MakeMyTrip Grows Despite Turbulence in India’s Airline Sector

MakeMyTrip Grows Despite Turbulence in India’s Airline Sector

A view inside the main MakeMyTrip offices in Gurgaon, India. On Tuesday the online travel agency group reported its latest earnings. MakeMyTrip



Skift Take: The past year has been a horror show for India's aviation sector. So MakeMyTrip deserves kudos for continuing to grow its air ticketing and overall sales despite the upheaval. But executives deserve criticism for the company's relentless unprofitability.

— Sean O'Neill

Read the Complete Story On Skift

http://travel.atspace.co.uk/makemytrip-grows-despite-turbulence-in-indias-airline-sector/

MakeMyTrip Grows Despite Turbulence in India’s Airline Sector

MakeMyTrip Grows Despite Turbulence in India’s Airline Sector

A view inside the main MakeMyTrip offices in Gurgaon, India. On Tuesday the online travel agency group reported its latest earnings. MakeMyTrip



Skift Take: The past year has been a horror show for India's aviation sector. So MakeMyTrip deserves kudos for continuing to grow its air ticketing and overall sales despite the upheaval. But executives deserve criticism for the company's relentless unprofitability.

— Sean O'Neill

Read the Complete Story On Skift

http://travel.atspace.co.uk/makemytrip-grows-despite-turbulence-in-indias-airline-sector/

US-Mexico border wall seesaw

US-Mexico border wall seesaw

With all the political discourse surrounding the US-Mexico border, a whimsical giant seesaw might be the last thing you’d expect to find there. A new interactive art installation, however, has indeed been built at the border fence that separates Sunland Park, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juarez in Mexico. The project was designed by Ronald Rael, architecture professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and Virginia San Fratello, associate professor of design at San Jose State.


Rael said in an Instagram post, “The wall became a literal fulcrum for the US-Mexico relations, and adults were connected in meaningful ways on both sides with the recognition that the actions that take place on one side have a direct consequence on the other side.”






According to photos posted on Rael’s social media, the seesaw has already succeeded in bringing the two countries together, as both children and adults — from both countries — can be seen playing on the installation.


The idea for the project was first revealed in the book Border Wall as Architecture: a Manifesto for the US-Mexico Boundary. The book, edited by Rael, proposes that “the nearly 700 miles of wall is an opportunity for economic and social development along the border that encourages its conceptual and physical dismantling.”


On the actualisation of this long-envisioned project, Rael wrote, “[This is] one of the most incredible experiences of my and [San Fratello’s] career, bringing to life the conceptual drawings of the Teetertotter Wall from 2009 in an event filled with joy, excitement, and togetherness at the border wall.”


The installation comes on the heels of the announcement from the Supreme Court on July 27 that President Trump will be given $2.5 billion in Pentagon funds for a section of the wall on the southern border.



The post Seesaw installation on the US-Mexico border brings people from both sides together appeared first on Matador Network.


http://travel.atspace.co.uk/us-mexico-border-wall-seesaw/

Chili to be grown in outer space

Chili to be grown in outer space

Outer space isn’t exactly the most hospitable environment for botany, despite what the movie The Martian would have us believe, but this lucky New Mexico chili plant, selected by NASA, gets to be launched to the International Space Station in March 2020. The chili, from Española, New Mexico, will be part of NASA’s research on how to produce food outside the Earth’s atmosphere. Jacob Torres, an Española native and NASA researcher, said that the point of sending the chili plant into space is to prove that NASA’s Advanced Plant Habitat works for fruiting crops, as well as leafy greens. It would be the first fruiting plant grown by the US aboard the Space Station.


“If we do go on a deep space mission,” Torres said, “or we do go to the moon or a mission to Mars, we will have to figure out a way to supplement our diets. Understanding how to grow plants to supplement the astronaut’s diet would be essential to our mission to going to Mars. So that kind of fuels our research that we’re doing now.”


The plant itself is a hybrid of the northern New Mexico seed and the Sandia seed and was chosen because of its shorter growth cycle and ability to thrive in small confines.


According to Matthew W Romeyn, NASA’s lead scientist on the project, “As a bonus, the Española Improved is one of the few chili pepper cultivars from the Hatch Valley that is also regularly consumed red, so we can leave it to the crew to decide if they would like their chili peppers green or to wait for the fruit to fully ripen to red.”



The post New Mexican chili to be the first fruiting plant grown in outer space appeared first on Matador Network.


http://travel.atspace.co.uk/chili-to-be-grown-in-outer-space/

US-Mexico border wall seesaw

US-Mexico border wall seesaw

With all the political discourse surrounding the US-Mexico border, a whimsical giant seesaw might be the last thing you’d expect to find there. A new interactive art installation, however, has indeed been built at the border fence that separates Sunland Park, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juarez in Mexico. The project was designed by Ronald Rael, architecture professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and Virginia San Fratello, associate professor of design at San Jose State.


Rael said in an Instagram post, “The wall became a literal fulcrum for the US-Mexico relations, and adults were connected in meaningful ways on both sides with the recognition that the actions that take place on one side have a direct consequence on the other side.”






According to photos posted on Rael’s social media, the seesaw has already succeeded in bringing the two countries together, as both children and adults — from both countries — can be seen playing on the installation.


The idea for the project was first revealed in the book Border Wall as Architecture: a Manifesto for the US-Mexico Boundary. The book, edited by Rael, proposes that “the nearly 700 miles of wall is an opportunity for economic and social development along the border that encourages its conceptual and physical dismantling.”


On the actualisation of this long-envisioned project, Rael wrote, “[This is] one of the most incredible experiences of my and [San Fratello’s] career, bringing to life the conceptual drawings of the Teetertotter Wall from 2009 in an event filled with joy, excitement, and togetherness at the border wall.”


The installation comes on the heels of the announcement from the Supreme Court on July 27 that President Trump will be given $2.5 billion in Pentagon funds for a section of the wall on the southern border.



The post Seesaw installation on the US-Mexico border brings people from both sides together appeared first on Matador Network.


http://travel.atspace.co.uk/us-mexico-border-wall-seesaw/

Chili to be grown in outer space

Chili to be grown in outer space

Outer space isn’t exactly the most hospitable environment for botany, despite what the movie The Martian would have us believe, but this lucky New Mexico chili plant, selected by NASA, gets to be launched to the International Space Station in March 2020. The chili, from Española, New Mexico, will be part of NASA’s research on how to produce food outside the Earth’s atmosphere. Jacob Torres, an Española native and NASA researcher, said that the point of sending the chili plant into space is to prove that NASA’s Advanced Plant Habitat works for fruiting crops, as well as leafy greens. It would be the first fruiting plant grown by the US aboard the Space Station.


“If we do go on a deep space mission,” Torres said, “or we do go to the moon or a mission to Mars, we will have to figure out a way to supplement our diets. Understanding how to grow plants to supplement the astronaut’s diet would be essential to our mission to going to Mars. So that kind of fuels our research that we’re doing now.”


The plant itself is a hybrid of the northern New Mexico seed and the Sandia seed and was chosen because of its shorter growth cycle and ability to thrive in small confines.


According to Matthew W Romeyn, NASA’s lead scientist on the project, “As a bonus, the Española Improved is one of the few chili pepper cultivars from the Hatch Valley that is also regularly consumed red, so we can leave it to the crew to decide if they would like their chili peppers green or to wait for the fruit to fully ripen to red.”



The post New Mexican chili to be the first fruiting plant grown in outer space appeared first on Matador Network.


http://travel.atspace.co.uk/chili-to-be-grown-in-outer-space/

Luxury hotels with in-room gyms

Luxury hotels with in-room gyms

The gym was sucking me in, like a siren of spinning luring me from my hungover appointment with a Mimosa.


Waking up earlier than I’d wanted after a long night out in Chicago, my plan had been to continue the party with some Champagne leftover from the night before. But the in-room gym at the Swisshotel’s Vitality Suite had other ideas. As I walked by the 200-square-foot fitness center — which sat between my bedroom and the living room in this 1,700-square-foot behemoth of a suite — I almost heard the gym equipment talking to me.


“Hey there, party boy,” it teased. “You gonna let a little hangover keep you from getting your workout in? I mean we’re RIGHT HERE. And we’re read…”


I sighed.


“Ok,” I responded as you might to friends pressuring you to go out on a Friday night you really meant to spend in. “Let me put on some clothes.”


A gym that shames you into exercise


Photo: Swissotel


“Having a fitness center in your room will seduce you into working out,” says Diana Mestre, the Corporate Spa Consultant for Velas Resorts, who has in-room fitness centers in its luxury hotels throughout Mexico. She fully understood what happened to me at the Vitality Suite. “Otherwise you just get up and have breakfast, and that’s it.”


As wellness becomes an increasing focus of lifestyle both at home and away, hotels are competing to see who can keep people in the best shape while traveling. And in-room gyms seem to be the most effective way of doing that.


“When you travel, you’re off your routine. You’re out of whack,” says Armando Hernandez, the General Manager of the EVEN Hotel Miami Airport. “This helps you continue down the wellness path.”



EVEN Hotels, whose in-room fitness concept is also in New York, Seattle, Pittsburgh, and other top US destinations, has brought the in-room gym to the masses, offering small-to-midsized gyms in each of its rooms. Those include resistance bands, yoga mats, physio balls, and, in some cases, spin bikes with on-demand classes on the television.


The hotel’s not subtle about encouraging guests to work out either, with a massive mural reading, “Your dedication is our inspiration,” on the fitness center wall. It’s the first thing you see at check-in, sitting right behind the front desk. Inside the gym, fit-looking people who opted to exercise outside their rooms occupy about half of its high-tech equipment.


“Sometimes you need some inspiration,” says Hernandez, smiling at the mural. “Because this hotel has wellness and athletics and the opportunity to work out, it inspires you to want to work out, to want to continue to have a routine where you’re working out, eating healthy.”


A decades-old concept finally catches fire


Photo: Casa Velas


The idea of gyms in rooms isn’t radically new. The Kimpton Topaz in Washington DC has been offering in-room gyms since it opened in 2001, using them because they didn’t have room for a main gym in space-cramped Washington. Those included an elliptical, spinning bike, or recumbent bike, plus a yoga mat, blocks, and resistance bands.


Gyms have been in premium suites — like my room in Chicago — for years. And granted that room (which Swissotel graciously let me sample for the purposes of this story) is an over-the-top example and runs about $1,300 a night. But fitness suites have become an entire class of rooms, many only costing $30-50 a night more than standard ones.


That’s about the price of one class at SoulCycle.


The Loews Atlanta, for example, offers a Lifestyle Suite, which comes complete with Peloton bike. The Westin Los Angeles also has Pelotons in its Westin Workout suites, in addition to a special wellness pack with healthy treats and gym clothes you can borrow.


The in-room gym is spreading beyond the luxury sphere, into hotels far more accessible to regular people. Hilton recently launched its Five Feet to Fitness program in a handful of its usually staid locations, ranging from a DoubleTree at the Orlando Airport to the American Hotel in Downtown Atlanta. The program brings 11 different pieces of fitness equipment into rooms — think on-demand fitness videos, Wattbike spin cycles, and sand balls.


This signals a changing motivation in the traveling public, that even those who aren’t business travelers spending half their lives in hotels, or travel specifically for wellness, want exercise as part of their hotel experience.


“About 89 percent of travelers are not wellness travelers, so they’re not always immediately on board,” says Velas’ Mestre. “But wellness tourism is growing… faster than commercial tourism, and people are looking to improve health and wellbeing, but they don’t wanna be forced into a retreat-type program. This is allowing guests to try new things and work out in your room, and may change the course of your life. You can come back home and say that was wonderful, I’ll start my training routine.”


The point is, you don’t need to go to a fancy spa with mountain views and soothing music to get yourself onto a fitness path. Sometimes you just need motivation five feet from your hotel bed.


Back in the Vitality Suite, my friend who’d crashed in the living room after our long night out was shuffling past the gym, squinting away the early-morning Chicago sunshine.


“I don’t know what the hell is wrong with you,” he said, reaching in his jacket pocket for a cigarette. “There’s no way in hell you’d get me on an exercise bike right now.”


Still, curious about the gym, he put his coat down, wandered in, and started doing some stretches against the wall. Then he picked up a couple of weights, and did some short sets of curls and raises.


‘It sucks you in, doesn’t it?” I yelled from behind my headphones.


“Hmm,” he said, looking a little puzzled at the weight in his hand, as if he’d somehow gotten hypnotized into doing bicep curls. “Don’t ever think you’re getting me to do this again.”



The post How having a gym in your hotel room will make you work out, even when you don’t want to appeared first on Matador Network.


https://travel.atspace.co.uk/luxury-hotels-with-in-room-gyms/

Cheap things to do in Copenhagen

Cheap things to do in Copenhagen

Copenhagen is certainly not a place that comes to mind when you’re looking for an affordable vacation. Residents and travelers alike know the capital of Denmark is one of the world’s most expensive cities. I’ve even met San Francisco residents here complaining about the prices. So when I found out I’d be spending the summer in Copenhagen, my life savings flashed before my eyes.


Luckily, though, I’ve found that Copenhagen can be enjoyed for just about nothing — if you keep up an iron-clad will to avoid all the pastries. From walking the famous Nyhaven and swimming in the harbor to a peaceful afternoon in Assistens Cemetery, Copenhagen can offer a lot for those on a budget. Here are some of those great things to see and do.


Savor the bright colors of Nyhavn.


Photo: Olga Gavrilova/Shutterstock


A trip to Copenhagen cannot truly begin without a stop at Nyhavn. Brightly colored buildings, cafes, and restaurants line the canal area. Hans Christian Anderson, author of many famous fairy tales — among them The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling — lived here for a time. Once a home for wild sailor nights, Nyhavn is a great spot to admire wooden boats and people watch, and it’s a great introduction to old Copenhagen.


One of the best times to check it out is later in the evening when the crowds have died down, the lights have turned on, and the sun is setting. That’s in summer; in winter, you’ll have fewer tourists overall but also darkness by 4:00 PM. From Nyhavn, start a tour of the other areas along Copenhagen’s harbor.


Walk the harbor.


Photo: Todamo/Shutterstock


The harbor waters run the length of the city and beyond, creating a mass of interconnected public space that brings together many different city neighborhoods. The water’s edge is lined with shops, cafés, an exercise park, and even a set of trampolines. The waters themselves are filled with sailboats, tour boats, fishing boats, incredibly massive cruise ships, and the odd billionaire’s yacht.


The least expensive way to tour the waters will be simply to stroll the waterside lanes. While walking, it’s possible to soak in all the sites like the Black Diamond, the home of the Danish Royal Library. Other places to check out along the water are the Copenhagen Opera House, Christiansborg Palace, and the spiral tower of the Church of Our Savior. Make a stop at the world famous Little Mermaid, if you must. Another popular free activity in the summer: diving into its waters for a refreshing swim.


Jump in the harbor baths.


Photo: Todamo/Shutterstock


It’s a relatively recent development that the harbor waters became clean enough to swim in, but now that they are, it’s too good of an opportunity to miss. While many locals seem content to jump in from any point near a ladder, sometimes in the nude (brrrr), there are a few places, known as the harbor baths, that are officially designated as swimming areas.


Islands Brygee is one of the most popular of these “baths.” Groups of locals gather together here with their massive speakers, tanning, picnicking, and swimming. There are also many restaurants and spots to grab a drink nearby, but bring your own food for a more affordable meal. The actual bath itself is great both for kids, with its small shallow water sections, and for the braver swimmers who want to jump from heights, as diving platform provides three different levels.


Other less busy swimming spots can be found all along the harbor. Just bring a suit.


Green Kayaks


Photo: GreenKayak/Facebook


There are several ways to get on the water in Copenhagen, from tourist-packed boat tour to private charters and kayaks — but only one of them is free. The Green Kayak program is a great way to take to the waters in Copenhagen and give back at the same time. Green Kayak is a program that allows renters to take out a kayak for two hours, for free, all in exchange for the promise that while out on the water you pick up some trash along the way. It’s a popular activity, so make sure to reserve a time in advance. There are four locations in the city that host the kayaks, but one of them is a bit outside the city center, so for the chance to row around the small boat filled canals, start from the “Friendships” location.


See Copenhagen from above.


Photo: Bucchi Francesco/Shutterstock


Copenhagen is a beautiful city, and one of the best ways to see it is from above. Three towers provide great view points from which to gaze across the city. The highest of these points is the tower at Christiansborg, the home of Danish Parliament and former royal residence. The tower is free for a visit — although it’s closed for renovations until September 1, 2019.


A second great place for viewing the city is the Round Tower. The small charge to visit is only $0.75. Located right in the center of Copenhagen, just off the shopping streets of the Stroget, the round tower provides a 360-degree view of the city. To reach the top of the tower, visitors walk up a wide spiral path originally designed to allow horses pulling carts to bring astronomical equipment to the observatory at the top. The tower has a hollow core that, in one spot, you can step into to look down at the official center point of Denmark.


The final and most expensive option for a great view, at under $10 a person, is the unmistakable spiral tower at the top of the Church of Our Saviour in Christianshavn. Arrive early to beat the crowds and ascend the over-400 steps, both inside and out of the tower, as they spiral toward the pinnacle.


The tower was built in 1752 to house over 50 bells that were played for the residents of Christianshavn. Nowadays, this could be the best place to lookout over the city, but the climb can leave people weak in the knees as the steps towards the top become ever narrower,and the edge closer and closer.


Picnic in the King’s Garden.


Photo: lindasky76/Shutterstock


Warm sunny days may be a little rarer here, so when the sun does come out, Copenhageners flock to their many beautiful parks. One of the best surrounds Rosenborg Castle, built in 1606 and home to the crown jewels of Denmark. Entrance to the castle, however, is not free (it’s $17 per person), but you will not need to go inside to enjoy the garden. Join the locals here for a bit of sunbathing and picnicking. Public drinking is allowed here, so why not bring a bottle of wine as well — or bring a lawn game and some friends.


Visit Norrebro.


Photo: Kavun Halyna/Shutterstock


Norrebro is many things: the densest neighborhood in the city, the most diverse, and seemingly the hipster center of Copenhagen. This neighborhood will reward anyone willing to throw out the maps — that is, turn of their phones — and simply wander its streets.


Norrebro is just to the west of the city center, across “The Lakes.” Stop at Banana Park where a large rock-climbing wall serves as a grand entrance to the small space. Visit the park to watch the climbers in action, or take a look at some of the best graphite art in the city. The small street Jaegersborggade is a favorite for antique shops and other locally owned shops. Norrebro is also home to one of the most peaceful, and popular, places in the city to escape: Assistens Kirkegård. More on that below.


Tour a cemetery or two.


Photo: Oliver Foerstner/Shutterstock


Copenhagen is home to two deeply peaceful and beautiful cemeteries. While locals and tourists alike fill the cemetery grounds, they remain serene escapes in the city. The fact that they are fully functioning cemeteries, as well as popular spots for relaxation and contemplation, make them a truly unique experience.


Assistens Kirkegård, tucked into the bustling streets of Norrebro, is the final resting place of several world famous Danes — among them Hans Christian Andersen, philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, and Nobel prize winning physicist Niehls Bohr. Inside the walls you would never know you were seconds away from some of the most densely populated blocks in Europe. It’s an oasis of peace, filled with well-kept paths, trees, flowers, and chirping birds. Just outside the walls of the cemetery, the best chocolate croissant in the city can be found at Andersen & Maillard.


Vestre Kirkegård is another refuge in the city well worth a visit. The massive, extremely well manicured grounds easily give the botanical gardens a run for their money. In fact, for nature enthusiasts, this cemetery is the superior of the two. A visit to Vestre can be combined with a picnic in the spectacular Frederiksberg Gardens and a walk through the massive Carlsberg facilities.


Window shop the Stroget.


Photo: Oliver Foerstner/Shutterstock


Right in the center of the city is one of the first pedestrian shopping streets in the world. Packed with people during summer days, the Stroget is where to folks shop at some of Denmark’s major brands, as well as worldwide chains. Check out the fashion forward shoes at Arkk, the silver master works at Georg Jensen, the world-famous Royal Copenhagen Porcelain, and don’t miss the flagship Lego store. While you are here, stop at the DOP (Den Økologiske Pølsemand) hotdog stand by the Round Tower for a traditional Danish hot dog.


Day trip to Deer Park, Bakken, and Bellevue Beach.


Photo: BIGANDT.COM/Shutterstock


Just a few rail stops, or 20 minutes, outside the center of Copenhagen, it’s possible to get lost in an old royal hunting forest, take in the oldest amusement park in the world, and hit the beach all in one short trip.


Jægersborg Dyrehave was once a royal hunting ground for Danish nobility and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as the home to the oldest amusement park in the world, Bakken. The forest is often referred to as Deer Park as it boasts hundreds of deer roaming its grounds. At the center of it all is the Hermitage, a grand hunting lodge formerly used by the king.


The Hermitage has a view of much of the hunting grounds, hundreds of deer, and the Oresund Sound in the distance. Rent a bike just after getting off the rail, at the Klampenborg stop, and take a spin around the park. (Baisikeli has the best bike rental deals in Copenhagen, with budget bikes only costing $7.50 for six hours.) On the way out take a short walk through the Bakken Amusement park. (Tivoli will be a better choice for anyone wanting to hit the rides, though at a cost.)


Just a few minutes from the forest, Bellevue Beach has been a refuge for residents of Copenhagen since 1932. On a hot summer day, this is a great place to cool off in the water. The two blue-and-white-striped lifeguard towers were designed by the famous Danish architect Arne Jacobsen, though they are not in use these days.


Bike back into Copenhagen through Hellerup and take in some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Denmark, with ample opportunity for drooling over prime real estate and luxury cars.


Visit Dragor, a centuries-old fishing village.


Photo: ppl/Shutterstock


Just south of the airport is the small fishing village of Dragor. It’s possible to get here by taking a bus from just behind the famous Magasin Du Nord shopping center or an eight-mile bike ride. The village itself has been in its place for centuries and is now a quaint, beautiful fishing village filled with cozy lanes lined with thatched roof houses. Dragor’s harbor provides one of the best spots for viewing the Oresund Bridge as well as watching the many ships as they head out to the Baltic Sea. This is a great place to spend a morning or afternoon.


Bike the city.


Photo: William Perugini/Shutterstock


While walking is a great and easy way to see the city, to see Copenhagen like a local, a bicycle is a must. On a bike, almost anywhere in the city is within a 20-minute ride. The bike lanes are wide and often set apart from the rest of the traffic. At first, the bike traffic is likely to look intimidating, but it runs like a well-oiled machine that moves thousands of people through the city hourly. The one thing you will want to watch out for will actually be the other tourists who don’t often pay attention to the bike lane and are likely to pop out in front of you. Don’t be one of these people.


Just remember to get a refresher on hand signals and etiquette because nothing will upset a resident more than inappropriate use of the bike lane. There are shops to rent bicycles all around the city, but if you have a working data plan and a smart phone, Donkey Bikes, a bike-sharing program, is available all over the city and a great option — just download the app and get riding.


Eat inexpensively — and (kind of) splurge on New Nordic cuisine.


Photo: Høst/Facebook


Eating out in Copenhagen can easily break any budget in 10 seconds flat. A filter coffee can run $6 and a craft beer $10. That’s why most of the local skips the bars and take to the streets with a Carlsburg. With access to a kitchen, using the grocery stores will be the best bet. When the weather is nice, picnicking will always be a great option, and the city has so many great places to take a meal. The King’s Garden, Frederiksberg Gardens, or anywhere along the harbor are great options.


A few moderately priced sandwich and pizza shops are available throughout the city. Pizza Husset, a take-out place just off Kongens Nytrov, has some great small pizzas at a reasonable price. For a local treat, head to the market at Torvehallerne — a must see in itself — and pick up a Fisk Frikadeller, a type of fried fish ball reminiscent of a crab cake.


Of course, budgets are relative, and with the whole world going crazy for New Nordic cuisine, eating a meal like this could be an opportunity of a lifetime. However, Noma and its ilk will run you $1,000 or more for two. Høst, however, offers an amazing meal at, for its style, a slightly stomach-able price. It offers a three-course menu that usually comes with a few extras that will cost just above $100 for two people. It’s a once in a lifetime kind of meal.



The post The best free (and almost free) things to do in Copenhagen appeared first on Matador Network.


https://travel.atspace.co.uk/cheap-things-to-do-in-copenhagen/

Luxury hotels with in-room gyms

Luxury hotels with in-room gyms

The gym was sucking me in, like a siren of spinning luring me from my hungover appointment with a Mimosa.


Waking up earlier than I’d wanted after a long night out in Chicago, my plan had been to continue the party with some Champagne leftover from the night before. But the in-room gym at the Swisshotel’s Vitality Suite had other ideas. As I walked by the 200-square-foot fitness center — which sat between my bedroom and the living room in this 1,700-square-foot behemoth of a suite — I almost heard the gym equipment talking to me.


“Hey there, party boy,” it teased. “You gonna let a little hangover keep you from getting your workout in? I mean we’re RIGHT HERE. And we’re read…”


I sighed.


“Ok,” I responded as you might to friends pressuring you to go out on a Friday night you really meant to spend in. “Let me put on some clothes.”


A gym that shames you into exercise


Photo: Swissotel


“Having a fitness center in your room will seduce you into working out,” says Diana Mestre, the Corporate Spa Consultant for Velas Resorts, who has in-room fitness centers in its luxury hotels throughout Mexico. She fully understood what happened to me at the Vitality Suite. “Otherwise you just get up and have breakfast, and that’s it.”


As wellness becomes an increasing focus of lifestyle both at home and away, hotels are competing to see who can keep people in the best shape while traveling. And in-room gyms seem to be the most effective way of doing that.


“When you travel, you’re off your routine. You’re out of whack,” says Armando Hernandez, the General Manager of the EVEN Hotel Miami Airport. “This helps you continue down the wellness path.”



EVEN Hotels, whose in-room fitness concept is also in New York, Seattle, Pittsburgh, and other top US destinations, has brought the in-room gym to the masses, offering small-to-midsized gyms in each of its rooms. Those include resistance bands, yoga mats, physio balls, and, in some cases, spin bikes with on-demand classes on the television.


The hotel’s not subtle about encouraging guests to work out either, with a massive mural reading, “Your dedication is our inspiration,” on the fitness center wall. It’s the first thing you see at check-in, sitting right behind the front desk. Inside the gym, fit-looking people who opted to exercise outside their rooms occupy about half of its high-tech equipment.


“Sometimes you need some inspiration,” says Hernandez, smiling at the mural. “Because this hotel has wellness and athletics and the opportunity to work out, it inspires you to want to work out, to want to continue to have a routine where you’re working out, eating healthy.”


A decades-old concept finally catches fire


Photo: Casa Velas


The idea of gyms in rooms isn’t radically new. The Kimpton Topaz in Washington DC has been offering in-room gyms since it opened in 2001, using them because they didn’t have room for a main gym in space-cramped Washington. Those included an elliptical, spinning bike, or recumbent bike, plus a yoga mat, blocks, and resistance bands.


Gyms have been in premium suites — like my room in Chicago — for years. And granted that room (which Swissotel graciously let me sample for the purposes of this story) is an over-the-top example and runs about $1,300 a night. But fitness suites have become an entire class of rooms, many only costing $30-50 a night more than standard ones.


That’s about the price of one class at SoulCycle.


The Loews Atlanta, for example, offers a Lifestyle Suite, which comes complete with Peloton bike. The Westin Los Angeles also has Pelotons in its Westin Workout suites, in addition to a special wellness pack with healthy treats and gym clothes you can borrow.


The in-room gym is spreading beyond the luxury sphere, into hotels far more accessible to regular people. Hilton recently launched its Five Feet to Fitness program in a handful of its usually staid locations, ranging from a DoubleTree at the Orlando Airport to the American Hotel in Downtown Atlanta. The program brings 11 different pieces of fitness equipment into rooms — think on-demand fitness videos, Wattbike spin cycles, and sand balls.


This signals a changing motivation in the traveling public, that even those who aren’t business travelers spending half their lives in hotels, or travel specifically for wellness, want exercise as part of their hotel experience.


“About 89 percent of travelers are not wellness travelers, so they’re not always immediately on board,” says Velas’ Mestre. “But wellness tourism is growing… faster than commercial tourism, and people are looking to improve health and wellbeing, but they don’t wanna be forced into a retreat-type program. This is allowing guests to try new things and work out in your room, and may change the course of your life. You can come back home and say that was wonderful, I’ll start my training routine.”


The point is, you don’t need to go to a fancy spa with mountain views and soothing music to get yourself onto a fitness path. Sometimes you just need motivation five feet from your hotel bed.


Back in the Vitality Suite, my friend who’d crashed in the living room after our long night out was shuffling past the gym, squinting away the early-morning Chicago sunshine.


“I don’t know what the hell is wrong with you,” he said, reaching in his jacket pocket for a cigarette. “There’s no way in hell you’d get me on an exercise bike right now.”


Still, curious about the gym, he put his coat down, wandered in, and started doing some stretches against the wall. Then he picked up a couple of weights, and did some short sets of curls and raises.


‘It sucks you in, doesn’t it?” I yelled from behind my headphones.


“Hmm,” he said, looking a little puzzled at the weight in his hand, as if he’d somehow gotten hypnotized into doing bicep curls. “Don’t ever think you’re getting me to do this again.”



The post How having a gym in your hotel room will make you work out, even when you don’t want to appeared first on Matador Network.


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Cheap things to do in Copenhagen

Cheap things to do in Copenhagen

Copenhagen is certainly not a place that comes to mind when you’re looking for an affordable vacation. Residents and travelers alike know the capital of Denmark is one of the world’s most expensive cities. I’ve even met San Francisco residents here complaining about the prices. So when I found out I’d be spending the summer in Copenhagen, my life savings flashed before my eyes.


Luckily, though, I’ve found that Copenhagen can be enjoyed for just about nothing — if you keep up an iron-clad will to avoid all the pastries. From walking the famous Nyhaven and swimming in the harbor to a peaceful afternoon in Assistens Cemetery, Copenhagen can offer a lot for those on a budget. Here are some of those great things to see and do.


Savor the bright colors of Nyhavn.


Photo: Olga Gavrilova/Shutterstock


A trip to Copenhagen cannot truly begin without a stop at Nyhavn. Brightly colored buildings, cafes, and restaurants line the canal area. Hans Christian Anderson, author of many famous fairy tales — among them The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling — lived here for a time. Once a home for wild sailor nights, Nyhavn is a great spot to admire wooden boats and people watch, and it’s a great introduction to old Copenhagen.


One of the best times to check it out is later in the evening when the crowds have died down, the lights have turned on, and the sun is setting. That’s in summer; in winter, you’ll have fewer tourists overall but also darkness by 4:00 PM. From Nyhavn, start a tour of the other areas along Copenhagen’s harbor.


Walk the harbor.


Photo: Todamo/Shutterstock


The harbor waters run the length of the city and beyond, creating a mass of interconnected public space that brings together many different city neighborhoods. The water’s edge is lined with shops, cafés, an exercise park, and even a set of trampolines. The waters themselves are filled with sailboats, tour boats, fishing boats, incredibly massive cruise ships, and the odd billionaire’s yacht.


The least expensive way to tour the waters will be simply to stroll the waterside lanes. While walking, it’s possible to soak in all the sites like the Black Diamond, the home of the Danish Royal Library. Other places to check out along the water are the Copenhagen Opera House, Christiansborg Palace, and the spiral tower of the Church of Our Savior. Make a stop at the world famous Little Mermaid, if you must. Another popular free activity in the summer: diving into its waters for a refreshing swim.


Jump in the harbor baths.


Photo: Todamo/Shutterstock


It’s a relatively recent development that the harbor waters became clean enough to swim in, but now that they are, it’s too good of an opportunity to miss. While many locals seem content to jump in from any point near a ladder, sometimes in the nude (brrrr), there are a few places, known as the harbor baths, that are officially designated as swimming areas.


Islands Brygee is one of the most popular of these “baths.” Groups of locals gather together here with their massive speakers, tanning, picnicking, and swimming. There are also many restaurants and spots to grab a drink nearby, but bring your own food for a more affordable meal. The actual bath itself is great both for kids, with its small shallow water sections, and for the braver swimmers who want to jump from heights, as diving platform provides three different levels.


Other less busy swimming spots can be found all along the harbor. Just bring a suit.


Green Kayaks


Photo: GreenKayak/Facebook


There are several ways to get on the water in Copenhagen, from tourist-packed boat tour to private charters and kayaks — but only one of them is free. The Green Kayak program is a great way to take to the waters in Copenhagen and give back at the same time. Green Kayak is a program that allows renters to take out a kayak for two hours, for free, all in exchange for the promise that while out on the water you pick up some trash along the way. It’s a popular activity, so make sure to reserve a time in advance. There are four locations in the city that host the kayaks, but one of them is a bit outside the city center, so for the chance to row around the small boat filled canals, start from the “Friendships” location.


See Copenhagen from above.


Photo: Bucchi Francesco/Shutterstock


Copenhagen is a beautiful city, and one of the best ways to see it is from above. Three towers provide great view points from which to gaze across the city. The highest of these points is the tower at Christiansborg, the home of Danish Parliament and former royal residence. The tower is free for a visit — although it’s closed for renovations until September 1, 2019.


A second great place for viewing the city is the Round Tower. The small charge to visit is only $0.75. Located right in the center of Copenhagen, just off the shopping streets of the Stroget, the round tower provides a 360-degree view of the city. To reach the top of the tower, visitors walk up a wide spiral path originally designed to allow horses pulling carts to bring astronomical equipment to the observatory at the top. The tower has a hollow core that, in one spot, you can step into to look down at the official center point of Denmark.


The final and most expensive option for a great view, at under $10 a person, is the unmistakable spiral tower at the top of the Church of Our Saviour in Christianshavn. Arrive early to beat the crowds and ascend the over-400 steps, both inside and out of the tower, as they spiral toward the pinnacle.


The tower was built in 1752 to house over 50 bells that were played for the residents of Christianshavn. Nowadays, this could be the best place to lookout over the city, but the climb can leave people weak in the knees as the steps towards the top become ever narrower,and the edge closer and closer.


Picnic in the King’s Garden.


Photo: lindasky76/Shutterstock


Warm sunny days may be a little rarer here, so when the sun does come out, Copenhageners flock to their many beautiful parks. One of the best surrounds Rosenborg Castle, built in 1606 and home to the crown jewels of Denmark. Entrance to the castle, however, is not free (it’s $17 per person), but you will not need to go inside to enjoy the garden. Join the locals here for a bit of sunbathing and picnicking. Public drinking is allowed here, so why not bring a bottle of wine as well — or bring a lawn game and some friends.


Visit Norrebro.


Photo: Kavun Halyna/Shutterstock


Norrebro is many things: the densest neighborhood in the city, the most diverse, and seemingly the hipster center of Copenhagen. This neighborhood will reward anyone willing to throw out the maps — that is, turn of their phones — and simply wander its streets.


Norrebro is just to the west of the city center, across “The Lakes.” Stop at Banana Park where a large rock-climbing wall serves as a grand entrance to the small space. Visit the park to watch the climbers in action, or take a look at some of the best graphite art in the city. The small street Jaegersborggade is a favorite for antique shops and other locally owned shops. Norrebro is also home to one of the most peaceful, and popular, places in the city to escape: Assistens Kirkegård. More on that below.


Tour a cemetery or two.


Photo: Oliver Foerstner/Shutterstock


Copenhagen is home to two deeply peaceful and beautiful cemeteries. While locals and tourists alike fill the cemetery grounds, they remain serene escapes in the city. The fact that they are fully functioning cemeteries, as well as popular spots for relaxation and contemplation, make them a truly unique experience.


Assistens Kirkegård, tucked into the bustling streets of Norrebro, is the final resting place of several world famous Danes — among them Hans Christian Andersen, philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, and Nobel prize winning physicist Niehls Bohr. Inside the walls you would never know you were seconds away from some of the most densely populated blocks in Europe. It’s an oasis of peace, filled with well-kept paths, trees, flowers, and chirping birds. Just outside the walls of the cemetery, the best chocolate croissant in the city can be found at Andersen & Maillard.


Vestre Kirkegård is another refuge in the city well worth a visit. The massive, extremely well manicured grounds easily give the botanical gardens a run for their money. In fact, for nature enthusiasts, this cemetery is the superior of the two. A visit to Vestre can be combined with a picnic in the spectacular Frederiksberg Gardens and a walk through the massive Carlsberg facilities.


Window shop the Stroget.


Photo: Oliver Foerstner/Shutterstock


Right in the center of the city is one of the first pedestrian shopping streets in the world. Packed with people during summer days, the Stroget is where to folks shop at some of Denmark’s major brands, as well as worldwide chains. Check out the fashion forward shoes at Arkk, the silver master works at Georg Jensen, the world-famous Royal Copenhagen Porcelain, and don’t miss the flagship Lego store. While you are here, stop at the DOP (Den Økologiske Pølsemand) hotdog stand by the Round Tower for a traditional Danish hot dog.


Day trip to Deer Park, Bakken, and Bellevue Beach.


Photo: BIGANDT.COM/Shutterstock


Just a few rail stops, or 20 minutes, outside the center of Copenhagen, it’s possible to get lost in an old royal hunting forest, take in the oldest amusement park in the world, and hit the beach all in one short trip.


Jægersborg Dyrehave was once a royal hunting ground for Danish nobility and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as the home to the oldest amusement park in the world, Bakken. The forest is often referred to as Deer Park as it boasts hundreds of deer roaming its grounds. At the center of it all is the Hermitage, a grand hunting lodge formerly used by the king.


The Hermitage has a view of much of the hunting grounds, hundreds of deer, and the Oresund Sound in the distance. Rent a bike just after getting off the rail, at the Klampenborg stop, and take a spin around the park. (Baisikeli has the best bike rental deals in Copenhagen, with budget bikes only costing $7.50 for six hours.) On the way out take a short walk through the Bakken Amusement park. (Tivoli will be a better choice for anyone wanting to hit the rides, though at a cost.)


Just a few minutes from the forest, Bellevue Beach has been a refuge for residents of Copenhagen since 1932. On a hot summer day, this is a great place to cool off in the water. The two blue-and-white-striped lifeguard towers were designed by the famous Danish architect Arne Jacobsen, though they are not in use these days.


Bike back into Copenhagen through Hellerup and take in some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Denmark, with ample opportunity for drooling over prime real estate and luxury cars.


Visit Dragor, a centuries-old fishing village.


Photo: ppl/Shutterstock


Just south of the airport is the small fishing village of Dragor. It’s possible to get here by taking a bus from just behind the famous Magasin Du Nord shopping center or an eight-mile bike ride. The village itself has been in its place for centuries and is now a quaint, beautiful fishing village filled with cozy lanes lined with thatched roof houses. Dragor’s harbor provides one of the best spots for viewing the Oresund Bridge as well as watching the many ships as they head out to the Baltic Sea. This is a great place to spend a morning or afternoon.


Bike the city.


Photo: William Perugini/Shutterstock


While walking is a great and easy way to see the city, to see Copenhagen like a local, a bicycle is a must. On a bike, almost anywhere in the city is within a 20-minute ride. The bike lanes are wide and often set apart from the rest of the traffic. At first, the bike traffic is likely to look intimidating, but it runs like a well-oiled machine that moves thousands of people through the city hourly. The one thing you will want to watch out for will actually be the other tourists who don’t often pay attention to the bike lane and are likely to pop out in front of you. Don’t be one of these people.


Just remember to get a refresher on hand signals and etiquette because nothing will upset a resident more than inappropriate use of the bike lane. There are shops to rent bicycles all around the city, but if you have a working data plan and a smart phone, Donkey Bikes, a bike-sharing program, is available all over the city and a great option — just download the app and get riding.


Eat inexpensively — and (kind of) splurge on New Nordic cuisine.


Photo: Høst/Facebook


Eating out in Copenhagen can easily break any budget in 10 seconds flat. A filter coffee can run $6 and a craft beer $10. That’s why most of the local skips the bars and take to the streets with a Carlsburg. With access to a kitchen, using the grocery stores will be the best bet. When the weather is nice, picnicking will always be a great option, and the city has so many great places to take a meal. The King’s Garden, Frederiksberg Gardens, or anywhere along the harbor are great options.


A few moderately priced sandwich and pizza shops are available throughout the city. Pizza Husset, a take-out place just off Kongens Nytrov, has some great small pizzas at a reasonable price. For a local treat, head to the market at Torvehallerne — a must see in itself — and pick up a Fisk Frikadeller, a type of fried fish ball reminiscent of a crab cake.


Of course, budgets are relative, and with the whole world going crazy for New Nordic cuisine, eating a meal like this could be an opportunity of a lifetime. However, Noma and its ilk will run you $1,000 or more for two. Høst, however, offers an amazing meal at, for its style, a slightly stomach-able price. It offers a three-course menu that usually comes with a few extras that will cost just above $100 for two people. It’s a once in a lifetime kind of meal.



The post The best free (and almost free) things to do in Copenhagen appeared first on Matador Network.


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