WATCH: An Airplane Full of Passengers Gets a Free Flight...If They Can Decide on One Place

Dreaming about visiting Europe this year? We have good news that might encourage you to hit that "book" button, especially if you're a solo traveler. Design-focused Generator, a line of chic, affordable European hostels, is opening three new locations in Amsterdam, Stockholm, and Rome, just in time for the peak season. Millennials especially dig this brand—with locations in trendy neighborhoods in Paris, Barcelona, Dublin, and Berlin, to name a few—and the way each property blends local culture, art, events, music, and food with interactive guest experiences, a.k.a. getting to know your fellow travelers instead of just passing them in the hallways. Read on for details about each new location. Which will you visit first? Generator Amsterdam  When it's opening: March 16 What it'll cost: From about $17 for a dorm bed in a shared room, $72 for a private room, $111 for a luxury suite Where it's located: In the uber-hip East Amsterdam 'hood, right next to the newly renovated Oosterpark. Cool perks: It will be the only upscale hostel in the city. Housed in an historical building built in 1908 as the University of Amsterdam’s science department, the hostel is celebrating its DNA by keeping the lecture hall and science lab aesthetics while giving the space a modern twist. The main common space, named Nescio after a famous Dutch writer, has a café with locally-sourced dishes that’s open daily for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner; a day-to-night lounge that was once an auditorium, with the professor’s desk serving as the bar; and a library with shelves filled with bright orange books and wood heritage accents intact to impress Ron Burgundy. Activities like beer tastings, coffee master classes, Vanmoof bikes, and movie screenings keep guests busy, and for those who want to splurge, there’s a luxury Sky Suite Apartment with views of Oosterpark and two bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, and TV. Later this year they’ll open an underground speakeasy bar in the former boiler room.  Generator Stockholm  When it's opening: June 2016 What it'll cost: From about $24 for a dorm bed in a shared room, $77 for a private room Where it's located: Just a five-minute walk from Drottninggatan, a must-walk street dating back to the 1600s. The pedestrian boulevard is lined with boutiques and restaurants running through downtown Stockholm. It’s also close to Central Station. Cool perks: This is a large property, with 11 floors and 244 rooms and a lobby café that doubles as a work space. The bar and restaurant offer both Swedish and international eats. For those traveling with a group or staying longer, luxury suites are available.  Generator Rome  When it's opening: Summer 2016 What it'll cost: From about $20 for a dorm bed in a shared room, $77 for a private room Where it's located: In the heart of the Eternal City, on Via Principe Amedeo near the Mercato dell’Esquilino, the bustling market famed for its fresh international produce. The 78-room property is also close to many prime attractions, including the Roman Colosseum.  Cool perks: Mangia at the industrial-style Bistro, or take in views of the Apennine Mountains while you're perched up in the rooftop lounge, seven stories above the city. 

For the first time in more than 50 years, U.S. commercial flights to Cuba will soon become a reality. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx signed an agreement in Havana on Tuesday setting the stage for U.S. carriers to submit applications to operate commercial flights, with new routes likely in a matter of months. At present, the only flights between the U.S. and Cuba are charter flights, such as those operated by Cuba Travel Services partnering with JetBlue. Ready to visit Cuba? Well, it's not yet as simple as buying a plane ticket. Travel by U.S. tourists is still restricted, but the Treasury Department has expanded the categories under which Americans are allowed to visit the communist-ruled island, including exceptions for artists and journalists, those visiting family, and people-to-people education programs (we like package tours like those offered by Friendly Planet and Intrepid Travel). The resumption of commercial flights is another big step toward opening Cuba to American travelers. Last fall, we knew that commercial flights were on the horizon, and that played a role in our naming Cuba our No. 3 “Where to Go in 2016” destination. If you’re looking for some travel inspiration, check out our latest video, “A Gorgeous Day in the Life of Cuba,” above.

When it’s this cold outside, all we can imagine is lying on the beach with coconut trees as shade, sipping on delicious local rum. And now Norwegian Air is making our tropical paradise dreams come true, releasing a crazy-good deal for flights as low as $69 each way to Martinique, one of our Where to Go in 2016 destinations. That's 10 bucks lower than rates we reported just a few weeks ago. What's more, Norwegian is offering additional flights: up to eight nonstops every week out of the U.S., including just-added flights on Sundays in April out of New York City's JFK airport. Once you touch down, the island's currency is the euro, and with the dollar still going strong, you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck.  Budget Traveler-–friendly perks aside, we love the French Caribbean island for its varied landscape: Rain forest preserves and black-sand beaches in the north, plus white-sand beaches in the south make it perfect for adventurers and beach bums alike. Two-thirds of the island is protected parkland, so it's no surprise it was nicknamed the Island of Flowers by the Caribbean Indians dating back centuries. Get up close and personal with the island’s greenery at The Balata Botanical Gardens, which is home to more than 3,000 species of tropical plants and flowers, including Instagram-worthy ponds dotted with lilies and lotus blossoms (admission about $15, jardindebalata.fr). And the selection of French and Creole restaurants—ranging from street food to elegant dining—makes Martinique perfect for foodie travelers.