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Delta Air Lines and United Airlines announced that they’ll be permanently eliminating change fees for flights across the globe on Wednesday. Delta will waive its $200 international change fee for any flight originating in the U.S., or between the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean going forward, including for codeshare flights, according to their announcement. Basic economy fares, however, are excluded. The new policy comes months after the airline eliminated change fees for most ticket categories on flights within U....

Eurostar, the popular railway that connects the UK to mainland Europe, has reported financial trouble caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and is seeking government assistance to stay afloat. Ridership is down to less than 1% of pre-pandemic levels, The Associated Press reported Tuesday, and owners have said that “the situation is very critical for Eurostar.” “Without additional funding from government, there is a real risk to the survival of Eurostar, the green gateway to Europe,” the railway said in a statement to The AP....

Juneteenth is a holiday that has gone unacknowledged for centuries by mainstream society, but holds special significance in the African-American community. On June 19, 1865, enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed by Union soldiers that they were free. This “formal” announcement was made nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, and months after the Civil War had largely ended. The commemoration of this mass emancipation is now known as the holiday Juneteenth....

Will you spot the “Cold Moon” this month? December’s full moon gets its name from the time of year when temperatures drop and it begins to get really cold. After all, December 22 is the solstice — the longest night of the year — and the official onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Consequently, it’s been called the “Long Nights Moon” by some Native American tribes because of its proximity to the solstice, though the exact date shifts each year....

As the cab slows to a stop, I scrape some of Jack Frost’s handiwork from the window and peer into the depths of the polar night. We’re only 15 minutes from the center of Helsinki, yet dense forest presses in all around us. “Are you sure this is right?” I ask the driver, stealing a glance at my friend Sophie who raises her eyebrows in reply. “This is the address you give me,” he says, pushing the button on the meter....

There’s nothing like a cold glass of iced tea to refresh you on a hot day. Lipton Iced Tea will make your summer cooler than ever with a special giveaway. While many people are getting out into the sun after over a year of staying inside due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they’re also trying to find ways to stay cool during this scorcher of a summer. As the official sponsor of country singer Luke Bryan’s “Proud To Be Right Here” summer tour, Lipton Iced Tea is collaborating with the singer to give fans some inflatable, adult-sized Lipton Sunshine Pools every day leading up to the first “official” day of summer on June 20....

Cinderella Castle is getting a royal makeover. Jason Kirk, vice president of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park, announced on the Disney Parks Blog this week that the iconic centerpiece of the world’s most-visited theme park will undergo refurbishments in 2020. More Disney vacation ideas This year marks the 70th year since “Cinderella” was released, and Disney will be enhancing the princess’s castle to commemorate this anniversary. In the blog post, Kirk says, “Cinderella first transformed into a princess 70 years ago this week when the animated classic was released — and ever since, her courage and kindness have been inspiring guests and cast members alike....

Most people have their preferred popular navigation app, whether it’s Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze. But which is actually the best at getting you to your destination? To put the navigation apps to the test, one man spent a year measuring estimated driving times for each app, departure and arrival time, traffic conditions, as well as other factors, the Daily Mail reported. After 120 trips, he found that Google Maps was the app that got him to his destinations the quickest....

Oscar Wilde was a theatrical Irish writer whose work was venerated in London in the 1890s. Wilde married in 1884 and had two children, but was sentenced to two years in jail after being found guilty of “homosexual misconduct,” a criminal offense at the time. Those who praised him and his work loved him for his wit; when he arrived in New York City after committing to lecturing in the U....

Costa Ricans are a proud bunch, especially when it comes to their sports teams. The national pastime, soccer (a.k.a. fútbol), was huge even before the 2014 World Cup team advanced to the quarter-finals and became national heroes. Now it’s all anybody talks about. Beyond that, Ticos love a good bullfight (not to mention a cockfight or a dogfight, which are both very bloody and very illegal), and they’re slowly realizing that the ocean is a fun place to play, be it with a surf board, a stand-up paddleboard, or a fishing pole....

Covered in flat, loose pieces of shale rock, the trail beneath T.J.’s feet shifted with every step. My eyes skeptically followed the steep crevice of rock downwards, where it sloped toward a rocky cove. It wasn’t until T.J., our tour guide, pulled the rope out of his backpack that I realized he was serious about our descent. Pointing to a metal stake in the ground installed by the Portuguese fishermen for this exact purpose, he warned us not to trip....

The past year has brought new meaning to the term staycation. From cozy nights at home to a getaway at a hotel in your own city, there are plenty of ways to escape your daily routine without venturing too far from home. Want to upgrade your staycation game this summer? We have you covered. ResortPass is one travel company making all the luxuries of a resort vacation more accessible, since it allows users to enjoy pool, spa, and amenities without booking a full stay at a resort....

Shopping is for some a relaxing pastime, a chance to see and touch new things, a means of finding something fun to wear, or a way to add an appealing item to one’s environment. For travelers, shopping is a way to explore a new locale and find just the right thing to inspire memories of a great vacation. It can be a typical souvenir or a piece of art that reminds the visitor of an enjoyable conversation with the artist....

If you’re looking for a pair of shoes you can easily slip on for everyday errands, long walks, or travel that will keep you warm without adding all the extra bulk of boots, check out these shearling-lined clogs from Birkenstock. The shopper-loved brand is known for its comfortable cork-soled sandals and clogs, and this winterized version of the classic Boston style is yet another must-have — trust me. The 19 Best Travel Shoes That Reviewers Say You Can Walk All Day In...

There’s no doubt that vacations have been looking very different in 2020, but that doesn’t mean we don’t all have some serious wanderlust. Luckily, Paintru, a direct-to-consumer art company, teamed up with photographer-for-hire website Flytographer on a stellar sweepstakes for travelers who want to make priceless memories anywhere in the world. The Ultimate Staycation Giveaway not only provides one lucky winner (and their guest) with a $1,000 gift card to be applied toward an Airbnb stay, but it also offers a 60-minute Flytographer photo session (in their chosen city), a $50 Flytographer printing credit (to make photos or even holiday cards), and a custom-made Paintru painting of a photo of their choice....

Great painters, writers, and photographers have tried to capture the magic of Venice and its lagoon — and some have come pretty close. But it’s only when you see it with your own eyes that you realize there really is nothing like it in the world. Not just for its magnificent architecture, art, nature, and unique lifestyle, but because all of this is literally floating on water. Venice, however, is not just a city....

In a town called Bravado you’ll probably need a lot of bravado in order to get through this Halloween attraction. The “Old West” town, located in Williamsburg, Ohio, is set up to look and feel like the 19th century, complete with sheriffs, town folk, and old cowboys. Perhaps the most unique part of the attraction is its trail. The trail itself is like a town-wide haunted house or escape room with no walls, centered around a narrative that takes you back to the 1800s when a mysterious “family” enters the town and pulls the townsfolk into a strange cult....

If you’re planning a trip or are preparing to return to the office, a solid backpack will take you far. Lo & Sons is known for its functional yet stylish travel gear, including a sleek nylon and leather backpack that shoppers love for travel, commuting, and everyday life. And right now, tons of must-have travel bags and accessories are deeply discounted as part of the brand’s Winter Sale. Backpacks, weekenders, purses, and more are up to 50 percent off, as well as Lo & Sons’ All Day Comfort Face Mask....

Josh Rinder wants you to know there is one quick and easy way to tell if sharks are swimming near you in the ocean, and all it takes is a spoon. In 2018, the delivery truck driver was on a fun family vacation at Edisto Beach in his home state of South Carolina. While there, he took to the water’s edge to film a quick video meant to be shared with his family and friends....

Beginning next month, vaccinated travelers heading to England and Scotland will no longer need to present a negative COVID-19 test upon entry. “We are removing ALL testing measures for eligible fully vaccinated arrivals to England from 4am on 11 Feb,” UK Transport Secretary Grant Schnapps tweeted Monday, noting that removing the testing requirement “means a simpler #travel experience for passengers, especially the fully vaccinated, and stability for the sector throughout 2022....