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☆ Americans say they hate tourist traps. They also can't stop visiting them.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read preview"I can't wait for my trip to France — I'm planning to visit all the tourist traps! Despite all the negative connotations around "tourist traps," most travelers to a new place can't help but visit the sites that attract a lot of tourists. AdvertisementThere's room for debate over what exactly counts as a tourist trap — can the historic and gorgeous Venice canals really be considered a tourist trap, even with the souvenir vendors and flocks of selfie-taking visitors? Although nearly all respondents acknowledged recently visiting a tourist trap, almost 70% said their visit to a tourist trap diminished their overall enjoyment of their trip. Avoiding so-called tourist traps, or at least spending less time at them, could also help curb the impacts of overtourism.

Persons: —, Notre Dame —, they've, hadn't Organizations: Service, France —, Louvre, Notre Dame, Business, Winchester Mystery House, UFO Museum, Research Center Locations: France, Paris, Venice, Niagara Falls, Moulin Rouge, Iceland, San Francisco, San Jose , California, Roswell , New Mexico

☆ I took a higher-paying job instead of one where I could work from home. I'm not sure it was the right move.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Tim Paradis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He recently took a government job that paid more than another role where he would have been able to work remotely four days a week. While he likes the job, he has a long commute, so some days he's not sure he made the right decision. And I really like the work I'm doing now in this new job. What if we matched the salary and gave you one day working from home?" You can't be like, "Oh, I'm happy to work from home," and then do absolutely nothing because it's so obvious.

Persons: Erik Bernard, Bernard, —, he's, Erik Bernard Plus, I've, we've, It's, Erik Bernard I, I'm, you'll, aren't Organizations: Service Locations: Brisbane, Australia, America

☆ I'm a 26-year-old software engineer making $75,000, and still dream of becoming a professional e-sports athlete. Here's how I balance work and my gaming endeavors
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Andy Collins, a 26-year-old software engineer from Chicago pursuing a professional esports career playing the first-person shooting game Valorant. Being a professional esports competitor wasn't the most well-known or traditional career path at the time. Valorant has only been out for four years, but its professional esports scene is rapidly growing in popularity. Even though I'm playing far fewer hours per day than before — I only spend around four hours after work each day playing other teams and strategizing for my weekly matches — I'm in my best-ever form. Are you a professional esports athlete and want to share your story?

Persons: —, Andy Collins, didn't, would've, Valorant, — you've, DarkZero, Valorant esports, I'm, wasn't, I've Organizations: Service, Business, Robert Morris University ., Valorant's Challengers League, North American, League, —, The Guard, Riot Games, DoorDash, Starbucks, Madison Locations: Chicago, United States, Austin, Valorant, mhall@businessinsider.com

☆ I started Pilates with the goal of doing the splits. I can now send my legs behind my head, and my back pain is healed.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Varisha Tariq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I started doing Pilates with the goal of learning how to do the splits. I can't do the splits, but I've gained much more — I'm more flexible, and my back pain is healed. I never thought I'd be able to do these things as a plus-size woman. There was no Pilates studio or instructor there, and the way I'd always seen it on TV, I assumed it to be something that rich ladies in big cities do. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: I've, I'd, —, Kyle Richards Organizations: Service, Housewives, Beverly, Business Locations: Beverly Hills, India, Lucknow

☆ My teenager has ADHD. Sometimes it's hard to differentiate between teen behavior and his condition.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Mike Julianelle | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It's hard for me to separate what is him being a regular teenager and what is his condition. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . In the years since his diagnosis, his ADHD has manifested in many ways: hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattention, loss of focus, etc. Not because his teen angst is especially extreme or his ADHD symptoms have intensified, but because it is hard for me to separate the two. I'm trying to be a better dad for himNewsflash: teenagers aren't the most open-minded recipients of serious discussions about behavior (or about anything), and having substantial conversations with ADHD teens requires even more patience and understanding.

Persons: —, he's, — I'm, it's, It's Organizations: Service

☆ I test-drive dozens of cars every year for work and I won't buy an EV yet — I'm happy with my hybrid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Jules Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

My wife and I bought a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid in December 2022 for $75,000. As an automotive journalist and the senior editor of vehicle testing at US News and World Report, I test-drive dozens of vehicles every year. I still love the choice we made to purchase this full-size hybrid SUV. AdvertisementThe plug-in hybrid Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xeThe interior of the Jeep. In a perfect world, you never notice the transitions between running on gas, running as a hybrid, or running as electric.

Persons: —, John Vincent, it's Organizations: Service, US, Business, Kia, Hyundai, Mercedes GLC, Jeep, Cherokee, EV, People Locations: Portland , Oregon, Hyundai Santa Fe, California, Washington, Oregon

Learn moreNearly every day that I carry Senreve's Maestra bag, I get stopped by someone on the sidewalk or the train. The easy transition also comes in handy for the days when you just want to switch up your look between shoulder bag, top-handle bag, and backpack. SenreveAll three sizes of the bag, the Maestra (from $945), Midi Maestra (from $845), and Mini Maestra (from $745) have the same capacity to transition from bag to backpack. A few years back, if you had ever told me that I'd be singing the praises of an $945 bag, I'd think you were nuts. So let me say this: the Maestra bag is a luxury, but it's one that you will get tons of use out of.

Persons: I'm, Sally Kaplan, it's, I'd, who's Organizations: Business

☆ I quit McKinsey after 1.5 years. I was making over $200k but my mental health was shattered.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Jane Zhang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with a former McKinsey & Company associate who worked at the company for one and a half years. AdvertisementSome associate partners and partners were meanThe people at McKinsey were both the best and worst parts of my experience. The analysts and associates were all cool, but a few associate partners and partners were mean. I took a mental health break because I couldn't do it anymoreAfter about a year of working at McKinsey, I took a three-month mental health leave. But I also think it was going on mental health leave was inevitable, given the kind of people I ran into.

Persons: I'd, It's, they'd, I've, hysterically, I'm, hasn't, would've, Jane Zhang Organizations: McKinsey & Company, McKinsey, Business, Excel, McKinsey couldn't Locations: janezhang@businessinsider.com

☆ 'We've never seen this many extremes': Strategists warn of dot-com bubble similarities as expensive US stocks struggle — but this 7-part strategy can still outperform
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

From late October through March, the S&P 500 enjoyed a virtually uninterrupted 27.6% rally based on better-than-expected earnings and economic data. And while it's still well below the dot-com bubble levels, it's still too close for comfort for many investors. Related story"Those higher rates are starting to push back on elevated valuations for stocks right now," Saglimbene said. "They're all much cheaper on an earnings basis than those Magnificent 7 companies," Saglimbene said. "So I think if we avoid a recession this year, the narrative will change to a broadening of companies and sectors that can participate in earnings growth this year."

Persons: aren't, Anthony Saglimbene, Rick Pitcairn, Pitcairn, it's, we've, Raheel Siddiqui, Neuberger Berman, Siddiqui, Jon Wolfenbarger, Albert Edwards, Bill Smead, James Ragan, DA Davidson, Ragan, Saglimbene, Indrani, she's, De, Davidson, Siddiqui's Organizations: Ameriprise, Business, DA, FTSE Russell, Investors Locations: Ameriprise

☆ Millionaire matchmaker Patti Stanger knows what the ultrarich want in a partner
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Caralynn Matassa | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Now, over 15 years after "The Millionaire Matchmaker" first premiered, Stanger is back on reality TV with "Patti Stanger: The Matchmaker," an unscripted CW series where she's teamed up with former "Bachelor" star Nick Viall to help singles find love. I feel like that's a little bit controversial…Then don't date. Do ultrawealthy people all look for the same thing in a partner when they're dating with the intention to marry? Evans Vestal Ward/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesWhat are some of the biggest mistakes you see ultrawealthy people make when they're dating? "Patti Stanger: The Matchmaker" airs Thursdays at 8 p.m.

Persons: —, Patti Stanger, Stanger, she's, Nick Viall, Sydney Sweeney, Margot Robbie, Kim Kardashian, Congrats, — he's, I've, Marisa Peer, She's, Vicki Gunvalson, Vicki, Steve, It's, Reza Farahan, You've, I'm, Paul Giamatti, it's, there's, he's, they're, Emily Ratajkowski —, I'd, It's Margot Robbie, Kate Beckinsale, Heidi Gutman, they'll, Evans Vestal Ward, you've, quirkiness, haven't, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon Organizations: Service, Club, Business, CW, Getty, they're Locations: Olive, New York, New Jersey, LA

☆ A Harvard professor is risking his reputation to search for aliens. Tech tycoons are bankrolling his quest.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +26 min

The Harvard professor's research is bankrolled by tech tycoons "pissed off" at academia's dogma. But this boundary-pushing is exactly why he's backed Loeb's research. AdvertisementDesch, the astrophysicist from Arizona University, posted a critique of Loeb's work on arXiv alleging "multiple fatal flaws with the manuscript's arguments." Asked whether he no longer believes in a possible technological origin for the meteor, Loeb said they need to investigate further. As he plans more extravagant expeditions to prove the origin of the interstellar meteor, Loeb likens his critics to crows pecking at the neck of an eagle.

Persons: Avi Loeb, Loeb, —, Steven Desch, they're, Loeb's, they've, Charles Hoskinson, that's, Anibal Martel, Mark Zuckerberg, Stephen Hawking, Lucas Jackson, Oumuamua, Desch, It's, Meech, Hoskinson, Rather, Lane Turner, James Webb, Bill Diamond, Stenzel, AARO, UAPs, Loeb hasn't, Joe Rogan's, Eugene Jhong, Galileo, ", Frank Laukien, Laukien, Charles Alcock, Seth Shostak, Stephen Wolfram, Richard Branson's, Vera, Rubin, Avi Loeb Loeb, what's, Rob McCallum, Mariana Trench, James Cameron, Avi Loeb Hoskinson, spherules, Harvard's Stein Jacobsen, Loeb didn't, Monica Grady, Patricio Gallardo, it's, Diamond, That's Avi, Adam Glanzman Organizations: Harvard, Service, Arizona State University, Netflix, Galileo, Anadolu Agency, Reuters, University of Hawaii, Boston Globe, James Webb Telescope, NASA, SETI Institute, Pew Research Center, Department of Defense, UAP Department of Defense, Jhong, Bruker Corporation, Smithsonian's, for Astrophysics, MIT, Wolfram Research, Harvard University, Survey, US Space Command, Hoskinson, UK's Open University, University of Chicago, Arizona University, U.S . Government, The Washington, Getty, Loeb, Astronomy, Astrophysics Locations: Lexington , Massachusetts, United States, Getty, Loeb's, New York, Cambridge, Massachussetts, UAPs, Colorado, Chile, Papua New Guinea, 2401.09882, IM1

☆ I demand a do-over on the East Coast earthquake
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewAt approximately 10:24 a.m. Eastern, I exited the elevators of the Business Insider offices in lower Manhattan, walked through the lobby, and into the nearly empty office. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. I opened X and saw a string of tweets of people who had just experienced a rare East Coast earthquake. As a lifelong East Coast resident, I've never gotten to feel a real earthquake, and I am absolutely furious that I missed this. I propose we get a new earthquake next weekend, at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Persons: —, Let's, I've Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Manhattan, New Jersey, East Coast, New York, East Rutherford , New Jersey

☆ I was a renter. Then I bought my house from my landlord.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

About four years ago, when my landlord bought the property, I was his very first tenant. Before the pandemic, I had been in the market for quite a long time looking to buy a house. When I signed that first rental lease with my landlord in May 2020, I completely pulled myself out of the market. After being bummed about that, a few days later my landlord texted me saying, "Hey, I'm putting this house on the market. He shared with me that he bought his own place and that he was no longer going to be living in that house.

Persons: Dom Guerra, —, There's, Guerra, Selena Tovanche, — I'm, you've, It's Organizations: Service, Ohio Housing Finance Agency Locations: Cleveland, Parma , Ohio

☆ I met a man on a business trip and left my marriage to be with him. I have no regrets.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Ashley Couto | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I was on the same level as his boss, but we didn't work directly with or for each other. Courtesy of Nicole Fallon-PeekWe met on a business trip to our Boston office. It was my first business trip, and I was excited to connect with new people. We kept talking after the business trip and decided to make things official. That's the hopeless romantic in me, but I don't regret a single decision I made once I met Sean.

Persons: —, Nicole Fallon, Peek, Sean, Fallon, we'd, I'd, Sean —, Uber, wasn't, we're, we've, Jobs Organizations: Service, Lighting Media Partners, New, Business Locations: New York, Ogden , Utah, Boston, Utah

☆ I deleted my email app. My mental health, free time, and productivity skyrocketed.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Katie Lemon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I've deleted social media apps from my phone, but was still hooked to my email app. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . But as a self-employed writer, there's one app that's haunted me far more than social media: my email app. It had never occurred to me: you could just... delete your email app? My email app had become a facade of busyness and efficiency.

Persons: —, TikTok, hadn't, I'd, I've Organizations: Service

☆ Disney and Florida reach a deal, putting their legal war on hold
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Disney World and Florida have settled their legal dispute. The board of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District — which was DeSantis hand-picked to take control of Disneyworld's special tax district — agreed on Wednesday to settle the state lawsuit brought by Disney. AdvertisementBut just before DeSantis' allies took over the board, Disney's outgoing board members passed an agreement stripping the board of much of its power, effectively hamstringing DeSantis' incoming board. Related storiesNow, as part of the Disney-proposed settlement, Disney will agree to return power to the DeSantis-appointed board, which can now have a say in development plans and expansion. The settlement also instructs the tourism board to consult with Disney as it reviews and amends planning documents for the Disney World site.

Persons: Disney execs, DeSantis, Ron DeSantis, —, Bob Iger, Disneyworld, hamstringing, Iger, Disney, Charbel Barakat, Disney — I'm, Barakat, Walt, Jeff Vahle, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Egan, Jones, Nelson Peltz Organizations: Disney, Florida Gov, Service, Central, Improvement, DeSantis, Walt Disney World, Associated Press Locations: Florida, Central Florida, Reedy, Disney

☆ I moved from Minnesota to California for a dream job and got laid off 4 months later
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

At the time, I'd been working as an office assistant at Activision in Minnesota, but the Blizzard job was based in California. Dream jobBefore landing the Blizzard job, I was eyeing a range of roles in the gaming industry and networking. When I finally got through the lengthy interview process for the Blizzard job, I originally missed out. I'm happy I moved to California — but I wouldn't relocate for a job againDespite everything, I'm happy I moved to California. AdvertisementEven if I were offered another gaming job, I wouldn't relocate for a role again — I'm too worried about getting burned twice.

Persons: —, Cole McElwain, I'd, couldn't, I'm, — I'm Organizations: Service, Blizzard, Activision, Business, Microsoft Locations: Minnesota, California

☆ My 11-year-old has a phone. I only agreed to it as long as I could see his location.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Lindsay Karp | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I agreed in 6th grade with the condition that he had to share his location with me. I also share location with my husband and it gives me peace of mind. But the main reason I agreed to get my 6th grader a cellphone is the "share location" feature. I see my husband's location tooBut we don't just use the share location feature for my son. The share location feature is the best perk of today's technology.

Persons: —, He'd, we'll, he'd, he's, there's, didn't, I'm, It's Organizations: Service

☆ I tried the luxury movie-theater chain Cinépolis. The premium perks didn't outweigh the huge drawbacks that come with them.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Julz Harvey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

And Cinépolis, a theater chain that offers a "luxury movie-going" experience, recently caught my eye. It was available at my local AMC, but Cinépolis has about half the screens, so it can't show every movie in theaters. I bought my ticket on the Cinépolis site on Friday afternoon for a showing that night. At my local AMC, I can control the recline of the footrest and chair back separately, which makes for a more comfortable experience. When broken down, each movie ticket is about $2.

Persons: —, It's, I'm, Harvey, Cinépolis, Bob Marley, Julz Harvey, chow, Julz Harvey It's, it's, Julz Harvey Cinépolis, I'd Organizations: Service, AMC, Business, showtime Locations: Cinépolis

☆ I couldn't afford to buy a home in the US — so I invested in 5 in Europe instead
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

In the fall, I'm going on a trip with some of my girlfriends from college. Really, really good. I don't have 7 million euros to buy five properties across Europe. AdvertisementWould I move to more suburban New Jersey so I could buy a house? I would not make the calculus to move — whether that's another city, or another state, or a suburb — to buy a house.

Persons: —, Amy Beihl, I've, they're, I'm, There's, Homeownership Organizations: Service, Business, Colgate University, Mallorca Locations: York, New York, Mallorca, Spain, Italy, France, Tuscany, England, Stockholm, Europe, Swedish, I'm, New York City, New Jersey, that's, America

☆ Meet the heavy metal-drumming CEO bringing back cheap transatlantic travel, and learning from the mistakes of his airline's failed predecessors
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Birgir Jónsson is the CEO of Play, an Icelandic airline offering cheap transatlantic flights. Jónsson told BI how Play keeps costs low, and how important volcanoes are to Icelandic tourism. From 2014 to 2015, he was the deputy CEO of Wow Air, an Icelandic ultra-low-cost carrier that went bankrupt in 2019. AdvertisementHis foray into the sector began as CEO of Iceland Express, which was acquired by Wow. While other airlines had to avoid the country's airspace — lengthening journey times — Play got planes at discount prices.

Persons: —, Jónsson, Icelandair, it's, York's, New Orleans —, Etienne De Malglaive, Los Angeles —, They're Organizations: Jónsson, Service, Wow, Iceland Express, Icelandic Post, Southwest, Ryanair, York's Stewart, Airbus, North, British Airways Flight, Nasdaq, Russia Locations: Icelandic, Europe, New York, London, Reykjavík, Romanian, Manhattan, Iceland, New Orleans, Eyjafjallajökull, India, Los Angeles, California, Dubai, Russia

☆ I finally invested my HSA money after writing about millionaires who take advantage of a 'triple tax threat strategy.' I could pocket an extra $233,000 by the time I retire.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

After 65, you can use your HSA money to cover any expense without incurring a penalty, but the funds are subject to income tax. I happily used my HSA money to cover the $1,075 bill. An even smarter move would have been to invest my HSA funds (which I eventually did) and not touch them until age 65. I was relieved when Weiss told me that he also invests his HSA money in a retirement date fund. I asked about how often I should be transferring money from my cash account, where my HSA funds land automatically, to my investment account.

Persons: I've, Brent Weiss, Roth IRAs, HSAs, It's, Weiss, Max, don't, Kathleen Elkins, —, I'm Organizations: Business, Vanguard, IRS Locations: That's, Epsom

☆ I moved to Europe, regretted it, and moved back to the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Nadia Crevecoeur, a 26-year-old project manager, saw friends have amazing experiences living abroad. In college, I studied international affairs and had the privilege of living abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, and Brussels, Belgium. Courtesy of Nadia CrevecoeurDuring the eight months that I lived in Europe, I felt a lot of isolation and homesickness. While living in Europe, many factors contributed to a larger feeling of "I'm not from here, I'm a foreigner." AdvertisementMy purpose in living abroad was to thrive, but I just wasn't seeing myself thrive like I did back in the States.

Persons: Nadia Crevecoeur, —, It's, it's, I'm, gaslit Organizations: Service Locations: Europe, New York, China, Portugal, Ireland, Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Geneva, Switzerland, Brussels, Belgium, United States, It's, Haiti, States

☆ My husband convinced me to get pregnant. I had the baby, got laid off, and left him — I'm happy with all of my decisions.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Cat Jones | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

At the time, I was working for a great company with amazing perks, and loving life. Cat Jones was happy with the decision not to have kids but agreed to have a baby. Cat JonesHaving a baby wasn't the dream my husband expectedOur daughter was born with silent reflux, meaning stomach acid rose up her esophagus. I asked him to leave, and eventually, when our baby was eight months old, he did, moving back to the US. In just over a year I had become a mom, left my husband, and lost my dream job.

Persons: hasn't, I'm, I've, Cat Jones, couldn't, it's Organizations: Service Locations: New Zealand, Zealand

☆ I became an NFL cheerleader at 29 and learned you're never too old to make your dreams come true
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Anneta Konstantinides | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

I became an NFL cheerleader when I was 29 — 10 years after I stopped dancing. Dre DiLorenzoMy mom signed me up for dance when I was 3 years old, and I started competing at 6. AdvertisementFrom ballet to the NFL cheer teamThe NFL cheerleaders were holding remote auditions, which was a huge deal. I'm very fortunate that ballet is the foundation of all dance styles, but classic technique is very, very different from dance team and cheer style. I currently do private online training for professional dance teams and NFL and NBA cheer auditions.

Persons: Dre DiLorenzo, I'm, Clara, Dre, COVID, would've, — I'm Organizations: Service, Miami Dolphins, NFL, Business, Radio, New Jersey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Lincoln Center, NBA Locations: Miami, New York, New York City, COVID

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