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There are plenty of movies out there warning us about the many (and apparently easy) ways that robots could take over the planet. But one hotel in South Africa recently became the first establishment on the continent to introduce the use of robot staff, showing how these mechanical friends can actually save the day without replacing their human counterparts. Opened in November 2020, Hotel Sky in Sandton, Johannesburg, made its debut with three robots: Lexi, Micah, and Ariel....

Fungi operate in mysterious ways. Just take a look at this eerie time-lapse video of the fruiting body of Clathrus archeri, also known as the “devil’s fingers” or “octopus stinkhorn,” spotted by Atlas Obscura. The red-hued mushroom sprouts from an egg-like pod, with four to seven tendrils slowly emerging. A sticky-looking black substance filled with spores coats the interior of each elongated digit, giving the “fingers” a sinister look. Native to Australia and New Zealand, the devil’s fingers have spread its spooky spores across the U....

Every year, Costa Rica welcomes millions of tourists to experience its natural beauty. With volcanoes, hot springs, rain forests, and beaches ideal for surfing, there’s plenty to explore, but those wanting to travel the country on the high seas were limited in their options. At least until recently. Now, for the first time in history, the country will open its shores to international superyacht charters. Jim Raycroft/Courtesy of IYC With the good news now official, international yacht firm IYC is gearing up to bring travelers on luxury trips to the tropical country....

The birthplace of the game and home to more than 550 courses, Scotland is a dream trip for nearly everyone who loves golf. Whether you travel there to play the famous courses, explore the Highlands, stroll through the historic town of St. Andrews, or sip a wee dram of whisky at its source, Scotland is a memorable destination. With more than 6,000 miles of coastline, Scotland is ideal for links-style courses with views of the sea and challenging breezes....

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort brings the Harry Potter universe to life, and any world rooted in wizards, witches, and magic is bound to have a few secrets. Some, like the cleverly disguised entrance to Diagon Alley, are hidden in plain sight, while others are buried a bit deeper. Discovering these secrets is part of the fun of visiting the Wizarding World, but we’re going to let you in on a few to get you started....

If you played golf for the first time in 2020 or added a few rounds to your usual annual outings, you’re part of a growing trend. While COVID limited many of our activities, golf’s inherent social distancing and outdoor setting provided an outlet for homebound players and attracted new golfers as well. Market research firm Golf Datatech LLC reported that total rounds played in the U.S. in 2020 were up 13....

These 6 Sweater Dresses Are Perfect for Holiday Parties — and They’re All Under $50 Over 9,500 customers have given the Tripple Zip Small Crossbody Bag a perfect rating because it’s “so much better than the price indicates.” Made from faux leather, the bag features gold hardware and is lined with black and white stripes on the inside, which helps make it look pricier than it actually is. You can choose between 27 different colors, too....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raised Italy to its highest warning level this week, the latest European country to be classified as a “Level 4.” The agency, which updates its list on a weekly basis, is warning Americans to “avoid” traveling to Italy due to a “very high” level of COVID-19 transmission, however, those who do travel should be fully vaccinated. Riccardo Fabi/Getty Images Italy welcomes travelers from the United States who are either fully vaccinated or have recently contracted COVID-19 and recovered....

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. Old World Europe nails luxury, with countless hotels in cities across the continent managing to wow guests. So fierce is the competition that our list this year contains only one repeat entry from last year — even though none of the honorees are newly opened....

While sun-seeking travelers hardly need incentive to revel in a vacay tipple or two, guests at the Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico can sink even deeper into their beach chairs knowing the life of their ice-cold cerveza — and that just-killed bottle of tequila at the swim-up bar — doesn’t end in the pool’s trash bin, or even worse, a brimming wasteyard. Instead, as seen throughout the picturesque Quivira Los Cabos property, its empty bottles reincarnate into colorful — and sustainable — ornaments of love, hanging like tropical fruit atop poolside palms and the tabletops of its fine-dining eateries....

The first time I visited Cuba, in 2016, I took a selfie right before the plane landed on the runway at Havana’s José Martí International Airport. In the photo, a wide smile spreads across my face from ear to ear. After nearly a decade of longing to step foot on this Caribbean island, first inspired by my college courses on Cuban history, I had finally made it. Equipped with those lessons, the autobiographies of Cuban social activists I’d read, and a genuine curiosity, I’d landed in a place just 100 or so miles from Florida — but one I had mostly been unable to visit until President Obama relaxed restrictions on travel in 2015....

Bora Bora inspires thoughts of a once-in-a-lifetime trip to a faraway island with turquoise seas and swaying palms. When I was offered an opportunity to go to that island in French Polynesia, I accepted without hesitation, more than ready for travel after months of quarantine and road trips. The South Pacific? Yes, of course! Along the way, I learned that the Bora Bora of my imagination was only partially accurate....

Getting good sleep often triumphs getting a good meal on a flight, leading to food waste. So, Japan Airlines (JAL) is taking the reins by offering an “Ethical Choice Meal Skip” option to help the company with the “reduction of food waste,” the airline’s site states. The carrier normally prepares meals for every passenger on board, so knowing ahead of time that someone won’t be partaking in in-flight dining will help the airline with its sustainability efforts, especially on red-eye flights where more people tend to doze instead of dine....

If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy member, the time to take advantage of your membership is now. As part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, the company is hosting its second annual “Week of Wonders” this month, offering up exclusive discounts and experiences for its members. This year’s offerings include 15% of all-inclusive vacations to the Caribbean and Latin America and a number of other priceless experiences. Courtesy of Marriott Bonvoy...

Much of New York may still be on lockdown, but several spots in the Hamptons are reopening in time for Memorial Day Weekend, aiming to offer some socially distanced fun to start the summer season. Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa opened on May 15 and Gurney’s Star Island Resort & Marina will open on May 22. The hotels will feature hand sanitizing stations as well as a complimentary mask and sanitation wipes in each room, self-parking, and in-room streaming workouts....

With Halloween approaching, the city of Salem in Massachusetts, known for its famed spooky festivities, is making plans for a scaled-back version of its normally (and hauntingly) epic events as COVID-19 continues to spread. The city, which has around 40,000 residents, said it typically welcomes about 12 times that for the October holiday, capitalizing on its witch trial history and all things magic. Now, with Massachusetts recording more than 114,700 confirmed cases of the virus and with restrictions on both group sizes and which states tourists are allowed to come from without quarantining, the city has taken a pared-down approach to its Salem Haunted Happenings programming....

I recently went on a trip to Los Angeles with a friend, and after just one day and night together my voice was starting to give out. We were talking constantly: in the car ride on the way there, as we walked around the Getty Museum, as we went out to dinner and drinks, as we went for a run together the next morning. It was a wonderful experience to take in a new place with a friend and get to know her more by spending so much time together, but as I’m a pretty classic introvert, by the end I was ready for some alone time....

As some countries in Europe relax their entry requirements for vaccinated travelers and others make plans to follow suit, many people have an eye on the continent for a long-awaited summer getaway. But if you don’t want to dive immediately back into the bustle of major European capitals, consider renting an off-the-beaten-path villa from a company like The Thinking Traveller. Courtesy of The Thinking Traveller The dreamy site lets you rents villas in peaceful Mediterranean settings, perfect for a relaxing getaway with (vaccinated) friends and family....

Most beach chairs pretty much offer one, front-facing position if we want to read on the shore, which means we’ll have to put down our favorite beach reads if we want to give ourselves a perfectly even summer glow. But this problem is solved by one simple, ingenious invention: a beach chair with a face hole in it. To buy: amazon.com, from $44 It would also make an excellent massage table and a convenient spot for easily applying sunscreen to your back, or just taking a face-down nap....

Cancun’s most thrilling park is welcoming outdoor adventure seekers again. Xavage park features adrenaline-pumping activities, including zip lining, rafting, and kayaking, as well as water activities for visitors of all ages. The attraction, which is part of Grupo Xcaret, reopened its doors on Dec. 20, 2021 after closing in March 2020 because of the pandemic. In addition to the return of its six trademark activities, there’s also a new pool surrounded by lounge chairs and hammocks, as well as a new international buffet with salads, pastas, ceviches, burgers, meats, and desserts, plus a new snack bar called Xnack, which has pizza, cookies, vegetables, smoothies, and juices....