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Month: July 2022

HOTEL

The 5 Best City Hotels in Africa

by Tracy J. Chu

Looking at the city hotels in Africa picked by Travel + Leisure readers, it’s easy to deduce their favorite city. Cape Town, South Africa, claims four out of the top five hotels. Not that that’s surprising. The Mother City, as it’s known, is one of the most naturally beautiful cities in the world — arranged around Table Mountain with the Atlantic Ocean hugging one side and the Cape Winelands on the other­­ — and home to some of the best city hotels in Africa.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels (including safari lodges) were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city hotel, resort, or safari lodge based on their locations and amenities.

Three of the top five city hotels are in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront area. This harborside complex is home to a shopping mall; the Watershed, where vendors sell locally made arts, crafts, and produce; the excellent Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA); the departure point for Robben Island tours; a slew of restaurants and bars; and of course, hotels. An “ideal location,” said a guest of this year’s No. 1 hotel, Cape Grace.

Cape Grace exterior over the water

Cape Grace exterior over the water

Belinda Amoedo/Courtesy of Cape Grace

A short stroll from Cape Grace are One&Only Cape Town (No. 3) and Silo Hotel (No. 2). The latter has an enviable position on the upper floors of the Zeitz MOCAA building, a strikingly reimagined grain silo. The hotel is known not only for its stylish design but also for its extensive collection of art. “What a unique building from the architecture

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ADVENTURE

Adopting Your Adventure Buddy – Outside Online

by Tracy J. Chu
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Adopting a dog is a big commitment. But that commitment also comes with big rewards, especially when you find a dog who is not only an amazing companion, but also the perfect adventure buddy. We caught up with four dog-human packs that have formed special bonds over spending time recreating outside. From trail running and mountain biking to paddle boarding and climbing, these dogs don’t miss a beat when it comes to outdoor activities with their humans.

Watch to learn more about how these dogs went from in need of a home to living the ultimate outdoor lifestyles.

Knute + Rachel and Charles

When Rachel Pohl and Charles Post decided to bring home a Samoyed they knew their active lifestyle would be a good match. Like most Northern breeds, Samoyeds are known for needing plenty of exercise, and Knute was no exception. Watch to see how Knute encourages his family to get outside more, no matter the weather.

Knute is eating Hill’s Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Dry Dog Food and Hill’s Prescription Diet Original Dog Treats.

Sage and Arrow + Amber

Amber Pitcher adopted her first dog Ariel at the age of 15 and her life has revolved around dogs ever since. When Ariel passed, Amber worried she wouldn’t have room for another dog in her heart. But her foster dog Sage, who she eventually adopted, proved her wrong. Now Amber and her husband Matt have two adventure pups—Sage and Arrow, who they rescued as a puppy after adopting Sage. Watch to see how their family travels around the country in an RV, enjoying dog-friendly adventures and opportunities for training as they go.

Sage and Arrow are eating Hill’s Natural Jerky Strips and Hill’s Science Diet Adult dry dog food.

Ollie + Stephen

Stephen Martin met his

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TRAVELLING

How St. Louis tapped federal funds to help people travel who need abortions

by Tracy J. Chu

ST. LOUIS – An ordinance that taps federal funding to connect city residents with logistical help in accessing abortion services, as well as doula, postpartum and lactation support, was signed into law Thursday morning by city mayor Tishaura Jones.

“Today, St. Louis is taking decisive action, showing our state — and our entire country — we will not stop fighting to protect access to reproductive health care,” Jones said. “The Reproductive Equity Fund will empower St. Louisans to make the best health care decisions for themselves and their communities, while addressing the disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis.”

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit against the city Thursday afternoon, calling the bill a violation of Missouri law.

READ MORE: Inside a Memphis clinic during its final days of abortion care

“My Office today filed suit to put a stop to Mayor Jones and the City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen’s blatantly illegal move to spend Missourians’ hard-earned tax dollars on out-of-state abortions,” Schmitt said.

Missouri banned nearly all abortions, including in cases of rape or incest, on the same day as the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Some Missourians protested, some celebrated and others shifted their focus to how to help people seeking reproductive health care in a state where inducing one could be prosecuted as a class B felony.

That day, June 24, St. Louis Alderwoman Annie Rice also introduced her bill to use American Rescue Plan Act funds to launch a Reproductive Equity Fund in St. Louis, a move she said was a larger and “long-time effort that has been in the works” well before the fall of Roe.

“Abortion has been nearly inaccessible in Missouri for a very long time now and we’ve pretty much only had medication abortions provided at the

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VACATION

TikTok Mom Goes Viral For Baby Monitoring While On Vacation

by Tracy J. Chu

MadameNoire Featured Video

Source: claudio.arnese / Getty

A TikTok user is going viral after her video on how she vacations with her baby has rubbed the internet the wrong way.

The Milan-based mother’s tip for parents traveling with babies included asking your hotel to place a crib in your room before your arrival.

In the controversial commentary that followed, the mother said having the box-like crib set in the room is ideal because they can provide a play space for your child and a place to leave them when parents want to enjoy time away from their babies.

As audio in the video explained, “You can put [the] baby there and leave. We use [a] Wi-Fi camera and go out nearby in the evenings after his bedtime.”

“Don’t forget to take two cards at the check-in for leaving [the] electricity on,” the clip’s voiceover continued. “Awesome for having some alone time for parents!”

 

 

How Social Media Is Reacting 

The mother’s video currently “isn’t available” anymore on TikTok, and her account is private. 

Still, online users have been stitching her original video with their disapproving reactions on the app. 

Underneath @theneighborhoodtalk’s repost of the mother’s clip, Instagram users also weighed in with their two cents. 

Some pointed out that parents who want to enjoy portions of their vacation without their child should travel with a nanny for the little one’s safety. 

Others pointed out that although the mother is monitoring her child in some capacity — what would she be able to do if she was too far from the child or unable to reach them if an emergency did happen?

 

Baby Monitoring While On Vacation

baby+monitor+for+hotel+and+travel&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS727US738&ei=T17ZYsSRBr-h5NoPqPepqA8&ved=0ahUKEwiE9am6lIr5AhW_EFkFHah7CvUQ4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=baby+monitor+for+hotel+and+travel&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBQghEKsCMgUIIRCrAjIFCCEQqwI6BwgAEEcQsAM6BAgAEA06BggAEB4QBzoICAAQHhAPEAc6CAgAEB4QCBAHOggIABAeEA8QDToICAAQHhAHEAU6CggAEB4QBxAFEAo6BQgAEIAEOgQIABAeOgYIABAeEA86BggAEB4QBToICAAQHhAFEAo6BggAEB4QCDoGCAAQHhANOggIABAeEA0QBToKCAAQHhANEAUQCjoICAAQHhAIEA06BQgAEIYDOgQIIRAKSgQIQRgASgQIRhgAUMsWWItFYOJOaARwAXgAgAFziAHPCpIBBDE2LjGYAQCgAQHIAQjAAQE&sclient=gws-wiz”A quick search online shows that many brands offer baby monitors suited for traveling and vacationing parents. 

With that in mind, we assume

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ADVENTURE

Eight Trips, Including The Amazon, America, Antarctica

by Tracy J. Chu

One of the great things about adventure travel is that it gets you outdoors. And in this time of variants and safety unknowns, there’s no better place to be than out and about, enjoying nature, as you travel the world.

The Adventure Travel Trade Association recently released its 2022 Industry Snapshot report, including its “hot” trending adventure activities for this year. Among them are cycling – from electric bikes to mountain/non-paved and road biking – hiking/trekking, safaris/wildlife viewing, snowshoeing, and culinary, cultural and wellness experiences.

Here are eight trips around the world that exemplify these trends:

1. Cycling Across America: Whether you prefer road biking, gravel or dirt, or want the ease of an e-bike, Adventure Cycling Association offers guided tours featuring these options. Cycle the country’s Southern Tier from San Diego to St. Augustine, Florida, go on a gravel ramble in the mountains of Montana or bring an e-bike along for a fall color tour in Vermont.

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2. Antarctic Expedition: Embrace the spirit of polar exploration on an expedition to Antarctica with Adventure Life. Watch for seabirds and the first icebergs as you cross the often formidable Drake Passage to reach the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Once there, you’ll experience the wonder of the white continent as you cruise along spectacular ice cliffs looking for seals and whales, and go ashore to visit penguin rookeries and historic huts.

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3. Yellowstone Adventures: Set on the edge of Yellowstone in Big Sky, Montana, The Wilson Hotel serves as a base camp for adventure. Travelers can explore the natural wonders and wildlife of America’s first national park on their own or with a guided tour, and find hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, skiing and more around Big

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TRAVELLING

Is summer travel causing long TSA lines at airports? Sort of. Here’s how to prepare.

by Tracy J. Chu

HONOLULU – The Kahului Airport is Maui’s main flight hub and the second busiest airport in Hawaii, currently operating with only one TSA checkpoint for all passengers. This past weekend – a normal, nonholiday weekend – those who found themselves ready to depart from Maui waited up to 84 minutes in a long TSA line in the afternoon sun.

On Sunday around 1 p.m., the TSA line wrap past the stanchions and out onto the noncovered sidewalk at the Kahului airport. People without TSA PreCheck held up their backpacks to shield themselves from the hot sun. There was a lot of sweat.

The airport took notice.

“We were passing out cups of water to the passengers on the curb,” Airport District Manager Marvin Moniz told USA TODAY. That weekend, the extra long wait time was likely caused by one of the screening lanes being down on Saturday, he said. The airport has since purchased a canopy to shade people as they wait in line.

Travelers faced long lines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport TSA checkpoints as travel ticked up around spring break.

Travelers faced long lines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport TSA checkpoints as travel ticked up around spring break.

When to get there: Is arriving at the airport 2 hours before a flight too early? You might need 3, in some cases

But travelers shouldn’t be surprised – summer travel is in high demand as many Americans are set on going somewhere, no matter what.

The number of people going through TSA checkpoints is quickly returning to pre-pandemic numbers. On July 21, 2.4 million people went through TSA, compared to 2.1 million last year – in 2019, it was 2.7 million.

Here’s what you need to know about TSA lines if you’re flying this summer.

How long are TSA lines right now?

The Transportation Security Administration assures that without TSA precheck, wait times haven’t been “a

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VACATION

25 top items for your Europe packing list for summer 2022

by Tracy J. Chu

This summer it seems like everyone and their mother is packing their bags to flock across the sea for an escape to Europe.

The trend, dubbed “revenge travel,” comes as countries have loosed there COVID-19 travel restrictions and opened back up to tourists. Allianz Partners analyzed more than 40,000 trip itineraries planned for this summer and concluded that American travel to Europe will jump 600% from last year.

Between weather shocks, economic trends, and a potential energy crises, it will be especially important for travelers to plan and pack accordingly.

Southeast Europe continues to face record-breaking heatwaves, with advisories to avoid direct sunlight in countries including Serbia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Meanwhile, Western Europe has experienced unprecedented rainfall and devastating floods.

Also important to note, is that the euro and dollar exchange rate has reached parity for the first time in two decades. This development comes as inflation skyrockets in America, and Europe faces an energy crises sparked by sanctions from Russia following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

What does all this mean for travelers? In addition to considering all the stylish outfits you can’t wait to put on, tourists should also come prepared with weather-ready clothing and emergency items. Americans might also throw in some savvy, storage devices since dollars will now go further when shopping abroad. Read up on all our advice for what to put in your suitcase as you plan your next trip:

  1. Women’s Style
  2. Men’s Style
  3. Electronic Devices
  4. Travel Essentials
  5. Emergency Items

Women’s Style

1. Revolve Ready or Yacht Dress, $63, Original Price: 83$

Revolve white maxi dress
Revolve

It’s time to ditch the workout out clothes and stained sweatpants.

If you want to fit in with the Europeans, you will need

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HOTEL

The best Singapore summer staycation and hotel credit card promotions to beat the heat, Money News

by Tracy J. Chu

We have crossed the mid-year mark and are halfway into July. Whilst enduring this summer heat, start planning for a nice staycation to treat yourself and your friends or family. With the hotels and staycation deals listed below, you will be able to beat the heat and enjoy a cool summer!

Unwind and dine Sentosa staycation package

Promotional Picture Of Sentosa Staycation
PHOTO: Resorts World Sentosa

Citi is offering a 2D1N Unwind and Dine Staycation Package from $286 nett (UP $386). This package includes a stay in the Deluxe Room at Hotel Michael or Equarius Hotel, $78 dining credits per stay and daily breakfast for 2.

For 2D1N, enjoy the sunny beaches at Sentosa while not forgetting the exquisite 5-star hotel at Hotel Michael or Equarius Hotel. Enjoy a delectable breakfast spread at either hotel and spend the $78 dining credit to feast on some amazing food at Resort World Sentosa.

Click here for the terms and conditions and click here to book now.









Promotion info Enjoy $100 off when you pay with Citi Mastercard
Location Resorts World Sentosa
Requirements Citi Mastercard
Promotion end date July 30, 2022
Price $286 nett

Citi Cash Back Card

  • Pros
    • Great dining and groceries rewards

    • High petrol discounts

  • Cons
    • Lacks shopping and entertainment rewards

    • Not suitable for lower budgets

One of the best cashback cards on the market, Citi Cash Back Card rewards average consumers with top rates in key categories — food and transport. Cardholders earn up to 6 per cent cashback on dining, and up to 8per cent on groceries and petrol (any station), in addition

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TRAVELLING

Kate Moss reveals she ‘ran away’ from a photoshoot after she was asked to go topless when she was 15

by Tracy J. Chu
(Getty Images for The Met Museum)

(Getty Images for The Met Museum)

Kate Moss has revealed how she ran away from a photographer when she was 15 after he told her to take her bra off.

The 48-year-old supermodel recalled the disturbing underwear catalogue shoot 33 years ago on the latest edition of Desert Island Discs.

Kate, 48, said: “He said, ‘Take your top off ‘ and I took my top off. I was really shy then about my body and he said, ‘Take your bra off ‘. I could feel there was something wrong. I got my stuff and I ran off. I can tell a wrong ‘un a mile away.”

Kate also had bad memories of a later job, when she posed topless in 1992 with actor Mark Wahlberg in a Calvin Klein underwear shoot.

She told Lauren Laverne on the Radio 4 show that before the job she felt “vulnerable and scared” and had been prescribed Valium.

Kate is now a model agent with daughter Lila, 19, among her clients. “I’ve said to her you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” she revealed.

“I take care of my models. I make sure they’re with agents at shoots so there is someone there to say, ‘I don’t think that’s appropriate.’”

(AP)

(AP)

Kate said she had been made a scapegoat in the 1990s when she was accuse of glorifying thinness after photos of her in underwear appeared.

She said: “I was never anorexic, I never have been. I had never taken heroin. I was thin because I didn’t get fed at shoots or in shows and I had always been thin. It was a fashion shoot.

“It was shot at my flat and that is how I could afford to live at the time.”

Moss, raised in Croydon, south London, said

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TOUR

Bayern Munich Concludes US Tour At Historic Lambeau Field With Plenty To Ponder

by Tracy J. Chu

Bayern Munich has concluded their 2022 US Audi Summer Tour with a 0-1 defeat to Manchester City at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. It was the first soccer game at the historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

A capacity crowd of 78,128 saw a game interrupted twice due to heavy thundershowers in the area. First, kickoff was delayed by 15 minutes. Then, 12 minutes in, Erling Haaland scored what would be the game’s only goal. Moments later, the game was again delayed, this time by 45 minutes.

With Bayern having to jet back that evening to Munich, the game was shortened to two times 40 minutes. Perhaps it was the delays and the many substitutions throughout the game, but neither side managed to create many high-scoring chances, and the match ended 1-0.

For Bayern, who had previously defeated D.C. United 6-2 at Audi Field in Washington, the result would be secondary anyhow. Instead, this tour was about two things, getting the squad ready for the post-Lewandowski era and recapturing the American audience after two years in which teams could not travel due to COVID-19.

At an event before the game, Bayern’s executive board member Andreas Jung pointed out that there are 130 million active football fans in the United States. More importantly, 25 million people in the US play soccer, and 18 million of them are under 18. Jung is in charge of sponsorship and events, brand management, new media and IT, merchandising and licenses, international relations, and marketing.

Those numbers are a crucial reasons for Bayern to continue to push for a bigger presence in

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