According to Expedia, A Lotta People Like Sand in Their Buns (Especially Austrians)

Nude beaches quickly summon thoughts of abs of steel and sun-kissed butt cheeks. In reality, however, they’re known for attracting leather-y old people who can’t be bothered by tan lines. So if you’re looking to build some sandcastles in your birthday suit, Expedia’s 2016 Flip Flop Report released crucial data on where to find the most attractive bare beach-goers. Take a look at the chart above and get to booking that summer Eurotrip. Just don’t forget to pack your swim trunks.

Super Cool, Cheap Stays That’ll Change Your Mind About Hostels

Take a Swing at America’s Trippiest Mini-Golf Courses

How to Travel Fearlessly in the Age of ISIS and Zika

“Maybe everybody in the whole damn world is scared of each other,” says Slim in John Steinbeck’s 1937 classic Of Mice and Men. I read the book back in high school, and it didn’t mean much to me then. Now, having traveled some, I dwell on this quote quite often. I think a lot of people are scared of each other.

We have enough reasons to be. We live in a world inundated with terror, in an age of endemic terrorist attacks, insurgency and a spate of pandemic diseases­—Zika, Ebola, Yellow Fever—that claim lives in all corners of the globe. We’re reluctant to leave the cities of our comfort because we’re perpetually paralyzed by the “what if.” What if someone hijacks the plane? What if someone shoots up the airport? What if we catch something? But what if they don’t, and we don’t? In the interest of being tenacious, it’s our duty to take back our lives, to stop existing and to start living again. Because when we succumb to our fears, our enemies win.

Yes, we’re often at risk when we travel, but the sad truth is we’re not safe here, either.

The US government issues travel alerts and warnings regularly, discouraging Americans from visiting certain countries. For good reason, of course. But here’s the thing: There have been more than 1,300 confirmed cases of Zika on US territory and the gunman of the worst mass shooting in the history of our country was an American citizen. Four US cities—St. Louis, Baltimore, Detroit and New Orleans—have placed among the top 50 most dangerous cities in the world, based on their murders per capita. Yes, we’re often at risk when we travel, but the sad truth is we’re not safe here, either. The only choice we have is to live our lives fearlessly, or die  wishing we had.

With this in mind, I’ve chosen some of the countries listed with advisories by the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, and I am here to tell you why maybe you should still go to them, advisories be damned.

1. Philippines
Go for the rich biodiversity spanning more than 7,000 islands, to ride in a jeepney or to visit with the country’s hospitable locals, who look incredibly young because they smile more than most.

2. Mexico
Go for the family parties. Mexicans are typically very conscious of their responsibilities to their immediate families, which are traditionally large, and hosting family gatherings is not uncommon—usually complete with culinary wonders like chorizo and tequila.

3. Haiti
Haiti lacks emergency response and medical facilities. Still, hiking in this country, the most mountainous nation in the Caribbean, is worth the risk.

4. Honduras
Go for the ancient Mayan ceremonial site Copán, the massive barrier reef popular for scuba divers offshore the Bay Islands or the jungle lands near Guatemala.

5. Lebanon
Go for the shopping in the reconstructed souks, where name brands line the hallowed halls of the 5,000-year-old trading center in Beirut, a Middle Eastern fashion capital. Or go for the UNESCO World Heritage Site Byblos, recently selected as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2016, known for its medieval ramparts and authentic souks on the cobblestone streets.

6. Israel
In no particular order, you might want to float in the Dead Sea, tour the Old City of Jerusalem, spend a night out in Tel Aviv—the other city that never sleeps—or marvel at the mountain fortress of Masada.

7. El Salvador
The capital city of San Salvador boasts a ton of archaeological history and a vibrant nightlife and art scene, with the dramatic backdrop of volcanoes worth hiking and waves worth catching. Go for the hike or the surf. And pupusa, for real.

8. Tunisia
Tunis, the capital city, is known for its theaters, cathedrals and palaces. Go for the Arabic and French-Colonial history that dates back to the 6th century, stay for the Roman mosaics and Islamic art.

9. Turkey
Definitely pay a visit to the lunar landscape of Cappadocia’s Goreme National Park, where white volcanic ashes coat chimneys, the archaeological site of Troy, Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar or the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

10. Colombia
Go for Cartagena’s colorful colonial architecture. Stick around for the parties at Parque Lleras, the main nightlife district of Medellin. Trust us: There’s only a very small chance you’ll get kidnapped.

This Astronaut Experienced the “World’s Worst Hangover”

Imagine that feeling the morning after a bender—the nausea, the dizziness, the not-being-able-to-get-out-of-bed-ness. Now multiply it. By like a thousand. Apparently, that’s how British astronaut Tim Peake felt after returning from his six-month stint in space.

“Coming back to earth was like the world’s biggest hangover,” Peake told reporters recently.

And it will take a little more than an aspirin and a bottle of water to cure this hangover. Peake is currently at the European Astronaut Center in Germany where he faces three weeks of medical rehabilitation that will hopefully ease the extreme dizziness and vertigo he experienced upon returning to Earth.

Peake is planning to celebrate his return home with pizza and beer—hair of the dog, right?

After spending the past six months floating, Peake will need to learn to walk again. That’s a feat that will prove even more difficult because he also needs to regain his balance and sense of direction—there’s no up and down in space.

Peake is not in what you’d call peak condition. Months in space have weakened his muscles and bones and, even worse, temporarily shrunk the size of his heart. Doctors will monitor the 44-year-old astronaut’s heart and blood circulation’s response to gravity by examining him on a tilt table that rotates his body from horizontal to vertical positions. Which sounds just a tad more intense than the banana bag.

If that weren’t enough, Peake was also exposed to a radiation dose equivalent to nearly 1,200 chest X-rays while unprotected by the Earth’s magnetic field.

Doctors say Peake’s symptoms should subside in a couple of days. Stay strong, Peake. We’ve all been there. Or not, really. We suppose the nausea, dizziness and just all-around regretting of life’s choices is a lot less sad when your choice was to go to space… Yeah.

Peake says he’s planning to celebrate his return home with pizza and beer—hair of the dog, right?

Should You Feel Bad About Traveling When Others Can’t?

I just got back from a short trip to Tokyo, where I did what any man would: I took tons of pictures and posted them to Facebook and Instagram, reaping the likes and showing my friends and followers that I have really good taste in yakitori and know where to find the best shio ramen.

But after reading an opinion piece on Ravishly called “Your Obsession With Travel Sure Feels Classist To Me,” I almost feel bad about it all.

Almost.

But should I feel bad for posting pictures and videos of my trips to social media in fear that my friends and followers will be triggered into shame spirals about their own misfortunes?

The author of the piece, Katherine Dim Clover, points out that travel is a “leisure activity enjoyed largely by the upper classes.” She recounts how, as a child, she felt embarrassed about not having gone anywhere exotic when teachers would ask what she did during summer break.

And it’s getting worse, she says. Travel is marketed as something that broadens worldview, enriches people and may even be necessary to be happy.

But what about people who can’t afford to travel? Clover feels shame about that, and she’s probably not alone. The way we share our travel photos and videos on social media can make others feel bad about themselves as well. Not only are they missing out, they’re not even able to make a change due to financial or other constraints. They feel low.

She finishes off with: “When you hold travel up on some kind of pedestal, you sound classist as hell, and I wish you would stop that.”

I was with her until that last bit. I understand that not everyone has the same resources I do—that I can up and head to Tokyo for a wedding—but I refuse to feel bad about that. Should I feel bad for having air conditioning during a heatwave when someone else doesn’t? Should I feel bad about anything I have or can do that someone else cannot?

Of course not.

But should I feel bad for posting pictures and videos of my trips to social media in fear that my friends and followers will be triggered into shame spirals about their own misfortunes?

Maybe, but I refuse to do so. Not because I think it’s their problem that they cannot travel. Not because I don’t care about their feelings. Not because I think they can simply choose to not look or not follow my updates.

But because I am sharing my experience with them. That is, by nature, a good thing. These aren’t selfies. These aren’t “look at me” proclamations of superiority. Just like Anthony Bourdain shares amazing experiences in culture and food around the world via his television documentaries, I’m sharing experiences that I’m lucky enough to have with my friends, family and followers. In fact, because most of them know me personally, they’re able to experience those things with some context. If they end up feeling bad about the fact that I’m doing a little traveling, well, that’s on them. They can look at that picture in one of two ways: “Wow, that’s amazing!” or “That’s not fair.”

The choice is one of maturity, not class.

Especially if they’re never going to have the chance to eat yakitori in Tokyo. Sure, they could watch an episode of No Reservations and get a sense of Tokyo, but they know me, and my little pictures let them know that I am experiencing something great, and that when I take that photo and share it, I’m doing it for them.

Sure, the likes, and followers make me feel good, but if I didn’t care that my loved ones care about what I am up to, what would society be?

Sacre Bleu! This New Apartment in the Eiffel Tower Is Unbelievable

“Invincible” Travelers Report a Whole Lotta Unprotected Sex Abroad

Two recent studies by the British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes & Lifestyles published in Sexually Transmitted Diseases say that British backpackers are taking the term “international relations” to another level—like, they’re having sex. Sexual relations. Internationally.

Although travelers say they purchase condoms for their trips abroad, they usually don’t use them. More than a third didn’t even think to use them, because STDs are just a figment of the imagination, and a third admitted to not always using them, because travel makes them feel invincible! Really. The first study looked at 15,000 British citizens between 16 and 74 years old during 2010 to 2012, and the researchers found that one in 10 men and one in 20 women (1,071 altogether) said they had had sex with a new partner while traveling overseas during that time.

The second study took into account condom use—in this case with backpackers en route to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, Thailand. Travelers weren’t exactly concerned with ensuring sexual safety in their encounters abroad. Almost two thirds of all the respondents (61.5 percent) were traveling without a long-term sexual partner, and well over a third (39 percent) said they had had sex with a new partner during the trip—usually backpackers from other countries, although men were more likely than women to have had sex with locals while on the road. Nearly 37 percent reported no or inconsistent condom use. Brits and Swedes were the most likely to say this—and both countries have some of the highest reported rates of chlamydia in Europe.

But the real question is: What about the Aussies?

The 10 Least Romantic Vacation Spots Around the World

Travel is rejuvenating—it can revive someone seeking respite from the mundane day-to-day. And for those of us in a perpetual period of singledom, burdened by absolutely zero obligations to another human, escaping is easy. But eloping to evade the PDA that seems to suffocate us isn’t necessarily easy. Proposals before national monuments and couples making out in winding canals will remind you every damn second just how painfully single you are. So if you’re looking to visit somewhere sick, but don’t want to be bombarded by the same love that eludes you, check out one of these totally unromantic destinations.

1. Dubai, UAE: A British couple was legitimately arrested in 2010 for kissing in public, and received a month in jail. The Dubai Mall has some serious signage asking guests to abstain from public displays of affection, too, so you really won’t have to worry about it.

2. Mykonos, Greece: Sure, Greece is toted as a honeymooners’ paradise—cobblestoned streets adorned with bougainvillea and whitewashed homes that overlook the azure sea. But it’s not always so romantic. During the Spring, all corners of the city boast massive speakers for makeshift concerts that draw in drunk spring breakers who litter the streets with party debris.

3. Bangkok, Thailand: Thailand is recognized for it’s flourishing sex industry and a whole lot of single dudes (seriously, the ratio outnumbers women 2:1), adds to the hook-up culture of Patpong Road.

4. Machu Picchu, Peru: It’s on everyone’s bucket list—as it should be. But you won’t find too many couples hiking the 7,970 feet to the Incan ruin. It’s usually groups of about twelve who do the four-day Inca Trail hike and a lot of people succumb to altitude sickness—so not romantic.

5. Casablanca, Morocco: Casablanca is a cultural hub and bustling fashion capital worth checking out, but it’s not anything like the film. It’s colorful medinas are full of merchants selling their goods and the streets boast high-end shopping outlets and malls. It’s home to Hassan II Mosque and possibly the world’s worst traffic. Kissing in public in this country isn’t really a thing, and many hotels won’t let men and women share a room unless they’re married.

6. Bali, Indonesia’s Kuta Beach: Yes, Bali is one of the first destinations people think of when they think romantic getaway. Sanur, for example, is a small beach town and popular spot for honeymooners. But Kuta Beach, which is one of the first beaches you’ll hit driving in from the short cab ride from the airport, is so not that. The nightlife is alive with electric clubs and rowdy bars where many sex workers hang out. You’ll find solo backpackers passing through as there are tons of cheap hotels, too.

7. Beijing, China: China is so worth visiting and, if you go, you really can’t skip the capital, Beijing. You’ll be surrounded by a blend of modern architecture and ancient sites like the grand Forbidden City complex—the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. But you won’t find lovebirds here, where the city is so polluted you can’t even see the sunset. In fact, it’s so bad that the city has installed LED screens to broadcast the sunset.

8. Brussels, Belgium: Brussels—it’s famous for chocolate, waffles, french fries and beer, galore. But many visitors are EU politicians there for work, as it’s the political capital of Europe and a central business hub. The city lends itself to a ton of architectural history and is still home to about 40,000 EU employees, 4,000 NATO employees and hosts about 300 lobby groups, embassies and press corporations. But the only romantic place you should avoid is one wine bar named Goupil le Fol, which is adorned with mood lighting and cozy couches—where you’ll find all of the city’s couples.

9. Singapore, Singapore: Singapore is basically one giant financial district with seemingly very little indigenous culture. It’s definitely a place you have to see while in Asia, as it’s the epicenter of much of the world’s start-ups (and Singapore Changi Airport is truly a destination in itself—we’re talking outdoor nature trail, swimming pool, movie theater, beauty and reflexology centers, sleeping areas and massage chairs everywhere), but it’s not at all romantic. Downtown is packed with partiers and the rest of it is made up of high-rises. Just steer clear of the 250-acre Gardens by the Bay, where you actually might find Mr. & Mrs. on a stroll.

10. Cardiff, Wales: Cardiff is a cool city. It’s very chill. In fact, it’s so chill that it’s your basic hometown-y city. No couple looking for a romantic getaway weekend is going to go to Cardiff of all places. It’s a nice place to check out if you’re touring the UK, since it’s an easy train ride from London or Edinburgh, but it’s not a place many tourists are eager to check out. It’s just a bunch of regular people doing regular things.

This Kickass New Train Tunnel Will Make You Want to Book a Flight To Switzerland ASAP

How and Why to Travel Solo

My curiosity feeds an impetus for travel, and my travel whets an abiding curiosity. I’m homesick for places I’ve never been and forever tempted by thoughts of elsewhere, wherever that may be. And because I don’t know where exactly, I’d rather go alone than drag along a crew.

Truthfully, I love impulsive solo travel because I’m selfish. I want to do what I want to do when I want to do it. Laozi, some ancient Chinese philosopher who I’d probably quoted in AIM away messages back in the ’90s, once said, “A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving.” I never have any plans and I’m rarely intent on arriving because, for me, travel is not to go somewhere, but to go—anywhere. For travel’s sake.

I caught the bug in 2012 and have since backpacked nearly 30 countries spanning five continents. I’ve streaked in the Sahara Desert with nomadic drummers—and ridden a camel (see photo below),  shared meals in Southeast Asia with refuged sex workers whose names I never learned but whose stories I’ll never forget, sacrificed sheep in remote tribal villages of North Africa, protested at kissing rallies in the Middle East, gone off-roading across Central America and more.

People tell me I’m crazy, especially because I’m a chick. I’m often asked if I’m afraid of rape. Or if I’ve seen the movie Taken. I am and I have. But rape happens everywhere, and Kim wasn’t alone when she was abducted in Paris. Fear doesn’t consume me; it drives me. It drives me like I have a point to prove. People say they’d be bored, too. But I’m here to tell you how to travel fearlessly, and I promise that you will never get bored.

1. Don’t wait for others to join or you’ll never go anywhere.
If you rely on other people, you’ll start to take on their setbacks as your own. I used to plan trips with friends, until I realized that none of those plans ever came to fruition—conflicting schedules, dissimilar interests, varying priorities. Time is of the essence, so never allow yourself to miss out on an experience for excuses that don’t belong to you.

2. Go with the flow, because you can.
When you’re not restricted by friends’ fears, inabilities or apprehensions, or confined to their itineraries, you can legitimately do anything you want to do, and that’s insanely liberating. Instead of going to see what you’ve gone to see—because, with friends, you’ll likely have to agree on what to check out—you have the option to just see whatever you see. And that’s a way realer experience than that of a typical tourist.

3. Don’t be afraid to delve deep into the culture.
Surround yourself with familiar faces and you’ll seldom break out of your comfort zone. You’ll become a bystander. Surround yourself with strangers and you’ll be forced to engage and learn their stories. Whether you’re with locals or sharing a dorm in a hostel (which I recommend a million times over a private room), you’ll meet new people. Before you know it, your path will take turns you never anticipated—indulging in meals you’ve never tried, partaking in religious customs you’ve never understood or dancing dances you’d never seen.

4. Communicate however you can.
Nothing revives childlike wonder like being in a place where you’re ignorant of almost everything, can’t speak the language and are equipped with only the most rudimentary sense of how things work. You’ll be forced to communicate in ways beyond words, which connects humans on a level that doesn’t divide us by native tongue. And when you return knowing how to seamlessly interact with anyone anywhere, the world suddenly seems borderless.

5. Discover yourself.
Experiencing new things inevitably means discovering yourself. You learn your strengths, limits, likes, dislikes, comforts, discomforts. And, off the grid and unencumbered by the burdens of everyday life, you have time to reflect on those discoveries. It’s rejuvenating and will allow you to become a better version of yourself.

6. Earn your own trust.
Traveling solo means having only yourself on which to rely. You have to have your own back, trust your own instincts and be your own pilot and co-pilot. In doing so, you begin to find joy in the little things—something as simple as boarding the right bus becomes thrilling and rewarding. And because you have time for self-reflection, you allow yourself to pat your own back. It’s something we don’t do enough, as we’re all too often being our own toughest critics.

7. Take written notes on everything.
The best thing I ever did the first time I left the States was write down everything—random thoughts, restaurant names, profound conversations, what I ate for breakfast. I have notes with exact times of the day so I can reminisce in vivid detail. Today, I look back at notes and my personal growth is palpable. I laugh at things I wrote had scared me then, and I recall details I’d have otherwise forgotten.

8. Take your experiences home with you.
Traveling with friends makes memories, but they can quickly devolve into “that one time in Mexico.” Once you’ve traveled solo, the voyage is immortal; it doesn’t end. Because wherever you venture, those places somehow become a part of you. And you look at the place to which you return with new eyes.

9. Keep your mind open before, during and after the trip.
I’d never have eaten sheep testicles with my friend quivering beside me, just as I’d never have prayed in a mosque beside my Catholic friend. Our responses to cultures and opportunities are very often molded by the company we keep, and we consciously or subconsciously temper our curiosity because of that. Solo travel and you’ll come back armed with education, modesty and empathy—all things we need to create effective change in this world.

13 Reasons Portland, Maine, Is the Best Portland in America

Lobster beats the Trail Blazers every time.

Let the record note that Oregon has a great Portland. I fully understand why it’s celebrated as a model of urban planning and is a destination of choice for people looking to be mocked by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein.

It’s not Portland, Maine, though. Portland, Maine, is the better Portland. I know this because I left it yesterday and can’t wait to return. Here are the 13 reasons why it’s superior.

1. It has America’s least aggravating airport.
Technically, it’s an International Jetport: small enough not to get crowded and big enough to be a destination for JetBlue and major airlines. Flying in, you can land and go straight to the rental car counter, then through the door to the garage to get your car and be in downtown Portland in 10 minutes. And frankly, it’s hard not to be charmed by a place that put out an official statement titled: ”Porcupine Sculpture Donated to Jetport.”

2. It’s compact.
This Portland has a population of roughly 66,000, or 2.5% of the borough where I currently reside. Consequently, Portland is deeply accessible; wherever you may be staying, the Old Port is never far away. Yet while it’s small…

3. There’s a bizarre amount of stuff to do.
Apparently everyone in Portland spends all their time either starting hip businesses or hanging out at hip businesses, because the numbers just don’t make sense. We’ll start at the most obvious attraction…

4. The seafood is amazing.
If you go to Maine, you expect delicious fish and damned if you don’t get it. While there are many fine options, I highly recommend J’s Oyster Bar on the waterfront, where my wife and I gorged on oysters, raw scallops and buckets of steamers. (And yes, whenever a food is served in a bucket, it shall be amazing.) Of course, I leave off the most famous Maine offering of all…

5. Their lobster is the best lobster.
It’s not hard to find lobster in Maine—I think local banks offer lobster rolls when you open a new account—but it’s still surprising just how delicious it can be. For instance, we took a short drive to Portland Head Light lighthouse and encountered the Bite into Maine’s Mainecentric Mobile Eatery (a.k.a. a food truck), which serves multiple types of lobster rolls, including the tremendous Picnic style, complete with coleslaw and celery salt. But it’s good to take a break from lobster and even seafood completely because…

6. The food’s ridiculous in general.
Which is why you can pop in to Empire for superb dim sum and then drift over to the “very Thai” street vendor-inspired Boda. Of course, you eventually need to do more than eat. They have you covered, for…

7. There are awesome sodas.
Maine Root Blueberry Soda is simply delicious and at least in theory quite healthy, thanks to actual blueberry juice and no caffeine. Likewise, the Green Bee Lemon Sting combines carbonation and local honey magically. And if you require a real sting…

8. Portland’s a fine place to drink beer.
Most beer drinkers have enjoyed an Allagash or two, but it’s hardly your only local option. My wife and I stumbled upon Rising Tide Brewing and its samplers, not to mention Baxter Brewing Co.’s highly refreshing Summer Swelter. Should you be one of those people allergic to cans and pint glasses…

9. There are also kickass cocktails.
In particular, I’ll cite the drinks at Isa and The Bearded Lady’s Jewel Box. (At the Box, I mentioned a fondness for smoky alcohols from peaty single malts to mezcal, at which point the bartender served a cocktail I can only describe as a forest fire in my mouth.) And if you somehow do stop eating and drinking and explore the city, you’ll find…

10. It’s charmingly lost in time.
Do you collect vinyl? Portland has so many places selling it you can engage in an “epic record store crawl.” (Again, under 70,000 residents.) Or have you chosen to embrace 30 Rock’s Dennis Duffy’s theory that “Technology is cyclical” and declined to make the jump from CDs? Head to Bull Moose, which looks like a Tower Records in its prime. The feeling of having stepped back in time only intensifies as you find numerous bookstores and buy a ticket to the new X-Men for under 10 bucks. Then you discover…

11. They’ve got stuff that’s genuinely odd.
Like “the world’s only cryptozoology museum.” Or take a short drive to beautiful Mackworth Island, which includes the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf, Governor Baxter’s Pet Cemetery (the final resting place of his horse and 14 Irish setters) and a fairy village (yes, rules are posted on how you should construct your fairy homes; don’t even think of using artificial materials).

12. Oh, and they have a minor league baseball team.
With a tremendous Spot the Sea Dog statue. And finally…

13. The trip home is painless.
Flying out, the TSA line was short enough my wife and I considered hanging around so the guard wouldn’t be too lonely. Even if you get held up at the Jetport, it’s an inviting space with rocking chairs, a children’s play area and, most importantly, multiple bars. With massive travel delays predicted at airports across the nation this summer, it’s nice to know you’re at a place that always ranks low on the misery index.

Ball’s in your court, Oregon version.

Half-Ass the Rugged Lifestyle With the Luxurious Base Camp Trailer

How to Book a Private Jet for (Relatively) Cheap

Private jets are the stuff of luxe legend. When we hear about them we picture the filthy rich 0.1 percent relaxing on Italian leather with bikini-clad models, swirling Scotch in a jewel-encrusted tumbler, pondering how to acquire their next billion.

To us common folk the idea of eschewing the crowds at major airports and discomfort of commercial flights for driving up to a jet and getting airborne in minutes sounds like a dream. But believe it or not, the experience isn’t quite so out of reach as you might think.

We asked industry and travel experts for the best ways to get a taste of the high (up) life without losing everything you’ve got. Here are five tips worth trying.

“The best part about empty leg flights is that you have the entire jet to bring friends, family and pets—not just a seat,” adds JetSmarter Founder and CEO Sergey Petrossov. “Empty legs usually become available about one to three days prior to departure.”

1. Do Your Research
“The best thing about shopping around is not so much that you’ll save a mint (although it can be nice),” says Ryan Schneider, Founder/President of Jackson Aviation Group. “It helps the consumer get a better understanding of what a flight typically costs. Shopping will also help you find a private jet broker that you know and trust.”

2. Team Up
JustLuxe.com Lifestyle Editor Mila Pantovich recommends gathering a solid group of friends and family who love travelling as much as you do: “Many companies want you to fill the entire jet and while a six-seat flight may cost over $3,000 that’s still less than $600 per seat when split up.” Dan Kahn, Vice President of Charter Sales at ExcelAire, agrees: “The more people you put on a private jet, the more cost-efficient it becomes.”

3. Find the Right Jet
Jason Middleton, Co-Founder of Silver Air, recommends matching your numbers and distance to your aircraft: “Light jets like a CJ2 will best serve 4-6 people and can travel up to 800-1,200 miles.  A mid-range Lear 60 holds 6-8 passengers and can travel 1,600-1,800 miles. Heavy jets like a G450 or GV carry up to 14 passengers and a cabin attendant and can take you just about anywhere in the world with a range of 4,500-6,000 miles.” To make the most of your money, look for a “goldilocks fit,” says James Butler, CEO of Shaircraft Solutions. “Not too large, not too small—just right.”

4. Utilize Empty Legs
Henry Thompson, Founder/CEO of Charter BuNo, believes empty legs (a segment of a round trip that is scheduled to be flown with no passengers) to always be the best-priced option: “Some individual jet companies can literally have thousands of empty legs a year that go unsold.” Just keep in mind empty legs are generally one-way, meaning private air palace out, commercial ride back, or vice versa. “The best part about empty leg flights is that you have the entire jet to bring friends, family and pets—not just a seat,” adds JetSmarter Founder and CEO Sergey Petrossov. “Empty legs usually become available about one to three days prior to departure.”

5. Be Spontaneous
“I look at last minute deals,” says Kyle Stewart, The Trip Sherpa. “And usually those where I can get an easy flight back, as they are all one-way trips and there is no guarantee you can get an empty leg on the way home.” B2 Aviation Founder and President Bernie Burns provides some good examples: “Jet Suite’s ‘SuiteDeals’ [hit] their website the day before. You can access these flights for as low as $536.”

Burns also suggests checking out the intriguing membership site Surf Air. Because hey, if you’re not going to be an Internet mogul, you can at least use the Internet to fly like one…

This New Apartment Building in an Old Bank in Brooklyn Is INSANE

The (Paranoid) Gentlemans Guide to Travel

Taking a business trip or vacation? Bon voyage. But if you take your valuables with you, there’s a chance you may never see them again.

Thieves, scammers and other crafty lowlifes would love to separate you from your stuff.

Fortunately, there are numerous ways to foil them. Here are some practical ways to avoid being a victim, courtesy of undercover detective and travel-related crime specialist, lecturer and author Kevin Coffey.

One guy woke up to find his phone gone, used the FindMyPhone app on his laptop, and heard the phone ringing in a woman’s purse ten rows back. He was lucky, but better to stash it.

1. Never put your wallet in your back pocket. Pickpockets call it the sucker pocket for a reason. Be hyper-vigilant in train stations, airports, on stairs and escalators and in crowded places where pickpockets are likely to congregate and try to bump into you. Hold messenger bags in front of you and wear them cross-body, and get a zipper lock for your backpack.

2. There are two types of luggage in this world: lost and carry-on. If you have to check a bag, think of it like you’ll never see it again and pack accordingly. Always put your passport, ID, prescriptions, laptops and other devices in your carry-on. Remove all non-essential credit cards from your wallet—fewer to replace if it gets stolen.

3. Put a TSA-approved lock on any checked bags. The lock has to be reset by you, but you can instantly tell if it has been opened and check if there’s anything missing before you leave the airport.

4. Dishonest baggage handlers can force open a zippered bag with a pen, steal your stuff and reseal the zipper, and you wouldn’t realize until you got home or to your hotel. You can buy a gadget that locks the zipper to the handle. A thief can penetrate the zipper but can’t reseal it, so you’d know it was breached and could report it immediately.

5. Keep your cell phone out of sight when not in use—in restaurants, bars, or on your flight when you leave your seat or fall asleep. One guy woke up to find his phone gone, used the FindMyPhone app on his laptop, and heard the phone ringing in a woman’s purse ten rows back. He was lucky, but better to stash it.

6. On a plane, place your carry-on in the overhead bin across the aisle from your seat so you can see if someone tries to remove something from your bag. Put valuable items inside under clothing rather than in outside zippered compartments, or at least make them tougher to reach by placing them in the bin so they can’t be accessed without taking the whole bag down.

7. In hotels, make sure your door clicks securely behind you and use the front desk safe instead of the in-room one if it doesn’t seem secure. Thieves often enter open hotel rooms when the maid is inside, pretending the room is theirs, so never leave valuables in plain sight. There are portable safes made of stainless steel mesh that fit inside a backpack and can be secured to the furniture. The only way to crack it open is with wire cutters, which thieves are unlikely to carry.

8. Always lock all rental car doors to stop thieves from reaching in and stealing your stuff.

9. Use covered luggage tags so your information—like your home address—is not exposed. Place a card with an emergency number and email address inside your wallet and luggage in case they’re lost or stolen. Pick a number someone is sure to answer.

10. Don’t use free WiFi sites to log into banking or other personal accounts or any sites requiring you to give credit card information. Many are scams.

11. Buy tote or messenger bags that have detachable straps so you can loop them through your chair at a restaurant.

12. Before you get in a taxi, find out approximately what it costs to get to your destination and discuss it with the driver before he starts the meter. Sometimes a dishonest cabbie will insist that you gave him a smaller bill than you did, showing you that denomination and demanding more. Solution: When you hand him the money, say, “This is a 50,” and get him to acknowledge it.

Find more tips and security products for sale at Coffey’s site, corporatetravelsafety.com.

What I Learned River Rafting Through the Grand Canyon

Sometimes you don’t know what you’re capable of until you’ve done it. Like surviving a 200-mile river rafting trip through the Grand Canyon, for instance. The 9 day journey—which was run by Outdoors Unlimited—involved braving massive rapids, hiking through the high desert, and living at the bottom of America’s most gobsmacking geographic landmark. I walked out of that canyon with a deep tan and a massive sense of accomplishment, as well as the following hard-earned lessons.

The weather is unpredictable: Welcome to the land of fire and ice, said our guide, and it didn’t take long for me to grasp what he meant. Temperatures in the Grand Canyon range from 60 to 115 degrees, and the river water averages a brisk 48 to 50 degrees. Cotton became my biggest frenemy—the slow drying material is great for evaporative cooling, but if the sun disappeared behind a cloud I’d rapidly find myself blue-lipped and shivering. On the other hand, there were windy desert nights where I felt like I was trying to sleep in a giant, infernal hairdryer.

Always pitch a tent: As we’ve just established, the weather is unpredictable. While you can and should sleep in the open under the stars (and, by the way, prepare to see more stars than you’ve ever seen in your life), you’ll be glad to have shelter nearby when it starts raining at 3am. If you do get caught in the rain without a tent, your best bet is to employ a move known as the Burrito, which involves wrapping yourself in a tarp or groundsheet and pretending not to notice that the foot of your sleeping bag is getting damp.

Tie everything down: Grand Canyon rapids are huge, which means it’s very likely you’ll end up going for a surprise swim at some point. Make sure you have straps on your sunglasses, a chinstrap on your hat, carabiners on your water bottles, and that your GoPro or camera is secured. It’s also not a bad idea to have some kind of cord attached to your personal soap bar in case your husband loses it in the river on the second day.

Respect the river: Like all adventure sports, the thrill of whitewater rafting is not without its risks. We ran more than 50 rapids without incident, but on a particularly difficult one 6 people were thrown out of their raft. Nobody was in the water for more than a minute and for many it was the trip’s most dramatic highlight. However, one person was so traumatized that it was 24 hours before they could pick up a paddle again, and unfortunately another injured their knee so badly they couldn’t walk for days.

Clean is a relative term: Wet wipes, hand sanitizer and camping soap are essential, but it’s important to recognize at the outset that while you can get clean-er, you cannot really get clean. The murky brown river is where we wash our bodies and our dishes, but it’s also where we urinate and dump the camp’s wastewater. (And get drinking water, once it’s been properly treated.) The cleanest you’ll ever feel on this trip is right after you rinse off in a waterfall, which you’ll have the opportunity to do almost daily. But don’t kid yourself: you’re still as grubby as the rest of us.

Dehydration can ruin your day: It goes without saying that when you’re spending time in the desert, you need to make sure you’re drinking plenty of fluids. But I’m saying it anyway because, as I discovered on two separate occasions, it’s surprisingly easy to become dehydrated even when you’re being vigilant. Guzzling gallons of water simply doesn’t cut it, you have to supplement with electrolyte drinks or risk getting sick on the river—not an ideal scenario when your bathroom consists of an army surplus ammo tin with a toilet seat attached.

The canyon is an outdoor classroom: Our guides were constantly schooling us, both on and off the river. While hiking down the many side canyons that branch off the main one, we learned about the geological mystery of the Great Unconformity and about the Ancestral Puebloan Indians who lived in the area more than a thousand years ago. I now know the difference between a petroglyph and a pictograph, and can identify at least two constellations in the night sky. And given a piece of duct tape, I will de-cactus a pair of pants with the brusque efficiency of a Russian bikini waxer.

There’s no “i” in “all forward:”Paddling isn’t about brawn (much to my relief), it’s actually about teamwork. The boat moves most effectively when everyone paddles as a unit, taking each stroke in unison and following the guide’s precise instructions. If you slack off or flex too hard, you will be immediately identified as the weak link since everyone else will have to compensate. And being an uncooperative A-hole will come back to haunt you when you’re running low on sunscreen and beer on day 7 of the trip.

River guides are a special breed: It’s a singular type of person that eschews job security and a steady paycheck, and chooses instead to wear the same pair of shorts for a week and get regular fungal foot infections. These guys love what they do, and to be a guide on the Grand Canyon, they have to be really good at it too. River guides are imminently capable people who possess technical river skills, leadership and communication skills, medical and culinary training, a great way with people and a damn good attitude. They also tell terrible jokes and have an extensive mental inventory of time-wasting games.

It’s not an easy trip, but we had it easy: When John Wesley Powell mounted an expedition to explore the unmapped canyon in 1869, he spent three months running the river in a wooden oar boat, nearly drowning and starving along the way. While we had all the benefits of modern technology (such as drops that will magically turn a bucket of silty river water into purified, drinkable H2O), we also had guides that catered to our every need. And we ate better than most of us are accustomed to at home. We’re talking fresh coffee, fruit and yoghurt, and a hot breakfast every morning; and three-course dinners featuring things like tuna steaks and burgers each night. Sure, we were dirty, tired, and my entire body was covered in heat rash. But this was backcountry glamping, if such a thing exists, and our suffering was of the most pampered sort.

Photo Credit: Ariel Jankelson

The 614-Word Endorsement: Hotel Rewards Programs

For many travelers, high airfare can totally scuttle a trip. Added atop the price of hotels, the cost of a vacation can trump all hopes of getting away.

Many frequent flyers have already signed up with a program to redeem airline points, but rarely realize that the cost of a week’s stay at a hotel can easily surpass the cost of getting from Point A to Point B. We had the chance to visit sunny San Diego last weekend to kick off the launch of Hilton HHonors’ “Stop Clicking Around” campaign, and learned a thing or two about hotel rewards and why they’re actually more cost-effective than using airline loyalty programs or booking sites that boast flight + hotel combo deals.

Sure you can snatch a seat on a plane before your points expire, but the combination of rising airfares, reduced flight capacities and scarcer award seat availability makes airline points a pain in the ass. Claiming hotel rewards offers far more flexibility and value than we thought.

Many hotel programs offer points that don’t expire or have blackout dates, unlike a number of airline loyalty programs, and others let you stay virtually anywhere, even at competitor hotels.

Contrary to popular belief, third parties don’t always offer lower prices. Last year, 57 billion Hilton HHonors points (or more than 1.6 million free nights) went unearned because guests “clicked around” looking for sweet deals—you know, those sites that boast awesome prices if you click through a million pop-up pages to compare costs.

To put it simply: There are few restrictions with hotel rewards programs, which makes directly booking from the hotel sites or mobile apps, well, leisurelier—the way vacationing should be. First, it’s worth noting that most hotel programs allow you to freely transfer points to several airline mileage accounts, while transferring points from airlines to hotels is less common and more complicated (you have to transfer A LOT of miles to earn a hotel stay). You can actually redeem your hotel rewards for most avenues of transportation—cruises, car rentals, rail lines. That said, redeeming hotel rewards for hotel rooms will still get you the most bang for your buck. Many hotel programs offer points that don’t expire or have blackout dates, unlike a number of airline loyalty programs, and others let you stay virtually anywhere, even at competitor hotels.

Also, there’s a ton of flexibility when searching via hotel reward programs. Hilton HHonors, for example, has more than 4,600 properties across 100 countries and territories. When you go online to book, you can filter results to search hotels based on points required instead of prices, just like you do with your airline miles. The difference is, however, that you don’t need to decide how to use all your points upfront. While you can’t redeem airline miles at gate check-in, you sure as hell can decide to use your points at any point during your stay in a hotel—on meals, room upgrades, late check-outs—right over the phone from your white linen bed.

Likewise, no booking site will help you cover the cost of Wi-Fi or redeem points for cell roaming charges during your stay, private dining experiences or concerts. Hotel rewards program members reap the benefits of a gamut of special offers that cut extra costs for which they hadn’t accounted. And most hotel programs are also free to sign up.

We’re not saying you have to bid farewell to that $59 annual venture rewards fee you keep spending on your Capital One card. We know, the two miles per every $1 spent is quite nice when your rent is electronically billed to your account, which also makes earning those 40,000 bonus miles for spending $3,000 in the first three months disgustingly easy. We’re just saying, there’s alternative cheap ways to travel, friends, and you might want to explore ’em.

The 628-Word Endorsement: Hotel Rewards Programs

For many travelers, high airfare can totally scuttle a trip. Added atop the price of hotels, the cost of a vacation can trump all hopes of getting away.

Many frequent flyers have already signed up with a program to redeem airline points, but rarely realize that the cost of a week’s stay at a hotel can easily surpass the cost of getting from Point A to Point B. We had the chance to visit sunny San Diego last weekend to kick off the launch of Hilton HHonors’ “Stop Clicking Around Campaign,” and learned a thing or two about hotel rewards and why they’re actually more cost-effective than using airline loyalty programs or booking sites that boast flight + hotel combo deals.

Sure you can snatch a seat on a plane before your points expire, but the combination of rising airfares, reduced flight capacities and scarcer award seat availability makes airline points a pain in the ass. Claiming hotel rewards offers far more flexibility and value than we thought.

Many hotel programs offer points that don’t expire or have blackout dates, unlike a number of airline loyalty programs, and others let you stay virtually anywhere, even at competitor hotels.

Contrary to popular belief, third parties don’t always offer lower prices. Last year, 57 billion Hilton HHonors points (or more than 1.6 million free nights) went unearned because guests “clicked around” looking for sweet deals—you know, those sites that boast awesome prices if you click through a million pop-up pages to compare costs.

To put it simply: There are few restrictions with hotel rewards programs, which makes directly booking both accommodation and flights from the hotel sites or mobile apps, well, leisurelier—the way vacationing should be. First, it’s worth noting that most hotel programs allow you to freely transfer points to several airline mileage accounts, while transferring points from airlines to hotels is less common and more complicated (you have to transfer A LOT of miles to earn a hotel stay). You can actually redeem your hotel rewards for most avenues of transportation—cruises, car rentals, rail lines. That said, redeeming hotel rewards for hotel rooms will still get you the most bang for your buck. Many hotel programs offer points that don’t expire or have blackout dates, unlike a number of airline loyalty programs, and others let you stay virtually anywhere, even at competitor hotels.

Also, there’s a ton of flexibility when searching via hotel reward programs. Hilton HHonors, for example, has more than 4,600 properties across 100 countries and territories. When you go online to book, you can filter results to search hotels based on points required instead of prices, just like you do with your airline miles. The difference is, however, that you don’t need to decide how to use all your points upfront. While you can’t redeem airline miles at gate check-in, you sure as hell can decide to use your points at any point during your stay in a hotel—on meals, room upgrades, late check-outs—right over the phone from your white linen bed.

Likewise, no booking site will help you cover the cost of Wi-Fi or cell roaming charges during your stay, or offer you private dining experiences or free concerts. Hotel rewards program members reap the benefits of a gamut of special offers that cut extra costs for which they hadn’t accounted. And most hotel programs are also free to sign up.

We’re not saying you have to bid farewell to that $59 annual venture rewards fee you keep spending on your Capital One card. We know, the two miles per every $1 spent is quite nice when your rent is electronically billed to your account, which also makes earning those 40,000 bonus miles for spending $3,000 in the first three months disgustingly easy. We’re just saying, there’s alternative cheap ways to travel, friends, and you might want to explore ’em.

The Hermitage Club Will Blow Your Mind