Posts

Universal Studios Hollywood will reopen to the public with a new outdoor dining and shopping experience on Friday, March 12. The “Taste of Universal,” announced this week, will allow visitors back into Universal Studios, under new COVID-19 protocol, to enjoy their favorite food from the park, according to a press release shared with Travel+ Leisure on Thursday. Although rides and shows will not be operating, visitors will be able to walk around their favorite areas of the park, enter stores, take pictures with characters and eat some of the park’s best dishes that they may be missing after its prolonged closure....

Mérida — the capital of Mexico’s Yucatán state, a half-hour drive inland from the country’s Gulf coast — has long been a destination for Mexican travelers. This safe, tranquil city has an intoxicating mix of cultures and a cuisine brimming with local produce. Add in a recent upswing in new restaurants, boutiques, and stylish hotels, and Mérida is quickly blooming into an international destination in its own right. Mérida is the perfect size to absorb over a long weekend, and an excellent jumping-off point to access the treasures of the region: restored haciendas, underground cenotes, Mayan ruins, and more....

Travel + Leisure readers chose Udaipur, India, as their favorite city in Asia in the 2018 World’s Best Awards. Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated cities on their sights and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and overall value....

If traveling into space is a dream of yours, hold tight — we’re almost ready to send tourists to the stars. But while we wait for spaceflight companies to finalize their tourism programs, you can get a little taste of what it’s like to be in weightlessness right here on Earth. Or rather, just above it. Since 2004, the Zero Gravity Corporation (Zero-G) has been offering passengers the chance to experience simulated weightlessness through a flight on a modified Boeing 727 aircraft....

Editor’s Note: Those who choose to travel are strongly encouraged to check local government restrictions, rules, and safety measures related to COVID-19 and take personal comfort levels and health conditions into consideration before departure. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the sunny Lowcountry shores, South Carolina truly has something for every type of traveler. Growing up in the Palmetto State, I spent summers building sandcastles on Hilton Head Island, boating around Lake Murrary and Lake Hartwell, and hiking through national and state parks....

As a travel editor, I’ve tested out my fair share of luggage, from rolling suitcases to weekender bags. And with that, I’ve learned plenty about what to look for in a travel bag. Whether you’re in the market for a tote for everyday commuting, a duffel bag for weekend trips, or a carry-on for air travel, I’ve compiled a list of my five favorite travel bags that come with me on every type of trip....

West Virginia has more than earned its nickname, “The Mountain State.” Home to more than 1,000 named mountains and the only state entirely within the Appalachian Mountain region, it’s an outdoor and mountaineering dream. It’s a place where Mother Nature’s beauty is abundant every way you turn — and that’s why it’s a good idea to ensure your next West Virginia vacation rental also comes with an epic outdoor view....

After becoming engaged, you’re (understandably) eager to celebrate—but the stress of wedding planning can quickly snowball. So why wait until the honeymoon to take a few days to toast to your future together? Planning a post-engagement trip allows you to spend time with your future spouse and kick off a lifetime of adventure, before you get bogged down in wedding details. Here are some of the best places to celebrate a recent engagement, suggested by T+L’s trusted A-List travel advisors....

Airbnb is on the hunt for 12 intrepid travelers to spend an entire year living the nomadic lifestyle in home rentals around the world. On Wednesday, the home rental company announced the “Live Anywhere on Airbnb” opportunity. The aim, the company explained, is to have 12 lucky people share “their unique experiences with Airbnb,” which “could help inform future product upgrades and innovations on the platform, helping to lay the groundwork for the future of nomadic living....

As 2020 caused immense grief for many all over the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the loss of Broadway star Nick Cordero in July took the spotlight as his wife Amanda Kloots did her best to radiate positivity through his tragic battle with the virus. Following the loss of her husband, who was 41, Kloots, 38, a fitness instructor, has taken on a new role as a co-host on CBS’ The Talk while navigating life as mom to Elvis, the 1-year-old son she shares with the late Cordero....

The health and ancestry kit comes with a saliva collection tube and the supplies necessary to ship it back to 23andMe’s lab. Once your kit has been processed, you’ll gain access to a wealth of information on the brand’s site and app. As far as ancestry goes, you’ll be able to explore your ancestry composition, including where your DNA comes from across 2,000 regions. You’ll also be able to use a DNA relative finder and automatic family tree builder to easily complete ancestral research and connect with family members....

The Best Weekender Bags for Every Style The Gonex 100L Packable Travel Duffle Bag is made from water-resistant 210D nylon fabric, making it a particularly durable choice when it comes to weekender bags. It has a spacious 100-liter capacity, although it folds up into a compact bag that measures just 13 by 12 inches, so you can easily pack it in a larger bag or rolling suitcase when it’s not in use....

American Airlines will now allow passengers to change their flights for free until the end of the year. All trips booked before Sept. 30 will be eligible for free changes on travel through Dec. 31, 2020, according to the airline’s website. Passengers are allowed to change or cancel their upcoming trips one time, without penalty. The offer will also apply to basic economy tickets, which are typically not eligible for changes....

Fact: Pizza is the perfect food. Combining tasty bread, sweet and acidic tomatoes, and gooey cheese is pretty much all we need as humans to feel satisfied. Now, you can make the heavenly experience of eating pizza your job. Slice, an app that connects pizza lovers to over 16,000 local, independent pizzerias around the country, is looking for 50 pizza lovers to try out different pizzerias in their state to determine which are the best of the best....

You could be forgiven for thinking that America is suddenly experiencing lots of eclipses, but what will happen in the early hours of January 31 will be nothing like August’s total solar eclipse in the U.S. While that event lasted just a few minutes and had to be viewed mostly through special safety glasses, the total lunar eclipse happening on Wednesday will last for hours, and be completely safe to watch....

Flying in business and first class already comes with a host of extra perks, but Cathay Pacific is upping the ante by exempting these passengers from wearing face masks while in their seats in lie-flat mode. According to Executive Traveller, the Hong Kong-based airline argues that the high enclosures surrounding its business- and first-class suites, along with the extra personal space that creates some distance between travelers, will help combat the airborne spread of COVID-19 between passengers....

Flying on Emirates is always a luxurious experience, but now, the famed airline is leveling up to ensure they remain the best in the business. Even in economy. In December, the airline announced its plans to take its signature A380 experience “to the next level” with its new premium economy cabin product, along with updated enhancements to its entire cabin, including a new look. “The Emirates A380 is already one of the most sought-after travel experiences in the skies, and now we’ve made it even better,” Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline said in a statement....

Now’s your chance to recreate your favorite couch gag in real life. While Ikea creates some excellent pieces for college students and people who are basically always on the move, their latest ad campaign is aimed at TV lovers in particular. According to Ad Age, Ikea has created three new ways to completely escape into your favorite TV shows besides binge watching them all night on Netflix and Hulu. The Ikea Real Life series takes three popular shows, “The Simpsons,” “Friends,” and “Stranger Things,” and recreates the iconic living rooms from each show using all Ikea furniture....

We are living through a very difficult time to say the least, however, there are people and organizations doing everything they can to lift spirits. And that includes both Disney and John Stamos. Stamos, a well-known Disney fanatic, teamed up with Disney’s social media team to bring the world just a small touch of joy in the form of a bedtime story. ?s=20 On Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram, Disney shared an adorable six-minute video of Stamos reading the Disney favorite “A Kiss Goodnight” by Floyd Norman and Richard Sherman....

Thrill-seekers in Los Angeles will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to enter theme parks next month, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced. Starting Oct. 7, anyone heading to a theme park within Los Angeles county, including Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain, will have to show proof they have been vaccinated or received a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arriving, according to the department of health....