by Heidi Reid | Aug 5, 2024 | 2024, Do, July 2024/August 2024
Passport or no, here’s where to go wheels up this summer—and beyond.
Skipping Borders
In a relationship with: our passports. All we need is a three-month vacation four times a year—really not asking too much. But until that happens, fun fact: It takes less time for these international direct flights from RDU to Europe than it does to travel to many indirect West Coast locales. So catch flights and feelings with these five destination hot spots worth digging out your passport for—or peep a trio of tropical hot spots you can go wheels up without the added paperwork—plus the hotels worth booking your vacation around. Once again, we rest our suitcase.
RDU DIRECT | Freeport, Bahamas | Our pick: Pelican Bay—Because it’s the “happiest hotel on Grand Bahama Island” duh. Where better to live out your White Lotus fantasy?! pelicanbayhotel.com
RDU DIRECT | Frankfurt, Germany | Our pick: Roomers—The swank, dark and seductive atmosphere makes for an ultrahip stay nestled between the train station and the Main River. roomers-hotels.com
Gustavia, St. Barts | Our pick: Hotel Barriere Le Carl Gustaf—A stone’s throw from Shell Beach in the lap of luxury will have you uttering “Toi là! Je t’aime!” (Hey there I love you), indeed. hotelsbarriere.com
RDU DIRECT | Paris | Our pick: Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile—Joie de vivre found atop Paris’ highest skyscraper hotel with nonparallel Eiffel Tower and City of Lights views. hyatt.com
Cancun | Our pick: Excellence Playa Mujeres—No bad rooms exist at this luxe adults-only 2022 “World’s Best Winner” (!) idyllic beachfront paradise that pretty much defines the bueno life. excellenceresorts.com
No Passport? No Problem
Tropic like it’s hot at a trio of tropical destinations sans passport.
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands | Resort pick: The Fred—And we’ll never be royals at these adults-only King Frederik V-dubbed boutique beachfront digs inviting you to “sleep with Fred.” sleepwithfred.com
San Juan, Puerto Rico | Resort pick: Condado Vanderbilt Hotel—Nee 1919, PR’s first luxe hotel is an art deco beachfront haven for luminaries and wanderlusters alike. If it’s good enough for JFK… condadovanderbilt.com
Tumon Bay, Guam | Resort pick: The Tsubaki Tower—Dubai feels, but make it on a U.S. island territory towering over azure waters so vibrant you’ll have to squint to see it. tsubakitower.kenhotels.com
Handy Passport Hacks
Need a passport—or yours expiring soon? Navigate “law & border” with our handy hacks.
by Anna Beth Adcock | Jun 29, 2023 | Buzz, July/August 2023
Now boarding… RDU is delivering a slew of updates this year and beyond.
RDU Airport is going wings up. With travel back on track—approximately 235 million tourists took an international trip during the first three months of 2023 per the World Tourism Organization—and an approved 25-year master plan dubbed Vision 2040, our local launch pad has high-flying goals for the future.
“We have so many exciting things coming up,” says RDU Director of Media Relations Stephanie Hawco. “We are going to touch every corner of this campus over the next several years, from replacing our primary runway to expanding and improving our road systems, parking, security checkpoints and restaurant concepts.” … To that end, in mid-June, RDU’s governing board approved $3.5 mill of funding toward expansion/improvement efforts—think adding upward of 15 and 20 gates to Terminals 1 and 2, respectively; three baggage carousels to T2, plus a larger Customs facility and more ticketing counters, to name a few updates running our way.
“We are also looking at breaking records this summer set in 2019 for passenger travel,” says Hawco. “It’s going to be a busy summer at RDU!” Ahead of RDU’s anticipated updates, we chatted with Hawco for the rundown on what we can expect to fly on the scene.
What’s the vision for Vision 2040? This plan spells out how the airport is going to grow over the next few decades—including everything from infrastructure (like roads) to building a new runway, and adding gates and more parking. In addition to that, we are adding a dozen or more restaurants and dining concepts that will be coming online in the next year or so—and we’re doing a lot of things in general to improve the passenger experience at RDU.
When can travelers expect those restaurant concepts to open?We have a lot of passenger demand for some new options. Scott Crawford will be opening three different concepts in late 2024 (Carolina Craft, Crawford’s Genuine, and Butcher’s Burger and Bar) and Oscar Diaz (of Cortez and Cuya fame) will be opening Adios! in late 2024 as well. We want to have more local NC flavors in the airport, so we are really excited to be bringing these options in.
What about breweries and coffee spots? Beyu Caffe, a Durham-based shop, is slated to open pre-security in Terminals 1 and 2 in the next few months; Black & White Coffee Roasters will be coming spring 2024 in the former Starbucks spot right after you get through security in Terminal 2; and La Farm Bakery has plans to expand its seating area. There are also a lot of breweries coming, which are always popular with airport guests. We’ll have a Bond Brothers Taproom & Kitchen, Raleigh Beer Garden and Lonerider Brewing—all great choices for passengers either coming off their flight or waiting to board.
Is Terminal 1 getting any love? Avelo, Spirit and Southwest are all flying out of Terminal 1 now. Plus, Beyu Caffe and Raleigh Beer Garden will both be located in Terminals 1. And we have a number of new dining concepts coming to both terminals.
And those upcoming pet relief stations? We are currently in the design phase of building pet relief areas in Terminal 1 and 2. They will be located after security and will be for both service animals and people traveling with their pets.
Any travel tips? We recommend getting to the airport early—two hours for domestic flights and three hours for an international flight—for time to park, get inside the terminal, check in to your flight and get through security. Passengers can also book parking in advance on our website and check their flight status online. rdu.com
