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This week at CNN Travel, we look at the countries dropping all their Covid-related rules for entry, innovative airplane cabin designs, new breathtaking bridges and why Finland is living its best life.
A small but increasing number of destinations are lifting all of their Covid-related travel restrictions, regardless of vaccination status, including some European favorites.
The United Kingdom, Ireland and Hungary all swelled the ranks this month. The Caribbean island Aruba, the Portuguese archipelago Madeira and north-central Asia’s Mongolia have also lifted their main Covid entry requirements.
They join Iceland, Norway and Slovenia, which all shed their Covid rules in February.
After being closed for two years, Malaysia will reopen its borders to international visitors on April 1, and fully vaccinated travelers won’t have to quarantine. And on March 27, India will resume regular international commercial flights for the first time since the pandemic began.
This tiny Italian village wants to become an independent nation.
Several UK airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, have just made mask-wearing optional for passengers and crew on certain flights. The rules are more than a little opaque, however, and are dependent on the laws of the destination country.
Mask-wearing has been a contentious issue on planes over the past two years. The US Transportation Security Administration has issued more than $644,000 in fines for alleged mask violations since February 2021.
The US mask mandate is currently set to be in place through April 18. Whether it’s lifted or extended again, there are bound to be some unhappy (and potentially very unruly) passengers either way. And if some industry advocates get their way, a no-fly list for unruly travelers could help keep bad behavior in check.
Turkey opened an impressive suspension bridge across the Dardanelles Strait on Friday that just so happens to connect the continents of Europe and Asia. (Turkey is in a very rare club – nations that occupy parts of two continents.)
It was a massive, record-setting undertaking. Find out its jaw-dropping stats and how much it will cost vehicles to cross.
Meanwhile, China is setting its own record with bridges. In April, a bridge is set to open in scenic Yunnan province with a “singular” feature that has to be seen to be believed.
What’s Finland’s secret?
Irene Stachon/AP
Finland is the world's happiest country. The World Happiness Report puts Finland first in happiness. Here, northern lights illuminate the night sky in Finland's Lapland.
joyt/Adobe Stock
2. Denmark. At No. 2, Denmark also performs well on the measures the report uses to explain its rankings. Sailboats are docked at the promenade in the Nyhavn district of Copenhagen.
forcdan/Adobe Stock
3. Iceland. Iceland, with Kirkjufell pictured in the background, rates highly along with its Nordic neighbors in areas such as life expectancy, GDP per capita, social support, low corruption and high social trust, generosity and freedom.
Udo Bernhart/dpa/picture-alliance/AP
4. Switzerland. No. 4 Switzerland dropped one ranking from No. 3 in last year's report. This is the waterfront of the river Reuss in Luzern.
Sergey Borisov/Adobe Stock
5. Netherlands. Retaining its No. 5 spot from 2021, the Netherlands is known for canals such as this picturesque waterway in Amsterdam.
Dmitry Orlov/Adobe Stock
6. Luxembourg. A narrow medieval street is pictured in Luxembourg City. Luxembourg moved up from its No. 8 ranking in 2021.
JFL Photography/Adobe Stock
7. Sweden. The Nordic countries are regulars in the top 10. Here, the city center in Stockholm, the capital of No. 7 Sweden, is pictured.
AlehAlisevich/Adobe Stock
8. Norway. No. 8 Norway was sixth in last year's rankings. The scenic Geirangerfjord cliffs are shown here.
Roman/Adobe Stock
9. Israel. With the ancient port-city of Jaffa in Tel Aviv pictured, Israel is No. 9 in this year's rankings. It was No. 12 last year.
Norraset Sanee/Songkhla Studio/Adobe Stock
10. New Zealand. Lake Tekapo's famous lupins bloom on the South Island of New Zealand, the No. 10 country in the happiness rankings released in 2022.
The Nordic nation of Finland has just been named the world’s happiest country for the fifth year in a row.
The Finns have plenty to smile about, the newly released World Happiness Report says, when it comes to healthy life expectancy, GDP per capita, social support when times are hard, high social trust and more.
Global levels of worry and stress have also dipped a little, though they’re still higher than pre-pandemic levels. Check out who else made the top of the list.
Courtesy Lufthansa Technik AG, Diehl Aerospace GmbH
Innovative airplane concepts: The Crystal Cabin Awards 2022 shortlist spotlights exciting airplane seat design concepts, including the Explorer, designed by Lufthansa Technik in cooperation with Diehl Aerospace. This private jet design covers cabin ceiling and walls with projections, including underwater scenes.
Courtesy MMILLENNIUMM
Multi-tiered cabin: Also nominated is AirSleeper, a double-decker cabin concept from engineering design company MMILLENNIUMM.
Courtesy MMILLENNIUMM
Maximizing space: AirSleeper is designed to maximize the existing airplane cabin by creating two tiers of seating.
Courtesy Mmillenniumm Group
Long process: MMILLENNIUMM first premiered a version of this idea in 2010. "We are pleased that the future we predicted and pioneered a decade ago is starting to gain traction as these concepts gain public recognition," MMILLENNIUMM CEO Indi Rajasingham told CNN Travel.
Courtesy Virgin Atlantic, Factorydesign, AIM Altitude
The Booth: Also shortlisted is Virgin Atlantic's The Booth. This cabin concept is designed by the UK-based airline in cooperation with the Factorydesign agency, and produced by cabin interior company AIM Altitude for Virgin Atlantic's A350's Upper Class cabins.
Courtesy Virgin Atlantic, Factorydesign, AIM Altitude
Inflight lounging: The Booth is a lounge-style couch seat designed for two travelers.
Courtesy Collins Aerospace, Finnair, PriestmanGoode, Tangerine
Next generation cabin: Another concept that's endorsed by a major airline is Collins Aerospace's non-reclining business class seat Airlounge. Originally conceived by design agency PriestmanGoode the seat is being produced with Finnish airline Finnair and design company Tangerine.
Courtesy Teague, NORDAM
"Floating" cabin: Design consultancy Teague, in collaboration with aerospace manufacturer NORDAM, is nominated for the Elevate cabin design. Rather than being attached to the floor, Elevate's cabin furniture would be connected to the sidewall and aisle.
Courtesy Jiayi Yu, Reutingen University
New ideas: The Crystal Cabin Awards also has a category for university students. Reutlingen University student Jiayi Yu submitted a swiveling airplane seat design, called the Shift Cabin Interior.
Courtesy Pexco Aerospace, Teague
Safe cabins: The legacy of the pandemic is also reflected in the nominations. Pexco Aerospace, in cooperation with Teague, is nominated for its AirShield concept, which aims to enhance airplane air flow.
Window, middle, aisle; window, middle, aisle.
If you’re feeling that airplane cabins are just too same-y, the design shortlist for the 2022 Crystal Cabin Awards should make you perk up.
How about ceiling and wall projections that make you feel like you’re underwater? Or maybe a lounge-style couch seat where you can catch up with your travel companion over a drink? Check out the designs here.
Courtesy Gleneagles Townhouse
Gleneagles Townhouse, Scotland: One of the year's most highly-anticipated openings, Gleneagles Townhouse is a small offshoot of Scotland's legendary Gleneagles estate. It will launch in Edinburgh's New Town this spring.
Courtesy Xenodocheio Milos
Xenodocheio Milos, Greece: Renowned estiatorio Milos launched its first ever hotel, 43-room property Xenodocheio Milos, in Athens earlier this year.
Courtesy Passalacqua
Passalacqua, Italy: The hoteliers behind the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo are opening their second Lake Como property, Passalacqua, in the summer of 2022.
Courtesy The Pavilions
The First Roma Musica, Rome: This upcoming boutique hotel holds 24 rooms and is located along the banks of the Tiber River in Rome.
Courtesy Mandarin Oriental Mayfair
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, England: Mandarin Oriental is to open its second London Hotel, Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, in the summer of 2022.
Courtesy Como Le Montrachet
Como Le Montrachet, France: Upcoming luxury boutique hotel Como Le Montrachet, slated to open this year, is the COMO group's first hotel in France.
Courtesy ΟΝ Residence
ΟΝ Residence, Greece: Taking its name from from the first letters of the famous Olympos Naoussa restaurant, OΝ Residence is housed in a restored mansion designed by revered architect Jacques Mosse in 1926.
Courtesy Palazzo Rainis Hotel & Spa
Palazzo Rainis Hotel & Spa, Croatia: Made up of 16 rooms and suites, the newly-built Palazzo Rainis Hotel & Spa is located on the glittering Adriatic Sea in the Istrian town of Novigrad.
Courtesy Chateau Denmark
Chateau Denmark, England: Scheduled to open this spring, Chateau Denmark offers 55 rooms that are truly out of this world. Think psychedelic wallpaper and gothic bathrooms.
From the rock ‘n’ roll Chateau Denmark in London’s swinging Soho to the Greek temple of gastronomy Xenodocheio Milos in Athens, there are a lot of new boutique hotel openings in Europe to get excited about in 2022. Here’s our roundup of the best.
Climbers held the world’s highest tea party on Mount Everest.
Extra supplies hauled up the mountain included Girl Scout cookies.
Los Angeles’ Koreatown is one of the West Coast’s buzziest neighborhoods.
Revisit Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown” trip there in 2013.
These are the most delicious pies around the world, both sweet and savory.
Pastry perfection.
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