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The Palace of Versailles, one of France’s most noted landmarks, has fallen upon hard times. So, the French government has announced it is building a five-star property with the Palace, once the seat of the French monarchy. Three neglected mansion buildings that date back to the 1680s and sit 200 yards outside of the palace gates will be turned into luxury lodging, according to a report by Reuters. Though the nearly 400-year-old palace 12 miles southwest of Paris is a wildly popular tourist destination—attracting 7 million many visitors a year—the French government has slashed its funding from about $54 million in 2013 to about $46 million this year....

New York City is a mecca for craft beer lovers with breweries to visit in every borough. And now, visitors who love craft beer can add one more (very famous) stop to the list. Throughout the month of November, the Empire State Building is hosting a craft beer pop-up on its 86th Floor Observatory — complete with a brew that you can only taste at the city’s most famous building....

The new season of The Bachelorette is almost here. While fans are surely already prepared for the drama, they may not be prepared for the fact that they could soon sleep in the same place as their favorite reality show contestants. In July, a few eagle-eyed fans and paparazzi spotted then bachelorette Clare Crawley returning to filming just outside Palm Springs, California. A source told People, the season is currently filming at La Quinta Resort & Club....

There are many reasons why Mexico’s Pacific coast is one of the most beloved destinations among surfers. Not only does this wild stretch serve up stunning sunset-facing beaches with incredible waves, but it’s also home to many surf towns that cater to intrepid wave chasers with low rates for board rentals, ice-cold beers, and the best post-session tacos you’ll ever have. While some cities on the coast have emerged as surfing meccas, many of Mexico’s best surf spots are still hard to reach and range in size and budget....

Orlando is, of course, known as the theme park capital of the world, but if you’d like to experience a whole new side of the city — one that is decidedly more peaceful and serene, check out the new ette hotel, slated to open in early May. Courtesy of ette hotel From the lush vines welcoming guests at the entryway to the Italian marble-laden lobby space, this 126-room property is all about understated luxury and sophisticated design....

Amsterdam is like a paradise for bicycle lovers, but the rise in cycling’s popularity isn’t always perfect. Cycling has become even more popular in the wake of coronavirus, especially given that people are avoiding public transit and even cars in an effort to stay healthy and help the planet, The Guardian reported. Traveling by car is quickly becoming a rarity in the municipality (even without the pandemic), and about 37 percent of people who have stated that they are avoiding public transit in the wake of the virus are opting to bicycle everywhere, according to The Guardian....

A new exhibit is open at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), but this display is a little more “otherworldly” than you might expect. Artist Yayoi Kusama has been well-known for decades for her ethereal sculptures, usually covered in her signature polka dots. Her art is often inspired by the natural world, so it only makes sense that a new exhibition, KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature, was created for the New York Botanical Garden....

At a time when kitchen tables and coffee tables have become the new office, the Cayman Islands is proposing something a bit more exciting for deskbound employees working from home due to COVID-19. This week, the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT) launched a new program aimed at digital nomads looking for new options when it comes to their home office environment. Entitled the Global Citizen Concierge Program (GCCP), it allows travelers to stay in the Cayman Islands for up to two years while working remotely....

Disney fans are now able to begin their days with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and more favorites as character dining has returned to Disneyland. Starting Thursday, Disney fans can start their days off right with the characters they love at “Mickey’s Tales of Adventure breakfast,” which will take place at the Storytellers Café at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, according to Disney. Character dining will return for breakfast and brunch with dishes like Mickey-shaped waffles, mini pastries, eggs Benedict with spiced hollandaise, French toast casserole, and mocktails....

Signs of spring have barely arrived, but it’s never too early to start preparing for the warmer months of the year. Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy is already back on shelves nationwide, and to celebrate, this Midwestern brand is giving away a tiny lake house for one lucky winner to enjoy, along with a few other perks. With the goal of embodying all things Wisconsin, this tiny home — valued at about $50,000 — features classic lake house decor, a grill, fishing poles, a sound system, a tiny kitchen, neon signs, a surfboard, Adirondack chairs, and, of course, a place to sleep....

It’s time to invest in dog treats and cat toys because it appears everyone is fostering or adopting adorable animals right now. In a matter of weeks, the coronavirus pandemic shut down the globe, pausing life as we knew it. And while some people took it as the time to experience the virtual world, others took it as their opportunity to finally bring home the pet they were longing for. After all, what better time then quarantine to make a new furry best friend?...

You’ve booked your flight, booked your hotel, and now you’re ready to jet off on your next international adventure. But before you do, you have to make sure your passport is still valid. Some countries require your passport to be valid for six months after your intended visit, so it’s important to make sure you renew before it expires. Renewing a passport can take up to 11 weeks (you can find current processing times on the State Department website), and you need to make sure you have a good photo....

First it was Coachella. Then it was Ireland’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. Before we knew it, Broadway shows, sports tournaments, and other cultural events around the globe followed suit. Now, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games are on the chopping block. Originally scheduled to kick off on July 24, the summer Olympics will now be postponed to 2021 in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic worldwide. Before the final verdict was even announced, Canada and Australia formally withdrew their athletes from the Games....

It’s often said, to fully appreciate the present, you must acknowledge the past. For me, like so many others, that trickles back to February 2020 — the before times. Two winters ago, my husband and I sat in Hanoi, wedged between the blur of motorcycles, cars, and buses, all competing for space amid the cacophony of blaring horns. I can’t quite recall the exact words exchanged in that moment, but I remember the feeling of being controlled by the clock, fretting that we might have to forgo something on our itinerary as a result of the standstill traffic....

Malaysia reopen its borders to vaccinated international visitors by at least the beginning of next year, making it the latest Southeast Asian country to plan to welcome tourists again. The reopening will come by Jan. 1 at the latest, a government advisory council said on Thursday, according to Reuters. A firm date for reopening wasn’t immediately clear. However, later this week, the country will also begin a pilot program allowing fully vaccinated international tourists to visit Langkawi, a breathtakingly beautiful island off the coast of Malaysia....

The Best Luggage Deals to Shop for Presidents Day 2022 Unlike bike seats made specifically for either indoor or outdoor bikes, this bike seat cushion can fit different types of saddles thanks to its customizable design. All you have to do is place it over your bike seat, tighten the adjustable drawstring at the bottom of the cushion, and tie the bottom straps to safely secure it. Even better, owners say it’s super easy to take on and off....

Qantas Airways may resume international flights to the U.S., UK, and Japan by the end of the year. The Australian airline announced Thursday that it has begun preparations to resume international flights by Dec. 2021 in coordination with Australia’s planned phased reopening of international borders. The decision remains contingent upon Australia’s vaccine rollout through the remainder of the year. Before Australia’s international borders can reopen, the country needs to have at least 80% of the population fully vaccinated against COVID-19....

The French skincare industry has long been the stuff of legend. Chic Parisians and returning travelers would arrive stateside gushing about how the drugstores and pharmacies in France were unlike anywhere else thanks to their above-par skincare offerings. Thankfully, many of these coveted beauty brands like Bioderma and Embriyolisse have become accessible and available stateside in recent years, and right now a ton of these brands are having stellar Black Friday sales....

Harbin, China is considered to be one of the coldest places on Earth. It’s a superlative the city’s 5 million residents don’t take lightly. In fact, for the last 36 years, the community has embraced its frigid identity and invited people from around the globe to experience it for themselves with its famed International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. Billed as the world’s largest winter festival, the ice and snow sculpture festival is truly a sight to behold....

Exactly 75 years ago, UNESCO was formed to foster a global appreciation between cultures. In 1978, the organization announced its first list of 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites, a designation that is widely considered the gold standard for landmarks around the world. Today, a total of 1,154 sites — 897 cultural, 218 natural, and 39 mixed — have earned a spot on the prestigious list. To find out which of those is the most popular right now, creative resource company Design Bundles studied the number of times the sites have been tagged on Instagram in 2021....