Latest news with #Travel&Leisure
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
This Italian City Was Named the Most Underrated Luxury Destination in Europe—and It's Known as the 'New Tuscany'
Italy has long been a favorite country to visit among travelers. However, there are still plenty of places in Italy that have been overlooked—including one that's been named an underrated summer holiday destination in a new between Tuscany and Lazio in central Italy is Umbria, a region that remains, somehow, just out of the spotlight. Often called Italy's 'green heart,' it may feel less polished and be less photographed than its more well-known neighbors, but it's no less enchanting. The little-known region was recently named Europe's most underrated, luxurious summer holiday destination by CV Villas, a London-based travel agency. The agency's ranking was determined by analyzing travel reviews for top attractions in 50 lesser-visited European destinations. Umbria, which ranked in the top spot, got an 'underrated luxury score' of 94.67 out of a possible 100 points. 'Umbria has been dubbed 'The New Tuscany' in recent years but still manages to elude the spotlight, retaining its rustic charm, perfect for those seeking their own slice of la dolce vita without the crowds," CV Villas said in a press release obtained by Travel + Leisure. Umbria is known for its vibrant, hidden gem towns like Assisi, Spello, and Montefalco, which are often built into ridgelines, their stone walls weathered by centuries, their piazzas still the center of daily life. They often have centuries-old Roman architecture and toothsome local cuisine. 'Umbria is proof that underrated destinations in Europe provide authentic experiences away from typical tourist trails," the press releases stated. Following Umbria in the ranking was the surf town of Biarritz, France at No. 2. Biarritz sits along southwestern France's Basque coast and has long sandy beaches with surf schools and an iconic rocky outcrop, the Rocher de la Vierge. The rest of the rankings were also dominated by France. Italy and Spain followed, with four entries each. Here's the full list:1. Umbria, Italy 2. Biarritz, France 3. Paphos, Cyprus 4. Brittany, France 5. Emilia-Romagna, Italy 6. Paros, Greece7. San Sebastian, Spain 8. Antibes, France 9. St. Ives, United Kingdom 10. Taormina, Italy 11. Ferragudo, Portugal 12. Bordeaux, France 13. Valetta, Malta 14. Skiathos, Greece 15. Valencia, Spain 16. Puglia, Italy 17. Montpellier, France 18. Occitanie, France 19. Soller, Spain 20. Bilbao, Spain Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
This 10-day Private Jet Journey Lets You Chase the Northern Lights Through Iceland, Norway, and Finland
TCS World Travel has unveiled a new private jet journey, departing from Washington, D.C., in March 2026. Travelers will chase the aurora borealis across Iceland, Finland, and Norway. Highlights of the journey include touring ice and lava caves, experiencing wild fjords, and staying in an arctic treehouse to view the Northern you've ever dreamed of soaring into the Arctic North to chase the northern lights, now is your chance. TCS World Travel is launching a luxury 10-day private jet tour to Scandinavia, beginning in Washington, D.C., with stops in Iceland, Norway, and Finland. The trip will include off-the-beaten-path destinations that have been chosen for their remote beauty, access to wildlife, or cultural significance. Travelers in the private group will fly on a new Airbus A321 plane, which offers flatbed seats, in-air connectivity, and the comfort of a home away from home. The trip will take place in 2026 from March 14 to March 23. After a night in Washington, D.C. at the luxe Rosewood Washington D.C., participants jet off in the morning to Lake Myvatn in northeastern Iceland. Over the course of two nights in Iceland, travelers explore volcanic black sand beaches, the lava formations of Dimmuborgir, the Skútustaðagígar pseudo craters, and other wild geological sites. There is also a private tour to the Lofthellir cave of ice and lava and time to see the coastal town of Húsavík, and possibly go whale watching or soak in the natural geothermal sea baths. Next, the group zips over to Norway to experience the country's wild fjords of Hjørundfjord. There, the participants have the choice to kayak in the bay, go wine tasting, visit a floating sauna, or try snowshoeing. On this two-day leg of the trip there will be a private fishing excursion, as well as an opportunity to learn about locally farmed Norwegian cuisine in the fjord village of Glomset. Travelers stay in the town of Ålesund, which is spread out across seven small islands. The last leg of the trip takes guests to Rovaniemi, Finland, for three nights to stay in an arctic treehouse and catch the northern lights in the company of a guide. During the day, travelers experience the winter of Lapland by snowmobiling through the wilderness, visiting a sled dog farm, snowshoeing to a remote ice fishing spot, and floating in the arctic waters in a specially designed dry suit. There is also an opportunity to stop at Santa Claus Village to see St. Nick's hometown. The trip starts at $90,000 all-inclusive per person for double occupancy, with a $9,000 single supplement. To reserve a spot, visit TCS World Travel's booking page for the journey at Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Kids' Passports Expire Much Faster Than Adults—What Travelers Need to Know
Some parents get an unwanted surprise before a family trip when they learn that child passports have a short validity window. Child passports are only valid for five years, compared to a 10-year validity span for adult passports. Experts recommend that parents or guardians renew their child's passport every three and a half planning an international trip may want to carefully check their child's passport expiration many travelers understand that a regular United States passport is valid for 10 years, the policy isn't the same for a child's passport. In fact, the U.S. Department of State, which manages the passport process, states that passports for children under the age of 16 are valid for half of the normal term: just five years. To be on the safe side, parents should plan on replacing a child's passport at least every three and a half years, as many countries require more than six months of passport validity to be able to use the document for entry to their country. The State Department has a helpful checklist for parents who are in the process of replacing or obtaining a first-time passport for a child under the age of 16. Some of the special instructions include providing evidence of U.S. citizenship and both parents submitting information and consent for the passport. "Both parents or guardians must approve that we can issue a passport to a child, and go with the child to apply in person," the State Department's website explains. The policy further explains that renewals cannot be completed through the DS-82 form, and instead have to be processed as new passports. The current processing time for a routine passport application is four to six weeks, and expedited service takes two to three weeks. For many families, the five-year expiration can cause panic and disruption before flights. 'The plans were booked last minute and I noticed today his passport is expired!' one parent shared in a Reddit post. Another family described the "urgent situation" in which their vacation to Punta Cana was completely ruined when they realized their child's passport was two months expired, sharing in another Reddit post, 'we had to rebook and make an appointment for expedited passport renewal at a passport agency, this sucks!' Frequent travelers may also consider applying for a Global Entry membership for their child, which can provide expedited airport security screening. The process similar to what an adult would do to get Global Entry membership, including the in-person interview. However, children under the age of 14 do not need to submit fingerprints. The State Department regularly offers "Special Passport Acceptance Fairs" as ways for first-time passport applicants to receive special help and insights on the application process. A full listing of the events is on the State Department's website at Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
This Popular European Country Just Got a Heightened Travel Advisory Over Terrorism—What Travelers Should Know
The U.S. Department of State recently updated its travel advisory for Italy. The reissued advisory keeps Italy at a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, due to terrorism. Italy has held this ranking with the State Department since the summer travel season begins and travelers start getting ready to go on their European vacations, the U.S. government wants to make sure everyone is careful in certain areas with the potential for terrorism. Recently, the U.S. Department of State released a travel advisory for Italy warning travelers to exercise increased caution due to the threat of terrorism. The advisory ranks Italy at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, which recommends travelers stay alert to possibly heightened risk. The country has held that ranking since April 2022. 'There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy,' the advisory states. 'Terrorists may attack with little or no warning.' The advisory warns that common targets for terror attacks include popular tourist spots, transportation centers, shopping malls and markets, local government buildings, hotels, clubs, restaurants, religious sites, parks, sporting events, schools, airports, and other public areas. It suggests that travelers should stay alert in tourist areas, and make sure to check local media for breaking news. At the moment there is no specific threat or terror plot that is cited. According to the State Department's 2023 Country Reports on Terrorism for Italy, there were no terrorism incidents in Italy that year. 'Domestically, Italy aggressively investigated and prosecuted terrorist suspects and regularly deported foreign nationals for terrorism-related security reasons,' the report states. 'Italian law enforcement has advanced capacity to detect and deter terrorist activity, links, and associations within its borders. Authorities employ those capabilities to counter terrorist recruitment, radicalization to violence, and networking. Law-enforcement agencies and intelligence services coordinate their efforts and meet regularly to review terrorist threats and share information.' The advisory should not deter travelers from going to Italy this summer. Instead, it should just function as a reminder to be aware of one's surroundings. It is only guidance, especially for countries ranked at Level 2. (And for some perspective, other countries have issued similar warnings to their citizens about traveling to the U.S.) Other countries in Europe that have a Level 2 ranking and a higher risk of possible terrorism activity include Belgium, Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, and The Netherlands. The United Kingdom also has a Level 2 ranking. Travelers abroad are advised to enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) in order to receive up-to-date messages and alerts from the local U.S. Embassy. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Erewhon Pumpkin Seeds Cause Chemical Reaction That Brought Bomb Squad to Airport
Erewhon Pumpkin Seeds Cause Chemical Reaction That Brought Bomb Squad to Airport originally appeared on L.A. Mag. "Grey's Anatomy" star Ellen Pompeo loves to travel. Even after, she says, it led her to be detained at an unnamed airport in March because of a bomb scare triggered by "probably the most expensive sunflower seeds money can buy," purchased at an L.A. Erewhon. "I had a bag of sunflower seeds, like organic sunflower seeds from Erewhon," Pompeo told Travel & Leisure. "They literally held me for an hour, and they brought the bomb squad 55-year-old actress who lives in Los Angeles said she offered to throw away the pricey seeds, but was told by the Transportation Security Agency that she had to wait for the bomb squad. "I was like, what is happening? Is this a joke?" she said. After testing, officials told her that the scare was likely sparked by what she told the magazine was "a chemical on the packaging of these super expensive, fancy, organic, clean sunflower seeds. My protein on the plane!' She made her flight, she said in the interview, but not before texting her publicist: "I might not get on this plane, and you're never gonna guess why.'" Pompeo has starred in nearly 450 episodes of hit television series Grey's Anatomy, which was often filmed at Veterans Administration Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center, an actual working medical facility in North Hills. The south side of the structure is used for establishing shots of Grey Sloan Memorial, while the characters typically exit and congregate on the building's north side. She most recently appeared in the Hulu series Good American Family. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
