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The first thing anybody will say about Java is that it’s the most populated island in the world. More than 140 million people live in Indonesia’s beating heart, in an area of just under 50,000 square miles. It’s also a thriving place for culture and food, art and adventure. 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....

Yosemite National Park closed Thursday evening as smoke from nearby wildfires caused “unhealthy to hazardous” air quality, the National Park Service confirmed to Travel + Leisure. “With air quality projected to be in the unhealthy to hazardous range over the next several days, the park anticipates the closure to be in effect at least throughout the weekend,” the NPS told T+L in a statement. “The park will continue to assess the smoke impacts, air quality index, and fire activity throughout the region....

1 Mark the spotTake into account where your guests live, and pick an accessible place—with affordable, easy flights—for as many of them as possible. If your family and friends live on the West Coast, perhaps Hawaii is a better option than Italy. 2 Check the requirementsYou must spend a certain amount of time in some countries before you can wed (see “The Fine Print: Making It Legal”). A few days in the Caribbean can be a relaxing pre-ceremony respite, but France’s six-week residency rule may take some of the allure out of a Provence wedding....

`Ohana (family) is central to Hawaiian culture, and the islands are an incredibly family-friendly destination. Whether your keiki (children) are active, quiet, curious, bold, studious, creative, athletic, or otherwise, Hawaii has plenty to offer — on land and sea. The rich history and culture, varied terrain, majestic views, tropical weather, abundant wildlife, and flavorful cuisine make this place a paradise for all ages. And the myriad ways to entertain and engage keiki means that a stay in Hawaii is heavenly for parents, too....

An estimated 25% of all Americans suffer from aviophobia, otherwise known as a fear of flying. And while we know air travel is abundantly safe, there are a few buttons you never, ever, want to see your pilot touch while airborne. The Daily Mail recently rounded up responses from several airline captains who service long-haul flights on all the buttons, knobs, levers, and pulleys they never want to touch, because if they do, it means something seriously catastrophic is going down....

When it comes to travel, planes are often heralded as the fastest, most efficient way to get around — and in many cases, they are. But on certain routes, the time it takes to travel to the airport (which is often well out of town), go through security, and grab a preflight snack can add on a few hours. This is where high-speed trains shine. Train stations tend to be located in or near the city center, and you don’t have to arrive two hours prior to departure to get through check-in and security lines....

Neiman Marcus wants you to dream big when it comes to travel with its 2020 Fantasy Gift offerings. For those who want to spare no expense, the famed department store is selling a suite of travel-inspired fantasy gifts that will leave wanderlusters absolutely drooling. And, because travel is now about just how much one can social distance from another, the department store has paired many of its travel gifts with Jet Linx, the official private aviation partner for the 2020 Neiman Marcus Fantasy Gifts....

Items from the estate of the late Anthony Bourdain sold for a total of $1.8 million at auction last week. The auction contained the chef and TV personality’s personal possessions, including artwork, clothing and kitchenware. The highest-selling item in the auction was the chef’s custom Kramer knife, which he once called “the most awesome knife in the world" while filming a show called “Raw Craft." It sold for a grand total of $231,250....

On my most recent trip to Las Vegas, I decided to trade in my heels and dresses for a pair of sneakers and some spandex. I purchased my flight tickets in anticipation of casino nights, exclusive clubs, and dinner with my girlfriends. But this time, I also wanted to see a side of the city that lies outside the dazzling lights of the Strip. Although the shining lights and sparkling venues draw singers, dancers, and all manner of performing artists, the dramatic desert landscape makes Sin City an international attraction among outdoorsy travelers, too....

American Queen Voyages is inviting travelers to hop aboard a cruise from British Columbia to Alaska — and eavesdrop on some whales along the way. In February, the company announced a sailing in partnership with Dr. Michelle Fournet, director of the Sound Science Research Collective, an acclaimed acoustic ecologist, and a leading expert in the communication of North Pacific humpback whales. As part of the partnership, Fournet and the Sound Science Research Collective, a marine conservation non-profit, will collaborate with the American Queen Voyages expedition team and California Polytechnic State University researchers for the inaugural Alaska expedition season of the recently debuted Ocean Victory....

While Google’s flight and hotel searches already offer travelers great comprehensive tools for searching for airfares and room options, updates announced Tuesday could make it easier to save money and time. The new flight features, available on mobile immediately and rolling out to desktop later this year, give travelers more ways to compare prices for different dates, airports, and hotel locations for their desired destination. Google Maps Is Adding Lists and You Won’t Know How You Traveled Without Them...

The Aman New York will begin welcoming visitors in spring or summer 2022, pressing ahead with an opening in the Crown Building on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. And it’s going to have some of the most remarkable hotel pools anywhere. The 83-room property will also feature 22 private residences — a first for Aman. Those one- to six-bedroom apartments will offer access to hotel amenities, along with outdoor terraces and heated swimming pools....

Best known for high-end rentals in South American destinations including Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, Oasis Collections is now rolling out a new way to stay. The company’s Oasis Passport is like a subscription service for chic accommodations: Guests pay a fixed monthly rent, starting at $1,550, for a three- or six-month package that grants access to more than 350 homes in more than a dozen cities. The only catch is that you have to spend at least 30 nights in each home before moving on to the next one....

“The culinary traditions of France’s overseas territories are part of French cuisine—and people tend to forget that,” says Kelly Rangama, the chef and co-owner of Le Faham, in Paris’s Batignolles neighborhood. Last year, the restaurant—which she founded with her husband, pâtissier Jérôme Devreese—became the world’s first Michelin-star recipient to celebrate the cooking of Réunion, the Indian Ocean island where Rangama was raised. “My father loved to cook,” she says, “so Réunionnais flavors are very much in my blood....

To the T+L audience: Last year, I had the pleasure of visiting Italy on three separate, memorable occasions. Moments that still make me smile include lunching for four hours on razor clams and risotto at Al Gatto Nero, a humming restaurant on the Venetian island of Burano. Marveling at the beauty of Milan’s Duomo one bone-chilling December evening, and being reminded that landmarks deemed “touristy” become touristy for a reason. Dancing with my family during a July festival at Puglia’s Borgo Egnazia resort, where we weren’t afraid to hold hands with total strangers....

If you’re looking for travel lodging that isn’t a home someone is renting out — but also isn’t quite a hotel — you’ll want to check out Sonder. The next-gen hospitality company is growing rapidly thanks to its unique approach to hospitality: It offers apartments, lofts, and hotel rooms with stylish interior designs, largely digital check-in and concierge systems, and unlimited stay limits, all for affordable prices. The 15 Best Tote Bags for All Your Travel Needs...

The travel industry site Skift recently explained that travelers who check bags are often paying much, much more than they used to. Skift pointed to a report by the Government Accountability Office that determined base airfare is actually lower than it once was. But because airlines achieved these ticket prices by unbundling their fares, travelers who choose to check bags will ultimately end up paying more than they did before the unbundling began....

If you want the ultimate socially distant domestic vacation look no further than Within the Wild’s new offerings. The luxury lodge company in Alaska is now offering full lodge buyouts throughout 2020 and into 2021 for those wishing for an adventure. Each offer comes with its own self-contained staff and space for up to 12 guests to experience the stunning remote Alaskan wilderness together. The packages begin at $60,000 for three nights and includes transportation to and from the lodges, all meals, and all activities for the group....

Just like you should never judge a book by its cover, so too you should never judge a public restroom by its concrete exterior. An unassuming, concrete public restroom near Sendagaya Station, close to the Olympic stadium in Tokyo, Japan, is actually a real contender for the most beautiful public restroom in the country, according to Dezeen. Kenta Hasegawa Created by Japanese design studio Suppose Design Office, the concrete slab looks fairly drab on the outside, but the inside is perfectly created to give you a comfortable, hotel-like rest stop with stalls made of Akoya wood....

Art is already a feast for the eyes, but a new exhibit at the Dutch art museum Mauritshuis is hoping to make it a feast for the nose as well. Courtesy of Mauritshuis “Smell the Art: Fleeting Scents in Color,” a new show set to premiere at the museum located in The Hague as soon as it reopens to the public, not only showcases some stunning works by 17th-century painters but now also showcases what those paintings may “smell” like thanks to some high-tech scent spritzers guests can activate with the touch of a button....