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Latest by Mike Richard

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China Goes ‘Black Mirror,’ Restricts Travelers Who Lack Proper ‘Social Credit’

'Black Mirror' has proven terrifyingly accurate in portraying the near-future of our digital world. China is restricting travel for citizens who lack the proper “social credit” score, which is real news and not a plot from the popular television show.
Zapata Flyride

Flyride Is the Insane Flying Watercraft You Never Knew You Needed

Man wasn’t built to fly, but that little wrinkle in evolution hasn’t stopped many of us from trying. If bungee-jumping, skydiving, and wingsuits aren't extreme enough for you, the one-of-a-kind Flyride may be the antidote.
Male South American Fur Seal

Chile Announces 3 New Marine Parks Protecting and 42% of Its Ocean

Chile has made another stunning environmental move, this time to protect 450,000 square miles of its ocean territory forever. It ranks among the most dramatic and broad-reaching environmental acts by any national government in history.
MONA restaurant bulls eye margarita

Australia’s Black ‘Bull’s Eye Margarita’ Boasts a Garnish Unlike Any Other

Tasmania likes to bring its rugged sensibility to its food and drink concoctions. Faro restaurant at the Australian state's Museum of Old and New Art is upping the ante with this one-of-a-kind cocktail that we promise you won’t find anywhere else.
Alternative spring break

Alternative Spring Break Destinations for the Adventurous Traveler

From jet-boating in New Zealand to paddling the Grand Canyon to seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland, get off the beaten path (literally and figuratively) this season with these alternative spring break destinations specifically for outdoorsy types.
camp adventure park obersation tower 1

This Danish Observation Tower Is Unlike Any You’ve Seen Before

Nordic countries are among the best in the world at finding new and unique ways to preserve, appreciate, and enjoy nature. Now, Denmark’s Camp Adventure Park has found one more — a one-of-a-kind observation tower that’s sure to be unlike any you’ve seen before.
tokyo snake center coffee

Tokyo Snake Center is Like a Japanese Cat Cafe … But With Snakes

Japan is a place where live lobster vending machines, capsule hotels, and robot restaurants are the norm. It's hardly surprising that the country is home to one more oddity: the world’s first snake cafe.
beach sea ocean

World’s Oldest Message in a Bottle Discovered on a Remote Australian Beach

One lucky Australian family may have unknowingly found the world’s oldest known message in a bottle. And Sting only had to wait a year after he wrote his note.
Flickr_Doublin-St.-Patricks-Day-2

Everyone’s Irish at the World’s Biggest and Best St. Patrick’s Day Festivals

Few national holidays have been co-opted and repackaged more than St. Patrick’s Day. The U.S. and many other countries now host some of the biggest and best celebrations. Here are our favorites from around the world.
airplane plane seat

Air Ticket Arena Lets You Bid on Last-Minute Airline Seats

Travelers can find last-minute hotels on Hotwire, concert tickets on StubHub, and car rentals on Priceline. But, until recently, no one had yet figured out how to unload unsold airline seats. Enter Air Ticket Arena.
nomad-los-angeles-restaurant

NoMad Los Angeles is a Chic, Urban Hotel Perfect for John Wick

Sydell Group, the brains behind NoMad Los Angeles, have made it a mission to repurpose historically beautiful buildings in some of the world’s most exceptional destinations.
astest-Growing Travel Destinations

These 5 Unlikely Spots are Among the World’s Fastest-Growing Travel Destinations

The world may be shrinking, but there are still plenty of relatively unknown — and unlikely — destinations that you’ve probably never thought to visit. Here are five of the most unlikely and fastest growing travel destinations for those in-the-know nomads.
Loge Co Leavenworth

Loge Co. Renovates Roadside Motels for Adventurous, Outdoor-Loving Travelers

Seattle-based Loge Co. is breathing new life into forgotten motels and ramshackle lodges throughout the Pacific Northwest. In the process, the company is providing active travelers with one-of-a-kind, sport-centric lodging in the country’s most amazing outdoor destinations.
man backpack snow mountain

14 Travel Tips from a Professional Adventurer After 10 Years on the Road

Travel has indelibly changed the way I see the world and how I move through it. Here, in no particular order, are the 14 best travel tips I’ve learned from a decade on the road.
the manual awards 2018 boston, massachusetts

The Manual Awards 2018: Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is more American than any other city in America. It has the rebellious history, the scrappy work ethic, and the politely in-your-face attitude to prove it. It’s an ethos found in every good bar, shop, and restaurant throughout the city.
Hatchet-Caye-Resort-(Belize)

3 Surprisingly Affordable (Semi-) Private Island Resorts

The idea of a private island vacation is unthinkable for most mortal men. However, there are a handful of tropical destinations around the world where average folk can secure a semi-private slice of paradise. Here are three of our favorites.
outdoorsy rv rental

No RV? No Problem: Outdoorsy Will Help You Follow Your Road Trip Dreams

Outdoorsy is throwing its hat into the sharing economy ring as the “Airbnb of RVs.” No need to buy a pricey recreational vehicle — you can simply rent one. Maybe 2018 is the year to finally realize your great American road trip dreams?
lovesick sonnets easyjet barf bag

Lovesick Poetry Contest: Compose a Barf Bag Poem, Win Free Airfare

British budget airline easyJet is giving lovesick passengers an outlet for their long-distance passion and offering them the chance to reconnect with their significant other in the process. How do you enter the easyJet poetry contest? By writing a poem on a barf bag.
travel brands with lifetime warranties

4 Best Travel Gear Brands with Lifetime Warranties

We believe in paying more once for a well-built product rather than saving a few bucks at a time only to have to replace your gear every few years. With that in mind, here are four of our favorite travel brands with near-bulletproof lifetime warranties.
119589 autosave v1 mahaina2

Welcome to Cervecería Mahina: The World’s Most Remote Brewery

There are few destinations left untouched by the craft beer boom. But, only one island brewery in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean claims to be the world’s most remote.
A Bitcoin is pictured next to a cell phone, iPad and two cups of coffee.

Australia’s Brisbane Airport Becomes World’s First to Accept Bitcoin

After a month where Bitcoin lost more than half its value, Australia’s Brisbane Airport is taking the daring (or perhaps insane) step to allow passengers to use cryptocurrency as valid tender.
Padjajaran Anyar

Would You Sleep in a Glass Pod Hanging from a Mountain in Indonesia?

Few hotels offer all-glass rooms that hang up to 3,000 feet off the side of a remote Asian mountain — but Indonesia’s brand-new Padjajaran Anyar can.
Tetra hotel

4 Insane Hotel Concepts That Need to Be Built Right Now

While more forward-thinking architects are thinking outside the very square box of modern hotel design, most are still pretty damn bland. But what if hotel designers were to imagine big — very big? Here are the most insane hotel concepts we’d love to see built.
black history month new haven amistad

Best U.S. Destinations to Celebrate Black History Month

If you haven’t yet made plans to celebrate Black History Month, there’s still time to plan a road trip or a weekend getaway to a variety of relevant destinations in the Eastern United States. From New England down to Mississippi, here are four cities with activities to honor Black History Month.
Business class Emirates bed

Best in class: World’s best business class cabins

Are you looking for an elevated flight experience? Try flying in some of the worlds best business class cabins.
night at blue planet 2 alucia

Win an Airbnb Vacation to Explore the Bahamas in a Deep-Sea Submersible

Planet Earth, Airbnb, and BBC Worldwide have collaborated on a once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunity. If you’ve ever wanted to vacation like James Cameron — think exploring the Bahamas in a yellow submarine — you should enter the Night Blue Planet II contest.
peace boat ecoship exterior

Behold the Future of Cruise Ships

Marine architects and designers around the world are rethinking the real-world possibilities of powering today's full-sized cruise ships with renewable energy. Enter the Peace Boat Ecoship, which may be the world’s greenest cruise.
amazon rainforest

Peru’s New Yellowstone-Sized National Park Will Protect 2 Million Acres of Rainforest

Illegal mining and logging operations continue to decimate large swaths of the Amazon rainforest at an unimaginable pace. Thankfully, in January 2018, the Peruvian government announced the creation of Yaguas National Park to safeguard more than 2 million acres of its own endangered land.
Greyfield Inn

The World’s 4 Most Romantic Hotels to Crash This Valentine’s Day

If you’ve been looking to escape with that special someone, there’s no better time than Valentine’s Day. Hotels around the world debut some of their best couples-centric stay packages every February.
volocoptor flying car

Will Flying Cars Ever Really Happen? (Hint: They Already Have)

Every few years, the idea of flying cars finds its way into the media yet again — but will they ever really happen? The short answer is: they already have. Sort of. These are four of the most cutting-edge, pre-production prototypes that are almost ready for the public.
moleskine cafe beijing

Moleskine is Opening Beautiful Design-Centric Cafés Around the Globe

Since 1997, Italian-based Moleskine has elevated the lowly paper journal to cultural icon status. Now, they’re expanding their reach even further with the debut of beautiful, design-forward Moleskine Cafés in multiple different countries.
mauritius travel guide

Mauritius is the Coolest Island Destination You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

The tiny island nation of Mauritius is a place of stunning beaches, (almost) perfect year-round weather, and a vibrant melting pot of culture and cuisine. Here are seven reasons why it should on your travel bucket list for 2018.
my grace yacht

Cruise the Galapagos Islands in Style Aboard this Historical Luxury Yacht

If you’re heading to the land of Darwin and giant tortoises, why not do it in the utmost style? The classic 147-foot M/Y Grace yacht boasts luxury, panache, and a royal and military history unlike any other.
scenic luxury cruises

Scenic Luxury Cruises is the All-inclusive River Cruise You Deserve

Most river cruises promise as much fun as shuffleboard night at the old folks home. Scenic Luxury Cruises provides something altogether different with itineraries that dive deep into the local scene in each destination and plenty of on-board amenities.
alaska sheldon chalet

This Alaskan Chalet is as Remote as it is Luxurious (and Rentable)

Sheldon Chalet is a luxurious vacation rental in the middle of Alaska's Denali National Park. It's so remote, you can only get there by helicopter.
Kerlingarfjoll mountains bucket list

Beyond the Bucket List: How to Vacation Like a One-Percenter

For 2018, Black Tomato's annual Luxe List goes bigger and bolder than ever before with a host of extravagant, travel tours. Here are five of our favorites.
minimalist backpack

4 Minimalist Backpacks Designed to Tackle the Trail and the Streets

Read on for our favorite minimalist backpacks designed to transition seamlessly between both environments.
lapland hotels game of thrones, game of thrones ice hotel

This ‘Game of Thrones’ Ice Hotel is in Finland, not Westeros

For the 2018 winter season, you can find a 'Game of Thrones' ice hotel in Lapland, Finland, complete with a White Walker and a full-sized throne of swords.
mount everest

Foreign Solo Climbers Forbidden From Summiting Mount Everest

Nepal is instituting a sweeping ban on foreign solo climbers on Mount Everest. Mountain climbers will be required to use an official Nepalese guide.
sleeping at the airport

The Long, Long Layover: How to Sleep Like a Baby at the Airport

It's never pretty sleeping at the airport, but it is possible to catch a few hours of quality shut-eye in the terminal. Here's how to do it like a pro.
guntu floating hotel

Don’t Call it a Cruise Ship: Japan’s Guntû is a Luxury Floating Hotel

Forget traditional big ship cruising. Guntû is a luxurious, tasteful "floating hotel" (think small cruise ship) with a focus on getting back to nature.
The Dubai Frame

Of Course Dubai is Building a 500-Foot Gold-Plated Picture Frame

When architects envisioned encompassing the Dubai skyline with The Dubai Frame, a 50-story-tall, gold-leafed picture frame, it seems no one batted an eye.
New Bedford, Massachusetts

New Bedford, Massachusetts: Drink Like Melville in the Most Portuguese U.S. City

New Bedford — once merely a footnote for Providence and Boston tourists en route to Cape Cod — is coming into its own as a legit New England destination.
Savage Industries EDC ONE 1

Check Out Mythbuster Adam Savage’s New Everyday Carry Bag

Savage brings decades of experience to bear on the Savage Industries EDC ONE, a go-to, everyday carry bag that's utilitarian —almost to a fault.
best beaches new zealand

Escape to the Most Drool-Worthy New Zealand Beaches this Spring

If the spring season has you dreaming of sun, surf, and sand, escape to some of the most beautiful and entertaining New Zealand beaches.
pacsafe dry

Pacsafe Dry is the Water-Resistant Anti-theft Bag that All Travelers Need

The all-new Pacsafe Dry series of travel bags is designed to keep your high-tech gadgetry moisture-free and out of the hands of thieves and pickpockets.
the grub club

London’s Grub Club Pop-up Hosts Literary-Themed Culinary Experiences

Grub Club is a London-based pop-up that combines literature, travel, and food with one-of-a-kind dinner events inspired by history's most iconic novels.
night sky stars

This New Zealand Island Could Be the World’s Best Place for Stargazing

Great Barrier Island, 60 miles off the coast of New Zealand, is officially one of the darkest places in the world. You can see 5,000 stars in the night sky.
zero gravity party

Win a Ticket Aboard the World’s First Zero-Gravity Party

It's hardly 10 years after the debut of Facebook and the iPhone, and we're already throwing a zero-gravity party on the edge of space.
sell used electronics

How to Ditch Your Used Electronics (Now That You Just Upgraded for Christmas)

Beyond Craigslist or eBay, here are three of our favorite programs through which you can sell used electronics and cash in on your unwanted gear.