This week in journey: a secret backyard is a secret now not in Beijing, one of France’s traditional pastries is the topic of a shocking debate, and why some {couples} are ditching one another at the airport.
Divide and conquer
He likes arriving 4 hours early for a home flight after which chilling in the lounge. She prefers to have a pre-flight cocktail and browse the responsibility free choices. What’s a couple to do? Welcome to “the airport divorce.”
British journey journalist Huw Oliver coined the phrase to clarify how he and his fiancee undergo airport safety collectively, break up up for various airport actions (having a beer, attempting out perfumes, obsessively watching the departures display screen), after which reunite on board the aircraft.
Some folks would possibly simply name this “compromising,” however Oliver says the airport divorce has executed wonders for his relationship — and it units the tone for a completely satisfied vacation.
Many vacationers love having the ability to say they’re amongst the first to go someplace. Now, guests to Beijing’s Forbidden City advanced can entry Qianlong, a secret backyard that has been closed for a century.
Timed for the one centesimal anniversary of the Palace Museum’s opening, the Chinese attraction options rockeries, symbolic collectible figurines believed to keep off fireplace and destruction, and a discreet entrance that provides you a sense of what it felt like to be the Emperor sneaking into his private inexperienced area.
2025 has been a surprisingly massive 12 months for opening up previously secret locations, each above and underneath floor.
The Comodus Tunnel, a secret passageway utilized by Roman emperors to entry the Colosseum, just opened to the public this fall.
And in London, a mile-long tunnel advanced used throughout World War II is being transformed into an underground attraction, which is able to home a museum, an arts heart, and — best of all — the world’s lowest licensed bar. NCS received an unique look inside.
A Japanese resort group has launched a program to accommodate friends’ plus-ones. No, they don’t imply infants. Or pets. They’re speaking about stuffed toys of your favourite characters.
The Toyoko Inn chain has launched a “Sleepover With Your Plushie” program in 56 lodges throughout Japan, saying it needs to capitalize on the social media fad of taking plush toys and dolls (which means you, Labubu) and posting photographs of them on vacation.
“We noticed that some guests were using the bedside area like a stage, arranging their plushies and other “oshi” (fan) objects to take inventive photographs,” a rep for Toyoko mentioned in a assertion.
Under this program, plushies will get beds, PJs, pillows and comforters, all fabricated from the identical supplies as the human variations — and it solely prices an additional $2 per evening. This actually provides “plush hotel” a complete new that means.
Say ‘pain au chocolat’ in Bordeaux … in the event you dare
Yes, it appears to be like like a ache au chocolat, however don’t name it that in Bordeaux or chances are you’ll end up in a shouting match.
Most of France calls the beloved pastry ache au chocolat, however in the Bordeaux area they name it a chocolatine. Meanwhile, you’ll want to order a “couque au chocolat” in the Ardennes, a “petit pain au chocolat” in Hauts-de-France, and – doable sacrilege? – a “croissant au chocolat” in Grand Est.
NCS’s Richard Quest will get to the backside of this ongoing linguistic debate. Deliciously.
An Italian city is imposing a new vacationer tax.
The catch: it doesn’t apply to people.
These two flight attendants locked eyes on a aircraft.
Now, they’re married.
The Middle East has its first Dark Sky reserve.
Find out why the area is betting massive on astrotourism.
Enter to win a burial plot in Paris’ Pere Lachaise cemetery.
Jim Morrison could possibly be your neighbor in loss of life.