6 countries where it’s easier for Americans to get dual citizenship

• The US does not prohibit dual nationality — which means Americans are mostly free to apply for citizenship with other countries. • Most citizenship application processes can be intensive, expensive, and time-consuming. • But some nations have policies that actually make it easier to obtain citizenship than others. It’s official. I’m an Irish citizen. …

We explored an abandoned insane asylum, and it was even creepier than we expected

The sprawling campus of the Rockland Psychiatric Center was once considered a picturesque escape for New York City’s mentally ill. The facility opened in 1931 and performed a number of lobotomies and electroshock therapy sessions — both state-of-the-art treatments in the 1940s. We explored the now-abandoned buildings that “represent in microcosm the history of the …

An iconic French restaurant in a New York City Trump Hotel just lost a Michelin star for the first time

Jean-Georges is a vaunted French restaurant in New York City. The restaurant lost a star in the latest version of the Michelin Guide. The guide’s reviewers said the restaurant had experienced “a slow glide downward.” Jean-Georges is no longer a three-star restaurant, according to the newest edition of the Michelin Guide for New York City. …

Here are the best restaurants in New York City, according to the Michelin Guide

The Michelin Guide was just released for New York City. New York now has five three-star restaurants and 56 restaurants with at least one star. The venerated French restaurant Jean-Georges lost a star. The 2018 Michelin Guide for New York City is here. Seven restaurants got new stars in this year’s guide, while one restaurant …

Incredible drone footage shows a bridge in China that is literally above the clouds

The Aizhai bridge is one of the tallest suspension bridges in the world. Since the bridge opened in 2012, many tourists have gone to gawk at the epic structure. Following is the text of the video. The Aizhai bridge is over 1100 feet from the ground and over 3800 feet long. The bridge is located …

16 of the most luxurious ski resorts to visit this winter

Winter is right around the corner. While there are plenty of options for affordable ski getaways in the US and Canada, sometimes you just need to splurge. HomeToGo, a vacation rental search tool, has compiled a list of the most expensive ski resorts in North America, so you can plan a mountain weekend in the …

Tony Robbins hits these special golf balls into the ocean that dissolve into fish food

When Tony Robbins whacks golf balls into the Pacific off the porch of his Fiji home, he’s not just living the peak luxury lifestyle, he’s feeding some of the local fish. Business Insider recently traveled to Robbins’ Fiji resort Namale, where the world-famous life coach was hosting the winners of Shopify’s Build a Bigger Business …

These are the most valuable passports in the world

The Trump administration has drawn controversy for its efforts to ban travel from Middle Eastern countries like Libya, Syria, and Yemen. Now, its policies may be coming back to bite American citizens. Finance firm Arton Capital has placed the United States behind 18 countries in its most recent rankings of passport mobility, which measures the …

Here’s what you should know before planning a trip to the Caribbean this winter

Despite the damage done by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, many of the islands in the Caribbean are open for tourism this winter. AAA recommends that tourists remain aware of conditions that might affect their travel and use an agent to ensure a painless vacation experience. Luxury travel agent Jaclyn Sienna India is sending her clients …

We flew a drone over the changing fall leaves in New England — and the footage is spectacular

While on a recent trip to the northwest corner of Connecticut, we flew a drone to capture an aerial view of the fall foliage that’s starting to peak in the region. Due to warmer temperatures, the leaves are changing colors a little behind schedule this year, which means you still have time to travel to …

The best app for helping you save money on flights is about to do the same thing for hotels

For the past two years, Hopper has been working to perfect the art of predicting the best time to book a flight. I use Hopper frequently, and it’s helped me decide when to book every flight I’ve taken over the past year. And since you can start tracking trips up to a year in advance, …

The US government is investigating another near disaster involving Air Canada in San Francisco

Air Canada Flight AC781 failed to respond to air traffic control’s repeated commands to abort a landing and go around. Air Canada crew claims the plane suffered a radio problem. The incident took place Sunday evening at San Francisco International Airport. Air Canada had another incident at that airport in July that could’ve led to …

We visited the ‘McDonald’s of Russia’ that’s trying to take over America — here’s what it was like

In Russia, a chain serving traditional Russian fare dukes it out with the likes of McDonald’s and KFC — and now it’s coming to the US. In 1998, Mikhail Goncharov was inspired by the immense popularity of McDonald’s in his home country and decided to start a fast-food chain, Teremok, which serves Russian classics instead …

These are the best New York City restaurants where you can eat for under $40

New York City is famous for its world-class cuisine. Each year, the Michelin Guide judges release their list of Bib Gourmands, the best inexpensive restaurants in a city. Meals here cost less than $40. New York City has no shortage of world-class restaurants, but many are too expensive for those who don’t make six-figure salaries. …

Watch this amazing time-lapse showing how ships get through the Panama Canal

A video released from the US Coast Guard shows how one of its vessels travels through the Panama Canal. The Canal is a complex system that utilizes an artificial lake to help ships traverse between the Continental divide. Following is a transcript of the video. The Panama Canal is an engineering marvel. About 14,000 ships …

I’ve lived in Brooklyn for 5 years — and these are my favorite places to go for cheap eats

I’ve lived — and eaten — in Brooklyn for the past five years. Five years in one borough has been just enough time to pinpoint my go-tos and, unfortunately, see some of my favorite restaurants shutter. By this point, I’ve had plenty of time to return, try new menu items, and see if they continually …

19 of the best ski resorts to visit this winter that don’t cost a fortune

Now is the time to book your winter getaway — or start planning at the very least. HomeToGo, a vacation rental search tool, has compiled a list of the most affordable ski resorts in North America so you can tear up the slopes, even if you’re on a budget. They gathered data for the 35 …

Terrifying, first-person photos show the claustrophobic conditions inside Hong Kong’s ‘coffin cubicles’

Hong Kong is in the midst of a housing crisis. As prices begin to rise and the city grows denser, some have resorted to living in the smallest of spaces. Since 2012, photographer Benny Lam has been documenting the housing situation in Hong Kong by focusing his camera on what have become known as “coffin …

How the founder of Zillow and Hotwire led his startups through major crises, layoffs, and a down round to massive exits

Spencer Rascoff is the CEO of Zillow, a real-estate website and app. Before that, he helped create and lead the travel website Hotwire. Zillow went public in 2011 and has grown tenfold since. Today, the company generates over $1 billion in annual revenue; it has made 16 acquisitions and has 3,500 employees. Rascoff led both …

12 dreamy photos of people who left it all behind for a nomadic existence traveling the world in a van

After Foster Huntington left his corporate job in Manhattan, he spent three years living in a van. He traveled the US, backpacking, surfing, and connecting with a nomadic community who’d left their own stationary lives behind for something different. In his fourth book, “Van Life: Your Home on the Road,” Huntington gathers photos from the …

In English, the Swedish names of Ikea products mean everything from ‘squirrel’ to ‘chubby’ to ‘giggle’ — here are 11 of the quirkiest

If you’re not a native speaker of Swedish — and even if you are — you might be confused as you walk around an IKEA store. All the products are labeled with Swedish names that translate to words as diverse as “hoard” (Hopa) and “chubby” (Knubbig). Business Insider has previously reported that IKEA relies on …

An undercover investigation reveals air quality on a cruise ship deck could be worse than the world’s most polluted cities

Following is a transcript of the video. Thinking of going on a cruise for the fresh ocean air? Think again. A recent undercover investigation on P&O Cruises’ ship Oceana revealed ultra-fine particles in the air emitted from burning fuel. On deck, downwind of the smokestacks, the investigative team measured 84,000 particulates per cubic cm. Closer …

There’s a secret ‘Burger Joint’ inside this swanky NYC hotel

Burger Joint opened in Le Parker Meridien hotel in 2002. Since then, nine more locations have opened across the world. This one is the original, and it’s the only one that’s hidden. Following is the text of the video. Le Parker Meridien hotel is hiding something. Behind the red curtain, down a dark corridor, is …

30 architectural masterpieces everyone should see in their lifetime

Buildings may be some of the most impressive works of art we have. After sinking untold sums of money into their construction, we can walk through the finished products and even live inside them. Here are some of the most ambitious projects from architects around the world, and whose works span thousands of years. Drake …

A little-known Brooklyn neighborhood was named one of the world’s coolest places — here’s what it’s like

Sunset Park is having a moment. Earlier this year, Lonely Planet revealed its list of the coolest neighborhoods to visit in the world, and Sunset Park, a formerly industrial neighborhood in South Brooklyn, made the cut. Recent property developments in the neighborhood — including a $136 million city investment toward a Made In NY Campus, …

Inside a $185 million Switzerland mansion that has walls covered in 24-karat gold

This week, CNBC’s “Secret Lives of the Super Rich” went inside what anchor Robert Frank called “the most amazing home we have ever shot.” The seven-floor home, located at the St. Moritz ski resort in Switzerland, was “designed to make a billionaire’s jaw drop,” listing agent Senada Adzem of Douglas Elliman Real Estate told “Secret …