British Airways is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. The century-old airline’s forerunner, Air Transport and Travel Limited, commenced daily international flights in August 1919. Last year, I flew in British Airways’ “World Traveler” economy-class cabin from London to New York to see what the experience was like. With dozens of flights a day operated …
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After a month in Morocco, I can tell you the last place you want to stay is a hotel or Airbnb
Traveling to Morocco is different from vacationing in most other countries. While major hotel chains have outposts in all major Moroccan cities and Airbnb is easy to use, the best way to see the country is by staying in riads, traditional Moroccan homes that have been converted into guesthouses. There are hundreds of riads throughout …
Big changes are coming to the Marriott and Starwood rewards programs and their credit cards — here’s what you need to know
The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network. Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest are combining under one new loyalty program: Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott is overhauling its co-branded credit cards, which are issued by American Express and Chase, featuring new …
The United Airlines app has a new feature that could be a game-changer for delayed travelers (UAL)
United Airlines rolled a redesigned version of its smartphone app in January. The new app is designed to cater to frequent flyers and those who fly once or twice a year. One of the new features of the app provides detailed delay information to the traveler to allay anxiety. In January, United Airlines rolled out …
Forget the Pyramids of Giza. A local tipped me off to a little-known site of ancient ruins that’s equally fascinating and never crowded
While Egypt’s best known sites are the Great Pyramids of Giza — the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World still standing — and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, those bucket-list destinations can be crowded and give only a small picture of ancient Egyptian society. An Egyptian local told me, upon …
Hundreds of flights are delayed at New York area airports due to severe winds amid the polar vortex
Severe winds have caused heavy delays at New York’s LaGuardia Airport and New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport. Flights bound for LaGuardia have been delayed by an average of an hour and 31 minutes. Flights headed for Newark have been delayed an average of two hours and 23 minutes. Flights at New York’s LaGuardia Airport …
5 powerful productivity tips I learned in Japan transformed my life and my business
Adrian Shepherd is a British productivity consultant who’s lived and worked in Japan for the past 24 years. Over that time, he’s picked up some productivity and stress-management habits that have made all the difference in his work and life. For one thing, he’s learned to buy into the Japanese concept of kaizen, which means …
Bogotá’s massive bus system has been globally hailed as a triumph in public transit — here’s why I prefer it over New York City’s buses
Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, doesn’t have an underground metro. It does have the TransMilenio, which moves 2.4 million passengers every day. On a recent reporting trip to the country, I got the chance to appreciate how efficient the TransMilenio is compared to New York City’s bus system. Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, doesn’t have …
The best packable daypacks you can buy
The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase. Packable daypacks allow you to bring a backpack on trips without having to lug an extra piece of luggage. The best packable daypack we tested was the Matador …
An extravagant Florida mansion that’s modeled after the Palace of Versailles sold at auction for a $115 million price cut — here’s a look inside
One of the most expensive homes to ever land on the market in the US sold in November 2018. Playa Vista Isle, formerly Le Palais Royal, is in Hillsboro Beach, Florida, on the ritzy “Millionaire’s Mile” between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Property records show it sold for $42.5 million at auction, over …
I visited the top of the tallest building in the world and it was a colossal waste of time
The city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is known for extravagant, newly built landmarks like the Burj Khalifa, the Palm Jumeirah, and the Dubai Mall. Towering over the city at 2,722 feet tall with 160 floors, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest tower in the world. It has an observation deck at the …
7 things I took for granted as an American and miss now that I live in the UK
When moving to another country, you might not realize all that you’re leaving behind at home. Here, author Jennifer Still lists seven “seemingly unimportant” things about the US that she misses as an American living in the UK. I’d lived in New York City for more than half my life when I made the move …
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This Instagram account shows how drastically different economy plane food can be on airlines around the world
The Instagram account @airplanefoodselfie shares images of plane meals on different airlines around the world. One of the most striking takeaways is how much economy food can vary in standard depending on the airline. The account is run by 39-year-old full-time traveller Henry Wu. While it’s no secret that business and first class food is …
Here’s the town in every US state with the youngest residents
Using data from the US Census Bureau, we found the town in every state with the lowest median age. Many of the towns are college towns and places with a higher-than-average share of households with children. The American Community Survey is an annual survey run by the Census Bureau to allow the government, corporate and …
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The Southwest Companion Pass can offer excellent value, but not for everyone — here’s who it’s best for
The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase. When you open a new personal Southwest credit card, you can earn the best-ever sign-up bonus offered for the cards: 30,000 points and a Companion Pass, which is …
Delta, United, and American bracing for monster storm and issuing travel vouchers. Here’s what to know if you’re flying.
Winter Storm Jayden is expected dump heavy snow across the Midwest and Northeast. Even the Deep South will get some snow. In preparation, Delta, United, American, and others are letting passengers traveling this week rebook tickets free. The National Weather Service has issued winter-storm warnings and watches across much of the Midwest, Deep South, and …
WOW Air CEO reveals the key mistake his airline and low-cost rivals such as Norwegian have made
Low-cost, long-haul carriers like WOW Air and Norwegian Air have made trans-Atlantic flying much more affordable in recent years. However, with the financial instability faced by both carriers, there are questions as to whether the business model can be viable in the long-run. According to WOW Air’s CEO, low-cost, long-haul airlines, including his own and …
The air on cruise ships can be as polluted as the air in Beijing, new study claims
Air pollution on cruise ship decks may be as bad as in cities like Beijing and Santiago, Chile, according to a new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins University. The study measured pollution levels on the decks of four cruise ships — Carnival Liberty, Carnival Freedom, Holland America MS Amsterdam, and Emerald Princess — in …
After a $500 meal at the world’s most luxurious hotel, I stumbled across a $1 fish restaurant on the Moroccan coast — and I’d pick the cheaper one every time
What I have found after traveling to dozens of countries and eating at restaurants both fancy and not is that good food doesn’t have to be complicated. Most often, you’re paying for the setting and the ambiance at a top-notch restaurant. I recently visited one of the most decorated luxury hotels in the world, the …
Hilton is sponsoring San Diego Museum Month this February — it’s offering special packages at all 29 of its hotels throughout the city
The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network. February is Museum Month in San Diego, when locals and visitors can get half-off admission to more than 40 museums across the city. To participate, all you need to do is pick …
Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve: Which card offers superior airport lounge access, according to a frequent flyer
The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network. Both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Platinum Card® from American Express offer airport lounge access among their many benefits and rewards. However, I find the Platinum card’s lounge access more useful — …
Disappointing photos show what Las Vegas looks like in real life, from crowded venues and packed pools to long wait lines
Almost 39 million people visited Las Vegas last year. As a result of so many annual guests, the county’s gaming revenue often reaches close to $10 billion. High visitor traffic also leads to daily crowds at many of the iconic Las Vegas venues and sites. In addition to crowds, visitors should be prepared for an …
I rode Africa’s first superfast bullet train that could go from New York to Washington DC in 90 minutes, and I understand why it’s controversial
Morocco recently unveiled the first high-speed railway system in Africa, which connects the coastal city of Tangier with the capital, Rabat, and Casablanca, the country’s business hub. Eventually, it will travel to the tourist destinations of Marrakech and Agadir. Last month I rode the train roughly the distance between New York and Washington DC in …
Here’s the town in every US state with the most male and female residents
Using data from the US Census Bureau, we found the town in every state with the highest share of residents who identify as male, and the town with the highest share identifying as female. Many of the male-heavy towns are home to or near prisons or military bases, while some of the towns with a …
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Hedge-fund manager Ken Griffin’s $238 million NYC apartment shattered the US real estate record — here’s a look at his record-setting properties and penthouses
Billionaire hedge-fund manager Ken Griffin has been on a real-estate spending spree. Most recently, he purchased a $238 million NYC penthouse that’s now the most expensive home sale in the US. Other notable recent transactions include a $58.75 million purchase in Chicago and a $122 million London mansion. Ken Griffin is on a real-estate spending …
The 20 best economy airlines in the world, according to the youngest man to visit every single country
James Asquith became the youngest person to visit every country at the age of 24. Now 30, he is the founder and CEO of HolidaySwap, which lets users swap homes around the world for $1 a night. He told Business Insider he has taken nearly 1,000 flights on more than 150 carriers in his life. …
5 easy ways to learn a foreign language as an adult
Learning a foreign language as an adult is challenging, but there are ways you can easily enhance the process. Here are five strategies you can employ to help you learn a new language more efficiently. You’ve likely heard that learning a new language is easier for children than it is for adults. But all hope …
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