The magazine specializes in leisure travel and often features articles written by novelists, poets, artists, designers, and non-travel journalists.

It is known for its travel photography and covers featuring models lounging in upscale environments.

Its World's Best Awards, an annual reader survey rating airports, cities, cruise ships, hotels, and islands, have been announced every August since 1995.

Travel + Leisure magazine was purchased from American Express Publishing by Time Inc. (which would later be acquired by Meredith Corporation) on October 1, 2013.

The Travel + Leisure magazine is published independently by Dotdash Meredith under a long-term license agreement.