Travel Guide

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(CNN) — There isn’t a big market for travel accessories right now, but a new concept by product designer Danielle Baskin seems perfectly suited to this time of refuge and reflection. She’s created “stained glass” films that fit onto airplane windows, transforming the cabin interior into something altogether more spiritual. “At the time I thought of stained glass airplane windows, coronavirus was just beginning to spread globally and many flights were still in operation,” she tells CNN Travel.”I thought this object would be a way to transform your plane into a place of prayer if you’re afraid of getting sick.” Colorful ray of inspirationIt’s made from a flexible film that clings onto glass, so you can bring it rolled up in your carry-on, slap it on your window, and keep it fresh between uses with soap, water or disinfectant. It comes in five window sizes: Airbus A330, A350, Boeing 707-767, 777X and 787. “People who have ordered them said they’ll keep them on their home windows to remind them of future travel plans,” says Baskin. The A330 — at $25 and 9 inches by 23 inches, the smallest and cheapest of the window sizes — is already sold out. “It might take a while, but the next time humans fly again without worrying about getting sick will feel magical,” Baskin adds. Buy now, pray later. Danielle BaskinQuarantineChatIn the meantime, Baskin has other projects to raise the spirit in these troubled times. On March 1, she and her collaborator Max Hawkins launched QuarantineChat, a free app that randomly connects users with other housebound people around the world. While we’re familiar with the format from the Chatroulette craze of a decade ago, it’s an idea that’s really come into its own now that a third of the world’s population are living under coronavirus-related restrictions.”I’ve been matched with people all over the world — Berlin, Hiroshima, Dubai, Dijon, Madrid — and each call feels like I’m transported as I learn details about what they’re experiencing,” says Baskin. One of our prompts is “describe what’s outside your window” and hearing someone tell you what they see paints a vivid picture.”At a time of isolation, it’s a way to still connect with new people. “There’s a few people I’ve matched with who I’d totally visit if I was in their city,” she says.Most of us are finding that our WhatsApp groups are abuzz now that everyone is bored at home, while Zoom has risen to become the hottest video messaging system of the pandemic. One of Baskin’s other projects is the Virtual Background Awards, to reward innovation in this ears of virtual communications. Says Baskin, “I’m making projects like this because I hope that people find joy, humor, creativity, and new friendships even during these turbulent times.”

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(CNN) — The modern, luxury apartments in Switzerland don’t have a mini-bar — they have a big bar. They also have everything a social distancing guest could need: private gym, sauna, spa, kitchen, option for grocery delivery and very little human interaction.Le Bijou, a high-end Swiss hospitality company with 42 units in nine locations throughout Switzerland, recently launched a new package for guests in response to the coronavirus outbreak and the country’s lockdown.But while an added bonus for concerned guests — both locals who’ve quarantined themselves in one of the apartments and international visitors who find themselves stuck in a country with severely diminished hospitality facilities — the Covid-19 services on offer is just one of many perks of a stay at Le Bijou.Le Bijou operates like a modern luxury apartment with hotel amenities per the guest’s desire.Courtesy Le BijouGuests looking to heed social distancing guidelines and “stay home” can do so in the lap of luxury at the Swiss hotel-like apartment.Alexander Hübner, CEO and co-founder of Le Bijou, says they’ve always operated with a modern approach “using a lot of technology to reduce staff costs as much as possible,” something he says has proven even more beneficial to them at this moment in time.”[You] don’t need to interact with anyone you don’t want to,” Hübner adds, noting that while daily cleaning services come with the nightly price, it’s an option more and more guests are opting out of. Instead, with their grocery lists, procured by staff, they are also requesting cleaning supplies so they can maintain the temporary home themselves.In Switzerland, Le Bijou offers luxury apartment-like accommodations, which rely on modern technology for most of its operations.Courtesy Le BijouAnd temporary home is perhaps the best way to describe the current stays, which range from about 14 days to two months, says Hübner. Before coronavirus, the average stay was two or three nights.Hübner says when news of Covid-19’s presence in Europe was first realized, Le Bijou began providing additional options and services to guests. He and his team were paying attention to the coronavirus’ spread in China and Europe, but Hübner admits people were generally relaxed until it hit Italy. That’s when they doubled down and devised a service providing “something people actually need right now.”Enter Covid-19 services, a fully customizable stay with on-site coronavirus testing for symptomatic individuals and nurse care. Partnering with Double Check, an exclusive private health clinic in Switzerland, Le Bijou does not have an endless supply of tests, just enough for people demonstrating symptoms, according to Hübner. It’s unclear just how many tests they have or how long Le Bijou could run the Covid-19 package.Apartments have private gym areas, saunas and spas — allowing quarantined guests to sweat it out in private.Courtesy Le BijouBut for people stuck in Switzerland with funds to cover an extended luxury stay, it may be an attractive option.A medium-size apartment (100 square meters), like a “hotel suite,” says Hübner, would typically cost about $1,000 per night, but rates have dropped as travel has all but come to a screeching halt, and now, one of the medium-sized units can be had for $500-600 a night. The coronavirus test is an additional $500, which includes lab costs, related administration, the in-room doctor visit and results. Most of Switzerland’s five-star properties have closed their doors, but at Le Bijou, there’s luxury accommodation and health screening for the handful who can afford it. People who test positive, however, would likely be transferred to a hospital for care in a proper medical facility.

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(CNN) — Among global efforts to offer some light relief to the current crisis, bakers and chefs have been producing coronavirus-related dishes that are hopefully a lot tastier than the epidemic which has inspired them. In Hanoi, Vietnam, a chef at Pizza Home has created a coronavirus-themed burger.Hoang Tung says he dreamed up the burgers, which feature green-tea stained buns with tiny “crowns” designed to look like microscopic images of the virus, to take the fear out of the infectious disease.”We have this joke that if you are scared of something, you should eat it,” Tung told Reuters.’Corona burger’Chef Hoang Tung says he devised this coronavirus-shaped burger to try to take the fear away from the virus.Manan Vatsyayana/AFP via Getty Images”That’s why the coronavirus isn’t scary any more after you eat a burger in the shape of the virus itself. That way of thinking spreads joy to others during this pandemic.”According to Reuters, the takeaway shop is currently selling around 50 of the burgers every day, which is particularly impressive considering the number of businesses that have been forced to close down as a result of the pandemic.In France, pastry chef and chocolatier Jean-François Pré opted to create coronavirus Easter eggs.The chocolate eggs, which have been painted black, are dotted with red painted almonds to replicate how the virus looks while viewed under a microscope.Pré told French language newspaper Le Telegramme he devised the eggs to bring some humor to the situation after growing “tired of hearing” about coronavirus.He began selling them at his shop in Landivisiau, which is located in Brittany, northwestern France, earlier this month, a few weeks before France went into lockdown.Toilet humor These toilet roll cakes from Schuerener Backparadies are going down well with customers. Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty ImagesMeanwhile in western Germany, the Schuerener Backparadies bakery has added two different coronavirus-themed creations to its selection.Not only can customers buy biscuit versions of the face mask emoji, the establishment, owned by Tim Kortuem, is also offering toilet roll shaped cakes.A nod to the well-documented toilet paper shortage that’s occurred across the world as consumers frantically buy up huge quantities, the marble cakes are wrapped in white fondant etched with tiny diamond shapes in the style of quilted toilet roll.The novel cakes were an instant hit with customers, and the team at the bakery, situated in the city of Dortmund in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia region, are currently making at least 200 a day.In fact, Kortuem told Reuters Television the toilet roll cakes are helping to keep the Schuerener Backparadies in business during these difficult times.”The customers are totally crazy about it,” he says. “Most people just like it as it adds some fun to these times.”Like France, and many countries around the world, Germany has imposed extensive restrictions and many non-essential businesses have been forced to close.However, restaurants and eateries that offer food delivery and pick-up are allowed to remain open.Fauci factorDr. Anthony Fauci doughnuts are now being sold at Donuts Delite in New York.Nick Semeraro/Donuts DeliteOver in the US, a New York doughnut shop has dedicated its latest offering to infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of President Donald Trump’s coronavirus task force who’s won the public over with his straight-talking approach.The team at Donuts Delite in Rochester decided to make Fauci the “face” of one of its doughnuts as a way of lifting the mood.The team were impressed by Dr. Fauci’s handling of the situation so far. “We loved his message and how thorough he was, and how he kept everyone informed during the crisis … so we wanted to give back and say thanks.”According to Semeraro, the shop has sold thousands of the buttercream-frosted doughnut, which features Fauci’s face printed on edible paper, with customers asking for the treat to be sent to various cities and states.”We had no idea it was going to blow up this big,” he said. “We didn’t know everyone else felt the same way we did.”There’s no word on a coronavirus-themed pizza yet, but we suspect it won’t be far off.

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(CNN) — As the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect people all over the globe, Airbnb has stepped up with a plan to offer free or subsidized housing to people working on the disease’s front lines, namely health care professionals, emergency workers and relief personnel. “Medical workers and first responders are providing lifesaving support during the coronavirus outbreak and we want to help,” Airbnb cofounder Joe Gebbia said in a statement. “We’ve heard from countless hosts around the world who want to provide a comforting home to heroic first responders. We are connecting our nonprofit partners, government agencies and others with our incredible host community to work together in these extraordinary times.”Homes and apartments made available through this program will need to meet a standard of cleanliness determined by Airbnb-selected medical experts.The company’s goal is to house 100,000 of these workers around the world. Both emergency workers who are looking for accommodations and hosts who would like to make their properties available can visit an Airbnb portal designed specifically for that purpose.A version of this initiative began last week in France, where the government and Airbnb worked together to find 4,000 hosts willing to let medical personnel like doctors, nurses and caregivers stay in their accommodations for free.This doesn’t mean that every single listing on Airbnb will immediately be up for grabs, though. It will still be up to individual hosts to decide if they want to donate the use of their accommodation. “Hosts can opt into the program and have the option of opening their homes for free through Airbnb’s Open Homes platform, created in 2012 to meet the needs of people requiring emergency housing,” the company explains, adding: “If hosts are not able to host for free, Airbnb will still waive all fees on the stay.”This move came in light of the fact that many travelers were trying to get home or otherwise change their plans as coronavirus spread throughout the world and many countries and municipalities introduced travel bans or quarantines. Other hospitality companies are also trying to do their part to support people affected by coronavirus.Many medical workers have opted to isolate from their own families and loved ones due to their heightened risk of exposure to the coronavirus. Others have sought places to stay that are closer to their workplaces, eliminating the need to commute.

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(CNN) — Though mainly associated with Japan, cherry blossom season is a widely anticipated event in cities around the world, a sign that spring has arrived, an opportunity for people to get out and enjoy nature’s unrivaled beauty. Right now, no city is more deserving of that message of hope and renewal than Wuhan, which has been under lockdown since January 24 due to the coronavirus outbreak. Wuhan’s cherry blossom trees are in full bloom right now. One of the best places to enjoy them is Wuhan University, which is normally filled with cherry blossom admirers. This season, however, has been anything but normal. It’s nearly empty due to the ongoing lockdown, creating scenes of ethereal beauty. Li Hao, a teacher living on the campus during the lockdown, captured stunning drone footage of the light pink blossoms, which can be viewed in the above video. “I believe that any disaster or challenge will eventually come to an end,” Li tells CNN. A staff member takes photos of cherry blossoms at Wuhan University on March 17, 2020.STR/AFP/AFP via Getty Images”Just like these cherry flowers, sooner or later, they will always blossom. That’s what I believe, as long as we don’t give up our pursuit of a beautiful life, as long as we continue our effort to make it happen.” According to Chinese state media, over 1,000 cherry trees are scattered across the university campus. Some of the oldest were gifted to the city by Japan in the 1970s, when China and Japan established diplomatic relations.Lockdown due to lift April 8Wuhan, with a population of some 11 million people, was the first Chinese city to be sealed off from the world as the virus began to spread. All flights, trains and buses were canceled and highway entrances blocked. Two months later, the worst of the pandemic appears to have passed in mainland China and officials have announced they will lift the lockdown on April 8. In the meantime, locals can take in the blossoms online. The university has set up numerous cameras around the campus, offering various views of the cherry blossoms in bloom on several Chinese apps including Taobao and WeChat.

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(CNN) — Hundreds of trekkers are stranded on high-altitude trekking trails across Nepal due to a nationwide lockdown designed to contain the coronavirus spread.There are about 500 foreign trekkers on at least four trekking routes unable to return due to the lockdown, which started Tuesday and will last for a week, according to Shradha Shrestha, a spokeswoman for the Nepal Tourism Board.”We are working with multiple government agencies to rescue the trekkers and bring them to Kathmandu, so that we can coordinate with the embassies to fly them back home,” Shrestha told CNN.”Several embassies such as the German and French are already planning to send chartered flights to some of these areas to rescue the trekkers,” Shrestha added.The tourism board has launched a website to make it easier for the stranded trekkers to reach out to authorities, said Shrestha.The British embassy in Kathmandu asked its citizens in Nepal who are looking to return to the UK to send their details to staff. “We’re working closely with carriers and authorities to try to find a solution, and will contact you ASAP,” tweeted the embassy.Nepal’s government announced earlier this month the spring climbing season for all the Himalayan peaks in the country, including the world’s highest Mount Everest, would be canceled due to coronavirus.Climbing permits for Mount Everest are canceled until the end of April, said Nepal’s Tourism Secretary Kedar Bahadur Adhikari.The decision came at the start of this year’s closely watched climbing season, which was already getting underway amid concerns around overcrowding on the Earth’s highest peak. Permits to climb Everest cost around $11,000.Breathing is hampered by the extreme altitudes on the mountain, so an outbreak of coronavirus — which often causes respiratory problems — could have been particularly devastating at an Everest camp.Nepal has three cases of coronavirus confirmed so far, according to the Nepal Health Ministry data.

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