A breast milk-inspired ice cream pop-up hits a major city—tourists can't believe it

Missed your chance to jet off this week? Don’t worry—we’re bringing the world to your inbox via today’s issue of Happenings. From rainforest resorts in Fiji to rooftop cocktails in the Dolomites, this week’s dispatch is a globe-trotting mix of spa escapes, designer toy stores (yes, really), and where to be seen in NYC if you want breast milk-inspired ice cream. Plus, a deep dive into the art of scoring hotel upgrades without looking like a total try-hard. Curated by HAP Editor Luke Abrahams, it’s your weekly dose of travel zeitgeist, hotel candy, and destination envy. Let’s get into it. ✈️

Have you ever rocked up to a hotel reception desk and tried to woo staff into upgrading you to a fab suite? Of course you have. Waltzing into any five-star boutique or grand dame and hearing the words, "We're happy to tell you we've upgraded you to the x suite," is better than your average orgasm nowadays. Luxe for less pay? Yes, please. To avoid looking like a total desperate dweeb if you don't hear those words, our friends at CN Traveler put together a handy guide to avoid any potential embarrassment. Spoiler: hotel loyalty programs (no matter how annoying) are the way forward to enter a new world of pampering. Read more here.

Have you noticed, while walking down the street lately, that the 70s and 80s are making a revival? Everything from bellbottoms to cityslicker and quarterback chic is hitting the streets. It's not just fashion that's getting a nostalgic glow up. Travel is getting slower and behind the filters of old layered films and Polaroid hues, simplicity is reigning supreme. Beyond the trend, it's not rocket science. People are bored of the now and the distant doom and gloom of the future. Instead, sentimentality and personal memories are king. When it comes to travel, nostalgia is never a filthy word... it's a lifestyle and one that invokes a sense of peace in a crazy world. Get some inspo here.

Travel can be sketchy at times, especially in big cities like NYC, LA, and the old Capitol. Horror stories of unruly carpool buddies and crazy drivers are becoming more and more commonplace, so if you are a nervous and cautious traveler, Uber's new feature is for you. Starting in August, the new “Women Preference” feature lets riders and drivers opt into women-only matches and will first pilot in mega cities Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit before expanding across the country. As a famous fashion model once said, safety first. Find out more about the new feature here.

Our weekly column from hospitality-obsessed city native Megan Shelton unveils the gotta-be-there spots across the Big Apple that are anything BUT basic.

For more NYC + travel content, follow Megan, who doubles as HAP's NYC Know-It-All and Contributing Travel Editor, on Instagram, TikTok, and her Substack, Turndown Service.

It's that time of the month again when I bang on about where it is hot to travel in September, so here you go. Enjoy and safe travels!

Japan - it's not as hot, nor is it as crowded, which makes it the perfect time to explore often packed-out places like Tokyo and Kyoto.

Italy - It's not as hectic, and the hotel rates are not as ridiculous. Plus, off-season travel is really picking up, making often unbearable destinations in the country that little more attractive. If you want to visit one of the country’s hottest destinations, check out our guide to Puglia.

Chilean Patagonia - The weather this time of year is not as brutal and turn of season spring chic really makes it one of the most beautiful places to explore on the planet this time of year. Get some inspo here.

Namibia - Go here for mild weather, stunning night skies, and some seriously spectacular wildlife on a self-drive safari.

I was having a chat over dinner with my American friend Hugo the other night, and about 30 minutes of our conversation was devoted to how bloody filthy your average plane is nowadays (even in First and Business!). Every seat I've sat my tush on of late looks like an advert for an unwelcome STD. Crumbs, hairs, fluids, and boogers. It's, in a word, gross. I once witnessed a so-called "clean" during a layover in Rio. A team of cleaners in hazmat suits boarded our plane with industrial lemon pledge and hoovers that looked like they were built sometime in 1873. Instead of a "deep clean," it was a mere brush and stroke with a bit of chit-chat. And yes, there was still a smattering of poop in the toilets. Hilariously, this was all taking place on board one of the world's most famous airlines. When I asked the cabin crew if it was possible to clean the quite literally "shitty" toilets, they simply said: "We are here for your safety, sir, not to clean toilets." Surely inhaling someone's digested breakfast in the bog constitutes a safety issue, right? Discuss.

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