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Las Vegas is slowly returning to its typical pace as shows like Cirque du Soleil are ready to take the stage again while various casinos are lifting capacity restrictions to bring the Strip back to life. “This is the moment we have all been waiting for,” Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, said in a statement. “Almost 400 days have passed since we had to take a temporary hiatus, and we have been anxiously awaiting our return to the stage....

To say 2020 was a weird and wild year would be an understatement. For most, it was a year of staying home, forgoing travel and other outings, and for singletons, mostly avoiding dating as well. However, if you were among the extremely fortunate few to find love during a global pandemic, Sandals Resorts may have something special for you. In August, the resort company announced its new “Sandals Swipe-Stakes,” a giveaway to help Covid couples get the “honeymoon phase they never got....

A family on MSC Cruises’ first trip back on the water in the Mediterranean was not allowed back on board after separating from their group during an officially planned excursion. Sailing on the MSC Grandiosa, the first cruise to hit the Mediterranean since Italy lifted its lockdown, the family broke off from the group during an excursion organized by the cruise line to Naples, an MSC spokeswoman confirmed to Travel + Leisure on Thursday....

A small piece of Mars will return to its home planet when NASA launches its Perseverance Rover this week. The rover is due to jet off to Mars this week and when it does, it will carry a small piece of meteorite from its destination planet which, until recently, was housed at London’s Natural History Museum. “This little rock’s got quite a life story,” Caroline Smith, head of Earth sciences collections at the Natural History Museum and a member of the science team working on the launch, told The BBC....

The Grand Canyon has some new competition — at least when it comes to grounded travelers gawking at gorgeous images from afar. NASA just released several new images from its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to give wanderlust-afflicted earthlings the clearest glimpse of the far-flung planet’s sprawling Valles Marineris canyon. The Valles Marineris canyon stretches for about 2,500 miles — about the distance from New York to San Francisco. It is an estimated 125 miles wide and approximately seven miles deep, putting it on par with the depths of the Earth’s oceans....

Finding great rates for hotels can be tricky, but an analysis by Expedia offers some helpful insights for travelers. After looking at 2015 bookings across its sites, Expedia found that Sundays were the best day to book overall—especially for same-day bookings, though results change the more days there are between the date of booking and the date of the stay. The lowest average daily rates were available from 21 to 28 days before travel dates....

Tumi is a trusted luggage brand that customers have loved and relied on for years, and for good reason. From rolling suitcases to backpacks and briefcases, Tumi knows how to cater to the business traveler in particular. The Meadow Backback from Tumi’s new Devoe collection is a perfect example of the what the brand does best. It’s a stylish yet totally functional backpack that has plenty of handy pockets, as well as a separate laptop compartment....

It’s easy to see why the “comfy and supportive” sandals that allow you to be on your feet and “pain-free” for long periods of time (including for 16-hour days) are so in-demand. Not only do they feature a molded EVA insole that cups your heels and offers ample arch support, but they also boast a rugged sole that provides excellent stability on both wet and dry surfaces. “They have fantastic traction, and I didn’t slip even one time while hiking through a steep rainforest trail for three hours,” one customer wrote....

A Royal Caribbean ship is heading to Hollywood next year, calling Los Angeles home for the first time in a decade. The cruise company said on Wednesday it will plan to move its “Navigator of the Seas” ship to LA in June 2022, sailing for trips lasting for 3-5 nights to Catalina Island in California as well as Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. Additionally, the ship will sail select winter holiday week-long trips....

While there are certainly cruisers who think bigger is better — five shows! 30 restaurants! waterslides! — the mega-ship lifestyle isn’t for everyone. The best small-ship ocean cruises epitomize a different way to travel — one that allows for more access to remote destinations, more peace and quiet, and more engagement with the experience of being on the water. 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....

The Maldives has eliminated pre-arrival testing requirements for vaccinated travelers, becoming the latest destination to lift pandemic-era travel protocols. The new rules, which went into effect on March 5, will eliminate the on-arrival PCR testing and make it easier than ever to visit the island paradise, according to the Ministry of Tourism for the Maldives. Additionally, vaccinated travelers who remain on an inhabited island will no longer be required to show a PCR test upon departure....

The chunky knit dress is equal parts stylish, warm, and comfortable. One reviewer even described it as “the coziest item” in their closet. Made from an ultra-soft acrylic material, the sweater dress hits mid-thigh and has a loose, slouchy silhouette. Even better, the cozy piece has two front pockets that are big enough to hold the essentials. While most shoppers wear the piece as intended as a dress, others say it looks just as cute when worn as an oversized sweater over leggings or jeans....

There are many celebrations and stories surrounding Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, around the world. The legendary date has grown beyond its history and has become a cultural bond between some Mexican immigrants and their roots. In the United States, the date has become synonymous with celebrating Mexican culture, many times in over-the-top, inauthentic ways. In Mexico, May 5 simply marks the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, and the date is associated with a destination: the city of Puebla....

Earlier this week, divers off the coast of Oahu got the shock of a lifetime when they came face-to-face with Deep Blue, one of the largest great white sharks ever on record. According to USA Today, the divers were monitoring tiger sharks as they consumed the decomposing corpse of a sperm whale when Deep Blue made her appearance. Though most people would be overwhelmed with fear at the mere sight of the shark, who measures in at some 20 feet long and is thought to be at least 50 years old, the divers thought it was pure bliss....

While we’re all stuck at home trying to prevent the spread of coronavirus, you might be missing some of the familiar parts of places you love at home or while traveling. Though cities around the world are defined by many things — New York’s pizza or London’s iconic double-decker buses — it’s their skylines that stand out as a physical representation of their spirit. Just think about the Sydney Opera House set against the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Eiffel Tower rising above the Seine, and the Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan....

If you’re looking for arts, culture, and waterside adventure in Mexico, the Baja Club Hotel in La Paz delivers on all fronts. Although the outside looks unassuming, what lies behind the stately entryway provides an oasis for travelers who wish to have their accommodations serve as the ultimate retreat. Stepping through the carved wooden doors reveals the interior of the original 1910 villa, which belonged to an affluent family steeped in the area’s once-thriving pearl farming culture....

With new regulations making it trickier for Americans to travel abroad to the few destinations still open to them, resorts and hotels overseas are rolling out new incentives to entice would-be travelers. The latest offering comes from Palace Resorts, which has pledged to pay for visitors’ quarantine if they test positive for COVID-19 after a stay at any of its 10 properties. Spread across Mexico and Jamaica, the all-inclusive chain also includes Le Blanc Spa Resort....

Near, far, wherever you are –– you can apply to tag along on a scientific expedition to the Titanic. According to Lonely Planet, travelers and history buffs can apply to go on six planned dives to explore the Titanic in 2021 as “mission specialists.” These dives, organized by OceanGate Expeditions, will have a crew of scientists, filmmakers, and explorers who will collect photographs, video, laser scans, and sonar data of the wreckage in order to study and preserve the undersea site....

No matter if I’m packing for a single night away or a week-long adventure, the final bag I always pack is my backpack. Part of the reason I save it until last is because I’m often still using many of the items I know I will need to tuck inside, but the other reason is because I like to save the very best until last — and packing this $30 backpack from Target truly is the best....

To say that the last six months of our lives have been a little crazy would be the understatement of the decade. Canceling plans to stay home for weeks, balancing our personal and professional lives while working from home, navigating relationships with friends and family without meeting face-to-face, and managing the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic — it’s a lot. Now, more than ever, self-care is a top priority, so Travel + Leisure spoke with Elise Loehnen, goop’s chief content officer, about life and wellness during the pandemic....