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With much of the country in the midst of a deep freeze, travelers may be wondering how cold it has to be for the severe weather to foil upcoming travel plans. But it isn’t the cold that’s a problem for most aircraft. After all, commercial airplanes can cruise at an altitude of nearly 40,000 feet, where temperatures hover around -70 degrees Fahrenheit. Jet fuel freezes at around -40 degrees Fahrenheit, but it will work just fine as long as it’s kept above that temperature on the ground....

There is a reason for everything in the aviation industry. From “pilot slang” to meal assignments for flight crew, practically everything must fit into a standardized code. And the numbers and letters you see on your boarding pass are no random combination. Every airline uses a specific system to ascribe letters and numbers to every flight. The letter component of the flight number is fairly straightforward: They represent the carrier. For example, Delta uses DL, American Airlines is AA, and United is UA....

Christina Milian is keeping busy these days. The grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, actress, and entrepreneur has been traveling around the world working on various projects. Following the success of last year’s “Falling Inn Love,” Milian has again teamed up with Netflix for a new film produced by Alica Keys. But just because Milian is a certified jet-setter, doesn’t mean the mother of two doesn’t spend plenty of time in her car — especially around the holiday season....

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. Every year, millions of people visit the imposing and mysterious Incan citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru. But getting to the massive agricultural terraces, intricate stone constructions, and epic hilltop views of this UNESCO World Heritage site isn’t cheap, and it involves some trickier-than-usual logistics....

Perhaps as iconic as the name Downton Abbey itself is the beautiful estate house where the show and upcoming movie were predominantly filmed: Highclere Castle. The TV series and the grand Jacobethan house are indelibly linked because of the show’s main imagery, but Highclere Castle itself is a real home west of London — not just a film set or well-preserved antique. With tours offered daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p....

Ready to be freaked out about the passage of time? Prince George, the eldest child of Prince William and Kate Middleton, turned seven years old today. Seven. Somehow seven years have passed since the royal family welcomed George into the fold — and that means that we too are all seven years older. Now, ready to snap out of your wallowing? Just check out all the adorable new images George’s mother, Kate, took to honor his big birthday moment....

NASA’s Curiosity Rover has been exploring Mars since 2012. Since then, it’s helped us learn a great deal about our neighboring planet thanks to some extremely high-tech work by extremely smart scientists. But now, those same scientists are calling on people like you and me to help Curiosity’s work go even further. As Space.com reported, researchers are now asking the public to assist Curiosity in learning about its surroundings on Mars using an open online tool called AI4Mars, hosted on Zooniverse....

When it comes to carry-on luggage, style is almost as important as weight, space, and function — after all, it’s the bag that’ll actually accompany you onto your flight for all to see, unlike your checked bag. Luckily, we’ve known for months that the Fortis Pro hardside spinner fits the bill in all of those categories. When we first discovered this essentially perfect $240 carry-on, it came in five neutral colors....

Hundreds of British tourists on holiday ski trips skipped out on Switzerland’s retroactive quarantine ahead of Christmas, with some having made escapes from their luxury accommodations in the middle of the night. “Some British tourists left immediately, while others decided to stay a little longer,” Jean-Marc Sandoz, a spokesman for the town of Bagnes, told CNN. “Some of them fled clandestinely during the night.” Switzerland is one of dozens of countries that have restricted travel from the UK in recent weeks after the discovery of a new, potentially stronger variant of the coronavirus....

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. Once again, Costa Rica led the pack of winners for the best resorts in Central America, securing half the spots on this year’s list....

At a time when a change or cancellation in travel plans can be more expected than not, Sandals Resorts’ newest protection plan is alleviating the stress of postponing a trip. The new Sandals Vacation Assurance policy is an industry-first policy that will cover not just the cost of the resort but airfare for guests whose vacation plans are interrupted by COVID-19. “We want to put the fun and joy of planning and anticipating a great vacation back into travel,” SRI Executive Chairman Adam Stewart said in a statement....

The Faroe Islands, a remote nation set halfway between Iceland and Norway is now open for (virtual) tourism. And no, this isn’t just another 360-video experience. The Faroe Islands launched a first of its kind virtual travel experience that allows virtual travelers to visit the islands from anywhere and see it all from a local’s perspective — and it’s all done live. The new Faroe Islands travel site will allow visitors to explore the destination’s gorgeous natural landscapes from mountains to waterfalls, traditional grass-roofed houses, and its stunning coast all via the perspective of its residents....

Not sure where to start? Let us point you in the right direction. You can score this Puma duffel bag for a mere $22, this Kipling crossbody bag for half off, and this spacious Fossil tote at a $100 discount. Popular anti-theft and RFID-blocking bags by Travelon and Baggallini are also included in the sale, as is this best-selling travel backpack by Matein. You Can Save Up to 40% on Spring Essentials at Madewell Right Now — Here’s What to Shop...

Whether you’re lost in an unfamiliar city and need to look up directions or are simply bored sitting at the airport waiting for your flight to take off, there’s nothing worse than your phone dying when you need it most. That’s why many travelers always make sure they pack a portable charger for every trip. These handy gadgets will keep your electronics juiced up while you’re on the go. While you can charge the power bank by plugging it into an outlet, the clever product is also solar-powered and can get additional power from sunlight....

After a long day of traveling, it can be tempting to walk right into your hotel room, drop your bags, and dive right into bed. But according to designer Karim Rashid, there’s one thing you should absolutely do before settling in. Rashid, who recent spoke to Bloomberg, says travelers should always remove random objects and clutter from every surface before you unpack. 53 Travel Health Essentials the Pros Swear By...

Although your Instagram feed may make it seem like everyone is visiting places like Greece, Portugal, and Peru, there is one location that is apparently more popular than ever: the local library. According to a recent Gallup survey, “Visiting the library remains the most common cultural activity Americans engage in, by far.” In fact, the average American adult took a trip to the library 10.5 times in 2019. That number, Gallup explained, exceeded “participation in eight other common leisure activities,” including attending live music or theater events, exploring national parks, visiting museums, and going to casinos....

With the announcement of a range of special tourist visas and plans to introduce visa-free entry for stays up to 45 days, Thailand’s blissed-out beaches, street food-studded sidewalks, and lush jungles are now open for American travelers. But don’t pack your bags just yet because there’s a catch: All visitors are still required to quarantine for 14 days in a state-approved hotel upon arrival. A two-week hotel room lockdown is, understandably, not a great start to any trip....

What if you could not just travel, but travel back in time before COVID-19, before the Spanish Flu, and even before the Bubonic plague? To a time when some of civilization’s greatest monuments were as pristine as the day of their ribbon-cutting ceremonies and when— even better—you’d be the only visitor, with nary a selfie stick or souvenir vendor in sight. Well, I just completed such a trip—to Pompeii in 78 A....

More than 2.24 million travelers passed through airports in the United States on Friday, the most people the Transportation Security Administration has screened in a single day since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. In total, more than 8.5 million travelers flew from Thursday to Sunday, including four straight days when there were more than 2 million passengers each, according to TSA data. The record number comes ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday when more than 4 million people are expected to take to the skies and experts anticipate overall travel numbers will be within 5% of what they were in 2019....

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday presented a plan to slowly lift the United Kingdom’s lockdown — committing to allowing people to meet up outside in two weeks — but signaling a much longer wait for restaurant dining and even longer for international vacations. On March 8, kids will be able to go back to school and Britons will be allowed to meet up with one friend or family member outdoors, The Associated Press reported....