Matador Network's Blog, page 85

One of Airbnb’s top five percent listings — rated for five-star guest reviews, host reliability and communication, cancellation rates, and quality-related issues that have been reported to Airbnb — this authentic Alaskan log home is on Talkeetna Village Airstrip. This home is perfect for those who have their own plane — stay with me here — as you can fly in and park your aircraft in the front yard. For those out of staters who don’t have wings, the house is around 150 miles from the park entrance, making it a convenient base camp for exploring Denali on wheels. The cozy home has been recently updated from top to bottom, including new appliances, cedar tongue and groove, a sauna, and beautiful furniture. You’ll have sweeping views over Denali and the Alaska Range from the nearby Susitna River’s waterfront trail and can even watch planes taking off and landing from the living room.

Six guests, three bedrooms
Price: $375 per night

Charming spruce lodge on Scotty Lake in Trapper Creek

Photo: Airbnb

On Scotty Lake in Trapper Creek under an hour and a half south of Denali National Park entrance at George Parks Highway, is this charming lodge. It can accommodate up to 14 guests comfortably in its spruce log walls. It’s set on five acres with recreational trails, views of Denali, and promises of wildlife encounters. It’s another top five percent home, with past guests saying not only is it a superb rental for the park, but it instantly feels like home. If you get a rainy day, there’s lots to keep the entire family (or group) entertained with a pool table, karaoke, foosball, and other indoor games.

14 guests, five bedrooms
Price: $713 per night

2-story lodge with an eagle’s nest in Trapper Creek

Photo: Airbnb

Another lakefront property in Trapper Creek is this two-story lodge with an eagle’s nest for wildlife viewing. It’s a stone’s throw from Ermine Lake and the trailhead, and on a clear day, you get a stellar view of Denali. The cabin has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, and a dry sauna. This is another listing with rave reviews. One guest mentioned that Mike, the owner, baked homemade cookies for them — twice. Here’s hoping that continues.

10 guests, three bedrooms
Price: $425 per night

Secluded cabin between Willow and Talkeetna

Photo: Airbnb

This secluded cabin is just 40 miles from the entrance to Denali National Park and around 30 minutes from the nearest town (between Willow and Talkeetna). You’ll be close enough for shopping essentials but far enough away to feel like you’re having an Alaskan adventure. The lodge has a spacious and inviting space, featuring a cozy living room with a wood-burning stove, a fully equipped kitchen, and comfortable bedrooms. Large windows offer panoramic views of the surrounding wilderness, allowing you to immerse yourself in the beauty of the Alaskan landscape. In the summer, you can enjoy hiking, fishing, and exploring the nearby trails. Winter offers opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. The local dog mushing community maintains a network of trails, providing endless possibilities for outdoor enthusiasts regardless of the season.

10 guests, three bedrooms
Price: $447 per night

Modern retreat with a sauna and a south-facing deck for summer

Photo: Airbnb

I love this cabin, not only because of the price, but because I could imagine my family and I being very comfortable in this modern custom-built three-bedroom. It’s also located in Talkeetna, close to downtown and a quarter mile from the Talkeetna Lakes trail system. It’s on a peaceful acre where you’ll find miles of running, biking, and skiing trails. There’s a six-person sauna, multiple sleeping arrangements, heated tile floors, and a spacious arctic entryway to hang up your skis and gear after hitting the trails. If visiting during summer, you can hang out on the large south-facing deck, and there’s a BBQ and firepit on-site, too.

Nine guests, three bedrooms
Price: $199 per night

Historic family home in downtown Talkeetna

Photo: Airbnb

For something a little more rustic, check out this historic home in downtown Talkeetna. It’s a family home and is a stone’s throw from the river, shops, and the Fairview Inn, one of the oldest bars still operating in Alaska. If you’re visiting with a dog in tow, this is a great option as it’s pet-friendly, and the hospitality extends to the garden, where you can help yourself to produce.

Eight guests, three bedrooms
Price: $265 per night

Centrally located Talkeetna 3-bedroom new build

Photo: Airbnb

This new build is centrally located in Talkeetna. The main floor features a cozy living room, a well-equipped kitchen, and a spacious bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. Upstairs, you’ll find two additional bedrooms and a shared bathroom. The house is also equipped with a washer and dryer for your convenience. After a day in Denali, you can relax and unwind in the shared outdoor hot tub beneath an Amish gazebo. The outdoor space provides the perfect setting for stargazing, socializing, or simply enjoying the peace and quiet.

Six guests, three bedrooms
Price: $195 per night

Hatchers Pass Cabin in the Woods

Photo: Airbnb

This jaw-dropping cabin is in Willow, so it’s a little further out, approximately a two-hour drive from Denali National Park, but this spacious home provides a tranquil base for exploring the Alaskan wilderness south of the park. Surrounded by breathtaking mountain vistas, it’s an ideal starting point for various outdoor adventures. Hiking trails wind through the surrounding landscape, and plenty of nearby outdoor sports, such as four-wheeling, sightseeing flight tours, rafting, fishing, and snowmobiling, are readily available. The spacious cabin offers comfortable indoor amenities if the weather takes a turn. You can relax by the fireplace, curl up with a good book, or enjoy a family meal in the well-equipped kitchen.

Eight guests, three bedrooms
Price: $595 per night

Eco-friendly domes overlooking the Alaska Range and Denali National Park

Photo: Airbnb

This eco-friendly lodge is perched high on a ridge overlooking the Alaska Range and Denali National Park. Built in 2023, this family-owned retreat offers a secluded wilderness experience while remaining close to the charming town of Talkeetna. The lodge features three private eco-domes, each equipped with a king-size bed, a futon, a desk, and chairs. Shared amenities include a sauna house and a clubhouse with a kitchen, dining area, and two bathrooms. And if you’d like to take in Denali from the air, the lodge runs helicopter and floatplane tours.

Three guests, one bedroom
Price: $357 per night

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Published on December 02, 2024 01:00

November 27, 2024

11 Travel and Outdoor Brands to Support on Women-Led Wednesday

Most people know about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but if you’re going to spend on any made-up shopping holiday, you might as well support one that matters. And that may mean doing some shopping on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, known as Women-Led Wednesday. It’s an annual initiative designed to get people to consciously shop with businesses owned or led by women. It became an organized effort in 2018 and was started by Cassie Abel, co-founder of Wild Rye, a women’s outdoor apparel company.

As of September 2024, women held 10.4 percent of CEO positions within Fortune 500 companies in the US, with just 52 women serving as chief executives. That’s basically unchanged from 2023, when there were 53 female leaders in the Fortune 500. It’s also a huge disparity when compared to the breakdown of the workforce in the US, as women make up 47 percent of the labor force. It’s a complicated answer as to why more women aren’t in senior and leadership roles, with multiple factors at play.

The underrepresentation of women in leadership roles is influenced by systemic barriers, cultural biases, and structural inequalities, to name just a few broad reasons. One significant factor is the “glass ceiling:” an invisible barrier that impedes women’s advancement to top executive positions. It’s a far more complicated issue than one article can touch on, but in short, it’s a men promoting and preferring peers they share interests and commonalities with (who tend to be other men), and an implicit societal bias that associates leadership qualities with men, but sees those same qualities as bossy or abrasive in women.

women-led wednesday - carve design models

Carve Designs has been making lifestyle and outdoor clothing for women for more than 20 years. Photo: Carve Designs

Of course, that’s not the only factor. Women often take a few years out of the workforce to have children between roughly 25 and 35, meaning they’re missing out on career-advancing promotions during that time. They also return to the workforce with a few years less experience than their male peers because of that. Women also often bear a disproportionate share of caregiving responsibilities, which can limit their availability for roles that demand long hours. Doing a larger share of caregiving also means women often feel more significant impacts when workplaces don’t provide work-life balance policies, such as flexible schedules or solid parental leave policies. Those issues lead to a lack of mentorship and support, which means men continue to be given more leadership roles.

But the good news, at least when it comes to Women-Led Wednesday, is that the number of companies owned by women is growing, especially in the travel and outdoor industries. Rather than trying to work their way up in established companies, more and more women are starting their own companies from the ground up. In 2018, there were roughly 100 companies on the Women-Led Wednesday retailer list. Today, there are more than 800.

If you’re shopping around Thanksgiving this year, consider making a conscious decision to browse gear from brands owned by women before going to the usual box stores or buying from the same global brands. Here are 11 of Matador Network‘s favorite travel and outdoor brands owned or led by women, all of which are having serious sales on and around Women-Led Wednesday.

We hope you love the gear we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to make a purchase. Sale information is accurate as of the time of publication.

Kula Cloth

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For women who find themselves occasionally needing to pee outdoors, but don’t want to carry toilet paper or look for recognizable leaves, Kula Cloth is the answer. It’s a machine-washable, antibacterial cloth used when you have to pop a squat in the woods. There’s a funky design on one side to make it very clear which side you touch with your hand, and it snaps shut so the dirty part folds against itself when not in use. It also clips easily to backpacks (or anything else), so you don’t need to smush it in your bag with everything else. You can use it a few times in a row between washings, in case you’re doing a full-day hike. Kula Cloth was started by a former backpacking guide in Washington state and is named after Kula Khangri, the tallest mountain in Bhutan.

Sale info: Varies, starting at $14.95 (regularly $22)

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Wild Rye

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Wild Rye started nearly a decade ago and was one of the first brands out there to make mountain bike clothing just for women. It was during a time when biking brands were almost exclusively for men, and if they were lucky, women would have maybe one or two available options. Wild Rye changed that when it launched in 2016, and now, it’s expanded into a full range of outdoor and general lifestyle clothing, still focused on women. Cassie Abel, Wild Rye’s founder, started Women-Led Wednesday — so the brand takes women’s leadership and advancement quite seriously.

Sale info: 25 percent off everything on WildRye.com, free shipping for order over $75. Runs Nov. 21-Dec. 2

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Lo and Sons

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For luggage and travel bags that hit the sweet spot between stylish, high quality, and sustainable — not to mention affordable — take a peek at Lo and Sons. The brand was started by Helen Lo, a woman in her 60s (so it’s literally never too late to start a business if you have a great idea) who couldn’t find a bag she could carry without back pain. The brand makes very highly rated bags, has a huge selection of products made with vegan leather alternatives, and is continuously introducing new sustainability initiatives, like lines of bags made with up-cycled materials and fabrics. The Catalina Deluxe is probably its most popular bag, with a separate bottom shoe compartment reviewers seem to be obsessed with.

Sale info: Up to 70 percent off site-wide through Dec. 1

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Carve Designs

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If you love the surfer, Cali-vibe lifestyle, whether or not you’ve ever touched a surfboard in your life, you may like Carve Designs. It was one of the first women-owned brands to put a focus on sustainable materials, and uses a majority of recycled and recyclable materials. It’s also one of a small (but growing) number of brands that uses women of various sizes and shapes in its marketing without calling attention to it — you know, almost like it’s normal for bodies to come in different sizes. Crazy, right?

Sale info: 75 percent off sale items, 30 percent off a select “Cyber Collection” (gear never marked down before).

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SteamLine Luggage

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We dare you to find a luggage brand more stylish than SteamLine, which makes various bags that can’t be described as anything other than old-school glamorous. It was founded by a traveling mom in 2008 who wanted luggage that was both chic and high-quality. Think of your favorite trendy roller bag that’ll last forever, and combine it with the kind of bag Grace Kelly would have used, and boom — you have Steamline Luggage. Bags are definitely pricey, but designed to last a lifetime. Depending on the bag, it’ll be made with materials like sustainable or vegan leather, recycled bottles, or natural linen. It also offers a repair service, whether your bag is still under warranty or not.

Sale info: 30 percent off sitewide.

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Skida

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Skida makes stylish, cute, and quality-made beanies and headwear, which may not in itself be super unique. But what is unique is the woman-owned brand’s commitment to being good business leaders. The company has a commitment to ensuring it’s always pushing to be “more inclusive and actively anti-racist in our local and national community.” It also produces everything on-site in Vermont (a state that knows a thing or two about keeping warm), and has a fiber waste rate of just one percent — meaning 99 percent of its materials end up in products, not on a factory floor.

Sale info: 25 percent off everything. Runs Nov.27-Dec.2.

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trekALLa

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It’s 2024, and it’s common knowledge that athletes come in all shapes and sizes. Yet for some reason, most outdoor brands only seem to go up to a size XL for women — maybe an XXL, if you’re lucky. Enter trekALLa: a brand that caters to female athletes in sizes up to 6X. It ensures items are cut to fit curvier women, rather than rather scaling up straighter cuts designed for narrower bodies. It’s a fairly new brand, so right now, it makes just a few basic items. But if you’re looking for an inclusive brand for some outdoor basics, trekALLa could be a good fit (pun intended).

Sale info: 25 percent off leggings, half-off offers on hoodes, and more

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Shredly and Curious Creatures

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Okay, just to avoid any confusion: Shredly and Curious Creatures are two unaffiliated companies. They’re probably competitors. But the gap they fill in the outdoor industry — bike clothing for women in a range of sizes — is so big that there’s plenty of room for multiple brands. Shredly has a wider range of gear, while Curious Creatures makes super fun, matchy-matchy bike kits so you can send it in style. This writer crushes winter rides in a pair of mud-stained Shredly Limitless Pants, and I’m itching to try a few pieces from Curious Creatures, too. Shredly goes up to a size 20, while Curious Creatures sizes up to women’s size 18.

Shredly sale info: Up to 70 percent off sitewide

Curious Creatures sale info: 25 percent off flash sale

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Oboz

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Move over, big-name hiking shoe brands: Oboz is a serious contender for the best hiking boots around, and better still, it’s female-led. President Amy Beck worked at global brands like SmartWool and Cole Haan before taking the reins at Oboz, and now leads the company known for making footwear awarded by everyone from Outside Magazine to Gear Junkie. Oboz plants a tree for every pair sold, displays its sustainability and diversity initiatives for the world to see, and keeps shoe prices affordable — waterproof hiking boots are about $135 during the brand’s Women-Led Wednesday sales.

Sale info: 25 percent off sitewide

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Kleen Kanteen

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Kleen Kanteen is a reusable drinkwear brand founded in 2004 and originally sold at music festivals across California as an alternative to plastic bottles. For the last 20 years, it’s been co-owned by Michelle Kalberer, who has expanded the brand into a wide range of travel drinkwear and food storage gear. It’s a 1% for the Planet company and a certified climate-neutral business, and makes about 95 percent of its products with recycled steel. It also offers budget-friendly replacement parts, rather than requiring users to buy a whole new item if something breaks or wears out.

Sale info: 25 percent off sitewide

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Published on November 27, 2024 10:43

An Invertebrate Zoo May Be the Quirky Attraction Your Next Vacation Needs

In the wild, sea urchins decorate their spiny bodies with bits of shells and fallen mangrove leaves. But the urchins who live at the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Colorado, have expanded options, thanks to an intern graduate student who 3D-printed for them tiny hats to see which styles they’d choose. Most of the urchins have a sophisticated flair, opting for top hats, though a few have gravitated toward Viking helmets and baseball caps.

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This experiment isn’t meant to be cute. It’s legitimate scientific research to learn more about the “covering behavior” sea urchins display in the wild – though it does serve the unintentional purpose of showing how endearing urchins can be. And that’s part of the point, said Sara Stevens, Director of Animal Collections at the Butterfly Pavilion. “It helps people really see them as animals with personalities, not just little balls of spikes,” she says.

Invertebrates, such as sea urchins, are animals that don’t have a backbone – or any bones, for that matter. Examples of invertebrates include spiders, bumblebees, beetles, and lobsters, and they make up somewhere between 97 and 99 percent of all animal species on Earth, depending who you ask.

“These remarkable creatures are more than fascinating. They are the foundation of all life on Earth, playing critical roles in pollination, nutrient cycling, and maintaining the balance of ecosystems that sustain us all,” said Stevens.

That means as humans, our well-being depends on a thriving and diverse invertebrate population. But they’re increasingly in trouble due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. So it’s more important than ever for us humans to find an expanded appreciations of the fascinating cast of characters in the invertebrate world. Some of those are charming gateway animals (meaning exciting animals that serve as an entry point for someone to engage more deeply with the natural world), such as octopuses and butterflies. Others can take a bit of warming up to, at least for some of us — especially for those that crawl.

Fortunately, a great way to nurture the process of becoming more comfortable with some of the more unique creatures around the world is to visit an invertebrate zoo when you travel. “Once we start sharing that these animals exhibit really interesting behaviors, people start to lower their guard, and that’s one of my favorite things in the world,” said Stevens.

Besides helping to expand personal boundaries and fostering curiosity, some invertebrate zoos are also important research centers and habitat conservation hubs, so buying an admission ticket helps fund that work. They’re also great places to learn about local fauna and how to help protect it. If you’re planning on outdoor activities while you travel, like trekking, cycling, or paddling, going to an invertebrate zoo ahead of time can add an extra layer of adventure. That way, you’ll be able to identify some of the mollusks (like snails and clams), annelids (worms), and arthropods (insects) you may see while outdoors in a new part of the country or world.

Some invertebrate zoos are considered “insectariums,” focusing solely on either butterflies, or insects in general. Others, like the Butterfly Pavilion, expand the scope into marine invertebrates and arachnids. Regardless of who lives at the zoo you visit, Stevens offers these tips to make the most out of your trip.

Talk to staff members. They can tell you all of the animals’ quirks plus their favorite hiding spots, so you’ll see some you might have otherwise unknowingly passed by.Be patient and observant. “I see a lot of people glaze over an exhibit, not realizing it has tons of animals in it,” said Stevens. “But if you look closely and you take your time, you can really see some incredible behaviors.”For a quieter experience, go in the afternoons, when there’s a smaller chance of encountering school groups on field trips.Seek out Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited facilities, and only visit facilities that maintain high standards of animal welfare.And if you want to get a butterfly to land on you, stand very still in a sunny spot, said Stevens. It also helps to wear bright colors, like yellows and reds. Remember, it’s okay if they touch you, but never touch back. Always check the ground before you step backward to make sure a butterfly isn’t sunning behind you on the ground.

Invertabrae zoos aren’t as popular or as well known as regular zoos or animal sanctuaries, but there are more out there than you’d think. Here are a few notable ones in tourism hot spots around the world.

Bayer Insectarium (Saint Louis, Missouri)

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Like many invertebrate zoos, one of the main attractions of the Bayer Insectarium at the Saint Louis Zoo is butterflies. There, they flutter about in a tropical, geodesic dome shared with everything from rare flowers to dragonflies and turtles. The Insectarium has an additional 20 or so major exhibit areas that house more than 100 species of live insects and arthropods, including centipedes, flamboyant flower beetles, silk worms, and venomous golden orb-weaver spiders.

The insectarium is part of an active research and conservation breeding facility, and visitors can watch entomologists at work and even ask them questions about their research. If the insects aren’t enough to keep you occupied, the surrounding 90-acre AZA-accredited St. Louis Zoo should do the trick.

Address: 1 Government Drive St. Louis, MO 63110Hours: Varies, currently 9 AM-4 PMAdmission: Free (as is the zoo)

Butterfly Pavilion (Westminster, Colorado)

Photo: ZHartman Photography/Shutterstock

One of the Butterfly Pavilion ’s most popular exhibits is a 7,000-square-foot, walk-through tropical rainforest, home to a couple thousand butterflies. It also maintains a focus on marine invertebrates, with Colorado’s only Caribbean coral exhibit, complete with horseshoe crabs, shrimp, and sea stars. Other not-to-miss experiences include the tarantula ambassadors Rosie and Goldie (who guests can hold), a leaf-cutter ant colony, and native outdoor habitat gardens, as well as a play area popular with kids and families. Interestingly, the Butterfly Pavilion is peculiarly popular for date nights, said Stevens.

The Butterfly Pavilion is the world’s first AZA-accredited standalone invertebrate zoo, and as a nonprofit organization, focuses much of its scientific and research work on local and global habitat conservation and community outreach. It’s about 20 minutes north of downtown Denver, making it easy to reach for families visiting the city.

Address: 6252 W 104th Ave, Westminster, CO 80020Hours: Daily, 9 AM-5 PMAdmission: $10.95 for children, $13.95 for seniors 65+, $15.95 for adults

The Audubon Insectarium at the Audubon Nature Institute (New Orleans, Louisiana)

audobon insect house - invertebrate zoos

Photo: Kit Leong/Shutterstock

This insectarium is particularly beloved for its butterfly garden overlooking the Mississippi River, especially as guests can reserve a spot to help butterflies take their first flight as they leave the pupa stage of their lifecycle. But it also has more than 50 displays with live arthropods, or bugs with exoskeletons (like beetles, centipedes, and spiders), as well as a honey bee colony with clear viewing walls. It takes about an hour to go through (unless you stop for a snack to eat some of the locals at the Bug Appétit exhibit).

The facility is in downtown New Orleans in the historic former US customs house, next to the Audubon Aquarium. Both are AZA-accredited and maintain a heavy focus on conservation, research, and community outreach, and one ticket is good for entry to both destinations.

Address: 1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130Hours: Daily, 10 AM-5 PMAdmission: $34.95 for children and seniors, $35.95 for adults (includes aquarium)

The Richard M. Bohart Museum of Entomology (Davis, California)

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The Bohart Museum houses one of the largest bug collections in the United States, with more than seven million species from around the world, including 35,000 tardigrades (also called “water bears”). It also hosts the California Insect Survey, a storehouse of insect biodiversity first collected in the 1930s. As for live animals, there’s usually a few to be found, including walking sticks (also known as stick bugs, or phasmids), tarantulas, and hissing cockroaches.

The museum is part of the University of California at Davis, and at first glance, seems small. But it’s a working entomology lab, which means the students there can expand your visit into a much longer affair by showing you cases that aren’t on public display. Visiting is completely free, but the hours can vary, so check the website in advance before your trip.

Address: University of California, Davis, Academic Surge, 455 Crocker Ln Room 1124, Davis, CA 95616Hours: Varies; currently Tue & Wed, 1:00-4:30 PMAdmission: Free

The National Butterfly Center (Mission, Texas)

invertebrate zoos - texas butterfly center

Photo: Danita Delimont/Shutterstock

On the southern tip of Texas in the Rio Grande Valley sits the National Butterfly Center. It’s an outdoor sanctuary where more than 200 species of butterflies have been spotted. According to the center, that’s the “greatest volume and variety of wild, free-flying butterflies in the nation.” The flutterers aren’t contained, but choose to stay there, thanks to the welcoming subtropical climate – and the fact that Butterfly Center staff created the perfect habitat for them by planting the largest native plant botanical garden in the country.

While roaming the trails in the 100-acre preserve, you’re bound to see a lot of other interesting insects, birds, and other native wildlife. The center is part of the North American Butterfly Association, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching people how to create and conserve butterfly habitats.

Address: 3333 Butterfly Park, Mission, TX 78572Hours: Daily, 8 AM-5 PMAdmission: $5 for children, $10 for adults

Dr. Beynon’s Bug Farm (St. Davids, Wales, UK)

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A combination of wildlife conservatory and farm, The Bug Farm includes a museum with one of the UK’s largest private butterfly collections, a tropical invertebrate zoo with live bugs from around the world, and even a bug art gallery. It sits on a 100-acre farm and wildlife habitat, with lots of walking trails.

The whole experience, including a cafe serving up insect-based dishes like spiced cumin and mealworm hummus or mixed insect pakoras. The entire experience is meant to encourage and teach guests about sustainable farming and eating, while also inspiring people to look for and appreciate invertebrates in their daily lives. The Bug Farm also dives into conservation work, including planting woodland habitats and trying to bring back the locally extinct marsh fritillary butterfly.

Address: Lower Harglodd Farm, St Davids SA62 6BX, United KingdomHours: Varies seasonallyAdmission: 8.50 euros for adults (about $8.50), 6.5 euros for children (about $6.50)

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Published on November 27, 2024 10:18

What Happens When an Airline Loses Your Car Seat? These Are the 5 Steps to Follow.

There are a few non-negotiables when flying with young children. Near the top of that list is knowing that your car seat will be waiting for you when you land (though sometimes it can feel like an adequate number of snacks is just as high up there). Getting to your destination airport is only one part of the trip, after all, and without a car seat on the other side you can’t finish the journey if there is any driving involved.

Waiting anxiously as the last bags are picked up and there’s no car seat in sight is a nightmare situation. It’s also one I found myself in on a recent trip to Türkiye. My family and I landed back in our home city of Denver after a 13-hour direct flight from Istanbul on Turkish Airlines. We waited dutifully by the oversized baggage claim, and one by one we saw the handful of parents pick up their strollers and car seats. Fifteen minutes passed, then 30. We asked security and then one of the airport employees, and they impatiently told us to have some patience. Then car seats from the next flight started showing up. It became pretty clear waiting wasn’t going to lead to a different result for us.

Over the next two hours, we sat in the missing baggage claim area as the representative for Turkish Airlines intermittently made calls to the back of luggage area, then to the airline, and then to seemingly each international airline’s missing bag department. It was far from a priority, however, and the easier-to-solve claims from the long line of other passengers kept getting moved ahead of us. Our claim tag showed that the car seat was indeed in the airport, somewhere, but no one could figure out where. The best guess anyone had was that it was stuck in one of the bag sorters.

Finally, after being told we couldn’t wait in the missing baggage claim area any longer by multiple workers, we were told to file a missing bag report and the car seat would be delivered to our house when they found it. Also, Turkish Airlines didn’t have any loaner car seats and neither did Lufthansa or any other partner airlines. In fact, there apparently weren’t any car seats available in the whole airport. We were out of luck.

The one bright side is that we were on the return side of our trip. I took an Uber back home, then drove back to the airport and picked up my wife and daughter, extra car seat in tow. It was about four extra hours of travel time we hadn’t planned for. Three days later, our car seat was delivered to our door.

Denver International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. The chances of the same car seat mishap happening to you are low — lost luggage is rare, and new bag tracking technology helps (Apple AirTags in particular are poised to be a game changer). That is small solace for anyone it does happen to. Especially considering that while airlines have to compensate passengers impacted by flight delays and cancellations, there’s no compensation for all of the lost time trying to track down a bag.

During and after the incident, I was peppered with tips of what to do by airline employees. I wish my exact situation on no one. However, if you do find yourself at your destination with no car seat to be found, these are the steps to take.

Baggage chaos at Schiphol: Unattended suitcases, strollers pile up. Piles of suitcases and strollers are left unattended all over the airport. photo taken on 29 June 2022

Photo: Fery Iswandy/Shutterstock

Before you leave the baggage claim: Speak to a bag handler

Before spiralling into too much of a panic, stop and ask the baggage handlers in the oversized area. They are the go-between from the plane to the building. Eyes on the ground are helpful, and they can take an extra look behind the scenes. I’m not saying they will be happy to do so (people rarely enjoy extra work being put on their plate, regardless of the job description), but this is an important first step particularly for international flights in order to try and figure things out before leaving the customs area and not being able to backtrack.

When that doesn’t work: Head to the missing baggage claim for an airport-wide search

Missing baggage claims are typically near the baggage carousels for domestic flights, or right outside of customs for international arrivals. There’s a high chance there will be a line. In the best case scenario, the car seat was moved to a different pick-up location because of being an awkward shape and size. The attendant can make the calls to find that out without having to trek around the airport searching for yourself.

Here, you can also check to see the last place your baggage tag was scanned to see if it even made it to your destination. Airlines today have a pretty good idea of the general area a bag is in even if it isn’t where it’s supposed to be.

The car seat didn’t arrive: File a claim and ask for a loaner

Maybe your car seat didn’t even make the flight. Maybe, like mine, it goes stuck somewhere in the destination airport and can’t be recovered. Either way, it’s time to file a claim and list the value of the car seat, description, and address for delivery. This isn’t a quick process. It is one of the most important, however, as quickly filing a claim insures you are on the bag search list and you can later file for compensation if the bag is truly lost to the ether.

The conversation here will naturally flow to the possibility of a loaner. Most airlines have loaner car seats on hand for when this happens. They apparently go quickly at busy airports, however, so be sure to ask the attendant to check with partner airlines as well.

There are no loaners available: Prepare to pay extra

The last resort if there are no loaner car seats available is accepting the fact that your trip just got more expensive. Some airports have car seat rental companies in the building that charge varying amounts. The missing baggage claim attendant can point you in the direction and fill you in on reimbursement options from the airline. If that isn’t an option, make some calls to the rental car companies at the airport and see if any are available. This, too, will come with a cost.

If you don’t immediately need the car seat because you’re in a place with good public transportation, trains, and shuttles, then you’re in a bit of luck. If not, there are a few other options. Carshare services like Uber have the option to request a ride with a car seat. These are more expensive than a typical ride, and also are only available in select cities (New York City, Los Angeles, and Orlando in Uber’s case). Local taxi companies may also have car seat options. The rides will take longer to arrive and it doesn’t help the rest of your trip’s car seat needs, but it’s better than nothing.

The last resort is to find the nearest store selling car seats and eat the cost.

After the trip: Follow up on your claims

This is where the initial claim is important. Airlines will generally compensate passengers for bags they lose or delay. Even if the car seat eventually makes it back to your home, you can be refunded for certain related expenses depending on the airline and country you’re in. Just make sure to keep your receipts for car seat rentals, purchases, and special rides.

Stay in communication with the airline help service each day to follow up on your claim and the status of your missing car seat. Sometimes it will work itself out on its own and the airline will deliver the car seat to your home or accommodations within 24 hours. Be sure to carefully check for any damage and report it immediately if found.

As a parent, these travel hiccups are hard to swallow — especially with all of the extra considerations and packing that comes with traveling with kids. The joys of traveling as a family are in the end worth the risk and annoyances. Looking back at our trip to Türkiye, our missing car seat fiasco inevitably comes up. But it was one small part of an otherwise incredible journey and the memories built while there last forever.

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Buy Now – The Hideaway Duffel

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Published on November 27, 2024 09:42

November 26, 2024

This Duffel and Backpack Combo Instantly Became Our Preferred Luggage for Family Travel

Taking dental advice from a podiatrist is about as wise as listening to a city slicker tell you about the latest camping gear. From that perspective, when planning a family trip, why should you buy a piece of luggage from a brand that doesn’t specialize in making gear for families? This line of thought led me to try The Hideaway Duffel from No Reception Club, an upstart luggage maker that makes this duffel/backpack crossover and a couple small accessories to accompany it, specifically for traveling with kids. Over seven years of testing gear for Matador Network I’ve become jaded about “new” backpacks and similar contraptions, and to tell you the truth, I was reluctant to try this one – but boy, am I glad I did. My wife and I travel frequently with our now three-year-old, and after one trip this pack replaced the setup we’d been using for family trips for the past two years.

Looking for the best weekender bag? Check out Matador’s detailed reviews: The Best Weekender Travel Bags for Every Type of Quick Getaway This Weekender Bag Is a Fashionable, Functional Men’s Classic This Weekender Duffel is Perfect for Short Work Trips The North Face Base Camp Voyager Duffel: a Straightforward Travel Staple

We hope you love The Hideaway Duffel from No Reception Club! 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.

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No Reception Club’s The Hideaway Duffel specs collection of items included in The Hideaway Duffel

Photo courtesy No Reception Club

Before getting into the full review of The Hideaway Duffel from No Reception Club, it’s important to grasp its metrics.

The Hideaway Duffel is 22” by 13” by 9” – meeting carry-on requirements for all major airlines.Capacity: 42 liters (about the same as an overnight backcountry backpack)Weight: 3.3 pounds, up to five pounds with straps and accessories. When we fully packed it, the duffel weighed about 12 pounds.Made largely of recycled polyester with an odor-resistant lining and a 100 percent aluminum foil insulated pocket.I particularly appreciated that the pack shipped in a biodegradable wrapper.Black and Olive color schemes are available. We chose Olive, to match our daughter’s name (Olivia).What stood out about The Hideaway Duffel from No Reception Club The Cubby in The Hideaway Duffel from No Reception Club

The Cubby in The Hideaway Duffel from No Reception Club

Plenty of clothes, plenty of space. Photo: Alisha Wenger

As a travel editor, I can firmly attest to the fact that “family-friendly gear” generally doesn’t align with my “carry-on only” ethos. My family recently road tripped around central Mexico for two weeks with a large suitcase, and while it got the job done, we had to check it for the flights on either end of the trip. Not a huge deal – but another step to an airport process that’s already stressful enough with a tantrumming toddler in tow. This experience is what led me to give The Hideaway Duffel a try. No Reception Club promises their duffel meets carry-on requirements, even when it’s fully stuffed.

For a recent trip to take our daughter on the Polar Express train in Durango, Colorado, stuff The Hideaway Duffel we did. We needed multiple days’ worth of clothing – including swimwear, because a stop at the local hot springs was on the itinerary – for three people. Plus, toiletries and accessories for the family and a slew of small but important gadgets to keep a three-year-old engaged and entertained during a multi-day trip.

A few things stood out to us during our first use of the duffel. First, its internal liner and the laundry sack that comes included feature cute cartoon-ish prints of family travel, which all three of us appreciated. Next, the removable packing organizer – The Cubby, as the brand calls it – split the duffel’s main compartment into one large and four small compartments. These were perfect for organizing our daughter’s clothes separate from ours, with ample room for accessories like beanies, gloves, hair ties, and more. The liner itself can be tossed in the laundry machine.

Before becoming parents, packing for a trip was a relatively stress-free – dare I say, inspiring and occasionally even enjoyable – endeavor. It’s become trickier with a kiddo, largely because the states are much higher if we forget something. Among the noblest features of The Hideaway Duffel is how easy it is to see everything when the bag is open. We nearly forgot Olivia’s toiletries, had we not noticed during our final check, and having that eagle-eye view is what helped us notice.

Another nice feature about The Hideaway Duffel is that it converts into a backpack via straps zipped up in the external compartment on its underside. This was incredibly useful at times when I needed to carry both the duffel and my daughter. It’s not a pack I’d take into the backcountry on a rugged expedition, but for the purposes of general family travel, it excels.

We paired The Hideaway Duffel with The Sidekick, a combo hip pack/fanny pack that my wife, Alisha, immediately adopted as her new travel purse. It has room for purse-y things, as well as a couple diapers, wipes, and emergency supplies. For $5, it’s possible to add on hanging straps and carabiners so the duffel can hang in the closet for easy, chest-level access.

Our daughter recently dropped diapers (hallelujah!) but we brought a few just in case. Beyond keeping one in The Sidekick we put a few in the duffel’s front pouch. My wife appreciated the extra room to bring a hairdryer (because hotel room hairdryers are rarely trustworthy) and her work notebook. We found the duffel to have plenty of room to fit clothes for three and extras for one or two.

Put together, we found the offerings from No Reception Club to be the most complete package for family travel that we’ve discovered in three years of searching, and to boot, it doesn’t even take up that much space.

What could be improved about The Hideaway Duffel the hideaway duffel from no reception club

Ready to go. Photo: Alisha Wenger

As a vagabond remote worker, I always travel with a laptop-friendly backpack with work accessories (a laptop and charger, headphones, and a notebook, at the very least). The Hideaway Duffel didn’t remove the need to do that, as it doesn’t have a laptop pouch. That said, this being my primary gripe after a weekend trip is a compliment in itself. Overall, The Hideaway Duffel is a dependable and very efficient bag. Initially, we were a bit confused by all the straps. It takes a couple times of packing and unpacking the duffel to really learn the ins and outs of what each pouch, pocket, strap, and zipper does or conceals. But once you figure all that out, it’s an incredibly productive pack. By the end of the weekend, it felt quite homey.

I found the sternum strap functional but awkward at first. It took a moment to get used to having a pack of this dimension (and packed so tightly) strapped closely to both my back and chest. Though, I often find sternum straps annoying and generally don’t use them unless I’m hiking uphill and want to more evenly distribute weight across my body. I don’t know that I’ll need this feature to get through airports or road trips, but it’s there in case I do. I feel that we didn’t fully optimize the pack for the first trip, and that it’s one of those things where the more we use it, the more we’ll take advantage of everything it offers.

Guess it’s time to plan another trip and get back on the road.

Price: The Hideaway Duffel ($295) and The Sidekick ($85)

Buy Now – The Sidekick

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Published on November 26, 2024 14:08

You Can Buy Upcycled Airplane Parts On Your Next Flight With Germany’s Flagship Carrier

In the US, the inflight magazine has gone the way of the dodo. Delta, Southwest, and American Airlines all stopped publishing their magazines in 2020 and 2021, while the last print issue of Hemispheres, United Airlines’ magazine, was published in September 2024 after a 32-year run. The only remaining inflight publication in the country is Hawaiian Airlines’ Hana Hou, and rumor has it that it’s hanging by a thread. In Germany, however, the inflight magazine is still going strong.

In the seat pockets of every aircraft operated by German Carrier Lufthansa, you’ll find an issue of Worldshop, a shopping magazine. While you won’t find inspirational travel narratives, gorgeous photo essays, or beautiful advertisements for Lufthansa’s destinations within the pages of Worldshop, what you will find is over 6,000 items from over 400 brands, all of which are for sale.

Worldshop is essentially a catalog that offers a large variety of items, some of which are travel or aviation-focused like Lufthansa-branded suitcases, packing cubes, AirTags, model airplanes, or even Playmobil sets featuring pilots and flight attendants. Some aren’t at all, however. There is tableware, dog beds, and even food processors available for purchase, too.

While on a recent 90-minute flight from Frankfurt, Germany, to Nantes, France, I picked up the current issue of Worldshop and leafed through its glossy pages. There was no WiFi on board, I hadn’t downloaded any Netflix content on my phone, and I was much too tired to dive into my book, so Worldshop turned out to be a welcome distraction. What instantly caught my attention was not the well-priced Ooni pizza oven or the many fancy pocket umbrellas for sale, however, but the prominent Upcycling Collections.

Worldshop’s Upcycling Collections consists of a selection of limited-edition items made from aviation materials from various European airlines, including Lufthansa, Austrian and SWISS! You’ll find furniture, key rings, toiletry bags, and more, made from airplane parts, including “aircraft skin, headrest covers and uniforms,” Worldshop explains on its website.

Photos: Morgane Croissant

Some of the unusual items for sale include a Lufthansa drinks trolley priced at €2,398 (over $2,500), a pencilcase made of an old life jacket for €22 ($23), and a sofa-fuselage combo priced at €2,899 (over $3,000). Simply put, you can sit in the airplane and pass the time by buying bits of it.

If something from Worldshop, whether from the Upcycling Collections or the rest of the catalog, catches your eye, you can purchase it during your flight. All you need to do is inform one of the flight attendants and they’ll take care of the order. You can redeem Miles & More award miles for your purchase, use your credit card, or use a combination of the two.

Unlike with SkyMall, the inflight catalog full of bizarre items that was so ubiquitous in US airlines back in the 90s, your goods won’t be waiting for you at luggage claim, but they should be delivered straight to your home.

While it’s more fun to leaf through the magazine during your flight, there are also seven Worldshop stores in airports throughout Germany and Austria where you can browse to pass the time, and maybe buy some airplane parts.

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Published on November 26, 2024 11:23

This Artsy Hotel Pairs Modern Fittings With Classic London Views

Europe’s perkiest hospitality brand puts chic lodging, art, extracurriculars, and gastronomy under one roof. And, in the case of art’otel Battersea Power Station, that roof is topped with a vertigo-inducing infinity pool and cocktail bar overlooking London’s powerful landmark.

art’otel’s UK debut on Electric Boulevard joins a family of art-inspired hotels in the Netherlands, Germany, and Croatia, with art’otel Rome tipped for 2025. The concept starts with the Signature Artist curating a permanent exhibition and continues with a non-stop montage of resident artists and immersive activities for guests.

I walked into art’otel Battersea’s lipstick-red lobby on a misty November evening and was greeted by quirky photographic twists on British idiosyncrasies. It felt like stepping backstage at a Swingin’ Sixties club, or perhaps the set of a Wes Anderson movie, or even tumbling down the rabbit hole after Alice.

We hope you love art’otel Battersea Power Station! 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.

In the art’beat studio with Emmanuel Unaji Emmanuel Unaji working on art

Emmanuel Unaji working in studio. Staying at art’otel Battersea Power Station is an experience as much as it is an accommodation. Photo courtesy art’otel Battersea Power Station

Guests (and passersby) have an open invitation to swing by the art’beat studio and meet the artist. The London-born Nigerian creative Emmanuel Unaji, known for his fusion of painting, collage, and fine art, was wrapping up an eight-week residency during my stay. Unaji’s canvases of Joyce Bryant, the Lijadu Sisters, and other symbolic figures watched over his latest piece.

Talking about his appointment, Unaji told me, “I want my work to break down barriers and to make people ask questions; to bring out their inner child.” This echoes art’otel’s culture of igniting curiosity, fostering new connections, and making time for play at the art’beat studio.

The hotel’s “heartbeat” studio hosts weekly candle making sessions, pottery classes, and abstract painting plus seasonal workshops. Hotel guests are welcomed into the fold by a clutch of regulars. Resident artists devise their own workshops; as a fashion designer working with wearable art, Unaji led a tote bag-painting masterclass.

Art studios by Jaime Hayon at art’otel Battersea Power Station jamie hayon in studio at art'otel Battersea Power Station

Jaime Hayon. Photo courtesy art’otel Battersea Power Station

art’otel Battersea Power Station is unique in that the Signature Artist, the Spanish visionary Jaime Hayon, is also an interior designer. While touring art’otel – complimentary tours run daily – my guide explained the nuances of Hayon’s aesthetic and the intentional lack of hard edges. All walls and furnishings are curved, thus – I learned – explaining the sense of ease and joy I’d felt at arrival. Hayon’s paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and furniture fill every room and communal space. He hand-picked all other artworks, including KlunderBie’s whimsical lobby photo series.

All 164 domains are designated Art Rooms and Art Studios with the Masterpiece Street coming with premium views and luxury perks. My Junior Suite’s voluptuous furniture and lively palette offset the industrial monolith and overcast weather. Entertainment came in the form of a Roberts vinyl turntable and a stack of London-centric sounds – Bowie and Winehouse – to spin while leafing through Hayon’s monograph. Further goodies included a yoga mat, a Dyson hairdryer, and Kevin Murphy bath salts.

I was impressed by the Iperespresso which pumped out barista-quality coffee and considered canceling my dinner plans after diving into Hayon’s Vuelta lounge chair.

Skyline rest and relaxation at art’otel Battersea Power Station suite at art'otel Battersea Power Station

Photo: Matthew Shaw, courtesy of art’otel Battersea Power Station

Despite seeing photos of art’otel Battersea’s rooftop pool and hot tub, I wasn’t prepared for the experience of swimming almost within touching distance of the iconic chimneys. Particularly when swimming on an inky winter’s night, it feels like you could drift off the edge of the 16-story building. I’d recommend riding the elevator straight down to the basement spa for a post-swim sauna.

Whereas non-guests can hang out at the seasonal cocktail bar or bag a ticket to the festive rooftop cinema, the art’otel pool is for guests’ sole use. The only other way to get a selfie with the chimneys is through the weekly aqua aerobics class. Yoga classes are held on the rooftop during summer.

Bars and restaurants at art’otel Battersea Power Station JOIA restaurant at art'otel Battersea Power Station

JOIA restaraunt. Photo: Matt Russell

A creative afternoon can be debriefed over tapas, petiscos, and port cocktails at the 15th-floor restaurant and 14th-floor bar, JOIA. Meaning “Jewel” in Portuguese, Henrique Sá Pessoa and Jose Jara’s collaboration brings Iberian cuisine to London’s newest neighborhood. JOIA is a solid pick for pescatarians and vegetarians although carnivores can snap up Basque Txuleton steak. With chimney views and kitsch pastel-hued decor, it’s hard to stay for just the one. I lingered over a Renais gin cocktail infused with olive oil and enjoyed the buzz of guests and local residents.

TOZI Pizzeria and Cicchetti Bar serves table-service breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. This rotunda doubles up as an art gallery of tapestries and further KlunderBie photography orbiting around a tree-like centerpiece. Besides artisanal pastries and healthy (and not-so-healthy) plates, the breakfast menu offered the British staples of crumpets and eggs with soldiers.

The verdict on Battersea bedroom in art'otel Battersea Power Station

Photo: Matthew Shaw, courtesy of art’otel Battersea Power Station

Having lived in London when the Battersea Power Station revamp was getting underway, I was curious to see how the development panned out. As with other Zone 1 neighborhoods, Circus West Village and Electric Boulevard are community-focused hubs with plenty of value for art’otel guests.

The Power Station Turbine Hall synergizes high street favorites and polished champagne counters alongside ping pong and crazy golf-themed bars. There’s a theater tucked under the railway arches and the riverside forecourt hosts festive markets, ice skating, and summer pop-ups. Lift 109 stuns with 360-degree views from the north-west chimney.

The extended Northern Line stops at Battersea Power Station, a five-minute walk from art’otel, and reaches London Bridge in minutes. The Thames Clippers riverboat is a touch costlier but the views are priceless.

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Published on November 26, 2024 11:06

Desert Meets Sea at These 2 Revitalizing Luxury Resorts in Los Cabos, Mexico

It’s 6:36 AM. The sun is slowly emerging above the morning clouds, painting the night sky in orange and yellow hues. Ocean waves break the silence, and the smell of coffee fills my nose. I’m seated on my balcony at Solaz, A Luxury Collection Resort, as I watch the cool desert air meet the warm Sea of Cortez in Los Cabos, Mexico. It creates a mystical fog that dances across the coastline for a few brief moments each morning.

I’m treated to this magic at both of the resorts I stayed at in Baja California, continuing to watch the daily drama of colliding elements unfold from my private plunge pool at Zadún, A Ritz Carlton Reserve property. In a way, this morning scene epitomizes my experience in Los Cabos, where pristine design meets wild nature, where Mexican tradition meets modern innovation, and where luxury travelers can choose between two distinct properties that mutually testify to both.

Solaz, A Luxury Collection Resort

Photo: Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, Los Cabos

True to Marriott’s Luxury Collection ethos, Solaz has 145 rooms that showcase modern Mexican design through floor-to-ceiling that frame the Sea of Cortez like living artwork. Contemporary furnishings create a sophisticated atmosphere that’s perfect for design-obsessed travelers who crave luxury. For those seeking more space, the resort offers multi-bedroom configurations ranging from intimate one-bedroom suites to the crown jewel Villa Solaz (a four-bedroom haven with 4.5 bathrooms, a private infinity pool, and direct beach access) while The Residences occupy entire floors with panoramic ocean views. They feature three bedrooms, fully equipped kitchens, and wrap-around decks with jacuzzis accommodating up to 10 guests.

Through a rope-draped hallway, I enter my king-bedroom suite. The curtains are set to automatically reveal a large double balcony that overlooks the Sea of Cortez as soon as you enter. The room and balcony are impressively spacious.; the living room comes with kitchen amenities, and the bathroom features more storage space than my New York City condo.

Photo: Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, Los Cabos

A clear highlight of the property is the Ojo de Liebre Spa, which draws inspiration from the coastal lagoon where grey and humpback whales congregate in Baja California Sur. The 12 treatment rooms (including four VIP double suites) house a comprehensive menu of therapies designed to mirror the majestic journey of these marine mammals through sensory experiences and healing treatments.

What sets this spa apart is its extensive hydrotherapy circuit, with the area’s only cryotherapy chamber alongside thalassotherapy pools. The spa marries sustainability and luxury through its mix of technology and traditional wellness: hot and ice-cold tubs, aromatherapy stations, and chromotherapy light showers all use water from the Sea of Cortez that’s filtered through its underground filtration system.

As someone who spent an obscene amount of time in the bare sun, I appreciated a moment to escape the rays with a full body massage. The masseuse even used aloe vera products on my face and body to create a cooling effect from the amount of time spent in the sun.

Photo: Shivani Somaiya

Executive Chef Elihu Yabin Sepulveda Robledo is at the helm of the dining scene at Solaz. From Al Pairo to Cascabel, two of the hotel’s on-site restaurants, the food at Solaz fuses contemporary Mexican cuisine with innovative takes on traditional favorites like mole and aguachile (raw fish or shrimp tossed in lime juice and chili water).

My culinary journey began at Al Pairo a day before the famed Día de Muertos celebration. The cactus ceviche offered a brilliant play on texture with its xoconostle (prickly pear fruit) sorbet cutting through the rich tuna aguachile. The duck breast with pink mole and chile morita gastric demonstrated the kitchen’s mastery of classic Mexican flavors.

Photo: Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, Los Cabos

On the night of Día de Los Muertos, the menu further cemented Al Pairo’s reputation, with a jicama tiradito (Peruvian sashimi-like dish) that featured a black recaudo (tomato, onion, and garlic sauce) aguachile, which provided a dramatic contrast to the bright tangerine gel. The meal culminated in a masterful bean tamale that balanced simplicity with comfort. During both dining experiences, desserts like the pan de muerto (sweet yeast bread) with orange blossom mousse showcased the pastry team’s ability to honor Mexican traditions while pushing culinary boundaries.

While Solaz positions itself as a modern sanctuary in Los Cabos, what truly sets it apart is its thoughtful and sustainable approach to luxury. From the use of seawater therapy at the spa to the culinary artistry at Al Pairo, the property creates moments of discovery while honoring its Mexican heritage and proves that sophistication and authenticity can coexist beautifully.

Zadún, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Photo: Edgardo Contreras +
Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

In true Ritz Carlton Reserve fashion, Zadún‘s 114 accommodations (87 rooms and 27 suites) are thoughtfully distributed to maximize privacy and views, making you feel like you are truly one and within a nature reserve. The standard rooms, ranging from 750 to 1,604 square feet, each feature private pools and terraces along with spacious bathrooms (some even complete with outdoor showers). Available in ocean view, partial ocean view, or resort view configurations, these rooms set a new standard for luxury in Los Cabos. What truly distinguishes Zadún, though, is the Tosoani (butler) service. A dedicated attendant is assigned to each accommodation to ensure a seamless stay.

My oceanfront suite set the tone for understated luxury from the moment I arrived, with floor-to-ceiling windows that slid completely open to a private terrace and plunge pool overlooking the Sea of Cortez. The outdoor rain shower became my daily ritual, and the room’s natural materials and handcrafted details, from woven textiles to locally sourced toiletries, created an authentic sense of place while maintaining the highest standards of comfort. Perhaps most striking was the ingenious layout that made the 1,510-square-foot space feel like a private coastal sanctuary rather than a hotel room (plus bedding that made it nearly impossible to get out of bed each morning).

Photo: Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The 29,000-square-foot Spa Alkemia is the definition of an adult playground. Featuring several hydrotherapy pools — including private cold-plunge pools, jacuzzis, saunas, and steam baths — Alkemia is well-versed in creating a truly transformative experience with treatments that work in tandem with the surrounding nature. Outside of the spa, the property has private beach access, two swimming pools, and a 24-hour fitness center complete with a private yoga studio. Guests also have the option to indulge in carefully curated experiences at the bar — the agave journey, for example, immerses you into the wide world of agave liquor.

At Zadún, Executive Chef Jeffrey Liu Rodríguez Román proudly brings his Peruvian heritage with him in a wonderful showcase of what Latin American cuisine encompasses. Humo sets itself apart with a menu that features dishes that combine South American grilling traditions with Baja’s abundant seafood and produce. Under Chef Román, who honed his craft in Peru’s top kitchens, the restaurant celebrates the use of open-flame cooking. The space itself is a testament to thoughtful design, with an open kitchen where guests can witness the choreography of fire and smoke, while the terrace offers panoramic views of the Sea of Cortez.

Photo: Edgardo Contreras +
Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The restaurant’s commitment to sustainability shapes its menu, with 85 percent of ingredients sourced locally and over 75 percent of the vegetables coming from organic gardens. The dining experience is elevated by tableside rodizio (all-you-can-eat-style) service and signature dishes like locally caught totoaba and premium cuts including Australian wagyu. For wine enthusiasts, the 400-label collection at Humo’s Sótano Cellar provides worthy accompaniment to the cuisine.

Beyond Humo, the property offers several distinct dining experiences. El Barrio transforms from a casual Mexican street food venue by day to an innovative dining destination by night. The Candil Agave Bar showcases Mexico’s spirits heritage through creative mixology, while Equis presents ocean-to-table ceviches and seafood in a casual setting. As someone who has a particular distaste for fishy seafood, I found myself slurping down the leche di tigre (spicy, citrusy marinade) that accompanied the totoaba ceviche. Somehow, through adapting his grandmother’s recipe, Chef Román taught me how to develop a taste for delicious seafood.

Photo: Diana Baldera + Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Overall, Zadún represents a different kind of luxury — one that whispers rather than announces. The property’s commitment to privacy, personalized service, and harmony with its natural surroundings creates an atmosphere that feels more like a privileged hideaway than a resort. Here, luxury is measured not in amenities but in moments: morning fog rolling across your private plunge pool, the ritual of outdoor showers under the stars, or discovering new flavors with each thoughtfully crafted dish. It’s a place that reminds you that true luxury is about connection — to nature, to culture, and to oneself.

Things to do in Los Cabos

Photo: Kartinkin77/Shutterstock

Beyond the resorts’ boundaries, San José del Cabo offers a more authentic glimpse of Mexican culture than its livelier neighbor, Cabo San Lucas. The timing of my visit during Día de Muertos provided a particularly meaningful window into local traditions, with both properties embracing the celebration through special menus, altar workshops, and cultural programming.

The area’s natural beauty reveals itself during activities like the sunset sail along the coastline, where the famous Los Cabos arch stands sentinel at the meeting point of the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez. While Puerto Los Cabos provides a sheltered marina experience, the historic art district of San José del Cabo, with its weekly Art Walk (seasonal) and gallery-lined streets, offers a cultural counterpoint to the area’s water activities.

Getting to Solaz and Zadún

Photo: ashleyk1212/Shutterstock

Both properties are approximately 35 minutes from Los Cabos International Airport. The resorts are positioned between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, offering easy access to both destinations while maintaining a sense of exclusive seclusion.

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Published on November 26, 2024 10:00

At the Most Expensive Michelin Star Restaurants in the World, Dinner Can Cost Up to $2,100 — Per Person

First created in 1926 to help encourage road trips — and therefore, purchases of tires — the Michelin restaurant rating system today is known for recognizing the very best restaurants in the world. Getting even one Michelin star is a huge honor, and only 145 restaurants in the entire world have the distinct honor of three stars. It’a designation the Michelin guide reserves only for “exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey.”

That means when you go to a Michelin restaurant, you can usually count on the cuisine being world-class — and expensive. Though there are a few Michelin-starred restaurants where you can get a meal for under $10, they’re few and far between. And a new analysis of restaurants from Chef’s Pencil, a website for recipes from professional chefs, recently shed some light on just how pricey they can be.

The top 15 most expensive Michelin-stared restaurants in the world span the globe, but four of the top 10 are in Japan. Two are in New York City, and the rest are scattered around in places like Copenhagen, San Francisco, and Paris.

To find the most most expensive Michelin-stared restaurants, the report looked at the standard price of the most expensive tasting menu on a restaurants fall and winter 2024 menus. For most menus, wine or alcohol pairings are an additional add-on cost, though a few include it in the “base” rate. Here’s what you should expect to pay at the top 15 priciest Michelin restaurants in the world.

most expensive michelin-starred restaurants in the world

Photo: Chef’s Pencil

Michelin-starred restaurants command generally high prices for multiple reasons. The most expensive Michelin-starred restaurants usually source the finest, rarest ingredients from around the globe, which can be quite pricey, especially if they’re buying in small amounts. Restaurants of this caliber usually have high attention to detail for everything from decor to tablescaping, service, and training, and it cots more to professional who can work in a restaurant of that caliber. That extends to the kitchen, of course, and the most expensive Michelin-starred restaurants employ some of the best chefs on the planet, who also require serious compensation. Finally, just having a Michelin star creates an air of rarity, allowing restaurants to draw diners willing to pay a premium for what they perceived as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

For the most expensive Michelin-starred restaurants in the world above, though, much of the cost can be attributed to their use rare ingredients in menu. From Shanghai to NYC, here are some of the most exclusive ingredients you’ll find at the restaurants above.

Kiwami Crab at Gina Kitafuku (Tokyo, Japan)

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A post shared by きた福女将 / Kitafuku OKAMI (@kitafuku_kani)

At Ginza Kitafuku in Japan, the most expensive tasting menu is $2,130, not counting the sake pairing, which is an additional 8,000 yen (about $51). It’s the “Echizen crab Kiwami menu,” and it focuses on extremely rare Kiwani crabs.

Echizen crab is a prized delicacy in Japan, revered for their exquisite flavor and rarity. It’s a type of snow crab harvested off the coast of Fukui Prefecture renowned for its delicate, sweet meat and rich, buttery roe. The crabs are graded, with only the finest specimens earning the prestigious “Kiwami” designation. These are the crabs Gina Kitafuku uses, and they’re extremely rare — per Chef’s Pencil, in 2021, only 67 snow crabs made the cut. Kiwami means “ultimate” or “extreme” in Japanese, and to earn the name, the crab needs to weigh at least 3.3 pounds, have a shell width of at least 5.7 inches across, and have a claw width of at least 1.2 inches.

California White Truffle at Quince (San Francisco, CA)

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Quince is ranked 12th of 4,937 restaurants in San Francisco on TripAdvisor, so that tells you something about the quality. And the fact that it’s the sixth-most expensive Michelin-starred restaurant in the world tells you something about the price. The menu at Quince changes nightly, so you won’t find a menu online. In fact, the most you’ll find is a general statement of “The menu features local ingredients of Northern California, and seasonal produce from the restaurant’s own organic farm in Bolinas in West Marin.” But if you do a little digging, you’ll find that autumn is when it serves its “white-truffle-focused tasting menu,” priced at $795 per person, according to Chef’s Pencil.

California white truffles are a relatively recent discovery in the world of fine dining. Found primarily in northern California under oak and hazelnut trees, they’re often compared to the white truffles of Alba, Italy. While California’s aren’t as renowned, they share a similar earthy, garlicky aroma with subtle nutty undertones. They’re also extremely hard to cultivate, requiring very specific soil conditions and moisture levels. But since the white truffle industry in California is still in its infancy, chefs have to mostly rely on natural foraging, making them extremely labor-intensive.

Caviar at Caviar Russe (NY, NY)

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It’s no secret what the “secret” ingredient is that makes Caviar Russe the most expensive Michelin-stared restaurant in the US, and third most expensive in the world. (If we haven’t said it enough: it’s caviar).

Caviar is expensive because it comes from the eggs of sturgeons, a prehistoric fish species that takes about a decade to produce eggs (roe). Many sturgeon species are critically endangered due to overfishing and habitat destruction, severely limiting supply. Naturally, the scarcity drives up prices, especially for prized varieties like beluga, osetra, and sevruga caviar.

Caviar Russe’s 11-course fall Grand Tasting Menu includes unadorned caviar testings by spoon, as well as a seafood-heavy menu that incorporates caviar, such as Tasmanian Sea Trout with gooseberries and caviar, or Japanese mackerel with pineapple, hearts of palm, and caviar.

Waygu beef at Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (Shanghai, China)

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Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet offers a 20-course tasting menu as the standard offering — yes, 20. It’s known for making dining into a immersive presentation, relying heavily on sound and aroma in addition to taste. It describes itself as using “multi-sensory technology,” and while it seems to know its a bit avant-garde, it doesn’t rely on novelty over quality.

A key dish on its $1,230-per-person tasting menu is waygu beef, which has to come from specific Japanese cattle breeds raised in specific conditions. Demand for wagyu beef has also surged surged globally, fueled by its reputation as the pinnacle of luxury dining. Because supply is low, that continues to drive up prices.

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Published on November 26, 2024 08:45

A New Direct Flight From Atlanta to Abu Dhabi Makes It Easy to Explore the UAE’s Capital

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has announced 10 new routes for 2025, including new direct flights to and from Atlanta, Georgia. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic.

The new air link between Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s Capital, and Atlanta will run four times per week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday in both directions starting July 2, 2025. The flights, which will be operated by an Airbus 350, are scheduled to take well over 12 hours to link both cities.

The new weekly flights will make it easier and more enticing for US tourists to visit the UAE’s capital, a modern city where getting bored is impossible, no matter what type of traveler you are.

Ferrari World Yas Island. Photo: ArtEvent ET/Shutterstock

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Photo: brunocoelho/Shutterstock

For the thrill seekers, there’s Ferrari World Yas Island, a Ferrari-branded theme park housing the planet’s fastest rollercoaster. For the lovers of the natural world, there’s the largest natural island in the UAE, Sir Bani Yas, that is also bird sanctuary and wildlife reserve where you can take an expert-led safari. For the art buffs, there’s the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a branch of the famous French museum where hundreds of precious artworks are on display. For the culturally curious, there’s the immense and magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a dazzling white-and-gold example of Islamic architecture. For the outdoors enthusiasts, there are kayaking opportunities in the emirate’s mangroves, and camping possibilities in the Rub’ al Khali desert. And for everyone there are beaches, souks, date markets, luxury hotels, and much more.

“This moment is not just about expanding our network; it’s about sharing Abu Dhabi with the world. With its endless sunshine, diverse cuisine, rich culture, exhilarating family theme parks, and safe, beautiful beaches, Abu Dhabi offers something for everyone. Our expanded network will make it easier than ever for guests to experience everything our home city has to offer,” Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad’s Chief Executive Officer, said in a press release.

Abu Dhabi is one of the 15 locations in the world with a US immigration facility. That means that you can go through Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Abu Dhabi airport and bypass all the formalities upon landing back in the US, making traveling between the UAE and the US even more effortless.

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