Author: Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

My Why ... I love exploring the drama that ensues when two people with cultural, societal, religious, and economic difference find common ground in attraction, lust, kinks, and most of all love. Author Bio: Sydney Aaliyah Michelle is a Contemporary Romance writer, a voracious reader, tattoo lover, and movie fanatic who hails from Texas. After surviving 5 1/2 years living in China, she had the courage to finally pursue her passion and become a writer. She identifies the sci-fi action flick "The Matrix" as the best representation of her life in the past. She is now blessed to be awake and doing what she loves. She can recite the entire script from the 80's teen comedy/drama "The Breakfast Club" and loves any and everything associated with the Avengers Movie, especially Tony Stark. When it come to books, Sydney reads different genres, but some of her favorite writers are Stephen King, Xyla Turner, J.A Huss, Kaia Bennett, & Emily Bronte. Under the Dome, The Great Gatsby & Wuthering Heights are her favorite books. Email Sydney at sydney@sydneyaaliyahmichelle.com.

The Best New Flight Routes in 2016

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

This post was posted by theHipmunk on Hipmunk’s Tailwind blog on January 5, 2016. Screen-Shot-2016-01-05-at-5.02.07-PMIt’s not just the internet and smartphones that are bringing the world closer together. Airlines are expanding and adding more non-stop routes to their schedules, making it easier to get from A to B. In the new year, London residents will be able to fly direct to Crete and Biarritz on British Airways, and the United States and Canada will be easier to transverse with new flights from Air Canada. But the real stars of 2016 are the new long haul flights, the best of which are featured below.

Los Angeles (LAX) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) on American Airlines

After a prolonged battle that edged out Delta’s Seattle-Tokyo Haneda service, American Airlines has announced a direct flight from LAX to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport that will begin on February 11. American will partner with Japan Airlines to operate the flights on Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. American already operates a flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, but Haneda is an hour closer to the city center and makes it far easier to connect to other regional Asia Pacific flights. Travelers should be aware that due to restrictions at Haneda, the flight arrives in Tokyo at 11pm and departs at 1:30am local time. Despite the odd schedule, the new flight will be add a new and convenient option for travelers trekking east. To take the hassle out of the late arrival, book a room at the Grand Pacific Le Daiba for a luxurious pad close to the airport.

Istanbul (IST) to Atlanta (ATL) on Turkish Airlines

In May 2016, Turkish Airlines will add a flight from Istanbul to Atlanta to its schedule. This is the third flight to the US that Turkish Airlines has launched in a year, and will complement their Istanbul-Miami flight (which started service in October 2015) and their Istanbul-San Francisco flight (April 2015). The flight will operate once a day from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, pushing in on Delta’s Atlanta hub. Turkish Airlines’ advances into the US market will help to connect American travelers to its huge network of 250 destinations worldwide.

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Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD) on American Airlines

American Airlines makes the list again with its newly announced nonstop flight to Sydney, Australia, its first in 24 years. One of the major draws of the flight is the revamped cabin of the Boeing 777-300ER, which features first class beds that lie fully flat as well as an in-flight bar. Even those in economy will have touch screen entertainment systems with USB ports and power outlets. Service will begin December 17, 2015 and will be partnered with Australia-based Qantas Airlines. The flight will compete with with routes offered by Delta, United, Virgin Australia flights, as well as two a day from Qantas.

Doha (DOH) to Boston (BOS), Atlanta (ATL), and Los Angeles (LAX) on Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways has announced a major expansion into the American market. Flights from Doha will head to Los Angeles on January 1, Boston on March 16, and Atlanta on July 1. With these new flights, Qatar now offers service to the largest 10 metropolitan areas in the United States. They will also be adding a second daily flight to New York (which they have served since 2007) starting March 1. The flight from Doha to Los Angeles will be particularly long, clocking in at over 16.5 hours. As you book your next trip on these exciting new long haul flights, check out Hipmunk’s tips to stay happy and healthy on board.

Screen-Shot-2016-01-05-at-5.06.44-PMDubai (DBX) to Yinchuan (INC) and Zhengzhou (CGO) on Emirates

Expanding their service to five points in mainland China, Emirates has announced a new flight route from Dubai to Yinchuan’s Hedong International Airport. Beginning in May 2016, the route will fly four times a week, with a connecting leg continuing to Zhengzhou. If Yinchuan and Zhengzhou seem like smaller cities than Emirates’ other Chinese destinations — Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai — that’s because they are. However, Yinchuan and Zhengzhou are two interior cities ranked among Asia’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas, and the new route will provide business travelers a quicker trip than before — and give Emirates a strategic leg up on Middle Eastern-to-East Asian air travel.

Holly (Not so Jolly) Folly: Holiday Travel Fails

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

This post was posted by thehipmunk on Hipmunk’s Tailwind blog on December 12, 2015.blog_travel_fails_A

Traveling for the holidays can be nuts. Between the traffic, crowds, and the inevitable issues that arise when people travel en masse, it’s no wonder that most of us have experienced some sort of travel fail. It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s not always the most wonderful time to travel.

Yup, holiday travel fails happen to the best of us—one was even the impetus behind the smart luggage startup Bluesmart. On a Christmas trip to his home-country of Argentina, Co-founder and CEO Diego Saez-Gil found himself without presents (or clothing!) after the airline he was traveling on forced him to check his luggage due to weight restrictions. Despite his reservations, he agreed to do so, and then found himself at the carousel waiting for a bag that never materialized. He’s not alone:

“30 million bags are reported lost each year, and most happen when during the holiday season,” Saez-Gil said.

That holiday travel fail inspired him to create the Bluesmart carry-on, with GPS technology and a built-in scale, amongst other techy tools for savvy travelers.

Victims of numerous holiday travel fails ourselves (nights spent in airports and traumatized pets, to name a few), we understand that there’s no better consolation than camaraderie. And so, the company that promises to take the agony out of travel planning took a look at what agonizes travelers once they’re en route.

We asked more than 200 Hipmunk enthusiasts to tell us about their holiday travel fails (Hint: It usually has something to do with flying). From exploding toiletries to getting drunk on the plane, scroll down for even more (though less common) holiday horror stories:

Holiday_travel_fails

More Travel Troubles:

I wasn’t allowed to check my presents with my baggage 1%
My gifts were broken in transit 1%
The hotel had no record of my reservation 1%
I accidentally booked the wrong day/time to travel and couldn’t get a new flight 2%
My toiletries “exploded” in flight and wrecked my holiday outfit 2%
My pet was traumatized from flying in cargo 1%
I drank too much on the flight and was hungover by the time the flightlanded 2.5%

Best (or Worst) Holiday #TravelFAILs:

“Don’t eat a big breakfast and then get in the car. It can get messy.”

“The flight was delayed, and when we seated they informed us that the engine was malfunctioning– then shortly after, the plane took off. I was terrified the entire flight.”

“Because of snow in Minneapolis/St. Paul, we didn’t realize we’d parked in a tow zone and yes, we were towed. Very hard to prove ownership of a rental car – spent 6 hours trying to get out of impound.”

“A 1 kg pot of honey leaked in my bag, covering my laptop.”

“I had torn my quadricep muscle a week into my three week vacation I knew I couldn’t fix it there or they wouldn’t let me fly home, so I waited until I got home to have knee surgery. I made the best of the trip and cut down on my sightseeing. Then I almost got snowed in in Chicago on the way back and I had a guy from India accidentally kick my injured leg. Don’t worry I didn’t hurt him.”

“No one had told us we need yellow fever vaccine between Argentina and Jamaica. We had to stop in Panama City, where we were able to go on by getting another flight to Jamaica. No one seemed to care that we had just gotten off a flight from Argentina.”

“The flight was at 12:01, so it was confusing as to which day it was actually on. I missed it.”

What was your worst holiday travel fail? Sound off in the comments below!

Craft Cider Is Making it Big in the Midwest

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle1 Comment

This post was posted by thehipmunk on Hipmunk’s Tailwind blog on December 5, 2015.

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While the craft beer scene is booming all over the country—from San Diego, to Cleveland, to New York’s Finger Lakes region—let’s all take a moment to acknowledge the meteoric rise of a new craft brew on the block.

Craft cider is the next big thing in the craft beverage scene, and it’s making a name for itself throughout the American Midwest, especially the Great Lakes region.

Turns out there’s a good reason for that: The Great Lakes region is the location of the country’s most diverse apple crop, reports USA Today. In fact, approximately one quarter of all apples grown in North America are produced around the Great Lakes. Cider makers across the Midwest have capitalized on this bounty by producing unique, complexly flavored ciders that set the region’s brews apart.

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The Rich History and Current Challenges Facing Craft Cider

Much like the making of craft beer or distilled liquor, cider brewing is nothing new. Hard cider was a staple of colonial America; Colonizers even brought over seeds from Europe in order to grow apples in America, and some of the offspring from those trees are still in production today.

But with Prohibition came the destruction of orchards, and the practice of brewing cider nearly dwindled into oblivion. While cider has yet to regain its previous status at the American table—cider currently comprises less than 1 percent of the U.S. beer market—today’s brewers hope to restore the cider-making tradition and cultivate an appreciation for great cider.

Another characteristic shared by all of the region’s brewers? Patience. Because the flavor and complexity of a cider is dependent on the apples from which it’s derived, brewers are beholden to apple trees, which can take upwards of 15 years to yield viable fruit.

In addition to their reliance on finicky crops, cideries face obstacles in the form of legal challenges. Under current federal tax law, the definition of hard cider only allows for 7 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) or less—anything more than that, and cider gets taxed at the more expensive rate for wine. Similarly, cider can only contain a certain level of carbonation or else risk being taxed at the even more expensive champagne tax. Because craft operations often aren’t able to precisely control the alcohol content and level of carbonation in their brews, these laws have placed financial strain on many small breweries.

To rectify these constraints, the United States Association of Cider Makers has been advocating for the passage of the CIDER Act, which would amend the Internal Revenue Code to increase the carbonation level for hard cider, include pears in the definition of “hard cider,” and change the alcohol content standard.

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Ticket to Cider Town, USA

While cider brewers advocate for themselves in the political realm, you can advocate for brewers—and your own taste buds—by visiting any of the Midwest’s best cideries. With cheap flights from all major airports in the US and a plethora of places within a few hours of each other, a cider pilgrimage is not a bad way to spend your next vacation. Here are our hand picked favorites:

  • Blake’s Hard Cider Co (Armada, MI). Blake’s is all about restoring the tradition of cider making to its rightful prominence—all while using the finest homegrown apples and other ingredients around. Their Ciderhouse boasts 12 ciders on tap as well as wines and a food menu. Bonus: The brewery is only an hour outside of Detroit.
  • Uncle John’s Cider Mill (St. Johns, MI). At this fifth-generation farm, what started as a wholesale fruit and vegetable operation has found a new mission as a cidery. The tasting room is filled with hard ciders and wines for the sampling. After you’ve had your fill, head to beautiful Ann Arbor (less than 1.5 hours by car) and stay for the night.
  • Vander Mill (Spring Lake, MI). Started in 2006, Vander Mill distributes its ciders throughout Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Try them in person at the brewery’s restaurant, which serves up house-made dishes inspired by locally sourced meats, produce, and cheeses. The cidery is only a 1.5 hour drive to budget-friendly accommodations in bustling Lansing, MI.

The best part about the Midwestern cider boom? It’s just getting started. We anticipate that many more great developments will fall from the [apple] tree.

Protect Your Data During the Year’s Busiest Travel Weekend

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

This post was posted by thehipmunk on Hipmunk’s Tailwind blog on November 25, 2015.Screen-Shot-2015-11-25-at-7.33.55-PM-945x512If you ever travel with a smartphone, laptop, or tablet, your data is at risk of being lost or stolen. Whether it’s the result of a bag disappearing, a drink being spilled, or a cybercriminal hacking your online accounts, data loss can have both minor and major consequences, from losing travel photos to outright identity theft. And with the busiest travel weekend of the year right around the corner, it’s important to keep your data as secure as your belongings — even on the way to grandma’s house.

Unless you’re ready to leave the electronics at home and stick to chronicling your journey with pen and paper alone, it’s time to take data protection seriously. Here’s how to maximize the chances that data stays safe wherever you are.

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Before Traveling

  • Back up digital files. Anything that’s already stored on your electronic devices (especially important files and photos) should be backed up to an external hard drive prior to your departure. That way you have everything you need even if the worst happens and the data gets lost while traveling. While you’re at it, take an inventory of your data so you’ll have a sense of whether anything looks off (or is missing) upon returning home.
  • Run updates. Make sure you’re running the latest version of devices’ operating systems and antivirus software. Also, run antivirus scans prior to departure.
  • Initiate password protection. Combine this with an inactivity timeout on any electronics that you’ll be bringing along (so people can’t easily log onto your device if they find it unattended). On all devices, be sure to create strong passwords.

While Traveling

  • Only use secure internet connections. Free or public wireless services are all but guaranteed to be insecure; assume data isn’t safe over these connections, and refrain from entering any sensitive data (also remember that paying for Wi-Fi doesn’t guarantee the connection is secure).
    The safest networks are those that are password-protected, and the safest websites are those that start with https://. Using the web browser’s “incognito” or “private browsing” mode can help ensure that personal data doesn’t get saved, but it’s no guarantee of security (likewise for deleting cookies and browsing history after logging off).
    Also, be sure to disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on all devices whenever they aren’t in use. Want to learn more? Check out the Federal Trade Commission’s guide to Using Public Wi-Fi Networks.
  • Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Installing a VPN can help protect your data as it’s transferred between different devices. VPNs are especially handy for business travelers who may need to send and receive sensitive documents while on the road.
  • Disable cookies and auto-fill. These are the features that automatically enter login info and passwords on websites. Be sure to disable this function before traveling—it would only make it easier for electronics thieves to access your personal data.
  • Don’t upgrade software on public Wi-Fi. Cybercriminals have started to create fake “update” notices that allow them to install malware on travelers’ devices. If the Wi-Fi network isn’t secure, don’t accept any operating system, app, or software upgrades.
  • Don’t perform online transactions involving money. Whenever possible, avoid accessing online banking, Paypal, or anything that requires you to provide credit card information. And be sure to only use bank ATMs, which are less likely to be hit by identity thieves using card readers.
  • Create a travel-specific email address. Whenever possible, use a dedicated email address just for the trip; this will help you avoid logging into personal or work accounts while traveling. Be sure not to share or store personal information on the new account.
  • Keep your devices on you at all times. And when they’re not in use, turn them off. If you must leave a device in a hotel room or hostel, make sure to lock it up.Screen-Shot-2015-11-25-at-7.33.43-PM-1024x678

When You Get Back

  • Change passwords. Update passwords on all devices as well as frequently visited websites.
  • Take stock. Review bank activity, credit card activity, and health insurance claim activity to confirm that everything looks accurate, and continue keeping tabs on these accounts for at least the next few months.
  • Run security scans. Run antivirus and anti-spyware scans on all devices. If malware is detected, follow the antivirus tool’s direction for addressing the issue.

It doesn’t matter if you’re exploring Santa Fe’s culture, adventuring in Paris, road-tripping around Ireland, or piling in the car for turkey and family reunions — a little prep, a lot of proactivity, and follow-through upon returning home will all help ensure that your data remains your own no matter where in the world you are.

Yummy Foods, Happy Bellies: Preventing Mishaps in Adventurous Eating

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

This post was posted by thehipmunk on Hipmunk’s Tailwind blog on September 30, 2015.

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Tongue-tickling spice combinations. Unfamiliar ingredients. New delicacies to explore. Half the fun of venturing to exotic locales is sampling new foods. Unfortunately, adventurous eating can also lead to an unhappy belly. Take advantage of a couple simple tricks to stave off disastrous travel sickness.

Seek Out Local Know-How

Looking for the best som tam and pad thai the street stalls of Thailand have to offer? Ask a local. Poll the front desk staff at your hotel in Bangkok for their favorite place to munch on street food. Let them know you’re not looking for an official recommendation so much as a friendly one, for the places where you might run into them snacking on a night off. Establishments frequented by locals are likely to be appetizing, affordable and authentic. They’re also time-tested and likely to be safe, helping you keep stomach bugs at bay.

Make Eating Elementary

It’s time to use your powers of deduction, Mr. Holmes. Scope out clues to find the tastiest, safest culinary delights. Is the place bustling with locals, or empty and quiet? Do the customers include women and children, or does it look like a boy’s club? Steer towards busy family establishments for the best chances at a clean, wholesome delicious meal. Elementary, my dear Watson. Delectably elementary.

Home Cooking = Food + Love

At Casa com Varanda in Rio de Janeiro, host Delvina serves up breakfast every morning. Doesn’t that sound better than anything that might come out of a faceless restaurant kitchen? After all, nothing is more nourishing than a home-cooked meal. Staying in a small, independent accommodation, such as a bed and breakfast, is a great opportunity to try authentically prepared, home-cooked food. Because these meals are generally prepared in small batches with love and care, they’ll be memorable for only the right reasons.

Expect the Best, Prepare for the Worst

No matter how careful you are, there’s no 100% proven method to prevent an upset stomach. Sometimes even the most upscale restaurants can leave you queasy the next morning. There’s freedom in this realization, however. If even the safest-seeming foods have the potential for tummy turmoil, there’s no reason not to go bold. Boarding a plane for Argentina? Throw some probiotics and anti-diarrheal medicines in your bag and book a stellar Buenos Aires hotel where you’ll be comfortable no matter what happens. After that, there’s no stopping you.

Street smart and prepared for anything, you’re ready to take on the world in all its flavorful goodness. From tamales in Cancun to Çiğ köfte in Istanbul, there’s a whole world of tastes to discover. Let the eating adventures begin!