after a reorganization of its extensive collections and three years of major works including a new wing dedicated to contemporary art.

Normandy’s Impressionist Festival – April 16 to September 26, 2016
As the cradle of Impressionism, Normandy will shine from April 16 to September 26, 2016, during the 3rd edition of its Impressionist Festival. It is the perfect time to experience both the works and sights that inspired masters like Monet, Pissaro, Caillebotte, Millet, Boudin, Renoir, Degas, and Cassat. They painted everyday life, depicting scenes from now-famed seaside resorts like Trouville, Deauville, Dieppe, and Honfleur. Over 25 exhibitions that will showcase portraiture – Read more (Main Impressionist exhibitions)

La Cité du Vin: Inauguration June 2, 2016 The gloriously restored wine capital of Bordeaux will include a Wine Museum and Cultural center, the Cité du Vin. Minutes away from Bordeaux’s elegant city center, the Cité will offer visitors immersive and multi-sensory technologies to explore a huge permanent exhibit about great wine cultures throughout the ages. Its opening will coincide with the lively Bordeaux Wine Festival scheduled for June 23 to 26, 2016. By day, visitors will be able to sample over 80 Bordeaux and Aquitaine wines and other culinary delights delivered on a mile-long stretch of the city’s magnificent Garonne River waterfront. By night and every night, this major biennial celebration features a music festival, followed by a spectacular sound & light show and grand fireworks display.Read More

Euro 2016 – June 10 to July 10, 2016
Sports and soccer fans have plenty more to celebrate in France, which, for the third time, is hosting the great European soccer tournament, Euro 2016, from June 10 to July 10. The month-long soccer fest will feature 24 of the top European teams. The 51 matches will unfold in 10 cities throughout France: Bordeaux – Lens – Lille – Lyon – Marseille - Nice – Paris – Saint-Denis – Saint-Étienne and Toulouse - 

Franco-American Museum of Blérancourt
Reopening & inauguration of new wing - Fall 2016
At the other end of the country, in Picardy, the Franco-American Museum of Blérancourt, will reopen in the fall of 2016 after an ambitious expansion that includes a new wing and reorganization to showcase its comprehensive collection of art and documents dedicated to the Franco-American relationship. The museum was founded by Anne Morgan, the remarkable daughter of U.S. industrialist, philanthropist and art collector J.P. Morgan. She transformed the Château de Blérancourt, her WWI and post-war headquarters in Picardy, into the Franco-American Museum. After she donated it in 1931 to the French Government, it was declared a national museum. The reopening will most likely be late September.

Lascaux IV – inauguration in Fall 2016
In the fall of 2016, the Montignac-Lascaux International Parietal Art Center, also known as Lascaux 4, is poised to become the leading tourist attraction and cultural tool associated with Lascaux's world-famous painted and engraved cave art. A new and complete replica of the Lascaux cave will be the beating heart of the Center, a sizable complex that uses new imaging and virtual technology for comprehensive interpretation purposes. Read more

2016 MAJOR ANNIVERSARIES

100th Anniversary of WWI - 1914-1918
The story of Anne Morgan’s war, the Chateau de Blérancourt and WWI all go hand in hand. There will be events to commemorate the WWI battles of 1916, most notably the battle of the Somme in Picardy and, of course, the battle of Verdun in Lorraine. Although the United States had not yet entered the war in 1916, it's never too early to experience the moving memorials honoring the American dough boys and allied soldiers who fought or lost their lives in Picardy and Lorraine during Great War. Read more

France & Loire Valley
500th Anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's arrival in France In 2016, France will celebrate the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s arrival with the Mona Lisa in tow, which could explain her cryptic smile. Invited by France’s great Renaissance King Francois 1er, da Vinci crossed the Alps to reach Amboise in the Loire Valley, where he settled and spend the last 3 years of his life at the Château du Clos Lucé, now a museum in his honor. It is the perfect opportunity to pay a visit to the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and admire Leonardo’s inventions at the Château du Clos Lucé. Read more

Normandy 2016
Stretching back even deeper into history, the 1,050-year-old Mont-St-Michel Abbey in Normandy has been restored to its island status at the highest tides. A major decade-long national ecological project tackled the problem of rising sand levels, which posed a threat to the monument. The area's new and improved water flow will safeguard Mont-Saint-Michel bay as a maritime area and protect the ecosystem of this varied and precious place. To mark the occasion, the Tour de France will begin on July 2, 2016, from the Mont-St-Michel.

It will also be the perfect year to explore Normandy’s medieval heritage. In 1066, 950 years ago, William the Conqueror became the first Norman king of England after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066. In the Bayeux Museum—also a storied D-Day site, resides a masterpiece: the 11th century Tapestry of Bayeux. Also known as the Queen Mathilda Tapestry, the 229-foot long and 19 inch high linen cloth, depicts through beautifully embroidered panels the Norman conquest of England.

ALWAYS NEW ACCOMMODATIONS

High on the radar of newsworthy items are new destinations to experience and new accommodations to enjoy. In Paris, there has been an impressive wave of boutique hotel openings. To name just a few, there are The Maison Souquet, the Grand Hotel Pigalle, the Bains Douches and the Champagne-themed and aptly named Bubbles of Paris Hotel. This coming winter there will also be the long-anticipated reopening of the legendary Hotel de Crillon and the Ritz.

Paris is not the only place where things are happening, of course. This fall, the Paris Region welcomed a boutique hotel of its own, La Demeure du Parc, in royal and beautiful Fontainebleau. This summer the Rhone-Alpes' classy Royal Evian Hotel reopened after extensive and innovative renovations. And Bordeaux has embraced the Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux & Spa, brought in July into the InterContinental family of hotels. It has turned to world-renowned chef, restaurateur and television personality Gordon Ramsey to oversee its gastronomic restaurant, Le Pressoir d'Argent,

Norwegian Takes Flight From The U.S. To The Caribbean With Fares Starting At $79 Each Way

- Norwegian offers its first flights from the United States to Guadeloupe and Martinique in the French Caribbean.

  Norwegian will offer three flights per week from JFK to Guadeloupe and Martinique, and twice weekly service to both islands from Baltimore/Washington DC and Boston.

Due to high demand on the New York routes, Norwegian extended its season service through the end of April. Flights are now available for purchase on Norwegian.com/us, with fares starting as low as $79 one-way, including taxes

“We are excited to launch our first short-haul flights out of the U.S. today, and once again connect these hidden jewels of the Caribbean to the Northeast U.S. for the first time in more than 20 years. Not only does Norwegian now offer Americans the lowest fares to both the Caribbean and Europe, but we are also the first airline to offer free Wi-Fi and live TV all the way to the Caribbean,” said Norwegian’s CEO Bjørn Kjos.

The new French Caribbean routes will be a winter season operation 2015/16 due to lack of aircraft availability summer 2016. Next winter, with an even larger fleet available, Norwegian aims to return with more aircraft and more frequencies. In addition, new routes and destinations are being assessed.

"We are thrilled to welcome our first Norwegian flights this week, and this extension is wonderful news since April matches the low-season hotel rates, making the Guadeloupe Islands an even more affordable destination in the Caribbean for American travelers. Our five islands offer a truly unique Caribbean experience with some of the best beaches in the region combined with French culture, food and heritage, but without the jetlag,” said Sandra Venite, USA Director for the Guadeloupe Islands Tourist Board.

“To the growing number of global travelers who have come to know her, Martinique is a uniquely authentic and unspoiled corner of the French West Indies where natural wonders, creole culture and the Caribbean’s finest cuisine and rums combine with all the comfort of modern day Europe. Now, with the advent of Norwegian’s non-stop service from the Northeast to Martinique this winter until late April, Martinique is at the fingertips of our U.S. visitors. Christmas is coming early and bountiful for Martinique this year. C'est Magnifique!” said Muriel Wiltord, Director Americas, Martinique Promotion Bureau.

Norwegian currently offers 34 nonstop routes from the U.S. to London, Scandinavia and the Caribbean, providing more European routes than any other European airline. Norwegian has added 10 new routes from the U.S. this year alone, including from Las Vegas and San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Europe. In May 2016, the airline will add flights from Boston to Copenhagen, London and Oslo.

Norwegian operates one of the world’s most modern and eco-friendly fleets. Last month, 69700 named Norwegian the Most Fuel-Efficient Airline on Transatlantic Routes in its study. Earlier this week it was also named Europe’s Best Low-Cost Airline by AirlineRatings.com for the second year in a row. On the U.S.-Caribbean routes, Norwegian will fly its new Boeing 737-800s with 186 comfortable, leather seats and it will be the first airline to offer free Wi-Fi on flights to the Caribbean. Norwegian will also offer customers the option to rent movies and TV shows on their personal devices.

For more inspiration and travel tips for Guadeloupe Islands and Martinique, please visit Norwegian’s French Caribbean site.

Guadeloupe and Martinique are both overseas departments of France to which the United States-European Union-Iceland-Norway Air Transport Agreement applies. The agreement authorizes unlimited frequencies between any point or points in the EU and any point or points in U.S. territory for any and all U.S., EU, Icelandic, and Norwegian airlines.

Seaborne And JetBlue To Become Codeshare Partners Across The Caribbean

Seaborne Airlines and JetBlue Airways, the largest carrier in San Juan, have finalized terms to begin a codeshare marketing relationship, expanding upon the carriers' successful interline agreement in place since 2013. The codeshare will help facilitate improved connectivity between two of the top airlines in the Caribbean, subject to receipt of all regulatory approvals.

"We are excited to expand our partnership with JetBlue. Providing improved connectivity in our common hub of San Juan will add tremendous value to Caribbean residents, visitors, and businesses," said President and CEO of Seaborne Airlines Gary Foss. "We are honored that JetBlue, known for outstanding customer service, would recognize the same that Seaborne employees are providing throughout the Caribbean", Foss said.

Seaborne, the largest regional operator, and JetBlue, the number one carrier by flights and seats at San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, offer a combined 50 daily flights that connect 22 destinations. Seaborne will expand the JetBlue network to multiple new destinations, including Anguilla, Dominica, Guadalupe, Martinique, Nevis, St. Kitts, and Tortola. In addition, the Seaborne Airlines network will also provide JetBlue customers' access to an expanded presence throughout the United States Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic.

"Our codeshare agreement with Seaborne makes traveling to the Caribbean easier than ever, and that's the way a beach vacation or family visit should feel," said Scott Laurence, senior vice president airline planning, JetBlue. "Between JetBlue's leading position as San Juan's largest and most customer friendly airline, and Seaborne's extended local reach, this is a win-win partnership for customers and tourism."

"The Puerto Rico Tourism Company welcomes this new partnership that supports and strengthens our efforts to increase air access to the Island. This new codeshare marketing relationship between Jet Blue and Seaborne facilitates the entrance of more visitors and positively impacts the economic development in the Island", said Ingrid I. Rivera Rocafort, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.

Along with JetBlue, Seaborne operates as a codeshare partner of American Airlines and Air Europa of Spain. Seaborne offers interline connecting agreements with Delta Airlines and United Airlines as well. In aggregate, Seaborne and the carrier's partners offer non-stop service to 32 destinations in the Americas and Europe from San Juan. Seaborne's expanding network out of San Juan has helped solidify San Juan's position as the Caribbean's largest hub.

5 Reasons To Warm Up In Martinique

If the chill of winter has already got you down, consider booking a trip to Martinique in the Southern Caribbean. Whether by cruise ship or by plane, it’s never been easier to reach this tiny French-speaking island and you’ll be glad you did when you arrive to the warm breezes, culinary delights and natural wonders that make Martinique a must-visit destination in the Caribbean. Take a look at five reasons to warm up in Martinique this winter.

1. More cruise ships are making Martinique a port of call

A number of cruise ships have added a stop at Martinique’s Fort-de-France to their itineraries, including the Carnival Splendor and Norwegian Pearl, both of which are making their first-ever stops at the Cruise Village in Martinique this winter. Royal Caribbean’s much-feted Quantum of the Seas will also make port in Fort-de-France starting in January. Meanwhile, Disney Cruise Lines recently added Martinique to Caribbean itineraries for sails in 2016.

2. You’ll find an abundance of outdoor adventures

Whether you want to hike across miles of nature trails, go wreck diving to explore 19th century shipwrecks that sunk in Saint-Pierre’s Bay following a volcanic eruption or try out kitesurfing or boating, it’s easy to spend every day of your visit to Martinique engaging in new adventures across the island. New this year: skydiving. Thanks to Air Colibri, visitors can now experience the beauty and colors of Martinique with a 20-minute flight and a tandem dive from 3500 meters up in the sky.

3. Gourmet cooking classes offer immersive culinary experiences 

Martinique has long been known as an exciting gastronomic destination due in large part to its French-Creole influences. New culinary packages offered by Les Ateliers Medelices now enable unsurpassed cooking experiences. Foodies can choose from small group sessions with renowned chef Jean-Charles Bredas, who was selected as one of the Four Best Caribbean Chefs by Bon Appetit magazine, or classes in local Martiniquan kitchens to create authentic island dishes.

4. A number of prize-winning rum distilleries call Martinique home

Considered the Rum Capital of the World, you’ll find 10 distilleries on the small island of Martinique and you can visit them all along the “Route of Rum.” Even better, many distilleries sit alongside sugar cane plantations with colonial mansions and exquisite gardens. Musée du Rhum Saint-James offers guided tours on plantation trains through the sugar cane fields detailing how rum is made. Meanwhile, Habitation Clement features an art gallery, audio guides (in English and French), and of course, rum tastings.

5. Hotels and villas offer a unique French-Caribbean style and authenticity 

You won’t find chain hotels or mega resorts in Martinique. Instead, you’ll find mostly boutique hotels and luxury villas that reflect a level of authenticity not found on other islands in the Caribbean. Even Club Med Buccaneer’s Creek in Sainte-Anne boasts Creole spa treatments and a French chef who created the menus across the resort. Look to the new Domaine des Fonds Blancs for exclusive self-catering villas complete with gourmet kitchens, private airport transfers, concierge service, even private chefs and bartenders.

Contributed by Erin Gifford, www.aluxurytravelblog.com

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