Spirit Airlines Now Flying Non-Stop To Puerto Rico From RSW

Maybe you've been thinking about a year-end vacation and if Puerto Rico is calling your name, Spirit Airlines is now flying non-stop from RSW.

Puerto Rico has been on my list of places to visit for quite some time now. And now in under 3 hours, you can be there on a non-stop flight from RSW in Fort Myers. I reported back in October that the new flight option was coming, and now it's here!

Traveling is one of my favorite things to do, but sometimes the hassle of a layover can make things a little more difficult. I flew to Las Vegas in July and got stuck in the Charlotte airport for over 15 hours. If I would've flown non-stop, that would not have happened. Though the only non-stop flights were out of TamTpa or Miami. Flying out of RSW is so convenient. It's only 20 mins from home, has cheap and available parking, almost zero wait time at TSA and plenty of great food & beverage options to help pass the time while you wait for your flight.

The flights from RSW will go direct to Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in San Juan. The route will fly 4 times each week and is just 2 hours and 45 minutes. I just did a quick search on Spirit's website for a flight in January around my birthday at the end of the month to fly out on a Friday and return on a Monday and the roundtrip total was just $151. Very affordable for a nice getaway!

Florida is a dream destination for a lot of people and 3 cities here in the Sunshine State land on a list of the best places to live in America.

Growing up in Chicago, it was always my dream to one day live here. It's been almost 6 years since I arrived, first in Sarasota. I've been in Fort Myers now for almost 5 and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. You really can't beat the fact that the weather is always nice (even on these days of 50 degrees in the morning..brrr), there's SO much to do year-round and the beauty of palm trees and our beaches is something you can never get tired of. For some, it's a retirement dream and for others it's a state where you want to put down roots and blossom. I really can't imagine, now, living anywhere else.

The list surprises me, considering my love for living here, with only 3 cities in Florida included. Money put their list together looking at factors including economic opportunities, quality of live and diversity, among others. Atlanta landed in the #1 spot. 3 cities in Florida made the list coming in at #'s 9, 33 and 43. You can see the full list here.

Money said Tampa is "a rare combination of action-packed and affordable". Home sales average just over $380,000. The publication said the downsides of the city include traffic and climate. (If you don't like the heat- stay out of the kitchen!)

Altamonte Springs isn't a city I've visited, though it's only about 30 mins from Disney and about an hour to the beach, so it's close to a lot of fun. Definitely worth bragging about, if getting a good education is important, the area has a 93% graduation rate.

Sarasota was the city I first landed in upon moving to Florida, and I absolutely love it. Money says Sarasota is a "paradise for beach, culture and wildlife lovers". But be ready to pay. The average home price last year was over $565,000.