Delta’s Air Taxis, First Dog Restaurant, 8 Loyalty Promotions And More

Inside Richard Branson’s Outrageous New Caribbean Villa

Sir Richard Branson debuted Moskito Island—his 125-acre Caribbean paradise—in 2021 with several private estates available for rental. Now the billionaire founder of the Virgin Group has added an outrageous new Moskito Island villa to his portfolio. The Village Estate is 18,100 square feet with nine bedrooms (enough for 18 guests) and views of Virgin Gorda. But it’s the Branson-esque amenities that are the real draw here. For $19,000 a night, guests will have access to a multilevel infinity pool with a swim-up bar, a glass-bottom hot tub and a hidden DJ booth that rises from the patio.

Your Air Taxi Is (Almost) Here

The dream of flying to the airport—to make your flight—got a little closer this week. Delta Air Lines announced that it would invest up to $200 million into Joby, the California-based electric air taxi company. The investment commits the airline to an exclusive five-year partnership in the U.S. and U.K. with Joby, whose electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft—or eVTOLs—will operate as part of the Delta network. (United and American have similar deals with competing eVOTL manufacturers.) But don’t book a ride just yet—these air taxis are still a few years away.

Welcome to America’s First Luxury Dog Restaurant

Does your pet turn up his nose (or worse) at the table scraps he’s offered at home? Perhaps it’s time to take your four-legged family member out for a proper meal. Dogue, a fine dining restaurant for canine customers, recently opened in San Francisco, where dogs have long been rumored to outnumber children. Rahmi Massarweh, a chef trained in classic French cuisine, serves up nutritious meals, including a rose-shaped cake filled with wild venison heart, chicken-skin waffles and, yes, “dogguccinos.” On Sundays, you can really splurge and get a three-course $75 tasting menu, but your pet will be dining alone. There is no human food at Dogue.

TravelWise

In yet another sign that the world wants to put the pandemic in the rear-view mirror, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will no longer maintain a country-by-country list of Covid-related travel advisories. Beginning later this month, the CDC will only issue Covid travel warnings under these circumstances.

8 Can’t-Miss Loyalty Promotions for Fall

Fall loyalty program promotions offer extra nights and other perks to help travelers upgrade this year—or get ahead for 2023. Among the can’t-miss travel promotions this fall are bonus point offers at Marriott, Radisson and Hyatt and other hotel groups, including one reciprocal offer with Qatar Airways.