United Airlines Has a New Nonstop Flight to an Adventure-Filled Caribbean Island With a Different Kind of Vibe
There’s a different kind of energy on this Caribbean island. Maybe it’s the waterfalls, or the geothermal energy pulsing beneath your feet. Perhaps it’s the serenity of the rainforest; or the allure of a far-off waterfall, the daunt of an actual boiling lake. Dominica isn’t like other islands, or even other places you’ve been. There’s mystery here, wonder. They call it the “Nature Island” of the Caribbean, but it’s something more. It’s an adventure island.
The story here isn’t the beaches, though you’ll find some exotic stretches of volcanic sand from the north to south of the island, including some secluded, cliffside coves like the beach at Secret Bay.
In Dominica, it’s about the old thrill of discovery, that feeling that’s so hard to cultivate nowadays. It’s what you feel when you hike down the muddy trails to Number One Beach; or snorkel through the earth-warmed bubbles at Champagne Reef; venture into the Kalinago Territory, jump into the hot springs in Wotten Waven.
You know it when you taste the impossibly fresh fruit here, or try the cassava bread at a shack on the northern coast; or climb over the stunning, otherworldly Red Rocks. Dominica is vibrant, it’s visceral, it’s exotic.
And now it’s a whole lot easier to get to. While American Airlines first connected the island with the US mainland back four years ago with its landmark service from Miami, this weekend Dominica hits another milestone with its first-ever flights from the New York area, thanks to a revamped, extended runway.
United Airlines is kicking off the nonstop service on Feb. 15, with service once every week on Saturdays. The flight takes about four and a half hours, operated on a Boeing 737-700 aircraft.
It’s a huge boost for the island, particularly from the all-important New York tri-state area, which is filled with sophisticated travelers just begging for a new, unexplored Caribbean island.
Thankfully. Dominica has matched its brand of pristine natural beauty with a clutch of very impressive luxury hotels. That includes the world-class Secret Bay, a residential resort with some of the most beautiful villas we’ve ever stayed in, married with bespoke, intimate concierge service, authentic food and a remarkable approach to holistic wellness. Villas (with their own private plunge pools) from $2746 per night in February. There’s also the luxe InterContinental nearby, the island’s largest resort, with rooms for $1,044 adjacent to one of Dominica’s national parks.
If you want to stay in the country’s historic capital, Roseau, there’s the lovely, recently transformed Fort Young, a hotel we’ve stayed at many times and one that is better than ever, with its authentic vibe (and impressive, unique all-inclusive options). Rooms from $342.
So what about the flights themselves? Demand is high and with once-weekly flights, prices are running about $1,184 on United’s economy fare in February. That prices goes up to the $2500s in March. You can find more on Google Flights.
