The secret’s finally out: Once-overlooked Greenland, a self-governing country that’s part of the realm of Denmark, is finally starting to garner the attention it deserves as a tourist destination. The world’s largest island delivers on a wide variety of adventures against a backdrop of some of the most spectacular landscapes on the planet. When you consider that along with the opportunity to gain unique insight into life in the Arctic, it’s not hard to see why Greenland has become an increasingly tempting prospect for overseas travelers. If you’re thinking of hopping on a plane to join them, we’ve compiled a list of tips that will help first-time visitors get the most out of their trip to Greenland.

Take Advantage of Improved Connections

Greenland is investing heavily in infrastructure in order to improve accessibility and harness its tourism potential. Nuuk’s new international airport opened in November 2024, with a longer runway that made transatlantic flights possible for the first time, including seasonal nonstop service with United from Newark, New Jersey. 2026 is set to be another landmark year for Greenland aviation, with a new runway and terminal opening at Ilulissat Airport and a significant upgrade to the facilities of Qaqortoq Airport on track to open by the end of the year.  

Don’t Be Overly Ambitious With Your Itinerary

Greenland is a huge country — roughly three times the size of the state of Texas — so distances between towns can be considerable. And as approximately 80% of its land area is covered in ice, inland infrastructure is minimal. To move from place to place, you’ll usually be faced with a choice of air or sea travel. Because of that (not to mention Greenland’s often unpredictable weather), packing too much into your itinerary is likely to result in frustration. Instead, stick to one region and focus on the activities and experiences you can have there. 

First-Time Visitors Should Focus on the West

Western Greenland itineraries typically make the most sense if you’ve never traveled to the island before. A significant proportion of Air Greenland’s domestic flight network is concentrated across that region. Meanwhile, the Sarfaq Ittuq coastal ferry shuttles back and forth between Ilulissat and Qaqortoq, connecting 12 settlements in the west of Greenland throughout the warmer months. Whether you plan on booking an organized tour or traveling independently, better transport links will make getting around a whole lot easier if you stick to the western part of the island.

Make Sure You See the Highlights

Set your sights on Disko Bay if you’re keen to encounter the majestic, 4-mile-long Ilulissat Icefjord. Some of the icebergs here stand more than 300 feet tall, and many of them calve from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier into the sea, which UNESCO calls “a dramatic and awe-inspiring natural phenomenon.” You can also spot whales, seals, and walruses as you cruise along this magnificent waterway. 

In summer, consider paddling a kayak to witness sunset colors reflected in the ice. Or, from January to April, venture inland and hunker down for the night in an authentic igloo.

Winter is also the best time to try your hand at activities such as snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and dog-sledding in coastal settlements like Sisimiut and Kangerlussuaq. Make the most of the dark skies as you marvel at the ethereal northern lights before finishing up in Nuuk, the capital. There, you can check out the Greenland National Museum to gain insight into the history and culture that has shaped a nation, as well as the challenges presented by rising global temperatures when you live surrounded by ice.

Plan Your Trip as Far Ahead as Possible

With increased interest in Greenland, those who organize their trip well in advance will benefit from more affordable prices and a greater choice of accommodations and tours. Tina Lauritsen of Greenland Travel says it’s best to plan your trip as early as possible using a specialist travel agency that knows the area well: “The first rule when traveling to Greenland? Book your accommodation and then flight tickets.” That’s especially important if you hope to visit small settlements such as Ilulissat in peak season, when demand often outstrips supply.

Visit an ATM While You’re in Nuuk or Ilulissat

Although contactless and card payments are increasingly common, many Greenlandic settlements are very small, and businesses may have a tradition of requiring payment in cash. You’ll find ATMs in larger cities such as Nuuk and Ilulissat, but not everywhere, so it’s a good idea to withdraw some Danish kroner (Greenland’s currency) when you have the opportunity. A few tourist stores may accept U.S. dollars, but the acceptance of foreign currency isn’t widespread.

Tipping Isn’t Expected But Is Always Welcome

Unlike in the U.S., gratuities aren’t expected when taking a tour, catching a cab, or dining out. The price you pay includes service. That said, if the service you receive is truly exceptional, offering an additional tip is likely to be warmly welcomed. In these instances, leaving a small amount in cash is the best way to go. 

Be Respectful When Taking Photographs

In a country as beautiful as Greenland, you’ll be reaching for your camera often. It’s polite to ask locals if you can take their photograph, though you might be refused, particularly where tourist numbers are highest. In that case, do as they ask. When photographing wildlife, be sure to keep a reasonable distance to ensure you don’t unwittingly disrupt breeding or feeding patterns. Also be sure not to move any objects or plants — leave everything as you found it.

Prepare To Encounter Bugs During the Summer

Despite Greenland’s northerly location, summer visitors are likely to encounter midges and mosquitoes. They typically appear between June and August when the weather is at its mildest, and they don’t survive the first frosts come fall. If you plan to vacation here during the summer, it’s wise to take precautions, especially if you are prone to being bitten or expect to spend extended periods outdoors. It’s usually possible to buy repellent, nets, and bite cream in large towns, but you’ll probably want to bring your own just to be sure. 

Does thinking about travel make you happier? According to a recent survey, even just planning a vacation can do wonders for our mood and mental health. In April 2025, Talker Research polled 2,000 Americans who had traveled within the last year and found that 68% of them agreed that the anticipation of their next trip was as good as the trip itself. However, 78% of participants felt that the journey home was the worst part, reflecting the stress that travelers often feel transiting through airports. So, what can be done to improve the passenger experience? Let’s take a look at what the world’s best airports have in common.

How Airports Play Their Part in Traveler Happiness

Given the survey results, it’s clear that many airports have a lot of runway, so to speak, to create a better environment for travelers. A 2025 analysis by J.D. Power, an organization that specializes in consumer insights and behavior, identified three key areas that airport managers should focus on: the provision of comfortable seating, water bottle filling stations, and quiet areas — all of which make time at an airport feel like less of an ordeal. Of course, this is in addition to efficiency basics like minimizing queuing time at bottleneck points (such as security screening) and maintaining impressive on-time performance statistics.

Make the Airport Feel Less Like an Airport

However, if we take a closer look at the airports that travelers view the most favorably, those that invariably earn rave reviews have a common element: the airport experience. In short, making an airport feel less like a transit hub and more like a visitor destination can pay dividends. 

And one particular airport has been a consistent high achiever: Singapore Changi. It was named the World’s Best Airport for 2025 in the Skytrax World Airport Awards, the 13th time it has topped the prestigious list. When interviewed about the most recent win, Changi Airport CEO Yam Kum Weng said, “It is indeed gratifying to receive this recognition, and this certainly encourages us to continue to strive to provide the best travel experience.”

What Does Singapore Changi Airport Do Differently?

Alongside the usual check-in desks, security screening facilities, gates, and baggage carousels, travelers at Changi encounter spaces they wouldn’t usually associate with airports. 

The calming influence of nature plays a significant role: Within the airport and the attached Jewel entertainment and retail complex, you’ll find the world’s highest indoor waterfall, a butterfly garden, an outdoor bamboo garden, a canopy park, a topiary walk, a cactus garden, and even a hedge maze.

Art installations dot the airport’s terminals, and there’s an emphasis on having fun. Among a plethora of opportunities for young ones to let off steam, Changi provides a bouncing net, climbing wall, mirror maze, and slides. In fact, no matter your age, you’ll probably be having such a good time when boarding is called that you won’t want to leave.

Other Airports Following Changi’s Lead

Singapore’s commitment to creating an airport experience that doesn’t feel like an airport experience is a move that hasn’t gone unnoticed by other major hubs.

For instance, Doha’s Hamad Airport, which took the top spot from Changi in the Skytrax awards in 2022 and 2024, has also gone all out to woo passengers. A golf simulator in this Qatari hub is an effective antidote to hours spent in a cramped aircraft cabin, while the airport’s Vitality Wellbeing and Fitness Center contains squash courts and a swimming pool. For those content simply to stretch their legs, myriad art installations enhance terminal buildings bursting with retail stores. 

Meanwhile, at Seoul’s Incheon Airport, Korean culture is celebrated with a museum devoted to K-pop as well as regular live performances of Gugak, a traditional form of music. Closer to the U.S., the Vancouver Aquarium maintains a 30,000-gallon tank in the city’s international airport terminal, containing more than 5,000 marine creatures native to British Columbia. Spot wolf eels, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, colorful fish, and anemomes before you head to the gate.

The Best U.S. Airports for Experience-Based Activities

Looking for a happy airport experience within the U.S.? Consider heading to Las Vegas, where Harry Reid International doubles as an aviation museum with exhibits spread throughout Terminal 1, such as a Red Thunderbird and a history-making 1958 Cessna 172. It’s also one of only two U.S. airports (the other being Reno-Tahoe International Airport) where passengers over 21 years of age can try their luck on slot machines. 

In Texas, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport plays host to regular live music gigs; check the schedule on the airport website to see who’s playing when your flight departs. For those with an interest in architecture, LAX’s Theme Building in Los Angeles is a must-see, and Detroit’s funky LED tunnel is a pleasant diversion for those switching terminals at the city’s airport. 

Meanwhile, adjacent to JFK’s Terminal 5 in New York City, you’ll find the TWA Hotel, where you can relax in the faithfully restored sunken lounge designed in the 1960s by Eero Sarineen, as well as a cocktail bar housed inside a vintage Lockheed Constellation L-1649A. You can also learn about the history of Trans World Airlines, in particular its mid-20th-century heyday, in a museum curated by the New York Historical Society.

Uber and other rideshare companies have become ubiquitous over the last decade, but their presence isn’t felt everywhere. A number of cities and even entire countries have banned the app-based juggernaut altogether for a variety of reasons, ranging from regulatory issues to safety concerns. Sometimes, these bans are permanent, but more often they are temporary — Uber has won most of these battles of attrition in the end, though not all of them. Here are eight cities, states, and countries where Uber isn’t available (and why).

China

Like many American corporations with an otherwise global presence, Uber does not operate in mainland China. That’s true for a variety of reasons, from strained geopolitical tensions to the risk of unpredictable government regulations. After making an aggressive push for market share in the Middle Kingdom, the company cut its losses in 2016 and sold its China operations to DiDi, the country’s dominant ride-hailing app.

Germany

If you found yourself in a German Uber in 2014, the company could have been subject to a $250,000 fine. At the time, Uber was facing fierce opposition from traditional taxis, and the government was none too pleased with how unregulated the entire outfit was — to the point that it briefly passed a nationwide ban on the company’s UberPop service, which connected passengers with private drivers using their own cars. That order was short-lived, however, and Uber has been free to operate in Deutschland ever since.

Portland, Oregon

In a 2014 lawsuit accusing the company of being “in violation of the City of Portland’s Private for Hire Transportation Regulations and Administrative Rules,” the Portland Bureau of Transportation ordered Uber to cease operations in Oregon’s most populous city. The dispute was eventually resolved, and earlier in 2025, a bill was introduced that would guarantee drivers more protections.

Thailand

Taking an Uber (or any other car) when you could instead take a traditional open-air tuk tuk seems like a missed opportunity, so perhaps it’s no great loss that the company’s services are unavailable in Thailand, following a 2014 ban. Should you find yourself in need of a rideshare, however, your best option is Grab, the most popular company of its kind in all of Southeast Asia. The “everything app” also offers food delivery and a digital wallet that allows users to make online payments.

Nevada

Just because the state is home to Las Vegas doesn’t mean anything goes in Nevada. After refusing to comply with licensing requirements and other regulations, Uber left the building in 2014. Uber has long claimed that it’s a technology company, not a transportation company, and therefore doesn’t need to meet the same standards as traditional taxi services — a claim that many other jurisdictions have rejected. After a major legal victory, Uber returned to the Silver State the following year.

Russia

Uber largely exited the Russian market in 2018, when it merged with the Russian company Yandex Taxi. In 2023, it sold its remaining stake and fully left the Russian Federation. Yandex, known as the “Google of Russia,” also took over the company’s rideshare services in nearby Armenia.

Denmark

Following new regulations that required drivers to have seat sensors and fare meters, Uber exited Denmark in 2017 rather than comply. As was the case in many other countries, the company received a great deal of pushback from the old guard, namely taxi unions and politicians concerned about Uber’s lack of regulation. Uber returned to the small Scandinavian nation in 2025 in a new format that allowed users to order a car from the Uber app and receive one from Copenhagen-based taxi company Drivr — a hybrid approach also seen elsewhere.

Hungary

In June 2016, Hungary’s parliament passed legislation allowing the country’s national communications authority to block what it described as “illegal dispatch services” from being accessed online. The “forced suspension” followed intense backlash from taxi drivers and lasted until 2024, when Uber resumed operations in Budapest as part of a partnership with Főtaxi. This move was part of an increasingly common pattern in which the company managed to weather the storm of regulations, protests, and bans — and eventually continue doing business in a place that previously forbade it.

Choosing the perfect luggage can feel oddly personal — after all, you’re choosing a travel companion to accompany you on vacations hundreds or thousands of miles away from home. But this travel companion must fit into tight overhead bins, remain intact during baggage handling, and deliver all your belongings from point A to point B. One of the biggest luggage decisions is choosing between a hard-sided suitcase and a soft-sided suitcase. Below, we’ll break down the differences between the two, weighing which one wins on key considerations: flexibility, durability, storage space, security, affordability, waterproofing, and weight. 

Flexibility Winner: Soft-Sided

Soft-sided suitcases win the flexibility battle because their material can adapt to what you pack. Their fabric shells stretch, making it easier to squeeze in odd-shaped items or last-minute extras without needing a clamp to close your luggage. They also compress better, fitting into cramped overhead bins and tiny rental car trunks.

In comparison, hard-sided bags offer little to no give. If the dimensions don’t work for the airlines’ carry-on guidelines or the storage rack on the train, you’re probably out of luck. This lack of flexibility can also lead to issues for chronic overpackers or anyone who brings home lots of souvenirs.

Durability Winner: Hard-Sided

When it comes to protecting your belongings, you can’t beat the durability of hard-sided luggage. These cases are typically made of polycarbonate, aluminum, or special trademarked blends of similar materials that keep their shape, acting as armor to absorb impact even when tossed around by baggage handlers. The Monos Carry-On, for instance, is made from what the company touts as “unbreakable” aerospace-grade polycarbonate that comes with a lifetime warranty. One notable downside of these materials is that they can easily get scratched, scuffed, or dented.

Soft-sided bags — usually made of nylon or polyester — offer less protection because they can lose their form when dropped or crushed beneath heavy bags. This puts fragile items and liquids at risk and can lead to messes inside your suitcase. Fabrics are also more prone to staining from mud and spills, and they tear more easily, especially around zippers and other high-tension areas.

Storage Space Winner: Soft-Sided

Typically, soft-sided luggage offers more storage space per square inch thanks to a top-opening zipper. In contrast, hard-sided luggage usually features a clamshell opening that takes up extra interior space. 

Soft-sided luggage can offer more bells and whistles in the storage and accessibility departments, too. For instance, most designs include exterior pockets, which are perfect for storing travel documents, electronics, or chargers so you can grab them without unzipping your entire suitcase in the middle of the terminal. Samsonite’s bestselling UpLIFT Softside Carry-On Spinner has a mesh dual-access pocket reachable from both the interior and exterior compartments. 

Hard-sided suitcases rarely offer this kind of convenient outside storage, which can make on-the-go organization trickier, especially for carry-on luggage. That said, a few brands now offer the best of both worlds. Calpak’s Hue Front Pocket Carry-On Luggage is one example of a hard-sided suitcase with a large front compartment that adds versatility.

Security Winner: Hard-Sided

A major pro of hard-sided luggage is the security it offers to travelers, especially when packing valuable items. Soft-sided suitcases can be more vulnerable to thieves because fabric is more easily slashed or pried open, and their zippers may be less secure. They also tend to lack built-in locks. For example, Travelpro’s medium Maxlite hard-sided luggage features a built-in lock, but the soft-shell polyester version does not.

Hard-sided suitcases are tougher to break into. A few brands even offer zipperless models. Samsonite’s Framelock Max Carry-On Spinner features a secure “Eazylock” mechanism that is controlled by a central slide puller on the lock, making it much harder to open without knowing the combination.

Affordability Winner: Soft-Sided

While prices vary widely across brands and depend on materials, soft-sided luggage generally comes in at a lower price point, making it a great budget-friendly option. This is because fabrics like nylon and polyester are usually cheaper to produce than polycarbonate or aluminum shells.

For instance, Away offers slightly lower prices on its soft-shell luggage line, made from water-resistant nylon. The Softside Medium luggage costs $295 (as of the time of writing), while the brand’s most popular hard-shell option, the Medium, is priced at $345. These suitcases have the same dimensions and similar features, but the polycarbonate shell comes at a higher price. Of course, both hard-shell and soft-sided luggage can range from economical to luxury, but if overall affordability matters, soft-sided bags tend to give you more for your money.

Waterproof Protection Winner: Hard-Sided

If you often travel to rainy or snowy destinations, or simply don’t want to worry about puddles, hard-sided luggage is the better pick. While many soft-sided bags are water-resistant, they aren’t fully waterproof, which can add unnecessary stress to travel. Heavy rain and water can seep into fabric, ruining your belongings or at least causing staining and musty odors. 

If you prefer soft-sided luggage but need something that withstands the elements, consider shopping for an outdoor brand. Cotapaxi’s Allpa 65L Roller Bag is made from water-resistant polyester and ballistic nylon paneling to protect your belongings from moisture.

Hard shells, on the other hand, repel moisture and can be wiped clean in seconds, protecting your belongings. Damp conditions do not affect the integrity of hard-sided luggage, so you don’t have to worry as much about looking for water-resistant or waterproof designations during your luggage search.

Weight Winner: Tie

For decades, fabric suitcases weighed less than clunky, hard-sided models, but innovations in materials have leveled the playing field. Both hard-sided and soft-sided bags can now be surprisingly lightweight — or heavy — depending on their design and features. In general, polypropylene is the lightest material for hard-sided luggage, and nylon and polyester are the lightest fabrics. However, keep in mind that you might sacrifice durability for weight when choosing these materials.

Consider the weight difference between three popular Samsonite models. The hard-sided Proxis Carry-On Spinner, made with the brand’s Roxkin outer shell, weighs just 4.7 pounds. Meanwhile, the Samsonite Silhouette 18 Softside Global Carry-On Spinner, which has the same dimensions, weighs nearly twice as much at about 7.54 pounds. But not all soft-sided bags are this heavy: The slightly larger UpLIFT Softside Carry-On Spinner weighs only 5.6 pounds. Because weight varies by model, not just material, this category ends in a tie.

In 2024, airlines mishandled 6.3 bags per 1,000 passengers, meaning it’s quite rare that your bag will be lost, delayed, damaged, or stolen. And even if it is, airlines have sophisticated technology to reunite 99.5% of mishandled bags with their owners. However, a tiny fraction of lost bags are truly lost, and airlines pay out claims to compensate those customers. But what about the bags that customers never claim? There’s an interesting process behind this unusual occurrence, and a town in Alabama even claims to be the “Lost Luggage Capital of the World.” Let’s take a closer look. 

What Happens to Bags After They’re Left at the Carousel

If you’ve ever stood around waiting for your luggage at bag claim, you may have seen a carousel with a lone bag or two rotating around again and again, with no one there to claim it. Typically, that’s because the bag ended up on the wrong flight, and after a while an airline employee will remove it from the carousel and attempt to reunite it with its owner. 

But what if the airline can’t find out who it belongs to? Although airlines and airports do their best to return lost items to their owners, a few pieces of luggage — less than 0.03% of all checked bags — never find their way home. According to a travel expert interviewed by Reader’s Digest, the airline will keep the bag at the airport for an average of five days before sending it to a storage facility, where the IATA requires airlines to hold onto it for at least 60 days. 

The Unclaimed Baggage Center 

After 60 days, airlines can offload an unclaimed bag, and for U.S. carriers, there’s one place it often ends up: the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama. Established in 1970 by entrepreneur Doyle Owens, the Unclaimed Baggage Center says it’s the only store in America that sells the contents of lost luggage. The store has agreements with major U.S. airlines and other transportation companies to buy unclaimed items. It resells them online and at a 50,000-square-foot outlet store in Scottsboro. 

According to the store’s website, the Unclaimed Baggage Center receives items at its processing center, where it then sorts them into three categories: resell, repurpose, or recycle. Only about a third of the items sent to the processing center are deemed sellable, but for every item sold, the company donates an average of one item to those in need and recycles the rest. Items that are sold are available at a hefty discount — up to 80% off retail prices. 

The physical store holds about 7,000 unique items, with thousands more available to browse online. And there are certainly some unique finds. In the past, the center has found a bear pelt packed in salt, a camera from the Space Shuttle (which they sent back to NASA), an Egyptian burial mask, a 10-foot Tibetan ceremonial horn, and even the Hoggle puppet from the 1986 movie Labyrinth. The latter was lovingly restored and now stands in their entryway to greet guests.

What You Can Do To Prevent Lost Luggage

While the Unclaimed Baggage Center offers a fascinating treasure trove of items that their owners never bothered to track down, chances are low that your bag will end up there if it’s misplaced. 

In 2024, around 33 million bags were mishandled, but 22 million of them were reunited with their owners within 48 hours. If, within five to 14 days, depending on the airline, the airline still can’t track down your bag, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has strict rules requiring airlines to reimburse you for its contents. Always file a lost bag claim with the airline as soon as you know it’s missing, and be sure to keep receipts for valuable items. 

To prevent this scenario from occurring in the first place, we have a few helpful tips. First, securely affix a bag tag outside with your name, email address, and phone number. You can also place a sheet of paper inside the bag in case the bag tag falls out. These days, we also recommend tossing an Apple AirTag (or similar Bluetooth device) into your bag, so you can get real-time updates on its location. Apple has even introduced a feature that allows you to share the item’s location directly with airlines, which should help you resolve any lost bag situation quickly. 

Featured image credit: Chalabala/ iStock via Getty Images Plus