Posts

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has been welcoming visitors to the land of Batuu to live out their own intergalactic experiences since opening last summer at Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida. From the themed food and beverage offerings to the ambitious attractions, Galaxy’s Edge is incredibly immersive and interactive. Travel + Leisure had the chance to experience this land first-hand for the opening of the new Rise of the Resistance attraction, and we sat down with Scott Trowbridge, Star Wars portfolio creative executive from Walt Disney Imagineering, for the inside scoop on the Galaxy’s Edge experience....

When you’re smart about booking, air travel can be more affordable. But for travelers with kids who have to book multiple tickets, airfare can get very expensive, very fast. Most airlines require travelers to purchase a separate ticket for their kids as soon as they turn 2, however Frontier takes a different approach. Frontier Airlines announced a Kids Fly Free promotion in January that includes any child age 14 or younger who was traveling with a parent....

When it comes to booking a hotel, location is key. You could always stay in a popular neighborhood, but what if you’d rather have that off-the-beaten-path vibe? Or, what if you prefer to be within walking distance of the best nightlife? Good news: Google launched a new feature this week that will make it easier for travelers to book hotels and discover destinations, tailored to individual tastes. Google.com When searching for a hotel on Google, travelers can now click “Where to stay” to get a rundown of different neighborhoods and the average cost of hotels there....

“Halloweentown” isn’t just a 1998 Disney cult classic. It’s also a real place—at least every October. The town of St. Helens, Oregon, where many scenes in “Halloweentown” were shot, transforms itself each year for fans of the series. The annual “Spirit of Halloweentown” festival is a month-long celebration of all things hallow, packed with Halloweentown-themed events. Courtesy of Spirit of Halloweentown The fun begins each year on October 1, and visitors can enjoy everything from haunted house tours and pumpkin carving contests to spooky tractor rides and costume parties....

It was a decidedly unmagical moment for a company that makes magic its business when Disney announced on March 12 that its theme parks in Florida and California would be closing. The announcement came the day before the U.S. government declared a national emergency, and the day after the World Health Organization deemed the coronavirus a global pandemic. For many, that the disease could fell a multi-billion dollar juggernaut like Walt Disney World, which had only closed its gates six other times in nearly 50 years, was the signal that things were about to get really bad in America....

India has allowed regularly scheduled international commercial flights to resume flying to the country for the first time in more than two years, the country’s Ministry of Tourism announced on Sunday. Commercial international passenger flights were allowed to begin again on March 27, according to the ministry, after the country initially suspended them on March 23, 2020. The ministry said in a statement the decision “has been hailed and warmly [met] by all the travel industry stakeholders of the country....

Spotting a piece from one of Jonathan Adler’s home collections is like picking out the Empire State Building from the New York City skyline: simple. Creating fun and playful but chic and timeless designs, Adler has left his mark in homes and hotels around the world, and he’s just getting started; last year the New York-based designer led the charge to give the Parker Palm Springs Hotel a total facelift....

To celebrate the start of the fall school term, Inspired By Iceland has released a series of videos that share insider knowledge on topics visitors wonder about most, like how to catch the Northern Lights and how to pack for the country’s changing weather. The videos are part of Iceland Academy, an online tool that offers tips from local experts. Viewers can learn about everything from secrets of Icelandic cuisine to how to explore Iceland’s best winter activities....

A new addition born at a wildlife rescue in Kenya is not a zebra, but it’s not exactly a donkey either. It’s a zonkey. The unique animal was the product of a stray zebra who wandered out of the country’s Tsavo East National Park and made herself at home as part of a local cattle herd, ingratiating herself amongst her new neighbors for weeks, according to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust....

Another Italian town is selling off its abandoned homes for €1, but this is the first in the coveted region of Abruzzo, CNN reported. The town of Pratola Peligna, located about a two-hour drive east of Rome, is hoping to revitalize its culture, preserve its history, and stimulate its socioeconomic growth by launching the scheme to attract new residents, the town said in a release. With about 630 empty buildings, as many as 250 could be sold for €1, according to CNN....

T+L launched Operation Vacation to inspire workers to use their days off and get away, offering exclusive travel discounts as incentive. For the latest deals on hotels, airfare, cruises, and trip packages, visit travelandleisure.com/operation-vacation Dominica: 30 percent off stays at the Rosalie Bay Resort with cottages decorated with Batik art work near the Morne Trois Pitons. Don’t miss a farm-to-table spa treatment at Gló Spa or a trek through the island’s rugged rainforests and waterfalls....

The next few months are filled with spectacular celestial events, and there is perhaps no better place to look up at the stars with wonder than the Wylder Hope Valley in California. On the evening of April 21 to 22, the night sky will light up thanks to the Lyrid Meteor Shower. According to the “Farmer’s Almanac,” skywatchers can expect to see an average of 10 meteors per hour in “dark, clear skies between midnight and dawn....

According to the Associated Press (AP), scientists claim that they have found a Voeltzkow’s chameleon –– a species that hasn’t been spotted in 100 years. Maybe it’s just shy? This strange and elusive animal lives on the African island of Madagascar. Scientists from both Madagascar and Germany published a report in the Salamandra Journal (a journal dedicated to herpetology), according to the Associated Press. “The chameleon Furcifer voeltzkowi (Boettger, 1893) from northwestern Madagascar was considered to be a synonym of Furcifer rhinoceratus for many decades and was resurrected only recently based on studies of the morphology and osteology of a few male specimens, which were collected more than 100 years ago,” it says in the report abstract....

For decades, Rocky Mountaineer has taken travelers on scenic train journeys through the majestic Canadian Rockies. Now, the luxury rail line has set its sights on new landscapes — the American Southwest — and is marking the occasion with a promotion. The inaugural season of the Rockies to the Red Rocks route launches in August 2021 and was originally slated to end in October. But with such a high demand for this new train trip, Rocky Mountaineer added four more weeks to the season, offering a special discount on those extended departure dates....

As Iceland prepares to reopen its borders to foreign travelers on July 1, one tourism company is hoping to lure back tourists by offering to pay for their mandatory COVID-19 tests. Iceland’s new border rules require travelers from abroad to either undergo a COVID-19 test upon arrival or spend the first two weeks of their trip in quarantine. However, excursion tour company Arctic Adventures has promised to “eliminate the burden” and cover the cost of the $114 (ISK 15,000) test so their clients can start their travel around Iceland quickly after landing....

Film lovers can celebrate the Tribeca Film Festival the way it should be celebrated — with a private screening. The Walker Hotel Tribeca is the prime location for attending the Tribeca Film Festival, an annual event that takes place every spring/early summer in New York City. The festival showcases a vast array of films, tv shows, panels, music, games, art, and more, including some new works from big Hollywood stars. And some guests of the hotel may not even have to leave to truly enjoy a night at the movies....

It’s no surprise why Tumi is a long-time favorite of frequent travelers — the brand makes durable, high-quality luggage that ensures you’ll travel in style. Now, fans have even more reason to love the brand, since it’s using recycled materials to make several of its most popular bags. Select suitcases and bags in the Merge and Alpha Bravo collections will now be made from sustainable materials, including recycled bottles and post-industrial recycled nylon, that reduce impact on the environment yet still meet Tumi’s quality and durability standards....

I have long predicted that African women can only embrace the value of their contributions to local tourism when they work to shatter the geographical, gender, and social barriers that have been in place for centuries. This is part of what drove me to launch my company in 2005, as I truly believe as “African women rise, wildlife will thrive.” Roar Africa is a luxury safari specialist run by women, and supported by native-born guides and a curated network of experts....

Recently I was flying home after visiting my family with my husband and son. At the end of a 6-hour flight with a toddler, I was exhausted, and didn’t do the usual “check the seat pocket in front of you” search that I normally would. Of course, 10 minutes after getting off the plane, I realized I had left my Kindle in the pocket in front of me. I immediately called JetBlue’s lost and found, and was told to file a report and that I would be contacted when my Kindle was recovered....

Female-focused adventure companies aren’t exactly new — the first iterations sprang up in the late seventies, offering camping and canoe trips for women making their first forays into the backcountry. But in recent years, as wellness has gone mainstream and girls-only spaces have shed their negative stereotypes, women-only tour operators have blossomed. Today’s female-focused travel companies span every type of trip, from hardcore climbing expeditions to soft adventure experiences where days are spent cycling and nights spent tucked into crisp Frette sheets at a high-end hotel....