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In late April, New Zealand began the long process of lifting its coronavirus lockdown. Residents are now able to travel to work, order takeout, and gather in small groups. And now, to help boost tourism, the nation’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has one more idea in mind: four-day workweeks. While taking part in a Facebook Live video chat, Ardern shared her thoughts on a shortened workweek, suggesting that it may help boost domestic tourism....

Whether you’re wearing running errands, spending the day at the beach, or traveling, a good pair of supportive and comfortable sandals is a must-have in everyone’s summer wardrobe. While there are seemingly endless options available in stores, Nordstrom customers can’t stop raving about the Crocs Slide Sandals, with many calling them the “most comfortable sandals” they’ve ever worn. The supportive slides are designed to mold to your feet and cradle your arches, making them comfortable enough for hours on your feet without feeling any aches or pain....

Experience life as a royal, even if you can’t go outside. Virtual entertainment is really having a huge boom right now. As more and more people are going into self-quarantine to help contain the coronavirus, they’re also looking for good ways to entertain themselves besides just watching Netflix. Google Arts & Culture has a huge array of amazing virtual tours that are perfect for people who are itching to travel, students in need of educational material, or anyone who has binge watched their favorite show from 10 years ago at least six times in the last two weeks....

Hilton unveiled today a new hotel brand built for what the company calls “modern achievers,” who are interested in getting the most out of life while not spending too much on their hotel room. Tempo by Hilton is the latest mid-priced brand from the company, which now has 18 in its portfolio, including luxury-minded Waldorf Astoria and LXR Hotels & Resorts, the middle-of-the-road Doubletree by Hilton, and limited service hotels under the Motto by Hilton flag....

With the coldest months of the year behind us, you may be dreaming of a summer vacation. For millions of Americans, it will be their first time traveling in over a year. With international options still limited, what better way to ease back into traveling than with a trip to one of the friendliest towns in the U.S.? Expedia is making it easier to do exactly that. Using data from traveler reviews, the online company ranked the most welcoming towns across the country, along with some suggestions of what to do while there....

At Travel + Leisure, we’re dedicated to helping you find the absolute best products to meet your needs on the road and at home. The T+L Top Picks seal is awarded to items our editors have determined to be the best buys in their category. Bidets are only just now becoming a mainstream topic of home improvement in U.S. homes, but they’ve obviously been around for decades (if not centuries in some form or another) in other countries....

Home to more than 1 million works of Renaissance art and a vibrant shopping scene, the Italian city of Florence was voted the best city in Europe in this year’s Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, taking the No. 1 spot in the category for the tenth time in the last 11 years. Cities were ranked by T+L readers based on a variety of factors that include a destination’s landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and overall value....

After spending months cooped up inside, you’re likely looking to spend as much time outside as possible now that the weather is warmer. If you’re lucky enough to have outdoor space at your home, you may want to consider sprucing it up with a fire pit. An outdoor fire pit will not only create a fun gathering spot for your family to hang out, but it can also transform the look of your backyard or patio, giving it a more cozy, high-end feel....

Plant moms and dads know the worry of coming home to dry or dead house plants after an otherwise perfect vacation all too well. After all, there are dozens of services out there for looking after your pets, your kids, and your house in general while you’re on vacation — but what about your special fern babies? Contiki, a company geared towards Millennial travelers, has you and your precious plants covered with its new plant-sitting service, Lonely Planet reported....

Months after what many New Yorkers considered to be a bright spot of the pandemic disappeared, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that bars and restaurants in the state will once again be permitted to sell alcoholic beverages to-go. In her State of the State speech Wednesday, Hochul confirmed that take-away drinks were coming back. The decision comes as many restaurants and bars have cut back on hours or shut down to deal with staffing shortages caused by the spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19....

Taking a page from sites such as Priceline and Hotwire, Travelocity has introduced its own blind-booking technology. Much like its predecessors, the new “Top Secret Hotels” tool allows users to search for hotel deals by destination and, once they book, reveals the hotel’s name and location. Unlike Priceline, which lets users bid on hotels, Travelocity’s Top Secret Hotels are offered at a set price up to 45 percent off the rack rate....

After two long years of pandemic-related restrictions, the UK has officially scrapped all existing COVID-19 travel measures. Beginning at 4 a.m. on Friday, passengers traveling through London Heathrow Airport no longer need to provide a passenger locator form or a negative COVID-19 test from unvaccinated travelers, the UK government announced this week. “The UK is leading the world in removing all remaining COVID-19 travel restrictions, and today’s announcement is a testament to the hard work everyone in this country has put in place to roll out the vaccine and protect each other,” Transport Secretary Grand Shapps said in a statement....

The city of Venice is considering building a four-foot glass wall to protect the historic St. Mark’s basilica from future flooding. The plan, which Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported has already been approved by city officials would hopefully protect the church from erosion, similar to what it experienced in November when floods caused an estimated $5.5 million in damage to the cathedral. Most of the damage to St. Mark’s is invisible to the casual visitors, but church officials say that salt brought in with the waters of the flood is eating away at the church’s marble, mosaics and floors....

There are many advantages to flying in smaller airplanes: they tend to zip in and out of airports quickly, they can land in smaller cities or islands with shorter runways, and they’re generally more flexible than a jumbo jet. But with the perks come disadvantages—particularly when it comes to taking off. While it’s easy to miss the jump into the sky on a jetliner, those flying on a small plane will feel every bump and lift as the plane soars into the air....

One of the best views in New York City is finally coming back. After more than four years of renovations, the Empire State Building — well known for its colorful nighttime light displays and incredible views of the city — is welcoming visitors to its 102nd floor observatory on Saturday, Oct. 12. After its $160-million revamp, the observatory now includes a 360-degree view of the city from over 1,250 feet in the air, according to USA Today, and will have floor-to-ceiling windows for an unobstructed panorama....

There are few road trips more epic than the Wild Atlantic Way, a 1,600-mile route along Ireland’s western coast that stretches from County Cork to County Donegal. Each bend in the road offers the promise of something extraordinary: a magnificent ocean view, brightly painted cottages, or a castle teetering on a cliff’s edge. Accommodations range from historic manors and repurposed lighthouses to beach yurts-leading many visitors to spend weeks, or even months, completing the journey....

Bali will not reopen to foreign travelers next month, after all. Earlier this year, the Indonesian government announced that Bali would welcome back foreign tourists starting Sept. 11. But this week, the island’s governor announced that those plans would be delayed, due to a rising number of COVID-19 cases. In a press conference, Bali’s Gov. Wayan Koster announced that the island would not welcome back international arrivals until the end of the year....

You’re planning a bucket-list vacation, and it’s time to book a hotel. You’ve painstakingly pored over countless reviews from strangers, but you’re still stuck on which property to choose. What you need are recommendations from someone who really understands your travel style. Meet Benny, a new, invite-only platform where well-traveled individuals serve as hotel agents for their friends and family. Each agent, who is accepted after a thorough vetting process, can recommend their favorite hotels, share insider tips, and invite their social network to book hotels at exclusive, discounted rates....

Turtles, Eagle Rays, Goatfish, Clownfish, Unicornfish, Parrotfish, and Damselfish — all of these creatures are flitting about Maui’s reefs at the moment you read these words. With such a varied and diverse array of marine life — and warm ocean temperatures year round — Maui is an underwater paradise for exploring with mask, fins, and a snorkel (plus, it’s a great activity to do as a couple or with a family)....

A COVID-19 outbreak in Cambodia has pushed government officials to temporarily close the Angkor temple complex, the country’s most popular tourist destination. The two-week closure is the latest of many safety measures recently put in place since Cambodia began experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases in February. The Apsara Authority, the government agency that oversees the Angkor temple complex, said that temporarily stopping all tourists from visiting the archaeological site was an important step in curbing the spread of the virus, the Associated Press reports....