Travel
Discover facts about travel. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Travel
Sleeping in a coffin-sized hotel pod
These compact, coffin-sized sleeping pods are stacked to fit more guests into dense urban spaces.
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Australian meat pies are smothered in thick tomato sauce
A classic Australian meat pie is often eaten piping hot with a generous layer of thick tomato sauce, making for a messy lunch.
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Most of New Zealand's continent is underwater
New Zealand’s visible islands are the peaks of a much larger landmass, most of which lies underwater.
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Barcelona cuts corners to give intersections more room
Ildefons Cerdà's Eixample plan bevels the corners of its square blocks, turning each junction into a broader open space. Vehicles gain room to turn, and…
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The hotel room with no walls or roof
The Null Stern hotel offers a double bed set outdoors in the Swiss Alps, with a butler and mountain views. With no walls or roof, guests sleep exposed to the…
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A wooden coaster can keep its identity while its track is replaced
Maintenance crews replace worn track sections, fasteners, and structural pieces to keep an old ride operating. Major retracking can renew large stretches…
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You can travel east forever without reaching an edge
On a globe, continuing east just circles the planet; there is no eastern edge to reach.
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Disney's fairy-tale castle had a real Bavarian reference
Neuschwanstein was built for Ludwig II in the 19th century, drawing on romantic visions of an older age rather than serving as a medieval fortress. Its towers…
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Resting elbows on the table in Germany is purely rude
In traditional German table manners, keeping your hands visible above the table is considered polite, while resting your elbows on it is seen as rude.
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Scottish Highlands host cows with massive long horns
Bred to withstand cold, wet weather, these docile cattle have long coats and heavy bangs that can hang over their eyes.
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Why daylight saving time makes no sense at the equator
Because daylight hours vary little near the equator, shifting clocks offers little benefit. Sunrise and sunset still don't occur at exactly the same time…
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Why short cab rides can become scenic tours
A driver may take advantage of a passenger who doesn’t know the area, turning a simple three-turn ride into a tour of toll bridges while the meter keeps…
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An airplane slide can become a life raft
On some aircraft, the inflatable slides can detach and serve as life rafts if the plane lands in the ocean. They can carry survival kits, flares, and canopies.
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Why Mexican Coke tastes different
Mexican Coca-Cola is made with cane sugar, while domestic versions have often used corn syrup.
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Africa lies in all four hemispheres
The continent crosses both the equator and the prime meridian, placing parts of it in the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western hemispheres.
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Why mosquitoes love sweaty people
Mosquitoes track cues including the carbon dioxide you exhale and lactic acid on your skin, which can make a sweaty person easier to find.
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A hotel room can look clean while its remote tells another story
A small 2012 study found TV remotes among the room surfaces with the most bacterial contamination. Cleaning carts also carried potential routes for spreading…
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Sleeping bags originally weighed massive amounts with wool
Early wool sleeping bags were heavy and prone to staying damp.
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Hawaii's scenery won a fight against billboards
The Outdoor Circle campaigned against roadside advertising from 1912, encouraging boycotts of advertised goods. Its history credits that effort with the 1927…
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Travel agents still manage huge volumes of cruise bookings
Even in the age of online booking, cruise travel agents still handle many reservations by phone, helping organize trips involving thousands of passengers…
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International burger chains rely heavily on paneer cheese
International chains in India offer fried paneer burgers to accommodate dietary restrictions.
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Why Amsterdam's houses lean forward
The forward tilt and roof hooks let movers hoist furniture through upper windows, avoiding the narrow, steep staircases inside.
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Germany consumes millions of currywurst sausages
The postwar street-food favorite is sliced sausage topped with ketchup and curry powder, and it became popular enough to inspire a museum.
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High rise hotels bolt guest windows shut
Sealed windows help control the hotel's air conditioning and keep objects from falling onto the street.
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