AHIC 2021: Envi Lodges seeks to bring glamping to Middle East
A new luxury experiential eco-lodge brand and management company launched during the Arabian & African Hotel Investment Conference at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.
Preparing for the ultimate vegan camping adventure and wondering where to start? Then you’ve come to the right place! Camping while vegan does present its own unique challenges, but it’s fairly straightforward once you know what you’re doing and how to prepare.
Not only will you have to plan your meals ahead of time and source plant-based items that won’t go sour on you, but you’ll also have to bring camping supplies that suit your ethics as well.
From easy camping meals to the best vegan-friendly camping supplies, here is the ultimate guide to vegan camping!
Before you start shopping and preparing for your vegan camping trip, you’ll want to take your campsite into account. Are you staying in an area with a ton of amenities such as potable water, electricity, and a firepit? Are you going totally off-grid with plans to fend for yourself every step of the way? Or are you traveling in a campervan or RV with access to a bunch of kitchen utensils?
Any of these options will require you to plan differently, so think about what you’re going to need as far as cooking, shelter, and sleeping goes.
Read more: The Ultimate Packing List for Campers (Must-Have Essentials!)
Planning healthy plant-based meals ahead of time is the ultimate key to having a great vegan camping trip. Using the ideas below, I recommend going to the grocery store with a detailed shopping list, and then meal prepping the day before you leave.
In planning your meals, it’s all about easy food that you can whip up in seconds and that doesn’t require a million kitchen utensils. And keep in mind that planning meals ahead of time for one person is super easy, but planning for multiple people with different tastes can get a bit hectic. For this reason, go into the meal situation knowing exactly how much you’ll need of everything.
Too much food could go bad, but too little food could be a disaster. In storing your food, use high-quality reusable containers, a cooler, and a lunch bag.
And don’t forget any supplements you may be taking — they’re just as important camping as they are at home!
Easy vegan camping breakfast ideas:
Easy vegan camping lunch & dinner ideas:
Vegan camping snack ideas:
Vegan camping desserts:
Read more: 20 Genius Camping Hacks Every Camper Should Know
Now that you know the amenities at your campsite and have a general meal plan, it’s time to start compiling vegan camping equipment. Though finding animal-free camping equipment can be a bit of a search, there are thankfully quite a few reputable options on the market:
Vegan bedding: When choosing bedding that will keep you warm and dry out in the backcountry, skip anything made with down or wool and opt for synthetic fibers. This sleeping bag from Coleman is 100% synthetic and will keep you cozy, and I also recommend bringing a sleeping pad, some hand warmers (if you’re in a cold climate), and a cruelty-free pillow.
Vegan Shoes: If you’ll be doing any hiking or water-based activities on your camping trip, then opt for shoe companies that are certifiably vegan. These Asics hiking shoes are 100% synthetic and highly-rated for their gel cushioning system.
Cooking supplies: Though it’s pretty easy to get vegan-friendly cooking supplies (anything that’s plastic or metal), you’ll want to pack a camping stove, re-usable camping plate and cutlery set, camping kitchen utensils, biodegradable vegan soap, bin for doing dishes, camping grill, and washcloths.
Vegan luggage: As demand grows, more and more companies are switching from using animal products in their luggage and daypacks to synthetic and plant-based fibers. In particular, all of Osprey’s luggage and daypacks are vegan and well-made.
Sunscreen and Bug Spray: More than just about the food and supplies, having a great camping trip requires a few comfy extras. These vegan sunscreen and bug spray products will keep your skin feeling great and protected from the elements. Alternatively, you can make your own vegan bug spray by mixing together 1 part eucalyptus or lavender essential oil with 10 parts witch hazel — put it into a spray container and apply!
Read More:
Winter Camping Essentials & Cold Weather Camping Tips
Camping Tips and Tricks for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know
Best Camping & Backpacking Tents (In-Depth Buying Guide)
Should You Rent Camping/Backpacking Gear for a Trip?
The post The Ultimate Guide To Vegan Camping appeared first on Ordinary Traveler.
You’ve booked your flight and are ready for your trip, when the airline sends you an email to notify you of a flight schedule change.
Passengers are regularly affected by a modification of their flight schedule, now more than ever as a result of COVID-19. With most flights cancelled because of coronavirus, passengers are left with the option to either get a refund for flight cancellation or change the flight schedule.
In general, the further in advance you book your flight, the higher the chances of having a schedule change.
While this may ruin your trip, know that when this happens, passengers can sometimes claim a flight schedule change compensation.
But that isn’t always the case. Sometimes, you just have to accept the change of flight time. You may also be entitled to a refund or rerouted via a different flight.
Let’s get one thing out of the way first: because it is (thankfully) an extraodinary circumstance, coronavirus doesn’t make you eligible for compensation when your flight is canceled as a result of it.
While airlines are not obligated to compensate passengers, most of them have set up policies that consist in offering one of two things:
In general, we do NOT recommend accepting travel vouchers as compensation. However, the air travel industry is among the most seriously hit by the pandemic. Air carriers especially are at risk, with several of them having already declared bankruptcy or been nationalized.
That’s why when given the option, we encourage travellers who believe that they will fly with the airline in the future to accept the voucher rather than the refund, as it will help your air carrier financially.
Of course, the decision is yours, and you may have been finally affected yourself, so the refund is also an option!
A flight schedule change occurs when the airline announces a change to your flight time after you’ve booked your ticket. There are 3 categories of flight change: minor, significant, or cancellation.
Each airline has their own definition of what constitutes a “minor” or “significant” schedule change. Usually, a significant change is one that doesn’t fall within the limits of what they have defined as a minor delay.
For example, an airline can define a schedule change as “minor” when they postpone the flight to less than 6 hours later than what was originally planned. If the time of your flight is delayed by over 6 hours, then you’re victim of a “significant flight schedule change”.
The distinction matters because it will influence what your rights are. More on that below.
A flight schedule change can also occur when your direct flight becomes a connecting one, or when the airline change the aircraft that will operate the flight.
However, if the airline changes your flight altogether (i.e. you will travel on a flight that has a different flight number than the one you initially book), this is regarded as a flight cancellation instead of a flight schedule change.
Your rights depend on the type of schedule change. And the definition of type of schedule change varies from one airline to another.
We’ve listed what is regarded as a minor change by some airlines below. To know what your airline defines as a minor delay, refer to their Terms and Conditions.
Passengers victim of a minor schedule change have generally no choice but to accept it. If this happens to you, feel free to ask a refund or an alternate flight, but keep in mind that you are not covered by any law and the airline doesn’t have the obligation to refund or reroute you on a different flight.
A significant change of schedule gives passengers more options. In most cases, the airline will offer you the choice between getting a refund or a rerouting on a comparable flight.
Note that if the airline offers you a rerouting as an alternative to the schedule change, you do NOT have to accept it if the flight is not to your convenience. In this case, contact the airline to ask for a different flight or a refund.
If the airline cancels your flight altogether (or presents a change of flight as a schedule change), you have even more rights. First, you must be offered a choice between a refund for cancelled flight or an alternate flight.
Then, you may also be entitled to a flight cancellation compensation. For that, the airline must have warned you about the cancellation less than 14 days prior to the flight. The exact notification date influences the flight compensation amount.
Was your flight cancelled? Or did the airline changed your reservation to book you on a different flight? You may be entitled to up to 600€ in compensation!
To be entitled to compensation for a flight schedule modification, the airline must have notified you about the change less than 14 days before the flight.
The schedule change must consists of either:
The compensation amount varies based on when you were notified and the length of the journey. You can get up to $700 per passenger in compensation (cash, voucher, or miles).
The Service app automatically detects and files claims on your behalf:
Except in the case of “minor flight schedule change”, you can get a refund when the airline modifies the schedule of your flight. In other words, you’re entitled to a refund in cases of “significant flight schedule change” and flight cancellations.
Note that the airline may offer you a rerouting instead of a refund. As mentioned before, if the alternate flight doesn’t suit you, feel free to reject it and ask for a refund instead.
When you book a flight, you agree on its schedule. However, all airlines reserve themselves the right to change the time (and sometimes even the date) of the flight, as per their terms and conditions. Specifically, airlines do not guarantee flight times and stress that those are not part of the contract of carriage.
Here’s an example with this extract from American Airlines’ contract of carriage:
“Sometimes we have to make adjustments to our operation, and between the time you book and the day you depart […]. When there are changes that affect your trip, we’ll try to contact you in advance and move you to a similar seat, though we can’t make any guarantees. We do our best to be on time but our flight schedule is not guaranteed and not part of this contract. We are not liable if we’re late or you don’t make your connection, or we change the schedule of any flight.“
And another from British Airways’ contract of carriage:
The flight times shown in our timetables may change between the date of publication and the date you actually travel. We do not guarantee these flight times to you and they do not form part of your contract of carriage with us.
Regulators like the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirm this: while a change to the flight number is covered by the law, a modification of the flight time and date is only covered by the airline’s terms and conditions.
There is no specific limit to how much the airline can change your flight time. However, all airlines define the limits of what they consider to be a “minor schedule change”.
Here are a few examples:
As a rule of thumb, if your delay at arrival or departure exceeds this amount of time, the flight schedule change is regarded as “significant” and the airline will offer a rerouting or a refund.
Airlines make tickets available for purchase about 12 months prior to the flight, but the airports can confirm the time slots only about 3 months prior to the flight, which can result in schedule modifications.
Airlines themselves can change their schedule, especially when the aircraft that will be used changes.
Airlines should tell passengers at least 14 days in advance when they change their flight time. The airline usually contacts you via email to tell you about the schedule change.
You may also log into your account or call the airline directly to inquire about schedule changes.
For last-minute schedule changes, you can use an online flight tracker.
Usually, you don’t have to do anything when you agree to the schedule change. Just present yourself at the airport after checking-in.
If you want a different flight or a refund, however, you must contact the airline. You can usually get in touch with them over email, via phone, or from the “manage my booking” section of the airline’s website.
Victim of a schedule change? Check if you’re entitled to compensation now with the Service app. You only need to connect your inbox – we take care of the rest:
If you’re still intent on travelling during the coronavirus outbreak, make sure to check our travel advice on the topic:
Have you ever been running late to catch a flight and struggled with the never-ending hallways and escalators you need to pass to reach your gate?
The biggest airports in the world make it feel like you’re walking through an entire city when you’re inside.
In 2020, they’re expecting over four billion passengers to travel by air. Now the biggest airports are also becoming the busiest airports in the world.
Since the airports are getting busier, they’re building bigger airports to accommodate all the passengers.
In September 2019, the world’s largest airport at the time (based on area size) opened in Beijing, China. The Beijing Daxing International Airport will be able to handle over 100 million passengers per year.
Good thing for the passengers, they won’t have to worry about walking a marathon to get to their gate. Architects are taking these considerations into their designs and balancing both size and convenience.
The architect who designed the new Beijing airport, Zaha Hadid, made a futuristic design in a starfish shape, making it easy for passengers to reach their gate in less than 8 minutes.
But a new player has entered the game:
Istanbul Airport is set to dethrone the Beijing’s as the world’s largest airport in the world when it’s finished. It already opened in 2018 but because construction isn’t over yet, we’ve chosen to keep it out of this ranking.
It will be interesting to see how airport design evolves in the years to come!
In the meantime, let’s take a look at all of the “superairports” of the world, both in terms of area size and the number of passengers they serve.
But first… did you know that if you had a delayed or cancelled flight, you could get up to $700 in compensation?
With the Service app, all you need to do is connect your inbox, and we’ll take care of the rest:
Here’s a list of the biggest and busiest airports in the world.
From Asia to America, the biggest airports in the world feel so gigantic that they deserve their own postal code.
And some even do!
The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (#3 on this list and one of the busiest US airports) has its very own ZIP code and emergency staff. It’s technically considered a separate city according to the postal service.
These huge airports have their own hotels, spas, restaurants and shopping centres. They really are so much more than a place to catch a flight.
Here’s a list of the top ten biggest airports in the world, based on actual airport size in square kilometers.
1. Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) –
2. King Fahd International Airport (DMM) – 776 sq. km.
3. Denver International Airport (DEN) – 135.71 sq. km.
4. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) – 69.63 sq. km.
5. Orlando International Airport (MCO) – 53.83 sq. km.
6. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) – 48.56 sq. km.
7. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) – 44.51 sq. km.
8. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) – 39.88 sq. km.
9. Cairo International Airport (CAI) – 36.25 sq. km.
10. Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) – 32.4 sq. km.
Honorable Mentions:
11. Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
12. O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
13. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
14. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
15. Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Beijing Daxing International Airport is the biggest airport in the world and the latest addition to the list of supersized airports, and they’re topping that list.
With the grand opening in September 2019, Beijing Daxing’s terminal building spans over 7.5 million sq ft, with a total land area covering over 18 square miles.
It cost a staggering $11 billion to build.
This airport is Beijing’s second international one in the city and it’s expected to also become the world’s busiest, with 100 million passengers passing through by 2040.
Nicknamed the “starfish”, after architect Zaha Hadid’s futuristic design, the airport was built for both convenience and eco-friendliness.
The starfish design makes it easy for passengers to travel from security to their gate in under eight minutes.
Its solar panels, waste heat recovery, and water management systems limits the environmental impact that such a big airport can make to the ecosystems in the area.
While it’s still early days for Beijing Daxing International Airport, they have big plans for the future, including flights that will cover 112 destinations around the world.
King Fahd International Airport used to hold the #1 position for the world’s largest airport, until it was recently knocked off the pedestal by Beijing Daxing International Airport.
Despite that, it’s still an impressive place, with a total area of 780 square kilometres and a terminal area of 3.52 million square feet.
King Fahd International Airport opened over 20 years ago in 1999 and it’s located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
It serves as a hub for three major Saudi Arabian airlines including: Saudia, Aramco Aviation and SaudiGulf Airlines flynas.
The airport also houses a 250-room Hilton hotel and a Mosque that can accommodate 2000+ worshippers.
The airport is designed to handle over 12 million passengers per year.
Denver International Airport is the largest airport, in terms of area size, in North America.
Primarily serving the Denver, Colorado area, it spans over 52.4 square miles and flies to over 215 destinations.
The airport opened 25 years ago in 1995, employing over 35,000 employees. That makes it the largest employer in the whole state of Colorado.
Despite being the third largest airport in the entire world, it ranks as the 20th busiest airport. Over 69 million passengers passed through Denver’s airport in 2019.
Over 23 different airlines operate out of Denver International Airport, and it serves as the hub for some popular American airlines including: United Airlines and Frontier Airlines. It’s also the main operating base for Southwest Airlines.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is so big that it has its own ZIP code and emergency services. Like we said earlier, it’s technically considered its own city, according to the postal service.
Spanning over 27 square miles and serving the Dallas and Fort Worth metroplex, the airport is an impressive place.
It’s the fourth busiest airport in the entire world (by aircraft movements). It also offers service to 260 destinations. The busiest domestic route is to LAX in Los Angeles, California, and their busiest international route is to London Heathrow Airport in the UK.
American Airlines calls the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport home.
It’s no surprise that Orlando International Airport made this list. Disney World calls Orlando home and an average of 52 million travel to Disney World every year. They need an airport that can accommodate all of the Disney fans.
Serving the Orlando, Florida area, the airport opened in 1981 and currently serves 135 destinations globally.
The airport clocks in at 11,609 acres large and handled over 50 million passengers in 2019.
Its busiest domestic destination is nearby Atlanta, Georgia and its busiest international destination is London Heathrow in England.
The airline, Silver Airways, uses Orlando International Airport as its hub.
Next on the list is another American airport, Washington Dulles International Airport.
This airport is named after John Foster Dulles who was the 52nd Secretary of State. It’s fitting that the airport was named after Dulles, considering Washington, DC is home to the White House.
Washington Dulles airport occupies over 13,000 acres in total and it handles over 24 million passengers a year.
It serves 125 destinations and is the hub for United Airlines.
The last American airport to rank in the biggest airports in the world list is the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, located in Houston, Texas.
Similar to the Washington Dulles airport, this one is also named after a politician – George H.W. Bush. It’s also another hub for United Airlines.
It’s slightly smaller than the Washington airport, clocking in at 10,000 acres large, but it handled double the amount of passengers, with over 45 million passing through in 2019.
We’re headed back to China with the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, which ranks #8 on the list of the biggest airports in the world.
It’s located in Pudong, Shanghai and services the Shanghai area. It occupies over 10,000 acres of land and it handled a staggering 74 million passengers in 2018, making it the busiest international gateway of mainland China.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport is also the hub for many Chinese airlines including: Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, Shanghai Airlines and Spring Airlines.
As the only African airport to make this list, Cairo International Airport is an impressive building, located in Heliopolis, Egypt.
It’s the busiest airport in all of Egypt too, with over 15 million passengers recorded in 2017.
Cairo International Airport is the primary hub for EgyptAir and Nile Air.
Also known as Bangkok Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport is one of the biggest in Southeast Asia.
The airport is named after the Sanskrit word for “land of gold”.
Suvarnabhumi has some impressive facts to its name. It covers an area of 8000 acres in Thailand, it handled over 63 million passengers in 2018, and it was the world’s most popular place for taking Instagram photos in 2012.
The airport opened in 2006 and it’s been the hub for Bangkok Airways, Jet Asia Airways, Thai Airways, Thai Smile and Thai Vietjet Air ever since.
Its busiest international route is to Hong Kong.
1. Denver International Airport
2. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
3. Orlando International Airport
4. Washington Dulles International Airport
5. George Bush Intercontinental
1. Charles de Gaulle Airport (France)
2. Adolfo Suárez Madrid (Spain)
3. Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (Italy)
4. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (Netherlands)
5. Frankfurt Airport (Germany)
1. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) – Hyderabad, 5495 acres
2. Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) – Delhi, 5106 acres
3. Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) – Bangalore, 4500 acres
4. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) – Kolkata, 2460 acres
5. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) – Mumbai, 1850 acres
The biggest airports are not always the busiest, and vice versa. Most of the airports that top the list of being the busiest didn’t rank in the list of the biggest airports.
The world’s busiest airport for the past 20 years, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport, is nowhere to be seen in the largest airports list. Yet, they handle over 107 million passengers a year.
Here’s our list of the busiest airports in the entire world, based on the yearly passenger traffic that passes through.
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport (Atlanta, USA)
2. Beijing Capital International Airport (Beijing, China)
3. Los Angeles International Airport (Los Angeles, USA)
4. Tokyo Haneda Airport (Tokyo, Japan)
5. Dubai International Airport (Dubai, UAE)
6. O’Hare International Airport (Chicago, USA)
7. London Heathrow Airport (London, UK)
8. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (Shanghai, China)
9. Hong Kong International Airport (Hong Kong, China)
10. Charles de Gaulle Airport (Paris, France)
11. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Dallas, Texas)
12. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (Guangzhou, China)
13. Seoul Incheon International Airport (Incheon, South Korea)
14. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
15 Frankfurt Airport (Frankfurt, Germany)
16. Singapore Changi Airport (Changi, Singapore)
17. Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bang Phli, Thailand)
18. Denver International Airport (Denver, Colorado)
19. Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi, India)
20. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Tangerang, Indonesia)
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport (Atlanta, Georgia)
2. Los Angeles International Airport (Los Angeles, California)
3. O’Hare International Airport (Chicago, Illinois)
4. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Dallas, Texas)
5. Denver International Airport (Denver, Colorado)
1. Heathrow Airport (London, UK)
2. Charles de Gaulle Airport (Paris, France)
3. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
4. Frankfurt am Main Airport (Frankfurt, Germany)
5. Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (Madrid, Spain)
1. Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi)
2. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai)
3. Kempegowda International Airport (Bengaluru)
4. Chennai International Airport (Chennai)
5. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata)
1. O. R. Tambo International Airport (South Africa)
2. Cairo International Airport (Egypt)
3. Bole International Airport (Ethiopia)
4. Cape Town International Airport (South Africa)
5. Mohammed V International Airport (Morocco)
1. Beijing Capital International Airport
2. Shanghai Pudong International Airport
3. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
4. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
5. Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport
6. Kunming Changshui International Airport
7. Xi’an Xianyang International Airport
8. Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
9. Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport
10. Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
There you have it! A complete list of the busiest and biggest airports in the world and by region.
Now, ready for take-off?
Do you sometimes travel by plane?
Service saves the average traveler $300 every year: