Equatorial differences in Quito, Ecuador

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Morgan Duram, a full-time content creator who moved from Michigan to Madrid. It has been edited for length and clarity. 

This morning Volato announced plans to go public via a merger with a special purpose acquisition corporation, or SPAC as they are called. It is the latest in a series of private aviation flight providers to attempt an IPO, with the only common denominator being that they have not worked out very well to this point.

Traveling alone on a cruise ship can be liberating, convenient, and cheap — so long as you know how to do it right.

Travel in August is all about being canny. It’s a prime time to be in Europe but you need to be nimble to avoid the crowds and escalating prices across the Med and beaches radiating beyond. It's worth thinking of alternatives if you want more than a packed fly-and-flop beach break or an overheated European city visit where half the venues are closed for the summer.

Perched on the shoulder of South America, Ecuador is a patchwork of dramatic landscapes, from white sandy beaches and rolling grasslands to dense rainforests and majestic mountains. Despite its modest size, the country packs a mighty punch thanks to its breathtaking terrain, which takes in the Amazon, the Andes and the awesome archipelago of the Galápagos.

For most travelers, entering the vast diversity of Ecuador’s Cuatro Mundos ("Four Worlds": the Pacific Coast, Andes, Amazon and Galápagos) requires nothing more than arriving with your passport.

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AirHelp, the online service that files complaints against airlines on behalf of passengers entitled to compensation for air delays or cancellations, knows a thing or two about air travel. Because it’s hard for the average person to understand air passenger rights and pursue a legal claim when they’ve been wronged, AirHelp is always going toe-to-toe with airlines and airports—and reveals once a year which ones that treat their passengers for the better (or worse).

If you’ve ever sat with your knees wedged up against the seatback in front of you, you might be wondering which North American carrier is the airline with the most legroom. And the answer depends entirely on an aircraft measurement called “seat pitch.”

Before I moved to the US from England earlier this year, I paid my local UK Costco a visit for the very first time. I'd heard plenty about the warehouse's bulk offerings and large quantities of products but I was most curious to see what the food court had to offer.

Like a sprawling carpet of moss, the Amazon Rainforest stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the foothills of the Andes, creating a lush basin that still remains partially unexplored to this day. Cut by thin ropes of water flowing from the Amazon River, the forest stretches over land in Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.

The Galapagos Islands are about 1,000 km from continental Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. The archipelago comprises 127 islands, islets, and rocks. Its remote location has allowed many species to evolve in isolation from other parts of the world and is one of the most exciting places to visit if you are interested in fauna and flora. The biodiversity here has attracted brilliant minds of scientists such as Charles Darwin and Sir David Attenborough and is often considered so special that visiting would be out of the question. This is not the case. It is very expensive, to go, but you can stay on the Galapagos, and if you plan your trip in advance, you can find ways to keep costs at a minimum. One of the best ways to do this is to opt for an Airbnb Galapagos rental. Not only will you be able to live out a The Wild Thornberrys fantasy adventure, but you can cook at home and have a more comfortable, local experience. Here are some of the best Airbnb options on the islands for families, couples, and solo travelers.