Matador Network's Blog, page 508
March 3, 2022
This Simple Hotel Trick Infinitely Reduces My Travel Anxiety
This is the Travel Take, where Matador’s writers and editors make the case for their favorite travel hacks, tips, and personal tics.
I’m a big believer in traveling light, but wherever I go, even if all I have is a half-full backpack, I still have valuables with me. In some cases that’s my computer with my entire livelihood stored on it, other times it’s my passport and a watch that’s far too fancy for me.
I always make sure to keep them locked in the hotel security box when I head out. And while doing so, I take the extra step of snapping a quick picture on my phone of what’s inside and the code to the safe.
It’s not that I’m scared of some White Lotus style break in. It’s that my travel plans often take prime real estate in my memory just up until I’m 30 minutes into the first taxi of the day and the anxiety sets in that I forgot where I put my computer. Or worse, that I’ll remember I put my computer in the safe but forget the code.
For the record: I’m fully aware that this is mildly irrational and that I probably should have a full grasp on keeping track of my belongings at this point in life. I’m also fully aware that this doesn’t apply to many people, frequent travelers or not. And maybe my phone is causing my memory to melt entirely.
Still, that doesn’t mean that one possible cause of the problem can’t also be a solution. Studies have shown that our phones can supplant thinking — and that isn’t inherently bad when you consider that it’s supplanting the anxious part of my thinking. The quick photos are a fast, simple, and harmless trick that provide valuable peace of mind when any travel anxiety sets in. Frankly, there is too much going on to remember everything — especially when there’s no steady routine and I’m traveling to multiple hotels in multiple cities, states, and countries for the better part of a month.
This isn’t restricted to valuables in hotels, of course. You can do this with anything that you check, double check, and triple check before heading out, from your stove to your locked doors. Technology has made it easy to never worry about how you left something no matter how long you’re away. The vast majority of the time I don’t even end up looking at the photos until I’m deleting my terrible travel photos — just the knowledge that I have that picture of where my belongings are is usually proof enough for me to fully experience all that’s around me.
Keeping track of my phone that has said photos, however, is a different story.
Researchers Believe They Finally Can Answer Why Stonehenge was Built
If you watched every documentary, listened to every podcast, and read every book about Stonehenge, there’s a good chance that you’d finish more confused about its meaning than when you started. The History Channel’s Ancient Aliens episode will give you a much different set of information than the BBC’s “Stonehenge: The Lost Circle Revealed” after all.
But now researchers claim they’ve found the real reason why Stonehenge was built: It’s a calendar. And while it’s long been understood that the rock formation helped mark the seasons for ceremonial reasons, this new study points to the idea that it actually marked a much more specific timeline.
“The clear solstitial alignment of Stonehenge has prompted people to suggest that the site included some kind of calendar since the antiquarian William Stukeley,” Professor Darvill, from Bournemouth University, said in a statement. “Now, discoveries brought the issue into sharper focus and indicate the site was a calendar based on a tropical solar year of 365.25 days.”
The arrangement let the people of what is now known as England’s county of Wiltshire know what day it is based on a solar calendar year. The new research suggests that the days weren’t all that different from the calendar we know today, either. The ancient residents had a year of 365.25 days with the stones acting as a physical representation of the time passed.
The 30 stones in the circle (called the sarsen circle) each represent a day in a month. Each month had three weeks with 10 days. Like in the modern era, the ancients had a balancing period to account for the fraction of a day every year. Whereas we have leap year with an extra day, the people who used Stonehenge had a short month that was five days long and a leap day every four years. These extra days are called intercalary days, and the new research posits that the center five trilithons (two upright stones with a stone balanced on top) were dedicated to deities.
The remarkable sight of the winter and summer solstices landing on the same pair of stones each year is in part due to the builders recognizing the need for a leap year. The solstices would also serve as a check on the record keeping since it always hit in the same place.
The study notes that this method of calendar keeping could have bee created by the local people without help. It also could have come from travelers from elsewhere (though still from Earth), as civilizations in the eastern Mediterranean and Egypt used a similar date keeping method.
If Stonehenge wasn’t already on your must-visit list, maybe this new understanding will spark interest (just don’t be like that guy who took a piece of Stonehenge as a souvenir for 60 years).
“Finding a solar calendar represented in the architecture of Stonehenge opens up a whole new way of seeing the monument as a place for the living,” Darvill said. “A place where the timing of ceremonies and festivals was connected to the very fabric of the universe and celestial movements in the heavens.”
How Machetes and 100 Mezcal Tastings Led Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston to Create Their Own Brand
The first time Bryan Cranston mentioned working with Aaron Paul again, the pair were sitting in a sushi bar. The two actors, who had become close friends while working together on the set of the now-legendary drama about a chemistry teacher turned meth dealer, contemplated working together on a stage play, but Paul had other ideas: He suggested going into the booze business.
“He almost did a spit take,” Paul told a group of journalists during a virtual tasting of the mezcal they eventually released, Dos Hombres. “He said, ‘The shitty spirit with the worm at the bottom?’ he had a completely different sort of idea of what Mezcal was all about.”
Photo: Courtesy Dos Hombres
Cranston eventually agreed to the plan, under one condition: He insisted that he and Paul travel to Oaxaca and try out the “juice” (the spirit produced from the agave plant) for themselves before committing to producing their own brand of mezcal.
“We’re not about to slap our names on a bottle,” said Cranston. “We have to be passionately involved in the entire operation or else we’re just not interested.”
Immediately, Paul was skeptical. He confessed that in the back of his head he was thinking, “We’re never going to find it.” The two actors have such different palates when it comes to spirits that he figured they would never agree on a mezcal they both loved. And at first, it seemed like Paul’s suspicions would prove correct.
Paul and Cranston estimate they tried 100 different mezcals all over Oaxaca, and while of them were good, they refused to “just settle for anything.” Then, on the last day of their trip, they stopped in a village three hours outside of Oaxaca called San Luis Del Rio, where just 500 people live and there is, according to Cranston, just one landline telephone. This was their last chance. They spent the day sampling mezcal from four different family owned operations, but still couldn’t find one that they loved.
On the way back to their car, they were disappointed but determined to make a return trip to Mexico to keep the search going. It was then that a kid approached the pair and their team, and beckoned them to follow him.
“So we follow this kid and we get to this riverbed. He’s like, ‘We have to, you know, hike through the river.’ This is during the rainy season, and there’s a guy standing on the opposite end of the river, looking at us holding a giant machete,” Paul said. “So we take off our boots, we hike up our pants and we start walking through the river towards the guy with the machete, and he just starts chopping a little trail for us.”
10 minutes later, the group arrived at a “this little operation” they had never seen or heard of before.
“We see these two donkeys pulling giant stone wheels mashing up freshly smoked agave. It was just, it just felt so romantic,” said Paul. “We were just really crossing our fingers and toes and we sit down and we sample it straight. And it’s just one of those ‘Aha’ moments. We looked at each other. We didn’t say anything. We tasted it again. And [we were] like, ‘Holy shit. I think we found it.’”
At first, the pair couldn’t believe their luck. They were even a little skeptical that they actually loved that mezcal as much as they thought they did. After all, this was their last chance to find their dream juice. Were they just convincing themselves that they liked it, to make the trip seem worth it?
“I knew the juice was perfect,” said Paul, “but were we willing to be that way? This was the final day, we stumbled upon this operation by accident, it wasn’t part of the original journey. It was the only operation that wasn’t part of the scheduled tasting.”
In order to confirm that their instincts were correct, they took some samples back to the United States, where they conducted a blind taste test with friends and family. Their mezcal was a hit. They had found what they were looking for—almost entirely by accident. In 2019, Paul and Cranston released Dos Hombres mezcal.
“If that kid didn’t see us, if we just missed that kid, Dos Hombres possibly would not exist,” said Paul.
Paul and Cranston work with mezcalero Gregorio Velasco (who also produces mezcal for Pierde Almas), and six months into their partnership, the pair made him a part owner of Dos Hombres. And they are giving back to the town that gave them the mezcal they are so passionate about in kind: Paul and Cranston paid for a new water filtration system for the town and Cranston is in talks with the governor of Oaxaca to get a rocky switch back road leading into the town paved, and they hope to have a cell tower installed in the future, too.
“We don’t want to overstep by any means. What they’re doing is perfect down there. But we wanted to let them know our hands are constantly raised or whatever they may need,” Paul explained.
San Luis Del Rio deserves the love. The mezcal produced there for Dos Hombres is a pungent to say the least – smoky doesn’t even begin to describe the palpable smoke that hits the throat when you take a sip; it’s more like a slow burning fire. Paul prefers to drink his Dos Hombres chilled, on the rocks – one large cube to be exact (I made a mezcal margarita and added an ice cube as well, which lessened the impact of the spirit, in case you’re like me and not used to the strength of mezcal). Either way, it’s “sacrilegious” to shoot mezcal, according to Cranston.
“You kiss it,” he said. “Just let it touch your lips.”
As for what’s next for Dos Hombres, the pair want to keep pushing their mezcal to reach more glasses and bars. There are no limits on what they think they can do.
“The second year in on the market, we became the number one selling mezcal in BevMo!,” says Paul. “But honestly, honestly we want to be the number one mezcal in the world. Yeah, that’s our goal.”
5 Wildlife Tourism Experiences where Travelers Can Make a Genuine Difference
It’s not hard to find wildlife experiences around the world — but unfortunately, many involve prioritizing human enjoyment over animal welfare. From chances to ride on the backs of trained dolphins to animal “sanctuaries” that force animals to perform for tourists, it seems like most wildlife tourism is hurting, not helping, wildlife.
But that’s not the case with these five wildlife tourism experiences that welcome tourists for one single purpose: to further fund their conservation efforts. In honor of World Wildlife Day, consider booking one of these wildlife tourism trips that actually help wildlife. You won’t find any opportunities for staged photos at the destinations below (a few candids though, probably), but you will find a genuine opportunity to make a difference with your tourism dollars.
The wildlife tourism activities below range from half-day activities that cost only $10 to stays at a private island resort where you’ll fill your days with ocean conservation and wildlife volunteering.
1. Help on a whale research boat in Patagonia
Along with animals like penguins and sea lions, the Strait of Magellan and surrounding waters are home to enormous humpback whales. They can weigh up to 60,000 pounds and be 50 feet long, and guests will learn to listen for the sounds of the blowhole to know if a whale is in the area. Researchers can identify the whales by their tail markings, patterns, and sometimes injuries. Photo: Suzie Dundas
Where: Patagonia (Punta Arena, Chile)Cost: $1,500Number of days: 3Sign up for a trip with WhaleSound, based in Punta Arenas, Chile, and you’ll get a whale-watching experience, sure — but you’ll also get the chance to spend two nights in a geodesic dome at the researchers’ eco-camp on Carlos III Island. You’ll spend long days on board the small research vessel with scientists, where you can focus just on whale watching or help with whale identification and tracking — citizen science at its best. In the evenings, back on land, you’ll have meals with the researchers and camp staff, be treated to lectures and updates on the scientists’ research, and even get to enjoy a classic pisco sour made with ice scooped from the freezing waters of the Santa Ines Glacier.
Guests of WhaleSound spend three days aboard the Tanu, a small but comfortable research vessel that tracks whales throughout the Strait of Magellan. It’s long days on the water, so maybe best avoided if you’re prone to seasickness. Photo: Suzie Dundas
On the second day with WhaleSound, guests will make the trip to the Santa Ines Glacier. Stay for more than a few minutes, and you’ll definitely hear the sounds of ice cracking and breaking as the glacier slowly moves and warps. Assuming the boat crew are good with their net, they’ll likely scoop up a piece of ice broken off from the glacier to make pisco sours later that night at camp. Photo: Suzie Dundas
It’s not just whales you’ll see while on the water with WhaleSound. Patagonia is home to sea otters, sea lions, and five types of penguins: Magellanic, Humboldt, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper and King. Bring your long camera lens. Photo: Suzie Dundas
WhaleSound guests sleep in geodesic domes, and camp staff make a fire in each one at night while guests are dinner. From my dome, I could hear the sounds of whales exhaling through their blow holes in the water at night, and even managed to see a huge humpback whale sleeping in the seaweed just a few yards from the shore. Photo: Suzie Dundas
2. Replant and restore baby coral in Fiji
There are more than 6,000 species of coral on the planet, and they’re alive — that’s right; they’re animals, not plants. So when reefs die off, it’s literally coral dying. But divers in Fiji can help save baby coral by doing a restoration dive or working in an underwater coral nursery. Photo: Kokomo Private Island
Where: Kokomo Island Resort, FijiCost: None (included with all stays)Number of days: VariableWhile a stay at Kokomo Private Island certainly isn’t cheap, the resort does take significant steps to be good stewards to the ocean. The resort employs two full-time marine biologists and has its own waste processing and compost facility and a desalinization plant to avoid shipping in potable water. But most impressive are the resort’s extensive sustainability programs. It runs a mangrove restoration project, growing mangroves on the resort’s farm and replanting them on the shoreline of a local village to fight erosion and rising sea levels (guests can assist with everything from planting to seed collection). It’s also home to the South Pacific chapter of a sustainable fishing co-op, a clam nursery and spawn center, and even a sea turtle research program in collaboration with the University of the South Pacific.
But for divers and snorkelers, the most intriguing program is the coral reef restoration facility. The resort has three different types of coral nurseries — underwater areas where coral can grow in protected areas and be monitored and cared for by marine biologists — and has the capability of nurturing 3,000 individual animals per season. The resort has successfully introduced more than 2,000 baby corals back into the open ocean and guests can participate as much as they’d like. Volunteers can assist the marine biology team in coral observation and education, introduce small coral into the nurseries, or go on a dive to transplant “grown-up” coral back onto the nearby reefs. If you’re not a diver, you can participate during a two-hour intro to scuba dive, which requires no previous experience.
All that said — the resort is probably best known for its manta conservation project (part of The Manta Project) and dedicates significant time and resources to manta tagging, observation, and identification. The resort is where travelers will spend most of their time, but its just one of many environmentally focused activities on the island.
Fiji has some of the world’s best diving and is home to more than 400 species of hard and soft corals. But equally is the need to protect the animals that live in the safety of the coral. More than 1,200 species of fish, 58 species of shark, and dozens of species of crustaceans, octopuses, and mollusks shelter in the reefs. Without coral, the entire food chain of the ocean collapses. Photo: Kokomo Private Island
Kokomo Private Island has seven coral nurseries, all at shallow depths and protected from swells and currents. This is a horizontal rope nursery, designed for branching corals (most species of coral that resemble tree branches without leaves are ‘branching’). that resemble tree branches. The resort also has different styles of nurseries for coral that grows vertically and coral that can’t attach to a rope. Photo: Kokomo Private Island
The luxury resort has a variety of lodging, but even the smallest “room” is still a private villa. It’s pricey and certainly a for-profit experience, but the coral restoration dives have no additional fee — they’re just a chance for travelers to give back to the environment and learn about ocean protection. The resort (and homes on the island) fund the sustainability efforts and guests are welcome to participate in nearly all of the island’s ongoing projects. Photo: Kokomo Private Island
3. Go gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Treks take very small groups of tourists through dense jungle in search of mountain gorillas. If you find them, you’re only allowed to spend a limited amount of time with them per day to ensure they don’t become too accustomed to having humans nearby. Photo: Visit Rwanda
Where: Volcanoes National Park, RwandaCost: $1,500 for gorilla permit (plus travel and lodging expenses)Number of days: 1+Thanks to the work of researchers like Dian Fossey, it’s well-known that mountain gorillas are facing severe threats to their population. Between habitat destruction, disease, and poaching, there are fewer than 900 left in the wild. They live in the forests near the border of Uganda and Rwanda, and despite how lucrative the land they live on could be, there’s one thing protecting them — tourism. Both Uganda and Rwanda offer a very limited number of permits per day to make the trek on foot to attempt to find the gorillas in the wild, and the prices are steep at $1,500 for a one-person permit.
However, the steep cost also helps limit the demand and number of people in the jungle with the gorillas. Additionally, guests can only spend a max of one hour a day with the troop so they don’t become accustomed to humans. By booking a gorilla trek, you’re contributing to a fund that protects the gorillas and provides salaries for anti-poaching park rangers. Spending money on a trek in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park helps prove that land and resource conservation is more lucrative than farming, ranching, or poaching.
Volcanoes National Park, home to Rwanda’s gorilla treks, covers 72 square miles and is home to five volcanoes. Nearby are plenty of luxury and eco-lodges for travelers. Photo: Visit Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda borders the DRC’s Virunga National Park. This area of Rwanda was a battleground in the 1990s, but has since been developed into a safe national park for wildlife and international and local travelers. Photo: Visit Rwanda
The tourism money that comes from selling permits goes toward a host of ecological programs, from wildlife monitoring to ranger training and anti-poaching and anti-deforestation efforts. Photo: Visit Rwanda
4. Release sea turtles in Mexico
For a small fee, tourists can assist in releasing baby sea turtles like this one into the sea. Campamento Tortuguero Palmarito is a non-profit and all income goes toward sea turtle conservation and research. Photo: Nick Hines
Where: Puerto Escondido, MexicoCost: $10 (or $45 with transportation)Number of days: Half dayJust a short drive from Puerto Escondido‘s famous Playa Zapoteca, Campamento Tortuguero Palmarito is helping to restore the populations of the numerous turtle species that call the beaches of Oaxaca, Mexico, home. Along with beach conservation, the group protects eggs until they hatch and then releases the babies to the ocean — and anyone can join in on the releases year-round through the organization itself or Lalo Ecotours or Airbnb Experiences if you want to package it with a ride to the beach.
After a quick explanation of turtle habitats and lifecycle (eggs hatch after about six weeks, depending on the species), participants head to a line of string on the beach close to the water with gourd bowls in hand. Baby turtles are put in the bowls and then released onto the sand, where they zig-zag their way to the waves.
The sunset makes for a picturesque experience — just don’t think too much about the seagulls and other birds that flock and dive just offshore. The actual release lasts about an hour, but you’ll want to budget time to get to and from the site (and take plenty of photos).
The baby sea turtles are very, very tiny, so it’s not a surprise that seabirds see them as food. Baby sea turtles are only about two inches long, and sea turtles can lay 100 eggs at once several times per season. Photo: Nick Hines
It’s hard not to feel a sense of happiness as you set the baby turtles on the sand and watch them successfully scurry into the sea. While they’re still at risk of predation in the water, they’re generally safer off the sand as they can hide near seaweed or partially bury into the ocean floor. Photo: Nick Hines
The scaly baby turtles are as cute as can be, and escorting them across the sand is a great way to help ensure as many as possible make it safely to the sea. But it’s not the only way to participate. Tourists can go for nighttime ATV rides to observe sea turtles and report new nests, go dolphin and turtle watching on a boat, or even opt for an eight-day wildlife tourism camp (including snorkeling and hiking). Photo: Nick Hines
5. Monitor elephants in Thailand
An average day on the expedition includes a long hike into the jungle to find the elephants, followed by around three hours of behavior monitoring and studying. Once returned to camp, participants will have time to enter their research, visit the local village, and participate in discussions on ecology and wildlife. Photo: Biosphere Expeditions
Where: Near Chang Mai, ThailandCost: $2,144 (plus travel expenses)Number of days: 8Thailand’s elephant “sanctuaries” are notorious for poor treatment of the gentle animals, so it’s important to make sure any elephant encounters in the area are genuinely welfare-based. Fortunately, you can rest assured that the elephant monitoring trip with Biosphere Expeditions are focused on conservation and protection. Biosphere Expeditions’ citizen science trips pair non-scientist travelers with scientists leafing wildlife projects around the world. Under the guidance of a researcher and staff, volunteers will assist with various roles — in the case of this trip, elephant and wildlife monitoring.
Following the trip, the research is used for everything from scientific publications to influencing local legislation and lobbying for wildlife-friendly policies and partnerships. Biosphere Expeditions even takes additional steps to make sure bringing volunteers to sensitive areas isn’t harming the planet, including serving all-vegetarian food on the trips and offsetting their carbon emissions.
Researchers, staff, and citizen science volunteers alike stay in a nearby hill tribe village. Shown here is the expedition base, where the team meets for training and discussions, as well as to upload and analyze the data they collect. Photo: Biosphere Expeditions
These two elephants are displaying natural elephant behavior, both buy using their trunks to sniff out their surroundings in search of food and by having a quick scratch against the trees. Photo: Biosphere Expeditions
This elephant is named Gen Thong, and he’s one of the youngest members of the study herd. The elephants are used to humans and staff and citizen scientists can and must get quite close to study details of their behavior and food preferences. Here, Gen Thong is being curious and following a staff member on his way back to camp. Photo: Biosphere Expeditions
The focus of your eight days in Thailand will be on studying the behaviors of Asian elephants like this one. They’re considered endangered and research suggests their populations have declined by about half in the last 60 years, mostly due to habitat loss. Photo: Biosphere Expeditions.
Happy World Wildlife Day, everyone. Let’s all aim to do one helpful thing for the wildlife near us today.
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Little Seoul in Mexico City
In the Zona Rosa neighborhood in downtown Mexico City, things are lively to say the least. It’s a place famous for its early 20th-century architecture, bustling commerce, LGBTQ-friendly nightlife, and one of the largest Korean communities in the Americas. Known within the capital as Pequeño Seúl, or Little Seoul, the neighborhood has dozens of Korean restaurants and Korean-owned businesses peppered in amongst taquerias, bars, and dance clubs. As the neighborhood develops thanks to Korea’s clout as a global pop-culture icon, so does its influence on the culture of Mexico City itself.
Where is Mexico City’s Little Seoul?
Photo: Samantha Demangate
Mexico City’s Little Seoul is situated between the streets of Hamburgo, Sevilla, Florencia, and Avenue Chapultepec. Within this area you can find clusters of Korean-owned businesses. The signs of restaurants, cosmetics stores, markets, and bars beam with bold Hangul characters interspersed with Spanish. In this koreatown, many pedestrians, store keepers, and patrons can be heard speaking a mixture of Korean and Spanish. This marriage of vernaculars is omnipresent in Zona Rosa and it feels like nowhere else in the world.
The origins of Mexico City’s Little SeoulPhoto: Samantha Demangate
Koreans have been immigrating to Mexico since 1905 when over a thousand people settled in the Yucatán peninsula to work in henequen plantations where native agave plants used for producing commercial fibers are grown. Working conditions were poor and many people wanted to return home after their contracts ended. However, the Japanese annexation of the Korean peninsula in 1910 prevented that and many of the immigrants settled in Mexico City.
After the earthquake of 1985 in Mexico, real estate prices fell sharply in some parts of Mexico city. Seeing an opportunity, many Korean Mexicans decided to establish their businesses in the cheaper Zona Rosa.
For most of its existence Little Seoul was an often overlooked area. Now however, the neighborhood’s popularity is booming thanks to Korea’s growing influence in global pop-culture. According to Young Doo Park, the Director of the Centro Cultural Coreano, or Korean Culture Center in Mexico City, this popularity will continue to change the neighborhood.
“BTS, Blackpink, Twice, and many other K-pop idols have great fan clubs here. Mexicans have seen Parasite, which won an Oscar for best picture in 2020. The K-dramas and series on Netflix like Squid Game have reached all types of audiences in Mexico.”
With this newfound popularity, Zona Rosa’s Pequeño Seúl is fast becoming one of the city’s most exciting neighborhoods to visit. Here are several must-see places in Little Seoul to get your fill of Korean culture in Mexico City.
The Korean grocery stores you need to check out in Mexico City’s Little SeoulYou can find almost every Korean staple in Mexico City’s Koreatown’s small grocery stores like fresh homemade side dishes known as banchan, homemade kimchi, shiso leaves, cosmetics, and alcohol like Soju and Makgeolli.
Good People: A great small Korean grocer offering a wide selection of Korean products at competitive prices.Where: Hamburgo 215, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, México
Tienda Oriental: Another local grocer that carries Korean sauces and ingredients, as well as homemade Korean condiments and kimchi.Where: Hamburgo 238, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Cuauhtémoc, CDMX, México
Where to shop for Korean cosmetics in Mexico City’s Little Seoul?
Photo: Samantha Demangate
The Korean beauty industry is an international phenomenon. In Mexico City’s Koreatown, you can find several Korean cosmetics stores.
Bidameun Korean Kosmetics: A small business heavily stocked with imported Korean cosmetics.Where: Sevilla #20, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, México
Missha Hamburgo: A large cosmetics store that carries a large selection of Korean and international cosmetics.Where: Hamburgo 206 Col. Juárez Del, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, México
Where to eat and drink in Mexico City’s Little Seoul?
Photo: Samantha Demangate
Zona Rosa’s Korean restaurants are satisfying and often lively. From Korean BBQ to cold noodles, the neighborhood has it all.
La Casa Coreana/Hallyeo Sudo : A favorite for late-night feasts, this restaurant is sure to impress even the most dedicated fans of Korean cuisine.Where: Av Chapultepec 425, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, México
Song’s Recipe: This place is delicious. They only do take-out, but the dishes are authentic, the prices cheap, and the owners are very friendly.Where: C. Liverpool 185, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, México
NaDeFo: With a name loosely translated as “Na’s Place to Drink,” NaDeFo is one of the oldest Korean BBQ spots in the city. They also serve some of the largest portions, so be advised to come hungry.Where: C. Liverpool 183, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, México
Where to learn more about Korean culture in Mexico City?Korean Cultural Center in Mexico (Centro Cultural Coreano en México): Here you can take classes in Korean language, cooking, traditional calligraphy, and many other activities. The cultural center also organizes community events like traditional Korean music clubs, and Go [baduk] board game tournaments. The yearly contest “Mexico K Pop Stars” allows young people an opportunity to showcase their talents by dancing and singing covers to the music of their favorite K-pop stars. For folk music fans, the event Arirang Concour gets local musicians to recreate Korean folk songs into Latin American fusions.Where: Temístocles 122, Polanco, Polanco IV Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11550 Ciudad de México, CDMX, México
Bookend Your Philly Trip with a Stay at These Hotels Near Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia International Airport serves roughly 32 million passengers each year. As a hub for American Airlines and US Airways, PHL is a major gateway to Latin America, Europe, and elsewhere, in addition to serving a plethora of domestic destinations. If you plan to fly in or out of PHL, booking an airport hotel either the night before you depart and/or the night you arrive removes any hectic transportation to and from the airport. These are the nine best Philadelphia airport hotels to bookend your trip.
Headliner hotels near Philadelphia AirportMore Marriott Bonvoy hotels near Philadelphia AirportTop Hilton Honors hotels near Philadelphia AirportTop Wyndham Rewards hotels near Philadelphia AirportTop IHG Rewards hotels near Philadelphia AirportWe hope you love the Philadelphia airport hotels 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. See our full Advertiser Disclosure here.
Headliner Philadelphia airport hotelsPhiladelphia Airport Marriott
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Connected right to the terminal at Philadelphia International Airport, the Philadelphia Airport Marriott provides all the amenities of Marriott’s flagship brand, with the added bonus of an easy walk to airline check-in and security. Onsite, The Aviation Grill allows you to dine while overlooking the tarmac. On the other hand, in-room blackout curtains can shut out the world before or after a long day of travel. Work desks are provided, and the hotel has a free shuttle service and a gym for guests.
Airport shuttle: Yes24-hour front desk: YesFitness center: YesPrice: From $159 per night
More Marriott Bonvoy hotels near Philadelphia AirportAloft Philadelphia Airport
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Aloft targets the hip, communal vibe desired by modern travelers — and excels in providing this vibe with a well-trimmed stay. combining a hip aesthetic with quick-serve convenience. The Aloft Philadelphia Airport invites guests to lounge in the lobby with a pool table and game room, plenty of craft beer options, a market for basic goods, and a nice pool. Rooms are clean and minimalist but don’t skimp on comfortable, soft bedding or space to chill. For the adventure traveler seeking to bookend a trip to Philly, this is the spot.
Airport shuttle: Yes24-hour front desk: YesFitness center: YesPrice: From $105 per night
Delta by Marriott Philadelphia Airport
Taking a trip to Philly? Check out Matador’s guides to the best places to stay across the city:
The best Airbnbs in Philadelphia in the city’s coolest neighborhoods 7 unique boutique hotels in Philadelphia near all the historical sites
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Experience famed Canadian-style hospitality at the Delta by Marriott Philadelphia Airport. Delta hotels are crisp and clean, with super-friendly staff and hi-speed WiFi. The hotel’s Market 1643 offers breakfast and lunch to go, perfect for your morning flight. Guest rooms are spacious, with Simmons Canada Delta Elite Pillow-Top Non-Flip mattresses and views out over Philly. The hotel’s lounge serves drinks into the evening and is an easy shuttle or Uber ride into the heart of the city.
Airport shuttle: Yes24-hour front desk: YesFitness center: YesPrice: From $121 per night
Top Hilton Honors hotels near Philadelphia AirportEmbassy Suites by Hilton Philadelphia Airport
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Embassy Suites is all about having plenty of space. Its trademark open-air lobbies and wraparound interior balconies create a buzzy, almost New York-esque vibe that feels both inviting and classy all at once. The Philly Airport location is no different, firmly placing it among the most desirable of Philadelphia airport hotels — especially with the free airport shuttle, well-equipt gym and pool area, business center, and spacious rooms. The nightly evening reception allows you to relax with a drink before heading up to your room if you choose.
Airport shuttle: Yes24-hour front desk: YesFitness center: YesPrice: From $129 per night
DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia Airport
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Just across from the airport, the DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia Airport provides a slice of luxury with which to bookend your stay in Philly. It’s easy to catch up on rest here, given the onsite bar and two restaurants, the indoor heated pool, and rooms that are tailored for an upscale experience. This location is particularly great for business travelers seeking a comfortable home base — whether you’re working onsite or heading into the city center. You could very easily check in and then proceed to not leave the hotel until it’s time to head to the airport — everything you need is here.
Airport shuttle: Yes24-hour front desk: YesFitness center: YesPrice: From $105 per night
Top Wyndham Rewards hotels near Philadelphia AirportMicrotel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Philadelphia Airport
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Microtel Inn & Suites Philadelphia Airport fills a unique void among Philadelphia airport hotels — it brings a modern aesthetic to a hotel that feels more like a cozy apartment building than a chain hotel property. Its suites are ideal for stays of two nights or longer or when you want enough space to spread out and lounge. However, unlike most Philadelphia airport hotels, this one does not have a gym.
Airport shuttle: Yes24-hour front desk: YesFitness center: NoPrice: From $85 per night
La Quinta by Wyndham Philadelphia Airport
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
La Quinta by Wyndham Philadelphia Airport is clean and well managed. Amenities include a fitness center, pet-friendly rooms, and a continental breakfast designed for the traveler heading out to the airport — meaning you can grab items to go if you wish. This location has ample lounge space in the lobby along with two meeting rooms and a business center, all powered by hi-speed wired WiFi.
Airport shuttle: Yes24-hour front desk: YesFitness center: YesPrice: From $93 per night
Top IHG Rewards hotels near Philadelphia AirportHoliday Inn Express Philadelphia Airport
Photo: Booking.com
Photo: Booking.com
Holiday Inn Express is efficient and straightforward — if you’ve stayed in one, you know what you’re going to get. Rooms are clean and simple, the breakfast is great, and the shuttle to the hotel is quick and easy. Because most Philadelphia airport hotels, including this one, are located within 10 miles of the city center, hopping a cab or Uber to dinner or events in the city is affordable and fast. This particular hotel is well-situated for excursions, as its riverfront location is just off the Industrial Highway.
Price: From $119 per night
More like thisWhere to StayThe 7 Best Adult-Only All-Inclusive Resorts in MexicoEverything You Need to Know about Navigating COVID-19 on Cruise Ships
Cruising during COVID is not just lazy sea days, alluring coastlines, and all-inclusive perks — it can also include cabin quarantines, canceled trips, and last-minute itinerary changes.
As the Omicron variant started spreading across the US in December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told travelers to avoid cruises, regardless of vaccination status. Since then, the cruise ships COVID-19 warning level has remained at level four — its highest.
But for those eager to travel, cruise ships may offer safer environments than many dry-land destinations regarding pandemic precautions. What’s important for travelers to weigh is whether the potential pitfalls are still worth the wonders of sailing. Cruise ships don’t operate as they did in 2019; adjusting expectations is necessary for navigating the high seas in 2022.
If you’re preparing for an upcoming trip or considering a cruise sometime soon, here are answers to the most pressing questions so you can enjoy your vacation without getting tossed overboard by a tidal wave of surprises.
I haven’t cruised since the pandemic began. What should I expect?The most important thing to know is that the cruise you pay for might not be the cruise you get. Countries can deny entry to ships with high COVID-19 caseloads, and sick crew members may cause staffing shortages on board.
“You should expect your itinerary to change,” says Jaron Barney, a ship entertainer who has worked and traveled on multiple major American cruise lines as a performer and guest in the past year. “It’s best to bring a go-with-the-flow attitude because if your heart is really set on one destination, you’ll likely be heartbroken.”
In January, St. Thomas didn’t allow Barney’s ship to port, and guests were kept at sea for an extra day. “There was a whole cruise full of people who thought that they were going to get a sunny beach day,” he says. “Instead, they were stuck on a boat with nowhere to go.”
Barney notes that most cruises don’t refund travelers for itinerary changes unless the journey ends prematurely. “If you’re okay going to a different island than expected, or having a sea day you don’t expect, then you’ll be fine,” he adds.
Travelers should also expect new rules and regulations to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Most ships require guests to show proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test before boarding. Some companies — like P&O Cruises and Cunard Line — may also require booster shots. Mask mandates are standard in interior ship spaces, and reduced capacity on ships means you’ll likely travel with fewer passengers. You can also expect enhanced cleaning protocols, new air purification technology, and expanded medical capabilities on board.
As dystopian as some of these systems may sound, Barney says it makes the experience feel safer. “There’s no panic,” he says. “It’s just business as usual.”
How do I know if a cruise ship’s COVID-19 protocols meet my standards?“I would encourage travelers to check in with their cruise lines directly to familiarize themselves with the protocols in place,” says Laziza Lambert, Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Be sure to check your cruise line’s website before booking your trip and again closer to your trip. COVID-19 policies can change at a moment’s notice.
“Every cruise line has a different way of approaching things,” says Barney, and individual ships use slightly different rules. He recommends searching for individual ship information via Reddit.
“There are so many message boards with plenty of information available,” he notes. “If you do a little bit of digging, you can figure out what each ship has been doing to deal with COVID.”
To see if your boat is experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak, check the CDC’s cruise ship color status. Ships marked green have no reported COVID-19 cases, while those marked red are above a COVID-19 case count that prompts a CDC investigation.
As of February 2022, most ships currently operating with passengers were marked yellow — meaning the number of COVID-19 infections meets the threshold for a CDC investigation.
“No setting can be immune from COVID-19,” says Lambert, which is why ships “place such great emphasis on comprehensive mitigation protocols that encompass the entire cruise vacation experience.”
“It’s also important to underscore that the vast majority of cases identified on cruise ships are asymptomatic or mild in nature due to the cruise industry’s robust protocols and extremely high levels of vaccination,” she adds.
Luckily, many companies offer last-minute cancellation policies for anyone uncomfortable with current infection rates. Norwegian’s Book With Confidence allows guests to cancel within 24 hours of embarkation until the end of March as long as the public health emergency remains in effect; Royal Caribbean offers a 48-hour cancellation window for cruises booked by March 31 that depart by September 30.
What happens if I test positive for COVID-19 before my cruise?For anyone who tests positive 14 days before embarkation, you won’t be allowed on the ship, but you will receive an FCC (Future Cruise Credit).
If you test positive at the departure site, some cruise lines will assist by coordinating and paying for new travel arrangements and the necessary isolation period. But remember to check the fine print — not all COVID-19 policies are created equal.
What should I do if I develop COVID-19 symptoms while onboard?If you experience coronavirus symptoms while sailing, isolate yourself in your room and contact the ship’s medical center for further instructions. Dedicated health personnel will be able to test you for the virus and provide necessary care.
Getting tested is the best way to ensure you receive the help you need. If you contract COVID-19 during your journey and don’t get tested on the ship, the cruise might not cover isolation-related expenses once you’re back on dry land. Moreover, if you don’t comply with the ship’s testing protocols, you might be asked to disembark early and pay your way home. Communicating about an illness benefits the collective health of everyone on board and offers you the maximum amount of protection.
What happens if I test positive for COVID-19 during a cruise?Passengers who test positive can expect to be isolated in a cabin until they recover, or when it’s time to disembark. Those still infectious at the end of a trip might need to continue isolating on shore before heading home. Many of the other details vary from one shop to the next.
When Brandon Smith, a cruise ship vlogger on YouTube, tested positive on a Royal Caribbean trip in early January, he was brought to a designated quarantine floor and housed in a “bare bones” room. When Barney tested positive for the coronavirus on January 10, he was told to remain in his assigned guest cabin.
Most major cruise lines offer passengers prorated refunds if illness cuts their vacation short; they also cover costs for onboard medical treatment. But don’t expect to receive top-notch care. While Smith received an average of four daily phone calls from staff, Barney only received one hurried phone call at the beginning of isolation. No one asked Barney about his medical history or followed up afterward.
Aside from nurses and doctors dressed in PPE, you aren’t likely to see anyone else during isolation. Room service and housekeeping staff will leave meals and other necessary items outside your door. Family and friends aren’t permitted to visit unless they’re isolating with you.
If I test positive for COVID-19, what happens to my travel companions?Not all ships treat COVID-positive passengers and their contacts the same. On some cruises, your travel companions will be asked to quarantine and get tested for COVID-19. Once they test negative, they’ll be allowed to leave their room and move freely about the ship. On other ships, close contacts won’t need to quarantine or get tested unless they experience symptoms.
What are my food options in isolation?Guests usually receive three meals a day and have access to the regular room service menu. “For the most part, [ships] will be pretty accommodating,” says Barney, though potential staffing shortages may mean longer wait times than usual. “If you need a cup of coffee or a cocktail, [the staff] will go out of their way to ensure you get it and have a positive experience.”
Still, Barney recommends packing extra snacks in your suitcase. “When you’re stuck in your room, a bag of Doritos can go a long way.”
What can I do for entertainment?Most ships offer isolated guests complimentary or discounted internet service and access to pay-per-view movies. But when the movies run out, don’t count on the internet to help alleviate boredom.
“Everybody who cruises a lot knows that the WiFi isn’t great,” says Barney. Prepare for extended downtime by downloading movies, tv shows, podcasts, and books before boarding the ship. “You’re not going to be able to stream stuff on Spotify or Netflix,” he says.
If you’re stuck in a room with someone else, consider bringing a travel-size board game and headphones — that way, you can enjoy activities both together and apart.
Do I have to get tested at the end of the cruise?End-of-trip testing isn’t necessary for cruisers, but it might be required to return to your country of origin. Rules vary among cruise lines, so if you must provide a negative COVID-19 test for travel, make sure you understand what your ship offers.
Holland America and Princess currently provide guests with complimentary tests, but others, like Celebrity Cruises, charge passengers up to $95 per test. Carnival and Disney don’t provide post-cruise testing at all, forcing guests to figure out what to do once they’ve disembarked. This lack of on-ship testing can cause a conundrum, leaving travelers who test positive post-cruise without a safety net should they need to change their travel plans or isolate at a hotel.
How should I pack and prepare for an upcoming cruise?The potential of contracting COVID-19 before or during a cruise leaves a lot to consider. Comprehensive travel insurance from a company like World Nomads may help pay for unforeseen travel costs not covered by your cruise line. If you’re worried about expenses, consider traveling with a credit card to help pay any exorbitant bills.
When packing, bring extra prescription medication, clothing, and snacks in case you’re away from home longer than expected. A laptop can facilitate working remotely, and a phone with international calling capabilities is helpful at foreign ports. Extra masks (preferably KN95s) and rapid antigen tests can be helpful as well.
All this preparation could be for naught, however — and that’s a good thing. “The incidence of COVID onboard cruise ships continues to be significantly lower than on land — even as new variants have emerged,” says Lambert.
Lambert is confident about the safety of cruising; she’s currently planning a ship adventure for later this year. Barney joins his next cruise in March. They aren’t the only ones hitting the high seas, either. According to CLIA’s 2022 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook, passenger volume will surpass 2019 levels by the end of the year. With a little bit of planning and a lot of flexibility, here’s hoping it’s smooth sailing for all.
March 2, 2022
Hawaii Drops COVID Testing Requirements, Making it Easy Once Again to Visit the Islands
The governor of Hawaii, David Y. Ige, is saying goodbye to Hawaii’s strict entry requirements. Beginning March 26, domestic travelers will be able to travel to Hawaii with very few restrictions, according to a news release.
The state is eliminating its mandatory five-day self-quarantine rule, and domestic visitors will no longer have to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result as a part of its Safe Travels program. International travelers, however, will still have to follow the nationwide requirement of providing a negative covid test taken one day before departure.
“We started the Safe Travels program to protect the health, lives, and livelihoods of the people of Hawaii,” Ige said in the statement. “The program put in place safety protocols that included a multi-layered screening and testing approach that kept our communities safe during the COVID-19 surges that endangered the most vulnerable of our citizens. Right now, we are seeing lower case counts, and hospitalizations are coming down.”
Now’s the time to experience the many activities Hawaii has to offer. New cases in the state are on a downtrend since the omicron surge. Still, visitors need to keep in mind that the state’s mask mandate will remain in place.
“Many states dropped their mask mandates earlier in the pandemic, only to have to reinstate them once the Delta variant surged,” Ige said. “Hawaii maintained its mask mandate and our consistency helped to keep COVID case numbers and hospitalizations as low as possible during the surge. It is also one of the reasons Hawaiʻi has the second lowest death rate in the country.”
Last year, Hawaii announced it planned to lift travel restrictions once at least 70 percent of the state’s population was vaccinated, but omicron derailed that plan. Just over 77 percent of the state’s population is now fully vaccinated, according to The Washington Post.
In the past, some local Hawaiians have expressed concern about over-tourism, so be mindful when planning your trip and do you part to give back to the beautiful state and it’s people before you leave.
The First International TSA PreCheck Makes Now the Best Time to Sign Up for the Service
Many TSA PreCheck travelers will tell you that it’s worth the pric to make domestic flights easier. Hopping into the special PreCheck line means no need to remove shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, or light jackets. And with 11 million users currently registered for PreCheck, those lines tend to be pretty short on their own. PreCheck has long been seen as the best option if you’re a frequent domestic traveler compared to the perks of Global Entry. Now TSA PreCheck has even more bonuses thanks to the program opening up its first international location at The Bahamas Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau.
“This has been an excellent partnership throughout the trial period at Lynden Pindling International Airport, and it serves as a model for further extending TSA PreCheck,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske in a press release. “Permanently opening this PreCheck lane for travelers who join the risk-based program is a credit to the Government of The Bahamas and the commitment of the officers who are maintaining the highest standards of transportation security.”
The TSA selected Nassau because it’s one of the 16 US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) international preclearance locations. These are areas where CBP personnel inspect travelers before they board US-bound flights, rather than doing so upon arrival in the US, meaning passengers can proceed directly to their connecting flight or final destination. TSA PreCheck, on the other hand, offers expedited clearance through airport security for US travelers headed to domestic and international destinations. Nassau flights will now offer both.
If the decision on the Bahamas is any indication of what’s to come, the remaining 15 CBP international preclearance locations could be next:
Calgary International Airport, CanadaEdmonton International Airport, CanadaRobert L. Stanfield International, CanadaMontreal Trudeau International Airport, CanadaOttawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport, CanadaLester B. Pearson International Airport, CanadaVancouver International Airport, CanadaVictoria Preclearance, CanadaWinnipeg International Airport, CanadaGrand Bahama International Airport, BahamasL.F. Wade International Airport, BermudaQueen Beatrix International Airport, ArubaDublin Airport, IrelandShannon Airport, IrelandAbu Dhabi International Airport, UAESo if you haven’t already snagged a TSA PreCheck clearance, now’s the time. PreCheck costs just $85 for five years — that equates to just $17 per year to enjoy quick lines and never having to take your shoes off in an airport again. And with any luck, TSA PreCheck will pop up at even more international airports, making the clearance even more worth the price tag.
You Can Now Skip the Line at Select Airport Starbucks Locations
One of the perks of getting to the airport in the suggested window of two-to-three hours before takeoff is the high possibility that you’ll be able to have something other than in-flight pretzels and a small beverage before arriving at your destination. For many people, that means a stop at Starbucks for their favorite beverage and maybe a breakfast sandwich or a warmed croissant. Unless, of course, everyone had the same idea and the line is longer than the TSA line. Now, some airport locations are letting customers skip the line and take advantage of the mobile ordering service that you’ll find at non-airport Starbucks locations.
One in four transactions at Starbucks is now placed on the company’s app, according to USA Today. Airport locations have not been able to offer the service in the past because they’re licensed locations rather than company owned.
The Washington-Dulles International Airport became the first to offer the service in June 2021, and Starbucks has slowly and quietly rolled out the service to more than 230 licensed stores in 70 US airports. Main hub cities that offer the service include Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Orlando, and Seattle, Starbucks spokesperson Nick Sampogna told USA Today.
Before heading to the airport, you can check if the Starbucks locations inside offer the mobile ordering service by clicking “order” on the Starbucks mobile app and searching for the airport locations. Note that it’ll often include the word “airside” to indicate that the Starbucks is past airport security. Then click on the “i” for information about the store, like its hours and if it has mobile ordering.
So the next time you’re waiting in the ticketing line or at TSA, hop onto the mobile app. You may be able to finish putting your order before you have to take off your shoes and put all your electronics in the bin.
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