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Travel + Leisure
20 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
Sara Sardinha
'I take pride in showcasing Portuguese culture, traditions, gastronomy, and history, leaving people wishing to return.' VIP Access: A private bespoke journey for a family aboard The Presidential, an iconic century-old train, to the Douro Valley. Average Daily Spend : $500 : $500 Trip Planning Fees : none : none Languages Spoken: Portuguese, English, Spanish, and Italian A travel advisor can turn your trip into a seamless, tailored experience. With insider knowledge and trusted contacts, they craft itineraries that match your interests and handle all logistics, saving you time and stress. From exclusive perks to real-time problem-solving, they ensure your journey is smooth and memorable, leaving you free to enjoy the adventure. For more information, check out our Frequently Asked Questions page. Travel + Leisure, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is a top travel media brand with a mission to inform and inspire passionate travelers. Our expert team includes a network of hundreds of writers and photographers across the globe, all providing a local eye on the best places to stay, eat, and explore. We reach an audience that takes 76 million round trips annually, offering valuable travel tips, ideas and inspiration, and products you need to get you to your destination—whether it's a small town or big city, beach or lake, national park or theme park, road trip, cruise, or long-haul flight, and everything in between. Learn more about us and our editorial process.
Independent Singapore
a day ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Singapore Airlines tops Travel + Leisure's 2025 international airlines list again
FB screengrab/ Singapore Airlines SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines has taken the top spot in Travel + Leisure 's World's Best Awards survey for best international airlines in 2025, based on votes from the magazine's readers around the world. The airline earned a score of 91.32, slightly up from last year's 90.89, when it also topped the list. This year, it was also recognised as a WBA Super Hall of Fame honoree. A Hall of Fame designation means the airline has been voted onto the World's Best Awards list for the past 10 consecutive years. Last month, the airline also ranked second in the 'Oscars of the aviation industry' by United Kingdom-based airline consultancy Skytrax . According to the magazine, one traveller said she would choose Singapore Airlines for every trip if she could. Another described it as their 'best travel experience to date.' Middle Eastern airlines dominated the list, with Qatar Airways placing second with a score of 90.59, Emirates coming in third with 89.98, and Etihad Airways taking the ninth spot with 84.93. Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines followed closely, ranking fourth and fifth with scores of 89.72 and 89.53, respectively. Rounding out the top 10 were France's La Compagnie (87.81) at sixth, Air New Zealand (85.30) at seventh, Virgin Atlantic Airways (85.17) at eighth, and Fiji Airways (84.89) in tenth place. The World's Best Awards survey gathered responses from nearly 180,000 T+L readers, who rated airlines based on cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service, and value. For each category, they selected a rating from excellent to poor, and the final score was the average across all categories. Singapore Airlines' home base, Changi Airport, was also recognised in the magazine's favourite international airports of 2025. It ranked second on the list, scoring 95.20, and was a WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Last year, the airport also ranked second with a score of 94.32, with the same WBA Hall of Fame designation. /TISG Read also: Cathay members to get S$160 off economy round-trip flights as Cathay Pacific celebrates top Skytrax 2025 ranking () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Top 5 stories from the Shreveport Times this week: Friendliest small town, cotton in Louisiana
It has been a busy week in the news cycle for the Shreveport-Bossier area. If you need a refresher on what you missed, here are the top five stories from the Shreveport Times. This small Louisiana town is the friendliest in the South, according to Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure has dubbed Minden, Louisiana, the "friendliest town in the South," with its beautiful "lakes, bayous and charming antique shops." Minden is a northwest Louisiana town that's an outdoor lover's paradise, with lakes and bayous perfect for fishing, boating, kayaking and hiking. There are also unique antique shops and boutiques that make for good shopping opportunities. Minden has an interesting history, which can be explored at the Germantown Colony Museum and the Dorcheat Historical Museum. King Cotton faces 'bleak' future in Louisiana after centuries as backbone crop Cotton, once king in Louisiana, has become little more than an afterthought for farmers whose fertile fields once looked like snow-covered ground with fluffy white bolls during the late summer as harvest approached. But this summer Louisiana producers will plant the fewest acres of cotton in the history of the state as the crop's decline accelerates. Unclean utensils, food contamination | Top Caddo Parish restaurant inspections June 15-21 The Times obtained food safety inspection information for the week of June 15-21, 2025, from the Louisiana Department of Health. The top six addresses with the most critical violations in Caddo Parish are listed, along with an explanation of the finding. All restaurants on the list had at least three critical violations. Caddo Commission ratifies Bernie Sanders resolution On Thursday, July 3, the Caddo Commission voted 7-5 to ratify the special resolution welcoming U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. The ratification of the resolution was passed on a 7-5 vote, with commissioners Gage-Watts, Thomas, Jones, Roy Burrell, Gregory Young, Ron Cothran and Ken Epperson Sr. voting in favor. Chris Kracman, John-Paul Young, Grace Anne Blake, John E. Atkins and Ed Lazarus voted against it. New COVID-19 variant 'Nimbus' causes 'razor blade sore throat.' Here's what to know A new COVID-19 strain, referred to as NB.1.8.1 or "Nimbus," first appeared in the United States sometime near the end of April and is currently the dominant variant in the U.S. The new variant is said to be spreading rapidly throughout the U.S., with the strain making up about 37% of current COVID-19 cases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More: Top 5 stories from the Shreveport Times this week: Jimmy Swaggart dies, 'Big Beautiful Bill' Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@ This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Top 5 stories from Shreveport Times: Friendliest small town, cotton in Louisiana Solve the daily Crossword
Independent Singapore
2 days ago
- Independent Singapore
Changi dethroned: Istanbul takes the crown, but travellers aren't buying it
Photo: Depositphotos/czamfir SINGAPORE: For many years, Singapore's Changi Airport has been the recognised darling of travel brochures, wowing international travellers and domestic guests with its opulent indoor parks, butterfly haven, and the world's loftiest indoor cascade, but in the latest Travel + Leisure 2025 World's Best Awards, a new name sits at the top — Istanbul Airport, scoring a remarkable 98.57, edging out Changi. The rise of Istanbul Airport has been immediate and outstanding with its ever-growing global connectivity, lustrous architectural design, and its promise to improve the passenger experience. Istanbul's accomplishment marks a shift in what global travellers appreciate most—competence, scope, and innovation. However, not everyone is convinced and swayed. On Reddit, responses to the new status of Changi have been a combination of scepticism, disapproval, and national pride, predominantly from admirers of the Singapore airport. 'As someone who has transited at Istanbul Airport before, all I can say is it's large,' one user commented. 'But decor-wise and ambience? Changi is still better, and don't get me started on food prices—S$40 for a mediocre kebab? I've had better, cheaper ones in Europe.' Another netizen was quick to say that rankings like these are frequently predisposed. 'These crowns are all about perspective. I've been to many airports, and Changi still stands out for me, but what works for one traveller may not for another.' Some were more critical of the article itself, accusing it of interpreting key facts. 'Shallow reporting,' one Redditor wrote. 'There's no attempt to explain why Istanbul topped the list or how the survey was conducted. It feels like the article was written just to check a box.' While Istanbul Airport may be praised, it has its detractors, too. 'Transferred through Istanbul recently,' an unsatisfied traveller shared. 'It was a nightmare. Long lines, poor signage, sluggish security. We had enough layover time, but still missed our connecting flight. It was chaos.' Still, others saw the unseating of Changi as a cue that superiority and distinction can't be everlasting. 'Singapore must learn that not every time, everything can be No. 1,' one comment read, echoing a touch of tough love. Eventually, the 2025 rankings tell a story beyond the scores. They underscore a changing international landscape in air travel, one where new airports like Istanbul are challenging old favourites. Whether this is a changing of the guard or merely a temporary shakeup remains to be seen, but one thing is clear — the rivalry for the skies has never been more vicious. () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
These Are the Dirtiest Parts of a Hotel Room, According to Housekeeping
Here's what to avoid next time you check Points Hotel rooms, even the nicest luxury digs, often look squeaky clean—but some areas of your room may be cleaner than others. High-touch surfaces like phones, remotes, light switches, and carpets can harbor germs. Oft-overlooked items such as barware, ceiling fixtures, and bathtubs may be overlooked during standard housekeeping you check into a hotel room, the crisp linens and sparkling bathroom might give a false sense of cleanliness. However, seasoned travelers and hospitality professionals know that some of the dirtiest places in hotel rooms are often hidden in plain sight. Between high turnover rates and limited staff, there's often not enough time in the day to deep clean every room every day. Enza Laterrenia, head of housekeeping at Canne Bianche Lifestyle & Hotel, explains that under standard conditions, a room is cleaned by a housekeeping pair in about 30 minutes, highlighting the time pressure housekeeping teams often face. Decorative Pillows Maria Diego, a Travel + Leisure A-List advisor and a self-proclaimed germaphobe, says she always takes action immediately when she gets to her room. 'Having worked in hotels, the first thing I fling off to a far corner of the room are decorative pillows and any decorative runner that goes along the foot of the bed," she says. "These never get washed." Laterrenia agrees, noting that many hotels wash their decorative elements infrequently. High-touch Surfaces For travel advisor and coach Rani Cheema, hotel room phones are the most unsanitary items. "If there's an actual phone and I need to pick it up, I am grossed out by the receiver,' Cheema says. 'I think it's ... the mouth part, because no one's cleaning that." From a housekeeping perspective, carpets are another culprit. "They tend to trap dust and bacteria, making them one of the more demanding items to sanitize," Laterrenia says. Cheema, however, notes that many higher-end properties are adapting. "There are a lot of five-star hotels that no longer have carpeting, so it's hardwood floors or an area rug, and that's about it," she says. Even in luxury hotels, though, thoroughness has its limits. 'At higher-end hotels, major touch points like switches, remote control, phones, get a wipe before every check-in, but I'm still cautious about these spots,' Diego says. Hidden Contamination Spots Some of the most overlooked surfaces are the ones tucked away. 'I'm also wary of barware inside drawers or cabinetry, anything that might be sitting for prolonged periods or handled by guests unbeknownst to housekeeping teams,' Diego says. She's also particular about the bathroom. 'I also won't take a bath in a hotel unless it's a super luxe five-star hotel, and only if it's a non-jet bathtub," she says." Laterrenia reveals that certain areas are often overlooked during standard hotel cleanings. "Hard-to-reach spots—such as high ceilings, chandeliers, ceiling fans, curtain rods, and shower heads—are often neglected.' So next time you check into a hotel, toss the decorative pillows and bed runners to the side, wipe down the high-touch surfaces, and be selective about using the tub. When in doubt, it doesn't hurt to do a quick clean of your own. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure Solve the daily Crossword
