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Welcome to Lux Travel Hacks!  

This is an amazing community of travelers (or aspiring travelers) who fly in first class, stay in 5 star hotels, and travel in maximum luxury for virtually free. 

My name is Andy Cantu, and I'm here to tell you that traveling like the rich and famous for free (or as close to free as possible) is not only real, but possible for the average person.

At Lux Travel Hacks, we believe no one should have to travel like a peasant, so we've created this platform and community to help you travel like the elite for pennies on the dollar.

Our goal here is to show you how to CORRECTLY use the financial, credit, and rewards programs that banks and credit card companies offer you.

In other words, we teach you how to use those programs to get world-class travel experiences for pennies on the dollar. 

Most people lose a fortune paying for travel. A nice trip to Italy for 2 people will literally run you tens of thousands of dollars if you flew business class and stayed in a 5 star hotel for a week.

But most people just pay out of pocket and think: 

"Traveling is expensive"

"You need to be a millionaire to fly first class"

"Staying in 5-star hotels is only reserved for celebrities and CEOs."

And it's not their fault.

The banks, credit card companies, rewards programs - they don't care about you.

It's not really in their interest to educate customers how to beat them at their own game.  

They don't want you to know how to get mind-blowing travel experiences for free. 

But once you understand the power of luxury travel hacking, you'll never view traveling the same way again.

We've spent the last 10 years going through all the scattered info on travel hacking, making mistakes, and learning the hard way.

With Lux Travel Hacks, you can travel the way you've always dreamed of without ruining your financial situation. 

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions in the credit, travel, and points world...

And it can be overwhelming to have all this misinformation thrown at you from every direction (especially when half of it is fake news).

That's why everything you'll find inside Lux Travel Hacks is a result of my own personal experience over the past decade that has been battle-tested with countless clients. 

There's no fake it til you make it here... it's all real, hard facts that will take you from travel hacking newbie to flying first class for the first time in 90 days or less. 

Who is Lux Travel Hacks for?

There are a few requirements to make Lux Travel Hacks work for you:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be willing to get credit/credit score (if you don't have one already).
• Have a credit score that's at least 650+ (if it's not, we show you how to fix this Lux Travel Hacks)
• Be open to changing your mindset. Throw everything you thought you knew about traveling out the window. 

Also, Lux Travel Hacks was created based upon the US credit and financial system, so you'll have to make some tweaks to make this work if you live outside the US, but a large chunk of the info applies worldwide.

If this sounds like you, then congrats, you're ready to take your first free luxury trip in just 90 days after going through Lux Travel Hacks.

Who is Andy Cantu?

I originally came from the IT world - computer networking, security, coding, blah blah...you name it I've done it.

I worked a normal job for most of my life but always wanted more.

I wanted to build an e-commerce empire, and I needed more money to grow the business - marketing, more inventory, etc...

So I got a bunch of credit cards and started travel hacking totally by accident...only at the time, I wasn't really travel hacking.  

I was just earning these magical points but had no idea what to do with them.

Up until this point, I traveled a bit, but nothing crazy, and definitely never anything close to flying first class or staying in 5 star hotels. 

I simply never believed it was possible.

But through years of trial error, I began to see how the banks and credit card companies were ripping me off in front of my very eyes. 

It's no wonder most people think luxury travel is out of reach.

The banks and credit card companies were trying their hardest to make sure people got as little value as possible for their points. 

But that's when I discovered ways to fight back and get 5-10x the value for my points. 

This changed everything.

And once I figured out the art of luxury travel hacking, people began reaching out to me.

"How are you traveling this way, Andy? It's probably crazy expensive!"

People started hiring me for travel hacking consulting and I was personally helping book first class flights and 5 star hotels for pennies on the dollar.

It was insane.

But here's the problem.

As I got more clients, I had to charge more money. 

There was too much demand and I was a one-man show that couldn't keep up with 20+ clients.

At my peak, I was charging $5,000+ to coach people privately.

But something had to change. 

While the private coaching was great, I wanted to impact more people. 

I wanted to teach my luxury travel hacking strategies to hundreds of thousands of people.

So I decided to package all my knowledge together in a step-by-step program called Lux Travel Hacks.

Not only do you get the same strategies I taught my $5,000 clients for a fraction of the price, but you also get access to the entire Lux Travel Hacks community to network with and ask questions. 

Why LUX travel hacks?  Why not just Normal travel hacks?

So why is it called LUX travel hacks?  

Why not just NORMAL travel hacks?

The reason is simple.

Expensive, LUXury stuff lets you get way more value from your points.

Let me as, what would you rather get?   

A $400 economy flight...

A $5,000 business class flight to Italy for the same amount of points?  

This isn't an exaggeration btw. This is a real life example from a client of mine. 

I hope the answer is obvious. 

It's important to understand the value of your points, and understand how to earn and spend them in a way that benefits you the most.

And when you can travel like a millionaire without actually being one , why wouldn't you do it? 

It's a no-brainer.

Stop Settling For Economy Flights And Average Hotels

I want you to live an amazing luxury travel lifestyle. 

Traveling like the top 1% doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. 

I want you to keep your money in your pocket for bigger, better things. 

Invest in yourself.  

Invest in your family.  

Invest in your business.

Whatever you wanna do with your money, do it.

Just please for the love of god, stop wasting it on vacations that can be free.

And stop settling for crappy economy flights and average hotels.

Lux Travel Hacks isn't just an online course .

It's a movement.

It's a way of life that will transform the way you think about travel forever (and how money, credit and finances work too). 

So if you're ready to start traveling like the top 1%, then join Lux Travel Hacks today.

See you in first class 😉

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• How This Remote Norwegian Archipelago Became a New Travel Hot Spot

Svalbard, a former Norwegian mining town on the fringes of the North Pole, has been transformed into the world's most extreme luxury getaways.

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And while cruise companies from Seabourn to Hurtigruten have started sailing here in recent years, intrepid travelers have been skidding across Svalbard Airport’s single-lane runway via Tromso since 1975.

In a place where frostbite comes with the territory, frills and this frozen frontier are hardly acquainted—or so you’d think. But you’d have thought wrong. In fact, a growing number of increasingly luxurious lodges and restaurants have made accessing this frigid but undeniably sublime landscape not only feasible but downright comfortable.

It’s designed as a warm womb, a place to thaw after dog sledding, snowmobiling, glacier hiking, and polar bear spotting. Guests here remove their shoes when they enter the hotel and replace them with stylish wool slippers, a tradition dating back to the Longyearbyen’s mining days.

Originally, Funken Lodge included an indoor shooting range next to a wine cellar, and although they’ve ditched the shooting range, it still holds one of the Arctic’s largest and rarest selections of Champagne.

The lodge’s elegant restaurant, Funktionærmessen , focuses on ingredients like king crab, caviar, and arctic char with truffles, served with Champagne or cocktails from the lodge’s eponymous bar. Locals consider the drinks here to be the best in town, with cocktails like a John M. Longyear, named after the town’s founder (made with vodka, espresso, long pepper, and chocolate). 

But the settlement’s most high-end dining experience is undoubtedly Huset . Inside a building that formerly housed a community center, post office, hospital, and school, guests get a 16-course meal to rival anything served at a certain Danish restaurant that rhymes with “coma.” It only seats a lucky dozen.

Dinners here start with an Arctic charcuterie plate of cured reindeer heart and topside served atop its antlers. The chef’s fermentation methods combined with Svalbard’s unique proteins means diners are walloped by strong, punchy flavors, particularly the Svalbard seal on a chickpea pancake topped with blueberry. Other creative dishes include a no-waste play on fish and chips using local wolfish and super tender Svalbard rock ptarmigan with Arctic cloudberry.

Huset pairs its dinners with wine from the more than 15,000-bottle cellar, one of Scandinavia’s largest collections. For non-drinkers and the sober curious, they match each course with house-made kombuchas, Scandinavian juices, and tea that reflect the region.

Despite all this polar pampering, you are in fact permitted to leave this snug situation—and you should.

Longyearbyen’s narrow main street is lined with everyday necessities like a grocery store, post office, restaurants, and souvenir shops, as well as a few of those aforementioned hotels. Head for a shop called Skinnboden to complete your arctic cowboy look with fox fur trapper hats, traditional cow-skin Norwegian boots, silver polar bear jewelry, and custom-made seal skin gloves. Just be aware that American customs regulations state that travelers cannot bring mammal products back into the U.S., so skip the seal.

A few doors down at Freune , the town’s favorite lunchtime spot, chai lattes, and homemade cakes are the ideal elixir to the bitingly cold polar climate. It’s also the world’s northernmost chocolatier, where truffle flavors like chai, Svalbard cognac, and chili are crafted in the back. And if you don’t see a polar bear during one of your outings outside the settlement, don’t fret; Freune makes white-chocolate polar bears.

It’s a delicious—and harmless—alternative to the real thing and also the perfect handmade souvenir to take from one of the world’s most uniquely lavish destinations.

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Choose from an ever-increasing portfolio of luxury resorts and private islands along the azure waters of the Caribbean. Marine adventure, culinary perfection and complete seclusion all have a spot on the day’s agenda.

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Soothing vistas and diverse eco-adventure await in Central America. See the sun rise over the rim of a volcano, roam the ruins of the Mayans, ride through nature conservatories and paddle through jungle mangroves.

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A multitude of environs– coast, country and city – make for a feast of diversity in Europe. The unique histories, gastronomic extravagance and cultural riches bring a deluxe profusion of Old World elegance.

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Ancient cultures and modern pleasures coalesce in the fascinating nations of the eastern Mediterranean and those ringing the Persian Gulf. Encounter pockets of immense historical significance, refined opulence and breathtaking beauty.

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For enjoying a stateside sojourn, drinking in Canada’s natural wonders or exploring the magnitude of Mexico, this continent offers spectacular diversion. Find flavours to arouse every taste bud and an array of cultures to match.

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A world of exotic wonder awaits in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific islands. Drift through romantic nights and endless days of natural splendour, aquatic adventure, decadent resorts and epicurean delights.

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What is the Tully Difference? The most satisfying travel experiences are the ones that captivate and transform you as a person and that deepen your connection to the world around you. It is that belief that fuels our desire to create rewarding travel experiences for people who are passionate about discovering the essence and heart of a destination.

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Usa - private travel.

The home of the brave is a never-ending river of exploration from coast to coast, a constant and multifaceted melting pot, always on the boil to create, innovate, dazzle and delight. There are thousands of stories to listen to in the United States of America – of people and places, past, and future – and a myriad of ways to revel in them. Through its iconic landmarks, offbeat treasures, vast natural beauty, cultural eminence, and historic notability, the U.S.A. continues to crash through life at top speed. Go along for the ride!

Big sky country takes over with the wide-open roads of Texas, the mesmerizingly beautiful deserts of New Mexico and Arizona, and up into the mountains of Colorado and Utah

Visitors can never get enough of the United States of America and its continuous cascade of adventure: Repeat visits are very much required. As such, Americans themselves are big on seeking out the new and exciting pieces of the vast puzzle they haven’t yet visited. Where haven’t you been? The historic east coast, the birthplace of the nation, brims with significant cultural centers to get to know and love – Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington – their historic and traditional traits just as celebrated as their unvarnished and vociferous side. A sweep across the south delivers Florida’s beaches and a cavalcade of amusements, Nashville’s honky-tonks, New Orleans’s Mardi Gras, Dollywood, and Graceland. Moving west, big sky country takes over with the wide-open roads of Texas, the mesmerizingly beautiful deserts of New Mexico and Arizona, and up into the mountains of Colorado and Utah, where outdoor diversion is the main attraction on the rolling hills year-round. California is the country’s most-visited state, home to Hollywood’s lavish luxury, the manicured boulevards of Palm Springs, the uniqueness of San Francisco, and the wine regions north of that. If you have the will, nip over to Las Vegas for a nighttime stroll along its famous Strip.

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Bold architecture, foodie-forward passion, countless cool neighborhoods, and world-class art.... Read more

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Is Hollywood beckoning? Or perhaps it’s the wellness-focused LA lifestyle, the cultural diversity ... Read more

Los Angeles

From bright lights to shadowy folklore, a Las Vegas luxury vacation is a 24-hour story waiting to be... Read more

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Meet our U.S.A. Travel Designers

What is your approach to planning bespoke luxury travel? Every client is looking for something unique. I like to develop a great relationship with our clients so that I am able to customize a trip to their exact preferences. It’s incredibly rewarding to plan and deliver someone's dream trip.

Colleen Shields

Senior Travel Designer

What is the most memorable vacation you have planned for a client? Private overland journeys along the silk road between China and the Stans. Discovering Scotland and Scottish cuisine by private yacht, fishing eagle, and local chef on board.

Gavin Crawford

Director of Bespoke Experiences

What is your approach to planning bespoke luxury travel? Our role can be so important. Whatever we plan will make for lasting memories and can seal or bond families, love, and friendly relationships. It is primarily about listening and understanding what a client wants; their needs, moods, and family dynamics.

Saloua Rezgui

If you’re considering bespoke private travel to the United States, let our expert Travel Designers make your vacation truly customized from start to finish. Having spent the last three decades traveling and experiencing the best luxury offerings firsthand, Tully Luxury Travel has an exceptional understanding of the U.S. We have the contacts and the relationships in place to ensure your travel needs are met – milestone celebrations, romantic dinners, private tours, dietary requirements, special room-service requests – all the details curated in step with your every wish. In America, our private travel specialists have insider information on how to make your visit memorable. We can tailor-make a trip itinerary that encompasses the regions you’re more interested in, with plans that are both manageable and marvelous. We can book you into the best hotels, find the perfect private tours and get you from A to B on an exclusive private plane. The time to start planning your next vacation is now. Our private luxury travel service also allows us to secure the best amenities and VIP extras at no additional cost. That’s the Tully Difference. Talk with a Travel Designer and start planning your bespoke luxury U.S.A. vacation today.

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Throughout the years, Tully Luxury Travel has been recognized as a top producing agency by virtually every luxury cruise line and hotel property.

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We work with you to create genuine, custom-crafted travel experiences with a locals’ perspective and a luxurious flair. When your travel is crafted by 58 Stars luxury travel agency, everything is taken care of for you – all you have to do is take it all in.

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Rare interactions are made possible because our connections run deep and far. To us, travel is about the journey and the destination – and the glorious afterglow that happens when you’ve experienced another trip of a lifetime. We are luxury travel agent specialists, but we see it as art.

We – that is, you and us – are a tribe of seekers.

Wanderlust, wonder, and insatiable curiosity courses through our veins. It has for centuries. From the earliest days, like-minded explorers used the same 58 stars to navigate the unknown. They trusted these stars. Revered these stars.

It is with this same confident, expert guidance that 58 Stars brings the world to our clients and brings our clients deep inside the worlds they crave.

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58 Stars brings the world to our clients with custom-crafted, luxury travel vacations designed to your exact specifications. We are a luxury travel agency, providing you with options for destinations, experiences, and excursions – you just pick what you fancy. At 58 Stars, the world is entirely yours – and our luxury travel agent specialists are here to help you navigate it.

Every traveler is a little different. At 58 Stars, we custom craft genuine, unique experiences.

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Leave the planning in our hands. From small to large groups, we make it easy to create one-of-a-kind group travel experiences. We simplify all the logistics of booking your experiences and make sure that your journey is customized to everyone’s travel needs and interests, delivering the perfect group vacation for all to enjoy.

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Our experts specialize in luxury vacations, travel concierge, and more. Individually and collectively, our global connections run deep and far. To airlines and cruise lines, boutique hotels, local tour companies, global resorts, and more. This gives us an unmatched advantage in delivering unique luxury travel experiences for our clients.

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“I’m fortunate to have spent much time in Europe, having lived in France and explored Italy and Greece extensively.”

My goal is to help you discover new worlds by challenging your senses, enriching your mind, and inspiring your soul.

“I love traveling which led me to become a travel advisor. Exploring new cultures, seeing new places…nothing can beat it!”

More than just booking flights and hotels, Dan crafts unforgettable itineraries, weaving hidden gems and cultural experiences into every adventure.

“As Head of Groups for 58 Stars Travel, I am thrilled to assist you in planning your next journey.” 

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“Well that was extraordinary”

“Well, that was extraordinary. About a year ago our brother-in-law casually invited us to tag along on a family trip in Africa. Our kick-ass nephew Dawit was adopted from Ethiopia five years ago and the whole pack of nephews (four in all: Jack — 19, Luke — 17, Dawit — 15 and Josh — 14) and Steve’s sister Chris and brother-in-law John were all going to Ethiopia to visit with Dawit’s birth family, and were then headed to Botswana to go on a safari. Did we want to go? Steve was unflinchingly a yes vote, and I hedged for 5 minutes and then realized it was a once-in-a-lifetime offer. This is likely the last gasp with the pack of nephews in one place before they scatter to adulthood, and the chance to go to Africa with them on the heels of a visit to Dawit’s motherland? A true wouldn’t-miss-it opportunity. So, Africa we booked! We hadn’t ever planned on going to Africa, and certainly not for a safari (Expensive! Far! How much more impressive could animals be?) but we paid our deposit and figured the year-from-now day would come.”

Stop dreaming. Let’s go.

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The Newest Luxury Airline to Serve the U.S. Comes With Futuristic Seats & a ‘Succession’-Style Backstory

By Chris Dong

Starlux Airlines, the  Taipei-based boutique carrier, may be new to most U.S. travelers, but it has lofty ambitions to become a powerhouse across the Pacific. 

With a long-awaited Los Angeles service that started in late April, it’s laying the groundwork for those goals. The airline hoped to expand to the U.S. shortly after launching in 2020, but the pandemic had other plans. This route is a major milestone for the airline—and a boon for travelers seeking an elevated in-flight experience to Taipei and beyond. “Our Los Angeles destination marks the achievement of our goal for a trans-Pacific network,” Starlux CEO Glenn Chai said in a media event to commemorate the route. 

Founded as a company in 2018 with its first intra-Asia flight in January 2020, by all measures, Starlux is a startup. However, it has some serious credentials in the space. Starlux’s founder, Chang Kuo-wei is the former chairman of  EVA Air , a well-regarded carrier also based in Taipei. 

In a world of newer,  no-frills carriers —such as Tokyo-based ZipAir or Oslo-based Norse Atlantic—Kuo-wei’s Starlux is bucking the trend. The carrier bills itself as a luxury airline, even throwing around the phrase “the Emirates of Asia.” For this inaugural flight from Los Angeles to Taipei, I got a taste of what that actually meant. 

Here’s what you can expect onboard Starlux Airlines in long-haul business class. 

A  Succession -style origin story—and a new U.S. partner

Not only is founder Kuo-wei the former chairman of EVA, but he’s also an esteemed pilot who holds the rank of captain for the Airbus A350 aircraft. (In fact, Kuo-wei was in the cockpit for the Starlux inaugural flight from Taipei to  Los Angeles .) 

Starlux’s origin story as a luxury-focused airline is a fascinating one, with a  Succession -style struggle for power that led to its creation. Aviation runs in the family; Kuo-wei’s late father, Chang Yung-far, is the founder of EVA. When Yung-far passed in 2016, a family battle erupted, pushing Kuo-wei out of the company. A mere two years later, Starlux was born. While Kuo-wei says that Starlux isn’t an airline created out of revenge, the narrative is certainly compelling. 

As a newer carrier, Starlux isn’t part of any major airline alliance (executives say that isn’t in the cards anytime soon). However, a partnership with  Alaska Airlines was launched, in conjunction with the new Los Angeles service. 

Once fully implemented later this summer, Alaska and Starlux passengers can book connecting flights on a single ticket. For loyalty program aficionados, Alaska miles will soon be able to be redeemed on Starlux-operated flights. More specifically, Starlux’s Los Angeles-to-Taipei route will start at 60,000 Alaska miles for a one-way  business-class seat . 

Starlux Airlines' business seats come with closing doors and a Zero-G function.

A tech-forward (and decadent) onboard experience

The new Los Angeles-to-Taipei route is flown on Starlux’s four-cabin Airbus A350-900, featuring four seats in first class, 26 in business, 36 in premium economy, and 240 in economy. Both first and business are arranged in a reverse herringbone layout, with seats angled away from the aisle. 

For the 14-hour journey to Taipei, I was seated in 4D, a center seat in the middle of the business cabin. Every seat has all-aisle access and a suite door, with a “halo” feature at the top of the pod for an elevated sense of seclusion. The “Elements” suite, manufactured by Collins Aerospace, is brand new to the market. It features a larger footwell, more storage, and advanced tech compared to its predecessor, the “Super Diamond” seat, found on airlines like British Airways and American Airlines. 

All the latest tech was at my fingertips, including USB-C charging, a wireless charging pad, and a 4K, 24-inch screen with Bluetooth capabilities. (Yes, it’s possible to connect AirPods to watch a movie onboard.) There’s also a massager and unique “Zero-G” seat function that cradles passengers, adjusting the seat to have their chest and feet in alignment, with the intended goal of reducing fatigue on long-haul journeys. 

While Wi-Fi is available (and complimentary for first and business-class passengers), it wasn’t operational on the inaugural flight from LAX. Also, a notable omission is the lack of an exterior camera, commonly offered for viewing through the  in-flight entertainment screen on other airlines that fly the Airbus A350. 

Starlux is the first Airbus A350 operator to have auto-dimmable windows, a feature commonly seen on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. However, I found them to be a bit form-over-function as it took nearly half a minute to completely dim or brighten them. (At that point, you may as well just offer a manual shade.) 

In another first, Starlux operates a “New Production Standard” plane delivered from Airbus, with the overall passenger compartment four inches wider than previous A350s. That may not seem like much, but every inch counts for onboard comfort. While on some airlines that may mean squeezing in another seat per row, Starlux has opted to keep nine-abreast seating (3-3-3 configuration) in economy. 

At the very front of the aircraft is  first class , but instead of a separate, dedicated cabin, it’s akin to a “business class plus” experience. However, there are several improvements over business, including a 60-inch wall (vs. 48-inch wall), a 32-inch 4K screen (vs. a 24-inch 4K screen), along with a personal wardrobe closet and minibar. Of note, first-class passengers also get access to  PS, a private luxury airport terminal serving commercial flights at LAX. 

The airline's menu features local Taiwanese street delicacies.

High-end details and refined service

Starlux’s precise attention to detail sets the carrier apart from others—down to the airline-branded toilet paper. Meanwhile, the cabin ambiance is futuristic and avant-garde without sacrificing a sense of warmth and coziness. 

Olivia Morelli

Gianluca Longo

Charlie Hobbs

Those stepping onboard Starlux for the very first time, like myself, are sure to notice a few elements immediately. The earth-toned interior, with matte golds and brushed aluminums, was created in partnership with BMW Designworks. Three of the cabin’s walls feature unique, rotating artwork, brought to life by micro-LED technology. However, it was the carrier’s signature scent that’s pumped throughout the cabin, "Home in The Air," formulated by Taiwanese perfumer, P. Seven, that first got my attention. 

While Starlux touts its catering partnerships, many of the offerings—like dishes created by Michelin-starred chef Lam Ming Kin—are only available for departures from Taipei. Nevertheless, from Los Angeles, my chilled shrimp and mango salad appetizer was fresh as could be, and the beef tenderloin main was cooked to a perfect medium rare, an impressive feat when served at 35,000 feet. During meal service, each course was individually plated, with the crew exerting a level of precision that can only come from rigorous training. (Many of the crew were poached from world-class carriers like EVA,  Cathay Pacific , Emirates, etc.) 

The provided pajamas, mattress pad, and slippers are plush, and with plenty of feet and leg space under the console, it was even possible to sleep on my side for a full, uninterrupted six hours. 

What’s next for the airline

The airline’s Los Angeles-to-Taipei service ramps up from five weekly flights to daily this June.  According to Starlux Chief Strategy Officer Simon Liu, nonstop service from  San Francisco is on the horizon by year’s end. From there, the plan is to launch one new U.S. route per year, as part of a concerted push into long-haul travel. For travelers who haven’t heard of Starlux, well, that’s likely to change soon.  

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Mandarin Oriental, Taipei

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Call them the bald and the beautiful.

Adult film star Johnny Sins has a key piece of advice for men looking to level up their romance game — embrace your baldness.

Leaning into your hair loss journey is a great way get more time in the bedroom, the 45-year-old said.

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Sins pointed to some of the world’s most prominent people, like Jeff Bezos and Dwayne “The Rock Johnson, as proof of his theory. Other boldfacers like Prince William and Vin Diesel have also been deemed as attractive.

“Some of the most talented people in the world are balds,” he said.

Sins — whose real name is Steven Wolfe — has been in the porn business since 2006 , after leaving his construction job.

He first found sex work through Craiglist ads and began building up his street cred, now being one of the biggest stars in the world.

He even received the award for Most Popular Male Performer by Women at the annual Pornhub Awards in 2018.

Sins also told the Australian outlet about how his job can get in the way of his romantic relationships.

The entertainer was previously married to fellow adult star Kissa Sins and they separated in 2019.

“Dating is hard already for most of us and being in sex work and having sex with multiple people definitely makes things harder,” he said, adding that he is now single and ready to mingle.

He added that he’s hoping to find a partner who is ” willing to accept your lifestyle and you accepting their lifestyle.”

“In the business, it’s fairly easy and common to find a partner because you’re both doing the same thing,” he said.

“You can still be jealous, which is fine, it’s really just communicating with the other person.”

Sins explained that being a porn star is just a job and a means to end, stating that he would prefer to go home and be with the individual that he’s dating than work.

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Flying Starlux's impressive new business class on the inaugural to Taipei

Editors' note: Starlux provided TPG with a free round-trip business-class ticket for the inaugural U.S. route. All opinions expressed here are the author's alone and were not subject to review by Starlux.

As an aviation enthusiast, there's nothing more exciting than trying a brand-new business-class product on a new airline startup.

This opportunity doesn't come around frequently, especially on an airline that says it wants to be as good as Emirates.

Yet that's exactly the experience I had on Wednesday when Starlux Airlines began flying to the U.S.

If you're not familiar, Starlux is a new Taiwanese luxury carrier that commenced operations at perhaps the worst possible time in commercial aviation history: January 2020.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG's free biweekly Aviation newsletter .

The airline had been in the works since 2017 with ambitions to become a major player in the aviation market in Asia and beyond. Moreover, the airline promised to elevate the travel experience for everyone — particularly in business and first class, where it introduced an all-new long-haul product .

While the pandemic put a nearly three-year pause on Starlux's plans, the carrier is officially back in growth mode now that global travel restrictions are in the rearview mirror.

Starlux already flies from its Taipei hub to 16 popular Asian destinations, such as Bangkok and Singapore. On April 26, the airline started flying the Airbus A350-900 to Los Angeles, its first destination in North America.

San Francisco will become the airline's next U.S. city later this year. Others, including possibly New York, are coming in 2024 and beyond, Starlux's chief strategy officer Simon Liu told TPG in an interview.

Since its inception, I've had Starlux on my radar, but now that it flies to the U.S., the airline is more relevant than ever. Could the carrier really be as good as Emirates or at least rival its top-notch Taiwanese competitors, China Airlines and EVA Air ?

Well, after flying in business class on the airline's inaugural U.S. departure, I have an answer. Read on to find out.

Starlux Airlines business class booking

Getting a ticket to fly Starlux Airlines long-haul business class is about to become much more affordable.

That's because the airline just announced a loyalty partnership with Alaska Airlines . You'll be able to redeem Mileage Plan miles for Starlux flights beginning later this summer.

The introductory one-way redemption rates start at 20,000 miles for economy, 40,000 miles for premium economy and 60,000 miles for business class — fantastic values compared to Starlux's cash fares. (Unfortunately, first-class awards via Alaska won't be available.)

It isn't clear yet how much partner award availability Starlux will release. Hopefully, the airline will at least make awards available when it has unsold seats at the last minute.

If you splurge for a round-trip cash ticket from LA to Taipei (which starts at around $5,500 in business class and a whopping $18,000 in first class), you can now credit your flight to Mileage Plan.

Starlux's COSMILE loyalty program will soon allow mileage earning and redemptions on Alaska, Liu said. Even so, most U.S.-based travelers would be better off banking miles with Mileage Plan.

Starlux isn't currently a member of a major airline alliance, though "joining an alliance is always our goal," Liu said. Of the three major alliances , Starlux would seem to be best suited for Oneworld, possibly as a "Connect" member.

As mentioned in the disclosure above, Starlux provided TPG with a free round-trip, business-class ticket for the inaugural LA to Taipei flight, but all opinions expressed here are mine alone.

Interestingly, the first-class cabin went out completely empty on my flight. I inquired about a last-minute upgrade at the check-in desk, hoping for a similar outcome to my recent Air France La Premiere experience .

I was shocked when the agent told me the astronomical rates:

• Economy to premium economy: $1,000.
• Premium economy to business class: $3,000.
• Business class to first class: $5,000.

Suffice to say, I stuck with business class.

Starlux Airlines business class ground experience

While most flight experiences begin at the check-in desk, this one was special.

To celebrate the inaugural, Starlux hosted an invite-only media event at the Flight Path Museum and Learning Center, located adjacent to the general aviation area of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

The event began with speeches from the airline's chairman, CEO and other partners. The line that stuck with me most was the chairman's vision that "luxury shouldn't be the exclusive experience of the elite but readily available to everyone [on Starlux]."

After the speeches, the airline previewed its upcoming tie-up with the Los Angeles Clippers and Dodgers. When the partnership begins in June, you'll find Clippers- and Dodgers-themed meals and branding throughout the plane on flights from LA to Taipei.

Starlux's rival EVA Air may have a dedicated Hello Kitty plane , but that's not stopping the startup carrier from forging its own unique partnerships.

The media event concluded with a walk down the red carpet to the two-week-old Starlux Airbus A350, registered B-58503 . It had just landed from Taipei and would head back there later that evening with me onboard.

After a brief tour of the plane's four cabins, I was even more excited for my 14-hour flight — the business-class seats looked more impressive in person than in renderings.

Five hours later, I was on my way to LAX's Tom Bradley International Terminal to begin the Starlux business-class experience.

I quickly found the airline's check-in counters in row B — the only area with more staff than passengers.

The priority business-class counter had no line, and they issued my boarding pass within a few minutes. (Note that Starlux's check-in desks don't open until about three hours before the flight. Some passengers got there too early and were frustrated by the wait.)

My only gripe about the check-in experience is that Starlux doesn't yet participate in TSA PreCheck . The airline is supposedly working on a tie-in, but until then, you'll need to clear standard security at LAX. This process took me around 30 minutes due to how busy the terminal gets before the late-night departure bank of transpacific flights.

Once airside, I made my way to the Oneworld business-class lounge , just up a set of escalators in the main departure hall.

That's where Starlux's business-class passengers can relax before their flight, but I certainly wouldn't recommend arriving early to camp out there.

The good news is that with more than 600 seats, the nearly 42,000-square-foot lounge doesn't suffer from overcrowding even during peak periods. There are plenty of seating options, ranging from couches to individual recliners to coworking tables.

You can even relax on a circular couch surrounding an electronic fireplace.

That said, the rest of the lounge experience can be best described as "good enough." The buffet featured an assortment of three prepared salads and three hot entrees, none of which looked too appetizing.

The bathrooms and shower rooms are in the far back corner of the lounge, and while they were clean, they weren't the most spacious or luxurious.

As far as international lounges at LAX go, this one is in the middle of the pack. It's not nearly as drabby as the Korean Air lounge, but it's also not as good as the Star Alliance Lounge, which features an outdoor terrace and more natural light.

I've heard much better things about Starlux's Galactic Lounge in Taipei , so I'm looking forward to checking that out on my return trip.

I spent the rest of my time before the 12:10 a.m. boarding call wandering around the terminal, which I find one of the nicest in America.

I got to the gate a bit early to see if any festivities were happening. However, aside from a few hanging posters, you wouldn't have necessarily known that this was Starlux's inaugural U.S. departure. I guess the airline kept the celebration limited to the outbound service from Taipei (and the media event).

Still, plenty of passengers knew what was happening; many were lined up against the glass windows snapping pictures of the plane. Some even came from the opposite gate across the hall — an EVA Air departure to Taipei — to grab some shots, too.

The excitement continued once I got onboard, as I saw many of my fellow flyers taking videos and posing for pictures in the new cabins.

As for me, my immediate focus was on testing out every nook and cranny of this brand-new business-class product.

Starlux Airlines business class cabin and seat

Starlux's Airbus A350 features a seven-row business-class cabin between the first and second exit doors on the plane.

The 26 seats are arranged in a reverse herringbone 1-2-1 configuration, giving each flyer direct aisle access with privacy.

Starlux decided to market the bulkhead row of the business-class cabin as first class, but there are no curtains separating the cabin. Rather, the four first-class suites are demarcated by higher privacy partitions and sliding doors.

At first glance, I was struck by how visually appealing the cabin was.

From the gold headrest accents to the illuminated seat number panels to the flower-themed design on the galley wall, Starlux business class certainly exudes a sense of understated luxury.

Moreover, the dimmable side lamps at each seat contrasted beautifully with the dark gray and brown tones of the seat finishes.

Combined with the mood lighting and the lack of overhead bins above the center seats, this is one of the nicest business-class cabins I've seen. (The one downside is that the overhead bins above the window seats were overstuffed.)

Don't forget to take a whiff of the cabin once onboard: The airline partnered with perfume manufacturer P.Seven for a custom "Home in the Air" fragrance that it sprays onboard its planes.

Starlux is the launch customer for Collins Aerospace's new Elements suite , and I was very impressed by the "hard product." (The good news is that it's coming to more airlines, including the next batch of Etihad Boeing 787 Dreamliners later this year.)

Collins may be best known for its popular Super Diamond seat found on many major airlines, including American and British Airways. However, this next-generation product raises the bar for the business-class experience.

Many aspects of the seat design will be familiar if you've flown on Etihad's Airbus A350 or in the British Airways Club Suite .

The 21-inch-wide seat was comfortable, and you could adjust the seat and its lighting using the 4.7-inch touchscreen panel on the armrest.

The seat also featured a unique "Zero-G" position, which was supposedly developed based on NASA's neutral body posture specifications to help alleviate fatigue.

Just like the Super Diamond seat, there's a small storage compartment that can be unlatched along the side table. It's not that big or deep, so don't expect to keep more than a wallet and AirPods inside.

That said, the new Starlux seat features one of the largest and deepest storage closets I've ever seen in business class. It opens at the push of a button and has plenty of room for all of your loose items. It could easily fit an iPad, but not a laptop.

I loved the gold-lined finish, the built-in lamp and the large selfie mirror in this closet — three design choices that show Starlux really paid attention to the details.

Finally, there was a small, exposed storage compartment along the side of the seat near the footwell and literature pocket, which was the perfect place to keep my amenity kit during the flight.

Another improvement over the Super Diamond seat was the armrest design. Not only can you raise and lower it, but you can also move it forward to enlarge the surface area of the bed by at least six inches.

When it was time to sleep, the seat converted into a 77-inch-long bed at the push of a button. Perhaps the biggest improvement with the Elements suite was the noticeably larger footwell area.

Personally, I had no trouble getting six hours of uninterrupted sleep during my flight.

While many airlines have installed doors in business class, the Starlux suite sports one of the tallest doors I've seen. It rose 50 inches from the floor.

I booked my flight at the last minute, and unfortunately, no window seats were available. I wasn't originally looking forward to being a solo flyer sitting in the middle section. However, the privacy panel between the center seats (which defaults into the locked position) kept me shielded from my neighbor the entire flight.

In fact, at 18 inches high, the privacy divider appeared much taller than many existing products in the skies.

Just like the Super Diamond seat, the bi-fold tray table can be extended from underneath the entertainment monitor. It measured 16 inches wide and 18.5 inches long, and I appreciated the faux-wood design that Starlux chose here.

The Starlux A350 is also the first of its kind to feature electronically dimmable windows.

I played around with the windows while we were on the ground, and I found the slider controls to be intuitive and responsive, even more so than the comparable system on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner .

Unfortunately, Starlux didn't install personal air nozzles on its A350. The passenger service unit above each seat only featured a light, and a digital seatbelt and a no-smoking sign.

Without overhead bins over the middle seats, the reading lights shine from way above. This can be distracting if your neighbor uses their light at night.

There are three nicely appointed lavatories for the 30 first- and business-class passengers to share. Two of them are next to row 8, so I'd avoid seats 8D and 8G at all costs — the bathroom door essentially opens directly into those seats.

The other lavatory is in the forward galley, and it's a tiny bit larger than the other two. All three feature touchless sinks, an arrangement of green succulents, Huygens hand cream and moisturizer, cloth towels and floss picks.

True to the airline's mission, Starlux's business-class seats are some of the most luxurious in the sky. It may not be the Qatar Qsuite or ANA The Room , but Starlux business class is certainly up there as one of the best products flying around.

Starlux Airlines business class amenities and IFE

Some airlines introduce fancy new business-class seats and then drop the ball on the rest of the experience.

Starlux isn't one of them.

Waiting at my seat during boarding was a gold-colored pillow and a supremely comfortable duvet that was just as soft as the purple blankets in Qatar's Qsuite (that I consider to be among the best blankets in the sky).

A Bric's-branded amenity kit was also waiting at my seat. It was full of goodies, including sample sizes of Huygens lip balm, hand cream and facial mist, a dental kit, a Starlux-branded eye mask, socks, earplugs and a brush.

I also found a pair of disposable slippers tucked into the side of the seat during boarding. They weren't the fleece-lined Saks-branded ones you'd find in United Polaris, but they did the trick.

When it was time to rest, a flight attendant turned my seat into a bed and placed a thick mattress pad on the surface, which made it much easier to doze off.

I also received a pair of comfortable Starlux pajamas. At first glance, I didn't love the beige color, but I found that they fit well and offered pockets in the pants — something that too many airlines forgo in their pajama offerings.

Each business-class suite featured a high-tech, 24-inch 4K entertainment screen loaded with lots of content.

There were more than 145 movies, including new releases such as "The Fablemans" and "She Said," as well as 77 TV show titles, including "Tokyo Vice" and HBO's "The Time Traveler's Wife." The content library wasn't as robust as you'd find on Emirates' ICE or on Singapore's KrisWorld, but you should hopefully find a few interesting things to watch.

I enjoyed playing around with the entertainment software. There was no lag whatsoever, and it even offered some nifty features, such as a digital food and drink menu.

My favorite feature, however, was Bluetooth connectivity, which allowed me to pair my AirPods Pro wirelessly without any dongles.

Starlux also provided a non-branded pair of active noise-canceling headphones, but they weren't all that powerful. The sound quality wasn't as good as on a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 or AirPods Max, for example.

While I primarily controlled the screen using my finger, you can also use a retractable trackpad remote built into the storage closet instead.

I mostly kept the screen tuned to the FlightPath3D moving map to track our progress. I was a bit disappointed that such a tech-forward airline opted not to install a live tail cam.

But my biggest frustration with the entire flight experience was the inoperable Wi-Fi. The "Galactic Wi-Fi" network appeared in my list of available networks, but it simply wouldn't connect.

The purser tried resetting the system multiple times to no avail. After the flight, I learned that the Wi-Fi was also broken on the inbound from Taipei — the inaugural flight that the airline's chairman, CEO and other senior company officers flew on.

Fast and reliable Wi-Fi is a must-have in business class these days, so hopefully, Starlux can fix these issues immediately.

I was impressed by the variety of charging options that Starlux installed, which included a universal AC outlet, a 60-Watt USB-C fast-charging port, a USB-A charging port and a Qi-wireless charging pad — all located in the storage closet.

Starlux Airlines business class food and beverage

I wasn't sure how Starlux's culinary offerings would stack up, but I landed in Taipei impressed with what I tried.

Service began on the ground with a refreshing pre-departure grape drink and a warm towel. I was then instructed to look at the menu and wine list waiting for me in the seat's literature pocket.

Staff collected meal orders at the end of boarding, but the contents of the menu weren't surprising to me.

That's because I went onto Starlux's "manage my booking" section of the website a few days before my flight to select my preferred entrees.

This wasn't Singapore's Book the Cook offering where you could pre-order off-menu items. (A similar service is available on Starlux's departures from Taipei.) Instead, it was a meal reservation system to guarantee that you receive your first entree choice.

After takeoff, flight attendants brought an amuse-bouche of sesame-crusted Boursin cheese on a poppyseed bellini and a dried fig with bottarga cream cheese. This came alongside a drink of choice — I tried the Starlux signature gin-based cosmos cocktail, which was just as refreshing as it looked.

Following these light bites, my table was set, and the grilled shrimp salad starter was served.

After I finished the salad, a flight attendant came around with a cappuccino mushroom soup and offered a choice from the bread basket (yes, a literal basket with three bread options).

I love when airlines offer soup in business class because it reheats well and keeps its flavor at altitude. This one was no exception.

At this point, I switched over to Champagne, and I enjoyed two glasses of the Bollinger Special Cuvee NV Champagne, which retails for about $80 on the ground.

Following the soup, staff served my entree. I pre-selected the braised Chilean sea bass, and it was about as perfectly prepared as I'd expect from an upscale restaurant on the ground.

The fish was flaky and cooked through, while the fried noodles weren't too dry or overcooked.

I finished the meal with an apple pecan tart and a small fruit plate.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the late-night dinner. While I was somewhat surprised there wasn't an Asian menu available, the Western offerings were just as good, if not better, than what I'd expect from a top-notch European or Middle Eastern carrier.

Before dozing off, I asked to take a peek at the snack basket, and I snagged some granola bars and Taiwan-made dried fruits.

I didn't wake up for the warm mid-flight snack service, but I personally don't see the appeal in ordering a burger just a few hours after a multi-course dinner. I probably would've gone with the wonton noodle soup option, but I was happy to prioritize sleep over more food.

I did wake up in time for breakfast service, which they served a full three hours before landing.

There was an Asian menu available for breakfast. However, I had preordered the chickpea quiche from the Western menu, thinking I would still be stuffed from dinner.

That proved to be the case, so I just nibbled at the breakfast, which came out in three separate courses.

The smoked salmon appetizer salad was a very premium touch for an airplane breakfast – a meal I often skip because of poor quality.

The quiche was also quite tasty, though it certainly wasn't worth finishing considering that I was about to have "real" food in Taipei upon arrival.

I had no qualms about enjoying the fruit plate – it had just the right amount of fruit to provide a bit of a sugar rush to get my day started.

Starlux Airlines business-class service

What really set the Starlux business-class experience apart was the service. In many cases, it felt more like something you'd find in international first class.

Of course, it's possible that Starlux hand-picked the crew for this inaugural. Still, after speaking to other flyers and learning more about the airline's crew culture, I'm confident this service experience wasn't unique to my flight.

Many of Starlux's flight attendants come from other well-regarded airlines, including Emirates, Cathay Pacific and Qatar, so they are already familiar with elevated onboard service.

That, combined with the high standards that Starlux sets, should make for a very pleasant flight.

For instance, throughout the flight, I was consistently addressed as Mr. Griff, and the flight attendants consistently kneeled down to speak to me at eye level. The crew quickly found that I like to drink a lot of water during long-haul flights, and they consistently refilled my glass every 15 minutes.

Moreover, the main meal service was served plate-by-plate instead of via trays. That premium touch further elevated the dining experience.

I also really liked the design of the tableware and glassware, especially the gold-colored bread plates, the Riedel glasses, and the weighted salt and pepper shakers.

The service experience wasn't perfect, however. The crew could've communicated more proactively about the inoperable Wi-Fi — it took nearly four hours into the flight for the purser to make a PA announcement.

Plus, Starlux could benefit from a dine-on-demand concept in business class, especially given the late departure from Los Angeles. Some flyers may prefer to head straight to bed after departure instead of having a big meal service.

Starlux Airlines business class bottom line

So, how does Starlux business class stack up?

Although it's a brand-new airline, Starlux joins heavyweights like Qatar and ANA in offering one of the world's best business-class cabins.

The next-generation suites are spacious, comfortable and private. The amenities, entertainment and connectivity options are pretty impressive.

Coupled with stellar dining options and a five-star crew, you're poised to have a great flight in Starlux's Airbus A350 business class.

But now, you'll need to excuse me — I have 14 hours' worth of emails and messages that need my attention.

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BREAKING: South Carolina beats Iowa to cap off an undefeated season

Your last-minute guide to Monday's total solar eclipse

A total solar eclipse will cross North America on Monday , offering millions a rare opportunity to see afternoon skies temporarily darken as the moon blocks the face of the sun.

Tune into NBC News NOW as Lester Holt hosts a two-hour special at 2 p.m. ET Monday from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The eclipse's path fortuitously cuts across Mexico, 15 U.S. states and a small part of eastern Canada. In all other states in the continental U.S., viewers will be treated to a partial solar eclipse, with the moon appearing to take a bite out of the sun and obscuring part of its light.

Here’s everything you need to know about the rare celestial event.

What is a solar eclipse?

Solar eclipses occur when the sun, moon and Earth align. The moon passes between Earth and sun, temporarily blocking the sun’s light and casting a shadow on Earth.

A total solar eclipse is when the moon fully obscures the sun, whereas a partial solar eclipse means it blocks just a portion of the sun’s face.

Solar eclipses occur only with the new moon. Because the moon’s orbit around Earth is tilted, the three bodies don’t always line up in a way that creates an eclipse.

“Imagine if the moon’s orbit were in the plane of Earth’s orbit around the sun — if that were the case, then every new moon, you’d have a total solar eclipse and every full moon, you’d have a lunar eclipse,” Neil DeGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, told NBC News. “So, because things don’t always align, it lends to the rarity of the event and the specialness of the event.”

Where and when will the eclipse be visible?

This year’s eclipse will follow a slightly wider path over more populated areas of the continental U.S. than other total solar eclipses have in the recent past.

NASA estimates that 31.6 million people live within what’s known as the path of totality, where the total solar eclipse will be visible. An additional 150 million people live within 200 miles of the path, according to the agency.

The path travels through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Tiny parts of Michigan and Tennessee will also be able to witness totality if conditions are clear.

After the eclipse crosses into Canada, it will pass over southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, at the eastern end of Nova Scotia.

Those outside the path of totality can still take part in the astronomical event by viewing a partial solar eclipse — visible throughout all 48 states of the contiguous U.S. — or a NASA livestream.

The timing, including how long totality lasts, depends on the location, but some spots will see the moon fully cover the sun for up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds.

Below is a list of timings for some cities along the path of totality, as  provided by NASA . A number of other resources, including NationalEclipse.com  and  TimeandDate.com , can also help people plan.

• Dallas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:23 p.m. CT and totality at 1:40 p.m.
• Little Rock, Arkansas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:33 p.m. CT and totality at 1:51 p.m.
• Cleveland: Partial eclipse begins at 1:59 p.m. ET and totality at 3:13 p.m.
• Buffalo, New York: Partial eclipse begins at 2:04 p.m. ET and totality at 3:18 p.m.
• Lancaster, New Hampshire: Partial eclipse begins at 2:16 p.m. ET and totality at 3:27 p.m.

How to safely view a solar eclipse

It is never safe to gaze directly at the sun, even when it is partly or mostly covered by the moon. Special eclipse glasses or  pinhole projectors  are required to safely view solar eclipses and prevent eye damage. Failing to take the proper precautions can result in severe eye injury,  according to NASA .

Eclipse glasses are thousands of times darker than normal sunglasses and specially made to enable wearers to look at the sun during these kinds of celestial events.

Sky-watchers should also never view any part of the sun through binoculars, telescopes or camera lenses unless they have specific solar filters attached. Eclipse glasses should not be used with these devices, as they will not provide adequate protection.

However, during the few minutes of totality, when the moon is fully blocking the sun, it is safe to look with the naked eye.

Beware of fake eclipse glasses. On legitimate pairs, the lenses should have a silver appearance on the front and be black on the inside. The manufacturer’s name and address should be clearly labeled, and they should not be torn or punctured. Check, as well, for the ISO logo and the code “IS 12312-2” printed on the inside.

If you don’t have eclipse glasses, you can make a homemade pinhole projector, which lets sunlight in through a small hole, focuses it and projects it onto a piece of paper, wall or other surface to create an image of the sun that is safe to look at. 

All you need is two pieces of white cardboard or plain white paper, aluminum foil and a pin or thumbtack. Cut a 1- to 2-inch square or rectangle out of the center of a piece of white paper or cardboard. Tape aluminum foil over that cut-out shape, then use a pin or thumbtack to poke a tiny hole in the foil.

During the eclipse, place a second piece of white paper or cardboard on the ground as a screen and hold the projector with the foil facing up and your back to the sun. Adjusting how far you hold the projector from the second piece of paper will alter the size of the image on the makeshift screen.

What to look for while viewing the total solar eclipse

For people along the path of totality, there are some fun milestones to keep track of as the total solar eclipse unfolds.

As the eclipse progresses and the sun gets thinner in the sky, it will start to get eerily dark, according to Tyson.

When the last beams of sunlight are about to become obscured, look out for the “diamond ring effect”: The sun’s atmosphere will appear as an illuminated halo, and the last light still visible will look like the diamond of a giant ring.

As the sunlight decreases even further, an effect known as Baily’s beads will be created by the moon’s rugged terrain. Tiny “beads” of light will be visible for only a few seconds around the dark moon, as the last bits of sunlight peer through the moon’s mountains and valleys.

When the moon is fully blocking the sun, it is safe to remove eclipse glasses and look at the total solar eclipse with the naked eye.

Some lucky sky-watchers may even catch a glimpse of a comet .

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks — nicknamed the “ devil comet ” because an eruption last year left it with two distinct trails of gas and ice in the shape of devil horns — is currently visible from the Northern Hemisphere as it swings through the inner solar system.

The comet can be seen in the early evenings by gazing toward the west-northwest horizon. During the eclipse, when skies darken during totality, it may be possible to see the comet near Jupiter, but its visibility will depend on whether it’s in the middle of an outburst and thus brighter than normal.

Most likely, all eyes will be on the alignment of the moon and sun.

“Most people won’t even notice,” Tyson said. “But if you know to look, it’s there.”

When is the next solar eclipse?

The next total solar eclipse will be in 2026, but it will mostly pass over the Arctic Ocean, with some visibility in Greenland, Iceland, Portugal and northern Spain. In 2027, a total solar eclipse will be visible in Spain and a swath of northern Africa.

The next total solar eclipse visible from North America will be in 2033, but only over Alaska. Then in 2044, a total solar eclipse will cross Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, parts of Canada and Greenland.

The next total solar eclipse to cross the continental U.S. coast-to-coast in will occur in 2045. The path of totality for that eclipse will cut through California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

Denise Chow is a reporter for NBC News Science focused on general science and climate change.

Lucas Thompson is a content producer for the NBC News Climate Unit.

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• April 7, 2024 The Sunday Read: ‘What Deathbed Visions Teach Us About Living’
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The Sunday Read: ‘What Deathbed Visions Teach Us About Living’

Researchers are documenting a phenomenon that seems to help the dying, as well as those they leave behind..

By Phoebe Zerwick

Read by Samantha Desz

Produced by Jack D’Isidoro and Aaron Esposito

Narration produced by Anna Diamond and Emma Kehlbeck

Original music by Aaron Esposito

Engineered by Sophia Lanman and Sharon Kearney

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Chris Kerr was 12 when he first observed a deathbed vision. His memory of that summer in 1974 is blurred, but not the sense of mystery he felt at the bedside of his dying father. Throughout Kerr’s childhood in Toronto, his father, a surgeon, was too busy to spend much time with his son, except for an annual fishing trip they took, just the two of them, to the Canadian wilderness. Gaunt and weakened by cancer at 42, his father reached for the buttons on Kerr’s shirt, fiddled with them and said something about getting ready to catch the plane to their cabin in the woods. “I knew intuitively, I knew wherever he was, must be a good place because we were going fishing,” Kerr told me.

Kerr now calls what he witnessed an end-of-life vision. His father wasn’t delusional, he believes. His mind was taking him to a time and place where he and his son could be together, in the wilds of northern Canada.

Kerr followed his father into medicine, and in the last 10 years he has hired a permanent research team that expanded studies on deathbed visions to include interviews with patients receiving hospice care at home and with their families, deepening researchers’ understanding of the variety and profundity of these visions.

There are a lot of ways to listen to ‘The Daily.’ Here’s how.

We want to hear from you. Tune in, and tell us what you think. Email us at [email protected] . Follow Michael Barbaro on X: @mikiebarb . And if you’re interested in advertising with The Daily, write to us at [email protected] .

Additional production for The Sunday Read was contributed by Isabella Anderson, Anna Diamond, Sarah Diamond, Elena Hecht, Emma Kehlbeck, Tanya Pérez and Krish Seenivasan.

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Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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