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It’s raining cats and dogs here in Los Angeles—not quite what I imagined when planning a few weeks out here in January. I also find myself in that situation many of you have no doubt experienced–an AirBnB that is fine but is so soulless and cheaply done it makes you feel like the sucker in a money-squeezing operation. Oh well.

Yesterday I woke up to the news that Noma, long considered the best restaurant in the world, will be closing its doors. Andrew Kirell went to Copenhagen a few months ago with the express purpose of checking out the spots opened by Noma alums, so it’s definitely something you should read today.

Our lead feature this week comes from Jody Ray in Ethiopia. Ray has spent significant time living with the Mursi, a tribe in Africa that is often mislabeled as dangerous. The tribe’s women wearing lip plates are images many of us would recognize from numerous travel features and magazines, but, as Ray reports, is often just theater for gullible Western tourists.

We’ve got some pretty cool features rounding out the newsletter this week. Keith Taillon visited Berkeley Springs in West Virginia, a spa town steeped in history and frequented by none other than George Washington. Brandon Withrow has our latest for It’s Still a Big World on Redding, California–an outdoor enthusiast’s heaven. And for Room Key, Loic Cardinal introduces us to a Paris hotel that, finally, is both chic and affordable.

— William O’Connor, Travel Editor

How This ‘Most Dangerous’ African Tribe Cleverly Fools Tourists

This secretive tribe in southern Ethiopia plays on tourists and their eagerness to be deceived.

The Spa Town Where Washington Went to Chill is Pretty Cute

The picturesque spa town of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, allows visitors to tap into a historic small-town life we so often are too busy to savor.

One of California’s Best Kept Secrets is an Outdoors Haven

Redding might be known for the horrific Carr Fire in 2018, but it is still a world of outdoors activities and escapes, while also snagging good food at the end of the day.

Finally, a Chic Paris Hotel That’s Actually Affordable

When it comes to visiting Paris, it’s incredibly difficult to find a decent hotel without breaking the bank. Enter this elegant hotel right near the Eiffel Tower.

“I was in the city to visit the Toronto Reference Library, a building I’d only seen in photos, but always thought was stunning. Behind the library, as I later learned, is the philosophy of its architect, Raymond Moriyama—whose perspective on design was forged when he was a child living in one of Canada’s Japanese internment camps.”

–for our series on the World’s Most Beautiful Libraries, Brandon Withrow writes about the tragic origins of one of the 20th century’s more inspiring architects.

Enjoy Luxe Airport Lounges—Even With an Economy Ticket—With Priority Pass

Priority Pass allows members access to these exclusive lounges (in select domestic and international airports)—even if you have a business or economy ticket—for an annual fee. The third-party membership program is designed to “transform the airport experience from an endurance test into a moment of indulgence” by allowing members access to over 1300 lounges (including airport, alliance, and airline-specific lounges) around the globe. Priority Pass offers three membership tiers: Standard ($99 a year), Standard Plus ($329 a year), and Prestige ($469 a year).

BUY AT PRIORITY PASS >>>

Travel Back in Time to 1950s New York City

It’s not just because all the men wear hats or the taxis are big metal sedans—no, flipping through photographer Ernst Haas’ images of New York City in the 1950s is weird because, well, there are so many people.

While New York City’s energy is building back post-pandemic, the mere mention of it can still conjure up the best imagery of city life—crowds, characters, energy, serendipity, food, and so on. That’s why we’re suggesting you pick up a copy of Ernst Haas: New York in Color, 1952-1962and enjoy an intoxicating dive into a bygone era.

Don’t miss our other selections for our series on gorgeous travel-related coffee table books, Just Booked.

BUY ON AMAZON >>

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