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Readers’ picks for the best international airlines haven’t changed much over the past few years — consistent excellent service puts many of the same 10 winners at the forefront of air travel. The ones that made this year’s list, as voted by our readers, set the standard for exceedingly comfortable (and actually enjoyable) long-haul flights. Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more....

California’s statewide indoor mask mandate expired on Tuesday, affecting some of the state’s biggest tourist hotspots. “Our statewide indoor mask requirement will expire on 2/15,” Gov. Newsom tweeted Monday. “Unvaccinated people will still need to wear masks indoors. Get vaccinated. Get boosted.” When it comes to California’s theme parks, Disneyland will make masks optional for vaccinated guests starting on Thursday, according to the park. Currently, the park requires face coverings to be worn in indoor spaces, including on many attractions,...

Disney Cruise Line will begin mandating proof of vaccination for cruises to the Bahamas next month, the first time the company will require the jab for cruises in the United States. Starting Sept. 3, Disney will require all passengers 12 and older to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before boarding any cruise headed to the Bahamas, including to the company’s private island, Castaway Cay, according to the company....

Here’s a new way to help the world get vaccinated against COVID-19: purchase a trip on any Expedia Group app and the company will make a donation to Unicef to help get more coronavirus vaccines to people around the world. “We know traveling won’t be the same until the whole world is open to travel, and so, to get there as quickly as possible, we must all help accelerate rapid and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines,” Expedia Group CEO Peter Kern said in announcing the initiative....

Italy is strengthening its digital COVID-19 pass by requiring proof of vaccination to stay at hotels, fly on a plane, take a train, eat at a restaurant, and more. The certification, a QR code called the “super green pass,” will be issued to people who are fully vaccinated or who have contracted COVID-19 and recovered, according to the Italian Ministry of Health, whereas the initial Green Pass, was issued to individuals who tested negative....

Now’s your chance to be a true horse whisperer — and get a taste of what life is really like on a West Texas ranch. The luxury JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa in Sonora, Texas, has introduced a one-of-a-kind “Horse Psychology Experience” for both guests and locals. While going on a horseback ride is fun on its own, learning how to connect and understand your horse makes it even better....

American Express has a new way to get its members traveling again this summer. According to the Amex Trendex, a trend report from American Express, 73 percent of consumers are interested in using travel offers for their next leisure trip, so the financial services company and Marriott Bonvoy wants to give its members some new perks that will make traveling better than ever. Now, existing Marriott Bonvoy and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card Members who enroll between July 14 and Sept....

If you are a globetrotter bemoaning the long pause on international travel, try setting your sights on an area of the industry that is actually growing amid the pandemic: the remote work visa. A legion of new foreign visas for full-time workers, freelancers, and digital nomads have been introduced over the last few months, offering a sundry of options for those keen on changing their lifestyles and real-life Zoom backgrounds....

It’s easy to get around New York City, but it can feel nearly impossible to escape. What if I told you there’s a retreat that feels like a timeless European castle only 100 miles outside of the city? Mohonk Mountain House is a beautiful resort in the Hudson Valley that has a captivating history and tons of charm. Originally a 10-room inn opened by Albert Smiley in 1869, the resort has grown over the years but continued to be operated by the Smiley family....

Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics are reportedly planning to reserve hotel rooms for athletes diagnosed who may contract COVID-19 while at the games this summer. According to Japanese news agency Kyodo, athletes who test positive for COVID-19 with mild or no symptoms will stay in a hotel near the Olympic Village for their quarantine. Those with serious symptoms will be hospitalized. Citing “officials with knowledge” of the plan, the outlet reported that the Olympics Committee is considering renting out an entire hotel building in Tokyo’s Harumi waterfront district, a few miles away from the Athletes’ Village....

It’s that time of year again. Oprah’s Favorite Things has just been released for 2018, and in true Oprah fashion, it’s full of more-than-perfect gifts for at least a number of people on your holiday shopping list — from a 360-degree compact camera for the traveler who loves to document everything to a chic little gardening set for the retiree. Oh, Oprah, you’ve outdone yourself once again. This Jewelry Gift Set Is Perfect for the Stylish Traveler on Your List...

Now that everyone is practicing social distancing, people are looking for safe and responsible ways to keep themselves occupied in their downtime. Lots of people are turning to games, puzzles, and even new hobbies like knitting, painting, or learning a musical instrument to pass the time and give their mind a break from work. To help people relax and enjoy some culture, dozens of museums, galleries, and libraries are allowing people to download coloring pages inspired by the museums’ art collections, Hype Beast reported....

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. The Western idea of Africa as a vast unknowable expanse of wilderness — rather than a living, breathing place with as much diversity and unique regionality as any other continent — has endured with stubborn longevity....

What does more than half a billion dollars get you at Los Angeles International Airport? From a first look at the new and improved 13-gate Southwest Airlines Terminal 1, quite a lot. Southwest invested $516.7 million to make over what a newsstand clerk described as “a boring, bland totally nothing of a terminal” dating back to the early 1980s. The new terminal is a light- and art-filled space with a fresh check-in/ticketing lobby, nine-lane security checkpoint, and more than 20 new dining and retail outlets, many of them unique and well-loved local brands....

So you’ve decided to take an all-inclusive trip to pretty Puerto Rico—good call! You’ll no doubt want to sample the amazing street food—especially the alcapurrias (meat or fish fritters) and empanadillas (mini empanadas) and spend long afternoons sunning on some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. But package deals are increasingly rare in Puerto Rico; hospitality pros have perhaps learned the hard way just how much tourists can drink and eat....

The Metropolitan Opera is launching a series of pay-per-view live concerts this weekend, making spending a — socially distanced — night at the opera as easy as turning on your computer. The new series, which kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on July 18 with a performance from Jonas Kaufmann live from the Polling Abbey in Bavaria, will feature a dozen concerts between now and December. “This new initiative is intended to create live performance opportunities for our artists and our audiences at a time when they both sorely need it,” Peter Gelb, the Met’s general manager, said in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure....

This is absolutely the year to take a staycation. In years past, a staycation may have been simply an alternative to not being able to get away for an extended vacation. However, this is 2020 we’re talking about, so staying home is all the rage (and also mandatory, depending on where you live). So yes, staying in your home state is not only the right thing to do, it’s the cool thing to do this year....

Nothing motivates you to get going in the morning like a good cup of coffee. But what if that cup also came with $30,000, and the only catch was you’d need to drink down that caffeine and then take time off from work to live out your dreams? STōK Cold Brew Coffee is looking to help three people get going on pursuing their real dreams by giving them $30,000 in exchange for taking a few weeks off of work....

Huttopia, a family-owned resort company, has long been a favorite for outdoor lovers and adventure enthusiasts all over the globe, and now they’re headed to California with its first west coast location. Referred to as “the perfect escape for urban-dwelling wilderness lovers seeking an immersive natural experience with family and friends,” Huttopia Paradise Springs is located in the middle of the Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains, just 90 minutes from Los Angeles....

Hotel Healdsburg, a boutique property in northern California, hopes to take the guesswork out of social distance vacations. In January, the luxury property announced its new Healdsburg Hideaway package, which allows two travelers to “safely indulge in the best of Sonoma County’s renowned wine country.” And it all begins with a private jet trip and roundtrip airport transfers. “This package is perfect for anyone who wants to travel but maintain their privacy and a safe distance from others,” Circe Sher, co-founder of Piazza Hospitality, shared in a statement....