Record number of travelers expected this holiday weekend
More than 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles this Memorial Day weekend according to AAA. NBC News' Erin McLaughlin reports on the best times to travel to avoid the worst of the congestion
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Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
I ate at world's biggest all you can eat buffet – it cost £10 with NO time limit… but here's what it's REALLY like
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FOODIE who filled up her plate at the world's biggest buffet for just £10 has spilled the beans on her tasty experience. Serving up giant steaks, extra thick milkshakes and Amish pie, the huge restaurant serves up enough grub for 10,000 people every single day. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Amorray showed off the restaurant and its giant steaks to her 440,000 Instagram followers Credit: amorraytravels / Instagram 9 The influencer was amazed by the range of options and the great taste Credit: amorraytravels / Instagram 9 There are hundreds of food, drinks and deserts on offer every day Credit: Shady Maple 9 Shady Maple Smorgasbord is the largest buffet in the world Credit: Shady Maple Shady Maple Smorgasbord has transformed East Earl, Pennsylvania into an unlikely tourist hotspot in recent years. Hungry Americans and fascinated tourists regularly flock to the 100,000 sq ft buffet to try and take on the world's biggest buffet. In recent years it has even become famous on social media through food bloggers and popular influencers. One of these is New York-based influencer Amorray Marcano who visited Shady Maple back in April. She told The Sun: "I'm a content creator so I like to show cool things in the New York area and around it and I had no clue that the largest buffet in America was so close to me. "So I wanted to go just because of its reputation of being the largest and serving up to 10,000 people in a day." Amorray, 29, filmed her trip and posted it online to her 440,000 Instagram followers. She said one of her biggest concerns going into the buffet was the quality of the food. Most people usually head down to a buffet as a novelty dining experience where they can fill their plates high and try out as much food as their stomachs can handle. But the food is typically seen as below par due to it usually being left out under a heat lamp for some time before being eaten. Hotel guest reveals unique buffet breakfast and people have been left stunned Shady Maple is far from an average all you can eat place though as it even boasts an impressive 4.6 star rating online. Amorray said she was "pleasantly surprised" by the taste of the food on offer. She admitted: "There were hits and misses, but there were certain things that were actually really good. "The night I went they were serving catfish. And I don't really eat catfish normally, but thought I'll try it and it was so good. "It was cooked really well and just delicious. "There were some things that I didn't love. I would say some things might've been a little dry or some things maybe needed a little bit more seasoning. "But the things that were good were great, like their beef brisket, the steak and of course the cajun catfish." The whole buffet is open Monday to Saturday and welcomes in hungry guests from 7am all the way through to 7:30pm. 9 The huge restaurant serves up enough grub for 10,000 people every single day Credit: Shady Maple 9 Shady Maple Smorgasbord has transformed East Earl, Pennsylvania into an unlikely tourist hotspot in recent years Credit: Shady Maple 9 Famous travel and food influencer Amorray Marcano has spilled the beans on the world's biggest buffet Credit: amorraytravels / Instagram During the day, they serve up a breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings. The breakfast costs just $13.99 (£10) during the week and lunch will set you back $19.99 (£15). The price for dinner varies depending on exactly what type of food you want to treat yourself to but a standard price is $26.99 (£20). This encompasses grill items, 46 salad bar items, three soups, six homemade breads & rolls, four cheeses, eight different meats, 14 vegetables, ten cold desserts, three hot desserts, eight pies, six cakes, sundae bar and countless drinks. Special options are also available throughout the week including steak night, seafood night, wings night or even the grand menu. There were hits and misses, but there were certain things that were actually really good Amorray Marcano Amorray was amazed by the cheap price of the unlimited food. She continued: "I would see people sit down, they would eat, and then they would go back for more and you could stay for as long as you want. "So realistically, you could stay there for hours so it's a great bang for your buck. "For the night that I went, it was like $27 and the amount of food you get for that is easily worth way more than the price." One thing that did leave a sour taste in Amorray's mouth was just how busy the buffet was. Amorray and her friend queued up for 30 minutes outside at around dinner time due to the long line of excited guests. The influencer was mainly shocked by this due to its little known location. Not only is East Earl a tight knit community in Amish country but it also has a population of under 2,000 people. You could stay there for hours so it's a great bang for your buck Amorray Marcano This means the town can sometimes be packed out with over five times the number of residents due to the popularity of the restaurant. "When I went in, I thought there's not going to be that much seating. But then once I walked in, there was loads in every, nook and cranny," Amorray added. "There must have been thousands of people in there and I was not expecting that just because we already had a 30 minute wait and there was a huge line behind us. "Honestly I was kind of overwhelmed when I went in because I was expecting the amount of food but not the amount of people." But after tucking into her first plate, Amorray said she fully understood why so many people flocked to the world famous Pennsylvania buffet. Amorray was also blown away by the number of drinks available. I tried one of the world's most expensive buffets – and made my money back in just one plate By The Sun's Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski AS the Sun travel desk's resident foodie, I could hardly resist trying the UK's fanciest buffet, also one of the world's most expensive. The Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire went viral earlier last year when TikTok foodies discovered its Glasshouse restaurant where everyone dines en masse, but in five-star luxury. Costing a whopping £82 per person at the weekend, there is certainly enough to choose from. After several, overly-generous spoonfuls of caviar, a few servings of beetroot-cured salmon and seven superbly crafted sushi rolls, decorated with dainty herbs, I felt I'd made a good dent in 'getting my money's worth' – a statement that had been thrown back and forth between my buffet partner, Mum, and I. I prowled the platters of sizzling Asian grub arranged temptingly in tandoor bowls and loaded into terracotta dishes, before heading straight for the crispy Thai fish cakes. The fish section was part of one of 10 dining areas at the buffet. This includes a carving station, AKA the place to pick up your classic roast dinner and trimmings with slices of rare roast beef, flakey wellington and crispy roast spuds all laid out with gravy. There was a sushi station with hand-made California rolls placed delicately alongside huge tubs of wasabi and seaweed salads. The robata grill is where everything from whole seabass to juicy steaks are scorched over an open flame and there's also fresh pasta and pizza stations. If all this isn't enough to wrap your head around, you can also order directly from the chefs, doting on each station, when there is something in particular that you fancy that isn't on display. So the real question is: would you pay that much cash for dinner? Much like the food on offer at the buffet, Shady Maple provided almost every kind of soft drink imaginable. The star of the drinks show was a huge soda fountain to the side of the room. This had all kinds of soda in it from cream soda, vanilla coke and even root beer as well as all the regular options. A coffee machine, hot chocolate station and milkshake stand meant everyone's taste was catered for. Alcohol was the only notable exception on the menu. And no tipping is expected at the restaurant. Amorarry recommended anyone in the area to head to Shady Maple if they get the chance. 9 The quality of food on offer has been widely praised by many visitors over the years Credit: Shady Maple
Scotsman
7 hours ago
- Scotsman
Why Americans want property in Scotland
The New Eidyn development at St James Quarter, Edinburgh could be just the thing for buyers from the US Alan Cumming on why so many people from across the Pond are buying homes over here Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scotland is seeing a steady rise in interest from American property buyers in 2025, driven by a mix of lifestyle appeal, relative affordability and strong cultural ties. Whether it's relocating, investing in a second home, or planning for retirement, more Americans are exploring the Scottish market as a viable and attractive option. At Rettie we have had an 18 per cent rise in our website traffic from the US in the last year alone. Rightmove recently reported that analysis of their data showed an increasing number of people from the US have been enquiring about homes for sale in the UK since the start of the year, and Scotland has replaced London as the most popular region for potential US movers to enquire about, with Edinburgh the most popular area for movers from the US. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow are becoming increasingly popular with overseas buyers — and it's easy to see why. They're straightforward to get around, packed with character and offer a great mix of culture, green space and everyday convenience. Edinburgh especially continues to stand out in European rankings, thanks to its strong infrastructure and vibrant lifestyle. For many Americans, these cities offer a smart and appealing alternative to the high costs and fast pace of major US cities. Scotland has replaced London as the most popular region for potential US movers to enquire about, says Alan Cumming Coastal towns such as North Berwick, St Andrews and Oban are also drawing interest. These areas offer a quieter pace of life, access to outdoor activities and a strong sense of community – all of which appeal to buyers looking for a change from the fast-paced urban environments they are used to. The availability of high-quality housing stock and scenic surroundings adds to the appeal. However, purchasing property in Scotland comes with its own set of financial considerations. One of the key factors American buyers are often unaware of is the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) – Scotland's version of stamp duty. This tax can be significantly higher than in other parts of the UK, particularly for properties over £400,000 and for second homes (where there is an additional surcharge of 8 per cent compared to 6 per cent down south). For buyers unfamiliar with the UK's devolved tax systems, this can be an unexpected cost that affects overall affordability. Despite this, Scottish property remains relatively good value in a US context and average prices are below those down south. Many buyers are also working with local agents and legal professionals who can help them navigate the process and understand the full cost of ownership, including taxes, legal fees and ongoing maintenance. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What's clear is that American buyers are not just looking for a holiday home – they're looking for a long-term base that offers quality of life, stability and a sense of place. Scotland's combination of accessible cities, scenic towns and strong local identity makes it an increasingly attractive option. Americans aren't just visiting Scotland – they're settling in, drawn by charm, value and maybe just a wee dream of owning a castle (or two).
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
American tourist who'd never left the US comes to UK and is instantly let down
Sean Miller, a comedian from New York, is one of the participants of the new Travel Virgin Show, which takes people abroad for the first time. He touched down in London this week A 'travel virgin' who had never been out of his country before has been shocked and delighted in equal measure by the UK. Sean Millea is a 28-year-old living in New York City who had never been out of the US until earlier this week. He is in good company. By some estimates, around 23% of Americans have not traveled internationally, while a quarter of Britons have never boarded a plane or ferry to go on holiday abroad. Whether it's the cost and hassle of sorting out a passport (close to 50% of Americans don't have one currently, according to the Apollo Academy) that is putting people off, or the fact that they're quite happy at home, clearly travel is not for everyone. Stand-up comedian Sean had been content exploring the US, until he was given the chance to hop across an international border for the first time by Jetpac. The travel eSim brand has chosen several 'travel virgins' to star in its docu-series, hosted by Love is Blind's Benaiah. When it airs, it will see newbie travelers swept away on an all-expenses-paid journey to an exotic destination. The Mirror spoke to Sean the day after his arrival in the UK. He was standing amidst the hustle and bustle of Borough Market, digesting a laden pudding from the viral Humble Crumble and reflecting on a deeply disappointing first brush with British pastry. "The pork pie. My friend Marshall told me to get it. I didn't love that. It was sort of tasteless and hard to eat, you really need to put in muscle to get it open. It looked like a little castle. I did, however, like the Humble Crumble," Sean explained. "I also don't like the candy here. American candy is full of chemicals, which is why it tastes delicious." Sean was not opposed to the idea of travelling abroad, but given the demanding nature of his comedy career, he had never found the right time to do so. "I don't ever have money like that. I have been to Florida, California and Chicago, but I'm uncultured to anywhere outside of the US," Sean said. While he may have found the pork pies a little underwhelming, the American in London was excited to throw himself into the culture, having grown up on a string of British classics such as the Beatles, David Bowie and Shakespeare. Visits to the Globe and Abbey Road were ticked off on his first evening. In terms of vibe, "London feels like New York if you're not paying attention." When it comes to the actual travelling process, Sean found it to be a mixed bag. "I got a passport, a few months ago on a whim, and there was some visa thing I had to get. I ended up just tapping myself out of the airport, no questions asked. It was pretty smooth," he explained. "I did get scammed at a currency exchange. I got half my money back." The first episode of The Travel Virgin Show will go live on June 30. The company argues now is the right time for it, given the steady rise in travel since the coronavirus lockdowns, when people were pent up, unable to get away and desperate to get back out on the road. According to one recent poll, 76% of Gen Z and 72% of Millennials say they're more interested in travel than they used to be. And passport applications have surged by up to 38% in key markets like the UK, suggesting the appetite for exploration is stronger than ever. Aditya Goyal, CEO at Jetpac. "There's a huge group of people who are only now taking their first step abroad—and we think they deserve the same tools as anyone else. Jetpac is here to make that first time seamless, empowering, and unforgettable."
