World’s Safest Airlines, New Jet Lag Cure, Alternative World Capitals And More

Forbes Travel Guide’s Star Award Winners for 2023

On Wednesday, Forbes Travel Guide revealed its 2023 Star Awards winners, a list of the world’s finest hotels, restaurants, spas and—new this year—ocean cruises. To compile the 65th annual awards, FTG’s incognito inspectors check into hotels and cruise ships, dine in the restaurants and experience spa services while posing as ordinary guests. This year’s list features 48 new Five-Star hotels, 64 new Four-Star properties and 45 new Recommended hotels, spanning from Athens to Tunisia.

The Safest Airlines for 2023

Of all the criteria used to rank airlines, none is more important than safety. AirlineRatings.com recently announced the 20 safest airlines for 2023 based on the number of crashes over the past five years, the age of the fleet, Covid protocols and several other factors. Once again, Australia’s Qantas was named the world’s safest airline, followed by Air New Zealand and Etihad. Alaska Airlines, at No. 8, was the highest-ranking U.S. carrier.

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The 20 Best Places in Europe to Visit

Now that Europe is fully reopened for travel, the question remains—where should you go? Each year, European Best Destination releases a list of the 20 top destinations in Europe based on travelers’ recommendations. The 2023 list features 400 cities in some 78 countries and ranked No. 1 this year is Warsaw, Poland, which received a record number of votes. Among the other top destinations this year are Athens, Vienna, Copenhagen and the Madeira Islands.

“Europe was created by history. America was created by philosophy.”

TravelWise

More than 90% of travelers say they struggle with jet lag, which often requires one day for every time zone crossed to recover. Now thanks to FlyKitt, a system developed by Fount CEO Andrew Herr—who was honored as a Mad Scientist by the U.S. Army (twice)—that number could be dramatically reduced. Based on Herr’s human performance work with the U.S. military, FlyKitt (which starts at $199) uses supplements, pre-dosed coffee mixes, light-blocking glasses, and other materials to combat jet lag. And according to Fount’s research, the product is 95% effective.

See The World’s Top Alternative Capital Cities

A country’s capital is generally the most impressive city, with the biggest airport and most tourist attractions. But not always. A recent study analyzed Google search data of 420 cities in 89 countries to reveal the world’s most popular “alternative” capitals. Among the results, Malaga is considered Spain’s alternative capital to Madrid, while Rio de Janiero is Brazil’s alternative capital. And in the United States, San Francisco won the hearts of travelers, upsetting New York and Los Angeles.

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