‘Coffee, Tea, or Me’—Airlines Sold Employees to Sell Flights

Plus, The Country Transformed by All That Money Can Buy

Manage newsletters View in browser The entire world in your inbox. Hello all—   I've just arrived home and in just a few days I'll be back on the road—with so much of the world reopened and warmer weather, I'm finding it hard not to be constantly traveling! I imagine many of you are also making up for lost time, especially if you have remote work flexibility.    For the past month I've been in the Middle East, a region I'd never spent much time in. My first stop was Qatar, the subject of the latest edition of It's Still a Big World, our series on underrated destinations. With endless money thanks to its oil and gas reserves, this tiny peninsula has transformed itself and is a fascinating window into the architecture and cities of the future.   From Qatar I went to Egypt, a destination that I always dreamed about going but never imagined I'd actually get to. First off, I'd say if you're considering going, go soon because the crowds are already starting to build and that's without the tourism from Russia or China. Second, do your homework in advance because the country—Cairo especially—can be overwhelming. I shared my experiences, including my unforgettable trip up the Nile on a traditional sailboat called a dahabiya.  I'm also excited to share one of the more fascinating books I've come across recently–The Great Stewardess Rebellion: How Women Launched a Workplace Revolution at 30,000 Feet. The book is full of truly, truly shocking details of the ways in which flight attendants were fetishized by their own companies to sell tickets and their courageous and creative fight to force customers and bosses to respect them. Don't miss our excerpt, I think you'll be floored by what family friendly airlines like Southwest used to do to these women. Enjoy!   —William O'Connor, Travel Editor 'Coffee, Tea, or Me'—Airlines Sold Employees to Sell Flights Airlines, even those now seen as family-friendly, sold flights on the backs of their female workers' sex appeal. To fight back, flight attendants had to get creative. The Country Transformed by All That Money Can Buy You will gasp, cringe, learn, and perhaps feel a bit of envy. How to Escape Egypt's Crowds on a Chic Nile Sailboat Riding aboard Nour el Nil is rented elegance lounging about on a deck as temples, reed-covered banks, and the dunes of the Sahara float by. The Extraordinary Hunt for the Confederacy's Most Dreaded Ship After sinking more than 60 Union vessels around the world, the Alabama was hunted all the way to a coastal French town for a final battle. "Walking inside to the lobby is a snap in the face with giant metallic blob sculptures that reflect the big screen flames dancing along the walls and a haunting metallic forest canopy above. The hotel's decor is the vision of the French interior designer Jacques Garcia, known for his flamboyant design in works like Paris' chi-chi Hotel Costes." – our latest hotel covered in Room Key is the over- the- top new Banyan Tree in Doha. OMG I Want to Rent This House!    Villa Madison, Ibiza, Spain (onefinestay): Over the past few decades, Ibiza has solidified its reputation as the party capital of Europe. Just hearing the name conjures up the "oontz oontz oontz" of techno beats and the feeling of sand under your toes and water lapping at your legs. But for the social faint of heart in 3 AC (Year 3 Anno COVID, of course), a vacation on this Spanish island doesn't have to be all DJs and holiday raves. Ibiza is also home to high-end, private nooks like Villa Madison where you can escape the macramé-clad crowds to take a break in luxury.   Is there anything that makes your pent up stress melt away faster than hearing the words "daybed by the pool"? Here, there's an option for both types of vacationers: those who accidentally become lobsters on their first day (we recommend the shaded bed for those poor souls), and the sun goddesses who can't get enough of those sweet, free-flowing rays.   Book Your Stay: Villa Madison, Ibiza, Spain: $1,411/night via onefinestay   Don't miss previous OMG, I Want to Rent This House posts, which spotlight the most spectacular and unique homes that you can actually stay in.  Check out the full archives.  Travel to the World's Coolest New City Parks Many of us aren't aware, but we're actually living in a second golden age of urban parks. That, at least, is the takeaway from the fascinating new book from Rizzoli, Parks of the 21st Century: Reinvented Landscapes, Reclaimed Territories  by Victoria Newhouse. The engrossing survey is the perfect addition to our series on travel-related coffee table books–Just Booked.   Inside, the book is a very serious examination of the explosion over the last decade in innovative and spectacular urban parks–places that have been reborn out of the remains of the second industrial era. Highways, airports, waterfront industrial sites, and railroads have been transformed into playful and serene spaces. BUY ON AMAZON  >>                 Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts or newsletters, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here. copyright 2022 The Daily Beast Company LLC I 555 W. 18th Street, New York NY, 10011   Privacy Policy   If you are on a mobile device or cannot view the images in this message, click here to view this email in your browser. 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