The days of being able to sidle up to almost the same bar as Norm Peterson and Cliff Clavin from the TV show Cheers are coming to an end. A replica of Cheers, the iconic Boston bar where everyone knows your name, is closing down on Aug. 30 after nearly 20 years in business. The combination of COVID-19 and the cost of rent is just too much, owner Thomas Kershaw said in a press release announcing the closure....
Whether your favorite getaways tend towards lakeside camping, RV road trips, casual hotels, or luxury boutiques, you’ll find the perfect place to lay your head for the night in the Santa Ynez Valley. For that matter, your range of daytime activities is just as wide, from hiking and horseback riding to fine dining and wine tasting, with lots in between. Just two hours north of Los Angeles and about four hours south of San Francisco, the Santa Ynez Valley towns offer world-class wineries, craft breweries, mountain biking and hiking trails, waterfalls, history, and ocean breezes....
As some countries in Europe begin plans to ease coronavirus restrictions, the popular Eurostar train will start requiring passengers to wear face masks when traveling, according to the company. The mandate to cover your face went into effect on Monday, and includes passengers who are in the station or on the train, according to their website. Customers who don’t have a mask may be turned away. Additionally, the company said passengers who aren’t wearing masks and traveling to France and Belgium could be fined in the two countries....
As millions of people flock to the Grand Canyon to enjoy the expansive views and picture-worthy day hikes, it’s easy to wonder how a place so vast can feel so crowded. It’s unsurprising that one of the seven natural wonders of the world attracts visitors from all over the globe, yet few are privy to one of its most exclusive experiences: exploring the national park by raft. This adventure, which spans almost 300 miles from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek, can take up to 25 days to complete, depending on the pace of the group....
On most cruise ships, your accommodations, standard meals, entertainment, and daytime activities are included in your fare. Then the nickel-and-diming begins. Want a soda? Add it to your tab. Take a Pilates class? Expect a fee. Indulge at one of the fancy specialty restaurants? There’s a charge for that, too. The extras quickly add up, often sinking hearts when the bill arrives at the vacation’s end. But there are cruises that thankfully buck this trend, with out-of-pocket expenses that are truly minimal....
The end of Hawaii’s travel restrictions is in sight after the state’s Gov. David Ige last week laid out a step-by-step plan to lift COVID-19-related travel protocols. Starting June 15, all restrictions on inter-county travel will end and fully-vaccinated residents who received their COVID-19 shots in Hawaii will be able to travel back to the state without the need to get a pre-travel test or quarantine, Ige announced. Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images...
It’s no secret that travel, specifically air travel, has taken a hit during the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, the month of April saw a 73.7% reduction in commercial flights compared to the same time period in 2019. But, that doesn’t mean travel is over for good. As new data from Kayak shows, people are just thinking differently about what it means to get away. “We’re making our search data available to inform and reassure the travel community,” Steve Hafner, CEO of KAYAK, shared in a statement about its newly released travel data dashboard....
Michael Janson isn’t in a hurry. At 76 years old, the coffee farmer has significantly slowed down with age, taking his time to step down from his four-wheeler and onto the ground below. But that new pace seems to fit him just fine. The fallen leaves crunch with each careful step he takes toward the overlook, just as the sun peeks through the mist. He stands in the sunshine looking over his 110-hectare farm in the mountainous region of Boquete, Panama, with the same beaming pride a father has for his children....
The IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card may not have the name recognition as big-time travel rewards cards like the American Express Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve, but it’s suddenly worth careful consideration if you’re a fan of IHG hotels. This card’s new 140,000-point sign-up bonus is one of the biggest offers we’ve seen in recent memory, and it’s rich enough to score you multiple free nights at hotels you’d actually want to stay at....
Aruba welcomed more than 11,000 international visitors to its shores since the island paradise reopened its borders last month. “As one of the most tourism dependent countries in the world, the impact of COVID has been a massive challenge,” CEO of the Aruba Tourism Authority, Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes told Travel Pulse in a Q+A this week. “Beach destinations rank high on travelers’ wish lists and we’ve seen a strong desire for people to travel to Aruba....
The Fairmont Century Plaza, one of Los Angeles’ most iconic hotels, is ready to unveil its $2.5 billion renovations. “Fairmont Century Plaza will once again be the Los Angeles hotel, just as it was when it opened to worldwide acclaim in 1966,” Philip Barnes, the hotel’s regional vice president and general manager, shared in a statement. “Working with our talented team to ensure the return of a beloved jewel in L....
Whatever happens in Las Vegas might have to happen on the weekend for now. A growing number of Las Vegas Strip hotels are instituting midweek closures as they wait out the pandemic. Starting Nov. 9, the Park MGM, previously known as the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, plans to close from noon on Mondays until noon on Thursdays through December, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, citing an email sent to hotel staff....
Princess Cruises and Holland America Line each resumed cruising over the weekend, both sailing to Alaska to kick off their cruise seasons. On Sunday, Princess Cruises set sail from Seattle on the Majestic Princess, heading for Alaska on a 7-day round trip journey, including stops at Glacier Bay National Park, in Juneau, and in Skagway. To celebrate, guests were greeted by masked and cheering staff wearing “welcome aboard” sashes. “After 500 days of missing you all, #MajesticPrincess welcomed guests aboard today,” the cruise line tweeted....
Royal Caribbean completed a simulated cruise with volunteers this week — a significant step in getting its ships back out to sea for the summer season. The cruise line sailed with 650 Royal Caribbean employees who volunteered for the voyage on its Freedom of the Seas ship, docking in Miami, the company shared on Twitter Tuesday. Royal Caribbean was the first cruise company to be approved to start test sailings under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s cruise restart protocols....
Labor Day weekend is officially upon us, which means there’s never been a better time to shop incredible online sales and stock up on fresh finds for the fall season. Nordstrom is rolling out significant savings on plenty of items we’ve been eyeing all summer long, so we rounded up a few of our favorites to take the guesswork out of what to snap up before it sells out. You’re going to want to move quickly on this sale....
If you’ve got opinions on emotional support and service animals, now is the time to share them. On Wednesday, the Department of Transportation announced it is soliciting feedback on a proposed amendment to the regulation of service animals on flights. The proposed changes include limiting the definition of a service animal and no longer requiring airlines to accept emotional support animals on flights. The potential new law change would also limit the number of service animals to two per person per flight....
For generations, lakefront hotels and homes have been at the forefront of American travel. From sea to shining sea, our country is blessed with shimmering, crystal-clear lakes in a variety of shapes and sizes, each with its own spellbinding view that only nature can produce. With many lakes located in remote locales, lakefront retreats have become the de rigueur choice of late for domestic travelers who are venturing to spread out spaces and keeping social distancing guidelines in mind....
Black Tomato, the luxury vacation company, is hoping to help you get out and travel like a kid again. In March, the company announced the return of its “Take Me on a Story” trips inspired by some of the most beloved children’s books of all time. “Travel has the power to inspire and educate children of all ages and now, more than ever, is a perfect antidote to long months of homeschooling and shuttered lives,” the company shared in a statement....
Ever wanted to take a journey with Frodo and his fellowship? You’re not alone. And now, there’s a hiking trail in Spain that is pretty close to a trek in Middle Earth. Even though Middle Earth is a fictional place, there are still many places around the world that mimic the same types of landscapes that are described in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” novels — and they’re not all in New Zealand either....
Smart phones, smart watches, and smart everything else are the norm these days, but Lake Nona, a community within Orlando, Florida, is taking things to the next level with its latest offering. Already nicknamed “a smart city with soul,” this technologically advanced enclave is re-imagining the Orlando vacation experience with the new, wellness and technology-focused guest rooms at the Lake Nona Wave Hotel. The 234-key property recently announced the debut of Well+ech by Wave, a collection of five rooms that use a rotation of top-rated brands to curate unique wellness experiences....
