Adam Lubinsky is a poster boy for multimodal travel. When he commutes from Brooklyn to his Manhattan office, he switches effortlessly from a folding bike he has modified to make electric and then onto the subway.
21.07.2023 - 08:26 / roughguides.com / Bill Murray
As an antidote to the build up of stress you may be experiencing as uncertainty spreads across the globe, we’ve gathered together some articles that celebrate the odd and the downright bizarre. These made us smile – we hope they bring some warmth to your day too.
Every country has its quirks and its idiosyncratic customs and America is no exception. You may have heard of Groundhog Day from the 1993 film of the same name, starring a deadpan Bill Murray. But there are some other rather unusual traditions, which tap into the bonkers in all of us, from Thanksgiving Presidential turkey pardoning, to roadkill cook-offs – and competitions involving hollerin’, chucking and spitting.
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In Delaware, you'll come across pumpkin chucking © Shutterstock
Maybe it’s down to sheer wonder, but for some reason people seem compelled to strip off down to their birthday suit at World Heritage sites. While this might get you banged up in a cell, or at the least have you banned from baring a bottom there again – you might be pleased to learn that there are places around the world where getting your kit off is positively encouraged – and even necessary.
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You’re probably used to getting an emergency snack from a vending machine (and probably cursing when your favourite chocolate bar gets stuck). But you may not have realised that all kinds of offerings can be bought from these shop-in-a-box machines, from bananas to beer and live crabs, and even unique pieces of art.
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With travel options severely limited right now, the idea of visiting these unique places may seem like a pipe dream. But hey, we can still dream. From icing sugar-like thermal pools in Turkey, to the otherworldliness of giant hills in The Philippines, not to mention an island with more cats than people – these photos celebrate the beautiful and the strange in our natural world.
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Pamukkale in Turkey is breathtaking © Shutterstock
Header image: The Giant's Causeway, Ireland © Shutterstock
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Adam Lubinsky is a poster boy for multimodal travel. When he commutes from Brooklyn to his Manhattan office, he switches effortlessly from a folding bike he has modified to make electric and then onto the subway.
In a country full of hidden gems, it is hard to choose one. But I would highly recommend taking a trip to the south-east of Turkey – “cradle of civilisation” territory – and on the road between Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa, turn off near Yukarıincirli and head 17 miles north to Halfeti for a boat tour of the mighty Euphrates. This region was hit hard by the recent earthquake, but that gives added reasons to visit: a morale boost to the locals, and some help for their struggling economy. On that cruise you’ll get a chance to see the remarkable submerged city of Old Halfeti, as well as the ancient fortress of Rumkale and, if you’re lucky, a karagül, the black rose that is indigenous to this region.Umair
Low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines will launch flights to Puerto Rico this fall, marking the airline’s first-ever Caribbean destination and its latest expansion plans.
Space enthusiasts up and down the East Coast may be able to see NASA’s next rocket launch with their own eyes.
Britain’s Monarch Airlines failed abruptly last week, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at resort destinations without a return flight. The British government is helping those travelers return home, but the airline shutdown raises the question of whether a similar collapse could happen elsewhere.
It’s no secret that it’s been a year of ups and downs—but one silver lining is the affordable travel possibilities it’s opened up for American travelers. Thanks to expanding air routes, a strong U.S. dollar, and tour companies catering to younger, more frugal tourists, the world is now more accessible than ever.
Emirates has announced it will reduce service between Dubai and almost half its destinations in the U.S. Flights to Boston, Seattle, and Los Angeles will be reduced from two per day to one, and daily flights to Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale will be reduced to five per week each. The total number of weekly flights cut comes to 25.
Dream tips like sailing around the Greek Islands or along the Amalfi Coast are only for the rich and famous, right? Not anymore.
The new year may be right around the corner, but to foresee what it might have in store for travelers, it’s useful to take a look back. Some 2017 travel industry changes were short-lived—remember the infamous laptop ban that had business travelers in a furor for a few months? But other trends from travel 2017 could have a more lasting effect.
The folks at Travelex, the foreign-exchange giant, recently published a list of the destinations where £500 (currently, $674 USD) would last the longest. Although the list targeted British travelers, the figures should work out about the same for travelers from North America, with roughly $700 in mind.