All posts tagged: trips

9 Ways I Ensure That My Phone Always Has Battery on Long Trips (Without a Portable Charger)

9 Ways I Ensure That My Phone Always Has Battery on Long Trips (Without a Portable Charger)

Published by skeptic

Having enough battery on your phone while traveling is vital for navigation, getting transport, and more. However, keeping your device charged isn’t easy—unless you copy these tips to keep your phone charged up without using a battery pack. 1 Using Airport and Plane Chargers Where Possible I always try to find a plug socket while waiting for my flight, and things have improved significantly over the past decade. You’ll usually find a plug socket at tables with high chairs. I’ve noticed that these are often close to departure gates, too. Danny Maiorca/MUO Many airports also have charging ports in the main lounge area, but availability will depend on where you’re flying from. Moreover, I’ve experienced some airports with charging sockets but no power. Nowadays, many planes also have places to charge my phone. I love Virgin Atlantic because I can use my EU plug without an adapter. Many planes also have USB charging ports. 2 Bringing a USB-A Cable USB-C cables are becoming more widespread; all new iPhones get them, and devices are mandated to …

Chinese Startup Offers Trips to Edge of Space for an Absolute Bargain, Sells Out in Minutes

Chinese Startup Offers Trips to Edge of Space for an Absolute Bargain, Sells Out in Minutes

Published by José

Traveling to space could soon get a lot cheaper. Bargain Spacement Chinese space startup Deep Blue Aerospace recently took to social media to announce the sale of tickets for a 12-minute journey to the edge of space, which could take place as soon as 2027. Tickets were in hot demand, with the company selling two tickets for $210,000 apiece within a 20-minute live stream on the e-commerce platform Taobao. The company plans to sell more tickets sometime next month. While that may sound like a lot of money, it’s a fraction of the $600,000 it costs for a similar flight on board Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo space plane. And soaring to the edge of space on board Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket has been rumored to cost more than twice that per seat. But Deep Blue Aerospace still has a lot to prove. So far, the company has only begun testing a vertical take-off and landing of its liquid oxygen-kerosene “Nebula-1” rocket. Last month, the company’s rocket suffered an anomaly, resulting in a massive fireball on the …

Paddle under the Pennines: longest and deepest UK canal tunnel opens for canoe trips | North of England

Paddle under the Pennines: longest and deepest UK canal tunnel opens for canoe trips | North of England

Published by skeptic

“You’re in a canoe, not a boat, so you are very exposed,” said Gordon McMinn as he prepared to paddle into the UK’s longest, highest and deepest canal tunnel. “You’re vulnerable, you’re under your own steam, you are up and close to history … it is quite an experience.” McMinn, a volunteer team leader at the Canal & River Trust, has coordinated what it is hoped will become a bucket-list experience – the opportunity to paddle under the Pennines. The guided 3.5-mile canoe trips are through Standedge Tunnel, a jaw dropping feat of engineering which is 194 metres underground and 196 metres above sea level. The narrow canal tunnel from Marsden in West Yorkshire to Diggle in Greater Manchester opened in 1811 after 17 years of construction. The Guardian was invited for a preview before the trips are launched in a fortnight’s time. Emergency contact details were provided – “just in case” – and McMinn sought to reassure us that the risk of the disease leptospirosis was tiny. “It’s only really if you get wet …

Spontaneous trips and new horizons: why life is more colourful with a National Art Pass | Why I Love My Art Pass

Spontaneous trips and new horizons: why life is more colourful with a National Art Pass | Why I Love My Art Pass

Published by skeptic

Imagine that a benevolent art-loving fairy godmother grants you free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK. How would you make the most of her gift? For Charlotte Patmore, a photographer who has toured the world shooting musicians for album covers and magazines, having a National Art Pass (which really exists – no fairy godmother necessary) has inspired her to engage with art much more frequently than ever before. What’s more, impromptu gallery visits with friends are just as feasible as embarking on planned solo visits. “I’ve been using my National Art Pass on the spur of the moment as it makes popping into an exhibition so easy,” she says. “I still use it a lot on my own – because I really savour those solo moments in galleries – but there have been several exhibitions that I’ve popped along to spontaneously with friends, which has been such a treat every time.” Art Fund is a charity that supports museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, and runs a …

Best new cars for family road trips: SUVs, hatchbacks and estates

Best new cars for family road trips: SUVs, hatchbacks and estates

Published by skeptic

Is there anything better than packing up the car and heading off on an adventure with all the family? Whether it’s a trip to the beach, a visit to an attraction, or a camping expedition, there’s no shortage of amazing places to go. But it isn’t just the destination and stop-offs that make a good road trip, the car you choose is really important too. Comfort is a necessity, so the more space the better. Decent performance, economy and the latest in-car technology are also essential.  Here we take a look at some of the many new car options available to suit a whole range of buyers. © SkodaThe 2024 Skoda Kodiaq seven-seater is better than ever Skoda Kodiaq – from £36,645 New for 2024, the second generation of Skoda’s popular seven-seater SUV is better than ever. Offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, plus a new plug-in hybrid option capable of 62 miles of electric-only driving, the latest Kodiaq boasts more space and more tech. For the record, luggage space in the …

Single woman defended for reason why she doesn’t go on girls trips

Single woman defended for reason why she doesn’t go on girls trips

Published by Sam

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Growing up isn’t easy, especially when you realise that you’re no longer on the same timeline as some friends your age. In a recent Reddit post shared to the popular “Am I The A**hole?” subreddit, a 27-year-old woman explained how her friends from school typically reunite a few times a year to spend the weekend in an Airbnb. “I am content with my life at the moment, I am single, dating and I don’t know if I would like children – but in the event I did I know I wouldn’t want one soon,” she noted. However, this was not the case for her friends, as she mentioned that five out of the eight of them are either married or in long-term relationships. Plus, two of her friends are either pregnant or mothers. The woman made the decision to not go …

Many judges fail to fully disclose free luxury trips, NPR finds

Many judges fail to fully disclose free luxury trips, NPR finds

Published by skeptic

Many federal judges receive free rooms and subsidized travel to luxury resorts for legal conferences. NPR found that dozens of judges did not fully disclose the perks they got. Chelsea Beck for NPR hide caption toggle caption Chelsea Beck for NPR Many federal judges receive free rooms and subsidized travel to luxury resorts for legal conferences. NPR found that dozens of judges did not fully disclose the perks they got. Chelsea Beck for NPR Dozens of federal judges failed to fully disclose free luxury travel to judicial conferences around the world, as required by internal judiciary rules and federal ethics law, an NPR investigation has found. As a result, the public remained in the dark about potential conflicts of interest for some of the United States’ top legal officials. Federal judges — occasionally with family members or even their dog in tow — traveled to luxury resorts in locations as far-flung as London; Palm Beach, Fla.; Bar Harbor, Maine; and the outskirts of Yellowstone National Park for weeklong seminars. The judges received free rooms, free …

7 epic day trips you can take by train from Los Angeles

7 epic day trips you can take by train from Los Angeles

Published by skeptic

Train travel time: About 2 hours 40 minutes Known for its sprawling beaches and iconic architecture that pays homage to its Spanish colonial heritage, Santa Barbara has long been a favorite destination for Southern California residents. Many of us first became familiar with it as a college town for students of the University of California at Santa Barbara (even though the school is technically in the city of Goleta). Santa Barbara’s main train station also happens to be one of my favorites; built in 1902, it’s designated as an official city landmark and its wooden ticket booths and benches and hulking metal light fixtures will transport you back in time — you’ll swear you’re hearing the echoes of someone yelling, “All aboard!” in an old-timey voice. The Funk Zone, an area next to the Amtrak station that’s bustling with boutique wine and beer tasting rooms, cafes, galleries and shops, has become one of the city’s most-visited spots. Relax with a nice rosé at Santa Barbara Wine Collective, a martini at the elegant Pearl Social or …

Everyday Philosophy: “Should I disinvite my bigoted friend from group trips?”

Everyday Philosophy: “Should I disinvite my bigoted friend from group trips?”

Published by skeptic

I have a group of cycling friends and we all go mountain biking together away about twice a year. I get on well with everyone apart from [one guy], who recently ruined the last trip for me by being antagonistic. He’s an ex-soldier and holds very right-wing views. I’m very liberal. Mike knows this and all through the weekend he kept saying slightly bigoted things about gay and trans folks and about migrants within earshot of me, trying to get me to bite. I didn’t but it did piss me off and marred the whole weekend. Can I politely exclude Mike from future trips because I enjoy the company of everyone else? — Mike, UK I think we’ve all been here, Mike. I’m not one for biking holidays, but I’ve had my fair share of family get-togethers, school reunions, and office parties where “slightly bigoted things” have “marred the whole weekend.” Before we get into the nitty-gritty, we’ll need to clarify our scope because there are many things going on in this dilemma. This is …

Mistakes People Make On Group Trips

Mistakes People Make On Group Trips

Published by skeptic

Group trips are a great way to explore a new destination and make lifelong memories while connecting with loved ones. But with many different personalities and preferences at play, issues can arise. “Most of the time, bad experiences on group trips aren’t a byproduct of going on a group trip,” Wendy Diep, a co-founder of the group travel app Let’s Jetty, told HuffPost. “It usually stems from poor planning, lack of communication and unmet expectations. But remember, it doesn’t have to be that way.” To help make group travel a more enjoyable experience, HuffPost asked Diep and other experts to share some common mistakes that people make on these types of trips. “Most people prefer to travel with loved ones, and post-pandemic, people are craving human connection and real-world experiences more than ever before,” Diep noted. Avoiding Direct Conversations About Money “Avoiding talking about money is a big mistake,” Diep said. “With a group, you’ll have people who have different spending styles or budgets. I have friends who love to have every meal out at …