Our family trip to Menorca should have been remembered as any number of things: the summer vacation when my daughter learned to snorkel, that time my dad ate a lobster’s face, the week of 17 impossibly perfect beaches. And it was all that, but halfway through our stay it also became the time my wife found out her mother was dying. We had rented a house along the Spanish island’s southern coast, in a community called Binibèquer....
The newest bartender on MSC Cruises speaks eight languages, can dance with the best of them, rattle off space trivia, and mixes cosmic cocktails that will make cruisers feel out of this world. His name is Rob, and he’s a robot. Rob isn’t just any old robot — in fact, he’s the first-ever humanoid, robotic bartender at sea, the cruise line shared with Travel Leisure, and will be ready to shake and stir drinks at the helm of his futuristic bar when the MSC Virtuosa sets sail in April....
Editor’s Note: Travel might be complicated right now, but use our inspirational trip ideas to plan ahead for your next bucket list adventure. Travelers have finally warmed up to winter-centric wilderness itineraries. Take Denali National Park & Preserve, which has seen such an increase in demand that it will implement new measures this season: plowing an additional 12 miles of roads; grooming more trails; and installing a footbridge near Mountain Vista, the rest area known for its views of the 20,310-foot peak, to improve access to cross-country-skiing and snowshoeing routes....
Some of the most thrilling moments of summer vacation happen before you leave home. While you’re researching, prepping, and packing for the fun ahead, you’re fueled by adrenaline and anticipation about the unknown adventures you and your family or other travel companions are about to experience. If you’re leaning into a spirited vacation countdown right now, you can round out your packing list by shopping Walmart’s latest sale. Through 5 a....
One lucky whiskey lover will get a chance to explore some of the most beautiful places in the U.S. — all while sipping on premium spirits. Hochstadter’s Slow & Low Rock and Rye has teamed with Monster Children to host the travel category of its 10th annual photo competition, which is open to applicants around the world. While an international entrant will win a chance at some prize money, a chosen U....
Greece will soon be ready to welcome tourists once again, and when it does, TCS World Travel will be ready to help guests see and do it all. In April, TCS World Travel announced the addition of The Undiscovered Greek Isles Itinerary to its already stellar suite of tours, which is meant to help travelers see as many of the islands as possible in one go. The new tour includes visits to four of the Cycladic islands, including Paros, Naxos, Folegandros, and Milos, which often appear in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards as some of our readers’ favorite islands in Europe....
A new ship headed to the Galápagos Islands will soon add a bit of luxury to the eco-minded destination. The newly built Silver Origin is scheduled to start sailing with passengers on Sept. 19, with a series of adventurous itineraries that offer lots of wildlife-watching moments. Courtesy of Silversea A Medallion Suite on the Silver Origin. Courtesy of Silversea The 100-passenger vessel is operated by Silversea, which Travel + Leisure readers recently named one of the world’s best small-ship cruise lines....
As the world celebrates Earth Day on April 22, many may not know how the holiday came about, or that 2020 is the 50th anniversary of the holiday. Fifty years ago, a senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson, launched a national effort in 1970 and called it, of course, “Earth Day.” That year, communities around the country hosted “teach-ins,” rallies, and marches about man’s environmental impact that some say attracted 20 million people....
Soneva Fushi, a luxury retreat in the Maldives, is bringing overwater retreats to a whole new level. The resort, which is soon ready to welcome guests once again, announced the addition of its new one- and two-bedroom water retreats that measure in as the largest overwater villas in the world. “We are very proud to announce this exciting new phase for Soneva Fushi,” Sonu Shivdasani, Soneva’s CEO, shared in a statement....
Pilots have their own language, designed to communicate complex messages as briefly and clearly as possible. With so many planes flying in the skies today, air traffic control (that’s “ATC”) communications can get busy, and “pilot speak” helps cut out the noise. Many terms are from the military and were standardized by the Air Force. Others are specific to commercial aircraft operations. Because English is the official language of aviation, all pilot slang is based on it, and ATC around the world understands the phrases....
From professional Zoom meetings to virtual travel experiences, we’ve all grown more accustomed to living our lives in the digital world. While these virtual interactions are usually reserved for people we know, one European company is aiming to build bridges around the globe with “portals” that let passersby in different cities peek into each other’s lives. The company, aptly named Portal, has already begun its world-unifying mission with two digital “doors” in Vilnius, Lithuania, and Lublin, Poland....
A trip to Oahu doesn’t have to include battling the crowds at Waikiki Beach or dining with what feels like half the island at an indoor restaurant. There’s plenty to see and do that’s off the typical tourist checklist — you just have to go a bit more off the beaten path. And with the virus top of mind for most travelers, Hawaii makes it easy to eat and play outdoors thanks to its year-round balmy weather....
The Langham, Boston has partnered with the Boston Ballet for a luxurious holiday hotel package dedicated to ‘The Nutcracker.’ Ahead of Christmas, hotel is introducing “A Night at The Nutcracker,” an over-the-top package for fans of the seasonal ballet classic. Guests will enjoy an overnight stay in the Chairman’s Suite (the hotel’s top offering), which has been transformed into “a Sugar Plum Fairy’s dream,” according to the hotel. The package also includes a festive meal for up to four people, prepared by the hotel’s executive chef Stephen Bukoff and served in the suite’s dining room....
Whether you’re traveling, commuting, or running daily errands, a crossbody bag will take you far. And who better to turn to for recommendations than Oprah? The mogul is obsessed with one stylish, surprisingly affordable crossbody purse, making sure to highlight it in her annual Favorite Things list in 2021, and it’s easy to see why she’s a fan. Her pick is compact yet spacious, has plenty of convenient pockets to keep you organized and your belongings safe, and it’s made from sleek vegan leather....
The year 2020 may mark the beginning of a new decade, but perhaps most importantly, a new Olympic season. And while the Summer 2020 Olympics is just starting to show up on the radar of gymnastics and swimming enthusiasts around the world, Tokyo has been in preparation mode since they were announced as the host city in 2013. It’s not just Tokyo hosting the Olympics—it’s all of Japan, really. The farthest events, soccer and the marathon, will be 725 miles north of Tokyo in Sapporo—and baseball will be in Fukushima....
Two of the best parts about going to Disney World or Disneyland have to be the food and souvenirs. Sometimes, you get to experience something that combines both of these things, like a food item that also includes a souvenir. At the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge parks in Orlando, Florida and Anaheim, California, there are both food and souvenir items park-goers can collect that actually don’t cost an arm and a leg, like the souvenir Coke and Sprite bottles that are made to look like thermal detonators....
An American soldier abroad went to extraordinary lengths to witness the birth of his first child back home. U.S. Army combat engineer Francois Clerfe utilized a special policy in his battalion that allowed him to return from Iraq to Monterey, California in time for the delivery. But to do so required an incredible journey: Seven planes, 10 connections, two days and thousands of miles, according to ABC affiliate WCVB. “Kuwait, to Turkey, to Turkey to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Baltimore, Baltimore to Atlanta,” Clerfe told the station....
With turquoise waters, colorful sunsets, and overwater bungalows, the Maldives rightfully lands on many travelers’ bucket lists. The island nation is often synonymous with luxury, but for those looking to take things to the next level, the Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru is offering a buyout option for friends and family to enjoy the entire property for themselves. Perfect for social distancing and traveling with your own bubble, the resort sits on its own island covered in white, sandy beaches and is surrounded by colorful marine life at the nearby reef....
In July 2020, three Mars-bound spacecrafts lifted off from Earth to make the roughly 300-million-mile journey to the Red Planet. Seven months later, they’re all about to arrive. While accomplishing anything in space is tough, Mars missions, in particular, are rather challenging tasks — historically, fewer than half have succeeded. Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech So, it’s all eyes on the sky (or rather, on our computer screens) as the United Arab Emirates’ Hope orbiter, China’s Tianwen-1 probe, and the United States’ Perseverance rover are set to arrive....
When planning a trip to Iceland, nearly every guidebook, article, and travel agent will recommend visiting one of the many hot springs in the country. Bathing in Iceland’s warm waters is a popular pastime for travelers and locals alike, and during my most recent trip to the Land of Fire and Ice, I wanted to immerse myself (pun intended) in the swimming pool culture that the country is known for....
