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Ancient artifacts dating back to a sunken city from more than 2,000 years ago were pulled out of the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday, according to Egyptian officials.

The historic treasures — which included a statue of a sphinx, Roman coins and other relics— were brought to shore by archaeologists and divers from the waters of Abu Qir Bay near the Egyptian port city of Alexandria, The Associated Press reported.

ANCIENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH REVEALS MYSTERIOUS 1,600-YEAR-OLD WARNING TO NONBELIEVERS: ‘ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS’

The relics came from a site that may have been an extension of Canopus, an ancient city that existed during the Ptolemaic dynasty as well as the Roman Empire, news outlet Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

“These artifacts date back to ancient periods, dating back to the Ptolemaic era, immediately after the construction of the city of Alexandria, and extending to the Roman era,” Mohamed Ismail, secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, told AFP.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVER MULTISTORY BUILDINGS IN ONCE-THRIVING CITY LOST TO TIME

All the statues are missing their heads and feet — damage that Ismail attributes to a natural disaster such as a tsunami or earthquake, according to AFP.

“These artifacts confirm that this place was once a fully integrated residential city and that the current location was a port,” Ismail added. “These pieces indicate that Alexandria was submerged in water as a result of a major earthquake or tsunami, and therefore all the statues are missing their heads and feet.”

ANCIENT CHRISTIAN TOMB COMPLEX REVEALED BENEATH RUBBLE FROM SYRIA’S CIVIL WAR

Alexandria, the second-largest city in Egypt, contains a wealth of historic ruins but is slowly sinking due to rising sea levels. One-third of the city will be uninhabitable by 2050, AFP reported, citing forecasts from the United Nations.

In a similar find, Egyptian officials announced earlier this year the discovery of a 3,000-year-old mining complex, complete with remnants of ancient homes, workshops and even baths.

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Monaco
CNN
 — 

The world is in turmoil. The specter of global conflict lurks on the horizon. Energy prices are putting the squeeze on millions. Covid lingers. But in Monaco, at the yachting world’s most glamorous event, it’s business as usual.

This week, superyachts with a combined value of somewhere near $3.8 billion gathered together in the azure waters of the tiny European principality for the 31st annual Monaco Yacht Show. And no amount of geopolitical anxiety could tarnish the glitz.

“All of the boats are here,” Johan Pizzardini, head of communications and media for the Monaco Yacht Show told CNN Travel on the eve of the four-day event’s grand finale. Some 118 superyachts were among the luxury vessels on display in the country’s Port Hercule.

The superyacht crowd were out in force too.

The show is specifically dedicated to the superyacht market. Every year, during normal times, an estimated 30,000 people descend on this tiny Mediterranean Riviera country to view the astounding spectacle of some of the biggest and most expensive superyachts in the world assembled in one place.

And while the event is undoubtedly an opportunity for wealthy boat owners to let their hair down in a safe space, sequestered away from the non-yacht-owning world, it’s also a chance to go shopping for yet more ocean-going opulence.

It is, as Pizzardini acknowledges, a “niche market.” But one that shows little signs of slowing down, despite turbulent times. There are around 40 brand new luxury yachts this year, including the massive 115.1-meter AHPO, the largest superyacht ever exhibited here.

Some of the huge yachts throwing out their mooring ropes, including the 62-meter Rio from Italian shipbuilder CRN and Tankoa Yachts’ 50-meter Kinda, belong to first-time yacht buyers.

This reflects a growing trend that developed significantly during the pandemic, when a vast number of new buyers opted to go big rather than work their way up from a smaller yacht.

“It [the pandemic] inspired people who were always thinking about buying a yacht,” Bob Denison, president and founder of Fort Lauderdale-based yacht brokerage Denison Yachting, which has four boats on display at the show, tells CNN Travel.

“People are thinking, ‘we’re not going to wait 10 years.’ They were coming out of nowhere and buying a 60-meter (yacht).

“We’re still seeing a lot of that, and I think that’s something that will continue. People are taking the plunge.”

Pizzardini has also noted a change in the attitudes of potential superyacht buyers as a result of the global pandemic.

“We saw a carpe diem period in which prospective clients that had been hesitating from chartering or purchasing a yacht for months or for years, saying, ‘Okay, in this period of uncertainty, I need to enjoy life,’” he says.

While there’s no doubt that the sanctions imposed against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which led to some of the largest and most expensive superyachts in the world being temporarily frozen, have had some impact on the industry, demand remains very strong.

Arthur Brouwer, chief executive officer of Dutch shipyard Heesen, notes that “order books are quite full” across the board despite elements of global uncertainty, due to the “post-Covid push.”

In fact, Boat International’s 2022 Global Order Book indicated that 1,024 superyachts were under construction or on order in 2022, an increase of 24% on the previous year, with a 10.5% rise in orders for those measuring 45 meters and above.

As the 2022 Monaco Yacht Show draws to a close, here are eight of the most lavish superyachts that have been wowing the wealthy.

This gigantic 115-meter superyacht from German shipyard Lürssen is undoubtedly one of the most popular vessels on display. The largest superyacht ever to be exhibited at the Monaco Yacht Show, it makes for an imposing sight along the only deep-water port in the tiny country on France’s Mediterranean coast.

Built with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure, AHPO, which has a 4,850 gross tonnage, consists of five decks and five cabins for a total of 14 guests.

Delivered last November, the superyacht is powered by twin MTU engines, offering a maximum speed of 17 knots.

Lusine, a 60-meter steel vessel from Dutch shipyard Heesen, is among the superyachts making their debut at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show. With its sleek, sharp edge and “bird wing” shape fusing three decks, Lusine is a stand out yacht in every sense.

Although its striking exterior, crafted by Omega Architects, is undoubtedly a spectacular sight. It’s Lusine’s painstakingly detailed interior, by Sinot Yacht Architecture and Design, that’s been drawing gasps from those lucky enough to be taken on board.

“We do a lot of boats and we’ve never done this before,” Heesen’s CEO Arthur Brouwer says of the superyacht, which cost an estimated $70 million to build. “The amount of detail is amazing.”

Named after the Armenian word for “moon,” Lusine’s interior has been wonderfully devised to combine elements of the ocean and the sky, with wall panels and tables featuring mother of pearl inlays, as well as midnight blue sculptures.

Its furnishings are made up of a special combination of materials, including white onyx, as well as rare woods and bespoke metals.

The vessel, which has capacity for up to 12 guests, is equipped with a helipad for private use, as well as a tender garage. With a 1,079 gross tonnage, Lusine is powered by two diesel engines, and can reach a maximum speed of 17.5 knots.

This beautiful 45-meter sailing yacht built by Italian shipyard Perini Navi has been exhibited at the Monaco Yacht Show several times since it was delivered back in 2007. However, its striking red exterior and sporty lines ensure that it always stands out from the crowd.

Designed by leading yacht designer and naval architect Ron Holland, the vessel recently underwent an extensive refit at a cost of about $1.8 million, with refurbishment work completed on both its exterior and interior.

Powered by a Caterpillar C-32 diesel engine, Blush is able to reach a top speed of 13.5 knots, and has a gross tonnage of 315. Owned by Formula One boss Eddie Jordan, it’s currently listed for sale at just under €12.5 million (around $12.2 million) via brokerage firm Camper & Nicholsons.

Delivered back in May, this stunning 62-meter superyacht, made of steel hull and aluminum, has been garnering plenty of attention at this year’s show due to its extraordinarily fun interior.

From its hand painted jungle-themed wall murals to its rugs featuring fish panels and animal-shaped ornaments, Rio is an explosion of vibrant colors from beginning to end.

Constructed by Italian shipbuilder CRN and designed by Omega Architects, the vessel, which has a gross tonnage of 1,218, is spread across four decks, and can accommodate up to 12 guests within its six colorful en-suite cabins. There’s also an on-board gym, featuring a Peloton bike, while the beach club has its own massage table.

Named after its owner’s first cat, Rio gives off a cozy, family feel that’s pretty unique, particularly for superyachts of this stature. “It’s impossible not to walk through that yacht without a smile on your face,” says one regular Monaco Yacht Show attendee.

Among the newest superyachts at the Monaco Yacht Show, Kinda has also been making a splash, partly due to its impressive foredeck swimming pool.

Delivered by Italian yacht builder Tankoa earlier this year, it features exterior and interior design from renowned luxury yacht designer Francesco Paszkowski.

The vessel is powered by a hybrid propulsion system that’s been devised to provide increased fuel efficiency, with three different cruising modes, diesel-mechanical, diesel-electric and full-electric.

The fourth of Tankoa’s all-aluminum S501 series after Vertige, Bintador and Olokun, Kinda has a gross tonnage of 499, and can comfortably fit up to 12 guests in its six impressive suites.

It may not be one of the newest superyachts at the Monaco Yacht Show but Giraud is arguably one of the most eye-catching due to its magnificent sand-colored exterior, designed by Luca Dini Design & Architecture.

Previously named Cacos V, the 40-meter aluminum vessel was built by Italian shipyard Admiral, and delivered in 2013. Listed for sale with an asking price of over €12.9 million (about $12.6 million,) it’s fitted with five cabins, with capacity for 11 guests and a 479 gross tonnage.

Giraud is powered by two engines that provide the superyacht with a cruising speed of 14.0 knots.

Another yacht of majestic stature, Soaring, the work of German superyacht builder Abeking & Rasmussen, stretches to a length of 68.2 meters.

The owner of the vessel is said to have requested a distinctive superyacht that wouldn’t be easily confused with any another, and German studio Focus Yard Design certainly achieved this.

Delivered in 2020, the four-deck superyacht features flowing, sporty lines, as well as a bright orange strip positioned just above the waterline that makes it pretty hard to miss.

With an interior volume of 1,541 gross tonnage, it holds six staterooms, along with a library and a luxurious spa and beach club.

Soaring is also up for sale, with a whopping €98 million price tag.

It’s not every day that you get to inspect a superyacht on the market for €110 million (about $107 million) but this year’s attendees have the opportunity to do just that. Measuring 85 meters, Victorious certainly lives up to its grand name.

There’s been an increasing amount of shipbuilding activity in Turkey in recent years, and this huge vessel from Turkish shipyard Akyacht happens to be the biggest superyacht ever constructed in the country.

Fitted with 11 en-suite cabins, as well as a master suite, the grand vessel has space for up to 20 guests. Its incredible list of amenities include a cinema room, a 200-square-meter beach club, a helipad and a wine and cigar club room with a fireplace.

Monaco Yacht Show 2022 began on September 28, and ends on October 1.

Correction:
An earlier version of this story misstated the value of the assembled superyachts.

Editor’s Note: Monthly Ticket is a CNN Travel series that spotlights some of the most fascinating topics in the travel world. In October, we shift our focus to the offbeat, highlighting everything from (allegedly) haunted spaces to abandoned places.

Busan, South Korea
CNN
 — 

At first glance, Ami-dong seems like an ordinary village within the South Korean city of Busan, with colorful houses and narrow alleys set against looming mountains.

But on closer inspection, visitors might spot an unusual building material embedded in house foundations, walls and steep staircases: tombstones inscribed with Japanese characters.

Ami-dong, also called the Tombstone Cultural Village, was built during the depths of the Korean War, which broke out in 1950 after North Korea invaded the South.

The conflict displaced massive numbers of people across the Korean Peninsula – including more than 640,000 North Koreans crossing the 38th parallel dividing the two countries, according to some estimates.

Within South Korea, many citizens also fled to the country’s south, away from Seoul and the front lines.

Many of these refugees headed for Busan, on South Korea’s southeast coast – one of the only two cities never captured by North Korea during the war, the other being Daegu located 88 kilometers (55 miles) away.

Busan became a temporary wartime capital, with UN forces building a perimeter around the city. Its relative security – and its reputation as a rare holdout against the North’s army – made Busan an “enormous city of refugees and the last bastion of national power,” according to the city’s official website.

But new arrivals found themselves with a problem: finding somewhere to live. Space and resources were scarce with Busan stretched to its limits to accommodate the influx.

Some found their answer in Ami-dong, a crematorium and cemetery that lay at the foot of Busan’s rolling mountains, built during Japan’s occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945. That period of colonial rule – and Japan’s use of sex slaves in wartime brothels – is one of the main historical factors behind the two countries’ bitter relationship to this day.

During that colonial period, Busan’s livable flatland and downtown areas by the sea ports were developed as Japanese territory, according to an article on the city government’s official visitor’s guide. Meanwhile, poorer laborers settled further inland, by the mountains – where the Ami-dong cemetery once housed the ashes of the Japanese dead.

The tombstones bore the names, birthdays and dates of death of the deceased, engraved in Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana and other forms of Japanese script, according to a 2008 paper by Kim Jung-ha from the Korea Maritime University.

But the cemetery area was abandoned after Japanese occupation ended, according to the city’s visitor guide – and when refugees flooded in after the start of the Korean War, those tombs were dismantled and used to build a dense collection of huts, eventually creating a small “village” within what would become a sprawling metropolis.

“In an urgent situation, when there was no land, a cemetery was there and people seemed to have felt that they had to live there,” said Kong Yoon-kyung, a professor in urban engineering at Pusan National University.

Former refugees interviewed in Kim’s 2008 paper – many elderly at the time, recalling their childhood memories in Ami-dong – described tearing down cemetery walls and removing tombstones to use in construction, often throwing away ashes in the process. The area became a center of community and survival, as refugees tried to support their families by selling goods and services in Busan’s marketplaces, according to Kim.

“Ami-dong was the boundary between life and death for the Japanese, the boundary between rural and urban areas for migrants, and the boundary between hometown and a foreign place for refugees,” he wrote in the paper.

An armistice signed on July 27, 1953, stopped the conflict between the two Koreas – but the war never officially ended because there was no peace treaty. Afterward, many of the refugees in Busan left to resettle elsewhere – but others stayed, with the city becoming a center of economic revival.

Busan looks very different today, as a thriving seaside holiday destination. In Ami-dong, many houses have been restored over the years, some bearing fresh coats of teal and light green paint.

But remnants of the past remain.

Walking through the village, tombstones can be spotted tucked under doorsteps and staircases, and on the corners of stone walls. Outside some homes, they’re used to prop up gas cylinders and flower pots. Though some still bear clear inscriptions, others have been weathered by time, the text no longer legible.

And the village’s complex history – at once a symbol of colonization, war and migration – looms in the imagination, too. Over the years, residents have reported sightings of what they believed were ghosts of the Japanese deceased, describing figures dressed in kimonos appearing and disappearing, Kim wrote.

He added that the folklore reflected popular belief that the souls of the dead are tied to the preservation of their ashes or remains, which had been disturbed in the village.

The Busan government has made efforts to preserve this part of its history, with Ami-dong now a tourist attraction next to the famous Gamcheon Culture Village, both accessible by bus and private vehicle.

An information center at the entrance of Ami-dong provides a brief introduction, as well as a map of where to find the most prominent tombstones sites. Some walls are painted with images of tombstones in a nod to the village’s roots – though several signs also ask visitors to be quiet and respectful, given the number of residents still living in the area.

As you leave the village, a sign on the main road reads: “There is a plan to build (a) memorial place in the future after collecting the tombstones scattered all over the place.”

Editor’s Note: This CNN Travel series is, or was, sponsored by the country it highlights. CNN retains full editorial control over subject matter, reporting and frequency of the articles and videos within the sponsorship, in compliance with our policy.

CNN
 — 

At first glance Izmir looks very much like any other modern Turkish metropolis, densely populated with unimposing architecture.

Yet once it was Turkey’s most cosmopolitan city – and that historical cachet can still be found hidden among Izmir’s streets.

Dial the clock back more than a century and you’d find wealthy Levantine, Greek, Turkish and Armenian families promenading along Izmir’s waterfront in the latest fashions from Paris.

They drank beer imported from Munich or cocktails at elegant bars, and sent their children to church-run schools to be educated in French and Latin.

Izmirites were the epitome of sophistication and grace, but their lifestyle came to an abrupt end in 1922 when ferocious fires ripped through the streets.

The modern day city stretches around the Gulf of Izmir but started life in old Smyrna, located in the Bayraklı neighborhood. Formerly a village, it’s now an archeological site.

According to legend, Alexander the Great was out hunting on the slopes of nearby Mount Pagos one day and stopped for a nap. Two nemeses appeared in a dream and asked him to build a city where he lay.

As was the norm, Alexander consulted with the oracle Apollo who, in full realtor mode, told him: “Smyrnians who settle in the foothills of Pagos hill near the Sacred Meles Stream will be four times happier than before.”

A new city center was established atop the mountain in the 4th century BCE as a result. Or so they say. Whatever the truth behind the story, Alexander the Great had a big impact.

The Agora of Smyrna was constructed on his orders. On completion it was four stories high, but only the basement still exists. Visitors today can see rows of elegant stone arches throwing shadows on the ground, highlighting the mechanics of a complex water system.

The foundations of the basilica, a type of public hall, contain niches decorated with graffiti, as well as engraved and painted images depicting Roman daily life. A short climb to the open ground above gives a great view across grassy fields that once bustled with activity and trade.

Izmir was one of the stops along the Silk Road but it really came into its own in the 17th century. Various wars made Smyrna Quay the safest port for transporting silk from Iran, attracting merchants from all over the world.

The Onassis clan traded tobacco while other Rum (as Turkish-born Greeks were known) made their fortunes selling Smyrna’s famous sticky figs. Two Greek-owned department stores sold everything imaginable and international banks had branches in town.

Levantine families such as the Whitalls and Girauds owned factories and mines and the Armenians were admired for their solid work ethic. The Americans set up a separate colony, slightly inland, called Paradise, while Jews and Turks lived in adjacent neighborhoods on the water.

At any given time dozens of languages could be heard in the streets, including English, German, and even Hindi.

“With its 8,500-year history, Izmir is one of the oldest settlements in the Levant and Turkey, and has hosted different civilizations throughout history,” says Bülent Senocak, an Izmir author and historian. “It is absolutely necessary to see the historical buildings in the city center bearing the traces of this multicultural climate and the historical Kemeraltı bazaar, which was established before many cities in Europe.”

The bazaar is where everything happened, and as Senocak says, is still worth a visit today. It’s made up of a number of different han, inns which once offered accommodation and storage for goods. They’re located on small covered streets that lead into one another.

One former inn, Kızlarağası Hanı, dates from 1744 and has since been converted into souvenir shops that sell pretty items like hand painted ceramics and Ottoman-inspired silver jewelry. It’s a good place to pick up a nazar. It’s believed these blue and white glass beads ward off evil and the ones sold in Izmir are made in the aptly named Nazarköy (Evil Eye Village).

The Bakır Bedesteni, or copper bazaar, initially housed the city’s best copper workshops but later became the place to buy silk. At its peak, dozens of caravans would appear each day. Goods were placed in storage or sold to shops in the bazaar, animals were stabled on the ground floor and the merchants slept in rooms upstairs.

Camel trains no longer arrive here, but the bazaar area gets pretty busy. A break can be taken in Kahveciler Sokağı, a street where the Turkish coffee is made the traditional way over hot coals in long-handled copper cezve coffee pots.

For an extra slice of history, it’s worth seeking out Izmir’s Havra Sokak, or synagogue street. There are four synagogues hidden amongst the clusters of shops. Originally there were nine inside the bazaar, out of a total of 34 in the city. The oldest were built by Sephardi Jews, expelled from the Iberian Peninsula during the 15th century Inquisition.

Some have been in service for more than 300 years and a restoration project is currently underway to open more as museums.

While life at the beginning of the 20th century in Izmir was, for more affluent residents, a whirl of lavish picnics, boating parties and extravagant dinners, that all changed in September 1922, when Turkey’s war of independence arrived on their doorstep.

The orderly entry into the city of the Turkish army was quickly replaced by chaos. Routed Greek soldiers flooded into the city, heading for the waterfront where naval ships waited to transport them home.

Turkish-born Greeks from across Anatolia, fearing retribution, followed closely on their heels. Within days thousands of people were stuck on the quay, seeking a way out. A series of fires broke out that burned for days.

When the last of the flames was extinguished, little was left of the once vibrant destination known as Smyrna. Many buildings that escaped incineration were later demolished, after they were left empty and fell into disrepair because of a population exchange in 1923.

This agreement saw Rum people repatriated to Greece and Turkish Greek nationals moved to Turkey. Many Levantine families with European passports and second homes elsewhere, moved. Few returned, radically altering the city’s character.

However Izmir is resilient. Like the phoenix, the city is on the rise.

Smyrna Quay, where boats once departed laden with exotic goods to sell in Europe has been reinvented as the Kordon promenade.

Visitors can walk, jog or bike along the shores of the gulf from Alsancak to Konak Meydanı, a large square. There are plenty of restaurants to try along the way and several different museums to visit, including one dedicated to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the nation’s founder.

Popular myth has it that Izmir’s Konak Pier was designed by Gustave Eiffel, of tower fame, in 1890. More likely it was the work of someone in his firm, but the steel structure is highly reminiscent of his hand. What started life as a customs house is now a shopping center with a stylish restaurant overlooking the water.

The highly ornate Abdul Hamid II clock tower takes center stage in Konak Square. Built in 1901 for an Ottoman Sultan, it was designed by French architect Raymond Charles Péré.

Despite their backgrounds, the 82-foot structure looks neither Turkish nor French. Péré was influenced by buildings in North Africa and Andalusia, so each of its four levels is a flurry of columns, embellished capitals and horseshoe-shaped arches – perfect for Instagram poses.

A little over a mile further south, one of Izmir’s sons has been given his own street. Born into a large Jewish family in 1921, David Arugete abandoned his aim of becoming a legal clerk after learning guitar and starting to sing.

Calling himself Darío Moreno, he cut his teeth performing at Jewish festivities before going on to win nationwide fame. He’s best known for his 1962 recording of “Ya Mustafa,” a song written by Egyptian composer Mohamed Fawzi.

It was hugely popular in the 1950s and 1960s with versions released in Arabic, French, Spanish and several other languages.

Eventually Moreno bought a house in the more upscale Jewish quarter of the city on a street named Asansör Sokak, which took its name from the Turkish for elevator.

The street houses an actual elevator, built in 1907 by a Jewish trader, which connects it to an upper section of the neighborhood.

During World War I, the structure housed a casino, photo gallery and cinema. Today there’s a cafe, bar and restaurant. Visitors can ride to the top and enjoy the view, before or after they check out the traditional houses converted into colorfully painted bars and cafes on Dario Moreno Sokağı, as Elevator Street is now called.

A day trip to the remains of the ancient Greek city of Ephesus, once the commercial center of the Mediterranean, should be high on the to-do list for anyone visiting Izmir.

Here they can tread streets used by the ancient Greeks, climb to the top of the great theater, marvel at the library of Celsus, and walk past mosaics in what were once ordinary suburban houses when the city was part of the Roman empire.

Want more? Many statues and artifacts found at the site can be seen in the Ephesus Archeological Museum, while back in Izmir, there’s a marble statue of Androklos, Ephesus’s founder, in the Archaeology and Ethnology Museum.

CNN
 — 

Federal aviation officials announced on Tuesday that flight attendants will soon get more mandated rest time between flights.

Current FAA rules say that in most cases, an airline must provide a flight attendant a nine-hour rest period after being on duty 14 hours or less.

The new rule increases the rest period to 10 hours between shifts.

“Flight attendants, like all essential transportation workers, work hard every day to keep the traveling public safe, and we owe them our full support,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, in a statement. “This new rule will make it easier for flight attendants to do their jobs, which in turn will keep all of us safe in the air.”

Flight crew unions have fought hard for the change, saying that flight attendants are heavily fatigued and overworked after shifts as long as 14 hours.

Airlines were told of the coming rule changes by the Federal Aviation Administration last week, a source familiar with the policy said on Monday.

The FAA had two public comment periods, in 2019 and 2021, on the proposed regulatory change. The agency said it reviewed more than 1,000 comments.

The change was first approved by Congress in 2018 but was not put in place by the Trump Administration.

Last week, House Transportation Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) called seeing the rules completed a priority before his upcoming retirement.

The final rule will become effective 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register.

“It’s about time! As aviation’s first responders and last line of defense, it is critical that we are well rested and ready to perform our duties,” said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, in a statement.

“Covid has only exacerbated the safety gap with long duty days, short nights, and combative conditions on planes,” Nelson said.

With a surge in demand as pandemic restrictions eased, 2022 has been hard on flight attendants.

Allie Malis, who is also the government affairs representative at the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, a union representing American Airlines air crew, told CNN Travel this past summer about “uncomfortable” situations where crew, delayed on incoming flights, find themselves sprinting through the airport to make their next job.

The flight attendants say situations like these, along with unpredictable schedules, wreak havoc on crew mental and physical well-being.

It’s not just in the United States where flight attendants say they are being run ragged.

“Sickness levels have gone through the roof, fatigue levels have gone through the roof, not because [flight attendants are] rejecting or they’re protesting in any way. It’s just that they can’t cope – they just can’t cope with the constant changes,” says British flight attendant Kris Major.

Top image: Passengers and flight attendants aboard a flight from LaGuardia Airport bound for Kansas City International Airport on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Editor’s Note: Sign up for CNN’s Sleep, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide has helpful hints to achieve better sleep.

CNN
 — 

Going on a vacation might seem like a rather unconventional way to try to improve your sleep habits.

But sleep tourism has been growing in popularity for a number of years, with an increasing amount of sleep-focused stays popping up in hotels and resorts across the world.

Interest has skyrocketed since the pandemic, with a number of high profile establishments focusing their attention on those suffering from sleep-deprivation.

Over the past 12 months, Park Hyatt New York has opened the Bryte Restorative Sleep Suite, a 900-square-foot suite filled with sleep-enhancing amenities, while Rosewood Hotels & Resorts recently launched a collection of retreats called the Alchemy of Sleep, which are designed to “promote rest.”

Zedwell, London’s first sleep-centric hotel, which features rooms equipped with innovative soundproofing, opened in early 2020, and Swedish bed manufacturer Hastens established the world’s first Hästens Sleep Spa Hotel, a 15-room boutique hotel, in the Portuguese city of Coimbra a year later.

Pandemic impact

So why has sleep suddenly become such a big focus for the travel industry?

Dr. Rebecca Robbins, a sleep researcher and co-author of the book “Sleep for Success!” believes this shift has been a long time coming, particularly with regards to hotels.

“When it comes down to it, travelers book hotels for a place to sleep,” she tells CNN Travel, before pointing out that the hotel industry has primarily been focused on things that actually detract from sleep in the past.

“People often associate travel with decadent meals, extending their bed times, the attractions and the things you do while you’re traveling, really almost at the cost of sleep,” she adds.

“Now, I think there’s just been a huge seismic shift in our collective awareness and prioritization on wellness and well being.”

The global pandemic appears to have played a huge part in this. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that 40% of the over 2,500 adults who took part reported a reduction in their sleep quality since the start of the pandemic.

“There has been heightened attention to sleep in the Covid-19 era, and likely, because so many people have struggled with this [sleep],” says Dr. Robbins.

Hypnotherapist, meditation and holistic coach Malminder Gill has also noticed a change in attitudes towards sleep.

“Everything seems to be moving towards longevity, and I think that has really fueled things,” Gill tells CNN Travel.

“Because it’s no great surprise that sleep is an important aspect of our lives. Lack of sleep can cause lots of different issues in the body, and for your mental health.

“So, anxiety, depression, low mood, mood swings – all sorts of things, on top of the tiredness.”

Gill has partnered with the Cadogan, a Belmond Hotel in London, to create a special service catered to guests with sleep issues called the Sleep Concierge.

The service includes a sleep-inducing meditation recording, a pillow menu with options that cater to guests who may prefer to sleep on their back or side, the option of a weighted blanket, a bedtime tea developed specifically for the service, and a scented pillow mist.

“Different things work for different people at different stages of their life,” Gill says of the different items offered within the service.

“We’ve tried to stack the odds in our favor. If you combine all of those things, I would say there’s a higher chance of a better quality sleep. But I don’t think there’s a one size fits all.”

The types of sleep-focused programs and/or retreats offered by hotels and resorts also tend to vary, with different establishments approaching the concept in different ways.

Luxury hotel brand Six Senses offers a variety of full sleep programs, ranging from three to seven days or more, at a number of its properties, while Brown’s Hotel, a Rocco Forte hotel in Mayfair, London, recently launched, ‘Forte Winks’ a two-night experience especially created to help aid guests “into a serene sleep.”

“Sleep is so important and we noticed there was a trend in sleep tourism happening, and wellness in general, after lockdowns and Covid,” explains Daniela Moore, senior group PR manager for Rocco Forte Hotels.

“So we wanted to take the opportunity to showcase Brown’s as a hotel that cares about you getting the best night’s sleep.”

For Gill, the emergence of more and more of these types of experiences is a sign that the “narrative of staying up to get things done,” is being challenged, and people are beginning to have a deeper understanding of just how important sleep is.

But can short term sleep-focused travel experiences actually have a long term impact on a person’s overall sleep?

According to Dr. Robbins, travel experiences centered around “healthy sleep strategies” that aim to supply guests with the tools they need to improve their sleep can be hugely beneficial, provided a reputable medical or scientific expert is involved in some way to help to determine whether there may be something else at play.

“If someone comes to one of these retreats, and isn’t seeing any progress, it could be because they have an untreated sleep disorder,” she explains, pointing to conditions such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, or insomnia as potential examples.

“That’s why it’s vitally important to make sure that hotels are partnering with scientists and medical professionals that can impart these strategies carefully.”

Mandarin Oriental, Geneva has taken things a step further by teaming up with CENAS, a private medical sleeping clinic in Switzerland, to curate a three-day program that studies guests’ sleeping patterns in order to identify potential sleeping disorders.

Although the majority of sleep-focused establishments and experiences tend to fall within the luxury travel sector, Dr. Robbins believes that all hotels and resorts should be making this a priority.

“There are ways to make it meaningful for each level,” she adds, pointing out that “it doesn’t cost much at all to leave a pair of earplugs next to the nightstand.”

As sleep tourism continues to grow, Dr. Robbins says she’s looking forward to seeing “who really continues to pioneer and think creatively about this space,” stressing that there are countless avenues that haven’t been fully explored yet when it comes to travel and the science of sleep.

“The notion of travel actually rejuvenating you and allowing you to return home refreshed and restored is a really exciting proposition,” she adds.

Top image credit: Rocco Forte Hotels

CNN
 — 

Move over London. Step aside New York. There’s a new cosmopolitan cocktail capital: Barcelona is home to Paradiso, the newly crowned world’s best bar.

For the first time since the World’s 50 Best Bars list was created in 2009, a bar outside of New York or London earned the No. 1 spot on the list.

Paradiso, from owners Giacomo Giannotti and Margarita Sader, is a Mediterranean-style speakeasy, entered through the freezer door of a pastrami bar in Barcelona’s trendy El Born district. The bar moved up from No. 3 in 2021.

“It’s a big honor to win and a big responsibility. We will work hard to live up to being the best and stick to our principles. Our cocktails try to push creativity,” Giannotti told 50 Best on Tuesday evening.

“But it comes down to hard work. The more you work, the more you discover and the more creative you can be. We will celebrate and then go back to the bar to do what we do.”

The 50 Best winners were announced Tuesday evening in Barcelona, the first time the ceremony has been held outside of London.

The vibrant city in Catalonia is home to three of the top 10 bars on the 2022 list. Sips was the “highest climber” this year, jumping from the No. 37 spot in 2021 to No. 3 this year. Two Schmucks came in at No. 7.

Four bars in Spain made it into the top 50 – Salmon Guru in Madrid was No. 15.

Italy also made a strong showing in 2022’s top 50, with bars in Rome, Florence, Milan and Naples all making the list. Newcomer L’Antiquario Napoli earned the No. 46 spot, putting the southern city of Naples into the top 50 for the first time.

Florence also made its first appearance on the list as did Portugal’s capital city, Lisbon.

While London was toppled from the top spot, the city is still one of the world’s premier cocktail destinations. Five London bars made the list, including The Connaught Bar, which dropped from its No. 1 ranking for two consecutive years, to No. 8 in 2022.

London’s Tayēr + Elementary, which awards ceremony host Mark Sansom said is “one of the most original bars on the planet,” held onto its No. 2 spot from 2021.

Europe dominated with more top bars than any other region.

The list is the result of votes from 650 bartenders and bar owners, drinks writers and cocktail experts.

New York rebounded from a less dazzling showing than usual in 2021 to become the city with the most highly ranked bars on the 2022 list. New York is home to six top 50 bars, including Double Chicken Please at No. 6 and Katana Kitten at No. 9.

Double Chicken Please won the Highest New Entry award for its strong debut. Sansom, who is content director of The World’s 50 Best Bars, told CNN Travel the bar has “an almost Michelin-grade kitchen,” one example of a growing emphasis on food programs at the world’s leading bars.

In Singapore, No. 33 Manhattan also does “seriously, seriously elevated bar food,” Sansom said.

Mexico City is another North American cocktail capital with four bars in the top 50, including No. 4 Licorería Limantour, winner of the Best Bar in North America award.

Cartagena’s Alquímico is the Best Bar in South America at No.10. There are three bars in Buenos Aires on the list as well as one in Lima.

In Asia, Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong all had two bars in the top 50. At No. 12, Jigger & Pony in Singapore won the Best Bar in Asia award.

Dubai had three bars in the top 50, including including No. 38 Zuma, the Best Bar in the Middle East and Africa winner for the third year in a row.

In India, New Delhi’s Sidecar jumped 21 places to No. 26.

The Best Bar in Australasia is Maybe Sammy in Sydney at No. 29.

1. Paradiso, Barcelona (Winner: Best Bar in Europe)

2. Tayēr + Elementary, London

3. Sips, Barcelona (Winner: Highest Climber)

4. Licorería Limantour, Mexico City (Winner: Best Bar in North America, Legend of the List)

5. Little Red Door, Paris (Winner: Sustainable Bar Award)

6. Double Chicken Please, New York (Winner: Highest New Entry)

7. Two Schmucks, Barcelona

8. The Connaught Bar, London

9. Katana Kitten, New York

10. Alquímico, Cartegena (Winner: Best Bar in South America)

11. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City

12. Jigger & Pony, Singapore (Winner: Best Bar in Asia)

13. Hanky-Panky, Mexico City (Winner: Art of Hospitality)

14. Bangkok Social Club, Bangkok (Winner: Best New Opening)

15. Salmon Guru, Madrid

16. Drink Kong, Rome

17. Coa, Hong Kong

18. Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires

19. The Clumsies, Athens

20. Baba au Rum, Athens

21. Cafe La Trova, Miami

22. Attaboy, New York

23. Satan’s Whiskers, London

24. Tropic City, Bangkok

25. Kumiko, Chicago

For the full list of the top 50, visit the World’s 50 Best Bars site.

With barhopping curbed by the pandemic, customers are more likely to linger in one place, Sansom said, and bars are offering more live entertainment in addition to upping their food programs to keep guests occupied for hours.

And the lines between food and drink are blurring.

“The techniques and flavors associated with cooking and gastronomy are emerging in drinks and cocktail craft,” Sansom said, citing New York’s Double Chicken Please again.

The bar’s Back Room menu features an array of food-inspired cocktails – from Waldorf Salad (whisky-based with apple, celery, ginger ale and walnut bitters) to Japanese Cold Noodle (rum-based with pineapple, cucumber, coconut, lime and sesame oil).

Two Schmucks in Barcelona is also leaning on flavors associated with food.

“Its Curry Colada is one of the best cocktails I think I’ve ever drunk,” Sansom said.

Tools such as the centrifuge that made their way from science labs to restaurant kitchens in the past few decades have also appeared in craft cocktail bars in the past decade, he said.

And custom glassware that sometimes inspires the drink rather than the other way around is increasingly important at many bars, including at world’s best bar Paradiso.

After the past couple of years, great hospitality is more important than ever, Sansom said.

“Post-pandemic, bars are a lot more aware of the value of each individual customer and making them feel wanted, safe, secure as they go into those environments.”

Top image: Paradiso in Barcelona is the No. 1 bar on the World’s 50 Best Bars list in 2022 and the Best Bar in Europe winner.

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations opening, inspiration for future adventures, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments.

CNN
 — 

Asia Pacific is home to some of the world’s most beloved travel destinations, from the natural beauty of Bali to the urban buzz of Singapore. These dreamy vacation hotspots – teamed with the region’s business power – secured Asia Pacific the title of world’s largest travel region for much of the past decade.

But with destinations like China and Japan comparatively slow to drop Covid entry restrictions, air travel in Asia Pacific remains low compared to the region’s pre-pandemic levels.

And a new report from international travel industry analysts the Centre for Aviation (CAPA) predicts Asia Pacific will no longer be the world’s largest travel region by the end of 2022, ceding the title to Europe.

Where once Asian Pacific air traffic accounted for more than a third of all global passenger journeys, aviation in the region remains down by 45% compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to CAPA.

Meanwhile, CAPA suggests European air travel has recovered to roughly 85% of pre-pandemic levels, even accounting for the continued impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In 2019, 3.38 billion passengers transited through Asia Pacific airports. In contrast, CAPA reports that current predictions from ACI Asia-Pacific – an industry organization that represents airports in the region – suggest 1.84 billion passengers will have passed through Asia Pacific travel hubs by the end of 2022.

A key factor in this slow recovery is China’s “zero-Covid” border policy and Japan’s slow relaxation of travel restrictions, at least according to ACI Asia-Pacific and CAPA. Japan is set to officially reopen to tourists on October 11.

“What happens there has an outsized impact on the rest of the region,” says CAPA of China and Japan, pointing out they’re two of the region’s top travel markets.

CAPA reports that most travel in Asia Pacific destinations remains at 50% or more below 2019 levels, with only a couple of exceptions, such as India, which is only 11% below its 2019 figure.

Domestic travel in Asia Pacific is recovering faster than international travel, notes CAPA – domestic travel within China, for example, is only down 5.4% compared to 2019 levels.

All in all, CAPA predicts Asia Pacific won’t see a full return to pre-pandemic travel figures until the end of 2023 or early 2024.

“Even then, recovery is dependent on countries opening their borders and ending lingering travel restrictions, as well as the wider economic and epidemiological situations,” reads the report.

CAPA is arguing for “harmonization of international travel rules” and “political commitments towards openness and freedom of movement” as well as a continued vaccination drive, to aid travel recovery.

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations opening, inspiration for future adventures, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments.

CNN
 — 

Hong Kong attracted around 56 million visitors a year before the pandemic, and now the popular destination is taking significant steps to win tourists back after over two years of some of the world’s toughest travel restrictions.

Just days after dropping its longstanding mandatory hotel quarantine requirement, Hong Kong has confirmed plans to give away half a million airline tickets in a bid to boost tourism.

The move, first announced two years ago, was confirmed to CNN by a spokesperson from the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), which said that the 500,000 tickets, worth around $254.8 million, would go to global visitors, along with residents.

“Back in 2020, Airport Authority Hong Kong purchased around 500,000 air tickets in advance from the territory’s home-based airlines as part of a relief package to support the aviation industry,” says the spokesperson.

“The purchase serves the purpose of injecting liquidity into the airlines upfront, while the tickets will be given away to global visitors and Hong Kong residents in the market recovery campaign.”

Further details will be announced once the relevant arrangements have been made with airlines, they said.

Hong Kong has been largely cut off from the rest of the world due to its Covid-19 quarantine rules, which at one stage required incoming travelers to spend 21 days in a hotel room at their own expense, with only Hong Kong residents permitted entry.

The quarantine period had been reduced from seven to three days when it was officially scrapped on September 26, prompting droves of residents to log on to airline websites to book flights.

Cathay Pacific, the city’s flag carrier, set up a virtual “waiting room” to access its website at one point, while online travel booking service Expedia saw a nine-fold surge in search for flights from Hong Kong to Tokyo and 11-fold for flights from Hong Kong to Osaka – although interest in flights to Hong Kong remained unchanged, according to Lavinia Rajaram, Expedia’s Asia head of public relations.

“We hope to give the maximum room to reconnect Hong Kong, and to revitalize our economy,” Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee said in a press conference on Friday.

But while the hotel quarantine may have been lifted, visitors to Hong Kong still face various rules and restrictions before and after arriving.

Incoming international travelers must submit a pre-flight vaccination certificate, as well as a negative PCR test and rapid antigen test, before entering.

Once they’ve been permitted to enter, visitors are required to undergo a three-day self-monitoring period, during which time they’re prohibited from eating in restaurants or visiting bars.

Visitors also need to complete PCR tests on days 2, 4 and 6 after arrival, and a rapid antigen test every day for seven days.

CNN
 — 

Market vendor Mr. Chan gestures around what used to be one of Hong Kong’s busiest streets.

“There are no tourists now, whatsoever,” he says. Mr. Chan sells silver earrings, necklaces and scarves on Tung Choi Street in Kowloon, which is famous for its robust night market.

The past three years have been harsh on him. He kept his stall open until 10 p.m. before the pandemic, but these days he closes at 7 p.m.

He hopes for swift change with the end of quarantine, which had a devastating effect on businesses that relied on tourism.

Hong Kong has taken steps in recent days to reopen itself to the world, by first lifting its mandatory three-day hotel quarantine, then announcing a global banking summit in November.

The city is also planning to give away 500,000 million airline tickets, worth around $254.8 million, to global visitors, along with residents, as part of a “market recovery campaign.”

Officials hope these moves will revive Hong Kong’s status as an international business and travel hub, but some locals feel the changes may be too late.

The lifting of the quarantine was received with elation by the city’s residents, who have endured more than two years of crushing pandemic measures.

At its most strict, Hong Kong’s quarantine rules required incoming travelers to spend 21 days in a hotel room paid at their own expense. Only Hong Kong residents were permitted entry.

Those unlucky enough to come from certain regions or countries with high numbers of coronavirus cases could find themselves in a government-run facility.

As a result, travel in and out of the financial hub was at record lows.

Once news of the end of quarantine was announced on Friday, September 30, travel-starved Hong Kongers flocked to book flights online. The city’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific set up a virtual “waiting room” to get onto its website, where hold times could easily stretch to 30 minutes.

The online travel booking service Expedia said its website also saw a 9-fold surge in search for flights from Hong Kong to Tokyo and 11-fold for flights from Hong Kong to Osaka.

However, the interest in flights to Hong Kong remained unchanged, Lavinia Rajaram, Expedia’s Asia head of public relations, said.

Though hotel quarantine may be gone, the city still imposes a 3-day period during which visitors are barred from dining in restaurants or going to bars. That and the complicated visiting requirements, which include a pre-flight vaccination certificate and negative tests, may deter potential visitors.

In November, Hong Kong plans to host the International Rugby Sevens tournament, which has been held every year since 1976 except for the past two years. A popular spectacle that drew fans from abroad before the pandemic, it is doubtful how many will brave the border restrictions.

While drinking is allowed, food will be banned at the event. Fans will also be required to wear their mask at all times except when drinking, according to the city’s government.

Hong Kong’s Asian neighbors including Japan, Taiwan and South Korea took steps in past weeks to remove the last remaining barriers on travel, making them more attractive destinations for international travelers.

Another cloud hanging over the forecast is the continuing zero-Covid regime in mainland China. In 2019, the last year before travel became heavily restricted, 78% of the city’s visitors came from the mainland.

The government’s effort to reopen and promote the city came too late for Maxence Traverse, a restaurant owner who had to shut his business, Honi Honi Tiki Bar, last year.

He says the nine-year-old bar could not survive the 2019 protests and the pandemic. After a six-month hiatus, he opened a restaurant in the city’s Tai Hang neighborhood but he is fighting to keep it going, he said.

Traverse’s business is one of many in the food and beverage industry that shut down permanently during the pandemic. Some of the city’s iconic Cantonese restaurants – including Mido Cafe, Jimmy’s Kitchen and Lin Heung Tea House – have also closed their doors.

Traverse was greatly upset when he saw an interview with Hong Kong Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau, in which Lo said Hong Kong will continue to open up unless a new Covid variant emerges.

“I cried. Depression. Really hard, that hard feeling. I said, ‘Not again.’ Nearly third year in a row. You know, it’s been tough,” Traverse said.

He believes simply reopening the city will not be enough to restore what drew him there 12 years ago.

“We need to be providing excitement for Hong Kong, because right now we lost so many things,” he said.