by Paul Riegler

Today’s passengers value seat comfort above anything else, in a time when even top airlines are cutting back on legroom and personal space on aircraft, according to a new study of frequent travelers.
The GlobeRunner Insights Air Travel 2018 study also found that, despite the promise, in-flight Wi-Fi was deemed one of the least important of the criteria when choosing an airline or flight.
“Frequent flyers continue to value personal …

Lobby Bar – July 13: Space Odysseys, Gabor Sisters Camping, and ‘I’ll Take Stolen Vehicles for $100, Alex!’

by Anna Breuer

Lobby Bar – It’s the Real Thing, Maybe.
Open the pod bay doors, HAL. InterContinental is adding artificial intelligence to some rooms at its hotels in China, giving guests the ability to push the limits of what they can do in their rooms simply by speaking a command. Although unrelated to the new technology, one recent guest by the name of Dave reported on social media that the system is refusing …

5 Tips for Driving in Europe This Summer

by Jonathan Spira

Planning a trip to Europe this summer? If so, consider touring the continent by car. Whether it’s the Romantische Straße in Germany, the Großglockner Hochalpenstraße in Austria, the Adriatic Highway from Split to Dubrovnik, or an equally beautiful but less well known path such as the Donau Straße in Lower Austria outside Vienna, having a car and stopping along the way is the best way to get to know a …

A Traveler’s Guide to the Apple iPhone Health App

by Paul Riegler

While Apple’s Health app is a dashboard to the user’s health data and everyday activity, many users never clicked on the app’s heart-shaped logo to open it. That’s unfortunate, especially for travelers, as the Health app can be a very useful tool.
Since its introduction in iOS 8 in 2014, it’s become more and more complex so here follows a brief guide to understanding and using it.
To begin, first open …

Heat Wave Brings Record Temperatures Across the Globe

by Paul Riegler

A large swatch of the world has seen record hot weather over the past week and more is yet to come.
From the “green and pleasant land” that are the British Isles to the typically scorching Middle East to Africa, meteorologists report record temperatures that stem from large areas of high pressure – referred to as “heat domes” – that are dotting the landscape.
New records for daily and all-time high temperatures …

Lobby Bar July 6 – Clark Kent, Joan Crawford, Let’s Get Sirius, I’ll Take SNL for $200, Alex!

by Anna Breuer

Lobby Bar – If You Didn’t See It, It Didn’t Happen… Maybe
Faster than a speeding bullet. Scott Pruitt had a problem. It turns out he’s actually Superman but, given the lack of phone booths in today’s world, he found it difficult to play his true role in life. The solution: A $43,000 soundproof phone booth in his office although it turned out that poor ethics were his kryptonite. Meanwhile, unsubstantiated …

Tomorrow is the 4th of July: Here’s What’s Open and What’s Closed

by Anna Breuer

Tomorrow, Wednesday, is the Fourth of July, Independence Day, in the United States, a federal holiday that celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence after the Continental Congress declared the thirteen American colonies to be a new and independent nation, no longer part of the British Empire.
The holiday is associated with family picnics, barbecues, fireworks, parades, and baseball games among other festivities. John Adams, the country’s first vice president …

From Safer Pot to Straws, July 1 Brings New Laws

by Anna Breuer

There are hundreds of new laws that went into effect around the country on July 1. The list ranges from new drone laws to straw bans to mandatory safety testing for weed.
Here are a few we thought noteworthy.
Car seats.  In Virginia, child restraint devices need to be rear-facing until the child turns 2 years old or until he reaches the weight or height limit of the seat, whichever happens later.
Drones.  Also …