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Europe’s Top Tourist Attractions Make the List of Pickpocketing Hotspots for 2024

On a metro in Barcelona, a woman lost her footing as the train jolted and knocked into my shoulder, which propelled me off balance into the arms of the gentleman on my left. As I apologized, they took my phone from my front pocket.

After decades of traveling, you’d think I’d know better than to have valuables so easily accessible, but perhaps due to my experience, complacency had crept in. Most of us are aware of the scams. This metro bump is a classic, as is the asking-for-directions distraction grab and the train door bottleneck group robbery. These incidents happen in seconds. You often won’t realize anything has happened until you notice your wallet has gone when you go to pay for something later.

Although pickpocketing is anything but glamorous, it is a profession. Pickpockets are skilled in misdirection and utilize dexterity, often working in teams to target demographics perceived as easier targets, like crowded areas or tourists.

Having street smarts will go a long way to protect your valuables, but there are certain places in Europe where you need to be more careful than others. Recent data from Quotezone’s European Pickpocketing Index sheds light on the most likely places to encounter these light-fingered thieves and offers valuable tips to safeguard your belongings.

The index drew conclusions from reviews of the top five tourist attractions in each European country left by visitors on TripAdvisor. And while this does not paint a complete picture, it does indicate what types of experiences (both good and bad) people are having on the ground.

Topping the index is Italy, with its renowned tourist attractions like the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain in Rome and the Gallerie Degli Uffizi in Florence, seeing the highest number of pickpocketing mentions in online reviews.

France comes in second, with pickpocketing incidents frequently reported in Paris around the Eiffel Tower and other popular spots such as Arc de Triomphe, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, and the Louvre Museum.

Spain takes third place, perhaps not surprisingly, with Las Ramblas in Barcelona being the pickpocket hotspot.

Traveling to Europe? Check out Matador’s European accommodations guides: With Views of Edinburgh Castle, These Are the Best Central Airbnbs in Edinburgh The Finest Airbnbs Near the Trevi Fountain With Incredible Views of Rome 11 Rome Airbnbs With a Gorgeous View of the Colosseum
This Paris Airbnb Has the Most Perfect View of the Eiffel Tower The Most Fabulous Rome Airbnbs Minutes From St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican City These Dreamy Amalfi Coast Airbnbs Are the Perfect Seaside Escape

Here are the top ten places in Europe with the highest reports of pickpocketing according to reviews on Trip Advisor.

Italy — Colosseum, Duomo di Milano, Gallerie Degli Uffizi, Trevi Fountain, PantheonFrance — Musée d’Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, Louvre MuseumSpain — Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, Plaza Mayor, Madrid,The Alhambra, Prado National Museum, Las RamblasGermany — Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag Building, Marienplatz, East Side Gallery, The Holocaust MemorialNetherlands — Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, Red Light District, Rijksmuseum,Portugal — Castelo de S. Jorge, Oceanário de Lisboa, Ponte de Dom Luís I, Alfama, Mosteiro dos JeronimosTurkey — Hagia Sophia Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet District, Blue MosqueGreece — Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, Little Venice Mykonos, Medieval City, Rhodes town, ParthenonPoland — Krakow’s Rynek Glowny Central Square, Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau, Old Town Warsaw, Łazienki Królewskie w Warszawie, Rynek of WroclawRepublic of Ireland — Guinness Storehouse, The Book of Kells and the Old Library Exhibition, Killarney National Park, Irish Whiskey Museum, Temple Bar

Top tips for avoiding pickpockets

As stated, pickpockets are often professionals, but there are some basic things you can do to keep you and your possessions safe.

Conceal your valuables: Wear money belts or crossbody bags that are difficult to snatch. Never wear a single-strap bag over your shoulder and avoid putting valuables in easily accessible pockets.Stay alert: Be mindful of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas. Don’t get distracted by performances or street vendors, which are common pickpocketing tactics.Travel light: Carry only what you need for the day. Leave unnecessary valuables in your hotel safe.Beware of bump-and-grab: Pickpockets often work in teams, creating distractions while another member steals belongings. Be wary of sudden bumps or jostles.Photocopy important documents: Keep photocopies of passports and IDs separately.Invest in anti-theft gear: Consider traveling with slash-proof bags or wallets with hidden compartments. More like thisTravelThe Mona Lisa May Finally Be Easy to See in Person After Proposed Louvre Renovation

The Mona Lisa May Finally Be Easy to See in Person After Proposed Louvre Renovation

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the Mona Lisa is the world’s most well-known painting. It’s one of the few artworks that most people can name and locate without hesitation. Because of its iconic status, Leonardo Da Vinci’s most famous work has been given a special spot within the Louvre: the Salle des États, the museum’s largest room. The 16th-century painting, which has been in the museum since 1797 and only left it once when it was briefly stolen in 1911, has been displayed in the exact same place since 1966, but the museum thinks it’s time to move it, preferably in the basement.

While displaying the Mona Lisa, whose actual name is Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo, in the largest room seems like the best way to accommodate the huge crowds that come to admire it every day, it only works in theory. Because the room is massive, the painting quite small (1.75 feet in width and 2.6 feet in height), and because the artwork is protected by a temperature and humidity-controlled glass case, it appears to lack the grandeur of its reputation. Also, the Salle des États (room 711 on level one), while able to accommodate hordes of visitors, gets packed and chaotic very quickly, and few people actually manage to spend time looking at the painting up close for more than a few seconds.

Photo: Andrea Izzotti/Shutterstock

The idea of moving the Mona Lisa isn’t new. It was already brought up in 2019 when the museum tried to remedy the very same issues. Instead of a move, however, all that was done was changing the color of the walls in the Salle des États, improving the lighting, and ameliorating the flow of visitors. Unsurprisingly, despite those efforts, the situation remains the same. So much so that in February 2024, a study of online reviews conducted by CouponBirds revealed that the painting is the “world’s most disappointing masterpiece,” with 37.1 percent of the reviews analyzed being negative.

Laurence des Cars, director of the museum explains, “visitors have a poor experience in this room and we get the feeling that we’re not doing our job properly.” She believes that moving the Mona Lisa in a dedicated room could remedy the disappointment experienced by so many of the museum’s visitors, of which there are around 8 million every year.

While even the experts recommend that visitors to the Louvre don’t pass their chance to see the Mona Lisa, the museum is acutely aware that things need to change drastically for the painting to be displayed in a much more favorable way and for visitors to enjoy their time looking at it. Their solution is to create a room entirely dedicated to the painting. The construction of such a room, which would be in the museum’s underground area, is no small endeavour, however: it would require building a new museum entrance and would cost a whopping $534 million (500 million euros).

Considering the costs and the work required, the move won’t happen overnight, but in the meantime, you can plan your visit to the Louvre when the museum is considerably less busy: First thing in the morning, if you make a beeline for the painting, and during the night visits on Fridays after 7 PM. No matter what option you choose, purchase your ticket online in advance to same the time and hassle of waiting in line.

More like thisMuseumsHow to Crush the Louvre in One Day

2024 Is the Best Year in a Decade to Visit Iceland. Here’s Why.

Travel to Iceland skyrocketed in 2014 due to a massive push from homegrown airline Icelandair, which promoted its stopover program as a chance for passengers from North America to receive discounts and accommodations on the island en route to mainland Europe. Since then, the island has averaged more than 1 million visitors annually peaking at nearly 2.5 million visitors in 2018. Cries of over-tourism have grown louder as visitor numbers have rebounded following Covid, but 2024 could be the year to visit Iceland for those seeking a more intimate experience.

That’s thanks to two factors. First, tourist numbers have yet to reach the 2018 peak and some estimates suggest a decline in overall visitation in 2024, allowing for a quieter-than-normal Iceland. Second, boutique tour operators including Hidden Iceland have ramped up small-group tour offerings across the island, taking travelers further from Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon to more rugged and non-descript areas. Here’s what else makes 2024 the best year to visit Iceland since the explosion of the stopover program.

New accommodations and tours make the Icelandic highlands more accessible year-round

Photo: Timofey Furyaev/Shutterstock

Ryan Connolly founded Hidden Iceland in 2017, drawn by the opportunity to showcase less-visited aspects of the island to those willing to firmly embrace the “adventure travel” mantra. His goal was to fight back against the massive cruise ships and large package tours overruning popular spots like the Blue Lagoon and the nation’s capital city, Reykjavik, by offering custom, privately guided tours built around specific activities like hiking, bouldering, and wildlife spotting. The company aimed to embrace sustainable travel, hoping to stimulate local economies beyond the southwestern region while promoting conservation of the places its tours visited.

“In the past, when we took guests on hiker-friendly trips, we would venture in and out of the highland areas on day trips, such as to the popular Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk hiking trails, but still had to skirt along the coast in between, where the best hotels and other must see locations were,” says Ryan Connolly, co-founder of tour operator Visit Iceland.

This has changed for 2024, with better road access and the newly opened Highland Base hotel in Kerlingarfjöll. Guests traveling with Hidden Iceland, or on their own, now have an adventure-ready hotel in the heart of the Highlands to base outdoor excursions. Hidden Iceland will run a tour in the summer of 2024 that includes hikes along multi-colored mountains in Kerlingarfjöll, bathing in natural hot springs in nearby valleys, hiking on pristine alpine glaciers in the Vatnajökull National Park, trekking through deep valleys in Þórsmörk and traveling over fast flowing rivers into the hills surrounding Landmannalaugar.

The ‘solar maximum’ means increased solar radiation and therefore, better Northern Lights

Photo: Guitar photographer/Shutterstock

The Northern Lights are most frequently seen mid-August through mid-April in Iceland. However, anytime outside summer (when the sun never sets) it may be possible to see them. The most active phase of the current solar cycle, Solar Cycle 25, takes place between January and October 2024 because of changes in the sun’s magnetic field that cause increased solar activity, including more sunspots and solar flares. That means more opportunities to see the Northern Lights. Connolly notes that early September through late March offers the greatest chance of seeing the Northern Lights at their best.

“When picking dates for the Northern Lights, it really boils down to what else you want to achieve during your time in Iceland,” Connolly says. “For example, September and early October can still be relatively warm – compared to winter – with great hiking opportunities. By mid-October, the blue ice cave season begins. Over the festive season, the Christmas markets and world-class fireworks displays make it a wonderful multi-generational period to travel. January, February and March are the coldest months, with a much higher chance of getting that winter wonderland feeling.”

To coincide with this year’s Solar Maximum, Hidden Iceland will offer its Must See Winter package built around giving guests the best Northern Lights viewing opportunities.

Recent volcanic activity in Iceland, while ongoing, has stabilized

Photo: ImageBank4u/Shutterstock

Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula has seen a dramatic increase in volcanic activity in recent years. Compared to the historical average of one eruption every four years across the entire country, the peninsula has experienced a staggering six small, effusive eruptions in just the past three years.

However, there are some reassuring aspects. These eruptions have been localized within the peninsula, far from major infrastructure and populated areas. Additionally, they have been effusive, meaning they primarily produce lava flows with minimal ash, posing no threat to air travel.

The current eruption has been flowing from the same point since March 16th, 2024, leading locals to speculate that there will be a chance to hike there safely in the future. However, at the time of writing, the roads near the eruption site are closed and the infrastructure needed to create a safe environment for tourists has yet to be developed. Until then, Hidden Iceland is offering their guests add-on helicopter rides to hover over the top of the eruption site as part of their most popular multi-day tours.

“This is best and safest way to see the eruption on a clear day,” Connolly says. “If you are traveling on a budget, it is still possible to see the red glow on clear night from the tops of some of the higher buildings in Reykjavík too, though no direct view at the moment.”

Currently, helicopter tours are the only way to safely observe the volcanic activity in the Reykjanes Peninsula. No special gear is required for this option. However, if the area becomes accessible on foot in the future, proper gear will be crucial. Standard hiking boots and waterproof clothing are essential, but the most important aspect would be going with a local guide. This ensures access to gas monitoring equipment and gas masks, which are vital due to the potential presence of harmful gases near the eruption site.

More like thisInsider GuidesThe Best Time to Visit Iceland for Every Type of Traveler

The Highest-Rated Luggage Brands, and the Ones to Avoid

There are so many different brands of luggage out there that it’s become very difficult to pick one that will work for you and your travel style without diving into a rabbit hole of online reviews. Just about every type of luggage you can imagine is available, from carry-on to check-in to weekender to duffels, in a assortment of material, from aluminum to recycled polycarbonate to leather, in a huge variety of colors, and an even bigger variety of price points. Bounce, an app that helps travelers find safe places where to drop off their luggage wherever they are in the world, has conducted a study to determine which of the big luggage brands are the best and which are the worst.

Bounce’s Luggage Brand Index 2024 rates the best and worst luggage brands according to a variety of criteria, including: the brand’s number of Instagram followers, the number of Instagram posts where the brand is tagged, Trustpilot reviews, the volume of people searching for the brand’s carry-on and suitcases online, and finally, the price. Compiling all these elements, Bounce gave each brand a score out of 10 and then ranked the best and worst luggage brands according to their scores.

Graphic: Bounce

Unsurprisingly, Rimowa, leader in the realm of aluminum luggage since 1937, tops the list. The German brand is associated with (somewhat) affordable luxury and extremely high quality. Away, also well-known for its aluminum cases but more affordable and targeting a younger and more casual type of traveler, comes third. Louis Vuitton, with its outrageous price tags and classic pattern comes fifth. Two much more affordable brands take the second and fourth places: Samsomite, a high-quality American brand that dates back to 1910, and American Tourister, a brand that offers a variety of bright and colorful luggage and is owned by Samsomite.

Graphic: Bounce

At the bottom of the ranking are five luggage brands, many of which are lesser known and have an aesthetic that is less Instagrammable, two elements which have likely contributed to their low scores. Luggage brands Carl Friedrik and Horizn Studios have scored high when it comes to Trustpilot reviews but don’t have the Instagram numbers of established brands like Rimowa and Louis Vuitton and therefore can’t compete.

Needless to say that looking at social media popularity and search volumes are far from perfect ways to judge a luggage brand. The writers and editors at Matador Network frequently test luggage on the ground and review them according to elements that have very little to do with how fashionable they might be; instead they judge their practicability, their durability, their price, their sustainability, etc. That’s what they did for the following luggage brands, for which you can read the thorough reviews and therefore make a better-informed decision:

Away: “Away’s Carry-On Luggage Is the Best Roller Case For Your Money“July: “How This Hardshell Roller Got Me to Switch From My Carry-On Backpack Lifestyle”Monos: “This Luggage Has the World’s Best Features“Paravel: “This Carbon Neutral Roller Bag Makes Packing for Two a Breeze“Tortuga: “Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L Is the Best Travel Backpack for Your Money“Sterling Pacific: “This luxury suitcase is made from airplane grade aluminum“Patagonia: “Even Patagonia’s Smallest Black Hole Duffel Is Fit for a Two-Week Trip“Cotopaxi: “We Put Cotopaxi’s Top-Rated Travel Packs to the Test“Roam: “This Luggage Company Lets You Customize a Suitcase Unique to You” More like thisTravelThe Best Large Hardshell Luggage Options for Your Active Travel Lifestyle

A Proposed FAA Amendment Could Drastically Increase TSA Wait Times

Biometric screening at airports, which allows programs like TSA PreCheck to operate to make airport security checkpoints more efficient, is under threat. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) have introduced an FAA amendment that, according to the U.S. Travel Association, would ban the collection of biometric data at airports, effectively rendering obsolete currently-in-place programs travelers use to move through security more quickly.

TSA PreCheck streamlines airport security by separating pre-vetted, low-risk passengers into dedicated lanes. This allows them to bypass certain procedures that standard security requires, like removing shoes, belts, and light jackets. Additionally, laptops and 3-1-1 liquids can stay in carry-on bags. This significantly reduces screening time, leading to shorter lines for both PreCheck passengers and those in the regular lanes. By expediting the flow of low-risk individuals, TSA PreCheck alleviates congestion and makes the overall security process more efficient for everyone involved.

Eliminating TSA PreCheck would likely cause significant disruptions at airport security checkpoints. Security lines would become significantly longer as everyone, regardless of risk level, undergoes the same thorough screening process (no more keeping those shoes on). This would lead to increased passenger frustration, missed flights, and potentially, higher security costs due to the need for more personnel. Additionally, the lack of PreCheck lanes would force all passengers to not only remove shoes, but also belts and liquids, further slowing down the process.

The U.S. Travel Association has launched a letter-writing campaign to senators in hopes of preventing the proposed amendment from taking effect. You can join the campaign by adding your name to the pre-written letter and sending it through the association’s website. The letter will be sent to your representatives in the US Senate urging them to reject the proposal.

More like thisTechnology + GearWhen Global Entry and TSA PreCheck Are Worth It, and Which to Choose

You Can Travel by Upside-Down Train in Germany

Train travel has everything going for it: it’s convenient, it’s sustainable, it’s fun. Upside-down train travel is much the same, but it kicks up the fun factor up a notch by virtue of being above ground. Upside-down trains, also known as dangling train, but more seriously referred to as suspended monorails, are similar to the monorails you can ride in Seattle and Las Vegas, but instead of having wheels and tracks on the bottom of the carriages, they are on the top. What makes suspended monorails even more special is their rarity: There are fewer than 10 working suspended monorail systems remaining, four of which are in Germany. The one in the city of Wuppertal in western Germany is the oldest of them all, having been in operation since 1901.

Wuppertal’s suspended monorail is not a long-distance train, instead it works like a city tram or a metro line, traveling a distance of eight miles through the city and covering 20 stations along the way. While the suspended monorail is an attraction that brings a lot of tourists to Wuppertal, it is very much used by the locals as a genuine mode of transport. Around 80,000 people use it daily.

@itswandertime Riding the upside down train (Schwebebahn) in Germany ..#wuppertal #elberfeld #germany #germanytourism #september2022 #trainride #deutschland #europe #travel #adventure #igtravel #exploredreamdiscover #wanderlust #traveltheworld #travelgram #travels #instatravel #ilovetravel #travellife #seetheworld #travelers #traveladdict #traveling #itchyfeet #travelling #instatraveling #tourtheplanet #wonderful_places #travellerau #travelmemories ♬ original sound – It's Wander Time

Riding Wuppertal’s suspended monorail is easy, cheap, and much more scenic than you might imagine a city train to be. There’s a train every three to six minutes, and it’ll only cost you $8.90 for a ticket valid 24 hours, or $16.90 for a 48-hour ticket. It takes 30 minutes to cover the eight miles of track, of which six miles are located above the river, making for lovely scenery for the riders. Wuppertal’s suspended monorail zips above the city at heights of between 26 and 39 foot above ground.

The official website of Wuppertal’s suspended monorail provides visitors with an interactive map of all the stops on the train’s route with all the best attractions at each stop listed.

If you make your way to Wuppertal by way of the nearby Düsseldorf airport, you’ll likely be able to ride two suspended monorails in one day. The driverless SkyTrain runs the 1.5-mile route between Düsseldorf Airport railway station and Terminal C since 2002. Riding will allow you to compare and contrast two suspended monorails built one century apart.

What It’s Like Staying Inside a Boeing 727 Converted to an Airbnb

Aviation enthusiasts and anyone seeking an Airbnb experience to remember should bookmark this converted Boeing 727 airliner in Brislington, Bristol, UK. While it won’t take you to exciting destinations, the Airbnb offers you the chance to stay overnight in a luxurious private jet setting and even have a look in the cockpit.

We hope you love the Boeing Airbnb we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Photo: Airbnb

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Named “PYTCHAir,” the tri-jet airliner served as a passenger aircraft for Japan Airlines in 1968 before it was converted into a VIP private aircraft sometime in the 70s. The list of passengers and owners is somewhat hush-hush, but rumor has it the plane has flown royalty and has been used in military operations. It took its final flight in 2012 to Filton Airfield in Bristol.

Johnny Palmer, founder of PYTCH, a live event production company in the UK, came across the disused aircraft in 2018 and saw potential.

“It was apparent that with a little vision, this aircraft could be a useful addition to PYTCH HQ and become an amazing space for creativity, inspiration, communication, fine dining, and fun,” the company’s site says.

The Boeing has been extensively converted into a luxurious living space you can rent on Airbnb.

Photo: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: Airbnb

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The interior has a distinct 1980s private jet aesthetic, featuring walnut paneling, gold accents, and even crystal chandeliers. Accommodation-wise, PYTCHAir offers a surprising amount of space. There are two separate lounge areas, a king-sized bed, and two singles, catering to a maximum of four guests. If you’re staying in summer, you can relax on the large decked area and enjoy a hot tub and outdoor shower, which is mounted underneath the fuselage. And while you won’t be taking off anytime soon, you can even explore the fully-fitted cockpit.

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Photo: Airbnb

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The host states that there are few restaurants within walking distance of the aircraft, but you can order takeout. Just imagine what you’d put in the delivery notes section of Uber Eats.

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How Top Hotels Stop Bed Bugs Before They’re a Problem

Bed bugs are a hotel’s worst nightmare. The small critters tend to live in a variety of places, but particularly enjoy setting camp in mattresses and box springs, and in cracks on bed frames and headboards. Because bed bugs are active at night, hotel housekeeping staff, who work during daylight hours and have a limited amount of time to spend in each room, don’t always notice them. It is hotel guests who are more prone to finding out about their presence, whether by noticing them crawling around when they go to bed or by getting bitten while sleeping. Unsurprisingly, hotels would rather guests never be faced with bed bugs, and certainly don’t want to rely on them for detection. Spotta’s Bed Pod, a bed bug detection device, helps monitor hotel beds 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing for early detection and preventing widespread infestation. Spotta is 94 percent effective at detecting bed bugs before guests or staff.

Spotta, created in 2018 and first implemented in hotels in 2020, received a lot of interest in the fall of 2023 when Paris was dealing with what looked like an infestation of epic proportion. The Paris bed bug scourge sparked fear throughout Europe, turning Spotta into a beacon of hope for hoteliers. At the time of writing, Spotta’s Bed Pods are present in three million guest rooms across 15 different countries, including in the biggest hotel brands in the world, such as Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Accor, Mercure, M&L Hospitality, and more, Robert Fryers, Founder and CEO of Spotta, explains in a phone conversation.

How does Spotta work?

Spotta’s Bed Pod is a small plastic device the size of a pack of cards and less than one-inch thick that consists of two parts: a battery-operated cartridge that emits pheromones and a trap designed so perfectly that bed bugs can’t resist it. The device, of which only one is needed per bed, is placed in bed bugs’ favorite place: between the bed frame and the mattress along the headboard. The size and the location of the device allows it to be discreet and not create a bump that may alarm or bother hotel guests. Fryers says that he never received any complaints from hotels that guests find the device troublesome.

Photo: Spotta

Once placed between the bed frame and the mattress, Spotta’s Bed Pod, which comes with its own wireless network, monitors the presence of bed bugs around the clock. If one bed bug enters the trap, it is photographed, and an email alert is sent to the hotel management immediately with the time and location of the detection, allowing them to act at once and take measures to remediate the blood-thirsty insects, whether with insecticide, steam, or other methods. Because each female bed bug can lay one to three eggs per day (200-500 eggs in her lifetime), early detection and rapid intervention are key to prevent widespread contaminations. Once a bed bug has been trapped in a Bed Pod, the device is replaced with a new, clean one to continue monitoring.

Photo: Spotta

While a Bed Pod can potentially attract other types of critters, the photographs taken by the device is quickly examined by Spotta’s algorithms to ensure that it is indeed a bed bug inside the trap, avoiding spreading panic for a simple and harmless insect. Note that the device only photographs what is located inside the trap and does not breach guests’ privacy.

Spotta’s Bed Pods have no expiry date. While the batteries on the device need replacing every six month, the device can remain in place for ever.

While some hotels are very upfront about their use of Spotta, going as far as using stickers to inform guests about the presence of a Bed Pod in a room, others prefer to keep things quiet. The mere mention of bed bugs, even in preventive measures like Spotta’s Bed Pod, can potentially scare guests away. If you find a Bed Pod in your hotel room, there’s no need to worry; it only means that the hotel you’re staying at is doing their best to prevent an infestation, which can happen anywhere, in five-star establishments and roadside motels alike.

The future of Spotta

While Bed Pods are currently only used in hotels and establishments such as care homes, Fryers explains that it will likely become available in Airbnbs and other types of accommodations in the future. Not only that but early detection devices for other types of pests, namely cockroaches, are in the works.

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The Best Sun Protection Shirts Our Editors Tested for Summer Adventures

Warmer days are upon us, and that means spring and summer outdoor adventures are in full swing. It’s hard to stay inside on a sunny day, with warm and dry weather typically offering the best conditions for activities like hiking, biking, and even water sports. The flip side to perfect weather, however, is that you’re increasing your exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays. In order to best protect yourself, it’s important to dress appropriately – and for many outdoor activities, that means wearing a sun shirt. This is particularly true if you’re heading to the beach, as scientists have found that a chemical found in many sunscreens (oxybenzone) is converted by coral into a substance that actually harms them. If you want to protect the ocean, you’ll need to buy reef-safe sunscreen only.

Matador tested a variety of sun shirts for both land-based and water-based activities and narrowed down the best for outdoor recreation this season.

The best sun protection shirts for hiking and general travelThe best sun protection shirts for fishing, paddleboarding, and other on-water activitiesThe best women’s sun protective shirtThe best sun protection shirts for mountain bikingThe best sun protection shirts for mosquitos

We hope you love the sun shirts we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to buy an item. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

What is a sun protection shirt, and why do I need one?

Photo: Sanchik/Shutterstock

The purpose of a sun shirt is to protect your skin from UV rays. A sun shirt’s effectiveness is measured through its UPF, or ultraviolet protection factor. Similar to sunscreen, this rating notes what percentage of UVB rays the shirt blocks. But the UPF factor isn’t the percentage; for example, a UPF30 rating means the shirt (or sunblock) can stop about 97 percent of UVB rays. From there, you can compare the rating to the expected weather during your activity, along with the location where it will take place, and make an educated decision about which sun shirt is the most appropriate. UVA rays can also damage your skin, and many shirts (and sunscreens) protect against both.

Excessive exposure to the sun’s rays can cause premature skin aging, visible through sun spots, wrinkles, and other deformities. According to the National Library of Medicine, fair-skinned people can experience sun damage after as little as five minutes of exposure to bright sunlight. Darker-skinned people have a longer “safe zone;” however everyone can experience sun damage. It’s important to remember that when the sun is higher in the sky – from around noon to late afternoon in most US locations during the summer – the exposure to UV rays is higher, and the possibility for damage or burning is amplified.

The best sun protection shirt for hiking and general travel – Outerknown Hooded Sun Shirt

Photo courtesy Outerknown

A lifetime spent in the sun is a lifetime well spent. Truer words have not been spoken, but there’s a caveat – a lifetime in the sun wreaks havoc on one’s skin. Especially when that lifetime is spent at altitude. I’ve spent my life in the mountains of Colorado and around the world, and last November I turned 40. It’s no coincidence that I began noticing sun damage on both my arms last summer. My clothing mantra for the summer of 2024 is “bare no arm, further no harm.”

To enact this pledge, I turned to Outerknown, the clothing brand started by living surf legend Kelly Slater. I’ve bought a few of the brand’s t-shirts in the past, lured in by Kelly’s name and the company’s eco-friendly practices of using organic cotton, recycled polyester, and other planet-friendly materials wherever possible. I ordered the Outerknown Hooded Sun Shirt intending to wear it each time I hike, bike, or otherwise expose myself to high-altitude rays for extended periods. Its UPF50+ rating is best-in-class for such a sustainably-made sun shirt.

The Hooded Sun Shirt is soft and comfortable. In the past I’ve frequently worn thin t-shirts underneath a sun shirt for added comfort, but that’s not necessary with this shirt. The recycled polyester is smooth on the skin and not itchy at all. It’s thin but not barren. I first took wore it on a spring morning hike when the temperature was about 40 degrees at the trailhead. I started with a light jacket and by the time the temperature rose above 50 degrees and I’d warmed up enough that any shivers were gone, I put the jacket in my pack and was perfectly comfortable.

On days when the temperature is above 60 degrees, this sun hoodie all you need. The hood is excellent not only at keeping sun off your neck but for acting as a wind buffer, something I’ve found particularly useful at altitudes above 7,000 feet. This is also great for travel days when I know I’ll be walking a lot through a city center.

Two things separate the Outerknown Hooded Sun Shirt from others I’ve owned. The first is that it’s submersible. I got caught in the rain on a bike ride and was surprised at how well the shirt handled the water. This likely seems obvious to those who live closer to a beach, particularly given Slater’s profession, and one could certainly take this into the water on a surf or stand-up paddleboard.

Second, the Outerknown Hooded Sun Shirt is hyper-good-looking. To the point where it’s actually a complement to an outdoors person’s style, rather than being something you regretfully pull over your outfit because you know you should. I opted for the Off Duty Drab color scheme, and the dark green facade matches most any color hat and the beige, tan, or dark-colored shorts I frequently wear in the summer. Lest you think I’m merely being shallow, the ease of styling this shirt with my outfit at large means that I more frequently wear it out the door in the morning to hit the coworking space and don’t feel the need to take it off before hopping on a Zoom call. That’s a lot of added value in a $98 shirt.

Outerknown Hooded Sun Shirt specsDown to the technical nitty-gritty of the Outderknown Hooded Sun Shirt:It features boardshort connector eyelets that hook to shorts to keep the shirt pulled down when paddling, swimming, or otherwise being active.There’s a thumbhole on both arms and a bungee key holder.Its 100 percent recycled polyester build means that the shirt keeps plastic out of the landfill for at least one more lifecycle. The shirt is moisture-wicking and odor-preventing, so it’s fine to keep on for a post-adventure brewery session.

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The best sun protective fishing shirt (or any on-water-activity shirt)Photo: REIPhoto: REI

It’s easy to take solace on the water knowing that you can jump in to cool off. But remember that sunlight reflects – and it reflects off the water quite strongly. In fact, reflected rays are actually more harmful.

In addition to lathering yourself in reef-safe sunscreen, you’ll want to wear a sun protection shirt, and maybe even long pants if you’re spending more than a few hours on the water. Matador’s commerce editor lived in his NRS Variable sun shirt during a recent four-day trip down the lower Salmon River and came away from it no more sunburned or fatigued than when he first hopped on the raft.

NRS is a brand built for the river. The hood and neck gaiter protect your neck and head from burns — especially useful if, as our commerce editor notes, hair loss has begun to creep up on you. But the neck gaiter, in particular, is what makes this the best sun shirt if you’re on the water. When rafting or paddleboarding, you tend to spend extended periods of time facing the same direction, so reflected sunlight can toast the back of your neck. This sun protection shirt is also made with fast-drying fabrics in case you do opt to take a plunge. And the poly-spandex blend is made from 100 percent recycled materials.

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The best women’s sun protective shirtsPhoto: Free FlyPhoto: Free Fly

Suzie, Matador’s outdoor editor, absolutely loves Free Fly Apparel, having accumulated quite a lot of the brand’s women’s sun protection clothing in recent years — shorts, joggers, and even a few sunshirts. The brand’s sun shirts are clean with minimal design, so they don’t look super outdoorsy when grabbing a beer with friends after a day hike. Though their items cost slightly more than, gear from brands like Columbia, they dry exceptionally fast. And perhaps equally importantly, they dry without any mildewy or worn smell.

If you’re thinking about buying a women’s sun protection shirt, Suzie recommends the UPF ultra-light hoodie, made for summer. “I’m quite pale, and since most fabrics don’t offer much sun protection, I love having a UPF 50 shirt to toss on when the sun is bearing down,” she says. “I was recently on a boat where I wore my FreeFly shirt most of the time, taking it off for photos for about 15 minutes. And what happened? My shoulder in the sun got fried, but everything that was covered with the shirt isn’t even tanned.” She also likes the straight-but-not-fitted cut, and the fact that they’re made with a renewable, zero-chemical material: bamboo.

Suzie notes that she recently wore one of her FreeFly sun protection shirts on a humid, tropical trip where she was whitewater rafting one day and swimming in a waterfall the next, and her shirt was dry and stink-free each morning.

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The best sun protection shirts for mountain bikingPhoto courtesy FlylowPhoto courtesy Flylow

If you watch mountain bikers ripping down the trail and crushing berms for a few minutes, you’ll probably notice that plaid is a popular choice. So if you’re hoping to stick to that tried-and-true mountain look, check out the Flylow Anderson (men’s) and the women’s Flylow Phoenix sun protection shirts. They’re made with breathable, wicking polyester fabrics and both have a UPF 50 rating. So while you’ll still need to lather up the sunscreen on your forearms, you should be able to get in a full day of laps without worrying about sunburned shoulders.

Oh, and the women’s version has a bonus useful feature — a zippered back pocket. It’s a good place to stash a few bucks in case your shuttle route happens to pass a microbrewery or food truck.

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The best sun protection shirt for avoiding mosquitoesPhoto: REIPhoto: REI

No matter what activity you’re doing, being constantly harassed by mosquitos is a sure-fire way to ruin it. If you’re heading to a tropical region, riding along a river, or as in the case of our commerce editor, spending June on Colorado’s lake-dotted Grand Mesa, having a sun shirt that is both sun- and bug-repellant doubles your level of preparedness.

For this task, we recommend turning to REI’s Sahara Shade Hoodie, available in men’s and women’s. Both are versatile and flexible, useable for everything from a day hike to a packrafting trip. The brand’s trademark (and odorless) BugsAway Insect Shield repels mosquitos, ticks, and other small bugs.

Plus, these sun protective shirts are simple enough that they effectively acts as a chameleon in your wardrobe. It’s just as good for wearing on a cold plane as it is in the mountains, and you’ll experience the same bite-free benefits either way. The bug-repellant properties last for up to 70 washes, so you can count on a decent amount of wear from each one.

Buy Now – Women’s

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Want a Photo of Japan’s Most Famous Mountain? Authorities Set to Block the Best View

A town in Japan is taking necessary steps to block the iconic panoramic view of Mount Fuji from a popular photo spot due to a surge in tourist crowds trying to get the perfect shot. This has caused frustration and safety concerns for local residents and businesses in the town of Fujikawaguchiko, prompting authorities to erect a mesh barrier to ensure safety and order.

The Japan Times says officials “regrettably” have been forced to take this measure. The local authorities have reported overcrowding, littering, and tourists ignoring traffic regulations while trying to get an iconic photo. This disruptive behavior on a narrow stretch of pavement caused safety hazards and inconvenienced residents and businesses in the area.

The construction of the mesh barrier will begin early this week and will measure 2.5 meters high and 20 meters long. The net will block the view from the Lawson convenience store, a vantage point that has become popular with tourists looking for a perfect photo of Fuji.

The situation highlights the challenges of balancing tourism with the well-being of local communities. Earlier this year, it was announced that tourists would be banned from Japan’s famous Geisha district, Gion in Kyoto, due to the strain on the area’s residents and the geisha community from visitors.

It’s not only Japan that is feeling the strain from visitors. Recently, Matador reported that photography was banned from the escalators at the metro stop outside Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia due to a popular TikTok trend.

While the allure of a great photo opportunity is understandable, respecting local rules and behaving responsibly is crucial for a positive travel experience for everyone.

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