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Antarctica is beyond the boundaries of civilization, beyond the limits of imagination, and — for most practical vacationers — beyond the realm of possibility. It exists more as an abstract collage of penguins, glaciers, and icebergs than it does actual terra firma. And so it remains the ultimate bucket-list daydream to anyone with insatiable wanderlust. But here’s a little secret this mysterious continent keeps well guarded: It’s way easier to get here than you imagine....

On a bright afternoon this fall, I paid a visit to Elusa Winery, operated by Napa winemaking legend Thomas Rivers Brown. The group tasting began with an excellent 2018 sauvignon blanc, which we sipped as we wandered Elusa’s five acres of grapes. Back in the tank room, we got a special taste of a young, still-in-process red — siphoned off for us en route to its second fermentation. We headed deeper into the cellars to taste and taste and taste some more, ending on a high note with the vineyard’s 2012 cabernet sauvignon, born from the same vines we had been touching not long before....

Aussies looking to travel internationally got a glimmer of hope this week as the federal government told them to “dust off [their] passports” in preparation for the country’s slow reopening — a process that will now include the trial of vaccine passports with some countries. The announcement comes nearly 18 months after Australia closed its borders in the early stages of the pandemic. Borders have remained closed ever since with strict guidelines in place for the few exceptions that allowed travelers to enter the country for essential reasons....

With a career spanning seven decades, Betty White was one of the most beloved American actresses. While White lived and worked out of Brentwood in Los Angeles, the late actress owned a stunning home in Carmel, California, where she loved to escape the hustle and bustle of Tinseltown. And that home can now be yours for $7.95 million. Aerial Canvas for Sotheby’s International Realty Aerial Canvas for Sotheby’s International Realty...

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is ready to make the dream of a luxury getaway into a reality with the option to upgrade bookings made within the next month. The cruise company is offering travelers a two-category suite upgrade for the ultimate vacation on trips booked by Feb. 28, the cruise line shared with Travel + Leisure. To take advantage of the upgrade, travelers can book one of 280 different voyages for later in the year or even all the way through April 2024....

European cruise lines MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises announced their plans to resume voyages around the continent later this month. MSC Cruises plans to resume cruises from the port of Genoa, Italy on Jan. 24, with weekly cruises of the western Mediterranean aboard the MSC Grandiosa. The cruise line originally intended on bringing back ships earlier in the month, but the Italian government has blocked port access until Jan. 15, reps for the company said in a statement....

What kind of secrets are flight attendants keeping from passengers? Turns out, it’s all hidden in the way they speak. You’ve probably noticed that flight attendants use a certain vocabulary when they talk to each other inflight. Certain words like “red eye” or “dead head” might be fairly well known amongst seasoned travelers, but there are a few words that you might not be familiar with. For those who are unaware, “red eye” refers to flights that are overnight and “dead head” is an airline employee who is on board a flight, but is off duty....

“In retrospect,” says Melany Robinson, “the pricing was too good to be true.” Robinson, a hospitality publicist and seasoned traveler who lives in Birmingham, Alabama, was surfing Craigslist in the summer of 2020, looking for a ski-season rental in Park City, Utah. She came across a five-bedroom, five-bath chalet with panoramic views, a wood-burning fireplace, and an outdoor deck complete with a hot tub. It looked perfect for her family and was available for her dates in February and March of this year....

Have you ever really seen the Solar System with your own eyes? We’re all used to seeing pictures in textbooks of the eight planets all lined up in a row, starting with Mercury and ending with Neptune (or Pluto, which was de-throned as a planet in 2009), but very rarely do we actually get to see a line of planets in the night sky at the same time. That’s what’s happening this week as all five planets visible to the naked eye — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn —appear simultaneously....

Actress Mandy Moore has become quite the travel sensation in recent months. After all, she has scaled both Mount Kilimanjaro and reached Everest base camp with ease. And now, Moore is sharing a bit more about her travels, only this time she made it a true family affair. Over the weekend, Moore posted a series of images on her Instagram account of herself in the cockpit of a plane alongside the pilot....

New York is officially back. With 70% of the state’s adult population having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, New York has lifted almost all of its pandemic restrictions. Restaurants, bars, and New York City’s famous museums no longer have to limit capacity, require social distancing, conduct health screenings, or collect information for contact tracing - though businesses do have the choice to continue protective measures if they wish....

You might think that if you’ve seen one aurora, you’ve seen them all. But actually, researchers may have discovered a new kind of northern light. According to Lonely Planet, space researchers worked with amateur photographers in Finland to capture and examine a new type of aurora borealis called “dunes.” Auroras come in many different shapes and types, but this discovery revealed an aurora that didn’t fit into existing categories. The “dunes” resemble ocean waves and are typically colored with a beautiful green light that outlines their shape....

Qantas Airlines is still invested in helping you travel. Just not in the way you may think. Qantas and Antarctica Flights announced plans to bring back their Antarctica sightseeing partnership flights in November. While the planes will not land in Antarctica they will circle around to give people an unparalleled view of the icy continent. “There is no passport or luggage needed for an Antarctica Flight, you can even go in board shorts if you wish,” Antarctica Flights CEO Bas Bosschieter told 7News....

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. A bucket-list destination for many T+L readers, India mesmerizes with its riot of colors, centuries-old traditions, and geographical diversity, from the mountains of Ladakh and the beaches and rivers of Kerala to every frenetic city in between....

Royal Caribbean just keeps getting bigger. Just one year after beating its own record for the world’s largest cruise ship, the cruise line has cut metal on another, even bigger ship that should set another world record on its maiden voyage in 2021. The cruise line is in the process of creating its fifth Oasis ship, the largest class of boat Royal Caribbean has on offer. The first Oasis ship, Oasis of the Seas, debuted in 2008 and, at the time, had the honorific of largest cruise ship in the world....

New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to link two of the city’s most well-known (and recently renovated) landmarks: The High Line and Penn Station. Cuomo’s proposal, which he detailed at his State-of-the-State address this week, would extend the oft-visited High Line, providing access to the newly-opened Moynihan Train Hall, a bright spot in the typically dingy Penn Station. The L-shaped addition would extend the High Line east at 10th Ave. and 30th St....

Getting rest in economy class is often an act that requires a stroke of ingenuity: Do you crumple up a scarf and shove it between your neck and the window? Do you unfurl the tray table and attempt a child’s pose? Or do you depend on a travel pillow to solve all your problems? At a conference in London earlier this week, a company called Universal Movement debuted an idea for an airplane seat that would eliminate the need for any MacGyver-ing....

Going on an around-the-world cruise is, irrefutably, one of the ultimate luxury travel goals. Discovering far-flung countries, communities, and cultures during a single trip is an exhilarating adventure, albeit one that typically takes months to complete. So, if you’ve always dreamed of going around the world but don’t necessarily have half-a-year’s worth of vacation days to spare (or get seasick easily), consider La Compagnie’s new Air Cruise. Courtesy of Alessandra Amodio...

Luxury road trips have exploded in popularity in the past couple of years, with many companies offering an elevated take on this all-time classic. So if you’re looking for a memorable and luxurious driving tour, consider Iconic Luxury Hotels’ newly launched Iconic Road Trip that takes guests on a 10-day guided journey from London through the British countryside. The company partnered with Luxury Vacations UK to create a bespoke itinerary that lets you see the best of the UK — and we don’t just mean the landmarks....

Thrill-seekers around the world have a new destination to add to their bucket list. According to The Metro, Wonderland Eurasia has officially opened in Ankara, Turkey — and it has plenty of impressive attractions for visitors to enjoy. Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was there to open the park on Wednesday, Reuters reported, boasting that the new, 1.3-million-square-meter (about 14-million-square-foot) park “isn’t just a symbol of pride for Ankara, but all of Turkey....