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Disney is opening its anticipated Star Wars land at Disneyland and Walt Disney World months ahead of schedule, but with the surprise debut comes a few unexpected reveals, including ticket reservations and Fastpass plans. When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens on May 31 at Disneyland and Aug. 29 at Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, you won’t need to pay high prices for Star Wars Land tickets or buy anything except park admission to see Galaxy’s Edge in all its glory....

Social media is a great way to express yourself and connect with friends and family, but it can also be a difficult and sometimes dangerous place to be for kids. In response to the growing need to combat online bullying and other issues kids might experience on social media, Facebook (Instagram’s parent company) has confirmed reports that it is developing an “Instagram for kids,” according to the Associated Press (AP)....

The Dominican Republic’s tourism ministry introduced a new commission last week aimed at reassuring potential visitors after at least 10 people died in resorts throughout the country earlier this year and tourism numbers took a nosedive. The new initiative, the National Committee of Tourism Security announced, combines public agencies and private enterprises to target several issues of concern, including food and beverage safety as well as doubled inspection capacities in tourist areas....

Hawaii has been included on a list of 12 destinations the Japanese government is considering to approve for safe travel. The office of Governor David Ige said in a press release on Monday that Hawaii is “honored” to be considered safe for travel by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. If approved, the new Japan-Hawaii Safe Travel Program would open a travel corridor between Hawaii and Japan, although details are yet to be determined....

What happens in Vegas isn’t over until your plane leaves the ground. At least that’s what one tourist probably thinks now after she won more than $300,000 at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport last week while waiting for her flight home. The woman from Flower Mound, Texas won a $302,000 jackpot at a Wheel of Fortune slot machine on Feb. 25 while waiting in the airport’s B Concourse, where Southwest Airlines operates....

It’s been a long year and a half on planet earth. But now that things are looking up, I jumped at the chance to travel with my mom to Miraval, the famed Arizona desert wellness resort. Located on the outskirts of Tucson, the 440-acre destination is favored by those looking to work on or heal some aspect of themselves. And so in these extraordinary times, it seemed we had come to the right place....

Nobody gets away with breaking the rules at Disneyland. Not even Barack Obama. Over the weekend, the former president made a stop in Anaheim, California at a rally for Democratic congressional candidates. There, he shared a story about a previous visit to the southern California city that he felt rather “ashamed” of. “I’m dating myself a little bit here. I’m ashamed to say this, so close your ears, young people, but a few of us were smoking on the gondolas,” Obama told the crowd at the rally, prompting a bit of laughter....

Royal Caribbean reversed course on its vaccine policy last week, making the jab optional for most of its cruises after the company initially planned to require it. The new policy, which was announced as the cruise line detailed summer sailings out of Florida and Texas, will allow unvaccinated passengers to board a Royal Caribbean cruise as long as they “undergo testing and follow other protocols.” Previously, Royal Caribbean required guests 16 and older to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before embarking on a cruise with plans to drop that to 12 and older after Aug....

Peru’s Sacred Valley offers the ultimate in spiritual renewal. It’s a place where otherworldly energy is palpable, and where just about everyone can go to find peace. And now, there’s a perfect accommodation to match this very idyllic feeling. The StarDome Peru is set to open in early February, inviting travelers to stay in one of its six luxury suites for a vacation unlike any other. Courtesy of StarDome Peru...

“Everyone says the Azores are the new Iceland,” says Catarina Maia, emphatic despite the patchy connection on our transatlantic call between New York and Ponta Delgada. “Small population, beautiful landscape, hidden treasure, close to the U.S. — and tons of hot springs.” “But we’re not the ’new’ anything. We’ve always been here.” I had called Maia, who works with six-year-old Azorean-owned company Azores Getaways, to hear more from someone on the ground....

The Best Carry-on Luggage, According to Travel Editors Ebags is also holding a sale ahead of the holiday weekend, offering 15 percent off sitewide with the code HAPPY15, although many bags are on clearance for even more substantial discounts, like the brand’s classic Mother Lode 25-inch Checked Rolling Duffel, on sale for $130 (originally $190). What’s more, duffels, backpacks, packing cubes and more smaller travel accessories are the highlight of Nordstrom’s sale, including slashed prices from brands like Tumi and Baggu for up to 40 percent off....

The best-selling Trtl Pillow is the stuff of neck pillow legend. Since it came onto the travel sleep scene a few years ago, its innovative scarflike support has hooked travelers everywhere (including our editors). Personally, it’s the only pillow I swear by for sound sleep in transit. But Scottish brand Trtl isn’t stopping there. Hot off the heels of the Trtl Pillow Plus launch earlier this year, the brand is back with another new spinoff of the super popular Trtl Pillow: the Trtl Pillow Junior, which is sized for children ages 8 to 14....

Sam Fox is a legend in the dining world, having opened more than 100 restaurants over the last 20 years, including Nashville’s Twelve Thirty Club with Justin Timberlake last September. But now he’s raising the bar on his ambitions, and recruiting an all-star team of the biggest names in sports and entertainment with ties to Arizona, to open Phoenix’s The Global Ambassador hotel in 2023. “The Global Ambassador is a personal, legacy project for me that furthers my pursuit of combining unmatched hospitality with culinary excellence,” Fox, who is developing the project under his newly launched company Author & Edit Hospitality alongside real estate developer Brian Frakes’ company Common Bond Development, told Travel + Leisure....

Whenever we’re in the mountains, we want to spend as much time as possible on the slopes. For some of us, that means getting in line for the gondola before the mountain opens, and for others, it means venturing up the mountain at night. As the sun sets on the snow-covered peaks, head to The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch to start a memorable evening at Zach’s Cabin. Arrive early — seriously, you don’t want to miss your ride — and have a drink at the hotel’s wood-clad bar....

After being delayed one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympic Games could be held without any spectators this summer. As coronavirus cases continue to grow in Japan, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is debating how to host the games as Japan battles a growing number of coronavirus cases. In a recent interview with Japan’s Kyodo news agency, Former IOC Vice President Dick Pound suggested that the Olympics might be held without an audience this year....

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics will allow up to 10,000 Japanese spectators to watch the upcoming games. Up to 10,000 spectators - or up to 50% of each venue’s capacity - will be allowed to watch the games according to rules laid out by the IOC and the Japanese government on Monday. Spectators in the arenas must wear face masks at all times and “speaking in a loud voice or shouting will be prohibited....

Today’s Supreme Court rulings—striking down DOMA and essentially paving the way for same-sex marriage in California—have helped make this Pride month prouder than ever. A number of hotels are sharing in the celebrations by offering special promotions geared for LGBT guests, their allies, and their causes. Here, T+L takes a quick look at a few of them: The JW Marriott San Francisco Union Square has announced its “Love is Love is Love” package—featuring a dinner for two at Chef Ben Mattman’s Level III Restaurant, two custom-made, eco-friendly “Love is Love is Love” bathrobes (to keep!...

Last-minute travel essentials to grab at the airport used to include items like ibuprofen, small shampoo bottles, and neck pillows. In the age of coronavirus, however, that list now features hand sanitizer, masks, and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), too. As most major U.S. airlines begin to mandate face masks and coverings for passengers, McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas has become the first airport in the country to install PPE vending machines in its terminals....

When the temperatures drop and the snow starts falling, the only thing we want to do is venture to a cozy mountain resort to indulge in all kinds of winter activities. Thankfully, the Viceroy Kopaonik in Serbia has everything on our list — and then some. Courtesy of Viceroy Kopaonik Serbia Nestled at the foot of snow-crested mountains, this resort is the only luxury hotel in Serbia’s Kopaonik Village. It houses 119 rooms featuring crisp, white details, earthy tones, and a whole lot of natural light to allow the picturesque landscape to remain the center of attention....

The ancient Incan site of Machu Picchu may not be called Machu Picchu, according to a published academic paper stating significant evidence the name may be wrong. The paper, published by Ñawpa Pacha: Journal of Andean Archaeology, suggests that the Peruvian site visited by countless tourists each year was originally called Picchu or Huayna Picchu. And the name Machu Picchu didn’t even become associated with the archaeological ruins until 1911 when archaeologist and explorer Hiram Bingham first visited....