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Guests in New York City hotels and short-term rentals are now required to fill out quarantine travel forms before they can access their rooms. On Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio passed an executive order that requires travelers from a list of restricted states to fill out the New York State Traveler Health Form, detailing their travel and health history of the past 14 days. Visitors must show that they’ve completed the form by showing its certification page to the hotel or short-term rental, either as a print-out or a screenshot from a cell phone or laptop, upon arrival....

Winter is coming, and Badrutt’s Palace Hotel is back to celebrate. The famed World’s Best Award-winning hotel in St. Moritz, Switzerland, reopened for the winter on Dec. 3, with all-new developments and a calendar filled with holiday celebrations and après-ski festivities. “St. Moritz has long been a sought-after destination for discerning U.S. travelers who visit the Engadin Valley for adventure, glamour, and luxury,” Richard Leuenberger, managing director of Badrutt’s Palace, shared in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure....

It’s not often that one of the world’s most iconic landmarks gets a makeover, but this fall, Paris’s Arc de Triomphe is getting a temporary new look after more than a year of delays due to the pandemic. André Grossmann/Courtesy of Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation Last year, internationally known artist Christo had plans to wrap the arch in 270,000 square feet of silvery blue fabric and 23,000 feet of red rope - both recyclable....

Southwest Airlines is celebrating its 50th birthday and you’re invited to the festivities. In honor of 50 years since its inaugural flight on June 18th, Southwest has declared the day as “Wanna Get Away Day” a national holiday that has even been registered with the National Day Calendar. The milestone anniversary celebrations will last the entire month of June but will hit their peak on the newly-minted holiday with a few surprises in store....

We know summer just got started, but it’s not too soon to start thinking about where you plan to spend the winter holidays. According to Cheapflights.com, deals for travel during the winter holiday can be found as early as 25 weeks in advance (which is the week of July 2). When You Should Buy Your Flights for Every Major Holiday To determine the ideal time to book affordable flights for a holiday getaway, Cheapflights looked at Americans’ favorite destinations for the season and when the best deals could be found....

It might be difficult (and expensive) to book a week-long last-minute 4th of July vacation, but it’s not too late to plan a quick trip to somewhere nearby. To help all urban procrastinators finalize their July 4th plans, Yelp has compiled a list of quick getaway ideas with easy access from some of the biggest U.S. cities. Just a few hours from downtown, you could be watching fireworks from the beach, grilling in the mountains, or biting into watermelon in the desert....

Along with rugged rubber outsoles that provide excellent traction, they have thick, cushioned foam insoles that cradle and mold to your feet. Shoppers love the sleek minimalist design and say the sandals look good with just about everything. The 12 Most Comfortable Flip-flops for Men and Women, According to Customer Reviews While flip-flops can often feel quite flimsy, this pair uses sturdy leather thong straps, heel cradles, and insole grips to keep your feet securely in place — not to mention, reviewers say the footbeds feel super soft and lightweight....

When you’ve perfected an outfit, there’s no better feeling than adding a stunning designer bag as the pièce de résistance. Whether it’s a geometrically pleasing Loewe Puzzle bag or a timeless Chanel Boy bag, adding that statement piece can really make you feel a certain way. The problem, though, is that purchasing an expensive designer bag is a commitment; do you really want to drop a few thousand bucks on one single bag?...

Kruger National Park in South Africa is already a lust-worthy destination, but thanks to an unusual new hotel it’s about to get even better. The Kruger Shalati is perhaps the most innovative accommodation of 2020 as it was once a luxury train that has now been refurbished into an equally luxurious hotel. Courtesy of Kruger Shalati Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge now sits permanently stationed on the Selati Bridge hovering above the Sabie River....

Have you been sitting on your couch in your underwear since March? Because, apparently, you can get paid for that. The underwear company Pockies is on the hunt for someone special to fill its Ultimate Couch Potato role. The only skill required is a willingness to sit on the couch for five hours straight to test out the brand’s undies. “For too long, we have been in the dark about the needs of our American customer base,” the company wrote in its job description....

Depending on where in the U.S. you live, you might assume that the price of something is concrete — regardless of how you pay for it. In reality, that’s not the case. Retailers in most U.S. states have the right to charge customers a surcharge when they use a credit card to make their purchase — and the number of states who have ruled against these surcharges are dwindling. Most recently, New York joined the majority after the highest court in the state gave restaurants and retailers permission to charge customers extra for using a credit card....

The mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi, announced last week that the city will replace cobblestones on about 70 of its busiest streets with smooth asphalt. The stones are notorious for being difficult to navigate in anything but the most practical footwear and for being extremely slippery when wet. They’ve also come loose from the pressure of automobiles over the years and have been known to send cyclists flying from their bikes....

Even though national parks have become a perfect destination for a socially-distant adventure, Yellowstone National Park has advised visitors to keep a safe distance from more than just fellow park goers. Starting in September, bull elks can become particularly aggressive during what is known as “rut” season where the animals bugle and show off their strength for potential female mates, the park explained. The bulls will sometimes charge and battle each other, crashing their antlers together while wrestling....

Most adults don’t need a sitter, but if you’re trying to up your Instagram game, it might be time to get one. Ibis, a Swiss hotel chain, is now offering a special service that allows travelers the opportunity to take a vacation from their own social media accounts by hiring a “social media sitter.” The sitter, who is guaranteed to be an Instagram influencer, will take over your account and post seemingly perfect photos, Instagram Stories, and, if you want, even reply to comments on your feed....

The only thing better than scoring an epic flight deal may be scoring an epic flight deal for two vacations in one. Icelandair, the airline that made stopovers sexy again, is cutting prices on flights to Iceland and beyond from a dozen cities across the U.S. Escape from New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., or Minneapolis to Amsterdam, Berlin or Paris in economy with prices starting at $399 round trip. Or opt for a more luxurious Saga Premium ride with prices starting at $999 round trip....

Yosemite National Park has ended its day-use reservation system, allowing visitors to enter the park without any pre-required paperwork. The reservation system had been put in place to manage traffic flow during the COVID-19 pandemic from June 11 through Oct. 31, 2020, and again from Feb. 8 through Feb. 28, 2021. “This helped reduce overcrowding at the park’s most popular destinations,” according to the National Park Service (NPS) website. “The park aimed to increase public access while providing visitors with a reasonable opportunity to comply with health guidelines....

Sections of Zion National Park are slated to re-open Wednesday, May 13 after weeks of coronavirus lockdown. The park announced in a tweet Monday evening that it would resume limited daytime operations in select areas on Wednesday. In more information provided on Zion’s National Park Service page, visitors are advised to abide by social distancing rules including a limit on gatherings of no more than 12. Hikers must remain on the trails and can only access the hikes from designated trailheads....

Findlay Market, in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, is the longest-operating public market in the state of Ohio, and one of the oldest in the nation. The market has gone through moments of both prominence and near-demise since it began operation in 1855, but today, its main market hall — as well as the storefronts immediately bordering it, which together feature more than 50 full-time businesses — constitute the beating heart of Cincinnati’s culinary revival....

People in France, like much of the world, may be quarantined due to the coronavirus, but that didn’t stop the National Orchestra of France from doing what they do best. Streaming solo from their homes, the orchestra of 50 played “Bolero,” sporting headphones and casual clothes during the at-home show. In the video, that has almost one million views, one musician beats a drum with the words “stay home” written on it and another drummer — who doesn’t have his drums — used kitchen utensils as his instrument....

These days, Airbnb vacation rentals have become a go-to when it comes to COVID-safe travel. Booking an Airbnb often offers more privacy and opportunity to social distance than other lodging options, making them a great choice if you’re looking to get away sooner rather than later. And if you’re looking for a true escape, a remote Airbnb located in the mountains, in the middle of a forest, or in the desert, might be just what you’ve been looking for....