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Even for the most frequent fliers, boarding an airplane is a game of chance. Sometimes you can be seated next to a screaming baby (not their fault, but still), or find yourself amid some of the chattiest people on Earth. But there is one seating arrangement that outshines all others: an entire row to yourself. Four Letters You Never Want to See on Your Boarding Pass Although scoring an empty row may seem like the elusive Holy Grail of airplane seating, with a little bit of preparation, you can increase your chances of sitting in seclusion....

Vaccinated tourists from the U.S. and UK will be able to visit Iceland beginning April 6 without having to quarantine or take a test for COVID-19. During the pandemic, Iceland’s borders have been closed to visitors from outside Europe’s Schengen zone. Previously slated for a March opening for vaccinated visitors, the Icelandic government delayed the date, to specifically open borders to travelers outside the Schengen zone who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19....

After years of wowing art lovers in cities across Europe, Asia, and Australia, the immersive “Van Gogh Alive” exhibit is finally making its way to Florida this fall. Making its debut on Nov. 21 at The Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, the “Van Gogh Alive” exhibit creates a full sensory experience with the legendary artist. Paintings like “Starry Night” and “Sunflowers” will be on display alongside more than 3,000 other works from Vincent van Gogh, but unlike other exhibits, this unique experience presents his art as large-scale, high-definition projections on the walls and floors....

Almost 2,000 years ago, the Aztecs built a towering 246-foot-tall pyramid at the abandoned city of Teotihuacan. Today, about 650 feet behind the massive pyramid, in-the-know tourists venture to La Gruta, an underground restaurant that serves traditional Mexican cuisine in a volcanic cave. The walk down into the cave is an impressive sight. It’s illuminated by multicolored lights shining on the cave’s walls and sunshine pouring through a hole in the ceiling....

Don’t throw away your shot…to stay a night in a truly historical home, that is. Hamilton fans and history buffs alike can now book a stay in the historic Archibald Clark house in St Mary’s, Georgia on Vrbo. If you’re not already familiar, the Archibald Clark house is famous for being the home where Aaron Burr fled the authorities after his tragically famous duel with Alexander Hamilton in 1804. Although dueling was illegal at the time, the charges against Burr were eventually dropped — though his political career effectively ended after shooting and killing Hamilton....

If you’ve heard of makeup, you’ve heard of Bobbi Brown. The legendary makeup artist, best-selling author, and entrepreneur changed the beauty industry when she created Bobbi Brown Cosmetics — a company aimed at bucking the trend of “stark contours and shiny red lips” for a softer, more natural look — back in 1991. Now a household name, Bobbi Brown has created an empire that includes cosmetic and beauty products, a wellness-focused lifestyle site, and even a hotel, The George, in Montclair, New Jersey....

Niagara Falls’ nearly 175-year-old Maid of the Mist boat service just got a green makeover. The iconic experience is now being powered by two fully electric passenger boats, making for both a quieter and more environmentally friendly ride from the base of the American Falls into the basin of Canada’s Horseshoe Falls — the largest of the three falls that make up Niagara Falls. James Cavanaugh The two vessels were built in the U....

SingleThread, a Michelin three-starred restaurant also known for its farm and cozy inn, is bringing its culinary stylings to an all-new pop-up experience in Park City, Utah, just in time for ski season. Courtesy of SingleThread Chef Kyle and Katina Connaughton, the husband-wife duo behind this triple threat eatery in California, will unveil Usu-Zan by SingleThread on Jan. 20, 2022. The hot pot dining experience is inspired by the many years that the couple spent living in Hokkaido, Japan and will be offered for only 10 days at The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection....

Not only will airlines turn planes around when passengers break the rules, but the U.S. government is also making it clear that it will punish violators with five-figure fines. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $27,500 fine for a passenger who reportedly hit a flight attendant for enforcing safety rules on an October Delta flight from Miami, Florida, to Atlanta, Georgia. John Keeble/Getty The passenger refused to wear his face mask, secure his seatback tray table, or fasten his seatbelt, prompting the pilot to return to the gate in Miami....

Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson just revealed his plans for his recently purchased Staten Island Ferry — and it may just be one of New York City’s most unique entertainment venues. The comedian, along with fellow SNL star and fellow Staten Island native Colin Jost, won an auction for a retired Staten Island Ferry last month and along with a group of investors, the two intend to dock the ferry somewhere in New York City and transform it into a fun space for visitors and locals alike....

The Mayor of Rio de Janeiro announced that the city’s famous beaches will not officially reopen until a COVID-19 vaccine is available to the public. After weeks of strict lockdown, Rio reopened its beaches for exercise and water sports earlier this month. But during recent weekends, many people have been breaking the rules, not wearing masks, and not following social distancing guidelines on the sands. Mayor Marcelo Crivella announced that fines for breaking the rules will begin this weekend and that the beaches will not fully reopen until the chance of spreading COVID-19 drastically drops....

One fine morning a year or two ago, at an open-air counter in the Maboneng precinct of Johannesburg, South Africa, an elegant lady served me one of the world’s more perfect cappuccinos. In the willfully sentimental way of travelers in search of stories, I imagined a whole biography for her — maybe she’d brought her family’s La Marzocco machine all the way from Rome in a steamer trunk. With its dour fortified compounds, Brutalist skyscrapers, and acrid mine-tailing hills, Johannesburg doesn’t beguile the visitor like its relentlessly picturesque counterpart, Cape Town....

The savviest travelers know how to play the game when it comes to racking up loyalty points and airline miles for free upgrades, flights, and more. But do those real-life skills translate to victory during an at-home game night with family and friends? Frequent Flyer, a new board game designed just for those obsessed with points and miles, is here to test exactly that. Designed by David Horowitz, Frequency Flyer is a “race across the states,” as players use an oversized board, a 20-sided die, two decks of cards (25 first class and 45 coach), a pad of destination checklists, a mileage chart, and four game pieces to make their way around 20 cities on the map....

Editor’s note: Those who choose to travel are strongly encouraged to check local government restrictions, rules, and safety measures related to COVID-19 and take personal comfort levels and health conditions into consideration before departure. There’s now an easy way to peruse your vacation options as the world begins recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), an authoritative trade association for airlines around the world, has created an interactive Travel Regulations Map powered by Timatic solutions that allow both airlines and travelers to quickly see current COVID-19 travel restrictions for each country around the world....

As the world emerges from the pandemic, startup low-cost airline Northern Pacific Airways intends to become the first discount trans-Pacific operator with passenger service on long-haul routes between the U.S. and Asia through its forthcoming Alaska hub. The cool and edgy black-on-white livery with ice-blue highlights “captures the Northern Pacific brand and our affection for our Alaskan home,” CEO Rob McKinney said, as the company’s first Boeing 757-200 was revealed last week in San Bernadino, California....

Playing music at work is one way to make the day go faster. But you’re probably not used to hearing it at the security line. According to UPROXX, TSA agents, rather than calling in sick or full-on quitting their jobs, have opted for the next best thing to express their feelings on the federal government shutdown that has forced them to go almost four weeks (so far) without pay: Music....

After a family became stranded in the wrong Portland, a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer used his own money to help them reach their destination. TSA officer Martin Rios was called to the checkpoint at Portland International Airport on a November morning to help interpret for a family of Spanish-speaking passengers. He learned that they had been stuck at the airport since 7 p.m. the night before, confused about the mishap....

Thailand announced its plans to fully reopen to vaccinated visitors from abroad by mid-October this year. “I know this decision comes with some risk because, when we open the country, there will be an increase in infections, no matter how good our precautions,” Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Wednesday, according to the Associated Press (AP). “But I think when we take into consideration the economic needs of the people, the time has come for us to take that calculated risk....

Even the most amateur astronomers know the name “Betelgeuse,” and if you don’t It sits in the constellation Orion and is usually easy to spot, being one of the brightest stars in the sky. But a few months ago, something unusual began happening to Betelgeuse. And now astronomers think the star may soon explode. Up until October, Betelgeuse was one of the top 10 brightest stars in the sky. But it began dimming and now it’s not even in the top 20....

Courtesy of Roy Wood Jr. “When you’re in another landand see someone who looks just like you, there’s an understanding that happens, just with eye contact, that our presence inthis place is, in itself, progress, and an experience we can pass down to our children.” — Roy Wood Jr., comedian and correspondent for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah See more at Black Travel: The Movement Courtesy of Bozoma Saint John...