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For some, a flight is nothing more than being confined to one seat for an extended period of time. For others, that nightmare is only exemplified by the fact that they’re bound to feel nauseous and — if the motion sickness gets the best of them — may even actually throw up when the turbulence gets bad enough. Air sickness is a common plague for many travelers, but luckily there are some things you can do to better equip yourself against this annoying side effect....

Although I can’t prophesize how much turbulence will leave me clutching the armrests during my flight, I can always predict with 100 percent accuracy that my hair will be greasy once I arrive at my destination. Upon touching down, without fail, my hair always looks as if I haven’t showered for days (which is ironic, because my skin always dries up). After years of testing different dry shampoos, I’ve managed to finally find a formula that returns my hair to its former blow-dried glory....

If planning a vacation in Walt Disney World evokes a certain sticky-handed, Dumbo-filled, schedule-juggling mania, you’re not alone. Taking a family trip to the Happiest Place On Earth can be strenuous, not to mention chaotic, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be the high-end luxury vacation you had hoped for. There are plenty of VIP options that can turn your trip into a fun, relaxing getaway, complete with fabulous meals, few ride waits, and up-front seats to the best evening shows....

Travel has most certainly changed over the last year. Rather than jetting off to the far corners of the earth, many of us have stayed put, hunkering down for the greater good. However, a return to travel appears to be on the horizon, and we’re celebrating with all-new episodes of our podcast, Let’s Go Together, which highlights how travel changes the way we see ourselves and the world. In the first season, our pilot and adventurer host Kellee Edwards introduced listeners to diverse globe-trotters who showed us that travelers come in all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life....

The new year is here, and from the number of recent and planned hotel openings, it’s clear that the hospitality industry is booming. A few trends became apparent as we gathered details on new hotels and resorts around the world. The focus on wellness continues: Several properties offer not only high-quality fitness centers and spas, but also yoga, fitness, and nutrition experts, as well as group exercise classes and individual trainers....

New York will allow outdoor dining as part of Phase 2 of the state’s staggered reopening plan, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday. Several regions upstate, including the Capital Region (where the Catskills sit) and the Finger Lakes, have already entered Phase 2 and will be able to dine outside at restaurants starting Thursday, according to the governor’s office. The announcement comes as New York City, which has been particularly hard-hit by the coronavirus, prepares to enter Phase 1 on June 8, allowing for things like curbside pickup from retailers and resuming nonessential construction....

Forget self-driving electric cars, Norway is working to develop self-driving electric ferries. The zero-emissions ferries would work kind of like an elevator, Erik Dyrkoren, CEO of Zeabuz — the company behind them, told CNN. Passengers on either side of a canal could push a button to call the ferry over, then make the 60-second ride across the canal, a trip that would take 15 minutes on foot. Cameras and sensors would scan the water for potential obstacles, and a navigation system like those used in submarines and airplanes would help the vessels find their way....

Less than a year ago, the streets of Rio de Janeiro were filled with people — friends and strangers alike — reveling maskless within a six-foot radius for Carnival, the city’s annual celebration of colorful costumes and extravagance. Little did they know at the time, but the late February event would be one of the last semblances of any crowd-inducing tradition held anywhere on the globe. And on Feb. 26, 2020, the last day of Carnival, Brazil confirmed its first case of COVID-19....

Royal Caribbean expects vaccinations will be required for all crew going forward, a company spokesman confirmed to Travel Leisure on Friday. The cruise line, which resumed sailings in Singapore in December, is still working on a timeline for the vaccines. The spokesman said a decision had not yet been announced about whether passengers would have to be vaccinated as well. “We have been working hard, in collaboration with government entities, scientists and experts to continue to develop our plan to keep our guests, crew and communities we visit safe,” a letter to employees read....

If you thought our planet was bad you should try moving to planet K2-141b. Scientists have pinpointed what they say is one of the “most extreme planets” ever discovered on the edges of our solar system. How extreme, you ask? Well, its oceans are made of molten lava to start. Oh, and it also rains rocks and has supersonic winds. “The study is the first to make predictions about weather conditions on K2-141b that can be detected from hundreds of light-years away with next-generation telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope,” Giang Nguyen, a PhD student at York University, and lead author of the study, said....

More than a year after Singapore shut its borders due to the coronavirus pandemic, the country will welcome American tourists to visit starting next week. Starting Oct. 19, Singapore will allow vaccinated travelers from several countries — including the U.S. — to enter quarantine-free, according to the government. The opening is part of Singapore’s “Vaccinated Travel Lanes” [VTL] program, which began on Sept. 8 with select countries and is now being extended to eight more, which also includes Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy....

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced plans to build an expansive biking and hiking trail that will span the state, connecting Manhattan to Canada via nature trails. The state would invest some $200 million to complete the 750-mile trail that would run from Manhattan to the North Country and from Albany to Buffalo, with the goal of increasing tourism to those areas of the state. “It would change the economic activity throughout the state,” Cuomo said....

Southwest Airlines is celebrating its 48th birthday with a sale, offering domestic deals starting at just $49 one-way and international getaways that start at $81 one-way. The deals are for travel between the U.S. between Sep. 3 and Dec. 18 and internationally between Sep. 3 and Dec. 11. The $49 one-way deals are available for flights between select destinations including Atlanta and Nashville, Burbank and San Jose, Sacramento and San Diego, and San Jose and Long Beach....

It may not even be Thanksgiving yet, but many Black Friday sales have already begun, including at Nordstrom. The retailer is offering impressive discounts on its site right now ahead of the official holiday sale event. You can shop apparel, shoes, accessories, and more right now, with discounts of up to 60 percent, even on high-ticket pieces from brands like Tory Burch, Tumi, and Adidas. When Is Black Friday 2021?...

The Four Seasons family is now a little bigger with the opening of Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River. “The much-anticipated return of Four Seasons to Thailand’s capital is nothing short of spectacular,” Christian Clerc, Four Seasons president, global operations, shared in a statement. “Guests will be in awe of the exquisite design, the world-class restaurant and bar options, and a state-of-the-art wellness center. As always, the unparalleled, intuitive service from Four Seasons people will be at the center of it all....

Everyone knows that living in big cities like New York City or Los Angeles can be a pricey endeavor, while small and mid-size towns and cities are often regarded as the more affordable option. But are these metropolises really living up to their reputation? LendingTree recently conducted a study comparing home values to find the most expensive towns in the U.S., and the results might surprise you. Using data from the U....

California and Mississippi have been re-added to Chicago’s travel advisory list due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in both states. States that exceed 15 new cases per day, per 100,000 residents are deemed “high risk” and become eligible for Chicago’s travel advisory list, which encourages a host of precautions for travelers. Unvaccinated travelers coming from “high risk” states and territories are asked to get tested one to three days before arriving and three to five days after travel....

There are two types of people in the world: Those who merely love tacos and those who love tacos more than any other food in existence. If you fall into either camp, that’s OK, as this new taco trail in the East Bay, just outside of San Francisco, is ready to welcome you. In October, the town of Concord launched its taco trail that features more than 35 local Mexican restaurants and taquerias all in one convenient loop....

If you’re not exactly in a hurry to get to your destination, but don’t want to drive yourself there, one of the best travel options is to hop aboard your nearest Amtrak train. A train ride will allow you to take a little time and meander through America, catching glimpses of its beauty along the way. And though train travel can take a little more time than flying or driving, it can prove to be both more rewarding and can actually end up being a more economic option as well — as long as you plan ahead....

Editor’s note: Those who choose to travel are strongly encouraged to check local government restrictions, rules, and safety measures related to COVID-19 and take personal comfort levels and health conditions into consideration before departure. United Airlines is adding international flight routes to its schedule next year, flying to major destinations in Africa and around the world. The airline announced Wednesday that starting in 2021, they’ll be heading to Ghana, Lagos, Bangalore, Johannesburg, and more....