A popular low-cost air airline is expanding globally. Southwest Airlines recently announced a partnership to offer international flights by partnering with carriers who operate international fights in Southwest markets. “Southwest is formalizing partnerships with international carriers to expand its network and connect Customers with more global destinations to generate additional demand for travel across the Southwest network,” Southwest shared in a news release. The launch of this new international flight program will take place in 2025, with Icelandair as the first partner airline, and will depart from the Baltimore, MD (BWI) airport. There, travelers can fly on Icelandair to Iceland, where they can connect to a variety of European destinations including Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Dublin, Oslo, Prague, Rome, and more. Icelandair is a discount carrier that operates international flights, and similar to Southwest, does not have a first or business class section on their aircraft. “The partnership will unlock many exciting travel options for our customers, and our extensive network in Europe will open for Southwest customers,” Icelandair President and CEO Bogi Nils Bogason said in a statement. “As part of our strategic focus on expanding our global partnership network, we seek out airlines known for exceptional service and connectivity.” As an example, a traveler would start their journey on Southwest from Nashville to Baltimore, and then continue on Icelandair from Baltimore to Iceland.
This Hotel in Iceland Has a Genius Way to Ensure You See the Northern Lights
25.09.2024 - 14:42 / matadornetwork.com
Iceland is known as one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights, as it sits just south of the Arctic Circle and is known for clear winter skies. But with numerous outdoor activities ranging from coastal hiking to horseback riding and trekking through ice caves, it’s a bit hard to stay awake every night to watch the skies.
But one hotel has a clever solution for that, effectively offering the northern lights on demand: Hotel Rangá. It’s a welcoming, warm, and gorgeous hotel in southern Iceland, sitting roughly equidistant between Reykjavik and the town of Vik (known as the starting point for volcanic adventures near Mount Katla). Here’s what to expect if you book a stay — including how to take advantage of the hotel’s genius northern lights wake up call.
Photo: Hotel Ranga/Paige Deas
Hotel Rangá has just over 50 rooms, ranging from Standard rooms to Master Suites. Of note are the Junior Suites, which have some of the most impressive theming of any hotel I’ve seen, with one suite themed after each continent. Hotel Rangá’s owner worked with buyers and travelers from around the world to source materials and furnishings for each room from that specific continent. The South America Suite has lamps sourced from Uruguay and a ceiling designed to look like Andean peaks; the Australian Suite has a bathroom designed to look like a beach hut and inlays of stained-glass kangaroos. You may have seen the Africa Suite on Instagram before, as Kim Kardashian stayed there while filming an episode of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” in 2016.
I stayed in a Deluxe Room (one of the simpler rooms), which was as pretty as could be. Every room in the hotel has a custom painting on the wall above the bed, done by local artists to depict cultural and beloved aspects of the country. My room also had a big bathtub and small sitting area with a couch.
A Deluxe room. Photo: Suzie Dundas
But the very best part of the room was the door opening to a patio area and stunning views of Iceland’s mountains. Also right outside the patios were three wooden, oversized hot tubs, meaning I could go from my warm, cozy room to an outdoor hot tub overlooking some of the most stunning landscapes in the world in about three seconds.
I found nothing at all bad to say about the rooms — other than the fact that the blackout curtains did a great job. So getting up early in the morning was a little tough, especially when it was still dark outside. But that’s more of a credit to how cozy the beds were than it is a ding on the rooms.
Photo: Suzie Dundas
Hotel Rangá is pretty remote, so you’ll probably do most of your meals at the hotel. It has one big dining room with glass walls, plus a bar with drink service on the main or top floor lounge.
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The Fastest Commercial Train in the World Runs at 267.8 Mph and You Can Take It Every 15 Minutes
There are two types of train trip: The long, slow, and often luxurious train journey that takes you through beautiful scenery that you book specifically to spend time on the rails; and the speedy, no-nonsense, cheap train ride you take to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible. In the first category, you’ll find grand trips like Australia’s The Ghan, South Africa’s Blue Train, and Britain’s Caledonian Sleeper. In the second, there are trips from London to Brussels in just two hours, from Rome to Venice in four hours, and from Miami to Orlando in three hours. And if you’re a train traveler who belongs to the second category and likes getting places fast without flying, there are plenty of trains in this world that do just that at speeds previously unimaginable on land, including the fastest train in the world and its closest competitors.
Japan Airlines Are Offering Free Domestic Flights for Those Wanting to Explore the Country
To encourage travelers to Japan to get off the beaten path, delve deeper into the country’s cultural heritage, and venture beyond the popular tourist destinations, Japan Airlines is offering complimentary domestic flights all across the archipelago.
Arson, Robberies, and Chaotic Soccer Matches Mark the Start of the 2024 Paris Olympics
The opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympics in Paris is designed to be a major spectacle on July 26. Yet issues have plagued the games before they’ve even begun. Just hours before the opening ceremony, arsonists attacked France’s high-speed rail network and disrupted travel to Paris from around Europe for 800,000 people — fans and athletes alike.
Get Ready to “WOW” Your Travel Partners With These Epic Iceland Airbnbs
According to Airbnb, there has been a 130 percent increase in stays at Airbnbs with Northern Lights views. The best Airbnbs in Iceland offer front row seats to the northern lights — making it the top place to go to see them. Not only that, but by booking a remote stay you’ll have easy access to the outdoor adventures this Nordic country is known for. The best Iceland Airbnbs even offer extras — like hot tubs, fireplaces, maybe even a chance to greet a gaggle of wild horses as they traverse their way across the countryside. “Wow” your travel partners with these epic Iceland Airbnbs.
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