If you want your dream Italian retreat, all you need is some pocket change. According to CNN, Sambuca, an idyllic town in Sicily, Italy, is selling off dozens of old homes for the mere pittance of €1, just over $1 USD. Several other Italian towns have opted for this kind of deal as well, from Sardinia, which also sold off homes for a dollar, to Candela, which offered to pay potential residents to move there....
What’s better than an island getaway? A beachfront estate that feels like your own private island. Travelers planning a group vacation can now buy out the 18-room Hideaway at Hull Bay on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Courtesy of The Hideaway at Hull Bay The Hideaway opened in January 2022 on St. Thomas, offering enough accommodations for up to 36 guests. The 18 rooms of this luxury estate are spread across eight beachside cottages and two three-bedroom, three-bathroom beachfront villas, both with plenty of indoor and outdoor communal areas, including oceanfront balconies, perfect for gathering with your fellow travelers....
When my boyfriend and I booked a weekend at Leavenworth Tiny House Village, I didn’t know what to expect. Leavenworth is a small Bavarian-themed town snuggled into the foothills of Washington’s Cascade Mountains. It’s one of the most picturesque places in the Pacific Northwest, so I had no doubt the setting would be beautiful, but I was nervous about what it would be like to actually stay in a tiny home, especially with another adult....
More than three years after the U.K. voted to leave the European Union, Brexit is finally happening. While the country will no longer be part of Europe after Friday, much will remain the same — at least for the next year, according to reports. Starting Feb. 1, U.K. citizens will no longer be part of the EU but will be able to travel within the Schengen Area visa-free for up to 90 days during any 180 day period, according to the European Parliament....
When dreaming of a window-seat view on a flight to the Caribbean, one color comes to mind: blue. Or, more specifically, that sparkling turquoise-blue that can only be found in nature when the water is crystal clear, the sand is white, and the sun is shining. But anyone who has flown over the area in the seven months since hurricanes Irma and Maria caused widespread devastation has probably noticed another, less idyllic shade of blue: royal blue FEMA tarps covering the missing or damaged roofs of residents’ homes....
Prefer to learn about coffee production from Costa Rica, sushi making from a teacher in Japan, or the secret to amazing smoked fish tacos, like the ones you loved in Mexico? There are experiences for that, too. Most experiences are currently being managed by tour operators whose businesses have changed drastically against the backdrop of the coronavirus, though individuals with something to share also are invited to apply. And camera-shy wanderlusters can rest easy — only guides appear on camera during the experiences....
As the state capital of Texas, Austin lures those from near and far with its vast array of culture and history. Known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” you’re sure to find plenty of places here to grab a drink and hear some tunes, but you’ll also find killer hiking trails, world-class art, and plenty of tasty food to keep you coming back time and time again. Here, the 30 best things to do in Austin, Texas....
Allbirds is well-known for its classic wool runners, although the brand has also expanded its offerings to slip-on shoes, weather-resistant sneakers, and now, a durable trail running shoe. Avid runners, hikers, and travelers looking for a versatile sneaker that can comfortably take them across a variety of terrains will want to check out this new launch from Allbirds. The 19 Best Travel Shoes That Reviewers Say You Can Walk All Day In...
In case you missed it, the famous forecasting groundhog out of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania has predicted six more weeks of winter weather ahead. But instead of dwelling on how desperately out of reach that spring warmth may feel, why not settle in and make the most of bundling up indoors? With spring cleaning right around the corner, there’s never been a better time to channel the mantra of “out with the old and in with the new....
For more than a century, Block Island’s Surf Hotel has dazzled guests with its rambling front porch and sweeping ocean views. After lingering on the market for years, the iconic Rhode Island getaway will reopen on July 1 as the Block Island Beach House. Lark Hotels, a New England-based boutique hotel collection, bought the Surf Hotel earlier this year. The company has since transformed the place into a coastal-chic oasis, complete with a waterfront patio, a restaurant, a bar, a coffee and cocktail counter, and 31 eye-popping rooms....
California’s Sequoia National Park partially reopened on Thursday in time for Veterans Day, the National Park Service announced, after being ravaged by wildfires earlier this year. Starting at 7 a.m., nature enthusiasts were allowed to visit the park’s Foothills along with the Foothills Visitor Center, Tunnel Rock, and some area trails, according to the National Park Service. The park will remain open for day use only. While parts of the park are welcoming visitors, several areas will remain closed due to fire damage and risk, including several trails....
If you’re tired of counting down the days until your next cruise, there’s a new edition of Monopoly that might just satisfy some of your wanderlust. Carnival, whose ships are still sidelined due to the coronavirus pandemic, is releasing a custom cruise-themed edition of Monopoly. The board itself features an image of Carnival’s newest ship, Mardi Gras, pulling into a sandy beach paradise surrounded by clear turquoise water. Courtesy of Carnival...
Baha Mar, the 1,000-acre resort outside the Bahamian capital, has made a big investment in food since it opened in 2015. Big names on the roster include master sushi chef Katsuya Uechi; Chef’s Table star butcher Dario Cecchini; and Marcus Samuelsson, whose beach food truck will be joined by a seaside restaurant later this year. And now, another food-world celebrity arrives in Nassau with the much-anticipated opening of Café Boulud The Bahamas, a sumptuous new restaurant from chef Daniel Boulud....
Despite suffering two devastating hurricanes, the Caribbean welcomed a record 30 million visitors in 2017. The islands saw $37 billion in total visitor spending for 2017, up three percent from 2016, according to the report from the Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). “In short, despite the challenges in 2017, more visitors arrived in the Caribbean and they spent more,” said Hugh Riley, secretary general of the CTO, according to Travel Agent Central....
When you’re in need of a true mind-body recharge, the best fix is to get off the grid and hit the reset button through a dedicated wellness-centered getaway. For travelers seeking this type of retreat, the good news is that you don’t have to wander far: some of the world’s best destination spas happen to be located right here in the United States. 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 hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more....
Microsoft is making it a bit easier to hit the skies while you’re staying at home. The tech giant is re-releasing its Flight Simulator video game after a 14-year hiatus. Flight Simulator 2020 is the reboot of Microsoft’s popular game, which puts players in the pilot seat. Players select their flight paths and then take the aircraft from takeoff to landing, anywhere around the world. The hyper-realistic game allows players to create and navigate flight paths anywhere in the world....
Good news for lovebirds in London: You don’t have to get a flight to Las Vegas if you want to get married on the spot. According to Insider, Londoners can get their own Vegas-style, tiny chapel wedding within one of London’s fanciest and most famous department stores during the month of February. Valentine’s Day can be overwhelming for couples, so why not indulge in an impulse wedding? The tiny, pastel-colored “Chapel of Love,” located on the lower ground floor of Fortnum & Mason department store, looks like one of those little chapels in Sin City that are very popular amongst people who found love at the Blackjack table, Insider reported....
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reopened enrollment centers for Global Entry on Tuesday after they were closed for over five months due to the coronavirus pandemic. CBP will re-roll out the interviews by scheduling in-person appointments for conditionally approved Global Entry applicants, the agency announced in a press release shared with Travel + Leisure. Most Trusted Traveler Program enrollment centers throughout the country will be available for interviews. However, interviews for NEXUS and U....
Not everyone can handle heavy metal. Especially not, it seems, if you’re a big cat. According to CNN, Hiker Dee Gallant and her dog, Murphy, managed to escape a run-in with a cougar in Canada, thanks to the head-banging magic of the heavy metal band Metallica. On July 23, Gallant was hiking on Vancouver Island for a few miles when she noticed she was being stalked by the large cat. She attempted to get the animal to leave, since cougars often don’t approach humans this closely, according to CNN....
The beaches in Ocean City, Md., are reopening this weekend in time for Mother’s Day — a week earlier than originally scheduled, town officials said. While the state remains under a stay at home order, the town decided to open the beaches and boardwalk to residents and those who live in the surrounding area starting Saturday, May 9, a spokeswoman for the town confirmed to Travel + Leisure. The town is, however, discouraging people who live further away from coming....
