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After sourcing 20 million face masks, Apple has started on designing face shields for medical professionals fighting against COVID-19. The tech giant face shields are being developed in partnership with Apple’s product designers, engineers and operations and packaging teams and are currently being shipped around the country. “Our first shipment was delivered to Kaiser hospital facilities in Santa Clara Valley this past week, and the feedback was very positive,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a video posted to Twitter this week....

Editor’s Note: Those who choose to travel are strongly encouraged to check local government restrictions, rules, and safety measures related to COVID-19 and take personal comfort levels and health conditions into consideration before departure. Over the last few years, the small Central American nation of Costa Rica has earned a reputation for its easy going, pura vida sensibility. It’s a place with something for everyone — though the destination is especially popular with adventurous travelers and nature lovers, who flock here to surf, sun on the beach, snack on seafood, and hike in the rainforest....

Travel remains complicated while the COVID-19 pandemic continues around the world, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends staying home for your own safety as well as for others. But if you do decide to travel, local laws permitting, you’ll want to take as many safety precautions as possible. This includes sanitization, even if the hotel you’re staying in has stringent protocols in place. To help, Travel + Leisure turned to medical professionals for advice on how to disinfect a hotel room when checking in during the pandemic....

Traveling while Black can present some challenges. We’ve heard the stories of racial discrimination, seen the videos of the mistreatment of Black bodies, and Roger Ross Williams even created the now Emmy-nominated documentary, Traveling While Black, to further document our experiences. The fact is, the tourism industry still lacks diversity, from PR representatives to management, and that’s part of the problem — especially since Black Americans contributed $63 billion to the tourism economy in 2018....

Six Komodo dragons hatched at the Bronx Zoo earlier this month, marking the first successful breeding of the species in the zoo’s 122-year history. “Komodo dragons are one of the planet’s most fascinating species and these hatchlings represent a hopeful future for the species,” Don Boyer, curator of herpetology at the Bronx Zoo, said in a statement from the Wild Life Conservation Society. “They will be wonderful ambassadors for their wild counterparts as they help us raise awareness about conservation needs....

Turning 100 years old is a special event — especially when you’re famous for being a favorite accessory of Marylin Monroe. Celebrating a century of iconic fragrance Chanel No. 5, the French fashion house is kicking it back to the days of childhood birthday parties at the ice rink. But, of course, this is Chanel — so it isn’t just any old ice rink. Taking place at New York City’s Rockefeller Center Ice Rink starting Saturday, Nov....

‘Tis the season to dream of warmer destinations and beautiful beaches — which may make booking a trip on Travel Tuesday all the more tempting, but it turns out they’re often not as good as they appear. Any excuse to travel is a good excuse if you ask us, but Scott Keyes, the founder of Scott’s Cheap Flights, told Travel + Leisure that Travel Tuesday — December 3, this year — may not actually be the best time to look for those coveted flight deals, explaining that great flight deals tend to pop up all year round and are hard to predict....

In early December, Ikea announced its plans to discontinue its famed catalog due to a lack of demand for its print product. However, Ikea also knows just how much people loved flipping through the book’s page, so it decided to honor the catalog’s history with a futuristic twist. On Dec. 13, Ikea announced it is turning several of its iconic catalog covers into Zoom backgrounds so you can show off your love of furniture and Swedish meatballs all day long in work or school meetings....

There’s a reason you should keep your seatbelt fastened on airplanes, and that’s because turbulence can strike at any time. An ALK Airlines flight from Kosovo to Switzerland hit severe turbulence that injured several passengers and crew, USA Today reported. A passenger video posted by Mirjeta Basha, passengers can be seen sitting in their seats when suddenly the overhead compartments open and spill out people’s belongings. According to ABC, A flight attendant and a drink cart were violently thrown to the ceiling by the shaking....

7 Items T+L Editors Always Pack to Avoid Travel Mishaps To buy: amazon.com, from $20 (originally from $30) “This bag is a must if you’re traveling! So much space,” wrote one shopper, who purchased multiple organizers from the brand. “This toiletry bag fits everything… I’m a heavy packer and travel with all my skincare products, so this was perfect for me. The bag is sturdy and the quality is great. I love that it comes with a hook so you can hang it when you reach your destination, and when you travel it folds into a nice small bag with a handle....

The newest generation of “smart” suitcases can do a lot: They can charge your phone, tell you how much they weigh, and even track themselves to the baggage carousel. But can they carry you? The SE3 by Airwheel is a carry-on bag that becomes the thing you’ve always needed in the airport: a vehicle. According to the manufacturer, it takes only one second to transform from suitcase to scooter. To make the switch, travelers just need to extend the handlebars and the front wheel....

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect summer sandal, one that’s comfortable and supportive enough to walk in for hours across different terrain as well as durable and easy to care for, look no further than Teva. The outdoor brand is known for its adventure-ready sandals, and the Hurricane Drift is no exception. 14 Pairs of Sandals That Are Incredibly Comfortable to Walk In, According to Thousands of Reviewers...

Right now you’re probably dreaming about a beach vacation. It’s a dream so real you may even be able to feel the warm sand between your toes, the cool breeze on your face, and maybe even a cool wave or two hitting your legs. Unless you live on the coast, this dream likely won’t become a reality for a bit, however, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep visualizing your favorite seaside destination....

7 Packing Hacks to Lighten Your Suitcase, According to an Expert To buy: amazon.com, $22 (originally $29) “These packing cubes are the only way to pack!” one customer titled their review. They continued, “These packing cubes are made well with strong zippers and viewing windows to see what is packed inside. If you are planning a trip soon and hate to pack, I would recommend you order a set of these Veken packing cubes....

While a charming hotel room in a quaint village in the mountains certainly makes for a charming and romantic getaway, why not turn it up a notch and just rent a whole castle? In Cornwall, England you can do just that, thanks to the United Kingdom’s National Trust, which owns a castle you can actually rent. National Trust / Mike Henton Doyden Castle, located near Port Quin, about 200 miles southwest of London, is an early 19th-century castle that’s been transformed into a charming vacation destination....

EVA Air wants to honor Father’s Day in the most dad way possible: By turning this plane RIGHT around. On Monday, EVA Air announced it will be honoring Father’s Day in Taiwan (celebrated on Aug. 8) by selling tickets to a flight to nowhere. The plane, decorated in Hello Kitty livery, will take off from Taipei Taoyuan Airport and will land several hours later back at the same location. All this work in an effort to get in the air again despite travel restrictions to other nations....

From dramas to action, some of Hollywood’s most popular films are set in Las Vegas, and this month marks the 10-year anniversary of a comedy favorite: “Bridesmaids.” Although this movie feels like a quotable classic that’s been around for ages, it has only been a decade since we saw the ridiculous antics of this friend group on a bachelorette trip. To celebrate the occasion, travel assistant App in the Air is helping a few of its lucky users fly to Las Vegas in style....

We had boarded the plane first, one of the perks of traveling with a young child. The aisles clear, we made our way to the back and settled in for our flight to Seattle from New York, part of a weekend birthday getaway. My sister slipped a strap around the tray table of the seat behind ours and carefully centered it. And just like that, my 2-year-old nephew was strapped in as if we had brought a car seat....

United Airlines is making basic economy better. The airline’s basic economy fares can now be upgraded after purchase, allowing passengers to cancel or change their flights and use credits for future travel. Previously, these bargain airfares were nonrefundable and nonexchangeable, forcing passengers to forfeit the value of any unused tickets. Now, travelers can pay a nonrefundable upgrade fee to make changes to their itineraries. Passengers won’t face additional change fees, though they will have to pay fare differences for more expensive flights....

United Airlines will now let you pay later for the flights you want now. The airline has become the latest to add payment plan service Uplift as an option for tickets, allowing users to make monthly payments to cover their airfare over the course of anywhere from three to 11 months. Uplift, which has been previously used for other United services, will appear as customers proceed to checkout with their flight....