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The land border closure between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico has been extended another month until at least March 21, marking over a year since they were open, according to the Department of Homeland Security. “To protect our citizens and prevent the further spread of COVID-19, the United States, Canada, and Mexico are extending the restrictions on non-essential travel at our land borders through March 21,” the DHS tweeted Friday. “We are also working to ensure essential trade and travel remain open....

Hotels: Overall Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas 89.72. The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia 89.5 (tie)2. Ritz-Carlton, Chicago (A Four Seasons Hotel) 89.54. Hotel Cipriani, Venice 89.45. Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Florida 89.06. Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix 88.97. Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida 88.88. The Oriental, Bangkok 88.7 (tie)8. The Peninsula, Hong Kong 88.710. Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Maui 88.5 World’s Best Service SpasCruise Lines Overall: Overall Europe: Europe The Continental U.S. and Canada: The Continental U....

Next time you have a question or concern on your Delta flight, all you’ll need to do is send a text. According to USA Today, Delta Airlines is testing a new service that will allow passengers to use their iPhone or other iOS devices to send a text through the Delta mobile app if they encounter any issues during their trip. If all goes well, the service will become a permanent feature on the Delta mobile app (for all devices) in the fall, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported....

Elvis fans who don’t mind a bit of a fix-up could nab one of the king’s long-forgotten but treasured cars. It’s well documented that Elvis Presley loved cars — so much so that nobody really knows how many he owned. There’s even one story that he went into a Cadillac dealership one day, bought 32 of their cars and gave them all away by the end of the afternoon. Given that there are so many Elvis cars out on the market, it’s rare to find one with particular sentimental value....

Though I love to travel, I’m a terribly light sleeper. No matter where I am, getting enough z’s is a difficult task — so much so that when I was given the opportunity to travel the world for 12 months via Remote Year, I put “sleep” on my pros and cons list before making the decision. Remarkably though, after now having lived in 10 countries — transitioning from the single beds of Kyoto, Japan to the split-queens throughout Europe — I’ve been able to become more flexible about where I can nod off....

March 20, also known as the spring equinox, marks the day when the sun crosses the equator and heads north. For those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, that means lots to look forward to: longer hours of serotonin-boosting sunshine, warmer temperatures, and nature budding back to life. Few cities undergo this seasonal transformation more beautifully and dramatically than Washington, D.C., with its 3,000-plus cherry blossom trees. Gifted to the nation’s capital by Tokyo’s mayor, Yukio Ozaki, back in 1912, they remain a visually striking symbol of renewal, hope, and friendship....

We arrived at the bungalows after dark. The rafting resort at Base Camp TaraSport flanks the crystalline waters of the Tara River, which forms part of the wild border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and neighboring Montenegro. The three-hour drive to get there had been both gorgeous and nerve-racking — in some ways like my experience of Bosnia itself. The twisty mountainside highway had no railing, and on our right, the second-deepest river canyon in the world plunged 4,300 feet below us....

The story goes that the town of Fair Play in the Sierra foothills got its name during the California Gold Rush when two miners settled a dispute and agreed to “fair play” in the future. Nearly 200 years later, the foothills provide a different kind of treasure — the climate, soil, and altitude for growing high-quality wine grapes. Northeast of the famed Napa Valley and east of Sonoma, the Fair Play American Viticultural Area (AVA) vineyards have the average highest elevation in California at between 2,000 and 3,500 feet above sea level....

Cruises in the United States could return by mid-July, according to a letter from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared with the cruise industry. The agency, “committed” to getting ships out by the summer, and will additionally waive the need for test sailings if 98% of crew and 95% of passengers are fully vaccinated. The simulated sailings were initially part of the CDC’s ‘Conditional Sail’ Order, and the agency had said earlier this month they could likely begin soon....

With countries opening borders, and millions of vaccines rolling out each day, the return to travel is here. Truly, it couldn’t come at a better time with summer vacations just around the corner. And, to ensure everyone can live their adventurous lives to the fullest, Airbnb is highlighting ways “to get closer to nature through Experiences designed by hosts with accessibility in mind and places to stay with accessibility features.”...

The U.S. State Department has lifted its Level 4 Global Health Advisory against international travel. The agency, in agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will go back to determining its advisory levels on a country-by-country basis, they announced on Thursday — the method used before the coronavirus pandemic. “With health and safety conditions improving in some countries and potentially deteriorating in others, the Department is returning to our previous system of country-specific levels of travel advice (with Levels from 1-4 depending on country-specific conditions), in order to give travelers detailed and actionable information to make informed travel decisions,” the agency said in a statement....

There may be no place like home for the holidays, even the merriest of songs can’t help but mention the terrific traffic. Using traffic conditions from last year, Google determined the best time to leave to avoid a mad holiday rush for 25 major metropolitan areas across the country. Disney Tried to Hide the Millennium Falcon Behind Shipping Containers but Someone Found It on Google Maps For almost every single city on the list, the best time to hit the road is as early as possible on Thanksgiving Day....

It’s a common situation for travelers. You fasten your seat belt, listen to the pre-flight safety demonstration (we hope), and prepare yourself for takeoff. After a few moments, the pilot comes on the overhead, “Ladies and gentlemen, we are now at our cruising altitude of 36,000 feet.” It’s time to kick back and wait for that refreshment cart to come around. But how many of us have stopped to wonder why planes go this high up in the first place?...

In a world that often prioritizes romantic relationships, especially around this time of year, satellite TV company Dish Network is honoring the power of friendship by paying one lucky person to host a Galentine’s Day party. Typically celebrated on Feb. 13, Galentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to show your gal pals some love before any significant others steal them away for romance. And with Dish Network’s “dream job,” there’s a $2,000 check up for grabs....

It’s easy to imagine that crisscrossing the country each day and flying high above the Earth would have its perks: the world doesn’t seem quite so big when you’re flying 30,000 feet over it. For airline workers, that sky-high lifestyle is routine. Starting the day in one place and ending up in another is part of their daily life. And people who work for Southwest Airlines are encouraged to do it with just a bit more humor sprinkled in....

On a trip to Mexico City this year, my go-to travel cross-body breathed its last breath. A boring, clasp-front bag with only enough room for my phone, credit card holder, and not much else, I’d been squeezing it into the gaps of my suitcase since college. So when the strap finally gave way, I left it in the trash can of our Airbnb and didn’t think twice. It was nothing special in style, but I quickly realized the hole it left in my travel bag collection....

India is looking ahead to reopening for tourism and easing its lockdown restrictions even as the country continues to report high numbers of new coronavirus cases. India reopened its state borders along with places of worship and businesses including restaurants and malls on Monday, The Associated Press reported. Schools, gyms and metro rail remain closed. Additionally, sporting events are still not allowed. Ahead of Monday’s reopening, small shops and delivery services were already back in business....

The Kimpton Gray Hotel Chicago is here to help romance bloom. This Valentine’s Day, The Gray is offering a limited offering called the “Bloom Just For You” Package, which includes accommodations in a suite filled with flowers from Flower Firm, a floral drawn bath for two, and two Concierge Cocktails, or a bottle of Prosecco, so you can toast to all things love.The two Concierge Cocktails are something you can particularly feel good about drinking....

Arne Sorenson, the beloved CEO of Marriott International, died on Monday following a battle with pancreatic cancer, the company shared in a statement. He was 62 years old. “Arne was an exceptional executive — but more than that — he was an exceptional human being,” J.W. Marriott, Jr., executive chairman and chairman of the board, said in the statement. “Arne loved every aspect of this business and relished time spent touring our hotels and meeting associates around the world....

NASA’s Curiosity rover recently set a record for the steepest hill it’s ever climbed, and to commemorate the achievement, the rover took a selfie — naturally. During its explorations of the red planet, Curiosity had to climb over the Greenheugh Pediment at a 31-degree tilt. The only other steep climb that had been previously done was completed by the Opportunity rover when it scaled a 32-degree hill on Mars in 2016....