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This year’s World’s Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three-year period. We hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world. As travelers sought outlets for their wanderlust over the past year, they turned to their own proverbial backyards, stretching the definition of “drive market” perhaps further than it’s gone before....

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to drive a million-dollar car? Thought about flying down the freeway or cruising Main Street in a vehicle that turns heads as it passes? That experience is available in most major cities — at a price, of course. Rental rates vary by model and location, but for a special occasion, date, business meeting, or just fun with friends, you can drive a rare, exotic car....

Expedia wants to take WFH on the road, and is selling trips for only $20.20 to inspire a few lucky people to trade their couch for a beach chair. Starting Monday at 8:20 p.m. EST (or 20:20), two-week stays at an Expedia VIP Access Property will go on sale, on a first come first serve basis as s part of their “Work From Here” initiative. The trips, are for travel in April, and will be offered to the first six people who book....

Editor’s Pick: The Visionary Jochen Zeitz, Founder of Segera Retreat, Laikipia, Kenya Former Puma CEO and chairman Jochen Zeitz is on a multiple-front crusade for ethical commerce across the globe. Tasked with overseeing the sustainable-development efforts at luxury-goods conglomerate Kering (whose holdings include Bottega Veneta, Gucci, and Saint Laurent), he has now turned his attention to travel. His 50,000-acre Segera Retreat, in northern Kenya, has transformed a stylish, eight-villa safari retreat into a model for conservation and thoughtful community development....

Hallmark Channel holiday movies during its “Countdown to Christmas” have long been one of the coziest holiday traditions while sitting on your own couch at home. But now you can immerse yourself into movies’ festive worlds with a trio of Club Wyndham resort suites that have been created by the set design teams behind the actual films. Courtesy of Club Wyndham Nashville The ultimate Christmas suites each have a different theme, based on their locations....

In March, officials at Disney made the decision to close its theme parks due to the spread of the Coronavirus. It marks the longest closure in Disney history. And now, we’re getting our first glimpse at what a completely empty Disneyland actually looks like. KABC, a Disney-owned ABC affiliate in Los Angeles, recently shared 50 seconds of aerial footage of Disneyland, showing the incredibly rare view of a completely empty park....

The most famous ecosystem on earth, tropical rainforests contain more than two-thirds of the world’s plant species. You won’t see them all on your vacation, but there are some of the most impressive. Tropical Rainforest Climate Top Tropical Rainforest Plants While the animals — Javan tigers, tree sloths, and silver-backed gorillas — get more postcard inches than the plants, some of the most miraculous species that live in the world’s rainforests are the flora....

For shoe icon Manolo Blahnik, time in quarantine has been peaceful yet productive. Self-isolating in Bath, England, the famed designer has been using his time to work, enjoy his favorite classic movies, and — like many of us — develop some new cooking skills. Travel + Leisure recently got to ask Blahnik some questions about how he’s been spending his time — and, naturally, we needed his expert thoughts on footwear....

Kathryn Sullivan’s interview is part of TIME Firsts, a multimedia project featuring 46 groundbreaking women. Watch the rest of the videos at Time.com/Firsts. Buy the book at the TIME Shop. When Kathryn Sullivan joined the Astronaut Corps in 1978, she was breaking ground for women in space — and luckily she wasn’t alone. “NASA had the wisdom to bring in a critical mass — six women, three African Americans, an Asian,” Sullivan said....

To fully understand the culture of the Olympics, you have to experience it firsthand. My crash-course in Olympics life was working at the London 2012 Olympics, where I admittedly made some rookie mistakes — some of which could have been avoided if I were a more seasoned traveler, rather than a 20-year-old intern. To reacquaint myself in Olympics culture ahead of Tokyo 2020, I recently toured the Kanto region of Japan, which between Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures will host 31 of 33 Olympic sports this summer....

If you dream of taking a cross-country road trip from the Pacific to the Atlantic, then you should definitely consider heading west on U.S. Route 6. As the longest, continuous transcontinental highway in America, this 3,200-mile-long stretch of road takes you through 14 states, starting in California and terminating in Massachusetts. Also known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, U.S. Route 6 is unique in that the towns and cities it intersects are pretty arbitrary — many of the places you drive through feel almost forgotten....

While spotting a group of fireflies in the night sky is nothing short of magical, this national park in South Carolina may just have the ultimate experience. Found in Congaree National Park, a rare species of fireflies — called synchronous fireflies — put on a stunning light show during their spring mating season, drawing thousands of visitors from across the nation and heralding the start of summer. The natural phenomenon only occurs two weeks between mid-May and mid-June in Congaree, and this year, the public viewing dates are set for May 20-22 and May 27-29, 2022....

The beloved comedy show Schitt’s Creek may have come to an end, but that doesn’t mean fans can’t still enjoy a piece of the show. In fact, soon enough, they could even own a seriously cool bit of memorabilia: The Rosewood Hotel. As for how Schitt’s Creek found the property, Tipping said, “I just got a call out of nowhere from a location scout named Jeff,” then received a visit from the cast, including Eugene Levy, Dan Levy, and Catherine O’Hara, who came to film the pilot....

This month, The Hoxton — known as the ever-trendy boutique hotel that started in the U.K. — launched Camp Hox, a series of curated camper van experiences across the U.S. and Europe. Bookings went live on May 4 for the second iteration of Camp Hox. Last summer, they hosted the first Camp Hox experience in the U.K., swapping city hotel rooms for glamping tents in Oxfordshire and bringing the quintessential Hoxton decor and amenities to the English countryside....

Speed dating is one way to spend Valentine’s Day, but speed dating on skis takes things to a whole new level — literally and figuratively. That’s exactly what one ski mountain is offering on Feb. 14. Mount Norquay in Banff, Alberta is inviting singles to ride the chairlift two by two, encouraging them to use the few short minutes to determine whether there is a connection. And while you’re sure to be bundled up (it’s Canada in February, after all), event organizers hope the sparks will fly....

Travelers looking to experience what it’s like to fly over one of the world’s best airports can now do so straight from the comfort of their room at the Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu. Drawing inspiration from its location near Haneda (Tokyo International) Airport, the hotel is opening a room that comes with its own flight simulator to provide guests with sweeping views as they embark on flights over the facility to Osaka’s Itami Airport....

For decades, NASA has watched Earth from above. Thankfully, since 1999, the space agency has been kind enough to share its unique view of the world via Earth Observatory, whose mission is to “share with the public the images, stories, and discoveries about the environment, Earth systems, and climate that emerge from NASA research.” This includes some seriously stunning satellite images. So stunning, that over the last few weeks NASA went on a mission for humans to pick their favorite photo of Earth....

Countries across Europe are easing COVID-19-related border restrictions and Dutch airline KLM is celebrating with a spring sale that will have travelers saying welkom. To take advantage of the sale — which has fares to Amsterdam starting at only $679 round trip and tickets to other popular European cities and beyond for a steal — travelers must book by March 30. “You can’t pass on these wonderful destinations we’ve selected for you,” KLM wrote as part of the sale....

Though visiting Europe may still be a dream for most Americans, there’s plenty to look forward to when those borders finally reopen. The latest good news is the unveiling of the S.S. La Venezia, the newest ship from Uniworld Boutique River Cruises. The stunner of a ship has been designed to look like a classic, Venetian boutique hotel, with just 63 cabins for a maximum of 126 guests. To get the look, Uniworld partnered with Fortuny, the design firm founded in Venice in 1907 by the Spanish textile genius Mariano Fortuny....

Uber is ready to help riders get to the voting booth on Election Day. With their new initiative, “Get Out the Vote,” Uber will help people register, find their polling place, and even hop a discounted ride to cast their ballot on Nov. 3. “As we look ahead to this year’s election, we are committed to doing our part to make sure every citizen has access to vote,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement on Tuesday....