Ed Cunningham

Ok, so you’ve decided, for whatever reason, that you really, really want to get away from Los Angeles for a while. We’re talking a ‘jump in the car, pick up some groceries and get as far away from other people as poss’ kinda getaway. But sometimes, for these kinds of trips, conventional vacation rentals simply won’t do – so where should you go? Well, luckily Airbnb is packed full of secluded rentals perfect for getting away from it all. We’ve scoured everything within a three-hour radius of L.A. for the region’s finest Airbnbs, all of which offer a bucketload of space, acres of clean air, and, vitally, a whole load of peace and quiet. Read on for the best places to go to get outta town. Just a quick note: We’ve included a couple of guest houses in our list, but all of them offer separate entry and private amenities. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here. RECOMMENDED: the 10 best Airbnb cabins near Los Angeles

Key West is one of those places that is so idyllic it can be hard to believe it’s actually real. Picture the scene: palm trees swaying in the breeze, surrounded by crystalline turquoise waters, basking in year-round sunshine. If that ain’t the good life, we don’t know what is. And there are few better ways to properly indulge in Key West than by renting an Airbnb. The city’s finest Airbnbs range from abodes that are mere steps away from the area’s biggest attractions to those that are perfect for lounging by the beach. We’ve sifted through all of Key West’s Airbnb rental options to find ten that are totally unmissable: read on to find out more. RECOMMENDED: The best hotels in Key West  This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

The last time we made this list was in the heady days of January 2020. Remember them? There’d been rumblings of a virus originating in a wet market in Wuhan, but life was pretty much normal in most parts of the world. We did our thing. We made plans. We looked forward to a whole load of new cultural stuff happening around the world that year. Except basically none of it did. Music, art, theatre: all involve gathering loads of people together in often crowded spaces. Not good during the Panny D. Big openings were cancelled. Festival season was a write-off. We even stopped writing about going out altogether and rebranded as something called Time In. Throughout it all, our planners looked depressingly empty. But now, happily, we live in a world where vaccines have allowed things to return to some semblance of normality. And while we skipped a 2021 edition of this definitive global events and openings calendar, we’re pretty confident that almost all of the amazing things you’ll find below will happen next year. So, Omi C permitting (someone had to start calling it that), here are the 22 best new things to do in the world in 2022, from massive new museums to huge gigs, theatre shows and art exhibitions you won’t want to miss. RECOMMENDED: 🖼️ The 20 best museums and galleries in the world🚂 11 of the most incredible train journeys around the world🌊 9 cities that could be underwater by 2030🌹 The most romantic places in the world 🍸 The 28 coolest bars in the world right now🤿 Th

We'll always be NYC's biggest cheerleaders, why wouldn't we be? The city has it all! But everyone needs a breather from the bustle of city life every once in a while. Luckily, you don't need to travel very far for some well-deserved R&R. The Catskills are the place to be. Not too far from the city, but far enough to escape the center. So, pack your best knitwear, dig out those hiking boots and book a weekend away. Wondering where to stay? That’s where we come in. We’ve scoured Airbnb to find some of the Catskills’ most unique, stylish and memorable getaways, from group adventures to romantic hideaways, we've ticked every box.  RECOMMENDED: the best airbnbs in Hudson Valley This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

You name it, New England’s probably got it. Stunning seaside? Check. Rich in nature? Obvs. Buzzing college towns? You bet. The six states that make up the region – Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts – all boast historic urban centers, characterful towns, and hugely varied natural landscapes. If you're heading to New England on a little vacation, you're probably wondering where best to stay. Well, luckily for you we’ve done the hard (and fun) bit and picked out a bunch of super interesting places to stay in New England. Fancy something rural? We've got it. A cool city-center apartment? Yup. Treehouse? Possibly. Read on to find the region's best Airbnbs.  This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Planning a beachy getaway in Long Island and on the hunt for a lush place to stay? Well, look no further than these gorgeous Airbnbs in the Hamptons. In an area ideal for everything from soaking up the rays at some of the finest beaches near NYC to fancy dining at world-class restaurants, we’ve found 12 of the best Airbnbs to help you make the most of your Hamptons trip. Read on for lavish mansions, peaceful retreats, cute cottages, and much more. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

We all need some time away from the chaos of inner-city life, and what better place for us New Yorkers to retreat than the Hudson Valley? Swap neon lights for the amber glow of a wood-burning stove or replace the sounds of traffic jams with the flowing river.  Of course, New Yorkers can always catch their breath at one of the city's many (admittedly excellent) spas, but there's nothing quite like a long weekend in a cozy cabin to help you fully de-stress and recharge. So, we’ve rounded up the most sensational Airbnb stays that boast breathtaking views, deluxe amenities, and scenic hiking, all within a few hours’ drive of Manhattan. Stay calm, and refresh.  This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here. RECOMMENDED: the best Airbnbs in the CatskillsRECOMMENDED: the best hotels and B&Bs in Hudson, NY

Want a trip full of adventure? Consider Colorado. You’ll find an endless itinerary of things to do, from incredible mountains just waiting to be climbed (or looked at from ground level) to wide open water for paddleboarding. Or even skiing at one of the nearby resorts.  But after a long day of enjoying everything the state has to offer, a cozy place to rest your head is needed. Yeah, a posh hotel is nice, but Colorado has so many other options worth considering. Cozy desert cabins, yurts, and even treehouses that overlook forests and a skyline of mountains. Luckily for you, we’ve done the hard work - here are the best Airbnbs in the whole of Colorado, to get that perfect trip every time.  RECOMMENDED: The coziest Airbnb cabins in the U.S. RECOMMENDED: The best hotels in Colorado This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Maybe you’re into history and politics. Perhaps you’re a foodie. You might just want to meet some fellow travellers – or, who knows, even a local. Whatever you want to see in a city, and however you want to do it, the best Berlin tours have you covered.  This German capital’s rich, chequered past makes it as ripe for a casual wander as it is for a hardcore history lesson. Whether you’d prefer to see Berlin from the perspective of a street artist, a Syrian refugee or 70s-era David Bowie, our run-down of the best tours in the city will help you see this marvellous place in a fascinating new light.  One thing we will say: make sure you don’t overlook the city’s more obvious attractions, museums and things to do (because they’re darn good too).  RECOMMENDED: 📍 Full guide to the best things to do in Berlin🌭 The 24 finest restaurants in Berlin🍻 The 11 best bars in Berlin🪩 The 17 best clubs in Berlin

All years are great years for art – but 2023 is set to be even more spectacular than most. Wherever you are in the world, from Tokyo and Paris to London and New York, each city has its own stacked schedule of exhibitions and shows. We’ll see vast retrospectives, triumphant first-time solo shows, eagerly-anticipated displays (still) delayed by the pandemic and much, much more. From all that, here are our highlights: 2023’s must-see exhibitions, all over the world.  RECOMMENDED:🖼 London art exhibitions we can’t wait to see in 2023🎨 The biggest art exhibitions coming to Tokyo in 2023

France is one of the most visited places on the planet – and you better believe that it lives up to every bit of the hype. This famous country has been at the cultural heart of western Europe for millennia, and you can see signs of its complex and fascinating past all over the place. But it’s not all grand old châteaux: France is also blessed with some exceptionally beautiful natural wonders and some of Europe’s coolest city-break destinations. So, from heavenly beach destinations and picturesque rural villages to grand old cities like Paris, Lyon and Marseille, these are the best places to visit in France – and some of the world’s most essential destinations. Discover France: 📍 The best things to do in France🌳 The prettiest villages in France🏖 The best beaches in France🏰 Spectacular French châteaux you can rent😋 The best restaurants in France

London can be pretty pricey if you're not careful. Whether you live in the city, work or just come for a visit, the spending can quickly add up. From the delicious food that stands on almost every corner and lines up the streets to just having a gander around the city looking for things to do, your wallet might start to feel very, very light. We don't even want to talk about how much a night out costs.  But surprisingly, the UK capital has actually got some wallet-friendly options for spending the night. Both big chains and independent hotel joints (yep, even four- and five-star ones) offer some rooms for under £100 a night – you just have to know where to look. And once you’ve saved all that cash? Well, you’ll be freer to spend your wonga on other, more important stuff. Like, erm, going to the pub. Anyways, here are our top picks for the best budget hotels in London.  Looking for more options? 🛌 Check out London’s best Airbnbs 💆 Relax at the best spa hotels in London 🏨 Scroll through the list of 100 top London hotels This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

London’s Latinx music scene has a lot going on at the mo – and there’s nowhere better to get a taste of it than Alturas, which returns to Stoke Newington’s Doña this January. From the Latin/folk/jazz fusion of singer-songwriter XATIVA and silky, dark pop of Sophie Castillo to the Andean-inflected dancefloor concoctions of ANTIK’ARA and classic bossa nova of Cláudia Marques, revel in a diverse blend of contemporary Latinx sounds. And better yet, the deliciously kitsch Bar Doña will be dishing up its usual array of tacos and mezcal all night.

Despite being tremendously popular in his time, artist and illustrator Louis Wain has been somewhat overlooked of late. Luckily enough, he’s soon to receive the Hollywood treatment, being played by Benedict Cumberbatch in an upcoming film, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain. And while that film is sure to invigorate Wain’s legacy with the respect it deserves, you can get ahead of the curve by heading over to the Bethlem Museum of the Mind. Wain is best known for capturing cats in all their various forms, and the Bethlem’s exhibition is a glorious display of some of his finest illustrations. Expect a vibrant, characterful world of felines, ranging from the anthropomorphic to absurd. Animal Therapy: The Cats of Louis Wain is free, but you can still support both the exhibition and the Bethlem Museum of the Mind by buying from their online shop or via direct donations. The Bethlem Museum of the Mind is open Wednesday to Friday and the first and last Saturdays of month, 10am to 5pm. See the museum’s visitor page for more details

Fun fact: Frock Me was the first vintage fair in London. Back in 1997, founder Matthew Adams started the fair at Kensington Town Hall, which prided itself on a mix of fashion and decorative arts. It then moved to Chelsea Old Hall, taking more of a focus on fashion – but remaining London’s original, most essential vintage fair. For one date in November, Frock Me will be returning to its original venue in Kensington Town Hall. Promising 70 exhibitors with an enormous range of fashion (ranging from the Victoria era through to slightly more modern designer outfits), there’ll also be watches, jewellery and a pop-up café. For the fashion fanatics, preview tickets (11am-12pm) are £10. General admission (12:00-17:30pm) is £5, reduced to £3 with an NUS card.

Would you ever imagine that a mere 33 metres below Clapham High Street, there lies one of the UK’s most cutting-edge urban farms? Us neither, yet that’s where you can find Growing Underground, a farm fashioned out of a former Second World War bomb shelter. Cultivating veggies using LED tech and hydroponic systems, the farm produces pesticide-free, carbon-neutral and nutrient-rich greens that taste delicious. Snoop around and discover more about the history of the tunnel and the farm’s sustainable credentials during a 75-minute tour, which includes a fresh micro herb salad to take home with you. Green in more ways than one. 

Tracing the exploits of a gruesome serial killer, the Jack the Ripper tours are scary enough as they are. But add a Halloween theme and the opportunity to drink a potentially frightful amount of booze? Even more spine-chilling. A collaboration between Spitalfields cocktail bar Discount Suit Company and walking tour company London’s Walks, the Halloween edition of the Jack the Ripper tour will explore the streets of the East End, led by charismatic Ripper expert Simon Whitehouse. But, vitally, it’ll include booze. Lots of it. Starting off with a complimentary hot punch, the hour-and-a-half-long tour will wind up at the Discount Suit Company itself, where there will be special 'Rocket Lolly' and 'Notorious' cocktails to mark the occasion. Tour guests will also receive a 25 percent discount off their final bill. Tours will start at 12pm, 2.30pm & 5pm

As Afghanistan reels from decades of war and a brutal Taliban takeover, many of us are looking for ways to help the around 18 million Afghans in need of humanitarian assistance. And how better to lend a hand (or, more accurately, a bit of cash), than the Afghanistan Emergency Fundraiser? A joint project from Resident Advisor, The Right To Dance – a War Child fundraising movement – and Choose Love, the AEF will take over at The Cause in Tottenham for an all-night club event with an all-star line-up. The aim is to raise £10,000 for Afghans in need. When we say the names topping the AEF’s bill are huge, we really mean huge. Mercury-nominated duo Bicep and global megastar DJ The Blessed Madonna lead the way, though other names on show include ambient techno maestro Daniel Avery and UK garage revivalist DJ Banana, among plenty of others. There’s never been a better excuse to get down to The Cause, have a boogie, and raise money for a very, very worthy cause.

We’ve all missed live music, but isn’t local live music enjoyable on an entirely different level? Watching musicians get a break before they become global superstars, and having that feeling of discovering genuinely fresh talent for yourself? For The Music clearly think the same: born in lockdown, throughout the pandemic they platformed local acts with a series of filmed web episodes. Now, For The Music is curating its own, real-life festival to give a stage to some of East London’s finest local talent. The line-up promises ten acts throughout the day, ranging in style from R&B and hip hop to funk and indie rock. The setting, inspired by Jools Holland’s live lounge, will also feature local behind-the-scenes crew, as well as an array of street food and craft beer stands.  Tickets are free and on the door.

How much you can recreate a tropical environment without relying on the weather at all? Hazy Sessions is giving it a go, promising to cram uplifting beats, a VW camper van bar and truckloads of barrels of a ‘juicy’ new IPA on to the outside terrace of Westfield White City . The latest instalment of Goose Island Presents, this day-long event launches the Chicago-based brewery’s latest addition to its IPA range, Today’s Haze. If you don’t like fruity beers, maybe steer clear: this new brew is apparently ‘flooded with mango, citrus and stone-fruit character’. Let’s hope all that tropical effort doesn’t get drowned in bucketing rain.

Too many book festivals don’t have enough festival. It isn’t that there’s too much emphasis on books (how could there be?) but that there’s just not enough partying, drinking and grooving with your fellow bookworms. But not Queen’s Park Book Fest. Held, as always, in the public park, it’ll combine literary celebs with stand-up comedy, local history and lectures on pressing issues of the day. And crucially, each day is capped off by a party into the night. Not like a rave but, you know, just a jolly good time.

For one of her first post-pandemic performances, Laura Marling is lending a hand to Raise Three Fingers, a community of artists and creatives acting in solidarity against Myanmar’s military coup. Marling’s folky, rocky delights might be the main attraction at the organisation’s event in Southwark’s Marlborough Sports Garden, but she’s part of a packed schedule. Over the course of a one-day festival, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly co-headlines, and there’ll be photography and art exhibitions, live comedy, keynote speeches, a craft fair and an auction. That’s a lot! And it’s all for a great cause – all proceeds go to Mutual Aid Myanmar, Advance Myanmar and Myanmar Crisis Action.

With everyone and their nan seeming to be making podcasts these days, how do the best podcasters set themselves apart? They do it live, that’s how. At the London Podcast Festival, some of the biggest names in podcasting will come together to celebrate their craft. This sixth edition includes special live episodes of The Allusionist, Fingers on Buzzers, Bad People and more, plus the world premiere of Highlife Romance, a new romcom by Dem Times’s Jacob Roberts-Mensah. Find out more at the Kings Place website. 

The great thing about non-fiction cinema is that its best stuff always leaves you knowing a bit more, thinking a little differently, seeing the world as an even more complex place than before. And no, not all documentaries do that – I’m looking at you, ‘Tiger King’ – but the kind shown at Open City Documentary Festival do. This year’s edition, as usual, spans stories from more different countries, peoples and eras than I can really do justice to, from a study of rural Japanese communities to an exploration of modern female labour in the UK. Embarking on a hybrid format after the pandemic, the festival will be showing 46 new films from 26 different countries, as well as putting on filmmaker Q&As, panels and workshops. The Open City Documentary Festival takes place at various venues across the city from Sep 8-14 and is online Sep 13-23.

The magnificent St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel, for those not in the know, is actually much more than just a hotel. Forming the front of St Pancras railway station, it’s also home to some of the fanciest flats this city has to offer. And now one of the most glamorous of those flats is up for sale. Right up at the top, the main penthouse of St Pancras Chambers has just hit the market. Spread over a whopping 6,000 square feet, the flat features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, vast wooden beam-supported ceilings and views out over not only the spires of St Pancras but pretty much all of the rest of London, too. Needless to say, the flat is a visually marvellous place. The main room was once a water tower for the hotel below, which was all designed by famed architect George Gilbert Scott and completed in 1873. Here’s a few pics of the place. Photograph: Zoopla Photograph: Zoopla Photograph: Zoopla As you’ve likely already guessed, all this certainly doesn’t come cheap. The asking price on Zoopla for the flat is £9,950,000 – and that doesn’t include the £60,000-a-year service charge. If you do happen to have a spare ten mil sitting around and fancy your own pad in a gothic London icon with good transport links to Paris, well, lucky you. Find out more on the Zoopla listing here. Did you see that the UK’s first charity-shop department store has opened in Brent Cross? Plus: Finsbury Park’s iconic Sylvanian Families shop is closing after 30 years.

Bargain hunters and sustainable shoppers, we’ve got some very, very exciting news. The UK’s first multi-charity department store has come to London, making it easier than ever to snap up some wavey garms at even-wavier prices. Called Charity Super.Mkt, the department store is in ginormous north London shopping mall Brent Cross and it’s open now. Ten charities feature in the store: TRAID, Havens Hospice, Barnado’s, Shelter, Cancer Research, Age UK, Marie Curie, Emmaus, SCT and All Aboard. It’s all in response to the (relatively) recent surge in the popularity of secondhand clothes shopping, especially amongst millennials and Gen Z. Secondhand clothes aren’t just more sustainable and better for the planet: they’re cheaper, which makes them even more popular during the current cost-of-living crisis.  Staffed by volunteers, Charity Super.Mkt has appropriately opened in an old Topshop that had been empty for two years. Here are a few pics of the place.  Photograph: Jannine Newman Photograph: Adegboye Adejumo Photograph: Adegboye Adejumo All seems pretty great, right? The less-great news is that Charity Super.Mkt isn’t permanent. It’s only a pop-up and only lasts until February 27. So if you’re keen on snapping up some sustainable bargains, you better get over to Brent Cross quick! You can find out more about Charity Super.Mkt on the official website here. Did you see that Finsbury Park’s iconic Sylvanian Families shop is closing after 30 years? Plus: everything you need to k

Blue plaques are pretty great, aren’t they? Designed to show a link between a public place and a famous person, event or building, they’re not just a reminder that famous stuff happened exactly where you are right now but also a chance to learn about new things. After all, London’s full of people and stories – there’s always more to uncover. And now we’re getting a bunch of new blue plaques. They range from Notting Hill Carnival legends and iconic musicians to some of the most famous individuals in the suffragette movement. Here’s the lowdown on all the people getting new blue plaques across the city in 2023.  Claudia Jones (1915-1964), a journalist, anti-racism activist and ‘the founding spirit of Notting Hill Carnival’. The plaque will mark the Vauxhall address where Jones was living when she had the idea of bringing a Caribbean carnival to London. Yehudi Menuhin (1916-1999), one of the twentieth century’s most celebrated violinists. Menuhin’s plaque will be on the house in Belgravia that he lived in for the last 16 years of his life. Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913), one of the most famous suffragettes, known for her tireless campaigning and eventual tragic death at the Derby in 1913. She’ll get a plaque on her house in Kensington. Princess Sophia Duleep Singh (1915-1964), a suffragette and the daughter of the deposed Maharajah Duleep Singh. Singh’s plaque will be on the house near Hampton Court Palace that was gifted to her by her godmother, Queen Victoria.  Ada Salter (

It’s a tough time to be working in the aviation industry. Faced with staff shortages and huge levels of disruption, many workers at airlines and airports are facing long, stressful hours and poor working conditions. And, thanks to the cost of living crisis and pandemic pay cuts, loads of them are doing it all for lower wages, too. Needless to say, it’s no wonder that so many staff at airports and airlines have already gone on strike over the past few months. From Italy and Belgium to Portugal and France, airports across Europe have seen thousands of flights delayed and cancelled by industrial action. Strikes can, obvs, have a serious impact on your holiday, so it’s best to be as informed about them as possible. Read on for our guide to who’s going on strike in Europe right now, where and when those strikes will happen – and whether you need to worry about them. Baggage and aircraft handler strikes in Germany After strikes caused all flights from Berlin's Brandenburg airport to be cancelled on January 25, it has now been announced that baggage and aircraft handlers will hold an all-day strike at Düsseldorf airport on January 27. The strikes have led to around half of all flights from the airport being cancelled. TAP strikes in Portugal Cabin crew at Portuguese national carrier TAP are set to walk out for seven days from January 25 to 31, with union SNPVAC demanding higher wages and better working conditions for its members. The strike could affect hundreds of flights, includin

多少無謀ではあるが最高にスリリングな「スポンテニアス・トラベル」（自然発生的な旅行）。2022年に、こうした休暇の過ごし方がブームになったのを聞いたことがあるかもしれない。しかし全てを投げ出して、太陽を浴びるために衝動的な旅へ出かけることが、もうできなくなるかもしれない。 少なくとも億万長者でない人にとっては、2023年の旅行はどんどん気ままなものではなくなりつつあるからだ。 その理由はいくつかあるが、一つはここ数年の「リベンジ」として、余裕のある予算で旅行をする人が非常に多くなっていることが挙げられる。ようやく世界を再び見ることができるようになった中国人の旅行や、リモートワーク革命によって縛られなくなったデジタルノマド世代の旅が、その例だろう。もう一つは、小さな観光地やレストランに行くにも事前予約が必要になっていること。これはパンデミックの「名残り」といえるものだ。 理由はともかく、特に予算を抑えたい場合、以前ほど衝動的に旅へ出ることが難しくなっているのは間違いない。2023年に旅費を安く済ませたいなら、これまで以上に計画的に行動することが大切だといえる。 早め早めの予約で節約 もちろん、以前から早く予約した方が安く旅行できることはよく知られていることだ。しかし、生活費危機のためにより多くの人が現金を節約することを優先している現状では、旅に出る時期を早期に見定めるのが有効だろう。 実はそれを実践している人たちが、もういるのだ。英国旅行業協会（ABTA）が実施した調査によると、回答者の29％が今後1年以内、特に2023年夏の時期のパッケージツアーすでに予約しているという。そのうちの3分の1は、旅行を最も安く手に入れるためと答えた。さらに、すでに2024年の夏を視野に入れている「バーゲンハンター」までいるそうだ。 宿泊予約サイトのBooking.comも、経済的な苦難によって旅行者がより計画的に行動するようになるだろうと述べている。同社のアンケート回答者の実に61％が、より手頃な料金で休暇を過ごすために、前もって旅行の計画を立てていると答えている。 今や、衝動的な旅行そのものが贅沢品になったということなのだろう。直前に決めた旅へ出るには、これまで以上に経済的な余裕が必要になるというわけだ。 予約競争に勝つには では、上手に予約を取るにはどうすればよいのだろうか。競争相手は多く、彼らを出し抜くのは難しい。ひとまず、予約競争に正攻法で加わることを考えてみよう。そのためには、今年は旅程をしっかり考え、できるだけ早く予約を取れる状態を整えるべきだ。計画的な行動なんてイケてないと思うかもしれないが、節約になり、結局はストレスも軽減される。 また、セールがいつ行われるかを知ることで、航空券などが安くなる機会を最大限に活用することもできる。1月のセールや割引についてはもう知っているかもしれないが、多くの航空会社やパッケージツアー会社が、夏の終わりの低迷を打破しようと。8月分も料金を下げていることを知っているだろうか？ ほかにも節約する方法はある。「旅行者がますます柔軟な考え方をするようになっています。旅先や時期を変えることで、より良い料金と素晴らしい体験の両方を手に入れることができるという考えに、ますます多くの人たちが気付き始めています」と、予約サイト展開するスカイスキャナーの専属トラベルエキスパート、ローラ・リンゼイは言う。 だからこそ、2023年は聞いたこともないような場所へ旅行し、（可能なら）夏のピークシーズンを外して旅行するのがいいのだ。それでもTik

Ah, the baby Trump blimp. It all seems a lifetime ago, doesn’t it? After all, a lot has happened since those sweet days of summer 2018, when then-US president Donald Trump came over to London for the first time to meet the then-monarch Queen Elizabeth and then-PM Theresa May. For those who don’t remember, the ‘blimp’ – as it was christened – was an inflatable depicting the POTUS as an enormous open-mouthed orange baby in a nappy. It was flown over Parliament Square as part of a 75,000-person strong protest against his visit. And now that big ol’ blimp is back. Having been acquired by the Museum of London in 2021, it’s been reinflated. Rather than wanting to re-fly it, the museum is just making sure the balloon is structurally sound in case it needs to make any repairs. Y’know, checking for holes and leaks. That sort of thing.  It’s hoped that the baby Trump blimp will eventually go on show at the new location of the Museum of London in West Smithfield, which is set to open in 2026. It’ll be part of a ‘protest collection’, which will exhibit a range of placards, posters, badges and leaflets from public protests over the years. Designed by Leicester-based company Imagine Inflatables, the six-metre-high balloon had a few more outings after its original appearance in 2018. It also flew during another Trump visit to London in 2019 before going on a global tour of France, Argentina, Ireland and Denmark. Several copies of the blimp were flown in the USA.  You can find out more about

パッケージツアーにどんなイメージを持っているだろうか。旅の「純粋主義者」たち（我々もそうだが）の中には、パッケージツアーといえば知らない「旅仲間」たちとリゾートに閉じこもり、基本的には天気の良さを楽しむだけで、訪れた土地で見られるものはそう多くない……。と、悪いイメージを持っている人も多いかもしれない。 しかし、パッケージツアーは常に利用されている。それには、それなりの理由がある。航空券、宿泊施設、遊びの全てを予約する必要がなく、便利なのだ。また、別々に手配するよりもリーズナブルで、食事や飲み物などのコストも予測しやすい（特にオールインクルーシブの場合）。2020年以降の世界では常に心配されることだが、何か問題が発生しても、ツアーオペレーターや旅行代理店が解決してくれるという利点もある。 高い関心を持つZ世代 今、パッケージツアーは増加の一途をたどっている。世界の統計データを提供しているStatista社によると、この旅行商品の世界市場は毎年5％ずつ成長し続ける見込みだという。その一因と考えられているのが、Z世代。TikTokでオールインクルーシブな旅をアピールしている彼らは、ミレニアル世代やX世代よりも、パッケージツアーへ高い関心を持っているのだ。 英国旅行業協会（ABTA）はパッケージツアーが支持を得ている理由を、特にパンデミックの後、人々が旅行の専門家に信頼を寄せているからだと考えている。ABTAの調査によると、2020年以前に比べて、現在では旅行代理店で予約する傾向が36％高まっており、パッケージツアーの安全性を特に重要視している人は45％。75％の人が、評判の良いブランドで旅行を手配したいと考えているという。 しかし、だからといって、人里離れた場所でのんびりと過ごす旅が減っているわけではない。それどころか、パッケージツアーが新たに人気になっている背景には、従来のありきたりなオールインクルーシブのツアーに縛られる必要がなくなり、自分好みの旅も可能になったところにあるといえる。 鍵は「ダイナミックパッケージ」 その変化の鍵は「ダイナミックパッケージ」にある。決して新しいものではないが、若い世代の旅の方法を変えつつある。2023年、パッケージツアーはもはや、酒を飲み、外国人観光客とだけ交流し、リゾート地や別荘の外をあまり探検しないような、旧来のオールインクルーシブの旅行ではなくなっているというわけだ。 ダイナミックパッケージは旅行者がフライト、宿泊、レンタカーなどを自由に選択し、独自のパッケージを構築できるようにするもの。オールインクルーシブのパッケージツアーよりもはるかに自由度が高く、旅行費用をコントロールしやすい。旅行会社の信頼性は担保され、隠れた料金もかからないという利点もある。 現在、多くの企業がダイナミックパッケージを扱うようになっている。例えば「Lucky Trip」。予算を入力すると、定番の旅行先や聞いたこともないような旅行先を紹介してくれる予約プラットフォームだ。 Lucky Trip社が提供する全てのツアーはイギリス政府の保護を受けており、予約手続きは合理的で手間いらず。若い世代の旅行者に人気があるのもうなずける。Lucky Tripと似たようなサービスに、特にヨーロッパとイギリス以外の若い旅行者を対象としている「EF Ultimate Break」もある。 従来の旅行会社でも、ダイナミックパッケージツアーを販売する動きは見られる。TuiやeasyJet Holidaysは、太陽の下、砂浜で過ごす通常のパッケージツアーに代わ

Nearly two decades after the last Concorde flight, supersonic airliners are making a comeback. US air giant American Airlines has placed an order for 20 new supersonic airliners, which could come into service as soon as 2029. The aircraft in question is called the ‘Overture’ and it’s being made by Boom Supersonic, an American aviation company. Overtures are promising to be the world’s fastest airliner and reach speeds of Mach 1.7 (over 1,300 miles per hour), which is over double the speed of current airliners. At that speed, an Overture will be able to get from London to New York (usually a seven-hour flight) in just three and a half hours and span Los Angeles and Sydney (usually a 15-hour trip) in just six hours and 45 mins. Each Overture can carry between 65 and 80 passengers. Here are a few renders of what the airliner might look like. Image: Boom Supersonic Image: Boom Supersonic Image: Boom Supersonic And American Airlines isn’t the only liner to have snapped up some Overtures. Over 130 have apparently been ordered so far, including from United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Japan Airlines. Speed aside, Boom’s Overtures are interesting for other reasons. The company says they’ll run entirely on sustainable fuel and be net-zero carbon, which, if true, could be game-changing for the aviation industry. Although, of course, it’s probs better to take any environmental commitments with a significant pinch of salt until there’s any actual proof. (Net-zero long-haul flights

Crowning the world’s best food destination is contentious stuff. Whether you’re talking the Michelin-star-packed streets of San Sebastian, the cultural splurge of New York City or the regional delights of Lyon, the world has simply far too many top-tier foodie destinations for one to come out on top. But that hasn’t stopped online review site TripAdvisor from chipping in with its list of the world’s best food destinations for 2023. It’s all part of TripAdvisor’s ‘Travellers’ Choice: Best of the Best’ series, which essentially ranks destinations based on the quantity and quality of reviews over the last 12 months. And so, according to TripAdvisor, the best food destination in the world is... Rome! The Italian capital is a safe bet for gastronomic delights and got a nod for everything from its oxtail stews and fried artichokes to its fresh pasta and creamy gelato.   Second in the list came the Greek island of Crete and third was Hanoi in Vietnam. In the USA, the top spot was taken by New Orleans. Here are the top ten best food destinations for 2023, according to TripAdvisor. Rome, Italy Crete, Greece Hanoi, Vietnam Florence, Italy Paris, France Barcelona, Spain Lisbon, Portugal Naples, Italy New Orleans, USA Jamaica You can read the full TripAdvisor list here – and Rome isn’t the only Italian city to have gotten tonnes of praise for its food scene recently. As well as both Florence and Naples also making the above list, last year Bologna was named the world’s food capital by

A few months ago, Airbnb added a handy new filter in its search tool which lets users more easily find the most recent rentals added to the site. The filter’s called ‘new’ (obvs) and it’s great, showing only the freshest accom options for wherever you want to go next. Now, the ‘new’ tab is understandably popular. Whether you’re looking to actually book a stay or just window shop for glitzy rentals, it’s always fun to look at the newest and most glamorous stuff to be added to Airbnb. But which places are people lusting over the most right now? Well, based on the number that have been ‘wish-listed’, Airbnb has come up with the most sought-after rentals. Here are 12 Airbnbs around the world that everyone is lusting after at the mo. Hidden Haven, Cape Town (South Africa) Photograph: Airbnb Shackup Tower, Nova Scotia (Canada) Photograph: Airbnb Le Moulin Vert, Varen (France)  Photograph: Airbnb ‘Uniquely designed organic nature house’, Brålanda (Sweden) Photograph: Airbnb New Moon Cottage, Flores da Cunha (Brazil) Photograph: Airbnb JT Luxury Villa, Joshua Tree (USA)  Photograph: Airbnb Invisible House, Joshua Tree (USA) Photograph: Airbnb Scenic A-frame retreat, Grass Valley (USA) Photograph: Airbnb Modern Smoky Mountains Getaway Cabin, Gatlinburg (USA)  Photograph: Airbnb Private Mountain Retreat, Blue Ridge (USA)  Photograph: Airbnb Taos Skybox, El Prado (USA)  Photograph: Airbnb Luxury Glass House, Warren (USA) Photograph: Airbnb Did you see that you ca

Are you really, really strapped for travel ideas for 2023? Well, here we’ve got some recommendations that are entwined with your very destiny. That’s right. Direct from the cosmos: here’s where you should travel this year according to your horoscope. A new study from OnlineCasinos.co.uk has used astrocartography (a kind of astrology that examines where in the world planets were rising or setting at the time of someone’s birth) and the help of sort-of-famous psychic and astrologer Inbaal Honigman to link each zodiac sign to a holiday destination. According to the study, below is where each star sign should go and why, apparently.  Aries (March 21 to April 19): Alaska ‘Active and unusual Aries would be best adventuring through the idyllic landscapes of Alaska. Home to some of the world's most beautiful views and the largest national park, Aries will always have somewhere to explore here.’ Taurus (April 20 to May 20): Los Angeles ‘Great food and extensive views are a true joy to a Taurus, and it doesn't get bigger and bolder than Los Angeles; with over 30,000 restaurants and stunning wide-open beaches, Taurus will love everything about LA.’ Gemini (May 21 to June 20): New York ‘Always awake and ready to party, Geminis will fall in love with the city that never sleeps, New York! From visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art to watching an extravagant Broadway show, Geminis will never be bored day or night.’ Cancer (June 21 to July 22): Iceland ‘For a dreamy and easygoing Cancer, I

Fancy packing up your laptop, filling a few suitcases and heading over to sunny Spain to do exactly the same job you’re doing now, but in a far nicer setting? Well, if you’ve got the kind of job where you can actually do that, you’re in luck. The Spanish government has just announced plans for a ‘digital nomad’ visa which would let foreign remote workers live and work in the country for up to a year. Spain’s new scheme is specifically targeted at freelancers, people who are fully employed but work remotely, and those who make at least 80 percent of their income from companies outside of Spain. Perhaps the best part of the new visa scheme is that it applies to the entirety of Spain. Which means that while some people might be tempted to move to bustling, cultural-packed metropolises like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia or Bilbao, you could also head to beachy Ibiza or even the all-round sun trap that is the Canary Islands. Spain is also generally a cheaper place to live than many other western European countries, so you should end up with enough spare cash for copious tapas. The draft law states that foreign nationals will be able to work remotely for non-Spanish companies while living in Spain without a full work visa for between six and 12 months. It could then be extended up to two times. The new Spanish law is part of the country’s recent Startup Act. It’s been on the cards since the start of 2022, but was finally approved in November and looks set to finally become law somet