BY Sarmind SafiOct 6, 2023

Are you thinking of getting a Priority Pass? Does lounging at the airport, with good food, good drinks, some rest, and luxurious amenities tickle your fancy?  Well, I have been a Priority Pass member for more than two years. And before you test the waters of a Priority Pass, hear me out on some of the best and worst airport lounges that I have been to around the world. You are bound to benefit greatly from my experience with the airport lounge membership network. How To Avail A Priority Pass? Image Source With the Priority Pass, my experience, on average, has been good. I am a sucker for access to the airport lounges while I travel around the world, although some are comparatively better than others. Some of the airport lounges I have had the pleasure of visiting are in Atlanta, Vancouver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Istanbul, Boston, Washington DC, Miami, Madrid, Hong Kong, and Paris. The priority pass gives you access to electricity, free food, beverages, and drinks. Priority Pass does charge for drinks in certain lounges. What gives these lounges their allure is their additional benefits that go beyond lounging. For instance, in Atlanta, you can book one of their “Minute Suites”-- a private room where you can take a nap or work in privacy. There are some restaurants where you receive a credit of about $30 towards food and drinks, like the Corona Beach House in Miami International Airport. This lounging network is constantly adding new lounges to its membership fleet. I keep getting emails every other week with a list of their new additions. If you don't find your local airport, keep checking in because it could get added anytime. Priority Pass Restaurant, Spa, And Suite Deals There are some airports that do not have a Priority Pass lounge, but it offers vouchers and discounts for certain restaurants. Bobby Van’s Steakhouse at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Corona Beach House at The Miami International Airport are examples of such. If you want to redeem a voucher or credit, talk to the server before placing an order. Some restaurants will ask upfront, whereas others will ask for the Priority Pass membership card once it's time to pay the bill. These passes also have partnerships with airport spas, which could be free or discounted. Their apps will give you all the information you require to know about their services, treatments, and hours of availability. How To Avoid Lounge Crowds? Image Source Are priority pass lounges usually crowded? This is one of the most asked questions by travelers looking to get one of these memberships. Priority Pass lounges tend to limit entry during specific crowded hours. Sometimes, the lounge might be very full when you do get an entrance. One of the downsides of this membership is you do not have much control over when you get to visit the lounge because the visit depends on the time of your flight. All you can do is predict the crowd based on the departure schedules around the time of your visit. For instance, many hub airports in the US have international red-eye flights. Usually, the lounges get a thick crowd in the evenings in those parts of the airport. Sometimes, due to the crowd, you may have to put your name on a waiting list or simply get turned away. Priority Pass Airport Lounges Image Source Here are some of the Priority Pass Lounges I have visited that you would want to know before you invest in a membership or visit the particular airports. SkyTeam Lounge International Departures At Vancouver International Image Source Location: International Terminal, near gate 53 Opening Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily This one is an intimate, 5,600-square-foot lounge that is open to Priority Pass members who are flying internationally. They serve business and first-class passengers of SkyTeam airlines such as Air France, KLM, and Korean Air. The international rule, however, exempts travelers flying to the United States. The venue is sleek, with floor-to-ceiling glass walls and minimalist interiors. The food and drinks here are locally inspired, including freshly caught Pacific salmon, dumplings, and noodle soup. The best part is the free-flowing Pacific Northwest wines that are available at the self-service bar. They also serve beers from Vancouver’s various microbreweries. Las Vegas This one is probably the last one that you should visit. It is as small as its food supply. I found them offering apples, bananas, chips, and ramen. Ramen noodles, though, were what surprised me the most. It's a lucky coincidence that I do not take flights through Vegas too often. IGA Lounge At Istanbul International Image Source Location: International Terminal, on the mezzanine floor on the right-hand side Opening Hours: 24 hours daily Istanbul is not a pinchpenny when it comes to its lounge size. When you are flying business via Turkish Airlines or Star Alliance partners, the vast 60,000-square-foot business-class lounge will treat you like royalty. This lounge takes up the entire upper level of the main foyer. If you are flying economy or non-Star Alliance international flights, you will be more than happy to relax in the 48,000-square-foot IGA Lounge located in the International Terminal. You will find on this floor amenities like a pool table, a cinema room, a kid's playroom, and a quiet room with sleeping pods. It obviously houses a cocktail bar, supersized food spreads, and lots of seating options. Chase Sapphire Lounge By The Club At Boston Logan International Image Source Location: Terminal B to C Connector, between gates B40 and B39 Opening Hours: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily This lounge is open to the public since May 2023. This is the first Chase Sapphire lounge to be opened in the United States. It is packed with amenities, spacious with an area comprising 11,640 square feet. It is teeming with design-driven nooks for preflight relaxation and layover rejuvenation. Located in Boston, Logan’s newly opened Terminal B and C Connector. The central bar anchors its midcentury modernist-inspired area with many dining areas. They feature self-service, as well as service via the Club’s app. Its cuisine is supervised by Chef Douglass Williams, who owns the forever favorite restaurant of Boston’s South End, Mida. There are two wellness rooms with antigravity massage chairs, a private nursing room, and two dual-head shower rooms when you move deeper into the lounge. Dulles Airport, Washington DC: Air France Lounge This lounge is great overall. It does get busy, but it makes up for it with its French food and drinks that make it all too worth visiting. I visited this lounge before one of my Paris flights, and the lounge was positioned just across my departure gate. The convenience of it won me over. It was probably one of my best flying experiences. They also offered me one of those French Michel et Augustin chocolates. Turkish Airlines Lounge At Washington Dulles International Image Source Location: International Terminal, Concourse B, near gate B43 Opening hours: 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily This lounge kind of eases the otherwise rough experience of flying out of Washington Dulles in comparison to the centrally located DCA. The layover, too, is long and exhausting. But it is one of those experiences you still look forward to because of its delicious food options. If you visit them, you must try their mezze with pita. They also have a speedy bar service and a floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks the tarmac. With Dulle’s airside connectivity, it is also accessible to travelers moving from other concourses by train or walkway. Turkish Airlines Lounge At Miami International Image Source Location: South Terminal Concourse H; take the elevator located midway between Concourses H and J to the third floor. The lounge is on the left. Opening hours: 4 a.m. to midnight daily It is one of the two Turkish Airlines Lounges that is accessible to Priority Pass members at the Miami airport, but the other one, located in the Central Terminal, is pretty basic and disappointing. The amenities available in the 10,000-square-foot lounge comprise a full-service bar, a buffet with hot and cold items, two shower suites, a kid's area, and seating spaces to accommodate both single and group travelers. The lounge is also used by business and first-class passengers of all the Star Alliance flights that depart from the terminal. Priority Pass users are asked to arrive earlier, packing some patience in order to enjoy the services this lounge has to offer. It gets periodically restricted in case of overcrowding. Barajas Airport, Madrid: Cibeles Lounge Image Source I have come to love this lounge. It is highly spacious, with three of its walls made of floor-to-ceiling glass windows. A long bar in the middle of the lounge offers all kinds of snacks for you to enjoy. I had to visit the lounge for a morning flight, and it got me a nice little breakfast to go. There are lots of seating arrangements and electrical outlets to work if you have spare time. Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Atlanta – Club At ATL This could easily be your favorite lounge, given its high comfortability. It does get busy, but the lounge is expansive and has a delicious selection of food and snackables to enjoy. I have been here for various layovers as well as visits to Atlanta. They have a solid coffee machine paired with the fanciest newspapers and magazines you could think of. There are quite a few bars where the bartender will likely make you a curated mix or just simply pour you a glass of wine. Despite the crowd, you can manage to squeeze in some work while you are here. Chase Sapphire Lounge By The Club At Hong Kong International Image Source Location: Terminal 1 West Hall, near gate 40 Opening hours: 6 a.m. to midnight daily Chase opened its first branded lounge in October 2022 at the Hong Kong International Airport. This Airport boasts the world’s best lounges, including many top-tier Cathay Pacific lounges and the notable American Express Centurion Lounge. Although Chase does not offer what Cathay Pacific and AmEx offer, it is the best option accessible through Priority Pass, and it does not fall short of its reputation. The 12,000-square-foot Chase Sapphire Lounge is a mix of a huge dining area and small nooks, including a beautiful triangular bar, booths, and a relaxation zone. There are dim sums available all day, complemented by a range of Chinese dishes (it includes congee) and international cuisine. You can self-serve or order via the Club’s app. This lounge is available to both Priority Pass holders and non-Reserve Priority Pass members through the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The regular membership rules apply. Star Alliance Lounge At Paris Charles de Gaulle Image Source Location: Terminal 1, after passport control but before security on level 11 Opening hours: 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily (though hours vary according to flight schedules) Assuming you spent your life’s worth of money in Paris, this lounge is where you can have some premium drinks, light snacks, and pre-flight relaxation without any charges. If the low ceilings make you feel out of breath, head to the outdoor terrace for some fresh air. This is also where others go for a smoke break. The lounge is placed after passport control and before security check-in. This is where most Star Alliance flights depart. If you are flying some of the flights that depart from terminal 2, like Air France or American Airlines, you won’t be able to visit this lounge because the terminals are not connected airside. Can You Use Priority Pass On Arrival? Image Source In most cases, the answer is no. A boarding pass is required when you enter the lounge, which is only possible for outbound travelers. You can not expect to head into a lounge after a long flight. The whole idea is to get travelers some rest before the long haul of a flight. So, the benefit is given to those who have a pending flight rather than those who got off one. Forget about a priority pass on arrival. They expect you to go home after a flight! Wrapping Up A Priority Pass makes your travel a little less exhausting with all the lounges you can avail of at your terminal. All you have to do is show them your digital card on the app and the boarding pass. They allow you in within minutes. In case they want to check you in with the physical membership card, keep the card on you. They usually do not make such a fuss, but if they do, having the card comes in handy. Is it worth it? Well, the $500 price tag is definitely too high, and I could honestly live with saving some bills on that. But I do enjoy being treated to good food and exclusive service at airports amid the uncomfortable hassle of long flights. If you have thoughts to share or questions to ask “on are priority pass lounges usually crowded” please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you! Read Also: Airwander: Should You Try This Platform For Booking Your Travel? Condor Airlines: Is Booking Tickets On Condor Worth It? Is Skyscanner Legit? 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BY Subham SahaMay 23, 2023

The world heritage site of Machu Picchu, which is the main highlight of the Andean region, is a must-see attraction for tourists who come to South America. This Inca site has been closed for a while because of certain social and political situations. This has been done so to protect the safety of the local and international tourists. Keep reading till the end to find out more information on is Machu Picchu closing! The Official Statement Of Machu Picchu Image Source The Cusco Ministry of Culture agency and headquarters of the historical sanctuary of Machu Picchu is also in coordination with the Protected National Areas agency. They announced that the current situation in their region and country had experienced led to the site closing down. They closed down the Inca sanctuary of Machu Picchu and the Inca Road Network. This was ordered on January 21st, 2023, and untill further notice, to safeguard the general population's and tourists' safety. Similarly, it was also informed that all the facilities would be provided to the foreign and national tourists affected by Machu Picchu closing. This was effective from January 21st, 2023, and remained until one month after the social mobilizations or after the request to return the amount ticket. Temporary Closing Of Inca Trail Image Source Is Machu Picchu closing? Well, Machu Picchu got closed down on January 21st, 2023, because of the actions of the protestors. They were earlier also affected by an especially slow and low tourism season. The roads were blocked, and the supply chains were cut off. According to various Machu Picchu news, here were protests, and due to that, the Ministry of Culture and the Headquarters of the Historic Sanctuary (of Machu Picchu) shut the place down. The whole of it was shut down - including the ancient city of Inca, the Inca trail. The whole of tourism went to sleep while the country tried to work out its problems. Visiting Machu Picchu Post Protest Image Source One thing to understand is that no one can guarantee that there won't be any interruptions on your visit to Peru. Whether you plan it this or in the next year! The month of February is when travel remains the most low. This is also the time when the Inca trail closes down for prevention work and maintenance. The month of March, on the other hand, is when the tourists start re-opening for their new travel season. It is also considered to be one of the best places to travel to in September. Due to Machu Picchu and Peru's busy tourist season in the month of March, travelers should always book in advance. There are timed entry tickets to this site. For the year 2023, tourists are limited to 4,500 per day. Hence, one needs to make advance purchases if one wants to visit this gorgeous attraction. Tip: Is Machu Picchu open? Well, it is certainly open now and has been since the month of March. Things To Remember Before Visiting Here are a few things to remember before visiting Machu Picchu: 1. Select The Best Train Option When you are heading towards the Aguas Calientes, you can choose from three trains - Vistadome, Expedition, and the Belmond  Hiram Bingham train. The Expedition train is the standard train that brings one to Machu Picchu and is known to be equipped with panoramic windows. The Expedition train is a standard type of train that features half-panoramic windows. The Vistadome train is a more refined version and is known to be equipped with large panoramic windows so you can enjoy the scenic landscapes. The Bingham train is the most luxurious and has facilities like brunch and lunch. They also have an open-air roof in their wagon. 2. Use Restrooms Before You Enter One thing to know before visiting Machu Picchu is that there are actually no restrooms inside. This is why you should use the restrooms before entering the premises of Machu Picchu. After you have passed the entrance of the premises, you can no longer leave the premises and then re-enter. 3. There’s A Fixed Route When on the guided route of the ruins of Machu Picchu, you will, by default, have to follow a fixed route. Which means that you can only walk in a single direction. It is certainly not possible to go back and visit one of the previously-visited spots. This regulation was actually introduced to bring more order to the Machu Picchu tours. 4. Remember To Carry The Correct Equipment If you visit Machu Picchu, you need to make sure that you consider your backpack - it should be of regular size. There are certain measurements of backpacks up to which a backpack is allowed entry into the premises of Machu Picchu. Keep reading till the end to find out about is Machu Picchu closing! Exciting Facts About Machu Picchu Here is a list of some of the exciting facts about Machu Picchu: Most of the cities built by the Inca civilization were also destroyed during the event of the Spanish conquest. Machu Picchu is one such attraction that was in a hidden location. It was not found by the Spanish explorers at that time. This makes it one of the most best conserved Inca cities and a true archaeological gem. Machu Picchu was originally an astronomical observatory. It has a sacred Intihuatana stone known to indicate the two equinoxes accurately. A total of twice a year - the sun hits the rock directly and casts no shadow. Machu Picchu was only known in a local manner untill the professor of Yale - Hiram Bingham again discovered the site in year 1911. His book "The Lost City Of Incas" was actually based on his findings. Situated more than 7000 ft. above sea level in the Andes. The wonder is known as Peru's most visited tourist destination. It also symbolizes the Incan Empire that was actually built around 1450 AD. The site was actually designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It was also named one of the Modern 7 Wonders of The World in 2007. To Wrap It Up! That was all for information regarding is Machu Picchu closing and related information. Thank you for reading up till here. I hope you found the information useful. Let me know in the comments your thoughts on the same. Read Also: A Guide Of Top 6 National Parks In Wyoming A Guide To National Parks In Georgia – Latest Guide Top 5 Best Camping Spots In The United States

BY RashmiOct 22, 2021

It's a blessing to find someone in life who would love you unconditionally. Promise to stay in better or worse, in sickness or in health, and never leave your side till death do you apart.  Being in a relationship can be a bumpy ride sometimes, but instead of leaving it alone, you should come forward to make it right. From both ends, it is your love that will keep you together.  Doing everything together is a way of making the bond between you and your partner stronger. If you are going through some changes I suggest you take a step forward and go outdoors to do something adventurous together.  While doing things that you haven't for a long time will make you realize the things you love most about each other.  So without any further ado, let's find adventurous date ideas, and places that can give you love birds a fresh start. 1. Starry Night Pack your bags and get ready to leave the city behind for an adventurous date. The city sky is too dull and the car honking will not let you feel calm. Drive a few miles out of town, pick a place that has nobody in it. Spread a blanket on the ground and lie down together, light some candles beside you. Now enjoy the beautiful clear sky with stars sparkling everywhere. Find out the constellations. Talk about each other. Have an adventurous date. Don’t forget to say ‘I love you. 2. You Found Me Get your head out of your busy schedule, plan a vacation with your lovey-dovey partner. Once you reach your destination, split up and try to find each other. This is going to be best for an adventurous date. Does the question arise who will find each other? Well, you know-how, look for the shops your partner may be in or any activities that your mate could probably be doing.  Think, common on. When you will finally find your partner, hug tight and utter the three magical words ‘I love you 3. Sippin Wine  If you guys are in any mountain region, then don’t just let the opportunity slip through your hand.  Find a spot in the mountains and hike up there. Open a bottle of wine and get ready to be up all night.  Talk about your future with each other, tell the funniest things about each other. Laugh carelessly and loudly.  Come back home in the morning, get fresh, and be in bed saying ‘I love you to each other.  4. Thrill Junkies  If you are one of those couples who love taking risks in life then don’t think about the consequences just go and do something thrilling.  Do bungee jumping or skydiving or scuba diving or anything that will bring excitement into your eyes. Let the adventurous date begin. Let your other half surprise you with the same energy you once saw and immediately fall in love.  So, ask the bungee jumping guide to tie you both together, and while you take the leap of love whisper ‘I love you. 5. Try The Non-Traditional Way To make a normal traditional holiday a better one in a non-traditional way, do something unique on that day, so it becomes unforgettable. Ideas vary from person to person, this idea should be absolutely the person who is reading this. Make sure you spend your holiday with fun and laughter. At the end of the day leave a note or a text saying ‘ I love you. 6. Sunrise and Pancakes  Drive somewhere away from home at night, with a plan of seeing the sunrise from your favourite spot.  Both night and the morning will be in your favour as you will have a late-night long drive as well as look at the sunrise from above the horizon. Close your eyes for a bit and hear the birds chirping, letting you know that the sun is about to rise. This is going to be the satisfying adventurous date ever.  Start having a quick morning breakfast cum picnic with your pumpkin. Take out the finger-licking good pancakes with maple syrup that is about to be poured on top. Start your day with ‘I love you. 7. Take Time  Get out of town, be at your destination as fast as you can.  Take the fastest transport if possible.  Once you get there, enjoy being with each other all the time.  Lay down in bed as much as you can, go out if that's what you want.  But the way back home has to be slow, really slow. Choose the slowest transportation available.  Turn the several-hour flight into a several-day road trip. Stop at random spots and cherish their beauty.  Have the most of the time for each other. While driving the car, take a moment to look at your loved one and express your love with ‘I love you. 8. Surprise Surprise If it's your partner's birthday coming up next week, then go hurry up, you have lots to do.  Surprise your soulmate with a surprise trip. Hide everything, before the birthday arrives.  Plan the place and travel route, the activities, and the art museums that you both want to perform and visit.  Make the birthday special for your loved one. Make your partner feel that this is the best birthday ever!. Bake a cake with an ‘I love you’ tag on it.  9. Pick A Place Obviously, wherever you go, you will have to pick a place for it. But this time you have to pick it randomly, to make your adventurous date successful.  Paste the country map on the wall, use a dart to throw at it.  The dart will choose the place for you. A place never heard of can turn out to be very interesting. Visit the place and enjoy the food.  If there is anything that is famous, surely try it. Don’t sit idle and behave like you are new to this place. Pretend like you know way too much. Take long walks nearby and often utter ‘I love you to each other. 10. Adopt A Four-Legged Furry Friend Everybody needs someone in their life especially helping in calling a truce after a fight between lovers. Visit a shelter near your location or maybe a bit far, doesn't matter. Get a mutual friend who will never be mad at you. Rather will help out when one of you will be not here to support the other mentally. You will officially become MOM and DAD.  What could be more beautiful than that?.  You guys even decide on a perfect name for your angel. Together, say ‘I love you to him.  11. Hike Your Problems Away Whenever in doubt or too much stress to handle, go out on a hike, trust me it helps miraculously. Break free from your ego and after a fight offer your partner a hike. The time you will spend walking and talking will be the most productive of all.  Sort out your problems, family problems, financial problems.  Just talk because communication is the key. All problems vanish away once you share views.  Hiking is the best thing to do.  As no one will disturb your conversations and once all done end your conversation with an ‘I love you in the end. 12. Say Yes To Matching Tattoos If it's the first time both of you are about to have a tattoo, make sure they complement each other. It is not necessary that you get the same tattoo but very much important to understand that the other part of the tattoo is with your loved one.  Experience the pain together, then laugh about it later while sipping coffee at a cafe. Whenever you are alone and miss your other half, you know what to do.  Yes, look at the tattoo and show your love by saying ‘I love you. 13. Karaoke Night Your partner knows how bad you are at singing, but still laughing at your own flaws is always appreciated.  The person who loves you the most will never make you feel alone. So drive to a bar and sing karaoke with each other. Swap the lyrics among each other.  Sing your heart out, make the most of the night. Have dinner nearby and appreciate for being so open to each other by using the words you have trying to say ‘I love you 14. Ride Or Die Learn from your partner to ride a motorcycle. Whoever in the relationship knows about bikes will teach the other.  Just imagine both of you can ride bikes, then you can also imagine that you don’t anymore have any transport issue.  Whenever you feel like going out together, just get the engine running. Say yes to the adventurous date. Don't forget to say ‘I love you’ before and after the ride. It shows you were connected even though riding individually.  15. Mystery Dining Pick a detective movie of both of your choice. Bad if none of you likes mystery movies. Don’t watch the whole movie. Leave it from the interval. Now, book a  reservation. While you eat your favourite cuisine, bring up the movie plot, try to crack who could be the murderer.  Challenge each other's detective skills.  Come back home, sit with some beer and finish the movie. I know one of you has to win, whoever it is, say ‘this is why I love you.  Conclusion  Spending time with your loved ones is just way beyond describing, as there are no words. To maintain the bond as well as grow it stronger you will have to be always close to each other. Surprising each other keeps the spark alive in a relationship. People tend to be more attracted to things they have never seen before. A relationship is as pure as an innocent’s mind. Pouring love and protecting it is our duty. Therefore these 15 adventurous places that can be visited with your loved ones are absolutely expert suggestions.  Leave a comment below and share your experience with us. Love deep, love often. Read More: Top 5 Romantic European City Breaks What Is The Best Time To Visit Morocco? Make Your Honeymoon a Truly Memorable Af Traveling Taught Me To Love Myself & Look At Life, Differently fair: Here's How