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Kayak is helping travelers this tax season translate their tax refund into a potential trip with the help of a calculator that shows just where a person can go based on the amount of cash they receive. The calculator allows travelers to put in the amount of their refund and see their vacation options based on that price, the company shared with Travel + Leisure. “Getting money back from your tax refund is great, but what’s even better is using that money to take a well-needed vacation,” Matt Clarke, the VP of marketing at Kayak, told T+L....

Go on the road again from the comfort of your couch — and get paid for it. A Philadelphia-based company wants to award one person $1,000 to document their experience of binge-watching eight road trip-themed movies. EmpireCovers, which makes vehicle, boat, and RV covers, is highlighting movies that celebrate the relatable experience of a journey on the road. “We are big movie fans, and our affinity for the cars and RVs that people use on road trips should be apparent,” the company said on their site....

This Sustainable Activewear Brand Makes a Sports Bra You Can Wear 4 Ways To buy: amazon.com, from $22 With The Gym People Longline Sports Bra, fitness buffs, athleisure lovers, and travel enthusiasts are given a lightweight 2-in-1 top that can be worn as a sports bra beneath your favorite tees and sweatshirts, as well as a cropped, form-fitting workout top on its own. The v-neck, wireless sports bra is made with a soft and stretchy fabric that’s breathable, sweat wicking, and supportive without feeling constrictive....

From overwater bungalows and private butlers to bedrooms with retractable roofs for stargazing, resorts in the Maldives know how to do luxury. Now, the iconic Soneva Fushi property is bringing its luxury offerings to new heights — literally and figuratively — with the world’s first-ever fine-dining zip-line experience. The cheekily named Flying Sauces experience will take guests on a culinary adventure among the treetops while soaring on a zip line 30 feet in the air....

Venice will not be included on UNESCO World Heritage’s danger list, a decision that has put preservationists and government officials at odds. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee announced Thursday that the Italian canal city will not be included on its list after Italy banned large cruise ships from passing through its canals last month, the Associated Press reported. Italian officials passed the cruise ship order last month in order to avoid the designation....

Things are looking up in 2021 — hundreds of thousands of miles up. The space industry has kicked off the year with three successful Mars missions, and there’s a whole lot more in store. But what’s perhaps most exciting for space enthusiasts is the announcement of not one, but two chances to win free spaceflights. Courtesy of dearMoon Following Jared Isaacman’s announcement of his Inspiration4 mission, which has two seats reserved for members of the general public, Japanese businessman Yusaku Maezawa officially opened the application process for eight available seats on his DearMoon mission....

The Isopho Heated Vest is made from soft, anti-static polar fleece and has five heating panels: two on the front waist, two on the lower back, and one on the upper back. The panels have three temperature settings and heat up in just seconds. This particular vest does not come with its own battery pack, but that means you can choose your own power bank, connect it to the USB A port, and store it conveniently in one of the vest’s pockets....

Courtesy of Away Good luggage should serve multiple functions. First, it should be spacious and durable so it’s able to keep up with you, no matter where your travels take you. Then, you’ll also want to make sure your luggage is sleek and stylish enough to match your own personal style and not stick out like an eyesore as you navigate airports and city streets. That’s part of the reason we’ve long been fans of Away luggage....

Perhaps no other show on television has better captured the reality of 20th century aristocratic life in England than Downton Abbey, with its award-winning costumes, historical accuracy, and attention to even the most precise of details. For those of you who don’t follow the series, Downton is filmed at Highclere Castle, a country house located in the English town of Newbury. “The whole story of Downton Abbey tells you that the days of being able to maintain the number of staff you needed to keep those houses going was going to end—and it has ended,” says Downton’s historical consultant Alastair Bruce....

Bob Dylan contains multitudes. A retrospective of the legendary singer’s visual artwork opened to the public in Miami this week in conjunction with Art Basel, one of the world’s most famous art festivals, takes over the city. “Retrospectum,” as the show has been called, will feature a survey of Dylan’s work, dating back to the 1960s when he began drawing while on the road as a musician. The show also includes some abstract sketches from the 1970s, but the majority of the work on display has been created over the last 15 years....

Brazil’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue reopened to the public this past weekend with reduced capacity and shorter hours to abide by coronavirus-sparked protocol. The famous 98-foot-tall statue, which overlooks Rio de Janeiro, reopened with only a third of its normal capacity, temperature checks, and hand sanitizer placed throughout, according to Paineiras Corcovado, the park’s management company. Masks are also mandatory when visiting. “After almost five closed months, thinking about the safety of our ambassadors and visitors, Paineiras-Corcovado started its gradual reopening!...

If the idea of wearing leopard-print anything scares you, don’t worry: The pattern on this cardigan isn’t loud or obnoxious, just fun and eye-catching. Plus, of the 27 (!) colors and designs available, there are non-leopard options too, including plaids, solids, and even reindeer for those who love to loudly embrace the holiday spirit. The cardigan is long and oversized, which makes it perfect for wearing with jeans and leggings, and the super soft material is just thick enough to keep you warm on chilly days without making you sweat the moment you head indoors....

It’s hard to believe that mere months ago, we were just beginning to adapt to the new normal, swapping in-person meetings for video calls and our usual work attire for loungewear. If you’re tired of virtual happy hours and picturesque video chat backgrounds that remind you of every place you’d rather be, you’re not alone. It’s time to trade that tropical Zoom background for a real vacation — Coors Light wants to give five lucky winners the trip of a lifetime to the real version of their dreamy video call backdrop....

As travelers continue to plan out trips for the rest of the year after so many months of staying home, Walt Disney World has announced its latest holiday celebrations. Instead of the typical Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, this year the park will host a limited-capacity nighttime event aptly named “Disney Very Merriest After Hours.” The holiday festivities will take place when the gates have closed for the day and give guests special access to the Magic Kingdom at night....

U.S. travelers could be back to exploring the French countryside and iconic attractions like the Louvre and Eiffel Tower in June. French President Emmanuel Macron has laid out a reopening plan that would allow U.S. passport holders to enter France beginning June 9, assuming COVID-19 levels remain under control and visitors can present proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test, The Local France reports. Also on June 9, France plans to allow cafes and restaurants to resume regular service until 11 p....

Fully vaccinated Americans do not need to quarantine if they are exposed to someone with COVID-19, according to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new recommendation, released on Wednesday, exempts those who have received the full dose of one of the approved vaccines from having to self-isolate if they are exposed. Currently, that means two doses of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or the Moderna vaccine as well as a two-week wait for their immunity to kick-in....

Centuries ago, the underground areas of Rome’s Colosseum were not a place you’d want to find yourself in — it’s where they kept the gladiators and wild animals before they went to battle with each other. Thankfully, times have changed and the arena is now a place that attracts millions of visitors every year (under normal circumstances, of course). And now, both travelers and history buffs will have even more reason to flock to the popular site as the underground areas — sometimes described as the “backstage” of the Colosseum — have been restored and opened to visitors for the first time ever....

U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Wednesday extended its suspension on enrollment for popular travel programs like Global Entry through at least June 1 amid the continued spread of COVID-19. The program was initially suspended on March 19. As part of the closure, the agency said it would shutter enrollment centers for Global Entry, which allows expedited immigration when entering the country, as well as other trusted traveler programs like NEXUS and SENTRI, which allow for easier crossings from Canada and Mexico....

Hawaii will lift restrictions on bars, restaurants, and more this week, allowing each island to implement its own rules going forward, the state’s Gov. David Ige announced. Starting Wednesday, Ige will repeal his executive order, which imposed gathering restrictions and instead allow each county to implement whatever measures they deem appropriate. “The nature of this emergency was like no other, and it required a level of federal, state, and county coordination that we’ve never before seen,” Ige said in a statement....

While it may not be safe to hop on a plane just yet that doesn’t mean you can’t still explore the world. Virtual offerings are becoming all the rage as we safely wait out the spread of the coronavirus at home. That includes virtual museum tours, online hikes in some of the coolest parks in the United States, art lessons, and even workouts. And now, new destinations are getting in on the action, including the entirety of Israel....