Posts

Travel planning usually focuses on the where, the destination printed on our boarding passes or train tickets, the name typed into the Google search bar in neat Arial letters. There’s the pin on the map, the destination’s sights and smells, the perfect Instagram square of beach, skyline, or mountain. But the who is at least as important as the where. The right tour leader can make a walk around the block into a thrilling adventure—the wrong companions can ruin even the most magical locale....

If you haven’t already planned your Memorial Day getaway, it’s not too late. You can still get out of town for a perfect weekend escape. Yelp has compiled a list of the best Memorial Day destinations for a last-minute jaunt of town. These places won’t be the busiest in the country, but they’ll still have plenty to do and see during the three-day weekend. 25 Memorial Day Quotes for Your Patriotic Instagram Photos...

Apple stores are well known for being clean, bright spaces lightly filled with pretty, precisely placed products, but the company’s latest store is truly a place where you’ll want to hang out all day. Apple announced on Sunday that the company will be opening a brand new store in Singapore on the waters of Marina Bay. The Apple Marina Bay Sands store is the first to actually sit on the water, connected to land via a dock and walkway....

Proposing to the love of your life during a pandemic isn’t ideal. John Nicotera originally planned on popping the question to his girlfriend, Erica Pendrak, at Crater Lake in Oregon until the coronavirus pandemic threw a wrench in his plans. Instead, Nicotera decided to take Pedrak to Old Forge, New York, and surprised her by proposing during an event that comes around every 6,800 years. Timothy Leach, @tleach18 As CNN reported, the couple used the Neowise comet as the backdrop for their engagement, and with the help of photographer friend Tim Leach, they were able to capture beautiful photos that will last a lifetime....

Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island has long attracted wildlife enthusiasts keen on seeing Canada’s Big Five: whales, bears, sea lions, sea otters, and bald eagles. Now, Tofino Resort + Marina wants you to experience its biodiverse waterways in an even more awe-inspiring fashion: from a remote floating sauna surrounded by one of British Columbia’s most scenic landscapes. And yes, even the journey to get there is part of the adventure....

Aruba flagged several new states for enhanced testing requirements and removed several others from the list, the Aruba Tourism Authority announced. Starting Sept. 24, travelers from the following states will be required to undergo enhanced testing: KentuckyMarylandMinnesotaMissouriMontanaNebraskaNorth DakotaPennsylvaniaVirginia While some states have been added to the current list (below), others — Alabama, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, and Texas — will be removed on Sept. 24. The updated list comes as the island continues to invite tourists to its shores....

Travelers headed to Belize in search of sunshine, beaches, and world-class scuba diving will soon be required to purchase travel insurance for their trip. Beginning Feb. 15, all international visitors must purchase an official travel insurance policy, according to a recent announcement from the Belize Tourism Board. The policy, costing $18, will cover up to $50,000 in COVID-19-related medical expenses and up to $2,000 for lodging expenses should a traveler need to quarantine in Belize....

As far as train travel goes nothing is quite as spectacular as a ride with Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. But, in the name of a great celebration, the company is upping the ante on its own service with the debut of “The Party.” From March 27–29, 2020, the iconic rail company will host a two-night package that transports guests across Europe and right back in time. Courtesy of Belmond According to the company, the festivities kick off at Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Italy, where guests will partake in a speakeasy party to “rival any Jay Gatsby could have thrown....

“So, what took you so long to come to Bermuda?” My husband, Rob, and I were sitting at the handsome wood-paneled bar of the Rosewood Bermuda, and the bartender, Owen Lightbourne, was ever-so-politely calling us out. We’d just arrived at the palatial resort, which sits a stone’s throw from sprawling estates owned by people like Michael Bloomberg and Ross Perot. There are four pools, a croquet lawn, and sweeping ocean views....

UPDATE (April 6, 2020): Chase is amending its annual fee policy, offering an automatic $100 credit to those whose Sapphire Reserve card renews between April 1 and July 1, 2020. This change was communicated to select Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders online. “We recognize this is a difficult time for everyone. As a way to help, we’re providing you a one-time $100 statement credit toward the 2020 $550 annual fee on your Reserve credit card....

If you’re among the many people with airline miles burning a hole in their pocket right now, Delta Air Lines has deals for you. From now through Monday, SkyMiles members can score deals on flights from the U.S. to several destinations in Mexico, Panama, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. Travelers can expect to redeem anywhere between 22,000 and 28,000 SkyMiles for roundtrip travel to Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, and other popular vacation destinations....

If you grew up reading fairy tales as a kid, chances are you’ve encountered the work of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. From “The Little Mermaid” and “The Ugly Duckling” to “Thumbelina,” and more, Andersen left his mark on the genre. Now, more than a century after his death, fans of his work can learn more about the author and pay their respects with a visit to H.C. Andersen’s House, a fairy tale-inspired museum dedicated to the author....

December is the most wonderful time of year, and it’s not just because of the holidays. Today, Dec. 4, is National Cookie Day, and Disney chefs from around the world are making this special occasion a little bit sweeter by sharing their favorite cookie recipes. You’ve probably perfected your sourdough skills by now, so it’s time to try your hand at something new. The Walt Disney Company The chefs from Disneyland Paris have shared a classic chocolate chip cookie recipe, but spruced it up with dried fruit, pecans, and dark chocolate drizzle, while California’s Disneyland Resort offered a classic shortbread cookie recipe....

A red-eye flight is often a necessary evil, something you have to suffer through in a too-narrow seat with limited legroom in order to make the most out of your vacation time. And when you finally arrive and step off the plane, ready to shake off jet lag and hit the ground running, the last thing you want is to have to change your clothes. But in today’s world of comfort above all else, people often travel in clothing like leggings or sweatpants — but nobody wants photos in front of the Eiffel Tower looking schlubby....

Looking for a last-minute Valentine’s Day gift that’ll let you celebrate the occasion with loved ones, friends, and family, long after the holiday passes this year? Emirates is giving travelers the chance to grab two tickets to popular cities across the globe for a fraction of the price with its two-for-one deals. The airline is offering deals to a variety of cities from various U.S. stops with the sale, with two-for-one deals available to Milan, Athens, Bangkok, Cape Town, Dubai, the Maldives, Bali, and more....

For roughly two weeks each year, synchronous fireflies put on a dazzling light show in the skies for onlookers across locations throughout the U.S. The lightning bugs, which are actually beetles, are the only type of firefly in America that are able to actually synchronize their flashing light patterns to create a dramatic nighttime spectacle. For this reason, visitors travel to locations like Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year to catch the natural phenomenon and the array of twinkling lights they create....

Although air travel has gradually made a comeback since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, travelers continue to navigate the virus — and the price changes that come with it. According to the Consumer Airfare Index Report, released by travel app Hopper on Wednesday, both domestic and international airfares are currently at record lows but are expected to rise in the first half of 2022. Courtesy of Hopper Currently, at around $649 roundtrip, international airfares are lower than they’ve ever been in January while at $234 roundtrip, domestic airline ticket prices are near historic lows as well....

Movie fans, meet the job of your dreams. Or…nightmares. CableTV.com and HighSpeedInternet.com have teamed up to find one horror superfan to binge-watch 24 hours of horror movies on Halloween night for $1,000. So, if you laugh at the idea of machete-wielding murderers, psychological thrills, mysterious killer clowns, or spooky ghosts, this will be a snap. Both CableTV.com and HighSpeedInternet.com are companies that research, compare, and review different types of media-watching, including internet and streaming services....

Traveling the world from your couch is easier than ever. People all over the world are facing challenges brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Staying inside and opting to self-quarantine has become the norm for a lot of people, and unfortunately, that means canceling trip in the near future. But luckily booking platform GetYourGuide has a new way to satisfy your wanderlust while still taking precautions against COVID-19. On Wednesday, the company announced an initiative to bring live and interactive tours, classes, and other travel-themed experiences directly into people’s homes via their smartphone, laptop, and other devices called The World at Home....

Gwen Kozlowski is a member of Travel + Leisure’s A-List, a collection of the top travel advisors in the world, and can help plan your perfect getaway. Below is an example of the type of itineraries she creates. To work with Gwen, you can contact her directly at gwen@exeterinternational.com. Day 1: Munich to Salzburg Upon arrival into Munich, you will be met by your private drivers for your individual transfers to Salzburg....