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Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Global Airlines promised luxurious flights on a fleet of A380 superjumbos. The launch is somewhat different
Editor's note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel's weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay. When it was first announced four years ago, it sounded like an aviation geek's dream — an airline with a fleet consisting only of Airbus A380 superjumbos, the huge and majestic double-decker airplanes that offer unrivaled comfort in the sky. Promotional images released by Global Airlines, a startup carrier founded by former investment banker and Guinness World Record holder James Asquith, added to the excitement, with images of smart cabins and even an onboard 'pub.' Now that the airline is counting down the days to its first flight, some of that gloss and excitement has begun to wear off and that flashy dream of an all-A380 fleet has still yet to fully materialize. That's not to say Global Airlines isn't trying. Tickets have been on sale for the carrier's debut: an 'A380 experience,' as the carrier's global chief commercial officer, Richard Stephenson, put it via email. That involves a flight from Glasgow, Scotland, to New York on May 15 with a return flight scheduled for four days later on May 19. A second flight is then scheduled from Manchester, England, to New York on May 21, returning May 25. The good news is, both services are due to be on an A380. And, according to Asquith — who told CNN in 2023, 'I want a better product across the Atlantic and that's why we're doing what we're doing' — the airline will serve Laurent-Perrier champagne in first class and Rova Caviar Madagascar in both first and business. A splashy aviation launch is nothing new. Virgin Atlantic is known for its legendary premium booze-soaked kickoffs. Even United Airlines' recent launch of a service from Tokyo to Mongolia capital Ulaanbaatar involved cupcakes and the ceremonial breaking of a barrel of sake. Still, Global Airlines' debut isn't as big a reason for celebration as Asquith might have hoped. Asquith founded Global in 2021 with a desire to return to a 'golden age of air travel.' That meant, he said, offering travelers something of a step up for their buck on transatlantic flights, with a vision of superjumbo luxury that includes champagne and caviar. 'I've flown on about 280 different airlines and sat there seeing what's good, what doesn't work and what can be improved,' Asquith said in the 2023 CNN interview. He was applying those lessons to Global, he added. The A380 was key to Global's pitch. Following the pandemic, many superjumbos were parked with airlines believing air travel would not come back quickly enough to warrant their size. That made the planes attractive to a startup airline willing to take a bet on their 500-plus seats, as well as a savvy marketing ploy: come fly on the largest passenger plane in the skies! The downside of an all-A380 fleet is that superjumbos are expensive to operate, from needing lots of fuel to higher airport landing and parking fees. An airline needs to fill most of the seats on the plane, and at a decent price, to make the economics work. Things didn't go as planned for Global. After announcing a deal for its first A380 in 2023, the airline did not actually get a plane — a different ex-China Southern Airlines model — until February 2024. That A380 then had to undergo maintenance and other modifications to meet Global's specifications that were not complete until earlier this year. 'It was and has been gruesomely challenging,' Asquith wrote on LinkedIn in April. 'There's always something else in aviation, and I myself am guilty of harsh criticism. We have got things wrong, and will continue to do so, but we have the best intentions of making a better product as we go, and one that holds the highest safety standards as well.' Global's inaugural flights will not be a typical affair. Airlines usually wait to have all their i's dotted and t's crossed with regulators and be ready to fly a regular service travelers can rely on before they begin flying. Global is taking a different route. It only plans the four one-time flights in May from Glasgow to New York and back, and then the same from Manchester. Portuguese charter carrier Hi Fly will operate the first flights as Global does not anticipate securing its own operating certificate from UK authorities until 2026 at the earliest. And tickets can only be found on the website of travel consolidator — not on Expedia or via your local travel agent. In other words, would-be travelers need to know Global exists and actively want to fly with it, otherwise they're unlikely to stumble across the tickets. So, why operate novelty debut flights when the airline doesn't appear to be ready to throw its hat in the ring to fully compete with other transatlantic players? 'These two flights are charter flights and designed to give people the chance to fly on an A380 and test out the product we are offering,' Stephenson said. That may be part of the reason but aviation experts believe it's also an attempt to secure much-needed cash. 'Candidly, I think this is kind of an opportunity to try to raise some money, which they undoubtedly have to do in order to operate,' said Robert Mann, an airline industry analyst and consultant based in New York. A roundtrip economy class ticket for the inaugural Glasgow-New York flight and back was available for $1,034 (£778.62) on May 1. Not exactly cheap for a new airline trying to make a name for itself in the market. Travelers could book a connecting flight from Glasgow to New York via Amsterdam on KLM for the same dates for as little as $525 round trip, according to Google Flights. 'There are many reasons for these flights and we are delighted that we have reached the point where our first aircraft is ready to carry passengers — a point that many experts said would never happen,' Stephenson said, responding to the fundraising speculation. If fundraising is Global's plan with its pair of inaugurals, leaving its A380 parked at JFK for four days between flights is an odd choice. Airlines must pay parking fees when they store a plane, especially at busy airports like New York. 'It's probably close to 50 grand — I hope they raise that much,' said Mann of the parking fees. Booking one of Global's first flights comes with all of the risks of flying on a startup airline. They typically have minimal ability to accommodate travelers in the event of a flight delay and refunds are unlikely if there is a cancellation or other snafu. 'Travelers should stay informed, as with any startup, but it's an interesting story to watch unfold,' said Ahmed Abdelghany, an associate dean in the business school at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. Ticketholders on Global's first flights are protected under the UK's Air Travel Organisers' Licensing, or ATOL, scheme that guarantees travelers refunds and, in the event they are stranded abroad, a repatriation flight back to the UK. Global's success 'will likely depend on whether they can carve out a niche market that values comfort over cost and whether they can maintain operational reliability and regulatory compliance as a new entrant,' added Abdelghany. Those caveats extend even to the first flights. Given the expense of operating even a limited number of flights, the relatively premium prices being charged, the large number of seats to fill and the obscurity of the sales platforms, Global is already fending off doubts over its viability. 'There is no reason for anyone to be concerned,' said Stephenson. 'We have just flown our first passengers (twice) and everything ran very smoothly and with no issues at all, so our proof of concept program is going very well!' The flights he referred to were two services from Barcelona to Berlin on May 2, and Berlin to London's Gatwick airport on May 3. The flights carried a limited number of passengers who enjoyed some of Global's onboard offerings, leading many experts to believe they were familiarization flights for crew ahead of Global's transatlantic debut. Stephenson says things are going 'very well,' but at this nascent stage, the stakes are high for the fledgling airline. But the cult appeal of the A380 and the prospect of riding on an airline's first-ever service — plus the marketing buzz amplified by Asquith's 1.1 million Instagram followers — could be more than enough to ensure it makes it down the runway.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A 400-year-old tea and coffee shop faces closure in Amsterdam as tourism stokes price rises
Editor's note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel's weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay. On a recent chilly, drizzly afternoon in Amsterdam's city center, a steady stream of patrons venture out of the rain and into a narrow 17th-century building on the Haarlemmerdijk, a popular shopping street. A gilded sign shaped like a shining sun hangs above the front door, reflecting the shop's name, 't Zonnetje, which means 'little sun' in Dutch. A jingling bell announces every arrival. These days, it's a mix of tourists and regular customers who come to buy coffee and tea every week or two — just as their predecessors have for nearly 400 years. But this storied institution, beloved by Amsterdam visitors and residents alike, may not be in business much longer. Its longtime owner, Marie-Louise Velder, has plans to close at the end of May because she can no longer stay afloat after years of skyrocketing rent — a notable setback to the preservation of the Dutch capital's character in the ongoing tide of rising rents and gentrification, partly driven by overtourism. Velder, 76, was born and raised in Amsterdam and has owned the shop since 1999. She told CNN she has received an outpouring of support from customers and friends since the closure was reported by Dutch newspaper Het Parool in mid-April. She said she welcomes the opportunity to share her story with a wider audience in hopes of helping her keep 't Zonnetje from shuttering. 'I had a lot of phone calls, and so I think perhaps help is coming from above,' Velder, clad in a green hooded fleece, told CNN during an interview at her shop over (what else?) a cup of tea. 'That's what I hope.' Longtime customers have expressed deep sadness over the news. Kate Carlisle, an eight-year resident of Amsterdam and a longtime visitor, first discovered 't Zonnetje during a trip to the Dutch capital before moving there. Carlisle had her dog with her, and she was delighted to receive 'the biggest welcome' from Velder. Carlisle now visits the shop every couple of weeks to buy coffee (which she says she leaves on her counter 'a good half-day just to make the house smell better'), bonding with Velder through the years over their shared love of java and animals. She said 't Zonnetje's closure would be a significant loss for the city. 'It is a heritage site, the building itself, the history behind it, the street,' Carlisle told CNN Travel. 'So I'm really hoping that something can happen to start to protect this. Otherwise, it's just going to be like strip malls. And that's not what Amsterdam is about. That's not why people come here.' Walking into 't Zonnetje, which is nestled between a flower shop and a clothing store, feels like stepping back in time. Its wooden floors are original, with shelves housing weathered tins of loose-leaf tea and spices. Dispensers of whole coffee beans from countries around the world, including Ethiopia, Portugal and Peru, stand side by side behind the counter, on which a vintage Berkel scale cuts a commanding presence. According to 't Zonnetje's entry on Amsterdam's tourism website, the building reportedly dates to 1642 (though a book about the shop by a Dutch author and former shop owner that Velder keeps handy puts the date at 1612). The business started with 'a bucket of coal, and a bucket of water and herbs,' Velder explained. 'And then later on, the tea came … And then later the coffee.' Velder pointed to a building across the street, noting that before its construction, the waters of Amsterdam's IJsselmeer sea inlet nearly reached the shop centuries ago. 'The boats were coming in here, and brought (shipments) here,' she said. Velder purchased the business in 1999 without a contract, 'just a handshake,' she says. The first few years presented a steep learning curve, but Velder, determined, said she immersed herself in learning as much as she could about the industry and what customers were looking for. 'It took me now at least five, six years until I found out what tea-drinking and coffee-drinking really was, and where I had to look and what to do and what was more important,' Velder said. Eventually, she hit her stride, earning a reputation for high-quality products sourced from around the world. In the past, the shop has offered up to 350 varieties of tea — some made with her own 'secret recipe,' Velder said — though she has cut back on placing new orders in light of the planned closure. Currently, 15 types of coffee are available. Over the years, the shop also had an on-site cafe of sorts where patrons could linger over a cup of coffee and conversation. That feature has been closed since the pandemic, Velder said. Even so, employees say 't Zonnetje remains a critical part of the true spirit of Amsterdam, a place that serves as a gathering spot for neighbors and visitors while showcasing centuries of history. 'It is more than a shop — it also has a very important social role,' explained Nathalie Teton, who has worked at 't Zonnetje on and off since 2021. 'There were a lot of people also living alone coming here, having a cup of tea and coffee, talking with Marie-Louise. You will hear all the gossip, who is sleeping with who, and also old stories, because there were also a lot of senior people coming in.' 'Of course, there are other tea and coffee shops in Amsterdam. But they are more mainstream. This one is really unique.' Amsterdam, which is amid a yearlong celebration leading up to its 750th anniversary this October, has been struggling for years with how to preserve its unique history as overtourism threatens to irrevocably change the character of the city. Over the past decade, city officials have focused their tourism efforts on stemming the tourist tide and attracting the right kind of visitor to the city: those who come to appreciate Amsterdam's museums and culture, not partake in its infamous vices. Among those measures: increasing the tourist tax, banning tours in the historic De Wallen neighborhood, banning cruise ships and limiting the opening of shops catering specifically to tourists. However, results have been mixed, and some measures — such as a 2020 ban on vacation rentals in certain neighborhoods — have been struck down by the courts. Meanwhile, centuries-old businesses like 't Zonnetje, which have long been entrenched in their local neighborhoods, remain increasingly susceptible to rising rents, as TikTok trendy eateries, generic sweet shops and 'coffeehouses' that specialize in marijuana proliferate among the tourist set. In March 2023, US former boxing star Mike Tyson opened his first brick-and-mortar cannabis shop in Amsterdam, just down the street from SoHo House and W Amsterdam. Some experts say city officials have not done enough to protect locally owned, long-established businesses such as 't Zonnetje. Dimitris Dalakoglou, an urban anthropologist and professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, told CNN via email that city leadership in Amsterdam and other European cities has long since 'abandoned' the 'prevention of this urban catastrophe.' He warned Amsterdam is becoming 'an empty façade of itself' in a 2018 article and said 't Zonnetje's closure marked another 'small death' for the city. 'Amsterdam's real estate is changing fast to the benefit of capitalist profit-making: the banking sector, real estate investors and new richer inhabitants/users of the urban spaces, whilst the previous urban groups are slowly pushed away,' Dalakoglou said. 'Almost every urban space's policy goes towards this direction, even the ones which claim to aim for the opposite goal.' Over at 't Zonnetje, Velder claims that the building's landlord has steadily increased the rent, which, circa 2019, was about 18,000 euros (about $20,000) annually. In September 2024, the landlord proposed further increases, doubling the rent to about 6,000 euros (currently about $6,800) per month. Velder took the landlord to court over that proposed increase, according to Het Parool. But even with a judge's decision to retroactively reduce the rent to about 50,000 euros per year ($56,000), costs of the business — including payroll for four staffers — remain too high to cover with sales bringing in only about 300 euros (about $340) a day, Velder says. Property management company Florès Vastgoedbeheer told CNN via email that the building's landlord is not currently in the Netherlands and is unavailable for comment. However, the email stated that the 'tenant terminated the lease without any notice for her own reasons' and that 'the property will become available to rent and suitable candidates can apply in due course to an estate agent to be appointed.' Escalating rent isn't the only challenge Velder has faced over the years. Velder also has had disputes with a local entrepreneur who she claims offered to help the business while it was in financial trouble. A proposed deal never materialized, and the two eventually ended up in court, according to Het Parool. In an email to CNN, Amsterdam lawyer Maarten Hilberdink, who represented Velder in various cases, described the shop's potential closure as a 'great loss for Amsterdam.' 'Marie-Louise has built something very special and it is a great pity that she had to spend her last years as an entrepreneur with legal battles and that this special store is now lost to Amsterdam,' he said. All of these issues have taken a harsh emotional and physical toll on Velder. 'I was this morning (seeing) my doctor, and (my blood pressure) was the highest I ever had, 210,' Velder said. 'She said, 'This is impossible. Your blood pressure is so high. It's sky high.'' Despite the assorted challenges she has faced, Velder tries to maintain an upbeat attitude. She laughs easily and often, chatting with her staffers, some of whom refer to her by her nickname of 'Loucky,' and customers in Dutch and English (her father was an American from Chicago). She welcomes everyone who comes into the shop — which has a 4.9 star rating on Google and 98 mostly glowing reviews — with equal enthusiasm. However, Velder also expresses deep sorrow over the thought of closing her beloved business. 'I love my customers, they are fantastic, and they love me,' she said. 'This is my baby.' Her 'baby' is now struggling through a very difficult stage — and facing a highly uncertain future. It's unclear whether or how Amsterdam's gemeente (municipal government) would or could grant the shop protected status. In an email to CNN, the city's tourism department said that while it 'recognize[s] the significance of such changes in Amsterdam's streetscape, matters related to the diversity and development of the local retail and hospitality offering fall outside the scope of Amsterdam&Partners.' Longtime customers of 't Zonnetje, meanwhile, hope something can be done before another piece of Amsterdam's history is lost. 'It is a jewel that needs protecting and absolutely needs support, and people shouldering in and bellying up and [doing] everything they can do to save it, because it's one of a kind,' Carlisle said. 'Amsterdam doesn't have much of this anymore.'
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
This is the world's best airport for 2025, according to Skytrax
Editor's note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel's weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay. Killing time in the airport is ordinarily such a drag that there's a whole TikTok trend devoted to people making it through the terminal in as little time as possible. Not so in Singapore Changi, which has just been crowned the World's Best Airport for the 13th time by air transport rating organization Skytrax. Changi is a destination in itself, where early check-in has been introduced to allow passengers to drop their bags off up to 48 hours before their flight so they can make their time at the airport part of the vacation. Most will hit the mammoth 10-story Jewel shopping mall, with its footfall of 80 million people in 2024. Then there are the multiple indoor gardens (including a butterfly center) and the 40-meter high Rain Vortex, the world's largest indoor waterfall (around 130 feet). There are spas, hotels, art exhibitions, a museum, a cinema; there's even a dinosaur theme park. Skytrax has also recognized the airport as a gastronomic wonderland. It scooped up the award for World's Best Airport Dining, as well as those for World's Best Airport Washrooms and Best Airport in Asia, at the World Airport Awards held in Madrid on April 9. It's unlikely to be the last accolade earned by this exemplary airport. Changi is investing more than $2 billion in the next six years on the improvement of services and facilities, CNN Business reported last month. It's also set to get even bigger. Work is underway on a fifth terminal to add to the existing four, which will open in the 2030s. unknown content item - The world's no. 2 airport, according to Skytrax's global survey of customers at 565 airports around the world, is the artwork-filled and architecturally splendid Hamad International in Qatar, easily one of the most luxurious aviation hubs in the world. It also won awards for Best Airport Shopping and Best Airport in the Middle East. Asian airports nabbed spots three through six on the list, proving once again that the region is leaving North America and Europe to play catch-up when it comes to air transport excellence. Tokyo Haneda (also named the World's Cleanest Airport) was at No. 3, followed by Seoul's Incheon International (also awarded World's Best Airport Staff), Narita International (serving Tokyo) and Hong Kong International. Nine European airports made it into the top 20. At No. 7, Paris Charles de Gaulle was named Best Airport in Europe for the third year in a row. Rome Fiumicino, having a busy year thanks to the Catholic Church's Jubilee celebrations, was at No. 8. Munich, Zurich and Helsinki-Vantaa were in 9th, 10th and 12th place respectively and Istanbul Airport, on the European side of the continent-straddling city, was at No. 14. Istanbul was also named the World's Most Family-Friendly Airport. Vienna (No. 15), Copenhagen (No. 18) and Amsterdam Schiphol (No. 19) all made the cut, but London Heathrow, the busiest airport in Europe, didn't pick up any gongs. The only airport from the Americas to make the list was Vancouver International at No. 13. Cape Town Airport didn't make the top 20, but was named Best Airport in Africa and Best Airport Staff Service in Africa. The rest of the top 20 was made up of Dubai International at No. 11, Melbourne at No. 16, Japan's Chubu Centrair at No. 17 (also named World's Best Regional Airport) and Bahrain international at No.20. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport won the award for World's Best Airport Baggage Delivery, Copenhagen was acclaimed for the World's Best Airport Security Processing and Hong Kong International scooped the gong for World's Best Airport Immigration. 1. Singapore Changi Airport 2. Hamad International Airport 3. Tokyo Haneda Airport 4. Incheon International Airport 5. Narita International Airport 6. Hong Kong International Airport 7. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport 8. Rome Fiumicino Airport 9. Munich Airport 10. Zurich Airport 11. Dubai International Airport 12. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport 13. Vancouver International Airport 14. Istanbul Airport 15. Vienna International Airport 16. Melbourne Airport 17. Chubu Centrair International Airport 18. Copenhagen Airport 19. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport 20. Bahrain International Airport
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
EU citizens must now apply and pay a fee to enter the UK
Editor's note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel's weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay. As of April 2, European Union citizens join travelers from 48 countries around the world now required to have Electronic Travel Authorisation to enter the UK. Previously, travelers from the EU could hop on a plane and simply present themselves at passport control on landing. Now, travelers who don't need a visa to enter the UK must get pre-travel authorization via the new digital registration scheme. Here's what to know about the new rules. Anyone who doesn't need a visa to travel to the UK will need an ETA — an 'electronic travel authorization' which pre-clears you for entry to the country before travel. This is the UK equivalent of the United States' ESTA — a mandatory, paid-for authorization to travel, with security clearance done in advance. The scheme debuted to Gulf Cooperation Council nationals in 2024, and was later rolled out to other non-European travelers — including the six million travelers from the US, Canada and Australia who enter the UK each year. The full list of 48 states requiring the ETA is here. Travelers from these countries have been required to have an ETA to enter the UK since January 8. EU citizens will need an ETA to enter the UK from April 2, 2025. Citizens of these countries who are already resident in the UK do not need an ETA. The scheme is for 'short' visits to the UK of less than six months for tourism and business. There are a few other categories of ETA, including for short-term study and permitted paid engagements. These are listed on the UK government website. Although some people are referring to it as a visa, it's actually a visa waiver. Travelers whose citizenship means they need a visa to enter the UK will still need to apply for a visa. (They won't, however, need to get the ETA on top of that.) Countries work on reciprocity when it comes to immigration. When the United States introduced its ESTA visa waiver in 2009, it was inevitable that countries now subject to it would introduce their own similar schemes. The cost is currently a non-refundable £10 (just under $12.50), and you can apply through the official app listed on the UK government website, or directly online. The fee will increase to £16 (around $20) on April 9. The apps — for iPhone and Android — boast of being quicker, with 10-minute processing times. Be sure to apply through official channels, rather than through third-party websites, which may charge extra fees, and are less likely to handle your data securely. You will need to upload a photo of your passport, scan and photograph yourself as you apply, upload the photo, and answer various questions about your plans. Applying online takes around 20 minutes and you must complete the process in one go — there is no chance to save as you go. A decision will normally be given within three days, though the government warns it could take longer. You are allowed to travel to the UK while waiting for your decision, if you need to visit urgently; however you must have made the application before you travel. Note that having an ETA doesn't guarantee entry to the UK. You must still go through passport control and Border Force officials still have the final say over whether you can enter the country. Validity lasts for two years and multiple entries — so you can visit as often as you please. However, note that it will be digitally linked to your passport — so if you get a new passport during those two years, it will no longer be valid and you must apply for a new one. Everyone entering the UK needs their own ETA, including children and even babies. But you can apply on somebody else's behalf. The ETA is only intended for short stays of up to six months. Everyone entering UK soil, even for a quick onward connection, must have an ETA. (This is the same for any travelers transiting through the US, who need an ESTA.) You will not be allowed through passport control to the transit area without one. To enter Europe, you'll need an ETIAS — the EU travel waiver, which has been much delayed but is currently slated to start some time in 2025. Stay tuned for details as the countdown approaches.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New design revealed for Airbus hydrogen plane
Editor's note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel's weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay. In travel news this week: Bhutan's spectacular new airport, the world's first 3D-printed train station has been built in Japan, plus new designs for Airbus' zero-emission aircraft and France's next-generation high-speed trains. European aerospace giant Airbus has revealed a new design for its upcoming fully electric, hydrogen-powered ZEROe aircraft. powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The single-aisle plane now has four engines, rather than six, each powered by their own fuel cell stack. The reworked design comes after the news that the ZEROe will be in our skies later than Airbus hoped. The plan was to launch a zero-emission aircraft by 2035, but now the next-generation single-aisle aircraft is slated to enter service in the second half of the 2030s. Over in Asia, the Himalayan country of Bhutan is building a gloriously Zen-like new airport befitting a nation with its very own happiness index. Gelephu International is designed to serve a brand new 'mindfulness city,' planned for southern Bhutan, near its border with India. In rail travel, Japan has just built the world's first 3D-printed train station, which took just two and a half hours to construct, according to The Japan Times. That's even shorter than the whizzy six hours it was projected to take. France's high-speed TGV rail service has revealed its next generation of trains, which will be capable of reaching speeds of up to 320 kilometers an hour (nearly 200 mph). The stylish interiors have been causing a stir online, as has the double-decker dining car. Finally, work is underway in London on turning a mile-long series of secret World War II tunnels under a tube station into a major new tourist attraction. CNN took a look inside. Americans Brittany and Blake Bowen had never even been to Ecuador when in 2021 they decided to move to the South American country with their four children. Tired of 'long commutes and never enough money' in the US, the Bowens say they love their new Ecuadorian life. 'We hope that maybe we'll have grandkids here one day.' Erik and Erin Eagleman moved to Switzerland from Wisconsin with their three children in 2023. 'It feels safe here,' they tell CNN of their new outdoorsy lifestyle in Basel, close to the borders with France and Germany. Their youngest daughter even walks to elementary school by herself. For adventures with your own family, be it weekend breaks or something longer-term, our partners at CNN Underscored, a product review and recommendations guide owned by CNN, have this roundup of the best kids' luggage sets and bags. For close to 100 years, Michelin stars have been a sign of culinary excellence, awarded only to the great and good. Georges Blanc, the world's longest-standing Michelin-starred restaurant, has boasted a three-star rating since 1981, but this month the Michelin guide announced that the restaurant in eastern France was losing a star. More culinary reputations were enhanced this week, when Asia's 50 best restaurants for 2025 were revealed. The winner was a Bangkok restaurant which is no stranger to garlands, while second and third place went to two Hong Kong eateries. You don't need to go to a heaving metropolis for excellent food, however. A 200-year-old cottage on a remote stretch of Ireland's Atlantic coast has been given a Michelin star. At the time of awarding, Michelin called it 'surely the most rural' of its newest winners. Frenchman Augustin Pasquet and American Michelle Young met in Bolivia, fell in love in Paris, then he gave up his corporate job and went to work for her. Here's what happened next. A China-bound United Airlines plane had to turn around after a pilot forgot his passport. 'It's quite embarrassing,' an industry expert told CNN. On March 29, one of the world's most popular islands falls silent for 24 hours. That means no Wi-Fi, no electricity. Japan's natural hot springs are running low. Overtourism is to blame. The only animals Australians are afraid of? A bird. Here's why.
