Posts

Sydney and Melbourne dominated the list of the best hotels in Australia and New Zealand this year — no surprise, as the friendly rivals offer a variety of world-class hotels for readers looking to rest and relax after a lengthy journey from the United States. 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....

Our first day in the van didn’t go the way we’d hoped. My husband and I got a late start, and we only made it an hour from home before we had to pull over for burgers and to put our kids to bed. We were parked just off I-95, and our four-year-old, cramped in his new bunk bed, kept waking up his one-year-old sister. Then we realized we’d forgotten the sawdust for the composting toilet....

I don’t fangirl over many celebrities, but I had to do some deep breathing exercises before logging into my Zoom call with actress, activist, entrepreneur, and mom Kristen Bell. As I had hoped, she was every bit as optimistic, bubbly, and funny as I imagined her to be from her many leading roles in The Good Place, the Frozen series, and of course, Veronica Mars. Although, like the rest of us, she’s been grounded from her former jet-setting routine due to the pandemic, she’s kept busy and recently released a new line of CBD skincare products, Happy Dance....

U.S. National Parks throughout the country are opening in stages, according to the National Parks Service. New Jersey has decided to reopen its state parks on May 2 to activities like hiking, boating, and fishing, according to an executive order. Places like picnic areas, playgrounds, and restrooms, however, would remain closed. Bryce Canyon National Park. Don Smith/Getty “We understand that New Jerseyans want to get outside and get some fresh air as the weather warms up,” Governor Phil Murphy said in a statement....

A nationwide quarantine doesn’t mean people can’t still celebrate some milestones. A video posted on Instagram from the account, Good News Movement, shows how a community in Spain came together to help cheer up a woman in quarantine. Over the weekend, the Spanish government declared a state of emergency and announced a lockdown across the nation, only allowing citizens to leave their homes for essential tasks like getting food and medicine or visiting a relative, according to the Washington Post....

Ryanair, one of Europe’s most famous budget airlines, plans to restore 40 percent of its flights by July 1. Pending rulings from the European Commission, the airline intends to resume summer service to most of its 80 European destinations, the company announced this week. “Ryanair will work closely with public health authorities to ensure that these flights comply, where possible, with effective measures to limit the spread of COVID-19,” CEO Eddie Wilson said in a statement....

Ready to level up from surfing and skiing in the same day? Then it’s time to head to Norway. Up Norway, a luxury travel curator, created a new experience ski enthusiasts need to add to their to-do lists ASAP. It’s a journey that takes guests to the Sunnmore Alps, famous for both its alpine skiing and fjord views, for mornings filled with skiing and afternoons filled with sailing. Courtesy of Uteguiden...

After seven weeks of lockdown, Spain is beginning “Phase Zero” of returning to normal life. This week, the Spanish government began easing restrictions and allowing citizens to go outside in Phase Zero of what is being called “The Plan to Transition to a New Normal,” according to The Local Spain. Each phase of the four-step plan will last at least two weeks, before determining if the country can proceed in easing restrictions....

If you’re pregnant, adopting, or even thinking about having a baby sometime soon, there are probably more than a few things weighing on your mind. But one of the biggest may be what to name your impending bundle of joy. Parenting resource site BabyCenter has a few ideas for you. Last week, the website revealed its Top 100 Names of 2018 list. And once again, Sophia is the top choice for new parents for girls....

Virgin Voyages has revealed the name of the third ship to join its all-new fleet. “Resilient Lady” will set sail from Athens, Greece in Summer 2022, offering seven-night cruises around the Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea. “Sailing in the Med is such an extraordinary experience, and we’re so excited to bring the adventure of a Virgin Voyage to this beautiful place,” Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure on Tuesday....

In the spring, during the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States, Colorado’s Summit County — home to the sought-after mountain destination of Breckenridge — enacted one of the strictest stay-at-home lockdowns in the country. For weeks, hotels and other short-term lodgings were required to close, and during the harshest stretch of these regulations, non-locals were even asked to leave the county so as not to potentially become a strain on its resources....

This year’s World’s Best Awards survey closed on March 2, just before widespread stay-at-home orders were implemented as a result of COVID-19. The results reflect our readers’ experiences before the pandemic, but we hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your trips to come — whenever they may be. If you ask Travel + Leisure readers, the best domestic airports are the small ones. Among the many charms of quick-to-navigate terminals: local food and drink options, free Wi-Fi, destination-specific shopping, and short security lines....

Nearly two years ago, Southern California’s Anza-Borrego Desert State Park came alive with one of the most stunning natural events known to man: A super bloom. At the time, the desert became a colorful scene thanks to millions of rare flower blooms. It both blanketed the desert floor and brought in tourists from around the country to see the spectacle. And now, thanks to some unique weather systems, Southern California may soon get to experience this magical event all over again....

Carnival Cruise Line will require all guests to get tested before embarking on a cruise and wear masks indoors going forward, even if they’re fully vaccinated. Starting Aug. 7, masks will be required for all passengers in many indoor areas of Carnival’s ships like elevators and in the casino, according to the company. And beginning Aug. 14, all passengers — including vaccinated guests — will have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test taken within three days of the start of their cruise....

Keeping the middle seat open on planes reduces the risk of COVID-19 exposure by 23% to 57%, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study, released Wednesday, comes as U.S. airlines have abandoned many pandemic-era practices like blocking the middle seat, and Delta — the last holdout — said it plans to stop blocking its middle seats by May 1. To study the risk, researchers at the CDC and Kansas State University used a different virus, (the bacteriophage MS2 virus) “as a surrogate” for COVID-19....

After nearly a yearlong closure, Walt Disney World’s Blizzard Beach Water Park will welcome visitors back on March 7, 2021, the park announced this week. Although Disney’s other parks like Magic Kingdom, Epcot have been open since July, its water parks have remained closed since the shutdown in March. Current tickets that include a Park Hopper Plus option or the Water Park & Sport option can be modified, canceled or used with the amenities currently open at Disney World....

In a recent meeting, Guy Steuart III was philosophical in describing his latest project. “We’re in the memory-making business,” he said. “Hotels can feel like suspended reality, but things happen there that are significant and enduring. That’s what we do at Half Moon.” The chairman of the iconic resort development, just outside Montego Bay, sat down with Travel + Leisure to discuss the upcoming opening of Eclipse: a 57-room luxury property that officially welcomes guests starting March 1....

After the EU removed the United States from its pandemic-era list of safe countries, European countries started to shift their entry policies — including banning travelers — concerning American tourists. France has banned unvaccinated Americans from entering the country, according to a government decree issued Thursday removing the U.S. from the country’s safe list of its own. Unvaccinated travelers, with an essential reason for travel, will still be allowed to enter however they will need a negative COVID-19 test before travel and must quarantine for seven days on arrival....

Hertz wants to make sure everyone can get to the polls this election day. This week, the car rental company announced it will give everyone one day free when they reserve a car for two days and pick up their cars on Nov. 2 or 3, 2020. This way, everyone can safely get to their voting location. “We want to make it easier for people to exercise their right to vote – especially those who need safe and reliable transportation,” Laura Smith, Hertz Executive Vice President of Global Marketing and Customer Experience, shared in a statement....

Distribute weight intelligently Put heavier items on the bottom of your suitcase. This includes shoes (in shoe bags), rolled jeans, and blazers (folded into dry-cleaner bags). Lighter pieces go at the top. Use bags to organize Ziplocs are great for small accessories and toiletries. If you’re not checking, make sure cosmetics are on the top of your packed suitcase, for easy access as you go through security. To protect undergarments from damage (and prying TSA agents), place them in a lingerie bag....