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Travelers are feeling the holiday spirit a few months early this year and booking December homes far in advance, according to data home-sharing site Vrbo shared with Travel + Leisure. The site has reported a more than 15% bump in demand for homes in December, compared to bookings during the same time period in 2019. Additionally, nearly half of the homes booked for the month are for at least seven nights....

Vaccinated Californians can now enter to win a dream vacation in a new campaign encouraging people to get vaccinated and enjoy the state’s beloved destinations. Starting July 1, all California residents 18 and older who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will be automatically entered in the “Vax for the Win” California Dream Vacations giveaway for the chance to score one of six epic vacation packages, according to California’s Gov....

The national drink of Scotland is produced at distilleries throughout the country, with more than 100 different brands offering single malt, single grain, and varieties of blended Scotch. Scotland’s five whisky-producing regions of Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Lowland, and Speyside each feature distinctive flavors, influenced by the water and local environment. The Scottish government has created a number of regulations that apply to the production of Scotch whisky. First, the whisky must be made in Scotland....

A Colorado ski resort will reopen for spring skiing this week with a reservation-based system aimed at limiting the number of people on the slopes. The Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, which sits just over 60 miles west of Denver, will reopen on May 27 after being closed due to COVID-19. “The re-opening is new ground for us in terms of policies and procedures,” the mountain’s chief operating officer, Alan Henceroth, wrote in a blog post....

Storing a beloved animal in a plane’s cargo section can make any pet parent nervous — but Delta is trying to fix that. The airline this week introduced a new pet carrier that will offer pet parents real-time updates, features a built-in hydration system to replenish a spill-proof water bowl throughout the flight, and industrial-strength walls aimed at protecting pets against temperature fluctuations. The pet carrier, which is named CarePod, has been in the works since 2018 and is compliant with International Air Transport Association standards....

Delta Air Lines is selling its private jet branch to a company called Wheels Up in a deal expected to close early next year. “We’ve never been able to leverage and garner the type of marketing power and brand that a Wheels Up will provide,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian told Bloomberg. “It got lost under Delta’s umbrella somewhat and was never able to attract the type of sales and marketing dollars needed to create a separate platform....

After the COVID-19 pandemic forced California’s theme parks to shut down over a year ago, they’re finally gearing up for a grand reopening, scheduled for April 30. Anaheim’s Disneyland Resort, however, is already looking further into the future with the recent announcement of major expansion plans. The unveiling of this “multiyear public planning effort” is part of the DisneylandForward initiative, which is looking to bring new restaurants, rides, themed worlds, and other experiences....

If you’re on your yacht in Miami this week and run out of Champagne, Dom Pérignon is here to save the day. The famed Champagne company is launching a Yacht Concierge, which will deliver a bottle of bubbly directly to your boat via a customized Dom Pérignon yacht. According to the company, its vessel will set sail along Biscayne Bay to offer boaters white glove delivery, including everything you need for an unforgettable Champagne fête on your own boat or waterfront residence....

Taking a trip to Peru? You won’t have any trouble deciding what to do in Lima after watching this short video that highlights the city’s can’t-miss attractions. Start a trip to Lima by tasting the street food from the huariques (pronounced wa-ree-kay), where you can grab an affordable bite across the city. Seek out sandwiches with chicharrón, and ceviche by cooks with as much cred as great restaurant chefs. No doubt you’ll spend time admiring the colonial architecture....

There’s no better present than a gift card, especially when it allows you to have an amazing vacation. According to Lonely Planet, the city of Geneva, Switzerland, is now offering incentives to travelers that can be redeemed at restaurants, bars, and other activities and venues around the city. The city hopes that the “gift card” will help encourage a bounce-back in tourism after the coronavirus pandemic. The Geneva Gift Card is for 100 Swiss francs (about $110 USD) and can be used at several participating businesses, including 58 hotels, 66 bars and restaurants, and even some tourist attractions, Lonely Planet reported....

For years, Getaway has made it a bit easier for travelers to unplug by offering mindful escapes in tiny cabins that are surrounded by nature, but also within a two-hour drive from a major city. The company has built its Outposts — a collection of tiny cabins — near cities like Chicago, New York, and Nashville. Now, they’ve announced plans to expand with five new locations and 224 new cabins in the Southeast, Northeast, and Midwest by mid-2022....

Hawaiian Airlines and Frontier Airlines have become the latest United States carriers to require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, following the lead of United Airlines. On Monday, Peter Ingram, the president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, said all U.S.-based employees would be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Nov. 1. Employees will be able to apply for medical and religious exemptions and those who aren’t vaccinated will be tested regularly....

Swedish pop icons ABBA are sending fans into a tizzy thanks to their upcoming concert experience in Stratford, London. In September, the band announced several new surprises, including a long-anticipated reunion, two new singles, an upcoming album, and a concert series unlike any other. “It’s been a while since we made music together. Almost 40 years, actually. We took a break in the spring of 1982 and now we’ve decided it’s time to end it,” the band shared in a statement....

A return to travel is closer than you think. Vaccines are up, hotels are getting booked out for summer, and borders are opening once again. We’re celebrating all this with new episodes of our podcast, Let’s Go Together, which highlights how travel changes the way we see ourselves and the world. In the first season, our pilot and adventurer host, Kellee Edwards, introduced listeners to diverse globe-trotters who showed us that travelers come in all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life....

The one-of-a-kind Hollywood Terrace Suite at the Hyatt Indian Wells is totally decked out in midcentury modern style with bright colors, retro turntable, a pale aqua vintage design refrigerator, and furnishings that highlight the genre in a lighthearted, welcoming way. The suite pays homage to the Greater Palm Springs area’s history as the playground of Hollywood stars and takes guests on a fun trip back to the time when celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr....

At Travel + Leisure, we’re dedicated to helping you find the absolute best products to meet your needs on the road and at home. The T+L Top Picks seal is awarded to items our editors have determined to be the best buys in their category. As a homebody, even before the pandemic, and a creative, DIYs are my bread and butter. I’ve tried it all, from building, hanging, and rearranging to painting, sewing, embroidering, brewing, and more....

Travelers to the Hawaiian island of Maui will now be required to download a mobile app to ensure they are notified if they come into contact with someone with COVID-19. Visitors who participate in Hawaii’s Safe Travels program, which allows travelers to skip the islands’ mandatory quarantine by getting tested prior to arrival, will now have to either download the AlohaSafe Alert application or another Google-Apple exposure notification system app, according to the mayor of Maui....

If you’re packing for a beach vacation, there are a few items you should never forget: a classic, comfortable bathing suit, stylish sandals you can walk in all day, and a packable sun hat, to name a few. One item we think you’ll want to bring on every summer trip is a maxi dress. The throw-on-and-go piece allows you to build a full outfit in just seconds — all you need to do is pick accessories and shoes to complete the look....

The Ace Hotel brand is finally coming to Asia. On June 11, Ace Hotel opened the doors to its first location in Asia at the Ace Hotel Kyoto. The hotel, centrally located near popular destinations like Nishiki Market, the Museum of Kyoto and Kyoto Art Center, was designed in partnership with architect Kengo Kuma and Commune Design. It will not only come with the taste and styling Ace Hotel fans have come to know and love, but will also come with a few surprising culinary delights....

Right now, I’m traveling the world for a year via Remote Year — a program that’s enabling me to live in a different country each month spanning Europe, Asia, and South and Central America — and it comes with quite a bit of walking. Because being in new places encourages you to say “yes” to last-minute dinners, bar hopping, and random weekend excursions, I easily rack up at least 9,000 steps every day....