Matador Network's Blog, page 1338

Japan just became the world’s most powerful passport

If you’re one of those ambitious travelers trying to visit every country in the world, you’ll have a slight advantage if you happen to have a Japanese passport. Japan recently took the crown away from Germany, allowing its citizens to visit 189 countries visa-free, making it the world’s most powerful passport.

But don’t worry, Germans — your passport is still pretty darn powerful, with 188 countries allowing visa-free travel. Additionally, passport holders from Singapore, South Korea, the U.S. Scandinavia and pretty much everywhere in the EU can visit upwards of 180 countries visa-free. That should be enough to keep you busy for a while.

The visa index is managed by a London-based consulting firm and updated in real-time to show the strength of every country’s passport at any given time. Since visa requirements are generally considered to be a good indicator of countries relationships with one another, the strength of a passport is predicated on the level of visa-free travel it allows. As you can imagine, passport strength (and therefore the index rankings) are heavily impacted by geopolitical events.

If you’re an American considering a trip to Russia, for example, you’ve probably noticed that the visa process is less than smooth. Whereas visas are not required for Americans visiting neighboring eastern European countries, like Bulgaria or Ukraine, obtaining a Russian visa is not only necessary but also extremely difficult due to strained political relationships. Americans seeking to travel in Russia must go through a long, complicated process, and even then, they may only be granted limited entry. Middle Eastern countries, too, like Iraq and Afghanistan, find themselves toward the bottom of the list due to their more tumultuous relationships in the international community.

If you’re planning a multi-destination trip with a friend from a different country, this could prove to be a hassle as you move through customs together. While traveling to Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic with my Indonesian friend, I was able to cross borders freely with my US passport, while he had to apply for a visa, submit his detailed itinerary ahead of time, and wait for an approval process.

So if your country is high on the passport index, consider yourself lucky — and hope a major diplomatic snafu doesn’t knock your passport strength down a few ranks.

H/T: Conde Nast

More like this: Ranking the world’s most powerful passports

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Hiker falls to his death from Half Dome cables in Yosemite National Park

The National Park Service reported that a hiker on the popular Half Dome cables in Yosemite National Park fell to his death on Monday afternoon. The hiker lost his footing during a thunderstorm and fell from the cables. The incident took place at about 4:30 p.m. The male hiker was with one other person, who was not physically harmed in the incident and who managed to alert authorities of the fall. However,

Now you can order food from Instagram straight to your couch

How many times have you scrolled through your Instagram feed, seen a picture of a delicious dish, and felt your stomach rumble? Well, now you can actually do something about it. Instagram’s new foodie feature allows you to purchase food directly from Instagram, and have it delivered the same way you would normally order takeout.

We all know that double-tapping a mouth-watering food picture won’t curb your appetite, but now you’ll find an “action button” on certain businesses’ profile pages, which will allow users to place food orders, or even book restaurant tables, without ever leaving Instagram.

Instagram is partnering with third-party reservation and delivery companies like OpenTable, ChowNow, and Yelp Reservations, to really help streamline the process, and make it easier than ever to meet the needs of their hungry social media users. Some businesses affiliated with the service might also have action buttons on Facebook, so you won’t just be limited to Instagram when it comes to satisfying your appetite.

Instagram really stepped up its business partnerships recently when it launched specialized profiles for companies. More than 200 million daily active users visit a business profile on Instagram each day, and as of last December there were 25 million businesses with profiles.

Instagram has always been a popular space for foodies, but now it looks like even more people will be ditching their takeout menus for that particularly photogenic meal, or late-night snack.

Businesses looking to add action buttons to their profiles can learn how to do so here.

H/T: Lonely Planet

JetBlue will deliver authentic New York pizza to you in LA on the same day you order it

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Packing list for carry-on bag

Your trip is off to a rocky start. To begin with, TSA found that super expensive shampoo you tried to bury at the bottom of your backpack and made you dump it in the trash can. You show up at your gate to find out that your plane is delayed 45 minutes, which gives you just enough time to realize that your seat assignment is the last row of an overbooked flight. And you have a middle seat. With the rate your luck is going, you might as well assume the bag you checked is already headed in the opposite direction of where you’re traveling.

There are a number of factors you simply can’t control when you’re taking a flight, but the one thing you do have the ability to manage is how well you’re prepared for the worst. Packing a carry-on bag that is stocked with useful wellness products — both for your flight and beyond — is a crucial skill to master. Your number one priority should be your health and well-being, because if you show up to your destination with a head cold, a tweaked neck, and your body clock all out of whack, you may spoil your entire trip. After many long-haul flights and plenty of trial and error, these are our 10 must-pack items for our hand luggage to help avoid getting sick, reduce jet lag recovery time, and maintain a general feeling of comfort while traveling.

1. Nuun tabs

Photo: Nuun Hydration

When you’re flying, one of the most common health risks is dehydration. Nuun tabs are designed to keep that from happening through the use of electrolytes and vitamins. Fill up your water bottle once you’re near your gate, pop a tablet in, and sip this drink throughout your flight. There are a ton of different flavors, and all tablets are gluten free, dairy free, and soy free. Staying hydrated will help you fight off any other encroaching sickness — it’s your best line of defense.

2. Immune boosters

Although Emergen-C has been around for awhile, it’s still one of our favorite products that helps to enhance the immune system. These small, travel sized packets are easy to carry along, and the benefits of powering up your immune system are especially important when you’re flying.

3. Compression socks

When you’re seated in the same position without the ability to get up and get the blood flowing, wearing a pair of compression socks can help reduce swelling and decrease the potentially dangerous risks of deep vein thrombosis. Luckily, because of the increased popularity of these socks, many companies have started designing more attractive styles that aren’t so cringe-worthy to wear. This fun collection from Zensah proves that compression socks are no longer only for your grandparents, but a cute and effective travel hack.

4.EO Products natural hand sanitizing wipes

Photo: EO Products

It’s easy to throw a few of these EO Products organic sanitizing packets into your carry-on bag. These are lovely products, not only because they are organic and smell delicious, but they are also compact. The range includes a 33-oz sized liquid hand sanitizer in French lavender — perfect for keeping the bugs at bay and relaxing flying nerves with its calming lavender scent. Use their hand sanitizing wipes to give the tray table and armrests a quick wipe-down when you first take your seat; those tray tables don’t always get cleaned and since you’re eating off of them, they’re frequently ground zero for flight-borne illness. EO Products also sell natural deodorizing wipes, which helps get around the in-flight aerosol ban for a quick freshen up before landing.

5. Motion sickness meds

Maybe you’re one of those unlucky travelers who frequently suffer from sickness on a plane, especially when there’s unexpected turbulence. Or maybe you just misjudged how many drinks your friends bought you the night before and are paying for it on your early morning flight. Either way, you really don’t want to puke on the plane. To help avoid doing so, pack some nausea relief medicine, like Dramamine. You might never need it, but when you do, it’s definitely preferable to searching for that little white bag that may or may not be located in the seat back.

6. A relaxing playlist

Don’t make a rookie mistake and forget to download your favorite songs before you get to the airport; the public wifi won’t be strong enough to get through a whole playlist. While you’re still connected to your home wifi, download a playlist loaded with relaxing music to help you feel relaxed in the event of turbulence (or a crying child), or to ease you into a glorious nap. There are many different options to choose from on Spotify for this exact purpose, or of course, you could build your own.

7. Silk eye mask

Photo: Derek Rose

Just because you’re not flying first class, doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to a luxury eye mask. The slight pressure of an eye mask and blocking out light can help you catch up on valuable sleep during (and even after) your flight. Plus, an eye mask doubles as a polite “do not disturb” sign for any talkative seatmates. This plush, reversible one from Derek Rose is an attractive option.

8. Hydrating facial mist

Photo: Herbivore Botanicals

While some people would opt for a full-on Korean spa toning facial mask, this is a slightly more subtle way to stay feeling refreshed while maintaining that difficult level of hydration during a flight. Personally, I love Herbivore Botanicals rose hibiscus coconut water hydrating face mist, which not only moisturizes but smells delicious.

9. Nasal spray

Congestion can come on quickly, and when your sinuses are clogged during takeoff or landing this can be both painful and dangerous for your ears. Make sure to pack a natural, soothing nasal spray to avoid clogged ears next time you fly.

10. A travel pillow

Photo: Uncommon Goods

Are you seeing a theme here? Sleep is so key staying healthy while traveling. If you can catch up to the correct time zone while you’re on your flight, that’s a total win. Don’t get a cheaply made (but expensively priced) neck pillow at the airport convenience store. Get an actually nice pillow that will actually hold up your neck while traveling, and can compress into your carry-on without taking up too much space. This one from Uncommon Goods cradles your head to avoid neck pain and rolls up into a compact ball when you’re not using it.

Knowing that you have these essentials with you at all times can help reduce travel stress and keep you in good health for your trip. While space is limited in your carry on, prioritize these goodies over an extra pair of shoes; we promise they will keep you healthy, happy, and ready to enjoy your travels.

More like this: 10 tips for staying healthy on the road

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Tennessee and New York are currently battling over who really invented the Long Island Iced Tea

If you’ve ever had one of “those nights” thanks to Long Island Iced Teas, imagine waking up the next morning and saying, “man, I had one too many Kingsport Iced Teas.” Well, if Amy McColl, the Marketing Manager for Visit Kingsport is to be believed, that is the popular drink’s rightful name.

According to McColl, the Long Island Iced Tea was actually invented by an illegal liquor distiller named Charlie “Old Man” Bishop in the 1920s, on a far lesser-known island in the Holston River near Kingsport, TN. Visit Kingsport even released a video, featuring a man acting as Ransom Bishop (“Old Man” Bishop’s son), describing the creation of the drink, and claiming that Old Man Bishop was mixing the drink “50 years before [the New Yorkers] even thought about it.”

But New Yorkers aren’t giving up their claim so easily. Maggie Lacasse, director of communications at New York’s Discover Long Island, maintains that Robert “Rosebud” Butt created the drink on Long Island, NY in the 1970s, during a contest while working at Long Island’s Oak Beach Inn. She also claims that since the Kingsport iced tea is made with maple syrup, instead of triple sec, it isn’t a true Long Island Iced Tea.

Fighting words, for sure. And now the two areas are about to have a contest of their own. A bartender in Long Island, NY has challenged bartenders from Kingsport to a competition to see who can mix the better drink. There’s no doubt that the Long Island Iced Tea has been responsible for many drunken brawls over the years, and though a lot of pride is at stake for both New York and Tennessee, we can only hope they settle their differences peacefully.

H/T: ABC News

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5 travel tips you should generally ignore

When telling friends or family about an upcoming trip, there’s a strong chance that they’re going to offer their thoughts on just about everything, from where you’re going and what to do there, to what to bring and how to act. Whether you want to hear it or not, people love sharing their opinions. Taking advice from someone who has been where you’re going often proves a good idea, especially when it comes to trip planning. But it’s the more generalized travel advice that is often out of place or just downright incorrect. Here a five such travel tips you should generally ignore.

“The window seat is so worth it.”

We’ve all seen (and probably posted) the classic Instagram photo looking out across the wing over a skyline or into a blue and white abyss. Everyone loves to recommend the window seat for the epic views at 30,000 feet, but trust us, you’ll regret it when you have to go to the restroom in the middle of the night or are in a hurry to catch your connection. When you’re stuck on a long-haul flight heading overseas, the aisle seat is the way to go. The extra legroom and easy access can make the claustrophobic experience of a ten-hour flight a bit smoother. Plus, you’re off the plane faster and at no point do you have to worry about crawling over anybody. The next time you fly, take a look around the plane and try to gauge how well-traveled those sitting in an aisle seat appear compared to their window-bound counterparts. The pros know what’s up.

“Don’t eat street food — it’ll make you sick.”

Before you immediately write off street food simply because the vendors haven’t hung a certificate from the local health department, know that millions of locals in dozens of countries depend on this street food every day — and it’s often the most authentic, affordable and delicious option. In many places, including street food capitals such as Bangkok, street food vendors are registered businesses, not just someone who decided to turn on a flame at the first open street corner they found. The chef cooking pho on the street in Hanoi has likely been fine-tuning her recipes and procedures over the course of a lifetime. She’s earned her spot and her reputation. Her ingredients were bought from the market earlier that day, not packaged, frozen, and shipped across the country.

That said, you should still exercise some caution. The best practice for identifying which street vendors are serving dishes that both taste good and have the lowest chance of sending you the restroom for the remainder of the day is to identify where the locals are eating. Let’s say there are two vendors next to each other on a busy corner. One has a long line and it looks as though it could be 30 minutes or more before you reach the front. The other vendor is wide open, perhaps even beckoning you in. Don’t take the bait. Busy stalls are going through their food faster, meaning what you’re getting is fresh. Additionally, the locals have embraced the spot, which means it must be good.

“It’s better to just rent a car — public transportation isn’t safe.”

If you’re planning on staying within city limits, there’s no need to get a rental car most of the time. The high cost of parking, dense traffic (and often overwhelming road rules), coupled with the rise of ride-hailing apps and growth of public transit in many cities across the globe makes renting a car more of a hassle than a convenience. Before heading out on your trip, check the public transit authority’s website to get the lay of the land. Also look at whether Uber,

Life lessons from bar tending

Bartenders spend their working lives tending to the needs of others. This nightly proximity to humanity teaches you a thing or two about how to be a well-rounded person. Here are some life lessons, we’ve picked up from working behind the bar.

1. Don’t be an asshole.

Yes, this is the most obvious of life lessons, but somehow many people seem to have missed the memo. If I could take one lesson with me from my bartending life, it would be that a little understanding goes a long way. If the bar is crowded, give your bartender an extra minute before you order. Buybacks should be greeted with appreciation, not expectation. I know that waiting for a drink at a busy bar can be frustrating, but nothing ruins a bartender’s mood faster than rude patrons.

2. If it ain’t broke, it will be soon.

Everything falls apart eventually. As soon as you fix a broken printer, the ice machine stops working. You are almost out of the weeds when a glass shatters all over your bar. The more you can anticipate potential issues, the more you can prevent being caught off guard. And when things do break, fix them immediately. Bar owners love band-aids, but we all know that the more band-aids you slap on, the more costly the wound in the long run.

3. Always be prepared.

In the service industry, there is a saying: “Always expect to be busy.” Even if it is a Monday night in the dead of winter, you must make sure you stocked properly. When you are bartending, anything can happen (see above). So any possible complications that can be avoided – i.e. warm kegs or running out of limes – should be avoided. As in life, working in a bar can be very stressful. Preparedness takes some of that stress away.

4. Do the best you can with what you got.

No one is perfect. Some nights you are underprepared. Some nights you are caught off guard. Some nights you are tired or sick or just not in the mood. In those moments, you have to take a breath and say to yourself, “I’m doing the best I can with what I got.” It might not be as good as it was yesterday. It might not be as good as it will be tomorrow, but it’s the best you’ve got today. Until the robots take over our jobs, that’s all anyone can ask for.

5. Sometimes you are the problem.

The bartender sets the vibe for the whole bar. We are the host of the party. I know I said before that customers can be assholes, but sometimes we are the bigger assholes. On those nights, when it feels like every patron is giving you a hard time, you have to take a hard look at your own energy. When we are stressed or annoyed, we give off negative vibes. Guests often, unintentionally, absorb that energy and reflect it back to us. It is vital to take a beat and try to let it go.

6. Sometimes you are the solution.

Conversely, we have the power to make a person’s day better. Sometimes, focusing on the customer experience, taking the time to really chat with a new guest or crafting a special cocktail for a regular, can both improve our mood and make someone else happy. Nothing gets you out of your own head better than being generous to another person.

7. This too shall pass.

Every night at the bar is a reminder that you can get through anything. No matter how busy or how boring, you always make it to the end of your shift. In those moments, when you are drowning in drink orders, it’s helpful to remind yourself that it won’t last forever. Last call is always on the horizon.

More like this: 10 commandments for being a bartender

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This map shows the beginning of every European country’s national anthem

Ever wanted to really impress your friends during the Olympics? Knowing the words to foreign national anthems should do the trick. Posted by Reddit user AJgloe, this map is a great start to learning them all; it gives the first line of every European country’s national anthem, translated into English.

Photo: Reddit

A national anthem might not tell you everything there is to know about a country, but it’s definitely a great way to learn how that country sees itself. Anthems are often vehicles for national pride, but they can also reveal a lot about a country’s history.

Some are relatively straightforward and will come as no surprise, like Great Britain’s “God save our gracious Queen!” or Germany’s “Unity and justice and freedom for the German fatherland!”. Others are heavier with hints of historic struggles. “Neither Ukraine’s glory nor freedom has died yet,” goes the Ukrainian anthem, adopted in 2003 following its independence from the Soviet Union. Similarly, the Romanian national anthem (“Wake up, Romanian, from the sleep of death”) has been historically sung after all major conflicts and officially replaced the communist-era national anthem after the 1989 Revolution.

Try having someone else read you the lyrics, while you guess which country they belong to. It’s probably harder than you think — especially with Spain, one of the only anthems in the world with no lyrics!

More like this: How to go to the Olympics for free

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Alaska Airlines is the first US airline to ban plastic straws on flights

If you’ve ever wondered how many plastic straws are used on flights each year…well, it’s a lot. In 2017 Alaska Airlines gave out 22 million plastic straws, swizzle sticks and citrus picks, both of which are too lightweight to recycle, and usually end up in landfills, oceans, and other waterways. Luckily, that’s all about to change — at least on this airline. Starting on June 16, Alaska Airlines will become the first US airline to ban all plastic straws and citrus picks in lounges and on flights, replacing them with white birch stir sticks and non-plastic, marine-safe straws. They will also replace most of their 32-46 ounce juice boxes this summer with easily-recyclable aluminum cans.

This isn’t the first time Alaska Airlines has led the eco-friendly charge in the airline industry. Last year, Alaska replaced its in-flight beer bottles with recyclable aluminum cans and made more efficient use of plastic cups by refilling them, rather than swapping them out for new ones during beverage service. 12,000 tons of recyclable materials were collected by Alaska’s flight attendants over the past eight years. That’s a lot of beers being consumed at 33,000 feet.

While Alaska Airlines might be on the forefront of the eco-conscious movement in the US, it’s not the only airline in the world trying to make a difference. Both Fiji and Thai Airways plan to reduce single-use plastic on their flights, and budget airline Ryanair has promised to be plastic-free by 2023. In other spheres of travel, London City Airport was the first airport to ban plastic straws, Royal Caribbean has pledged to go plastic-free on its cruises, and Vanuatu, a small island nation in the Pacific, is making a big splash by being the first country in the world to outlaw plastic straws.

Don’t be surprised if you notice more and more airlines adopting eco-friendly trends, especially when you settle in for those in-flight cocktails.

H/T: Conde Nast Traveler

More like this: 5 easy ways to go plastic-free while traveling

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This company will pay you to take a cross-country road trip in an RV this fall

If you’re not DIY-savvy enough to turn a beat-up Volkswagen into the ultimate #VanLife adventure mobile, you can still make your cross-country road trip dreams come true the old-fashioned way: in an RV. Roadtrip Nation is taking applications for people who want to travel across the United States in their bright green RV, all expenses paid.

Those selected will plan a trip around their specific interests and goals and will learn first-hand from those who have forged their dream lifestyles in unexpected places. The winners will collaborate with Roadtrip Nation to research and book interviews along the way with people who are “leading the charge into work’s new, changing landscape, and…building their lives and careers they love.”

The trip will be filmed and the footage may appear on public TV and other video platforms, so make sure you’re not camera shy. But don’t worry if you’re not an actor. Roadtrip Nation wants real people, with a real desire to learn more about themselves while having an unforgettable experience along the way.

The ideal candidate for this epic road trip thirsts for self-discovery as much as physical exploration. They’re specifically interested in people who have no degree beyond high school but are enthusiastic about pursuing unconventional career avenues through apprenticeships, trade schools, online education and on-the-job training. You must also be 18 years old, and able to commit to three weeks of travel in September/October 2018.

So if you’re unsure about your next career move or are searching for your true passion, and are in need of some serious inspiration, be sure to apply by June 1.


More like this: Mapped: the optimal road trip across Europe

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