Latest news with #NinaRuggiero
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-culinary-issue-hor-samut-thailand-recirc-LPCULINARY0725-f2041f9a1d334612a63b2ecf219ef6c5.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
01-08-2025
- Travel + Leisure
The Culinary Issue
Placing food at the center of your travel planning is, in my opinion, the most direct route to a fulfilling trip. It's time at the table sampling new flavors—or the old familiar ones that tempted you to return—that truly connects us to a place, its culture, and its people. While the ingredients, cooking methods, and traditions may differ, the mealtime ritual has the power to anchor us and make us feel at home anywhere in the world. I'll admit I'm biased; my stomach is my most trusted tour guide. In Italy, my "sightseeing" walks are really "make room for more pasta" walks. I will gleefully spend an entire day in Paris at a sidewalk cafe (pictured), and when in southern Mexico, I will always drive out of my way to return to my favorite taco spot. On a recent trip to Turtle Island in Fiji, I proudly paraded my fresh catch into the kitchen and then spent the afternoon learning a local coconut curry recipe—a priceless souvenir I keep in my back pocket for evenings when I'm missing the island life. Editor Nina Ruggiero. Nina Ruggiero/Travel + Leisure These are the types of experiences our Culinary Issue will leave you craving. We'll guide you through Japan, Saudi Arabia, Iceland, Tasmania, and beyond with the help of some famous chefs and in-the-know locals along the way. What are you waiting for? It's dinner time somewhere…and you never know where an adventurous appetite could take you. To the next delicious detour, Nina Ruggiero Senior Editorial Director,Travel + Leisure
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-plane-wing-pastel-sky-AIRTRAVELLP0525-132370fa8ed04295ada9715fe3f3fb2e.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
19-05-2025
- Travel + Leisure
The Air Travel Issue
For too many travelers, air travel is an afterthought, a means to an end. Vacation budgets are enthusiastically allotted toward great hotels, meals at top-rated restaurants, and on-the-ground activities. Then, the cheapest flight is booked with the remaining funds and a groan. I get it; I used to operate this way. Now I'm someone who flew across the country for 24 hours just to secure her Delta status and picked Qatar Airways as her honeymoon airline before choosing her destination. Believe me, prioritizing your time in the air will change the way you travel for the better. Imagine looking forward to the airport and seeing the flight as a part of the vacation. You'll set yourself up to make the most of every minute out of office, and you'll land (and leave) with a better attitude. Nina Ruggiero (left) with her husband Alex and Desert & Delta guide, Isaac (right), preparing to see Nxaragha Island by helicopter safari from Camp Okavango in Botswana. When I booked a safari in Botswana, I was dreaming of lion sightings and photographing giraffes from a Jeep. I had no idea what a memorable role aircraft would play in that trip. My husband and I started in a Qsuite, cuddled up with a Thanksgiving menu and a long roster of Christmas movies, wishing we could take a few extra laps around the globe. Then, there were the bush planes between camps, flying low enough to give us an exhilarating sneak peek at the landscapes we were about to encounter. And finally, there was the helicopter safari, where we spotted herds of hippos and zebra from an entirely new point of view. A huge portion of the trip was spent in the sky, but none of that time felt wasted. I hope The Air Travel Issue will show you that traveling 'flight first' is worth it—whether you have the means to splurge or are simply ready to start traveling smarter. In this issue, we'll guide you through every step of the journey, from booking to check in, and from lounge to landing. We've gathered tips from the experts to make sure you have a smooth and enjoyable flight. Thank you for flying with us, Nina Ruggiero Senior Editorial Director, Travel + Leisure
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-header-exterior-grand-californian-disneyland-monorail-DISLNDGRNDCALI0525-3a004980eadd4ec4981408cec0b8b20b.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
I've Been Going to Disneyland for Over 30 Years and This Is Its Best Hotel—Here's Why
Spacious signature suites are perfect for families and come with access to Veranda, a lounge with all-day food and drink service, included in the price. Tenaya Stone Spa is ideal for relaxation before or after a day running around the parks, and you can't beat the river stone massage, set to classical Disney song covers upon request. Napa Rose offers an upscale dining option with California cuisine and wine pairings, and it will reopen in the fall with a totally remodeled interior and patio. The Yosemite theme extends to the pool area, and between floating exercise classes, a water slide, and Jacuzzis, there are areas to entertain both kids and adults. It all happened so fast. The rope fell and the crowd took off, each person seemingly faster, taller, or more prepared than me. My husband, Alex, with his long legs and razor-sharp determination to get to Cars Land first, was among them. Meanwhile, there I was, in the Mickey gear he picked out for me, falling behind while trying not to stumble over any children and almost losing sight of him if not for his Goofy-themed Hawaiian shirt. I was still bleary-eyed and chilly, the Southern California sun not yet high enough in the sky to warm the streets of Disneyland's California Adventure park—but knowing I'd better not be the reason we'd have to wait in line for Radiator Springs Racers , one of our favorite rides, I did my best to speed up. T+L senior editorial director Nina Ruggiero and her husband Alex pose at Disneyland with Goofy and Pluto. We live under an hour from Anaheim, but typically only make it to Disneyland about twice a year. When we're there, however, Alex treats a day at the parks like some sort of extreme, open-to-close challenge. Don't get me wrong, I'm always excited to be along for the adventure, but I grew up slowly herding my three younger sisters around Disneyland, and the words 'rope drop' meant nothing to me until I met Alex. He, on the other hand, grew up flying to Orlando from the UK for two full weeks of non-stop theme park action at a time. All of this is to say, once in a while, we like to treat ourselves to a sleepover at the Happiest Place on Earth. For me, it's comforting to know I can hit the pillow as soon as the park closes (because by now you know we're squeezing in one more spin on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance before the gates shut for the night), or pop back to my room to change my shoes and grab a sweater. For Alex, it's an immersive experience that means we have early access and can make the absolute most of our Disney time. Our Disneyland hotel of choice is the Yosemite National Park—themed Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, where there are plenty of perks we both love equally. A hot stone massage with classical Disney covers playing softly in the background? Yes, please. A premium wine pairing with a rack of lamb or filet mignon? Sign us up. Pools with a waterslide and floating exercise classes? We'll stick around for some time in the sun for sure. But best of all is Veranda, the Ritz Carlton-like club-level lounge that comes with all-day food and drink service and indoor-outdoor seating. The setup is so enticing, we even left the park early one night to sit with a glass of wine and a VIP view of the fireworks. (It was Alex's idea, I swear.) Interior of one of the hotel's guest rooms. Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort The hotel has more than 900 rooms, including 44 suites, all designed with families in mind. The largest suites have three bedrooms and sleep between 10 and 13 adults. The smallest standard rooms can still sleep up to five. There are options with views of the park, the pool, the courtyard, and Downtown Disney. Beyond the trees, the balcony of our one-bedroom suite looked out at Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! (formerly the Tower of Terror ) . Wood and stone accents carry the national park vibe throughout, and additional on-theme details such as stained glass windows and fireplaces can be found in some suites. (El Capitan is a favorite.) Club level rooms come with access to the Veranda lounge; more on that below. Have a drink by the fire or at the bar in the Hearthstone Lounge. Napa Rose is the hotel's fine dining restaurant, ideal for special occasions or Disney date nights. Here, you can taste seasonal California flavors in dishes like charred Pacific ahi tuna crudo, wild boar ragout, agnolotti filled with braised greens, and maple leaf duck breast. A price-fixed menu and multiple wine pairing options are available. Editor's Note: Napa Rose is undergoing renovations and will reopen in fall 2025. Storytellers Cafe is famous for its character breakfasts, but you can hit the buffet there for every meal if you want to. Starting May 16, they'll even join you for dinner at Donald's Tales of Adventure Dinner Buffet, where you can meet Donald, Daisy, Clarabelle, Goofy, or Pluto while eating prime rib, fried chicken, s'mores bread pudding, and more. Hearthstone Lounge feels like being in a cozy, upscale national park lodge, with a crackling fireplace and hearty dishes like short rib lasagna and truffle mac and cheese. GCH Craftsman Bar serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks poolside—and usually with sports on TV. If a pre-park drink is your style, this is your spot for morning cocktails, be it a bloody Mary, mimosa, or the popular Grand Candied Orange Coffee with brandy and Kahlua. GCH Craftsman Grill is the place for grab-and-go breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and more. The resort's three pools are full of action, from the waterslide (which twists around a replica redwood tree stump) to the fitness classes taught on floating boards, to the cabanas. There's also Eureka Fitness Center with gym equipment and yoga classes (in Disney Ears Yoga, character accessories are key), and bootcamp classes are led through Disney California Adventure park before it opens. Monthly events are held at the Great Hall, like Star Wars music night in May, and Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures, complete with royal activities and Mickey waffles, are held in the Trillium Room. Pictures with the princesses are encouraged, of course. The Relaxation Lounge at the Tenaya Stone Spa. The serene, full-service Tenaya Stone Spa feels worlds away from the parks, though your masseuse may ask if you'd like to listen to Disney tunes while they work their magic. Try the Tenaya river stone massage or the gemstone sparkle facial, with a diamond collagen mask, and leave time to sit in the relaxation room with a cup of tea and marvel at the fact that you're actually at Disneyland Resort and not on a spa getaway in the mountains. Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa has both wheelchair-accessible and hearing-accessible rooms, bookable on request. There are accessible travel paths into the lobby, parking lot, restaurants, shops, and meeting rooms. Guests with hearing or speech disabilities can also ask for Teletypewriter (TTY) devices at check-in. Disney recommends using ScooterBug to rent wheelchairs and mobility scooters, which can be preordered and delivered to the hotel. The hotel is located on Disneyland Resort grounds and offers easy access to both parks and Downtown Disney's dining, shopping, and entertainment. It also has its own entrance to Disney California Adventure Park, which is under construction through mid-May. (During this time, guests can use an alternate gate next to the hotel.) The Grand Californian also has its own parking lot, which costs $40 per night for self-parking and $70 per night for valet. Those coming just to visit the restaurants or spa can get three to five hours of free parking. Interior of The Veranda. Although it will cost you extra up front, the best way to get the most out of your stay is to book a Club Level room, which comes with access to the Veranda lounge. Disney clearly marks which rooms are considered Club Level on the hotel's website. When I tried on the website for multiple spring dates, I found that selecting club level added about $500 to the nightly price, but it can run higher. Every guest on the reservation gets club access up to the maximum occupancy, which is high, ranging from five to 13 depending on the room. Veranda, located on the sixth floor, hosts food and drinks from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, from breakfast, to afternoon tea, to appetizers, to desserts. Alcoholic drinks are also included. (Just think about what a meal for the family and a few beers for the adults would cost you inside the parks, especially over the span of a few days. Then add snacks, late-night dessert cravings, and a glass of wine or two...). Some rooms are eligible to add club access at check-in, pending availability. In terms of park access, guests of the hotel with park passes get 30 minutes of early entry into either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park, depending on the day of the week. Nightly rates at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa start from $597. Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Don't have a REAL ID yet? Here's what happens after May 7 and how to avoid it
The deadline to get a REAL ID is almost here, after nearly two decades of postponements and delays. FILE - This is a sample of what a REAL ID looks like.(Kansas Department of Revenue via AP) While it was initially said that you would not be able to fly domestically without a REAL ID or other TSA-approved form of identification once the May 7 deadline hits, the head of Homeland Security said Tuesday that travelers will still be able to fly, but should be prepared for additional steps at TSA. If you still don't have your REAL ID and are confused about how to get one, or are wondering why you even need one in the first place, here are some things to know: What is a REAL ID? It's a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that the DHS says is a more secure form of identification. That's because getting a REAL ID requires more personal documentation than what's required to obtain a regular license. Besides needing a REAL ID to fly domestically, you will also need one to access certain federal buildings and facilities. Why is this happening? When the REAL ID Act was signed into law in 2005, it enacted a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission that the government set security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and IDs. 'REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver's licenses and identification cards,' John Essig, the Transportation Security Administration's Security Director for airports in the New York City region said in a press release on April 3. 'The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists' ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.' The REAL ID Act was supposed to begin rolling out in 2008, 'but has faced repeated delays due to state implementation challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic,' said Nina Ruggiero, senior editorial director for Travel Leisure. 'The combination of varying state processes and shifting deadlines has added to the overall confusion around REAL IDs and likely led some travelers to take the deadlines less seriously.' How do I know if I already have a REAL ID? If you've gotten a new ID in the last few years, it could already be REAL ID-compliant. 'I also hear from travelers who are confused as to whether or not they already have a REAL ID,' Ruggiero said. 'Some people who have recently renewed their license may already have a compliant ID and not know it,' so you may want to double-check yours before starting the process. A REAL ID-compliant driver's license has a symbol ( in most states, a star ) in the top corner of the card. If you live in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont or Washington, it's possible you could have an 'enhanced″ ID card instead, which permits you to both fly domestically and cross land and sea borders into Mexico and Canada from the US. It does not, however, allow you to fly into either of those countries. Enhanced IDs will have an American flag icon, as well as the word 'enhanced' at the top of the card. If I don't have a REAL ID, how do I get one? The requirements vary by state, so you will need to visit the website of your state's driver's licensing agency to find out the specific steps, including whether you'll need to make an appointment at a DMV and what documentation you'll need when you get there. What happens on May 7? What if I don't have a REAL ID by then? Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday that those who still lack an identification that complies with the REAL ID law 'may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step." Noem also said that security checkpoints will be accepting passports and tribal identification when the deadline hits Wednesday in place of a REAL ID. 'But people will be allowed to fly,' she said. 'We will make sure it's as seamless as possible.' The deadline has already been pushed back so many times. Could it be delayed again? In mid-April, a group of state senators from Kentucky asked the agency to delay implementing the new requirements yet again. They said the state has limited appointments available to people seeking the new cards and that there has been a rush to meet the May 7 deadline. However, TSA spokesperson Dan Velez told the AP that the agency does not intend to delay the REAL ID deadline again. As of late April, 81% of travelers at TSA checkpoints were presenting acceptable identification, including a state-issued REAL ID, according to DHS.
Toronto Star
05-05-2025
- Toronto Star
Don't have a REAL ID yet? That could cause you travel headaches after May 7
NEW YORK (AP) — The deadline to get a REAL ID is fast approaching after years of postponements and delays. Starting May 7, your license or identification card will need to be REAL ID-compliant to fly domestically in the U.S. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like there will be another delay in the deadline this time. So, if you're confused about how to get a REAL ID, why you even need one in the first place, and what happens if you don't have one by May 7, here are some things to know: ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW What is a REAL ID? It's a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that the DHS says is a more secure form of identification. Besides needing a REAL ID to fly domestically, you will also need one to access certain federal buildings and facilities. Why is this happening? When the REAL ID Act was signed into law in 2005, it enacted a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission that the government set security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and IDs. 'REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver's licenses and identification cards,' John Essig, the Transportation Security Administration's Security Director for airports in the New York City region said in a press release on April 3. 'The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists' ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.' The REAL ID Act was supposed to begin rolling out in 2008, 'but has faced repeated delays due to state implementation challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic,' said Nina Ruggiero, senior editorial director for Travel + Leisure. 'The combination of varying state processes and shifting deadlines has added to the overall confusion around REAL IDs and likely led some travelers to take the deadlines less seriously.' How do I know if I already have a REAL ID? If you've gotten a new ID in the last few years, it could already be REAL ID-compliant. 'I also hear from travelers who are confused as to whether or not they already have a REAL ID,' Ruggiero said. 'Some people who have recently renewed their license may already have a compliant ID and not know it,' so you may want to double-check yours before starting the process. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW A REAL ID-compliant driver's license has a symbol ( in most states, a star) in the top corner of the card. If you live in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont or Washington, it's possible you could have an 'enhanced″ ID card instead, which permits you to both fly domestically and cross land and sea borders into Mexico and Canada from the U.S. It does not, however, allow you to fly into either of those countries. Enhanced IDs will have an American flag icon, as well as the word 'enhanced' at the top of the card. If I don't have a REAL ID, how do I get one? The requirements vary by state, so you will need to visit the website of your state's driver's licensing agency to find out the specific steps, including whether you'll need to make an appointment at a DMV and what documentation you'll need when you get there. What happens on May 7? What if I don't have a REAL ID by then? If you don't have a REAL ID by the deadline and you're planning to board a domestic flight, you will need to bring your passport or another TSA-approved form of identification when you travel. Otherwise, you could face 'delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint,' warns TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The deadline has already been pushed back so many times. Could it be delayed again? In mid-April, a group of state senators from Kentucky asked the agency to delay implementing the new requirements yet again. They said the state has limited appointments available to people seeking the new cards and that there has been a rush to meet the May 7 deadline. However, TSA spokesperson Dan Velez told the AP that the agency does not intend to delay the REAL ID deadline again. As of late April, 81% of travelers at TSA checkpoints were presenting acceptable identification, including a state-issued REAL ID, according to DHS.
