Matador Network's Blog, page 764

Dubai launches new one-year visa

Remote working is more common now than ever, and is likely to remain so after the pandemic has subsided. Dubai wants to capitalize on this new lifestyle and is joining countries like the Republic of Georgia, Barbados, and Estonia by offering a new long-term visa for remote workers.

The visa scheme will allow remote workers and their families to live in Dubai for up to one year while working for companies overseas. Visa holders will be able to open local bank accounts, enroll children in Dubai schools, and set up phone and internet access for their homes and workspaces. Living in Dubai isn’t cheap, but the absence of income tax might help offset some of your expenses.

The visa costs $287 plus medical insurance and processing fees. To apply for the visa, you must earn at least $5,000 per month, and submit proof of employment and three months of bank statements.

Helal Almarri, director general of Dubai Tourism, said in a statement, “The global pandemic has changed how we live and work. People continue to prioritise their health, wellbeing and ability to ensure a positive work-life balance. Dubai is uniquely positioned to offer a safe, dynamic lifestyle opportunity to these digitally savvy workers and their families while they continue to work remotely, whether it is for a couple of months or an entire year.”

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Europe’s new COVID-19 guidelines

Since the start of the pandemic, travel within the European Union has been a complicated mix of restrictions and protocols. The bloc of countries has operated on a patchwork model, with each country having its own rules and travel bubbles. For example, currently, travelers from the UK can enter France without restrictions, but those going from France to the UK had to quarantine for 14 days. Anyone arriving in Italy from the EU is required to fill out a health form, unless they’re coming from Belgium, France, the UK, Netherlands, Czech Republic, or Spain, in which case they need a negative COVID-19 test instead. There has been no uniform set of rules for the 27 member countries, which has proven confusing and frustrating.

But, that’s about to change. EU countries just approved a set of guidelines this week designed to create a more cohesive approach to handling travel during the pandemic. The new criteria includes rules surrounding COVID-19 cases, test positivity rates, and reporting.

Member states should not be restricting travel from other countries with fewer than 50 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people over the last 14 days
They should not restrict travel from countries with test positivity rates of less than three percent, as long as weekly testing exceeds 250 tests per 100,000 people
Member countries must supply the European Center of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDPC) with their COVID-19 case and testing data on a weekly basis

The ECDPC will use this data to produce a color-coded map, published regularly on the Re-open EU website, that shows up-to-date information about travel restrictions across Europe. The scale ranges from green (lowest positivity rate) to red (highest), and a new version of the map will be released each week.

Despite the new criteria, member countries aren’t beholden to it, and are still free to impose their own restrictions.

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Positive sustainability news

This is The Climate Win, the most positive sustainability news around the world every week.

Something unexpected happened this week. Hydropower companies and environmental groups reached an agreement to work together on addressing issues important to both sides. Specifically, both sides announced in a joint statement that they would work together to increase dam efficiency and production while reducing the environmental impacts of creating hydroelectric power.

“In sum, the parties agree that maximizing hydropower’s climate and other benefits, while also mitigating the environmental impact of dams and supporting environmental restoration, will be advanced through a collaborative effort focused on the specific actions developed in this dialogue,” reads the statement — which was agreed upon in dialogue convened by the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.

While this sounds like an oxymoron, improved technologies might really make it possible for both sides to look back years down the road and claim success. Many of the country’s 90,000 existing river dams, including most of the massive energy-producing dams such as the Hoover Dam, are old enough that great gains in technology and efficiency have been developed and scaled since they were built.

The agreement calls for many of these older dams to be modernized in a way that would reduce their environmental devastation without sacrificing the ability to produce energy. And in some cases, the agreement calls for many of the oldest and most destructive dams — most of which are past their useful life — to be removed.

Also discussed were technologies being developed, including dam turbines that allow fish to pass through and other improvements that could make hydropower an actual source of “green” energy. Signing onto the statement are major conservation groups including the American Rivers, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. On the hydropower industry side, the National Hydropower Association and Natel Energy highlight big names coming to the table.

Essentially, dams harm river ecosystems because they block the water’s natural flow and stop fish in their tracks. Many ecological disasters including floods and mass fish casualty events have resulted from wild rivers being dammed, and studies in many river basins have found dramatic decreases in fish populations following the construction of dams. The Matilija Dam on California’s Ventura River, for example, caused the population of southern steelhead trout to decline from 5,000 to 200 over the course of half a century, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The climate win here is that the hydropower industry not only plans to reduce its horrific environmental impact, but many of its big players have acknowledged their footprint and pledged to address it. Given that we need to find sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, the agreement also shows that two opposing sides can come to the table and find an agreement that is better for all.

More climate wins this week

In what we’re calling a “green toast” to Amazon’s Prime Day, TechCrunch reported that Amazon and Rivian have developed a prototype of an electric delivery van that will soon replace many of the gas-guzzling vans currently delivering Amazon packages. Amazon promises 10,000 of these vans on the road within two years and 100,000 by 2030.

Be sure to pack your to-go container and mug (once borders reopen) because Canada is ditching single-use plastics nationwide. By the end of 2021, Canada pledged to have eliminated now-common items like plastic bags, cutlery, stir sticks, and straws, with the ultimate goal being to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030.

Boston is going green — literally. Smart Cities Dive reported this week that the city is seeking proposals for a 20-year urban forest plan. Plans must address underserved neighborhoods and communities under the biggest threat from climate change and must be prepared to work with minority-owned businesses.

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What airports have COVID-19 tests

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that for US travelers to feel comfortable traveling again, airports will need to provide COVID-19 tests on site. That means travelers can easily get the COVID-19 tests required to enter their destinations (if they’re traveling internationally) and have peace of mind that their fellow passengers have been similarly screened before boarding the plane. Several airports around the country have already set up testing centers for the convenience of passengers. Some testing centers are operated by the airport itself while others have been set up by specific airlines, and are designated for passengers to certain destinations — but there’s no doubt that airport testing is the future of travel for the next few months, both domestic and international. These are the airports around the US where COVID-19 testing is already available.

1. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Starting October 15, rapid testing services will be made available to all United Airlines passengers going to Hawaii from SFO. To enter Hawaii without a mandatory 14-day quarantine, a negative COVID-19 test result is required. United has partnered with Dignity Health-GoHealth Urgent Care to offer testing on site. At the airport, the COVID-19 testing area is located at the international terminal, and operates every day from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM PT, with results available in just 15 minutes. Tests need to be scheduled in advance and cost $250 a pop. Also beginning October 15, Hawaiian Airlines is partnering with Worksite Lab to offer drive-through PCR tests at SFO for passengers flying to Hawaii. This drive-through test will cost $90 and results will be available within 36 hours or you can pay $150 for day-of-travel results. Tests need to be booked in advance.

2. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Starting October 15, Hawaiian Airlines will be offering drive-through PCR tests at LAX for passengers flying to Hawaii. Prices are the same as those for the same testing program at SFO — $90 for results within 36 hours, and $150 for same-day results. Appointments are necessary. A modular testing facility at LAX that could produce results in two hours is in the works and is scheduled to be functional by November 1, the L.A. Times reported.

3. Tampa International Airport (TPA)

Partnering with BayCare Health System, Tampa International Airport recently announced the launch of one of the country’s most sophisticated airport testing programs for all departing and arriving passengers, regardless of their destination or airlines. Inside the Main Terminal near the Airside F shuttle, the pilot program will offer both PCR tests and rapid antigen tests. Services will be offered on a walk-in basis from October 1 to October 31, every day from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Testing is available to ticketed passengers who are flying or who have flown within three days (proof of travel will be requested). The PCR test costs $125 and the rapid test costs $57.

4. Miami International Airport (MIA)

American Airlines launched a pilot testing program at Miami International Airport this month for passengers traveling to Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Costa Rica. All three destinations require travelers to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival. American Airlines is currently working with CARICOM (the Caribbean Community) to expand the testing program across the Caribbean.

5. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

American Airlines is offering pre-travel testing to passengers going to Hawaii and Costa Rica from DFW. Travelers to Honolulu, Maui, and Costa Rica can take an on-site rapid test administered by CareNow at DFW (results available within 15 minutes); get an at-home test kit (with results within 48 hours); or get tested in person at a CareNow location in the Dallas area. For all options, advance booking is recommended.

6-9. All major Alaskan airports (ANC, FAI, JNU, KTN)

To avoid a 14-day quarantine, Alaska requires incoming passengers to show the results of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival. Those who arrive without a test have the option of taking one at one of Alaska’s airports, including Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Ketchikan with no appointment necessary. Testing is free for Alaska residents, but non-residents must pay $250 for the airport tests. Travelers who take a test upon arrival must quarantine until they get the results.

10-12. John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Newark airports (JFK, LGA, EWR)

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are working with NYC Health + Hospitals to set up testing facilities at JFK and LGA, though a specific opening date for these facilities hasn’t been announced. In the meantime, Newark and JFK have partnered with XpresCheck to offer PCR testing, rapid nasal swab tests, and blood antibody tests on site. The rapid tests will produce results in under 15 minutes. To take advantage of any of these three tests, you must make an appointment through XpresCheck’s website. At Newark, the clinic will be testing up to 350 people a day, while the JFK clinic will test 500 people per day. It costs $75 for one test or $90 for both the antibody and PCR tests without insurance. Rapid molecular tests are not covered by insurance, and will cost $200. XpresCheck plans to open clinics at LaGuardia and Boston’s Logan International Airport soon.

13. Burlington International Airport (BTV)

Garnet Health, a healthcare delivery company, just opened a new testing facility at Vermont’s Burlington International Airport, offering COVID-19 tests, DD-PCR tests, and rapid flu diagnostic tests. The testing center is now open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, but will expand to seven days a week, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM later this month. Rapid antigen tests will cost $125, while PCR tests will cost $175. PCR test results will be available within 36 to 48 hours while the other two tests have same-day results. The Garnet Health Testing Center is located just north of the terminal building at 481 White Street in South Burlington, near the Cell Phone Lot. To receive a test you must make an appointment online in advance.

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Latin America travel during COVID

The world isn’t as open to US citizens right now as it was nine months ago, but nonetheless, our travel prospects are looking much better than they were this spring. Although much of Europe remains off-limits, several countries in Asia have slowly started to welcome back US visitors, and many other countries around the world have cautiously opened their doors. Latin America is probably our best chance right now for revisiting our love of travel. With over 20 destinations welcoming US citizens across Latin America — each with their own COVID-19 protocols, of course — there are plenty of opportunities for a fall vacation. These are the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean currently welcoming US tourists.

Where can US citizens travel in Latin America?

South America
Central America
The Caribbean
North America



South America
Brazil

Photo: IrenaV/Shutterstock

Although Brazil has been assigned a Level 4 travel advisory (Do Not Travel) by the US Department of State, Brazil is open to US tourists traveling by air. The country does not require a negative COVID-19 test, quarantine, or health insurance.

Ecuador

Photo: FOTOGRIN/Shutterstock

Americans are allowed to enter Ecuador quarantine-free as long as they have proof of a negative PCR test taken within 10 days before entering the country. Those who don’t have a test can take one at their own expense at the airport upon arrival, though you must quarantine while you await your test result. Those wanting to visit the Galápagos Islands must show a negative PCR test taken no more than 96 hours before entering the Galápagos province.

Colombia

Photo: Jess Kraft/Shutterstock

As of October 1, all incoming passengers to Colombia must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 96 hours before departing. They must also complete Migracion Colombia’s Check-Mig immigration form. As long as you fulfill these two requirements, you won’t be expected to quarantine.

Bolivia

Photo: streetflash/Shutterstock

Although land, river, and lake borders remain closed, Bolivia’s air borders are open for commercial flights. US tourists will be allowed into the country with no quarantine as long as they submit proof of a negative PCR test taken within seven days of departure. Expect health screening procedures, including temperature checks, at airports, and if you’re found to have a temperature exceeding 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, you will be evaluated by the airport medical unit. Entry rules are expected to change without notice, so make sure to stay up to date.

Guyana

Photo: Charles Lewis/Shutterstock

French Guyana’s international airports opened on October 12 to international flights. To enter, you must complete a Passenger Locator Form at least 48 hours before your arrival and have a copy of your negative PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of your departure. If the results are more than 72 hours old, you will be tested at the airport at your own expense and then required to wait for the results at a government-approved facility or at the airport itself. Results are usually available within 24 hours. Approval must be granted before your flight. Keep in mind that a curfew is in place from 9 PM until 4 AM every night.

Central America
El Salvador

Photo: Hugo Brizard – YouGoPhoto/Shutterstock

El Salvador reopened its international airport on September 19, 2020. A negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure is required, and as long as you fulfill this requirement no quarantine is necessary.

Belize

Photo: Aleksandar Todorovic/Shutterstock

Belize reopened to tourists from the US on October 1, as long as visitors book a hotel compliant with the country’s Tourism Gold Standard Recognition Program. Hotels in the program have implemented health and safety measures deemed acceptable and necessary to keep everyone safe. Visitors must also download the Belize Health App at least three days before boarding the flight for the purpose of contact tracing (you’ll be asked to check in the app daily) and present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure.

Costa Rica

Photo: Galyna Andrushko/Shutterstock

Over the past month, Costa Rica has been taking a state-by-state approach to its reopening. From October 15, all US citizens from New York, New Jersey, Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Colorado, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, Michigan, Rhode Island, California, and Ohio, Florida, Georgia, and Texas are allowed to enter Costa Rica. On November 1, residents of all 50 states will be permitted, as long as you complete a digital epidemiological health pass, show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure, and purchase travel insurance covering accommodation in case quarantine becomes necessary.

Honduras

Photo: pablopicasso/Shutterstock

US citizens can enter Honduras with proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test. Those who have symptoms of COVID-19, have been in contact with a confirmed case within the past 14 days, or have traveled to a country with confirmed cases may be isolated in a medical center or the traveler’s residence for 14 days. Some curfews and movement restrictions are also in place, and the details are available online.

Panama

Photo: Gualberto Becerra/Shutterstock

Panama opened to all international tourists, including those from the US, on October 12. The country requires incoming passengers to fill out an electronic affidavit before checking into their flight and present evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR or rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours of departure. You can also choose to take a rapid test upon arrival at your own expense ($50). If the rapid test is positive, however, you must quarantine for seven days at a hotel in Panama at the government’s expense. To start filling out the affidavit, visit the Panama Digital platform.

The Caribbean
Curaçao

Photo: SirimasB/Shutterstock

Curaçao will welcome some US tourists starting the first week of November but only if those tourists are from New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut. Residents of these three states will be asked to show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours before traveling and fill out an online immigration card and Passenger Locator Card within 48 hours of departure. You’ll have to show a state-issued ID to prove you reside in one of the three approved states. Other states will likely be permitted as time passes, according to their respective public health situations. On November 7, flights to the island resumed on United Airlines from Newark Airport.

Grenada

Photo: Paulo Miguel Costa/Shutterstock

To enter Grenada, you must show a negative COVID-19 test taken within seven days of departure and have a hotel booked for a minimum of at least five days so you can quarantine. On day four of your trip, you can take another PCR test, and if you test positive you’ll be allowed to leave the property and move freely around the island. If you choose not to take a PCR test, you’ll have to remain at the hotel for the duration of your visit. You’re also required to fill out several travel forms, including acceptance of the Waiver Of Liability Agreement. You’re also asked to download a contact tracing app, though the app isn’t available to iPhone users yet (they are exempt from this requirement).

Antigua and Barbuda

Photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

All US travelers arriving to Antigua and Barbuda must complete a Health Declaration Form upon arrival, a traveler accommodation form, and complete a certificate of a negative COVID-19 test taken within seven days of arrival. Passengers should also expect to pay for an additional COVID-19 test upon arrival if authorities determine it’s necessary. No quarantine is needed unless you’re arriving by sea, in which case a 14-day self-isolation period is required until a negative test can be produced.

Aruba

Photo: Natalia Barsukova/Shutterstock

Aruba is only allowing residents of half the US states — those considered low risk — to enter with a negative PCR test taken between 12 and 72 hours before departure. The high-risk states have to upload test results online or take one at the airport upon arrival for $75 and quarantine for 24 hours while awaiting results. All incoming visitors must complete an Embarkation/Disembarkation card and purchase mandatory Aruba Visitors Insurance covering up to $75,000 in expenses should they test positive during their stay. The updated list of high-risk states can be found online.

The Bahamas

Photo: Stefan Ugljevarevic/Shutterstock

US citizens can enter the Bahamas as long as they’ve submitted a Travel Health Visa Application online. The application requires a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken no more than seven days before arrival. Applications take approximately 72 hours to process, and you must submit the final confirmation document upon arrival in the Bahamas. Tourists are also asked to download the HubbCat Monitoring Platform app to their phone, which will allow the government to conduct contact tracing. Before November 1, all travelers must still undergo a 14-day quarantine even if they fulfill these requirements. After November 1, the negative PCR test will be sufficient to skip the quarantine, though a rapid antigen test will also be required upon arrival and another one four days later.

Barbados

Photo: zstock/Shutterstock

Since the US is considered a high-risk country by the government of Barbados, US citizens must present proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival and fill out an immigration and customs form online. Incoming passengers will also undergo health screenings at the airport. All travelers will be asked to self-isolate at their pre-approved hotel, resort, or villa, and then get retested four to five days after the first negative test. If that test is negative they will be allowed to move freely about the island.

Bermuda

Photo: Yingna Cai/Shutterstock

To enter Bermuda, US travelers are required to have proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure and complete the Bermuda travel authorization form online that comes with a $75 fee. Upon arrival, visitors will undergo mandatory temperature checks, another COVID-19 test at the airport, and must quarantine until results are ready.

Dominica

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The US is on Dominica’s “red list” of high-risk countries, but that doesn’t mean US citizens can’t visit. US travelers are required to fill out an online health questionnaire and show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken 24 to 72 hours before arrival. Upon landing, travelers will be given a rapid test at the airport and must quarantine (even if negative) at a government-sanctioned quarantine facility for five days. After five days, another test will be given.

Dominican Republic

Photo: Bruno Ismael Silva Alves/Shutterstock

No COVID-19 test is required to enter the Dominican Republic, but since September 15, rapid tests have been randomly administered to travelers upon arrival. Those exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms will be targeted for testing. Through the end of 2020, the Dominican Republic will provide free emergency travel assistance to tourists staying at hotels, covering the expense of testing, lodging, and flight change penalties in the event of an infection during the trip. A curfew is currently in place Mondays through Fridays from 9 PM to 5 AM and Saturdays and Sundays from 7 PM to 5 AM. More details can be found online.

St. Barts

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St. Barts is open to US visitors but requires travelers older than 11 to show a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival. If you’re staying longer than a week, you must take a second test on the eighth night of your trip at your own expense (around $155). If you choose not to take a test, or you test positive, you’ll be expected to quarantine on the island for 14 days.

Jamaica

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Visitors to Jamaica must present negative results of a COVID-19 test taken within 10 days of their arrival to the island. All passengers must also complete a Travel Authorization screening form to be submitted for approval between two and five days before departure. Travelers must also take a test upon arrival and quarantine at their lodging while awaiting the results. Some properties operate within the “resilient corridor” — with hospitality workers specially trained in COVID-19 protocols, and those guests will be free to move about the corridor upon receiving a negative test. All others must quarantine for the full 14 days regardless of your test result.

Puerto Rico

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Visitors to Puerto Rico should present the results of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival. If you’re still awaiting results, you should quarantine for 14 days. Those arriving without a test will be required to quarantine for 14 days. An online travel declaration form is also required before entry.

St. Lucia

Photo: James R Schultz/Shutterstock

Like most other Caribbean islands, visitors to St. Lucia are required to show proof of a negative PCR test taken within seven days and complete a travel registration form. They must also have confirmed reservations at a COVID-certified accommodation, a list of which is available online. Health screenings will be carried out at the airport. Those without symptoms must take a taxi to their lodging and are required to remain on the hotel or resort grounds during their stay with the exception of water-based activities arranged by the hotel.

St. Maarten

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Travelers over the age 10 arriving in St. Maarten are required to fill out a health declaration form and have proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within five days of travel. You’re also asked to bring a thermometer, mask, hand sanitizer, and have travel insurance that covers COVID-19. US travelers specifically are asked to monitor their body temperature and any flu-like symptoms for the first 14 days of their trip.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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US citizens must fill out a pre-arrival travel form, as well as show a negative COVID-test taken within the five days prior to departure. You must also have proof of paid accommodation in an approved facility and quarantine there for five days. Between day four and five of quarantine, another test must be taken. All travelers are asked to track their temperature for two weeks and report any concerning signs.

Turks and Caicos

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To travel to Turks and Caicos, you must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within five days of travel and have insurance covering any COVID-19-related medical costs you may incur. All passengers must also complete the online Travel Authorization Form before boarding your flight. Upon arrival, travelers should expect a health officer to take biological samples by swabbing or other means at the airport. No quarantine is required for those who test negative.

US Virgin Islands

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The US Virgin Islands requires visitors to present evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within five days of arrival. You can also show the results of a positive antibody test taken within the previous four months. If you don’t have a test result, you’ll be required to quarantine for 14 days or the duration of your stay. You can take a test on the island to leave quarantine early.

North America
Mexico

Photo: Rubi Rodriguez Martinez/Shutterstock

Unlike most other countries, Mexico does not require a negative COVID-19 test for entry. Passengers should, however, expect health screenings and temperature checks at airports. No quarantine period is required either. Before going to Mexico, you need to be aware that each state operates differently and is at a different stage in its reopening process. Each Mexican state falls into either the red, orange, yellow, or green category, which dictates what’s open and at what capacity. The updated list of states and their color designations is available online.

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Amtrak flash sale

If taking off on an epic cross-country train journey sounds appealing right now, this new Amtrak deal will be right up your alley, especially for anyone looking for a couples getaway before the days turn cold. Amtrak is launching a flash sale that offers up to $500 off rail vacation per couple, depending on the length of your trip.

The flash sale, which was announced on October 5, allows couples to save $300 on three- to six-night vacations, $400 on seven- to nine-night vacations, and $500 on vacations 10 nights or more. Travel must be booked by October 23 and is valid for travel in 2020, 2021, or 2022.

The sale applies to any train departing from over 500 stations served by Amtrak, many of which pass through some of the country’s most beautiful destinations, including national parks.

One of Amtrak’s most popular vacation tours is the Glenwood Springs Getaway from Denver for four nights. This trip takes you from Denver to the resort town of Glenwood Springs on the Colorado River. Another of Amtrak’s most popular trips is the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone Rail Journey for seven days. The journey takes you through Salt Lake City and Jackson Hole before reaching the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.

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World Surf Reserves

This month Costa Rica’s Playa Hermosa became the newest World Surf Reserve, a prestigious title that has to be earned through an extensive application process. Only one location per year can win the title of World Surf Reserve, and it’s dependent on a lot more than epic waves — although those are of course a key ingredient. Rather, a community earns the recognition for maintaining the natural coastal and marine environment that helps create that wave.

When you opt to travel to a place with a World Surf Reserve designation, you’ll know that you’re likely not only going to ride some incredible waves, but you’re also contributing to the local economy of a place that has made a long-term commitment to the entire surf ecosystem. There are 11 World Surf Reserves to date, and with waves this good, we can’t wait to see what’s coming next.

1. Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica

Photo: Jorge A. Russell/Shutterstock

It’s no surprise that Costa Rica should earn a World Surf Reserve designation. The country’s Pacific Coast, particularly in its province of Guanacaste, has some of the most desirable surf conditions in the Americas — with consistent swells during the dry months of winter and spring, warm weather, and a welcoming pura vida approach to life. Moreover, Costa Rica has become a model for the rest of the world in its approach to safeguarding its environment, even earning it a shoutout in David Attenborough’s just-released film A Life On Our Planet. The black-sand beach and powerful waves of Playa Hermosa combine with the area’s rich biodiversity and a community dedicated to preserving it in a way that highlights not only important values that the Save the Waves Foundation is seeking to champion but also some of what makes surfing anywhere in Costa Rica an incredible experience.

2. Ericeira, Portugal

Photo: Sergio GB/Shutterstock

Portugal has some of the best waves in Europe, and its beaches have attracted surfers from around the world. They run the gamut from gentle rollers to the world’s most terrifying wave, Nazaré. Yet a drive up the coast north of Lisbon also shows intermittent breakwaters that have done away with once rideable waves — particularly the fearsome rights that come with swells from the North. North of Lisbon, the town of Ericeira is one of the few places in the world that you can count on waves nearly every day of the year. In fact, one of the best surfers in the world, Kanoa Igarashi, left his California home to live full-time in Ericeira. But Ericeira also has an incredibly rich marine environment, with over 1,000 marine species, and protected cliffs and streams that feed into its oceans and nurture its ocean’s vitality. The World Surf Reserve designation is visible at Ribeira d’Ilhas, an excellent surf break that just last month hosted an international World Surf League championship.

3. Todos Santos, Mexico

Photo: VG Foto/Shutterstock

Located at the southern end of the Baja California Peninsula, Todos Santos looks out west to the Pacific. It enjoys swells coming from north and south and can offer up everything from easy-to-manage right-handers to some very big and fast waves. This area of Baja is far from the big cities, about an hour north of Cabo San Lucas, and the World Surf Reserve designation ensures that any future development will keep the coastal environment top of mind, seeking to preserve not only the waves but also the sea creatures that live within and among them.

4. Santa Cruz, California

Photo: Tommy Kirkpatrick/Shutterstock

Santa Cruz and Huntington Beach both used to call themselves Surf City USA, until in the early 2000s Huntington Beach trademarked the name and won the sole right to call itself that in court. Santa Cruz has the last laugh, though, because it has since earned the World Surf Reserve designation, and with good reason. With miles of reef breaks, Santa Cruz has some of the most sought-after waves on the Pacific Coast. It’s located on the north end of Monterey Bay, with reefs that coax the waves into everything from steep, hollow, expert waves at places like Steamer Lane to perfectly shaped rights carrying elegant longboarders on seemingly endless rides at Paradise Point. Moreover, the Monterey Bay is one of the richest marine ecosystems in California — and it’s not unusual to see sea otters, seals, dolphins, and sometimes hundreds of pelicans playing in the waves alongside you.

5. Guarda do Embaú, Brazil

Photo: Viagens e Caminhos/Shutterstock

Florianopolis in southern Brazil has become a surf haven. It offers up excellent surfing and a more pristine environment than can be found near cities like Rio de Janeiro. South of Florianopolis itself, Guarda do Embau is a paradise of an area on the edge of the Serra do Tabuleiro State Park. Pale sand coves are flanked by forest mountainsides that soar straight up behind them; elsewhere, estuaries and sand dunes add to the natural beauty. And, with all that, Guarda do Embaú also has one of the best waves on the Atlantic coast of South America.

6. Huanchaco, Peru

Photo: Ricardo Barata/Shutterstock

With 1,500 miles of coastline, Peru is one of the more underrated surf spots in the world. In Peru’s north, the area from Huanchaco to Puerto Malabrigo was once known only for its fishing, an activity that sustained its local communities for generations. More recently, the wave at Chicama earned the distinction of being the longest left in the world. The massive worn cliffs of this region attest to the fact that this part of the coast receives the oncoming currents from Antarctica at an angle, bringing endless lines of peeling waves all year. Local communities here depend on the bounty of these waters and are committed to maintaining the area’s marine health.

7. Malibu, California

Photo: Hane Street/Shutterstock

On summer days the rights that roll from the points southwards towards the Malibu Pier are jam-packed with longboarders and some of the best looking surfers on the west coast. (It is LA, after all). Yet for surfers who know what they’re doing and earn their place in the line-up, it’s a chill SoCal vibe. Despite the crowds, the waves are so consistent and so good, there seems to be something for everyone. Come colder weather and intense winter swells, Malibu gets a lot more territorial. In those months, you might be better off admiring them from the pier itself. But it’s a worthy site. Despite development pressures in LA County, Malibu has done an admirable job of keeping its beaches clean and preserving its waves for the crowds at any time of year.

8. Punta de Lobos, Chile

Photo: Pablo Rogat/Shutterstock

Chile’s surf treasures are only recently being discovered to travelers from outside the country. Its icy water — coming up from Antarctica in the form of the Humboldt current — has scared off plenty of prospective surfers. But those who do go to Chile realize that that very current produces excellent swells all year. Within this wealth of waves, Punta de Lobos north of Santiago is especially notable — not just for its powerful rollers but for the fact that, in 2015, Patagonia teamed up with the Save the Waves to purchase the land here. The work keeps it safe from development and keeps the water clean from run-off. With the help of other foundations, the Lobos point was purchased, a win not just for the surfers seeking out one of the best lefts on the continents but for the people, plants, and animals that call this stunning area of Chile home.

9. Manly Beach, Australia

Photo: Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH/Shutterstock

Widely known as the birthplace of surfing in Australia, itself quite possibly the most surf-obsessed country on the planet, it’s only fitting that Manly Beach should be regarded as a World Surf Reserve. In many ways, Manly has the title — presented at an event attended by surf legend Kelly Slater — because of surfing’s place in Australian culture and lifestyle.

10. Noosa, Australia

Photo: Visual Collective/Shutterstock

Noosa is a more classic recipient of the World Surf Reserve Title, as environmental protection becomes an increasingly important piece of the puzzle — and Noosa National Park is a stunning coastal reserve that helps preserve the entire coastal ecosystem. Surfers of every level who come to the Noosa area will find a wave for them — and they’ll want to come back year over year, since as they get better, Noosa will still have yet better waves to offer them.

11. Gold Coast, Australia

Photo: sw_photo/Shutterstock

The Gold Coast shows that the World Surf Reserve title means something, as the state government of Queensland announced this year that it would do more to preserve the area’s environmental ecosystem — specifically stating that it would like to see the area preserved as a surf reserve. It shows that designations can help to crystallize the economic, touristic, and environmental value that these places hold, driving a commitment to sustaining natural ecosystems and the waves that depend on them.

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Take 2-week road trip Whiskey Van

With international travel still mostly on hold, there’s no better time than right now for a US road trip. Hochstadter’s Slow & Low Rock and Rye is partnering with Monster Children to host the travel category of its photo competition, wherein one US-based entrant will be chosen to enjoy an epic road trip in the brand’s “Whiskey Van.”

Photo: Hochstader’s Slow and Low

The winner will be able to enjoy a two-week contract position as the company’s Chief of Discovery (COD), and explore the country in a fully customized 1978 Chevy G20 furnished with a walnut bar, leather bench seating, orange tufted paneling, and sound system. The COD will be flown to California to meet the brand’s marketing team and plan out the journey, followed by a van tour — with a friend, partner, or pet of your choice — of destinations throughout California, Arizona, and New Mexico, all of which will be documented on social media.

Andrea Cromaz, Cooper Spirits vice president of marketing, said in a statement, “Rebellious and free spirited, Slow & Low was crafted for the makers, the creatives, the travelers, the music-enthusiasts, the dirt bikers, and many more. It’s much more than a drink — it’s a whole mindset; it’s about the art of discovery. We’re excited to have someone dive deeper into that psyche and provide a visual representation of what it means to live life Slow & Low.”

Applicants must be over 21 with a valid driver’s license, have an appreciation for Slow & Low whiskey, be interested in travel, and have some social media know-how. The van trip includes a stipend for gas, food, lodging, and activities. For more information on the travel photo contest and to submit your entry, visit Monster Children’s website. All entries must be received by October 31.

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Rempah, Malaysia's mother sauce

If you ever added a dash of sriracha to your soup or the dipping sauce for your chicken wings, you probably know that the popularity of Southeast Asian spices and flavors continues to grow in the West. Indonesian sambal oelek has become so well known, for example, that it’s now stocked on the shelves of my local grocery store in Jersey City. That wasn’t the case five years ago, but it’s important to note that sambal oelek is just the beginning when it comes to spicy chili pastes from this region: While sambal is typically used as a condiment or a marinade, rempah, it’s less well-known cousin (outside of Asia at least) is an equally potent and foundational ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine.

Like sambal oelek, rempah is a spice paste (in fact, rempah is the malay word for spice). While it appears in Indonesian dishes, it really shines in the cuisine of Malaysia and Singapore, as well as that of the Peranakan people — descendants of Chinese people who immigrated to Indonesian and Malaysia. It’s one of the most basic and fundamental recipes in Malaysian cuisine.

How to make rempah

Photo: Sunhaji/Shutterstock

Rempah has three essential ingredients: red chilies, garlic, and ginger. However, belachan (shrimp paste), shallots, and lemongrass are also often added. Rempah is sometimes referred to as a “mother sauce” — in other words, it can serve as a base on which other seasoning mixes and dishes can be built. For instance, add candlenuts and you get rempah titek. Add galangal and tamarind and you get rempah garam assam, and add coconut milk, turmeric, and coriander powder to that and you have rempah lemak. Roughly translated, garam assam means acid and salt, or sour and salt, so it’s a good base for sour fish curry, whereas lemak describes fatty or rich flavors.

The preferred way to prepare rempah is using a mortar and pestle because grinding the ingredients releases their flavors and aromas. One writer described the texture from grinding in the herbs in the mortar and pestle as “silky, unctuous.” Once the paste has been formed it should be fried to release more of the fragrance. Most people use a blender or a food processor, but to achieve the most complex flavor, it’s worth using a little elbow grease.

How to cook with rempah

Photo: Lienda Yunita Apponno/Shutterstock

Rempah’s versatility is astonishing. While sambal is commonly used as a condiment, rempah functions mostly as a seasoning agent, adding not just heat but depth and pungency to dishes. However, that rule is flexible: Rempah is sometimes used as base for other sambals, in particular sambal ikan bilis, a rich chili paste flavored with anchovies that often appears as a condiment on the side of dishes like nasi lemak, which is a beloved snack in Singapore that can be eaten at any time of day made with rice cooked in rich, creamy coconut milk.

In its most generic, basic form, rempah can also serve as a base for chicken and beef dishes, like ayam goreng (fried chicken) and beef rendang, as well as seafood curries and noodle dishes like laksa, a Singaporean spicy shrimp or prawn soup popular at street food stalls. But its use goes far beyond the ordinary.

Remember, there are many varieties of rempah. The type of rempah that you want to use depends on the dish you’re cooking: Rempah kuning — a version that incorporates turmeric — is often added to ikan goreng (fried fish). Rempah garam assam adds flavor to ikan garam assam (sour fish curry) and kuah lada (fish stew). Rempah lemak gives otak-otak — a grilled fish cake, sometimes also called fish custard — its signature orange color and spicy kick.

Rempah also frequently appears in Nyonya cuisine of the Peranakan people, which overlaps and influences most facets of Indonesian and Malaysian food. Peranakans, according to Singaporean writer Carol Kraal, “are the offspring of Chinese traders, who settled in the trading ports of Singapore, Malacca and Penang, and who married the local girls, many of whom are indigenous Malay.”

Nyonya chicken curry and ikan sambal (fried fish stuffed with rempah) are popular applications of the spice paste. Kraal writes that it’s also used to season classic Nyonya dishes like babi pongteh (braised pork), assam pedas (spicy and sour fish stew), and ayam buah keluak, a chicken dish topped with tamarind gravy.

For the Peranakan, preparing spicy chili pastes is closely tied to many of their cultural rituals. One blogger who goes by the name Travelling Foodies wrote that rempah is associated with traditional “elaborate wedding ceremonies which lasted for 12 days.” During this period, family members prepare sambals — some of which might use rempah as a base — to enjoy at the wedding feast. Family often gathers for what’s known as the “Day of Onion Peeling” as well, which is when piles of garlic and onions are peeled and prepped for the laborious days of cooking to come.

It’s just one more way that rempah is at the heart of not only Southeast Asian cuisine but also culture, religious ceremony, and family life.

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Hawaii opens to US tourist

The story of Hawaii’s reopening process is finally ending. After months of teasing its quarantine-free reopenings, delays, and disagreements between the islands on how to handle testing, it seems like the saga might finally be over. Today, Hawaii’s borders officially open to out-of-state US visitors without the need for them to quarantine. But rather than having a single unified protocol for tourism, each island is opening with its own rules in place.

Tourists from the continental US can enter Hawaii without quarantine as long as they provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival. Only test results from trusted partners will be accepted. An online Safe Travels form must also be filled out.

However, the Big Island opted to enact its own specific protocol. In addition to the PCR test required within 72 hours of travel, upon arrival, visitors must also take a rapid antigen test (paid for by the state) at any of the island’s three airports: Kona International Airport, Waimea-Kohala Airport, and Hilo International Airport.

The islands of Oahu, Kauai, and Maui may follow the lead of the Big Island and also implement a compulsory rapid antigen test upon arrival, but for now, you can travel to those islands with your initial negative test results in hand.

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