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Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Stunning village voted one of UK's 'most beautiful' stops for road trips
Founded in 1788 as a herring port by the British Fisheries Society and was designed by architect Thomas Telford - it is a popular stop-off on the NC500 Summer has finally graced Scotland, and with it comes the influx of tourists eager to soak in the country's breathtaking landscapes. One of the top attractions is the NC500 in the Highlands, a 516-mile scenic route that loops around the north coast of Scotland, beginning and ending at Inverness Castle. The North Coast 500 has become an essential part of any Scottish visit, guiding travellers through majestic mountains and along winding roads. It gained fame on Susan Calman's travel show and was crowned Britain's most beautiful road, typically taking about a week to fully explore. A favourite pit stop along the way is Ullapool, one of the largest villages in the Highlands, nestled amidst mountains just waiting to be scaled. Conde Nast Traveler hailed it as one of the "20 most beautiful villages in the UK and Ireland in 2020. Their description summed up the place well: "With its jangling fishing boats and the imposing Caledonian MacBrayne ferry ready to whisk passengers off to the Outer Hebrides, there's a buzz of activity in Ullapool. "But take a moment to pause, perch on the wall in front of the white seafront cottages, and immerse yourself in the Highland hum. "Head straight for The Seafood Shack when lunchtime rolls around (the crispy lobster burger with guacamole and lemon sour cream is a must-try), before popping over to The Ceilidh Place opposite to see what local musicians they have lined up", reports the Scottish Daily Express. Ullapool, only reachable by car, is a mere hour's drive from Inverness along the breathtaking A835, part of the famed NC500 route. The village is nestled amidst rugged mountains including Bheinn Ghobhlach to the west, An Teallach to the southwest (both across the loch), Beinn Dearg to the southeast near Loch Broom's head, and Beinn Mhòr na Còigich to the north. The village also offers convenient transport links to destinations like the Isle of Skye, another must-visit spot in Scotland. Ullapool boasts a rich history, having been established as a herring port by the British Fisheries Society in 1788, with its design credited to architect Thomas Telford. Telford, one of the world's most renowned civil engineers, was also responsible for projects, such as the town of Telford in Shropshire, the Broomielaw Bridge in Glasgow, and the Caledonian Canal in Inverness. His work significantly improved transport across the UK. Many of the buildings in Ullapool are centuries old, and a stroll through its streets reveals numerous historic houses from its fishing heritage and churches that have served as places of worship for generations. Notable sites include Ardmair beach and bay, where the smooth flat stones make for intriguing stone statues and skimming opportunities. Other attractions worth a visit include Rhue Point Lighthouse, which offers a delightful walk, particularly as the sun sets over the Summer Isles. Additionally, those journeying to and from Ullapool should make a point of visiting Corrieshalloch Falls, one of the world's most breathtaking gorges, sculpted over millions of years.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
Taking a summer trip? Don't throw out your boarding passes, officials say
Flyers taking trips this summer may look at their boarding pass and just see their entry to an airplane. But your boarding pass contains a lot more than just your plane seat and gate number. It also includes codes that communicate details about passengers and their itineraries to airport staff. These include unique alphanumeric codes that identify reservation details, acronyms identifying a passenger's place in boarding and letters used to identify a passenger's fare class. And there's the code that flyers dread seeing: SSSS, which means they'll get additional security screening. Here's what air travelers should know about the codes on their boarding passes. Travel publications like Conde Nast Traveler and security experts like Brian Krebs of KrebsOnSecurity urge travelers not to throw out paper boarding passes, even after their flight has ended. Related: As TSA reportedly changes its shoes policy, don't forget these other airport security rules Because a boarding pass contains so much personal information about a traveler, scammers who find discarded boarding passes can use that information to access their accounts. That's why travel and security experts also advise against posting photos of a boarding pass online. Experts recommend flyers shred their paper boarding passes after using, or board using their mobile phones instead. These are some of the most common codes seen on airline boarding passes: SSSS: Secondary Security Screening Selection. These letters mean the passenger has been selected for additional screening, which can include luggage searches, pat-downs and additional questioning at the TSA checkpoint. PNR: Passenger Name Reference. It's an alphanumeric code used to uniquely identify a passenger's itinerary and basic information about them. Travelers need their PNR to look up information about their flights. ET or ETKT: Electronic Ticket. Some airlines use these acronyms instead of PNR to list the code that contains information about a passenger's itinerary. FQTV: Frequent Traveler. This code indicates the traveler is registered with the airline's frequent flyer or loyalty program. SEQ or SEQ NO: Sequence number. It indicates the passenger's place in boarding. Flyers discussing the code on the travel website FlyerTalk said the most coveted sequence code is "SEQ 001," which means the passenger is the first to board. BCBP: Bar-Coded Boarding Pass. It's a bar code that contains passenger information and is scanned to board a plane. The International Air Transport Association sets standards for bar codes on boarding passes, outlined in a lengthy guide; these include the size of the code, its readability and securing codes for fraud prevention. S/O: Stopover. The flight includes a layover in one or more airports. SPTC: Stopover Paid by the Carrier. This means the flight includes a layover that lasts longer than a few hours. It also signals overnight accommodations may be included. A or F: Indicates a first-class ticket. J: Business Class. It indicates the passenger's ticket is for a full-price business class fare. Y: Economy Class. Most airlines use this code to indicate the passenger is in economy class. Related: California has some of the best and worst airports for business travelers in the US: Study The TSA does not publish guidance that explains why people are selected for secondary screening. Anecdotal evidence suggests people are selected for various reasons, which can include: Unusual or suspicious travel patterns. Mistaken identity, often because the passenger's name appears on a TSA watchlist. One-way international flights. Last-minute flights. Purchasing tickets using cash. Traveling to destinations flagged by the U.S. Department of State as high-risk destinations. Some places are more likely to trigger SSSS than others; The Points Guy wrote that it comes up frequently when traveling to and/or from Turkey. Behavior at the airport that the TSA thinks raises suspicions. Random selection. Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who's covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic's consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: What boarding pass codes say about you. What Californians should know
Travel Weekly
21-06-2025
- Travel Weekly
Rediscovering Notre Dame with Finding France
Americans touring Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral for the first time since its reopening in December will find a very different visitor experience than they did before the 2019 fire that destroyed parts of the interior, its roof and, most heartbreakingly, its spire. Before the fire, there were always crowds hanging out in front of the cathedral -- often more people than were actually inside -- meeting friends, taking selfies and enjoying the dramatic backdrop of its facade. Fast-forward to today, and the crowds have grown exponentially and morphed into long lines of people standing outside the entrance waiting to get in. Wait times vary depending on the day of the week and time of day and can range from 15 minutes to more than two hours. Strategies for shortening that time include going first thing in the morning or booking complimentary, timed entry tickets online -- although, fair warning, they book out quickly. Travel advisors looking to spare their clients from the hassle factor and elevate the tour experience into something unforgettable have a new option, via Finding France, a luxury DMC that was recently named a Top Travel Specialist 2025 by Conde Nast Traveler. During my most recent trip to Paris, my husband and I took a two-hour, behind-the-scenes exploration of Notre Dame that not only bypassed the line altogether but was guided by Philippe Giraud, a master sculptor who is fluent in English and played a key role in the restoration. "All visits with [Giraud] are exclusively arranged through Finding France," said Clement Decre, the company's founder and CEO, stressing the proprietary relationship with the sculptor. Philippe Giraud, a master sculptor who played a key role in the restoration of Notre Dame, led the author's private tour of the cathedral. It was arranged by Finding France. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Finding France Expert insights Giraud led us past the crowds and into the cathedral, stopping at key points to point out where fire damage had occurred, how the restoration was accomplished and how some of the areas were not only restored but enhanced with new features. The names of firefighters, for example, are displayed in some areas, as are those of restoration artisans and sculptors. A key attraction is the display of the Crown of Thorns, a venerated relic that is now showcased in a glittering, gilded cedarwood display designed by architect Sylvain Dubuisson. Because these tours are private -- we were the only participants -- we were able to interact with Giraud, ask questions and listen to his fascinating anecdotes about the restoration. For example, we stopped in front of a statue of the Madonna, which was positioned under the destroyed open roof. When the firefighters got inside, Giraud told us, they saw that a simmering ember had landed on the statue's foot. They caught it before the whole statue went up in flames. He also took us through the reliquary, the part of the cathedral that houses relics of saints as well as a purported piece of Christ's cross and a nail from the crucifixion. When the soot was removed from the stained-glass windows, they emerged in vibrant glory. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Finding France Giraud had worked on Notre Dame's spire itself, so as we walked us through the structure he was regularly recognized by the people who tend the cathedral's interior. At one point, he showed us the tools he used for parts of the restoration, and at another he pointed out the dome that, after the ravages of the fire, had been open to the sky, leaving the floor and priceless artifacts covered in soot. The rose windows miraculously escaped fire damage, he said, but they had been so covered in soot that the subsequent cleaning revealed brightly colored stained glass that hadn't looked so vivid in generations. We ended our tour on the bank of the Seine with a direct side view of Notre Dame. From this angle, the enormity of the task of restoring the spire became even more clear, and Giraud made the process come alive with his own personal photos of the work in progress. Our tour costs about $2,285 for one to four participants, although experiences for larger groups are available by request. Participants can opt for a hotel pick-up and drop-off in Paris with a private chauffeur in an air-conditioned vehicle for about an additional $310. The cathedral's famous gargoyles were lovingly restored during the reconstruction. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Finding France Tours from Paris In addition to fully customized, all-inclusive, multiday trips for individual travelers, small groups and incentive travel throughout France, Finding France also offers full- and half-day tours from Paris. The Notre Dame tour can also be part of a multiday program, for example, that includes such distinctive features as a "French Etiquette 101: Crack the Code to French Culture" experience and an "In Your Ancestor's Footsteps in Normandy" option. Other Finding France insider tours include exclusive access to the secret tunnel of the Chateau du Clos Luce in the Loire Valley, where Leonardo da Vinci used to secretly meet the King of France; a behind-the-scenes tour of Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte, the largest privately owned estate in France and just one hour from Paris; and a visit with a Christmas ornament engraver that ends with a chance to create and take home a personalized decoration. Finding France has offices in Paris and Provence, and customizable experiences are available throughout the destination. Rates are net, or with a travel advisor commission built in, Decre said.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
These Wisconsin lakes named some of the best vacation spots in the US
As temperatures begin to rise, going swimming in a lake might be one of the best ways to cool off. Wisconsin has over 15,000 lakes, including three that were recognized as among the best lake vacation spots in the nation by Travel + Leisure magazine. Lake Superior (No. 1), Lake Winnebago (No. 8) and Lake Michigan (No. 12) made the list of the top 25 locations. Here's more about what Travel + Leisure said: Travel + Leisure notes that Lake Winnebago is perfect for Wisconsin windsurfers in the summer: "Steady wind and easy launch make Winnebago the lake of choice for Wisconsin windsurfers and kite surfers — especially in summer, when the shallow, sandy bottom creates water temperatures that are downright tropical (75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit). In winter, the lake converts to a natural rink for sail-powered ice racing." While Lake Michigan runs through three states, the experiences in each state can differ. "The pastoral shores of Wisconsin's Door Peninsula offer totally different sun-and-sand experiences on the same lake," Travel + Leisure said. Last year, Lake Michigan and Milwaukee were also recognized in a New York Times article about great but not-so-obvious beaches to visit. Like Lake Michigan, Lake Superior runs through several states. As the largest Great Lake, it's vast enough that it could easily hold the water from all of the other Great Lakes. "There's plenty of room for fish to thrive: salmon, trout, walleye, smelt, whitefish, herring, northern pike, smallmouth bass and many other game species can be caught in abundance in along the lake's tristate shores," Travel + Leisure said. Bayfield was named as one of the "charter hubs" for fishing. The Apostle Islands, located along the shores of Lake Superior, were also named one of the 50 Most Beautiful Places in America by Conde Nast Traveler. Lake Superior: Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin Walden Pond: Massachusetts Lake Havasu: Arizona Lady Bird Lake: Texas Lake Chelan: Washington Lake Champlain: New York and Vermont Crater Lake: Oregon Lake Winnebago: Wisconsin Lake Kabetogama: Minnesota Lake Clark: Alaska Lake Tahoe: California and Nevada Lake Michigan: Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois Finger Lakes: New York Lake Powell: Utah and Arizona Moosehead Lake: Maine Yellowstone Lake: Wyoming Table Rock Lake: Missouri Caddo Lake: Texas, Louisiana Lake Charles: Louisiana Lake Washington; Washington Flathead Lake: Montana Lake Oconee: Georgia Lake Erie: Ohio Lake Coeur d'Alene: Idaho Lake of the Ozarks: Missouri This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Lake Superior, Lake Winnebago, Lake Michigan in best lake vacations
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Four new NY hotels named among world's best by Esquire. See the list
Four new New York hotels have been named some of the best in the world in 2025, according to Esquire. Esquire editors and contributors compiled the list by visiting the places themselves, handpicking 23 U.S. spots, including one hotel in the Catskills, two in the heart of New York City and one in the Hamptons. "Great hotels don't just cater to your daily needs. They're oases of comfort in foreign lands and gateways to dazzling new cultures," the magazine said. "The very best hotels won't just make your vacation. They can change the way you see the world." Here's which new hotels in the Empire State made the list and why. Food was a major highlight for the Esquire reviewer of this Greene County hotel tucked within the Catskill Mountains as breakfast at The Henson consists of homemade pop tarts and local butter and a meal or two at the establishment's restaurant, Matilda, is a must, according to the review. "There is really no need to venture into the outside world once you're in the Henson's cocoon," according to Esquire. "Grab a cocktail and your book, kick your shoes off and park yourself on the couch, just like you would in your own living room." The hotel was also featured on Conde Nast Traveler's The Best New Hotels in the United States: 2025 Hot List. Where: 39 Goshen Road, Hensonville Cost (according to Esquire): Rooms from $279 More information: You can get the "best chicken nuggets in town" at Sloane's or relax like you're in your own living room inside the Apartment, The Manner's guest-only lounge, if you choose to book a stay at the "Studio 54 stylish, yet comfortable" hotel, as noted by Esquire. "An understated façade on Thompson street hides the sexiest hotel in SoHo," Esquire says. "There's no better center of operations for your next New York trip." The hotel was also featured on Conde Nast Traveler's The Best New Hotels in the United States: 2025 Hot List and Travel + Leisure's The 100 Best New Hotels of the Year list. Where: 58 Thompson St., New York City Cost (according to Esquire): Rooms from $799 More information: There's a lot to love about The Surrey, according to Esquire's review. Originally built in the 1920's, the "art deco gem" at 76th and Madison recently reopened after a multiyear renovation and now features 70 rooms, 30 suites, a small spa and "one of the hardest-to-get tables in town" by way of its lobby bar and restaurant Casa Tua. "Don't let yourself get swept away by the history," an Esquire editor or contributor said. "Muted terra-cotta-colored walls, crisp linens and walk-in marble showers make for plush surroundings ... Movie stars, politicians, famous divorcees, influencers — everyone here is someone. Including you." The hotel was also featured on Conde Nast Traveler's The Best New Hotels in the United States: 2025 Hot List and Travel + Leisure's The 100 Best New Hotels of the Year list. Where: 20 East 76th St., New York City Cost (according to Esquire): Rooms from $1,000 More information: A 16-room inn located between the inlets of Moneybogue and Quantuck Bay in the Hamptons, Seven Beach Lane is the ideal spot for breathtaking sunsets, fresh breakfasts and locally-sourced dinners, Esquire's review reveals. "Staying at Seven Beach Lane in welcoming Westhampton Beach feels like visiting a friend's coastal mansion - the one that's been in his family since the Gilded Age," says an Esquire editor or contributor. "This is the Hamptons without the hassle." Where: 7 Beach Lane, Westhampton Beach Cost (according to Esquire): Rooms from $345 (low season) and $749 (summer) More information: Best places: New York has 3 locations ranked among TIME's world's greatest places of 2025 Populus: Denver, Colorado (named Esquire's hotel of the year) Casa Loma Beach Hotel: Laguna Beach, California Thompson Palm Springs, by Hyatt: Palm Springs, California Regent Santa Monica Beach: Santa Monica, California Beach Club at the Boca Raton: Boca Raton, Florida Palm House: Palm Beach, Florida Forth Hotel: Atlanta, Georgia Hotel Bardo: Savannah, Georgia The Longfellow: Portland, Maine The Nevada: York, Maine Pendry Nativar: Somerset County, New Jersey Outpost Inn: Highlands, North Carolina Tu Tu' Tun Lodge: Gold Beach, Oregon Grange Estate: Willamette Valley, Oregon Hotel Anna & Bel: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Dunlin: Johns Island, South Carolina Hotel Saint Augustine: Houston, Texas Twin Farms: Barnard, Vermont Hotel Yellowstone: Jackson Hole, Wyoming Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network's New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@ This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Four new NY hotels named among world's best by Esquire. See the list
