Italy Wants to Overturn Budget Airlines’ Baggage Policies

a group of people standing around a plane: Comiso, Sicily, Italy: Passengers Boarding Ryanair on Tarmac

Budget airlines Ryanair and Wizz Air are currently engaged in a legal battle in Italy to determine whether or not it is “misleading” to charge passengers for their carry-on luggage.

Italian competition watchdog Antitrust opened an inquiry into the two carriers in September to determine whether or not the ultra-low prices that the airlines advertised could be considered a price distortion, as hand luggage is “an essential element of transport.”

Both Ryanair and Wizz Air independently changed their baggage policies last year. Passengers were basically limited to only a small handbag that could fit underneath the seat in front of them.

Antitrust said in a statement that having to pay more for hand luggage “provides a false representation of the real ticket price and spoils the comparison with the rates of other companies, misleading the consumer.”

In a statement, a Ryanair spokesperson responded, “We look forward to cooperating with this Italian inquiry. All Ryanair customers are free to bring one piece of carry-on bag on board. But no airline customer has a right to unlimited carry-on bags.”

In February, the Italian courts decided that the baggage fees constituted unfair pricing and fined the airlines a combined total of about $4.48 million (€4 million). The airlines are now fighting the decision and last week, Italian courts agreed to suspend the fine, pending a new inquiry. Both airlines will continue with their current baggage policy until a new decision is reached (or the previous decision is upheld).

Regardless of what happens with the decision, policymakers are investigating ever-shrinking airline baggage allowances. Only time will tell whether or not these types of inquiries will reach U.S. airlines and their “basic economy” fares.

Passengers who are flying a budget airline should search for baggage policies before buying their ticket to ensure that they are actually getting the best deal. A mainstream airline with a higher ticket price could actually end up being cheaper than a budget service after passengers consider fees paid for baggage and meal service.

16 Epic Places in the United States Even Americans Don’t Know About

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/evergreenkamal/4849551558/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Teton Mountains | © Kamal Hamid / Flickr</a>

You hear a lot about well-known tourist attractions in the United States, but what about the places that aren’t as well-known even to Americans? Whether you’re a visitor or a resident, these places top our list of the most epic discoveries, both natural and man-made, in the United States.

Brookgreen Gardens

When Anna Hyatt Huntington was looking for a place to showcase her sculptures, she and husband Archer Milton Huntington came across the 9,100-acre property that would become Brookgreen Gardens. Located in Georgetown County, South Carolina, the gardens were originally one of four rice plantations that the couple purchased. The Huntingtons first visited the property in 1929, and Brookgreen Gardens opened in 1932 as the country’s first public sculpture garden. The property features themed gardens with figurative sculptures, a small zoo, and a nature exhibition center.

Fly Geyser

Also known as Fly Ranch Geyser, the small geothermal geyser was accidentally created during well drilling in 1964 when the well was either not capped correctly or left unplugged. This caused dissolved minerals to accumulate, creating the travertine mound where the geyser sits and continues to grow. Water is constantly being released from Fly Geyser, sometimes reaching up to five feet (1.5 meters) in the air. In June 2016, the Burning Man Project purchased the Fly Ranch, where the geyser is located, and the property is currently closed to the public.

Fly Geyser in Nevada | © Ken Lund / Flickr

Chiricahua National Monument

Just 36 miles southeast of Wilcox, Arizona, is the Chiricahua National Monument, established in 1924 to protect the Faraway Ranch as well as the hoodoos and balancing rocks remaining from a volcanic eruption 27 million years ago. Thick ash spewed from the Turkey Creek Caldera, cooled, and hardened, laying down nearly 2,000 feet (600 meters) of ash and pumice. This eventually led to erosion, creating the natural features currently seen at the monument.

The Lost Sea

Deep inside a mountain in east Tennessee is The Lost Sea, part of the historic Craighead Caverns cave system and listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as America’s largest underground lake. The Lost Sea was first discovered by settlers in the 1820s, again by Confederate soldiers in 1863, and once more in 1905 by a 13-year old boy named Ben Sands: as he wiggled through the cave’s muddy opening, 300 feet (91.4 meters) underground, he found himself in a room half filled with water. He described how he threw mudballs into the blackness that surrounded him, and hear nothing but splashes. The expansiveness of the Lost Sea is still unknown, but the visible part is 800 feet long by 220 feet wide (244 by 67 feet). More than 13 acres of water have been mapped, but no end to the lake has yet been found.

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Pecos National Historical Park

East of Santa Fe and south of Pecos in New Mexico is the Pecos National Historical Park. It was first a state monument in 1935 and was expanded and renamed a park in 1990. The park’s main unit is the Pecos Pueblo, a Native American community of rock and mud villages built around AD 1100. Thousands of acres of the landscape feature prehistoric archaeological ruins, a battlefield from the American Civil War, and the remains of a Spanish mission built in the early 17th century. There is a 1.25-mile (2-km) self-guided trail that winds through the Pecos Pueblo and the mission.

Pecos National Historic Park | © Marne Lierman / Flickr

Grand Prismatic Spring

The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. The earliest records of the spring are from European explorers from the 1800s who crossed the Midway Geyser Basin and noted a “boiling lake.” The bright rainbow colors of the spring are the result of microbial mats around the edges of the water, which is rich in minerals. Grand Prismatic Spring discharges about 560 gallons (2120 liters) of water per minute.

Fort Jefferson

Composed of over 16 million bricks, Fort Jefferson is the largest brick masonry structure in America and is located within the Dry Tortugas National Park, about 70 miles west of Key West, Florida. The unfinished coastal fortress can be reached by ferry, approximately 70 miles (112.65 kilometers) west from Key West, and visitors generally spend several hours here. The fort has a museum and bookstore, and it allows swimming and snorkeling on the reef. The fort was named after President Thomas Jefferson and was constructed in part by civilian carpenters, general laborers, and Key West slaves employed by the United States Army.

Cache River State Natural Area

In the southernmost part of Illinois is the Cache River State Natural Area, situated within a floodplain carved by glacial floodwater from the Ohio River. The wetlands in the area are so vital to migrating waterfowl that the Ramsar Convention designated them a Wetland of International Importance, alongside only 18 other wetlands in the U.S. Many of the cypress trees in the area’s 14,960 acres are over 1,000 years old and exceed 40 feet (12.2 meters) in circumference. Visitors can enjoy several recreational activities, such as hiking, canoeing, biking, and fishing.

More than 15 million Mexican free-tailed bats call Bracken Cave, the largest bat colony is the in the world, home during the summer, less than 20 miles from downtown San Antonio. The bats fly nearly 1,000 miles from Mexico to the cave, and between March and October, they emerge in the evening hours to hunt insects and moths that are pushed away from crops by the wind. Access to the cave is restricted, but Bat Conservation International does offer evening tours to watch the bats emerge from the cave.

Bracken Cave bats | © Daniel Spieiss / Flickr

Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park covers 310,000 acres in Wyoming, including the Teton Range, and is named after the tallest mountain in the range, Grand Teton. More than 1,000 species of plants, 300 species of birds, and a dozen species of fish call the park home. Some of the rocks are nearly 2.7 billion years old, the oldest found in any national park in the United States. The park has more than 1,000 campsites, over 200 miles of hiking trails, and is one of the few places to catch the fine-spotted cutthroat trout.

Grand Teton National Park | © Jeff Gunn / Flickr

Plaza Blanca was made famous by the paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe. The artist visited the area in 1929 and was amazed by the lights and shapes she found in the New Mexico desert. She discovered the outcroppings of dark rock, which she called “Black Place” and inspired her Black Mesa Landscape piece. In 1940, she painted an oil canvas that was inspired by Plaza Blanca, which she called The White Place. She eventually made the nearby Abiquiu her home. The Dar Al Islam Education Center and Mosque, which currently contains Plaza Blanca, is privately owned but does allow visitors access.

Garden of the Gods

The rock formations at Garden of the Gods—first called Red Rock Corral by the Europeans until August 1859, when two surveyors explored the site and decided it was a “fit place for the gods to assemble,”—were created millions of years ago during a geological upheaval along a fault line. The fountain formation of the rocks is the result of coarse sand, gravel, and silica combining with the hematite, which gives the rocks their red color. Many American Indian Nations have traveled through Garden of the Gods, and petroglyphs found have been linked to the early Utes. The steep rock formations in the park attract rock climbers.

Skagit Valley Tulip Fields

In Mount Vernon, Washington, are the Skagit Valley Tulip Fields, featured in the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival driving tour every April. The tulip fields are in different locations each year, and the crops are grown by RoozenGaarde and Tulip Town. During the festival, visitors can enjoy art shows, concerts, a youth basketball tournament, and a running race. The Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair and the Kiwanis Salmon Barbecue take place alongside the festival.

Skagit Valley Tulips | © GoToVan / Flickr

Providence Canyon

Sometimes called “Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon,” Providence Canyon in southwest Georgia is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia because of its massive gullies, caused by erosion due to poor farming practices in the 19th century. The park is situated on marine sediments with small areas of sand and is home to the rare plumleaf azalea flower. An abandoned homestead at the park includes almost a dozen rusty 1950s-era cars and trucks; since removing the vehicles could cause environmental damage, park officials decided to leave them where they are.

Providence Canyon | © c_live_lee / Flickr

Mendenhall Glacier

In southeast Alaska is the 13.6-mile (21.9-km) long Mendenhall Glacier. Since Mendenhall Lake’s creation in 1929, the glacier has retreated 1.75 miles (2.8 kilometers). Unfortunately, it’s possible that the glacier could experience a period of stabilization: increasing amounts of warm, moist air are carried to the head of the ice field, where colder temperatures cause it to precipitate as snow; however, if temperatures continue to rise, the head of the glacier will not longer have enough cold temperatures to cause the snow to precipitate.

Mendenhall Glacier | © Roger Mommaerts / Flickr

Horseshoe Bend

Located near Page, Arizona, is Horseshoe Bend, a horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River, five miles (eight kilometers) downstream from Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam. The rock walls of Horseshoe Bend are made of several minerals including platinum, hematite, and garnet. An overlook at 4,200 feet (1280 meters) above sea level which is accessible by an access road or a 1.5-mile (2.4-km) round trip hiking trail along U.S. Route 89.

Horseshoe Bend | © Graeme Maclean / Flickr

Discover Unexplored Dallas By Visiting These Attractions

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Dallas is often associated with football, rodeos and oversized barbecue. A sports lover’s mecca, the city is home to five professional sports teams: The Dallas Cowboys (NFL); Dallas Stars (NHL); Dallas Mavericks (NBA); Dallas Wings (WNBA); FC Dallas (MLS) and the Texas Rangers (MLB) plus NASCAR and Indy racing. The area also boasts over 200 golf courses.

Although Dallas attracts almost 25 million visitors each year, visitors to this friendly city can also discover a wide array of off-the-beaten-path attractions that are generally less expensive and not as crowded as the more famous tourist sites. Thus, they can provide a very enjoyable experience for visitors.

Katy Trail is ideal for joggers, bikers, skaters and walkers.

VISITDALLAS

You can explore the many city trails that literally take you off-the-beaten-path by walking the Katy Trail, which is linking the people of Dallas in an exciting new way. Once an abandoned railroad line, the trail has become one of the most iconic destinations in the city. Joggers, bikers, skaters and walkers take advantage of the trail runs through the densest part of the city from the West End and the American Airlines Center in the south, through the heart of urban Dallas past Knox Street, up to SMU and Mockingbird DART Station in the north. The trail also hosts a number of events each year

Pecan Lodge is a popular eating spot.

The Deep Ellum District is a hotspot for those looking for music, eclectic dining or to capture the perfect picture at one of the many murals that are scattered throughout the neighborhood. Established in 1873 in an area east of downtown Dallas as a residential and commercial neighborhood, the area was one of Dallas’ first commercial districts for African-Americans and European immigrants. As such, Deep Ellum is one of the most historically significant neighborhoods in the city.

Known as Dallas’ “most independent neighborhood,” the Bishop Arts District affords visitors the opportunity to explore boutiques, grab a drink and catch a classic/indie flick at The Texas Theatre. The Bishop Arts District is home to over 60 boutiques, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, theaters and art galleries. Located in the heart of North Oak Cliff and only five minutes from downtown, the district lays claim to one of Dallas’ most unique neighborhoods with historical shopping full of great finds, good eats and good ol’ Oak Cliff charm. The area is populated with many independently-owned businesses, and many of the shops stay open late on the weekends to provide a fun shop, stroll, and eat environment for visitors.

Are you ready for a rousing round of games on Fighters Row? Then head over to the Cidercade, where 170 arcades await. Featuring a mix of both new and retro, the emphasis here is on games that are competitive and that are specially designed for two or more players. Although food is not available on the premises, a variety of food trucks make their presence known throughout the week. As its name implies, Cidercade features 30 in-house made ciders along with wines on tap.

The Samurai Collection is a truly unique attraction.

SAMURAI COLLECTION

Perhaps one of the most unexpected yet truly unique tourist attractions found in Dallas is the Samurai Collection which houses one of the largest displays of samurai armor and artifacts in the world. Comprised of almost 1,000 objects, the collections include armor, helmets, masks, horse armor and weaponry, and features several masterpieces that are sure to “wow” visitors. In 2011, 140 pieces from the collection were compiled for an exhibition to tour Europe, Canada and the U.S.

Sample some sushi poke on your food tour.

VISITDALLAS

The food throughout the greater Dallas area is as appetizing as you’ll find anywhere else in the country. The Taste Your Way through Dallas Tours are a great way to satisfy your taste buds by experiencing the sheer variety of food options. Start your Dallas visit by joining Food Tours of America as they take you around Uptown Dallas discovering local restaurants, from casual to upscale. Or join Dallas by Chocolate and Dallas Bites! Food Tours on a very sweet tour of Dallas. Join the locals at a brewery tour. Dallas is home to several microbreweries. Some of the most popular options include Community in the Design District (try the Mosaic IPA), Four Corners in Trinity Groves (try El Chingon) and Deep Ellum Brewery. Don’t miss a visit to Trinity Groves, a restaurant incubator concept that features up-and-coming chefs and restaurateurs in Dallas. With more than 14 restaurants it’s hard to choose where to go.

Traveling off-the-beaten-path is a great way to explore any city because a treasure trove of surprises may await you. This is especially true for the unique attractions throughout Dallas.

Small Luxury Hotels of the World Introduces New Properties

a living room filled with furniture and vase of flowers on a table: The Celino South Beach

This spring, Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) is introducing new properties around the globe for travelers to enjoy with features that include dazzling swimming pools and panoramic views.

The Celino South Beach

The Celino South Beach in Miami, which opens in June of this year, is located on Ocean Drive and is an Art Deco gem. The property encompasses three separate buildings, including the landmark Park Central Hotel, to create one singular property. Its rooftop pool, which features a peek-a-boo glass bottom, is one of its most striking features.

Villa Eyrie

Also close to home, Villa Eyrie on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, is also part of the SLH collection of hotels.

The hotel is surrounded by old-growth forests 1,800 feet above the sea and is just 30 minutes from Victoria. Accommodations merge Italian architecture with soothing contemporary interiors and are reminiscent of Italy’s Lake Como region.

The Outpost at Sentosa

On Sentosa Island, Singapore, the Outpost at Sentosa, opens this month. The adults-only resort is located on a hilltop overlooking the beautiful Singapore Strait and inspired by the heritage of the region.

The hotel’s 193 guestrooms are stylish and modeled, featuring crisp lines and a black and white design with hints of gold. Rooms bring the outside in with floor-to-ceiling windows and guests will enjoy amenities such as pillow mist kits, bespoke tea blends and heritage cookies.

Hotel Amparo

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, continues to lure in travelers and the new Hotel Amparo, which opened in January, is one of its newest attractions. The property is situated in the heart of this historic colonial city and is an intimate retreat with just five suites.

The building was once the mayor’s private residence and dates back more than 300 years. The property showcases Spanish colonial-style architecture with mid-century furnishings sourced from around the world; including France, India and Denmark.

Finca Serena

Travelers can also take advantage of a new property in Mallorca, Spain. The Finca Serena opens this month and is located on 40 countryside hectares in the Pla de Mallorca, just 20 minutes from Palma.

Rooms and suites are scattered around the property with some in original farm outbuildings and some equipped with private terraces and verandas. The hotel also offers a standalone luxury villa for those traveling with an entourage.

Rhône Road Trip: Tasting With Jean-Louis Chave

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From Oslo to London to Lyon back to London…it was a tough couple days of travel. However, it was made easier by my first-ever trip to the Rhône Valley. I had only one destination, the Domaine of Jean-Louis Chave, and it would end up being a memory of a lifetime.

When we landed that morning, it seemed we brought the frigid weather of Oslo with us to France—about as cold as it ever gets there, per Jean-Louis. We were welcomed inside and Jean-Louis made a plan. His father Gerard was still around and about (and quick as a whip, I might add). We bid him adieu and hopped in Jean-Louis’ truck for a tour of the famous hill of Hermitage.

We sat at the foot of the hill and looked up, where the giant signs of Jaboulet and Chapoutier stand out. Each producer now makes millions of bottles a year—not of Hermitage, of course, but their significance and contribution to the appellation and the entire region cannot be ignored. I asked Jean-Louis why he didn’t have a Chave sign on the hill, but that is not his style: he just lives on it. After that, I just listened.

The terroir of Hermitage—much like the terroir of Burgundy—makes it unique. Chave gets fruit from seven different vineyards, and within those vineyards, he gets both white and red grapes, depending on the soil. The diversity and differences of soils on the hill of Hermitage are one of the great characteristics of the vineyard. The south-facing slopes—some very steep—are another: without them, there’s no Hermitage. The S-shape that the Rhône river takes here created this unique hillside vineyard.

Hill of Hermitage is a sight to behold.

We started driving in the vineyards. We came awfully close to some steep declines with an awful amount of big bumps in the road next to them. “Don’t worry,” I told myself, “Jean-Louis drives these paths every day, you aren’t going to fall and roll over and wipe out 5% of the production of Hermitage in the process … don’t worry.”

The key to the hill is the complex range of different soils, from granite and clay to pebbles and dusty earth. Sometimes you could see the earth change colors in the middle of a vineyard, like L’Ermite, and that could mark where red grapes stopped and whites started. All these soils with their different personalities lend themselves to unique expressions in the grapes. Chapoutier and others have promoted the concept of single vineyards like Le Meal and L’Ermite; however, for Chave, the true nature of Hermitage results from a carefully constructed blend from all parts of the hill. This was evident when we tasted the 2016, where each vineyard was aging separately in the barrel.

For the whites, we first tasted from the Les Rocules vineyard, where the oldest vines for the whites reside. Jean-Louis told us that the vines were so old, he couldn’t even tell which ones were Marsanne and which were Roussanne, but he estimated that his blanc is about 80% Marsanne. Les Rocules was delicious, deserving of a bottling on its own—so decadent, so rich, so plump and succulent with its sweet fruit, with lots of old-vine character. When we tasted L’Ermite, the vineyard in back of his home way up high on the hill, the contrast was amazing. This was a dry and spiny white, with lots of backside and a meaner personality compared to the seductive, “life of the party” that was Les Rocules. The yin and the yang were immediately obvious. The vineyards show a bit of each other’s character, in a fill-in-the-blanks kind of way.

After the barrel tasting, Jean-Louis popped a few bottles of white, beginning with the 2015 Chave Hermitage Blanc, which had been bottled about four months ago. What a delicious wine! 2015 was a hotter vintage, and the sweetness of the fruit came through immediately: loads of yellow fruits and sunshine, with exotic pineapple and mango aromas, and a delectable spice behind it. It was rich, balanced and still elegant. Jean-Louis told us there is a post-bottling window in which the wines are just delightful before they close up and go into hibernation. Everyone knows the age-worthiness of his blancs; sometimes they can be downright screechy in their intensity. This 2015, however, was ready, willing and able. (95+)

Next up was a 2009 Chave Hermitage Blanc. This was an immediate left turn from the 2015, showing off a gamy and waxy personality, full of anise and wild flavors. It was almost a bit peculiar compared to the seductive 2015. Its texture was intense, and with a little air, it started to settle down in the stable, so to speak. It still had this pungent character, but less with time. There were a lot more minerals and stones on the finish of this gamy 2009. (93)

There was one more white to be had, and what a white it was: the 1982 Chave Hermitage Blanc. I was in awe of this spectacular white. Its yellow hues were not only in fruit but also in straw and wax. There was a dust of the earth in its nose that balanced perfectly with its fruit. It was still fresh despite being 36 years old: This was a white wine still on the rise! Its richness permeated my mouth, and its minerals made me smack my lips. This was a golden goose of a wine, sparkling in its nose with musk and fruit, and shining even more on the palate with its delicious flavors and balance. Bravo! (97)

For those who think of only red when they think of Rhône, Jean-Louis will convince you to come over to the white side.

The Best Cruise Ships For Every Personality

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In 2018, there were more than 300 cruise ships on the high seas, and this year, 21 new ships are launching. With those numbers, it’s hard to know where to begin when you’re trying to figure out where to go on a cruise vacation — whether you’re a novice cruiser or a seasoned sailor.

That’s where Cruiseline.com comes in. The website’s new Member’s Choice Awards analyzed more than 30,000 online reviews in order to determine the best cruises for every travel personality. And the good news is that no matter what you’re looking for — a solo trip, a family vacation, a food adventure — there’s a ship for you. Here are the winners.

Best for First-Timers

Royal Caribbean clearly knows how to deliver when it comes to first-time cruisers. The line also won the category in 2015, 2016 and 2017. You can get the scoop on other great cruises in “The 20 Best Cruises To Take In 2019.”

Las Vegas: How to get there, where to stay and what to do

a sign in front of a palm tree with Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign in the background: MEN Destination Guide on Las Vegas, Nevada. All pictures free to use from Creative Commons. No credit needed. Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada sign

Sat within the stillness of the vast Mojave Desert lies Sin City, Las Vegas, Nevada, an explosion of glittering lights and dazzling attractions. Streets are lined with outrageously extravagant hotel after hotel, 24-hour casinos, innovative restaurants – and almost everything in between. View the dancing water fountains, try your luck along ‘the Strip’, fly through the night’s sky on a zip line – whatever you do, the only way to find out what really happens in Vegas, is to see it for yourself.

Must sees for free

One of the post popular attractions in Las Vegas is the Fountains at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, 3600 S Las Vegas Blvd. The dramatic, illuminated water display is held every 30 mins and is on from Monday to Friday, from 3pm to 8pm, and every 15 minutes from 8pm to midnight. The show is also held on Sundays.

Experience a complimentary theatre visit at the KÀ by Cirque du Soleil in MGM Grand, 3799 S Las Vegas Blvd. The public are invited to observe how the KA theatre team create their $165 million production, for free, on Tuesdays and Saturdays from noon to 12.30pm. No reservation needed.

Observe that artwork at The Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery based in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S Maryland Pkwy. A yearly schedule showcases the work of artist from the university and other artists from across the world.

a lit up city at night: Las Vegas night lights © Mariamichelle/Creative Commons Las Vegas night lights

Top sees for a fee:

Thrill-seekers, fly through the sky at the SlotZilla Zip Line, 425 Fremont St. The slot machine-themed attraction features a seven-storey high, sitting-style zip line that stretches down two blocks and an 11-story high, superman-style ‘zoom line’ that stretches down five blocks. Zip line from $25. Zoom line from $45.

Go on a Red Rock Canyon Tour with http://www.lasvegas.com. On the tour, visitors will see spectacular views of the canyon, observe Indian culture and visit a 520-acre ranch. The tour length is 360 mins. Lunch is included. From $75.

Explore the how the Ethel M Chocolates Factory in Henderson works. Taste experiences last between 30 and 45 mins. Learn how chocolate is sourced and sample its most popular flavours including white chocolate truffle and milk chocolate pecan caramel rapture. Adult – $15, child under 13 – $6, student – $10.

a canyon with a mountain in the background: Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas © BLM Nevada/Creative Commons Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas

Getting around

Ride the Las Vegas Monorail. The monorail is reliable, clean and the fastest method of transport – beating the bumper to bumper cars and taxis along the Strip. There are seven stations and trains arrive every four to eight minutes. One-ride ticket from $5.

a train is parked on the side of a building: Las Vegas Monorail © Moto Las Vegas Monorail

Eating out

Mr Mamas Breakfast and Lunch, 5693 S Jones Blvd, is hailed as one of the best breakfast joints in Las Vegas. Known for its above and beyond service, the diner aims to make guests feel right at home as soon as they step through the door. Try Mamas short stack of pancakes, Mamas breakfast burrito or the Cali omelet.

For fine-dining, head over to sophisticated sushi restaurant, Kabuto-edomae sushi, 5040 W Spring Mountain Rd. Most of the fish used in the restaurant’s special Edomae style sushi is imported from Japan. Try the Five Star Sashimi and the Miso Soup. The menu changes frequently to make the most of the fresh, seasonal ingredients.

For your sweet fix, stop by Sprinkles Cupcakes, 3545 South Las Vegas Boulevard l-23. Originating from Beverly Hills, Sprinkles Cupcakes boasts handcrafted cupcakes made from top quality ingredients including pure Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, fresh bananas and real strawberries. Its extensive flavour menu includes chocolate marshmallow, lemon coconut and Cuban coffee.

a store front at night: Sprinkles Cupcakes, Las Vegas © Tomás Del Coro/Creative Commons Sprinkles Cupcakes, Las Vegas

Going out

A trip to Las Vegas wouldn’t be complete without a wild night out on ‘the Strip’. The 6.759km-long illuminated Strip is lined with dance clubs, music venues, restaurants, comedy clubs, casinos and more.

Head over to the casino at the five-star Bellagio Hotel, play the slots, join a poker table or for the high rollers, enter Bobby’s Room – named after professional poker player Bobby Baldwin – for a whopping $20,000 minimum buy-in!

Party-goers can dance the night away at Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan. Marquee books international house music DJs and if house music isn’t your taste, the club offers other zones including the Boom Box, The Library and a secret VIP area.

a city at night: The Las Vegas Strip at night © Clément Bardot/Creative Commons The Las Vegas Strip at night

Hotels

Luxury:Vdara Hotel & Spa at ARIA Las Vegas: This five-star, pet-friendly hotel holds a glamorous selection of guest suites – including a two-bedroom penthouse – over ten mouthwatering restaurants, a pool, spa and more. 2600 W Harmon Ave. From £89 – £367 per night.

Mid-range:The Mirage Hotel & Casino: The Mirage boasts stylish villas and is ideally located close to the best nightlife hot spots and theatre show venues. Guests also have the option to try their luck on the casino floor. 3400 S Las Vegas Blvd. From £64 – £339 per night.

Budget:Circus Circus Hotel & Casino Las Vegas: Child-friendly Circus Circus offers endless entertainment and dining options suitable for the whole family. Enjoy the Circus buffet, the Splash Zone water slide tower, watch free circus acts and more. 2880 S Las Vegas Blvd. From £20 – £180 per night.

a resort near the water with The Mirage in the background: The Mirage Hotel © William Warby/Creative Commons The Mirage Hotel

Fact file

Currency: American Dollars ($). £1 = $1.28.

Time zone: Pacific Standard Time (GMT-8).

The flight: Fly direct to Vegas with Thomas Cook Airlines from £619.98. Flight duration – 10 hours 50 mins.

Best time to visit: Las Vegas has a subtropical hot desert climate so visitors can enjoy warm weather throughout the year.

Visas, injections, precautions: None.

5 tricks for traveling first class on an economy budget

Young woman in an airport lounge

There’s no better feeling than setting your out of office reply, packing your bag and setting off to explore a new city … except when you get to do it style, traveling in luxury with first class seats, fancy accommodations and five-star food.

While these perks tend to carry a hefty price tag, it is possible to experience them without racking up your credit card bill. We tapped travel experts for their tricks of the trade for upgrading your travel experience on a budget.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: BOOK SMART

Where you decide to go — and what time of year you plan to do it — can make all the difference in how much your trip costs. When it comes to keeping the price down (and having more money to spend on dining and activities), being flexible is key. Since plane tickets often make up a large chunk of the cost of a trip, be flexible with time of year, travel dates and locations, and utilize alerts to snag flights when prices dip. Considering off-season travel can also get you plane tickets and hotels at much lower prices — meaning that bump up to a first-class ticket or a reservation at a five-star hotel may be more attainable.

RENT AN APARTMENT OR HOUSE INSTEAD OF A HOTEL

When it comes to accommodations, thinking outside of the box can lead to some pretty posh digs. Traditionally, we tend to stay in hotels when we travel, whether it be an all-inclusive resort or a boutique hotel. But home-share options like VRBO and Airbnb are becoming more and more popular, and they aren’t only good for snagging cheap rooms and apartments. These sites list luxury properties are vetted and reviewed by past consumers and give you all the amenities of a five-star hotel and then some.

We’re talking a full kitchen, claw-foot bathtub, private pool, and balconies to sunbathe or people watch. (A 5-bedroom Italian villawith a sea-view for $200 a night? Sign us up). The other benefit of these sites is that you can find a property at a reasonable rate in prime areas that would typically cost you an arm-and-a-leg if staying in a hotel in the same area. For example, if you’re in Paris, France and want to be near the Eiffel Tower, hotels can cost around $600 a night. But a night in a rental in the same neighborhood can be found for $100 and up, depending on the season.

But before booking, read the reviews and look at the pictures. Past visitors are very honest in their reviews about location, amenities and other important factors to consider during your stay at a property. And don’t ignore the pictures provided by the host: If most of them are of local landmarks or gorgeous views, chances are the apartment or house itself isn’t much to write home about — which is fine if location and ease of sightseeing is your priority. But if you’re looking for fancier accommodations, make sure the images of the property reflect that.

GO TO THE AIRPORT LOUNGE

If you find yourself at the airport for an extended layover, delay or cancellation, you should consider going to the lounge. Contrary to popular belief, they’re not just for first class ticket holders and frequent flyers. Instead of spending hours roaming the airport in search of overpriced meals and sitting in the uncomfortable chairs at the gate, hanging out in the lounge gives you access to free food, WiFi, comfortable seating, and in some places, a place to sleep, shower and formally dine.

Don’t let the fancy doors outside of airport lounges intimidate you; lounges are easier to access than you think. First, check if the airline you are traveling on has a lounge — you can do that on their app or at the ticket counter. For Delta flights, if you have the gold American Express card, you can access their lounge for as low as $29. For United Airlines flights, simply having a business class ticket lets you in their United Club. If you travel frequently, then consider getting a membership to Lounge Buddy or Priority Pass (both starting at $99/year). These services allow you to look up the airport you are currently in and find their partner lounges available to you at a discounted price — as low as $19. (Many travel credit cards also offer a complimentary membership to one of these programs when you sign up.)

Even if you don’t have one of these memberships, you can still use sites like LoungeBuddy to purchase lounge access in advance (many lounges also accept walk-ins). What does access buy you and at what cost? The Wingtips lounge at John F. Kennedy airport in New York, for example, costs $50 and has an open bar, unlimited snacks, TVs and WiFi, while The Club lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta offers all of this plus showers and printing and faxing services for just $39. (If you have sticker shock up front, think of how much you typically drop on water, snacks, drinks and magazines during a layover — and that’s minus the comfy chairs.)

ASK FOR AN UPGRADE

It’s notoriously hard to get an upgrade, especially now that airlines seem to be nickel and diming more than ever — with additional costs often added for checked bags, seat selection and extra leg room. But although people are always intimidated to do this, simply asking for the upgrade is the best way to make it happen. Of course, there is a specific strategy, starting with kindness. Greet the staff and acknowledge their work. They are working hard, and have tough, often thankless, jobs in hospitality. Being patient and kind automatically makes you stand out among the other customers they have dealt with all day.

Next, be strategic about how and when you ask for your upgrade. Choose a quiet time; when it’s busy, the staff may be overwhelmed and busy dealing with other issues. Also, never ask loudly in front of other people. As you can imagine, this can quickly trigger a domino effect of endless asks from other customers, which will lead to a hard “no” to all of you. Instead, lean in with your kindness and smile, and ask if there are any opportunities to be upgraded. There may not be any available at the time of the ask, as the boarding process coming to a close (and the flight has no-shows), spots may open up and you’ll be on their radar.

Also, dress the part. Often people travel in their most comfortable clothes that closely resemble pajamas (or even are pajamas). But if you’re hoping for an upgrade to first or business class, find comfortable clothing that can also pass as business casual. If you look the part, the staff may be more inclined to present you with the option.

This is also another area where those travel credit cards will come in handy. If you rack up enough points, you can splurge on the first-class tickets without your bank account taking a hit. (The key is to use one card for the majority of your purchases in order to accumulate the most points possible in the shortest amount of time).

EAT AT A FIVE-STAR RESTAURANT ON A BUDGET

Want to experience some top-rated fine dining on your trip? “You can often eat at Michelin-starred restaurants or their equivalent for less if you go for lunch,” says travel writer Travis Levius. “Multi-course afternoon menus often cost a fraction of the dinner menu. If you want to have an evening experience at in-demand fine dining restaurants and you don’t have hundreds to spend [or the] connections to snag a table, ask for their bar section if available — not only are these usually available for walk-ins, you can still sample the food from a shorter menu and not feel obligated to rack up a huge dinner bill.”

The most scenic railway journeys in the world!

Taking a train journey across and between countries is often one of the nicest ways to travel. There tends to be more legroom than on a bus and it’s definitely faster without all the traffic jams in cities. Although I wouldn’t naturally call myself a train lover (I always just think of the cramped journeys in and around the UK), when I think of train journeys I’ve had abroad I reassess my position.

Love train journey trips? Check out these bucket list train journeys in Europe, train journeys in America and Asia. The most beautiful and scenic train rides in the world! Check out this epic rail travel bucket list - the perfect travel inspiration! #worldtravel #bucketlist #Trains #TrainTravel

Living in France and doing the train journey from St Pancras to Paris then through France down to Grenoble in The Alps was a dream, travelling across China on the high-speed trains was easy, and taking the Caledonian Sleeper up to Scotland a few years ago was the perfect way to fit in a weekend break!

The Best UK Rail Journeys

Travelling in the UK and under 30? If you’re travelling around the country by train then it’s definitely worth getting a Railcard. They saved me SO much money on trips between London and home while I was living there (I basically made back the price in one ticket!).

The two most popular types are:

The Young Persons Railcard (16-25): Save up to 1/3 on journeys.
The Millenial Railcard (26-30): Save up to 1/3 on rail journeys

Both cost £30 for an entire year and you’ll need to take a passport photo when you buy online or at the train station.

There are also lots of other railcards such as couples and family railcards that might e worth looking into.

Welsh Highland Railway

The Welsh Highland Railway in Snowdonia National Park is Britain’s longest narrow gauge line. At 25 miles long the ride may seem small compared to the epic rail journeys elsewhere in the world but don’t underestimate it.

This rail journey was closed in 1937 after slate mine traffic decreased but volunteers worked hard to rebuild the tracks that snake through rivers, forest and almost Swiss-style gradients. Muddy hiking boots are almost a prerequisite for this lovely railway!

Fort William to Mallaig

best trail journeys in the world

It’s lucky this “Road to the Isles” service was saved from being axed in the 60s as it has lived on to become one of Britain’s best-loved scenic railways. The 42 mile rail journey, through mountain and glen, takes in an impressive panorama from Britain’s highest mountain to Europe’s deepest seawater loch.

Settle to Carlisle

If you’re a regular user of the trains in England you might not be able to imagine taking a train journey for pleasure. But forget the rail replacement buses and strikes and take a look at the Settle to Carlisle route; few journeys in England are as picturesque as this.

The train crosses the Yorkshire Dales and Northern Pennines and weaves its way straight into the heart of England’s craggy northern hills and cliffs. Get your nap in before you’re onboard – you wouldn’t want to miss a second of this nearly 2 and a half hour journey!

Talylln Railway

Perhaps the cutest train journey on the list, the Talyllyn is a small steam-powered, narrow gauge railway was originally built in 1865 to haul slate from the Bryn Eglwys quarries near Abergynolwyn.

The slate runs shut down in 1946 after an accident, and the line, which had fallen into disrepair, would have been absorbed by the woods if not for a generous group of enthusiasts who formed the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society.

At just 7 miles long, this is a trip for the whole family. Get a hop on, hop off ticket and go do some exploring in Wales.

Get your tickets for the Talylln Railway

The Royal Scotsman

This tourist favourite carries 36 passengers (yep, just 36!) through some of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes.

You’ll cross Scotland’s famous lochs, highlands, castles and craggy cliffs with regular stops at tiny Scottish villages. Best of all, you’ll do it at a pace that rarely excess 20mph at any given time. If you truly want to get into the spirit of things then make sure to hire a kilt or even have one custom-tailored to wear during the journey!

The Best Train Journeys in Europe

Travelling Europe by train is a great idea! If you’re planning to do a lot of train travel in Europe then be sure to check out Interrail passes.

You can either buy a pass for one country, or (what’s more popular) is to buy an interrail pass for a chosen period of time. This then covers your train travel in 30 European countries (excl. your own). It’s such a great way to explore Europe!

Douro Line

douro line in porto portugal best train journeys If you happen to be travelling through Portugal between early spring and late summer then book a trip on the Douro Line. During this time the almond trees blossom and the terraced grape vines burst with fruit ready for pressing.

The 1887 Douro Line route from Porto to Pocinho is one of the easiest ways to enjoy Portugal’s green river valley. The scenery is stunning as you stick close to the river crossing 30 bridges, passing through 26 tunnels and stopping off at beautiful historic stations such as Régua and Pinhão.

Danube Express

Travel from Budapest to Istanbul on the Danube Express and get a whole new appreciation for the medieval buildings of legendary Transylvania. The whole journey takes 4 days but adding a few extra onto both ends of your trip is a must as the two cities are unmissable.

The Danube Express is the only international private train in Europe with en-suite compartments and air conditioning making it ideal for those who like a little bit of luxury!

Rhine Valley

rhine valley train germany best railway rides

A train journey in Germany’s Rhine Valley from Mainz to Koblenz is the rail journey of choice for postcard-perfect views of centuries-old castles perched up high above the river. Along the 62 mile journey, there are castles every few miles, all of which are beautiful! Get a seat on the left-hand side for the best views and, on arrival at Koblenz, be sure to visit the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein for a panoramic valley view.

Oslo to Bergen

The 310-mile Oslo to Bergen railway is the highest major rail route in northern Europe as well as one of the most spectacular. Passing through desolate mountain terrain at 4,000ft, and running for nearly 60 miles above the tree line.

Even in summer, there is snow, but don’t let this deter you from stopping off at Myrdal to change onto the Flam Railway, Europe’s steepest line on conventional tracks, dropping 2,831 feet down to the fjord below.

Bernina Express

bernina express best rail journeys

Running from Chur and St Moritz in eastern Switzerland to Tirano in northern Italy, the Bernina Express is up there with the most scenic railway journeys in the world. The four-hour, 90-mile journey through 55 tunnels and 196 bridges traverses a sensational alpine landscape, past lofty waterfalls, glaciers and crossing dramatic ravines.

Every carriage has vista windows so nobody gets a crick in the neck and the climb over the Bernina pass at 7,000ft is often in a raging snowstorm, while you can bask at a café table on arrival in the warm Italian sunshine.

Transalpina railway

Most people haven’t heard of the Transalpina railway which is why it’s nearly perfect in some rail travellers’ eyes. Whilst smaller than it used to be under the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the railway still runs between Jesenice and Nova Gorica in Slovenia from where you can get off and stroll into the historic Italian city of Gorizia with no border control.

The journey is a spectacular tour of Slovenia’s upland highlights, climbing through mountain villages along the Soča River, passing through superb Alpine scenery near Lake Bohinj, and on past Lake Bled’s iconic castle.

The train to the Arctic Circle

arctic circle train journeys

Brrrr… wrap up well since we’re off to the Arctic Circle on Europe’s most northerly journey! This train journey takes you from Stockholm to the port of Narvik in northern Norway. This isn’t the most luxurious train journey on the list but it’s certainly enjoyable!

Mingle with locals and tourists in the restaurant car while feasting on reindeer stew and mash. You’ll be appreciative of this cosy meal which only gets better as the weather gets colder. Once you’re full make it your mission to spot the elks outside!

The Trans-Harz and Brocken Railway

The Trans-Harz and Brocken Railway traverse through the Harz Mountain region and Harz National Park in Germany. The railways both still run on steam locomotives so if you know a train enthusiast they’ll love this! As you huff and puff your way up the highest peak in the park you’ll be blown away by the view!

Glacier Express

Any train lover or traveller worth their salt will have heard of the Glacier Express. Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world, the Glacier Express twists and turns through 91 tunnels and 291 bridges as it makes its way from St. Moritz to Zermatt over 7 hours.

The green rolling pasture, the craggy Alps, beautiful wooden chalets and a train that always runs on time? What else could you ask for?

Belgrade to Bar in Serbia & Montenegro

belgrade to bar train

Prepare yourself for this 10 hour epic through the Balkans as you travel from Belgrade to Bar!

Three trains daily leave the Serbian capital bound for the Adriatic coast on a railway that was, unusually, only completed 40 years ago. The journey offers excellent views of the Balkans ranges, fast-flowing rivers, and even pops into Bosnia and Herzegovina for a short stretch.

Should one 10-hour train ride feel too long then consider cutting the journey short in Podgorica, Montenegro’s diminutive capital. It’s then a short hop to the coast via the beautiful Skadar Lake.

Orient Express

The Orient Express has to be the world’s most famous train. Featured in movies, on TV shows and countless novels. The original route used to cross Europe from Paris to Vienna giving passengers some beautiful scenery outside the window. Although the train stopped running in 2009, hotel chain Belmond bought the rights to the name and the train and now runs a number of luxury rail journeys on various routes including the iconic Paris-Istanbul line.

The Best North American Rail Journeys

North America doesn’t really do trains, but when they do there are some incredible views!

Rocky Mountaineer

I was so incredibly excited about visiting Banff National Park when we moved to Canada. The views look amazing and watching from a warm seat in a train carriage might just be one of the best ways to cut through the Canadian Rockies. The journey through the Rocky Mountains by train takes two days. It’ll depart from the ski resort of Banff in Alberta before heading out towards the city of Vancouver, passing the beautiful Canadian Rockies as it goes.

The Rocky Mountaineer is one of the world’s best railway journeys in terms of scenery and the in-car dining service is said to be delicious! If you fancy splurging then opt for the GoldLeaf Service and you’ll be treated to plentiful made to order breakfasts, lunches and unlimited cocktails and snacks!

Denali Star

Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife on this train as you could spot massive moose of big grizzly bears whilst crossing the Alaskan tundra from Anchorage to Fairbanks on the Denali Star. If you’ve splashed out and booked the panoramic GoldStar double-decker dome car you’ll find the view even more incredible, particularly when Mt. McKinley comes into view.

Napa Valley Wine Train

How many varieties of wine can you sip on the 3 hours, 36-mile round trip or lunch and dinner journey of the Napa Valley Wine Train? In the train’s Zinfandel Wine Tasting Lounge, you’ll have your pic but make sure you’ve taken the time to enjoy passing the sun-kissed vineyard views outside first. Enjoying a freshly made meal in the 1915-1917 Pullman dining car is the perfect way to enjoy your ride.

Adirondack mountains

adirondack mountain train journey usa

This 381 mile railway journey from New York City to Montréal has a reputation for being slower than a wheeled wagon on a track. If you like to travel fast then this one isn’t for you but I promise it’ll make up for it with the breathtaking vistas of the Hudson River Valley and the Adirondack Mountains.

California Zephyr

The California Zephyr is an epic railway journey which carves its way across the American Midwest to the West Coast. Much of the rail journey is through seemingly endless cornfields – not entirely the most exciting thing to see out of your window for a few hours. Be patient though, this train journey is still worth it.

As soon as you hit Denver you’ll be running alongside the Colorado River and crossing the Rocky Mountains and Ruby Canyon as you head towards San Francisco. At a leisurely pace of just 55mph, you’ll have plenty of time to take it all in!

The Best Train Rides in Asia

Experience something completely mind blowing when you take a railway journey in Asia!

Eastern & Orient Express

Starting in Singapore and ending in Bangkok, this rail journey definitely beats the long bus journeys most travellers in south-east Asia are used to.

Along the way you can stop off at Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth (Malaysia) and Kanchanaburi (Thailand), covering a total of 1,262 miles.

With its stunning natural beauty, excellent Thai/Malaysian food, and luxurious interiors, you can see why it ranks among the 25 best train journeys in the world.

Reunification Express

There’s really no better way to get to the heart of Vietnam than travelling with the locals on the Reunification Express. This 2-day journey from Hanoi to Saigon gives you a panoramic view of Vietnamese life. French colonialists may have built the line but its spirit derives from the reunification of the two nations severed by the Vietnam War.

Trains include modern air-conditioned sleeping cars, with comfortable, if slightly tatty berths. According to those who have done it, the best bit could be sharing your berth with a Vietnamese family, who will quickly become your best friends.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is so picturesque that it’s even a World Heritage Site complete with wheezing British-built steam locomotives from the Victorian era. The line climbs 6,500ft from India’s sweltering plains near Kolkata to the fresh air of the Raj hill station at Darjeeling.

The train isn’t just for tourists as it performs a vital social function to taking the local villages home and away on its 50-mile journey. Near the top, the train doubles back on itself through four zigzag loops to allow passengers to acclimatise. Breathtaking.

Express

maharajas express train journey in india Beginning in 2010, the Maharajas Express was a recreation of the luxurious carriages of days gone by. The Maharajas Express began by taking only 88 passengers from Delhi to Mumbai on a train journey that lasted 3-7 nights.

The journey takes passengers through colourful Rajasthan to numerous attractions including Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur and Ranthambore where you can catch sight of Bengal tigers in the wild!

The Qingzang railway

There’s also emergency oxygen on board the Qingzang railway in China and you’ll have to give your signature on a health registration card before you travel too! The train, which runs on the world’s highest track, climbs up to 5,000m above sea level on this 2,703 mile trek with temperatures plummeting so drastically that water in the toilet bowls has to be heated to prevent it from freezing!

The Trans-Siberian

trans siberian train russia — IMG: JUSTGORUSSIA.CO.UK

Go the whole hog and complete the ultimate rail journey (one I’d love to do myself) and ride the Trans-Siberian railway. During this 5,753 miles long railway you can cross 8 time zones and two continents, visit towns on the infamous silk road route or cross through parts of the Russian Arctic.

The Trans-Siberian is actually a number of services which range from slow, local stoppers to grand international trains such as the luxurious Golden Eagle train complete with sumptuous suites, fine dining and even an onboard doctor! Some routes even take you all the way to Beijing in China!

Australasian rail journeys

Explore remote areas by train, these truly are some of the best train journeys in the world.

The Ghan

Easily the most comfortable way to witness the scenic beauty of the Australian outback is to ride on The Ghan train from the sweltering tropics of Darwin, through the red desert of Alice Springs and ending up at Adelaide.

The luxury train covers 1,851 miles through the heart of Australia allowing you to experience life in the country’s remotest towns.

Look out for camels and kangaroos as you ride across Australia.

The Coastal Pacific Journey

new zealand coastal pacific journey best railway journeys

The Coastal Pacific journey from Picton to Christchurch is a classy New Zealand railway that rivals its more famous counterpart: the TranzAlpine. Often combined with the InterIslander ferry from Wellington, this journey begins in Picton, home to the beautiful sunken valleys of the Marlborough Sounds.

Wine enthusiasts may struggle to part from the world-famous Sauvignon Blancs that grow on the warm, misty slopes here, but a glass or two forms the perfect accompaniment to the hours of dreamy coastal trundling that the train journeys offer.

Tranzalpine rail journey

From the garden-loving city of Christchurch, New Zealand (where you can go punting on the river Avon) to the rugged wilds of Greymouth (where you can climb the nearby Franz Josef Glacier). The TranzAlpine crosses the South Island of New Zealand in 4.5 hours, offering up vistas of Canterbury plains farmland and the Waimakiriri River. This is followed by dramatic alpine viaducts leading to Arthur’s Pass.

Hiram Bingham Orient Express

Machu Picchu Salkantay Trek

If a trek to Machu Picchu doesn’t sound like your cup of tea then treat yourself to a ride on The Hiram Bingham.

As one of the most renowned luxury rail experiences in the world, you can expect to pay more than $100 an hour not only because you’re in a swanky vintage train but because you’re climbing up to Machu Picchu!

The Train to the Clouds

Altitude seeker? Then the Tren a las Nubes in Argentina is for you! Leaving Salta and climbing 13,800ft on the way to Chile, this 7 hour journey displays some of the most dramatic Andean scenery there is.

The backdrop of multicoloured rock formations interspersed with giant cactus fields extends as far as the eye can see! And should you be worried about the altitude there’s oxygen on board!

The Hershey Electric Railway

This remarkable railway journey can be found in Havana, Cuba so you better visit quickly before it’s upgraded! The 57-mile service links Havana’s Casablanca Station which can be reached via ferry with the ride across the harbour from Habana Vieja. There are farming villages and small towns all the way to Matanzas making for great photos of Cuba.

Yes, the name does come from the chocolate brand as they built it back in 1917. It might be unpredictable but that’s what gives it its charm! This line gives a chance to travel with, and meet ordinary Cubans and experience a rural way of life that may not be around forever.

The Best Train Journeys in Africa

Where you’ll probably find the most luxurious train journeys in the world!

Blue Train

blue train south africa cape town best train journeys in the world

South Africa’s Blue Train definitely isn’t cheap at around £2,000 a head. The stunning views, 5-star hotel worthy facilities and decor and excellent service make it worthwhile.

You’ll journey over a 1,000 miles across the South African countryside from Cape Town to Pretoria over forests, grasslands, hills, valleys and endless wilderness.

Rovos Rail

This epic 15-day railway journey takes you through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania for the ultimate African rail trip. Visit historic villages, the Selous Game Reserve, the diamond town of Kimberley, Victoria Falls, the Great Rift Valley, and much, much more along the way.

Don’t forget to pack your smart gear as for men a jacket and tie is required at dinner or a cocktail or evening dress for women!

Airbnb reaches half a billion reservations from travellers

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Since its launch in 2007, the US giant of accommodation rental between individuals claims to have reached half a billion travellers, it reported in a release that profiles its members.

Airbnb is now active in 191 countries and over 81,000 cities worldwide. Travellers can choose from some six million residences, ranging from everyday homes to yurts, treehouses or cabins on a boat. There are even over 4,000 castles.

In its report, the platform says that over 75 cities around the world have welcomed at least a million travellers thanks to its portfolio, including Auckland in New Zealand, Mexico City in Mexico, Cape Town in South Africa, Havana in Cuba, Split in Croatia, Chongqing in China and Pusan in South Korea. Meanwhile American hosts have handed over their keys to travellers from almost every country in the world.

Since the launch of its business model, the US company has helped people who host travellers to earn 65 billion dollars. Over half of hosts are women, and a million are aged over 50.

Travellers generally find their stays satisfactory. On average, they rate their accommodation at 4.7 out of 5.