Tag: News

• My husband drinks alcohol, but I've been sober for nearly seven months.
• Recently, we visited Sandals' newest all-inclusive resort in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
• I was nervous about how it would go, but we both fully enjoyed the trip.

The last time my husband and I visited an adults-only, all-inclusive resort was over a decade ago. My memories of that trip are hazy, filled with drinks at the swim-up bar, wine-fueled dinners, and feeling a bit hungover each morning. Since then, I've chosen an alcohol-free lifestyle, but my husband still drinks.

Recently, we traveled to Sandals' newest resort in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and I was a little nervous about flexing my sobriety muscles in an environment where the booze would be flowing and my husband would be drinking it.

As it turns out, the trip was one of my favorites ever. St.Vincent and the Grenadines is a beautiful country, Sandals' newest resort is stunning, and being sober to fully experience it all was a true joy. The trip only solidified my decision to live alcohol-free and made me proud of how far I've come since beginning my sobriety journey nearly seven months ago.

Here's what it was like to stay at an all-inclusive resort as a sober person, and how I navigated my husband's decision to drink alcohol while I abstained.

There were as many alcohol-free options at the resort as alcoholic

I wasn't sure what to expect visiting an all-inclusive resort for the first time since I stopped drinking, but Sandals was incredibly accommodating. Many of the bars had zero-proof cocktails and mocktails on the menu, I drank tons of fresh juices and coconut water, and after requesting my in-room refrigerator be stocked with club soda and grapefruit juice, I had festive things to sip on while in my room.

To my surprise, there were just as many options for alcohol-free drinks as there were alcoholic ones, including two separate coffee shops that made amazing lattes.

I kept busy with activities rather than drinking

On our five-night trip, we spent two full days at the resort. While resort days would have previously involved me floating on a raft or sitting at the swim-up bar drinking cocktails, I focused on the activity schedule instead.

From kayaking to artisanal soap-making, there were plenty of things to do that didn't involve alcohol. I even spent a morning making friendship bracelets and sipping an iced latte with other guests while my husband had a few beers by the pool.

Evenings were a bit more challenging, as my husband would go from wine at dinner to cocktails at the bar, and I struggled to know what to do when drinking felt like the focus. Luckily, there were also evening events, like Caribbean dance shows and poolside movies. Sticking to some of my favorite bar orders, like club soda with a splash or juice or ginger beer, made it easy to stay alcohol-free, as did having nighttime activities to pay attention to.

On excursion days, I was well-rested and energized

Waking up without a hangover is a part of sober travel that will never get old. On the two days we left Sandals to do excursions on the island, I woke up bright and early to get breakfast and meet up with our tour guide.

Not feeling exhausted and nauseous on long bus rides, beach walks, and waterfall hikes made my choice not to drink feel worth it, and I didn't envy the people who couldn't wait for their first drink of the day to chase away last night's drinking headache.

At dinner each night, I focused on the resort's cuisine, not a glass of wine

The food at Sandals was truly amazing, from its staple Japanese izakaya-style restaurant to a St. Vincent and the Grenadines-exclusive restaurant, Buccan, which served Vincentian food in a family-style setting. A pro tip for non-drinkers traveling to an all-inclusive resort? Make sure the resort is known for its food — not just its bar menus. Each evening, I'd focus on the delicious food in front of me rather than waiting for my wine glass to be refilled, and it was way more rewarding.

We had a few tough discussions about alcohol during the trip

It's tough traveling together when one person drinks and the other doesn't. There were times during our trip when I felt like everyone but me was feeling tipsy, and I was the solo non-drinker, which felt like a true bummer.

My husband and I had a few big discussions about alcohol during the trip, from digging deeper into the reasons I stopped drinking in the first place to discussing how his drinking impacts my own feelings. It's always tough to have hard-hitting conversations with the person you love most, but the trip provided a great opportunity to open up some discussions we'd not had previously.

It was fun to enjoy the resort's amenities fully, without the impairment of alcohol

Sandals St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which just opened in March 2024, is truly among the most beautiful resorts I've visited. Our room had a swim-up pool, and it was lovely to use the semi-private swimming area daily and enjoy such a beautiful view.

Whether using the cruiser bikes provided by the resort to get from one part of the grounds to the other or eating lunch on a porch taking in views of the rainforest and beach, I felt overwhelming gratitude for my sobriety and all it allows me to enjoy.

We grew closer as a couple on the trip, tough conversations and all

Tough conversations aside, my husband and I grew closer as a couple on our all-inclusive trip. Being in such a beautiful, adult-only atmosphere and bonding together without our two kids around was truly special, and I'd do it again, regardless of whether either of us consumed alcohol during the trip.

My biggest advice for couples embarking on a similar journey is to give each other space to follow your own convictions and be respectful of how your actions impact one another. At the end of the trip, we walked away better as a couple, both from having gone through an all-inclusive resort experience at this stage in our lives and from taking in the beauty of St. Vincent.

• June 25 marks 20 years since the release of "The Notebook," starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.
• Despite initial tensions, Gosling and McAdams' chemistry contributed to the film's success, and they eventually dated.
• Here's a look back on their relationship.

In June 2004, we were not only given a big-screen adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' best-selling novel "The Notebook" but also one of the steamiest celebrity couples of the aughts: Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.

"The Notebook" was the breakout hit for both then-rising stars. The film chronicles the relationship between Noah (Gosling) and Allie (McAdams) from the 1940s through the present day, as the now elderly Noah (James Garner) retells Allie (Gena Rowlands) their love story, as she suffers from dementia.

Though its release in theaters was initially soft, by the end of its run, the movie earned over $118 million worldwide on a $29 million budget. It's now considered one of the best romantic movies of the last two decades.

A major reason for that is the chemistry between Gosling and McAdams, which started with the two hating each other on set and concluded with them dating for a few years after filming wrapped.

The two stars' love was on full display while promoting "The Notebook," most notably with their famous kiss onstage at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards.

In honor of the 20-year anniversary of the film's release in theaters, here are the best photos of Gosling and McAdams promoting "The Notebook."

Rachel McAdams starred in the 2002 Rob Schneider comedy "The Hot Chick" and "Mean Girls" in early 2004 before "The Notebook," which marked her first major lead role.

Ryan Gosling starred in the Denzel Washington football movie "Remember the Titans," the Sandra Bullock thriller "Murder by Numbers," and the indie movie "The Believer" before "The Notebook."

It definitely wasn't love at first sight for Gosling and McAdams. In fact, director Nick Cassavetes said the two got into a screaming match once while filming.

Cassavetes revealed Gosling had also asked him to replace McAdams.

But by the time filming ended, a love between the two had sparked.

In 2005, Gosling and McAdams gave us one of the most memorable moments in MTV Movie Awards history when they reenacted their streamy kiss from "The Notebook."

They were accepting the award for — you guessed it — best kiss.

The two had fun with "The Kiss" moment at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards a few months later.

While accepting the award for best chemistry, McAdams locked lips with presenter Ryan Reynolds.

"I think I got the wrong Ryan," McAdams said once she got on the mic.

Gosling and McAdams broke up in 2007.

But it's not all bad: Gosling has been in a relationship with Eva Mendes since 2011, and McAdams has been dating screenwriter Jamie Linden since 2016.

• I rode on a $195 luxury bus and a $41 standard coach bus between New York City and the Hamptons.
• The Hamptons Streamliner had incredibly comfortable seats, fun snacks, and great WiFi.
• The Jitney is a little more convenient and still provides the basic necessities for a journey.  

Hundreds of New Yorkers and tristate elites flock to the Hamptons every summer. According to real-estate agent Jonothan Yarton, some even rent mansions for between $50,000 and $1 million a month.

Regardless of your socioeconomic status, choosing how to travel from Manhattan to the Long Island destination can feel like navigating a maze of options.

I recently explored two contrasting bus journeys: the luxurious Hamptons Streamliner (a new partnership between Blade Helicopters and The Jet luxury bus service) and the budget-friendly Jitney coach bus. The Streamliner cost $195 one-way, and the Jitney cost $41.

Here's what I discovered about each bus.

The luxury first-class seats on the Streamliner were on a different level.

On the Hamptons Streamliner, I sank into memory-foam HoverSeats with motion-canceling technology. The legroom was so generous that I could fully extend my legs without touching the seat in front of me.

It felt like I was flying first-class with a 45-degree recline, pop-out footrest, and cashmere blanket. Needless to say, the ride was incredibly smooth and comfortable.

The Jitney, however, had standard coach-bus seating. It was basic but functional, with enough legroom for my needs and a handy footrest in front of each seat.

It didn't offer the same luxury, but for $41, it was perfectly adequate.

My internet connection wasn't as strong on the Jitney.

The Streamliner's high-speed internet was a lifesaver. I could work seamlessly, stream videos, and even open design platforms on my laptop.

In contrast, the Jitney's WiFi was spotty. I was able to check emails, but anything more demanding was frustrating.

I noticed many passengers relying on personal hot spots.

Both buses provided snacks — of varying degrees.

The food and beverage service on the Streamliner was a highlight. Riders can enjoy three complimentary alcoholic beverages and snacks like PopUp Bagels and Sweetgreen salads (depending on your departing time).

There were also snack-sized bags of chips and cookies to munch on.

Drinks were served in stylish custom tumbler glasses, and the on-board attendant ensured I had everything I needed. It almost felt like a mobile lounge.

The Jitney offered a more straightforward service with cold water and a snack. But I wasn't expecting anything at all, so it was a surprising treat.

I found the service friendly and efficient across the board.

On the Streamliner, the dedicated bus attendant provided a high level of service reminiscent of first-class air travel.

From refilling drinks to answering questions, they ensured my journey was comfortable and enjoyable.

The Jitney's attendant was also efficient, checking tickets, handing out water and snacks, and helping as needed. Although it wasn't as personalized, it still ensured a comfortable ride.

The bathrooms shouldn't even be in the same category.

The bathroom on the Streamliner was a revelation.

It had all the amenities: ample toilet paper, soap, hand sanitizer, a backlit mirror for makeup touch-ups, a full-length mirror, and a spacious design for changing clothes. It was more like a high-end powder room than a bus bathroom.

In contrast, the Jitney's bathroom was extremely basic but functional in a pinch.

It had plenty of toilet paper but lacked soap or hand sanitizer, so I had to pack my own. It was practical for emergencies but didn't offer any degree of luxury.

The Jitney is likely more convenient for most travelers.

The Streamliner runs a few daily trips from Hudson Yards in New York City to East Hampton, Southampton, and Bridgehampton.

Its exclusivity means the schedule is less flexible. But if the times and stops work for you, it's perfect if you want a luxurious and relaxed journey.

On the other hand, the Jitney runs almost every hour with multiple stops in NYC and throughout the Hamptons. It's ideal if you need a convenient and accessible travel option or if you need to get to far-east destinations like Montauk.

Both buses have their merits.

After riding the Streamliner and the Jitney, I appreciated them both for different reasons.

The Streamliner is worth the splurge for its luxurious amenities, comfort, and impeccable service. The journey just felt special.

But if you're looking for a cost-effective and convenient way to get to the Hamptons, the Jitney is an excellent alternative. The coach bus offers basic comforts, frequent schedules, and multiple stops.

For my next trip, I'll likely do another split: Riding the Streamliner one way for luxury and the Jitney the other for practicality.

• In my 20s, I was a model and started to lose my hair; I blamed my dad's genetics.
• I started taking medication to slow my hair thinning, which had bad side effects. 
• I eventually learned stress and overall health are big factors in hair loss.

I often think about my father's impact on my life — from cultivating an adventurous mindset and entrepreneurial spirit to influencing how I now parent my son.

For many men, one of these reflections — as once was mine — is something seemingly trivial yet profoundly impactful: their hairline. When my hair started thinning in my 20s, I feared I was taking after my father, who's mostly bald.

It's a common cultural assumption that we inherit our hair fate from our fathers. But as someone who dedicated nearly a decade to understanding hair health, I now believe we shouldn't blame our dads for our hairlines.

I had to navigate my own hair health challenges

When my hair started to thin, I was modeling to put myself through engineering school. I was juggling a hectic career alongside my own personal relationships and commitments. Unsurprisingly, you are acutely aware of your appearance as a model. So when I noticed shedding after running my hands through my hair, I was terrified. I literally started counting the number of hairs I was losing on a daily basis. You're expected to lose around 80, and I was losing double that.

I got flashes of my own father's experience and couldn't help but think that I was destined to follow suit. I recall speaking to him around this time — it wasn't a conversation we'd had previously — and learning for the first time how young he was when he started losing his hair.

Afraid I would be doomed to the same fate as the men in my family before me, I turned to prescription hair drugs. I ended up taking prescription drugs for nearly eight years. While it provided some benefits at first, the significant side effects — decreased libido and sexual dysfunction — made me seriously question whether the health costs were worth it. My confidence plummeted, and it started affecting my relationships and self-esteem. This experience, while challenging, was the catalyst needed to pursue a drug-free, holistic solution to tackle my own thinning hair.

When beginning to navigate the world of hair thinning, I quickly learned that the assumption of genetic inevitability is only part of the story. Yes, genetics play a role, but they are far from the whole picture. Our hair is a window into our overall health, and it's impacted by many external factors like stress, nutrition, hormones, and more. This was a transformative realization for me, and I believe it can empower many men.

There are lesser known external factors that impact your hair health

Stress, for example, is one major factor in hair health. If not managed, stress can impact our bodies in various ways, including our hair. It disrupts the hair growth cycle, leading to increased hair shedding and slower growth. When I reflect now, it's obvious that my hair thinning in those stressful early years of building my career was exacerbated by all the demands I was putting on my body and mind. By taking a whole-body approach and supporting my diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management, I improved my hair health and quality significantly.

Since becoming a parent to a son of my own in 2022, I have an even greater appreciation for the interconnection of our body systems and the importance of a holistic approach to well-being. Parenthood is a beautiful and life-changing experience, but it also opened my eyes to how many stressors can impact your health. It wasn't until the early days of fatherhood that I could clearly see sleep — or lack thereof — was taking a toll on both my mental and physical health. Consistent lack of sleep felt like one continuous bad hair day, and I had the increased hair shedding to prove it. It became even more critical to prioritize self-care from a whole-body perspective.

I hope my son feels empowered to take things into his own hands

Now that I have a son of my own, I think about the lessons I want to instill in him. I aim to lead by example and hope my own prioritization of a health-forward lifestyle provides a positive influence. He's just a toddler now and has an incredible head of hair, so it's hard to picture otherwise. It is also impossible to predict the future or what technology will be at our fingertips in 20-odd years. But should he one day experience thinning or shedding, I hope he feels empowered to take things into his own hands — and not entirely blame me.

So, to all the sons out there starting to scrutinize their widening part lines or depleting crown coverage, my advice is this: Don't just accept your supposed "genetic fate." You have the power to take control of your hair health through lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, quality sleep, and stress management. Your dad may have contributed to some genetic factors, but you dictate just how much those genes get expressed through your lifestyle choices.

Make hair health a priority. Follow a hair-healthy regimen, and you may be surprised by your results — no matter what may have been passed down through the generations.

Giorgos Tsetis is the co-founder and CEO of Nutrafol, a hair growth and skin health supplement brand.

• Warren Buffett's junk food diet threatened to ruin his trip to China in 1995, a biography explains.
• Bill Gates and his family made sure the investor was served his favorites: burgers, fries, and soda.
• Buffett toured a local Coca-Cola plant and rushed to McDonald's when they arrived in Hong Kong.

Warren Buffett is a fast-food fanatic who eats McDonald's for breakfast, munches on See's Candies, devours Dairy Queen ice cream, and guzzles five cans of Coke daily.

The investor's unusual diet meant his 17-day trip to China in 1995 was a terrifying leap out of his culinary comfort zone. Luckily his close friends, Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates and his then-wife Melinda, went to great lengths to ensure he wouldn't starve.

Author Alice Schroeder tells the story of the Berkshire Hathaway CEO's vacation in her biography of him: "The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life."

Before departing, the Gateses invited Buffett to complete a questionnaire about what he liked to eat. Wary of a repeat of the 15-course sushi dinner he suffered through in 1989, during which he didn't take a single bite, the billionaire wrote: "I don't eat any Chinese food. If necessary, serve me rice and I'll just move it around on my plate, and I'll go back to my room afterward and eat peanuts."

Burgers, fries, and soda

The first test came when Buffett sat down for a grand Sichuanese dinner in Beijing's Palace Hotel during his first night in China.

"Waiters placed course after course on the rotating platters: tea-smoked duck, twice-cooked pork with chili sauce, spicy chicken, and Sichuan hot pot," Schroeder writes.

Fortunately for the picky eater at the table, the Gateses had arranged for the tour company to dispatch people beforehand to instruct the hotel's chefs how to prepare hamburgers and fries.

"To his delight he was served course after course of his french fries —even for dessert," Schroeder reported.

The group went sightseeing the next day. When they stopped at restaurants for lunch and dinner, Buffett was again served burgers and fries while the others chowed down on Chinese food.

Moreover, on the third day of the trip, when the party summited the Great Wall, Buffett found Cherry Coke waiting for him while the others enjoyed Champagne.

In between gulps, Buffett cracked a joke about the Wonder of the World beneath his feet: "Boy, I sure would have liked to have been the company that got the brick contract for this thing."

True to form, Buffett declined a martial arts lesson the next morning, opting for a tour of the nearest Coca-Cola plant instead.

Schroeder's book also said that the touring party later rented Chairman Mao's personal train and tracked the Old Silk Road through northwest China. They rode camels in the desert, marveled at ancient architecture, observed giant pandas, and saw the Terracotta Army. During a scenic private cruise, Buffett, Gates, and Gates' dad played bridge.

The Berkshire chief may well have enjoyed some of the country's fantastic sights and experiences. But he was clearly hungry for home comforts by the time the tour concluded in Hong Kong.

"Buffett towed the Gateses straight to McDonald's to buy hamburgers in the middle of the night," Schroeder wrote.

• Mark Zuckerberg's new yacht, Launchpad, is enjoying its summer debut.
• The megayacht recently stopped in Mallorca and has since ventured further into the Mediterranean.
• It looks like Zuckerberg may dethrone Jeff Bezos as king of this year's superyacht season.

Move over, Jeff Bezos. Mark Zuckerberg is looking like this summer's Poseiden.

While the Amazon founder made waves last year with the debut of his megayacht Koru, Zuckerberg is the name on the yacht world's lips this season.

Rumors began surfacing in March that the Meta CEO had purchased Launchpad — a Dutch-built, 118-meter motor yacht originally built for a Russian oligarch.

By May, the transaction seemed all but confirmed when both the yacht and Zuckerberg made their way to Panama to celebrate his 40th birthday with a fete that included a few spins on his infamous hydrofoil.

Now that summer is here, Zuckerberg has debuted Launchpad — and her support superyacht Wingman — on the biggest stage in the yachting world: the Mediterranean.

Zuckerberg this month treated his family to a trip aboard Launchpad off the coast of Mallorca. The family, sporting matching t-shirts, celebrated Father's Day and Zuckerberg's dad's 70th birthday, he wrote in a caption posted to Instagram. Local news outlets spotted Zuckerberg, his wife Priscilla Chan, and their three daughters on the Spanish island and aboard the yacht, which was outfitted with water slides and other toys.

From there, the yacht sailed to the Ligurian Sea, the spit of the Mediterranean between the Italian Riviera and Corsica.

It's likely the yacht will continue to crisscross the Mediterranean this summer. If Zuckerberg continues to post photos of his travels, we may glean more details about how he has customized the ship to his liking.

For now little is known beyond the fact that she is built by Feadship, the shipyard behind Larry Ellison's Musashi. Photos from SuperYacht Times show Launchpad features a large swimming pool and helipad. The final purchase price is not public, but a new yacht of that size would likely cost nine figures upfront and millions of dollars a year to maintain.

Perhaps, like Bezos did last year, Zuckerberg will entertain some of the most famous names in entertainment or business. (Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, had an engagement party last year aboard Koru that counted Bill Gates and Leonardo DiCaprio as guests. On Friday, Bezos and Sanchez were spotted riding wave runners in the Aegean Sea alongside Kim Kardashian near the 127-meter yacht). Alternatively, Zuckerberg might prefer the privacy that is paramount to many in the superyacht world.

Whether Zuckerberg shows up as a bon vivant or doting family man this summer, Launchpad fits well into one of the most successful CEO rebrands in recent years, in which Zuckerberg went from being perceived as a robotic, mistrusted tech nerd to a kind-of-relatable, fun, fit tech bro.

Now he's got one of the largest yachts in the world to add to his cool factor (even though, regrettably for Zuckerberg, it is a mortifying nine meters shorter than Koru).

• Hong Kong investment banker Gladys Tsoi, 29, has taken her adopted toy poodle to Japan twice this year.
• For the second trip, she spent $38,000 to fly on a private jet with her dog.
• She hopes to plan another trip for her two other dogs soon.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Gladys Tsoi, a 29-year-old dog owner and investment banker based in Hong Kong. This essay has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider verified Tsoi's receipts.

In April, I treated my toy poodle, Hershey, to a luxurious vacation in Japan. We traveled there together on a private jet.

It was the second time we'd traveled to Japan together in four months. The first flight, from our home base in Hong Kong, was on a commercial airline and cost me $10,100. The second trip came with a significantly higher price tag of $38,000. Despite the hefty expenses, I have no regrets about splurging on my furry companion.

Years of saving while working full-time at an investment bank have given me the capacity to comfortably spend this much on vacation. I also earn additional income with my pet influencer Instagram account, where I occasionally get paid for partnerships and brand collaborations.

I wanted to give Hershey a better life

In 2021, I came across a Facebook post about a toy poodle that had been subjected to abusive breeders and needed a new home. I wanted her to have a better life, so I initiated a trial adoption. After one week, we made it official, marking the beginning of Hershey's journey from a neglected past to a life filled with love and adventure.

At the time, Hershey was two and a half years old, and I already had two other dogs: Milo, a 9-year-old mutt, and Malibu, a 1-year-old labradoodle.

I'm 29 and have been dreaming about traveling abroad with my dogs for years. I decided that this was the year to do it.

My family and I chose Hershey, among my trio of dogs, due to her exceptional temperament. I had full confidence she'd cope with the plane rides and adapt to the new environment.

Planning these journeys took about a year, from securing a reliable pet travel agent and managing import-export paperwork to multiple vet check-ups and extra vaccinations to meet Japan's stringent medical standards for pets. Securing flights with pet-friendly seating and accommodations added to the stress. But it was all worth it in the end.

I chose Japan for its pet-friendly culture. Finding accommodation, dining options and parks open to dogs was easy. Pets are even allowed on public transport if they're in a carrier.

And as a big fan of Japanese pet products, the destination was an ideal fit.

Hershey's first trip overseas was in January 2024.

Our first trip to Japan included two other poodle friends, while our second trip in April 2024 was a family affair with my parents and brother.

The first was an epic road trip covering over 1,200 miles, spanning seven prefectures and including stops in Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Hakuba, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Izu.

We flew to Tokyo on Korean Air, transiting in Seoul, and returned via Japan Airlines cargo. This involved many flight procedures, including securing a pet seat and handling Hershey's paperwork and check-ups.

We took advantage of the city's pet-friendly offerings during our stay in Tokyo. We stayed in Inumo Shibakoen Hotel, which had amenities like capsule machines with pet supplements, free professional pet photoshoot sessions, free pet grooming, and a gourmet pet dining menu. We explored iconic landmarks like Tokyo Tower and Shibuya Crossing.

There were plenty of pet-friendly restaurants, including one with tailored teppanyaki meals — where we all watched the meat being prepared on the grill.

We went glamping under Mount Fuji, and Hershey had her first snow experience in Hakuba. In Kyoto, we immortalized our trip with a traditional photo shoot, where Hershey and I wore matching kimonos. In Nara, Hershey got to mingle with friendly Japanese deer. In Osaka, we wandered into pet-friendly shops, and in Izu, we went hiking around Mount Omuro.

For the second trip, we opted for a private jet both ways.

Our second trip, which took place in April, lasted 8 days and covered 10 prefectures. We focused on Kyushu, an island in southwestern Japan.

Our road trip took us through Fukuoka, Oita, Yufuin, Kumamoto, Beppu, Nagasaki, Yanagawa, Sasebo, and Itoshima. Our main goal was to witness Japan's spring flower season. Opting for a private jet made this journey simpler compared to our first trip, with our pet travel agent handling all flight arrangements seamlessly. Hershey and I took the private jet, while the rest of the family flew over separately.

We enjoyed Fukuoka's countryside charm. A local photographer captured family moments amid cherry blossoms, and Hershey explored pet-friendly flower parks.

In Oita and Yufuin, glamping by Mount Aso provided a tranquil retreat, while Hershey savored local attractions like Yufuin floral village and Yanagawa's rivers. Sasebo offered a European vibe with tulip fields, while in Kumamoto we went strawberry picking and visited the zoo.

In Kumamoto, we stayed in a private lodge run by a local family. It was equipped with a doggy gym, professional dog grooming room, dog park, and private onsen.

We enjoyed Beppu's natural hot springs the following day and stayed at Hotel Nampuro in Nagasaki. The hotel had a three-course pet-friendly dining menu.

Next time, we will probably bring another pup along.

Both trips came with hefty price tags, especially round two when I opted for a private jet. The cost of hotels added up to around $5,000. In hindsight, every cent was well spent.

Some may consider my splurges excessive, but witnessing the pure joy on Hershey's face is what gives my life meaning and purpose.

For our next trip, I'm contemplating bringing one of my larger canine companions, either Milo or Malibu, along for the journey.

Got a personal essay about traveling abroad in luxury that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: akarplus@businessinsider.com.

• I use my Costco executive membership to pick up easy meal options for my household of two.
• The Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken makes its way into my cart on almost every Costco trip.
• The Authentic Motor City Pizza Co. deep-dish double-pepperoni pizzas are a delicious, easy dinner.

Despite not having a large family to feed, I've been shopping at Costco for more than 20 years. I pay $120 annually for an executive membership, which comes with a 2% reward of up to $1,000 on qualified Costco purchases.

Like many of Costco's over 129 million members, I look for groceries that provide great value. My wife is a teacher, and I work from home, so we're not always able to make a meal from scratch on busy days. That's why having some easily prepared options is essential.

Here are some of my favorite easy meals to get at Costco.

Prices may vary by location.

The Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken always
goes in my cart.

Whole odes have been written to Costco's rotisserie chicken, and for good reason. At $5 per chicken, I almost always bring one home after a Costco trip.

I use the breast meat for Caesar salads and shred the leftovers to make a big batch of chicken salad for the week's lunches.

I also like to reheat the thighs, wings, and drumsticks in the oven to crisp up the skin for a quick indoor barbecue.

The Kirkland Signature yakisoba chicken stir-fry kit is as good as a restaurant meal.

I like to skip ordering out and pick up a Kirkland Signature stir-fry kit, which I think is just as good as my local takeout restaurant.

The kit includes noodles, chicken, mixed vegetables, and a soy sauce that tastes similar to Chinese-dumpling sauce. Preparing this meal takes about five minutes, and I generally get at least three servings out of it.

This meal costs $6 per pound, which comes out to about $20 total.

If I want a quick, Italian-inspired meal, I grab a Kirkland Signature lasagna.

Lasagna is serious business in my Italian family, so I was initially skeptical about trying the Kirkland Signature frozen lasagna. However, I'm so glad I finally did.

It might not be as good as my grandmother's recipe, but it also doesn't take all day to make. I find the combination of sausage and beef more flavorful, as the two meats create a spicy sauce. But the all-beef version is also very good, especially for those who don't eat pork.

The Italian-sausage-and-beef lasagna was $16.80, and the beef version was $18 at my store.

I can't always find great Detroit-style pizza, but the Authentic Motor City Pizza Co. deep-dish double-pepperoni version is pretty good.

True, delicious Detroit deep-dish pizza is loaded with pepperoni and baked on a crust that's somewhere between Chicago and Sicilian-style pizza. Unfortunately, I find this quality isn't easy to come by outside Detroit.

Thankfully, the Authentic Motor City Pizza Co. frozen versions are pretty close to their fresh counterparts and take less than 30 minutes in the oven. Each two-pack of pizza is $13 at my store.

The Kirkland Signature Caesar-salad kit with dressing, croutons, and lemons makes an easy side or main dish.

This kit includes everything needed for Caesar salad: romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and creamy Caesar dressing. I pick up one of these with my rotisserie chicken to make an easy Caesar salad for two in a few minutes.

Each salad is $4.50 per pound, which comes out to about $8 to $9 per container.

The Ajinomoto Tokyo-style shoyu ramen with chicken always satisfies my cravings for noodles.

Though Costco's deli has excellent noodle-centric options, I like keeping some easy meals in my freezer. These restaurant-quality ramen bowls are loaded with noodles, chicken, scallions, and mixed vegetables in a flavorful soy-based sauce.

Each box of ramen was $18 at my location.

If I want seafood, I go for the Kirkland Signature shrimp cocktail.

Sometimes, I like to top the Kirkland Signature Caesar-salad kit with shrimp for an extra delicious (and fast) meal. A 1-½ pound container of shrimp may seem like a lot for two people, but it never goes to waste.

I find the shrimp stays perfectly fresh for at least three days in the refrigerator. Shrimp cocktail is a fun treat to have on hand for snacking, but I also like to use the leftovers for a scampi.

Each container of shrimp costs $9 per pound, which is about $14 to $15 total.

If you're looking for a comfort meal, check out the Kirkland Signature beef pot roast with gravy.

The Kirkland Signature beef pot roast is a great comfort-food option. The rich, delicious sauce tastes very similar to a homemade version, and the flavor of the USDA-choice beef shines through.

The package doesn't contain vegetables, so I enjoy the meal with a fresh salad and a hunk of crusty bread. My Costco sells each container of pot roast for $7 per pound, which is about $21 total.

Sometimes, the Kirkland Signature chicken street-taco kit is the perfect dinner.

The only time I don't bring home a rotisserie chicken is when I choose the Kirkland Signature street-taco kit instead. This taco kit, which contains spiced chicken, shredded cabbage, cheese, tortillas, salsa, and cilantro-lime crema, is as delicious as it is easy to prepare.

If you need extra sauce, several brands of cilantro-lime crema are available at many Costco locations. This kit costs $5 per pound, which comes out to about $14 to $15 per container.

I feel like the Kirkland Signature cheese pizzas give me a lot of bang for my buck.

With four pies in a package, the Kirkland Signature frozen pizzas are an exceptional value. I like to add toppings about halfway through reheating these in the oven, but they're also delicious plain.

Each four-count box of pizza is $11.

Click to keep reading Costco diaries like this one.

• Apple, Samsung, and Google are all turning to AI to inject new life into their devices.
• They'll be using it to sell phones to consumers who've become less enthusiastic about them.
• It signals a new era in the fight between smartphone makers, which used to be vicious and intense.

You almost certainly own a smartphone, though you probably feel like you've owned the same one for years.

Where industry giants like Apple and Samsung once waged fierce smartphone wars to give consumers increasingly high-tech devices to put in their pockets, these devices have become ubiquitous and quotidian in recent years, their capabilities seemingly plateauing.

With billions of people owning smartphones, the companies selling them have had to do less to convince users to buy them.

Competition may have died down but the original smartphone wars were so intense for Steve Jobs he once declared that he'd start a "thermonuclear war."

The late Apple founder was furious about Android, the smartphone operating system Google unveiled just 11 months after the first iPhone was unveiled in January 2007. He felt Apple's hard work had been stolen.

"I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple's $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong," Jobs said, according to an account in his authorized biography by Walter Isaacson.

The animosity went beyond Google. Apple executives were infuriated in 2010 by the Samsung Galaxy S, which they thought was a carbon copy of the iPhone. Samsung's decision to partner with Google to integrate Android into its devices — after years of being a key supplier to Apple — caused more bad blood.

Years of fierce litigation over alleged patent infringements followed, and intense gamesmanship as smartphone makers vied to sell consumers on their visions of pocketable hardware.

Though some years have passed since these bitter feuds — a court settlement in 2018 over patents may have played its part in ending them — there are signs that a new era of the smartphone wars is about to begin. This time, it is about to be supercharged by AI.

Smartphone wars in the AI era

The smartphone market has been lagging. Statistics from data firm Canalys showed that 1.14 billion smartphones were shipped in 2023, down 4% from 2022.

People seem to be holding onto their existing phones for longer, too. Data published in November by business services firm Assurant found that the average age of devices traded in or upgraded was just over 3 1/2 years. The industry had come to expect consumers to upgrade every one to two years, but it's hard to blame consumers for the shift.

Apple has often unveiled new iPhone models that look nearly identical to the one before. New features can seem incremental or pointless, too. The iPhone 15 Pro, which has the same 6.1 inch "Super Retina XDR display" as the iPhone 14 Pro, swapped its ring/silent switch for an "action Button." A 6-core GPU replaced a 5-core one. The story is similar for Samsung's Galaxy series and Google's Pixel phones.

But generative AI looks like it will end the era of small changes.

Apple, Samsung, and Google are all loudly talking about how they will use the technology to inject new life into their devices.

Earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off day one of the company's Worldwide Developers Conference by revealing Apple Intelligence, a suite of new AI features aimed at revamping the company's full roster of hardware and set to be released later this year.

The company said that, on iPhones, Apple Intelligence would help users "enhance their writing" on everything from emails, messages, and documents to summarizing audio and enhancing virtual assistant Siri. Apple has also struck a deal with ChatGPT maker OpenAI to integrate the buzzy chatbot more deeply into its operating system.

iPhones drove more than half the company's revenue — $200.6 billion of its $383.3 billion net sales in its last fiscal year.

The company will be banking on Apple Intelligence being a hit with consumers, potentially revitalizing sales in markets like China. There, people are lapping up new devices from domestic rivals, such as Huawei's Mate 60 Pro. According to figures from Counterpoint, Chinese iPhone sales dropped 19% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024.

Google and Samsung have been just as busy.

Last month, Google demoed its AI assistant, Project Astra, at its I/O conference. Supported by its multimodal Gemini model, it's been designed to provide real-time conversation and support on Pixel phones. The new slate of Pixel phones, usually revealed in the fall, will be showcased on August 13 instead.

The company also announced other AI features, which would help detect nuisance calls, create and drop AI-generated images into apps like Gmail, and allow users to quickly retrieve information from huge PDFs by asking simple questions.

At an event in Paris next month, Samsung is planning to reveal updates to "Galaxy AI," its attempt to introduce "meaningful intelligence" with communication that will feature on its Galaxy S24 smartphone lineup.

The South Korean tech giant must be hoping to regain its crown as king of the smartphone market. It lost it last year, data from market research firm IDC shows, as Apple secured the largest market share.

The market may have begun to feel stale after years of uninspiring updates to products you already own, but as they harness and build hype about AI, smartphone makers see 2024 as an open playing field.

• This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Welcome back to our Sunday edition, a roundup of our top stories. New York City started its closely watched clampdown on short-term rentals like Airbnb last year. So far, it's mostly benefited the hotels: occupancy and room rates are way up.

On the agenda today:

• A former SAP account manager is breaking her NDA to speak out about a workplace sexual assault.
• CEOs and pro quarterbacks have to take this cognitive exam. Now you might, too.
• Google studied Gen Z's actions online. What they found was alarming.
• Private-equity firms might be taking their "Hunger Games" recruiting tactics too far.

But first: High-status jobs are facing their AI moment.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app here.

This week's dispatch

AI is here

Investment banker. Consultant. Software engineer. Venture capitalist. They're among the best-paid and highest-status jobs in corporate America.

They're also about to be transformed by AI.

Goldman Sachs plans to have AI tools available to its workforce as soon as next year, with the potential to change the roles of junior bankers in particular.

Consulting firms are also adapting to a deluge of client questions about implementing AI. One senior partner at McKinsey told Business Insider that helping clients use generative AI might become most of the firm's work in the future.

In Silicon Valley, the use of AI copilots in software engineering has become so common that there's a debate over whether to allow these tools in technical interviews where job applicants have historically been asked to showcase their expertise.

Some venture capitalists have gone further, using AI to replace associates.

The impact of AI on these professions demonstrates the sharp difference between this technological revolution and earlier advancements. Whereas in the past, lower-wage workers felt the effects of automation and increased competition, this time, it's white-collar workers who face the biggest impact.

That includes me. I used AI to help edit this newsletter.

A former SAP employee breaks her NDA

After Ashley Kostial reported being raped by a colleague during a work trip, she felt pressured to sign two nondisclosure agreements — one with SAP and its subsidiary, Ariba, and one with her insurance provider, Aetna.

She's decided to risk coming forward now because she views the NDAs she signed as unjust — and wants to see the use of NDAs ended for other victims of sexual assault.

Read the full story.

The new job stress test

If you think getting a job now is tough, wait until you add this test into the mix. Administered by testing company S2 Cognition, the evaluation feels like a cross between playing Pong and taking an eye exam.

It's used by the NFL and college teams to scout top athletes, but it's rapidly spreading beyond sports. The company is now serving law enforcement, the military, and even the boardroom. Your job might be next.

More about the high-pressure test.

Google's Gen Z study

Researchers at Jigsaw, a subsidiary of Google, unearthed alarming findings about Gen Z's internet habits. They know the difference between hard news and AI-generated memes — they just don't care.

Instead of trying to fact-check online news, Gen Z tends to rely on other users' opinions to inform their own. In the age of influencers and cancel culture, they're taking cues from their peers rather than traditional forms of authority.

Inside Gen Z's online habits.

PE "Hunger Games"

Private equity's annual recruiting process kicked off earlier than ever this year, sending young bankers into a frenzy. The process is already a strain on junior bankers, and earlier start dates add to the stress.

BI spoke with a headhunter and a former junior banker about the pros and cons of an earlier-than-ever start — and what PE firms actually gain from the process.

Here's what they said.

Also read:

• Top private-equity firms, including Apollo and KKR, just kicked off 2026 associate recruiting. Wall Street juniors are shocked and scrambling.

This week's quote:

"We're playing chase."

— An Amazon employee on the company's ChatGPT competitor, Metis. Amazon is far behind other companies, which have long had AI chatbots.

More of this week's top reads:

• The biggest scandal in gaming right now, explained.
• Netflix's co-CEO explains the price hikes for ad-free plans.
• Citi Wealth's horrible tech is infuriating clients and employees.
• Job-hunting is a nightmare right now, with power back in employers' hands.
• Tal Alexander will step down from his brokerage firm amid rape allegation.
• The fastest-growing career in the US is in wind power. Here's how to land a job.

• See the résumé that helped this worker get a $350,000 job at Google.

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  The Insider Today team: Matt Turner, deputy editor-in-chief, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.