A Guy Got Punished for Trying to Sneak a Fat Cat on a Plane

People can legally bring animals on flights. Some airlines allow you to fly with your pet, either in the cabin or as checked baggage. All airlines are required to allow service animals to fly with their disabled humans.

But in all circumstances, there are specific rules that apply, for the safety of you, your pet, and the other passengers and crew. Rules that Mikhail Galin did not consider or give a flying flip about when he decided to try to sneak his cat (who was over the kitty weight limit) on board.

Posted by Mikhail Galin on Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The saga began when Aeroflot, a Russian-based airline, refused to let Galin’s cat, Viktor, fly home with him the cabin. Galin was worried about putting his little buddy in the cargo hold, though, because he knows that Viktor gets nervous in unfamiliar settings and also that the pressure changes are hard for him.

So, instead of taking no for an answer, Galin took to social media in search of a cat who looked like Viktor, except skinnier.

Once the perfect match was found, Galin checked in with the skinnier cat, then simply traded it back for Viktor to a friend who took the littler guy (or gal) home (where can only assume he had a treat and then got on his kitty treadmill).

Galin and Viktor boarded the flight without issue, but he was busted by airport surveillance footage, which showed him swapping the cats.

The old switcheroo was caught, and for Galin (and Viktor), the jig was up.

As a penalty, the airline stripped Galin of his frequent flyer status and removed his 400,000 saved miles.

Ouch.

View this post on Instagram

Тигр! #викторthecat

A post shared by Mikhail Galin (@mikhail_galin) on

But I mean, he seems to really love his cat, so I’m guessing it’s a small price to pay.

Next time, though, maybe just hire a pet sitter.

The post A Guy Got Punished for Trying to Sneak a Fat Cat on a Plane appeared first on UberFacts.

Prehistoric Mammoth Traps Were Discovered Outside Mexico City

This is big news.

The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has revealed at a press conference that ancient traps containing the remains of 14 woolly mammoths were uncovered in Mexico.

At least 15,000 years old, the traps were discovered in Tultepec, a city approximately 25 miles north of Mexico City.

Named “Tultepec II,” the site has been under excavation for about 10 months, and archaeologists working there have discovered around 824 bones from 14 mammoths, including skulls, jaws and ribs. The site has been named a “Mammoth Megasite.”

At the press conference, Pedro Francisco Sánchez Nava, the national archeology coordinator at the INAH, said, “It represents a watershed, a touchstone for how we previously imagined groups of hunter-gatherers interacted with these enormous herbivores.”

Photo Credit: Wikimedia

Researchers think they now have a better understanding of how the beasts were hunted and used by hunter-gatherers in the Mexico Basin. Twenty or thirty hunters would separate one from the herd and, using torches, lure it into the trap. Once there, the animal would be killed, with most of the body either eaten or used in other ways.

One of the skeletons was laid out in a ceremonial way with evidence that indicated it took several hunts to bring it down completely. The arrangement of the bones points to a level of reverence the hunters had for such a fierce kill.

A Mammoth Museum is already open in Tultepec with a nearly complete wooly mammoth skeleton, discovered there in 2016, on display.

The post Prehistoric Mammoth Traps Were Discovered Outside Mexico City appeared first on UberFacts.

According to National Geographic, These Are the Best Trips to Take in 2020

Listen up, world travelers!

Where do you plan on traveling in 2020? Somewhere overseas, or maybe you plan to keep it domestic?

Either way, the new list of “transformative travels” from National Geographic will definitely get you thinking about where you might want to explore next year.

George Stone, executive editor of travel at National Geographic, says, “Best Trips is our annual list of where to go, what to know and how to see the world in the year ahead. To build the list we worked with National Geographic editors around the world as well as photographers, writers, explorers and, of course, passionate travelers to report on the essential sites to see and places to be in 2020.”

Here are the lists from National Geographic, broken down into different categories: Culture, City, Nature, and Adventure.

Culture Picks

1. Asturias, Spain

2. Guizhou Province, China

3. Gobekli Tepe, Turkey

View this post on Instagram

#göbeklitepeturkey #tarih

A post shared by @ retrouvalliess on

4. Maya, Guatemala

5. Mendoza Province, Argentina

View this post on Instagram

Provincia de Mendoza • Egzaminy i projekty skończone w pierwszym tygodniu, drugi wolny na podróże. W sobotę spakowałam plecak, a w nocy w niedzielę dopiero zdecydowałam w którym kierunku jadę w poniedziałek. Ale chyba dobrze trafiłam, prawda? 🤔☀ ••• Exams and projects done in the first week, the second free to travel. On Saturday I packed my backpack and on Sunday I decided where I were going to on Monday. But I ended up nice, didn’t I? ————————————————- #mendoza #potrerillos #lake #andes #mountains #argentina #mendozaprovince #experiencesouthamerica #backpacker #girlswhotravel #backpackersintheworld #southamerica #polacywpodrozy #podrozniczka #podroz #travel #mochilera #hitchhiking #nature #amazingworld

A post shared by Paulina Skrundź (@ucieczka_od_codziennosci) on

6. Abu Simbel, Egypt

View this post on Instagram

📌Abu Simbel, site of two temples built by the Egyptian king Ramses II (reigned 1279–13 BCE), now located in Aswān muḥāfaẓah (governorate), southern Egypt. In ancient times the area was at the southern frontier of pharaonic Egypt, facing Nubia. The four colossal statues of Ramses in front of the main temple are spectacular examples of ancient Egyptian art. By means of a complex engineering feat in the 1960s, the temples were salvaged from the rising waters of the Nile River caused by erection of the Aswan High Dam. Photo 📸 by: @alexinavannes . Follow @antiktarih 👈 _ Follow us for more Archaeological Photography 👉 📸🏺@archeo.photo 🏺📸 👈 _ 📌#archaeology 📌#archeology 📌#archeologia 📌#arqueologia 📌#arkeoloji 📌#археология 📌#arqueología #archéologie 📌#archäologie 📌#abusimbel 📌#ancienttemple

A post shared by Archaeological Photography (@archeo.photo) on

City Picks

1. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

View this post on Instagram

WPW shot of Billy watching the sunrise, as he does every morning, keeping watch over our fair city and all of her inhabitants, as we wake up for a new day. With Thanksgiving tomorrow, I have to say I am very thankful for my family most of all, but the success of our business this past year was quite unexpected, thanks to all of you, our loyal followers, so thank you all for all of your support over the years!! Really means a lot! ______________________________________ Equipment: Mavic 2 Pro Editing: Lightroom Location: Center City, Philly Settings: ISO 100, 10.26mm, f/2.8, 1/30sec ______________________________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #depthdiscovered #visitphilly #philly #philadelphia #shotzdelight #yophillymag #artofvisuals #trappingtones #gramslayers #instagood #citykillerz #depthobsessed #wanderlust #illgrammers #citygrammers #way2ill #howphillyseesphilly #stayandwander #trappingtones #unknownperspectives #agameoftones #theimaged #moodygrams #phillyphire #heatercentral #drone #meistershots #roamtheplanet #williampennwednesday #rawurbanshot 

A post shared by ChrisDantonioDronePhotography (@phillydroneshots) on

2. Telč, Czech Republic

3. Fort Kochi, Kerala, India

4. Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

5. Parma, Italy

View this post on Instagram

Parma, Italy 📸 @marylouu89 #parma #italy

A post shared by Beautiful Italy 🇮🇹 (@beautiful_italy__) on

6. Puebla, Mexico

View this post on Instagram

In the past, all Cuetzalan was inhabited by the majestic birds called "Quetzales", their feathers were used as an offering being given as tribute to the Aztecs by the cultures that lived here. Hence it is believed to be one of the reasons for the name of this Town, Cuetzalan, or as its name says "Abundant Place of Quetzales." Who do you want to tour Cuetzalan with?  Share it! ❤🇲🇽⛰ 📍Cuetzalan, Puebla. _ En el pasado, todo Cuetzalan estaba habitado por las majestuosas aves llamadas "Quetzales", sus plumas eran usadas como ofrenda siendo entregadas como tributo a los aztecas por parte de las culturas que aquí vivian. De ahí es que se cree que es uno de los motivos del nombre de este Pueblo, Cuetzalan, o como su nombre lo dice "Lugar Abundante de Quetzales". ¿Con quién quieres recorrer Cuetzalan? Comparteselo! ❤🇲🇽⛰ 📍Cuetzalan, Puebla. . 📷Fotografía y derechos propiedad de…@omargonval . Equipo MEXICOFORALL🇲🇽… @diego_lazaro_mtz . Recuerda etiquetarme y usar el #mexico_for_all para futuras menciones! 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️

A post shared by Mexico For All (@mexico_for_all) on

Nature Picks

1. Magdalen Islands, Quebec, Canada

View this post on Instagram

How majestic does #magdalenislands look?! 🏜🧡 @mathieu_dupuis_photo says this spot in #québec  is one of his “favourite locations in all of Canada” as it’s “heaven on earth.” ⬇ PHOTO OF THE DAY🌟June🌟11🌟2019📷 _____________________________________________ 🔘 Location: #ilesdelamadeleine #quebec ⭐ Photos credit by🏆@mathieu_dupuis_photo🏆 ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ⓒ ⓞ ⓝ ⓖ ⓡ ⓐ ⓣ ⓤ ⓛ ⓐ ⓣ ⓘ ⓞ ⓝ ⓢ follow @livelovecanada Tag #livelovecanada . 🔝 #cliffs #explorequebec #ig_color #ig_captures #banff #explorebc #explorecanada #canada #montreal #edmonton #ottawa #calgary #novascotia #6ix #mississauga #winnipeg #usa #saskatchewan #yukon #nyc #streetsoftoronto #tofino #toronto #ontario #alberta

A post shared by live love canada (@livelovecanada) on

2. Kalahari Desert, Botswana

View this post on Instagram

The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa. One of the most interesting Kalahari Desert facts is that it is not a desert in the strictest sense of the word, as it receives too much rainfall – between 5 and 10 inches annually. However any rain filters rapidly through the vast expanses of sand, leaving nothing on the surface, turning the Kalahari into the "thirstland". The name “ Kalahari” is derived from the Tswana word Kgala, meaning "the great thirst", or Kgalagadi, meaning "a waterless place". . . 📸 @beautifuldestinations 🌍 #Kalahari #kalaharidesert . . #botswana #namibia🇳🇦 #southafrica #visualsofafrica #africantourism #nomadsafaris  #traveladdict #safariadventure #africangeographic  #discoverafrica #iloveafrica #safarilife #africanwildlife  #giraffe #africanroadtrip #bushveld #savanna #southernafrica

A post shared by Nomad Africa (@nomadadventuretours) on

3. Bialowieza Forest, Belarus/Poland

4. National Blue Trail, Hungary

5. Canary Islands, Spain

6. Maldives

7. Grand Canyon, Arizona

View this post on Instagram

Sedona is Beautiful from Above ❤🌵 @jonhuynh1

A post shared by I love AZ (@ilov3az) on

Adventure Picks

1. Tasmania, Australia

2. Grossglockner High Alpine Road, Austria

3. Wales Way, UK

4. Tohoku, Japan

View this post on Instagram

達沢不動滝 秋Ver🍁 2019/11/2 夏に続き、秋も達沢不動滝へ訪問しました。 以前投稿した 塔のへつり に行く前、朝方を狙いました。 タイミングとしては落葉が進んでいて、ギリギリセーフといった感じでした😅 相変わらず糸を引くような流れに日差しが入り、水がキラキラと光る光景と、紅葉🍁との組み合わせがとても綺麗✨でした🥰 良く撮られるのは男滝と呼ばれるほうですが、左隣には女滝があります。此方も一緒にアップします😊 #絶景 #フォトジェニック #達沢不動滝 #紅葉 #滝 #滝好きな人と繋がりたい #いなわしろ新八景 #ふくしまの水三十選 #自然好きな人と繋がりたい #写真好きな人と繋がりたい #写真撮ってる人と繋がりたい #ファインダー越しの世界 #けしからん景色 #絶景辞典 #福島県 #猪苗代町 #東北 #行くぜ東北 #秋の東北インスタキャンペーン #極上の会津 #tohoku #fukushima #japan #zekkei_delic_j #dokoiku #retrip_nippon #spira_spot #bestphoto_japan

A post shared by ツノふみ (@egss9899) on

5. Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia

View this post on Instagram

Озеро в кратере вулкана Горелый Пожалуй, один из самых доступных вулканов для восхождения. До него достаточно легко добраться – на проходимой машине ехать 4 часа, находится он в 75 км (по прямой дороге) от Петропавловска-Камчатского. Восхождение на него занимает от 3 до 6 часов в зависимости от подготовки путешественника. Высота 1829м, набор высоты по вертикали 900м, уклон пологий 25°. Подъем хоть и затяжной, но весьма лёгкий, осилить его сможет каждый, чтобы самому увидеть эту красоту! 📷@victorr_joy

A post shared by Твоя Камчатка (@yourkamchatka) on

6. Zakouma National Park, Chad

Have you visited any of these destinations? Or maybe now you want to after these recommendations?

Share your travel thoughts and plans with us in the comments!

The post According to National Geographic, These Are the Best Trips to Take in 2020 appeared first on UberFacts.

Jet Lag Is Not Fun, but Don’t Worry – It Can Be Mitigated

Have you ever stepped off a plane and felt like you could fall asleep at the baggage claim for an hour or eight? That exhausted, drained feeling after flying for an extended amount of time is the dreaded jet lag.

It’s miserable, but there are ways to make yourself feel better.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, “jet lag disorder occurs when there is a temporary mismatch between sleep-wake cycle timing generated by the person’s internal circadian clock, and the external cues at the new destination.”

Photo Credit: Flickr

Jet lag has very little to do with how much sleep you did or didn’t get. It’s when your internal clock is not synced with what’s going on in your new time zone.

If we’re only talking an hour or two between your point of origin and your destination, then you probably won’t experience jet lag, though some travelers so really feel the difference between Pacific and Eastern time zones when flying between the two. Most people, though, feel jet lag when flying internationally east to west, or vice-versa.

One way to minimize jet lag is to make sure you keep hydrated. Airplane cabins are notorious for being dry, and the alcoholic and caffeinated beverages airlines peddle can accelerate dehydration. If you really want to keep your jet lag to a minimum, try sticking to water. If you like to drink alcohol on flights, than have a bottle of water for each beverage. It will make you feel better.

Photo Credit: Needpix

Getting up and moving around the plane is helpful for blood circulation and reducing jet lag. A little walk will also get oxygen to your brain, helping fight fatigue.

The decreased air pressure in an airplane cabin at altitude can cause gas and bloating that makes you feel uncomfortable and lousy upon landing – which gets your body working overtime and worsens jet lag. Bring healthy snacks and avoid fatty and greasy food while in the air.

If you feel pressure in your head, you can relieve it with gum, hard candy or big yawns. The movement in the jaw can also help ease headaches and stress, and since contributes to jet lag, anything you can do to keep it low will help. Try meditation, noise cancelling earphones or other relaxation activities.

Photo Credit: Flickr

Vitamins, particularly B12 and C vitamins, and healthy juices are good for fighting germs that cause illness and aches we all seem to pick up from flying. And, again, any energy your body is putting toward fighting off illness is energy it’s not spending on adjusting its body clock. Bone up before boarding.

Many international flyers also stave off jet lag by tricking their bodies into thinking they are already in the new time zone. Depending on what time it will be when you land, you could either expose yourself to bright light for a few evenings before you fly west or to bright light earlier in the morning for eastern destinations. If you need to sleep to get used to the time in a new place quickly, try taking melatonin to induce a restful sleep while flying.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia

The best way to handle being on the ground in a new time zone is to take things slow. Absorb your new surroundings, grab a healthy meal at a time good for your new normal and get to know the place. Ease into it, and you’ll be enjoying your strange times soon enough.

The post Jet Lag Is Not Fun, but Don’t Worry – It Can Be Mitigated appeared first on UberFacts.

What Happens When a Plane Flies into a Flock of Birds?

Sometimes, these two worlds collide mid-air, and planes fly straight into a bird, or even a flock of birds.

The results can look really disastrous, especially for the birds. The good news is that bird strikes don’t typically pose any risk to airplanes or passengers. The really good news is that they’re unlikely to bring down a plane.

“Aircraft are designed and built to withstand bird strikes, and pilots undergo rigorous training to enable them to deal with eventualities like a bird strike,” BALPA flight safety specialist, Stephen Landells, told The Telegraph.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Even if a bird gets sucked into the airplane’s engine, the plane can usually land just fine. “Losing one engine is not going to cause an aircraft to crash because they are designed to fly with one engine down,” Stephen explained.

That doesn’t mean fliers are completely in the clear, however. While a single bird rarely poses any danger to a plane, Stephen added that “multiple bird strikes – or hitting large birds such as Canada geese – can and have caused serious accidents.” Captain Sully’s landing of a US Airways plane on the Hudson River in 2009 is perhaps the most famous example of this.

Photo Credit: YouTube

This is quite rare, though.

There were 160,894 bird strikes between 1990 and 2015 in the U.S. Only 40 of those strikes resulted in an accident.

Unfortunately, these incidents are often fatal for the birds (though not always). They can die on impact if they run into a plane, and they usually disintegrate if they get sucked into an engine. The number of wildlife strikes has also increased drastically over the years, as flying gets more popular.

Sadly, there’s not much that planes can do to avoid birds in the sky.

The post What Happens When a Plane Flies into a Flock of Birds? appeared first on UberFacts.

This Is Why Ginger Ale Should Be Your Go-To In-Flight Drink

You may already have a favorite flying beverage, but the next time you travel, if you’re craving something crisp and satisfying, try a bubbly ginger ale.

Your on the ground experience with ginger ale may be limited to days when you don’t feel one hundred percent. Or you may be used to ginger ale as only a mixer.

Photo Credit: Flickr

So drinking a ginger ale by itself? Sounds weird, doesn’t it?

As a soft drink, ginger ale is not nearly as popular as the Coca-Colas and the Dr. Peppers are, particularly in the United States. In the skies, however, ginger ale is at the top of the pops.

Photo Credit: Public Domain Pictures

The thin, dry air in a plane, coupled with less atmospheric pressure, actually changes the way our taste buds react to certain flavors. Saltiness and sweetness don’t register on our tongues the same way they do on the ground. That’s why salty bloody mary’s and tomato juice taste so good when we fly.

It’s also why sweet ginger ale tastes so refreshing, so crisp and dry. So…exactly what you might be craving.

Ginger has long been a home remedy for upset stomachs. So, if you’re a nervous flyer with a twitchy tummy, a ginger ale can help settle it.

Be aware though, some ginger ales (like Canada Dry) actually have no ginger in them. The flavor and the carbonation is what can soothe stomaches.

You may get lucky, though, and be offered a brand with real ginger. If you see it on the cart, ask for it. You’ll be glad you did.

Photo Credit: Max Pixel

Ginger ale is just the sort of drink that helps make flying the special event that it is. The taste and bubbles make traveling almost festive. Next time, order the ginger ale.

Cheers.

The post This Is Why Ginger Ale Should Be Your Go-To In-Flight Drink appeared first on UberFacts.

The Taj Mahal Installed Air Purifiers to Defend Against Choking Smog

Unhealthy air pollution in India has hit record levels, and India’s most iconic and most visited attraction is attempting something to make tourists more comfortable.

One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal sits in Agra in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state, around 130 miles (210 kilometers) south of New Delhi. Approximately eight million people tour this UNESCO World Heritage site every year.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by (っ◔◡◔)っ 𝐻𝑒𝓃𝓇𝓎 𝒮𝑒𝑜𝓌 (@henryseow.93) on

According to authorities in Uttar Pradesh, a “private firm” has provided several air purification vans for the city to use wherever and however they want. Officials chose to place two of these vans at the Taj Mahal. Few details on how the vans work or how long they would be there were given.

Bhuvan Prakash Yadav, a representative from the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) told CNN, “This is on a trial basis for 10 days, but we are trying to get [the private firm] to continue it for some more time.”

Although the identity of the private firm was never confirmed, ads for telecom giant, Vodafone, are featured on the side of a few of the vans.

According to CNN, Yadav also said that each van is able to purify 1.5 million cubic meters (53 million cubic feet) of air in eight hours. Yet, the vans don’t have sensors, so verification of these numbers isn’t possible.

It may be the vans are more for public relations purposes than actually cleaning air.

India’s high court challenged the government to take better care of the site in 2018. Much recent damage to the Taj Mahal has come from pollution in the air and contamination in the nearby Yamuna River. Since then, crowd control in the form of a visitor time limit and hiked ticket prices have been implemented.

Air pollution has been an ongoing and serious problem in India, home to 22 of the 30 most polluted cities on the planet. New Delhi, India’s capital city is the number one most polluted city in the world. Lately, pollution levels reached a record high of approximately 9x more than the World Health Organization’s recommended “safe” level – the problem is rated “severe.”

Fossil fuel usage, crop burning and vehicle exhaust have all contributed to the problem.

Planes are even getting diverted from landing at New Delhi’s airport. Authorities say control measures are in place, but they will not be enough to stop the damage to Indian property and lives – the damage is already being done.

The post The Taj Mahal Installed Air Purifiers to Defend Against Choking Smog appeared first on UberFacts.

A Man Built a Tiny Bookstore on Wheels to Deliver Books to Villages Without Bookstores

Books remain a very popular pastime, even in the age of social media. Unfortunately, with the advent of e-readers such as the Amazon Kindle, physical book stores are going out of business. But people remain passionate about the power of idly browsing through shelves of books.

That’s what motivated Jean-Jacques Megel-Nuber to create a tiny bookstore on wheels. Jean-Jacques of Alsace, France hired a tiny home maker to create the portable library in 2015. He calls it Au Vrai Chic Littérère.

Jean-Jacques drives the bookstore all around Alsace, bringing the magic of books to small villages in the area. He often shows up at festivals, events, or other public places where he’s been invited. His goal is to make books more accessible and affordable.

The cozy design of the bookstore was intended to make folks curious enough to go inside, Jean-Jacques says.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BX27lZFg–y/

“I wanted a little feeling of a cabin and an aura of a small bookstore, which both evoke a lot of dreaming,” Jean-Jacques told Architectural Digest.

He added to Fortune that he needed “a place that makes people want to enter.”

That tiny space houses around 3000 books. In addition to the bookshelves, the structure contains a small place for Jean-Jacques to sleep while he travels. As you can imagine, it can get tricky to tow the bookstore — it’s a very heavy and delicate load! All those books weigh about 1,300 pounds.

But we’d guess that it’s totally worth the trouble, if only to see the reactions on people’s faces when they get to crawl inside this dreamy bookstore.

The post A Man Built a Tiny Bookstore on Wheels to Deliver Books to Villages Without Bookstores appeared first on UberFacts.

10 Facts About the Colorado Hotel Stephen King Stayed at When He Came up with “The Shining”

I love all-things horror, and the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, is definitely on my bucket list to visit someday. The hotel was author Stephen King’s inspiration for The Shining, which was published in 1977 and was made into a great horror film in 1980.

King published Doctor Sleep, the sequel to The Shining, in 2013, and the movie version was released just last week. While we’re at it, let’s take a look at the trailer for Doctor Sleep.

And now here are 10 interesting facts about the infamous Stanley Hotel.

1. One night stay

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 𝕁𝕖𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕒 𝔼𝕒𝕤𝕥 (@billie_jean_nah) on

King and his wife Tabitha stayed at the Stanley for one night back in 1974 when King was working as a teacher in Boulder, Colorado.

2. Solitary

The night that King and his wife stayed at the hotel, they were the only guests in the whole place. The Stanley was not a year-round hotel until 1982, and it was the end of the season the night the Kings stayed there.

3. A hard time.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Brianna Olson (@_brianna.olson) on

In 1974, Stephen King was suffering from alcoholism and writer’s block.

4. The creepy room.

The Kings stayed in Room 217 the night of the visit, which he wrote into The Shining.

5. The clawfoot tub…

The tub in Room 217 inspired The Shining. King opened the curtain and said to himself, “What if somebody died here? At that moment, I knew I had a book.”

6. The bartender.

After his wife Tabitha went to sleep, King went to the hotel bar and the bartender was named Lloyd Delbert Grady. King used the bartender’s name as inspiration for the characters “Lloyd” the bartender and “Delbert Grady,” the previous caretaker.

7. No cash exchanged.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Shining (@theshiningofficial) on

King tried to give the bartender a $20 bill, and Lloyd Delbert Grady said, “Your money is no good here,” just like in the film. Because it was the end of the season, Grady didn’t want to add more money to his till.

8. But there was another kind of exchange.

Lloyd gave King a glass of whiskey for free, and the writer told him about some ideas he had for books. Lloyd told him personal stories about working at the hotel.

9. Step outside.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Wibyric (@he_wanders_off) on

King had a nightmare the evening he slept at the Stanley. The next morning he woke up, smoked a cigarette on the balcony outside Room 217, and by the end of his smoke he had the beginning, middle, and end of The Shining in his head.

10. Booked up.

These days, if you want to reserve Room 217 at the Stanley Hotel, keep in mind that it’s usually booked up a year in advance.

The post 10 Facts About the Colorado Hotel Stephen King Stayed at When He Came up with “The Shining” appeared first on UberFacts.

This Is How Google Flights Can Help You Travel Cheaper

Traveling can be very expensive, so looking for cheap flights is crucial if you want to save a little money. Unfortunately, some websites make it hard to find a good deal.

Google Flights just introduced an update meant to help you find the best price for a flight. If you’ve used it recently, you may have seen alerts that pop up and let you know about any nearby airports. These pop-ups were created to help you find cheaper flight options at airports other than the one you initially were looking at.

Photo Credit: Screenshot, Google Flights

Sites such as The Points Guy and Thrifty Traveler first made mention of the new feature, and those guys definitely know what they’re talking about. So, worth checking out.

Pop-ups appear after you click “Nearby Airports” and usually look like this:

Photo Credit: Google Flights

Often times another airport may get you a better price, even if it winds up being slightly less convenient. And with this new update, Google Flights will also advise you on the best itinerary if you do decide to switch to another airport.

In the past, Google Flights allowed you to search for deals by clicking on more than one airport, but this new update makes it easier to play around with options until you find the best one.

In the end, people in larger metropolitan areas will benefit the most because Google Flights will alert them to better deals nearby. It is what it is, big cities just have more airport options.

Additional updates to Google Flights will also give you a glimpse of other types of deals, especially if you have flexible plans.

If you’ve already checked out Google Flights, let us know if it lives up to the hype. We’d love to hear more about whether or not these updates were useful!

The post This Is How Google Flights Can Help You Travel Cheaper appeared first on UberFacts.