Posts

Mexico’s resorts are perennial favorites among globetrotters. With a variety of beach options, rich heritage, and fantastic food, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a place that’s got more to offer within such easy reach of American travelers. Other destinations may have their moments, but if you’re looking for a culturally immersive beach getaway that’s just a direct flight away, Mexico’s the place to be — and it’s tough to beat the appeal of seaside shrimp tacos and margaritas that flow like water....

Attention theater lovers: Shakespeare in the Park is ready to make its return. On Tuesday, Public Theater, the company that produces the free Shakespeare plays in New York’s Central Park, announced its productions will be returning this summer after taking a lengthy hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. John Lamparski/Getty “We have spent the last year getting ready,” the theater company shared on its website. “The Delacorte Theater in Central Park isn’t empty…It’s full of HOPE that we will be together under the stars this summer....

Southwest will stop blocking middle seats aboard its aircraft in December, the airline’s CEO said on Thursday. “This practice of effectively keeping middle seats open bridged us from the early days of the pandemic, when we had little knowledge about the behavior of the virus, to now,” Gary C. Kelly, Southwest’s chairman of the board and chief executive officer, said in a statement. “Today, aligned with science-based findings from trusted medical and aviation organizations, we will resume selling all available seats for travel beginning December 1, 2020....

Despite our best efforts to carry on “rain or shine,” sometimes the weather can really put a damper on your travel plans. Though you can never truly predict the forecast, it’s always a good idea to pack for the unexpected, and that means upping your travel gear with a quality raincoat, waterproof shoes, a water-resistant backpack or purse, and, of course, an umbrella. To buy: amazon.com, from $13 with on-site coupon (originally $30)...

When KAYAK, the popular travel search engine, announced that they were opening their first hotel in Miami Beach, it was hard for me not to be intrigued. Fashion and lifestyle brands moving into the hospitality space is nothing new these days, and when you consider Shinola’s hit Detroit hotel and Gucci’s Florence and Beverly Hills restaurants — not to mention brands like West Elm and RH currently attempting to emulate that success — it doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon....

Austin has done away with every preconceived notion of Texas you’ve ever had. It’s affordable, eclectic, and youthful—though it’s still a place where you can don your cowboy hat and boots and kick back. When in Austin, make like the locals and grab a drink in one of the unusual bars lining Rainey Street. Most of them are converted homes, and serve Austin’s unofficial drink, the Mexican Martini. Order this potent, margarita-style cocktail garnished with olives and limes—and pick regulars’ brains about what to do in Austin....

Every August, the Perseid meteor shower lights up the sky with up to 100 shooting stars per hour — an event NASA calls the “best meteor shower of the year.” Given the beautiful summer weather, there’s no better time to pack up, hike out into the dark wilderness, and witness the display. If you don’t have access to a dark area, don’t worry — Reno and Lake Tahoe have your back....

There’s no better time than the present to add Verona, Italy to your travel wish list. The storied city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is debuting its first five-star hotel, the Vista Palazzo Verona, on Mar. 30. And considering the city was founded more than 2,000 years ago, that’s a pretty big deal. “Like Como, where my grandfather started Lario Hotels over a century ago, Verona is an ancient and fascinating city that has attracted visitors since the Roman era, but has been lacking in luxury accommodation,” Bianca Passera, CEO of Lario Hotels, Vista Palazzo Verona’s parent company, tells Travel + Leisure exclusively....

Alaska Airlines is here to help Californians rediscover the beauty of the Golden State. On Monday, the airline offered travelers living in California an epic travel deal to incentivize them to explore more of their home state, from wine country to the Redwood Forest, the Sierra mountains to the SLO coast, all the way down to the epic beaches stretching from Los Angeles to San Diego. But, if you want in on the deal you better act fast....

How many times have you bought a pair of leggings based on their claims of comfort, only to realize upon the first wear that they’re not as comfy as you anticipated? It’s disappointing, frustrating, and all-around unpleasant, especially if the leggings came with a hefty price tag. On the other hand, if leggings are too comfy, it can signify they’re not very compressive or well-made. Lucky for you, we’ve found the perfect ultra-comfy pair that are just as soft and stretchy as they are durable — and they’re under $30....

As New York City transitions into autumn, Central Park has begun putting on the season’s most fantastic show — as it has every year for the past 163 years. On Oct. 17, 1858, landscapers carried the first trees into the 843-acre plot of land that would become Central Park. Architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux had intended for the park to provide an escape for New York residents with sweeping lawns, winding paths, and mystical woodlands....

In a year that already has been anything but normal, Chicago surprised residents with an unexpected return to tradition for St. Patrick’s Day. In a surprise tweet over the weekend, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that the Chicago River was turned green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. The dyeing of the river was conducted as a surprise to avoid people gathering around the riverbank to watch. “Although we didn’t gather, we were able to honor long-standing tradition by dyeing the Chicago River green, thanks to the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers,” Lightfoot wrote on Twitter....

It appears that the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is on the horizon — and approaching quickly. The immersive, 14-acre theme park land at Disneyland Resort will officially open in June, according to a Barrons interview with The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger. Walt Disney World’s version, located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, is slated to open late fall of 2019. What will guests find when they finally reach the far-flung fictional planet of Batuu?...

Hawaii will officially welcome tourists back on Nov. 1 after asking visitors to stay away for weeks, the state’s governor said on Tuesday, according to reports. Both non-essential and business travelers will be welcome to come back to the islands next month, Gov. David Ige told The Associated Press. “I’m encouraged by the continuing trend of lower case counts of COVID in our islands. Our hospitals are doing better and seeing fewer patients....

If 2020 taught us one thing it’s that first responders and healthcare workers are the very definition of heroes. Now, to give back to those who have given us all so much, The Meritage Resort & Spa and Vista Collina Resort in Napa Valley, California are teaming up to help brighten at least one of these first responder’s 2021. Now through Valentine’s Day,the two resorts are teaming up to show their gratitude to a first responder or healthcare worker by giving a free wedding to a couple that had to postpone their wedding this past year due to the pandemic....

Travelers in London can set a course for a galaxy far, far away on May 4. In honor of Star Wars Day (May 4, which spawns the terrible pun, “may the fourth be with you”), Heathrow Airport in London posted some “special” new routes on its departure board. Among the destinations includes Tattooine, Jakku, Endor and many other planets from the Star Wars galaxy. The board itself is riddled with tons of in-jokes and references to the sci-fi franchise....

Comedian Hasan Minhaj, who is currently on tour, recently shared his go-to products when it comes to traveling — with a $15 toiletry kit taking the no. 1 spot. “I follow sports instagram pages and I always see NBA players with the Louis Vuitton or Prada dopp kit,” he recalled in an interview with GQ, explaining he bought a similar version that he found to be inconvienient. “When I put stuff in it, everything just sloshed around and I realized you need separators....

Hot Springs National Park is celebrating its 100th birthday this week with plenty of fanfare, including photos, cupcakes, and even a horse-drawn carriage. The Arkansas park, sometimes known as “America’s Spa,” has planned a COVID-safe 100th birthday celebration for March 4. zrfphoto/Getty Images The festivities will kick off with an official proclamation from the city, declaring March 4, 2021 as “Hot Springs National Park Day.” The message will be delivered with plenty of pomp via horse-drawn carriage....

A cruise is an ideal way to explore the cities of Europe, whether your goal is to marvel at ancient architecture, delve into art museums, meet with locals, or indulge in the food and wines of the countries you visit. Is Venice the city of your dreams, with its canals, bridges, and gondolas, or does a taverna on a Greek island overlooking the sea seem like the perfect place to be?...

Breakfast buffet or nasal swab? On a cruise ship this summer in the Mediterranean, the answer is why not both? Aboard the brand-new Silver Moon cruise ship in late July, all 300 or so passengers lined up for their mandatory COVID-19 tests while cruising the Levantine Sea, heading from Limassol, Cyprus to Rhodes, Greece. For all of them, it would’ve been at least the second COVID test in four days, after a mandatory swab simply to board the ship in Athens....