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This $71,000 tiny home on wheels has 3 bedrooms and can sleep 6 people — see inside the 'Grand Sojourner'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Chris Mott and his wife used their $250,000 inheritance to buy a truck and trailer for travel.</li><li>Their time is split between exploring the US and spending time with family in Washington.</li></ul>One day in 2022, my wife answered the phone, as we were expecting this call. It was her sister letting us know that their mom had passed. At age 90, 'Nana' was gone. She died the way she lived, surrounded by family, in the house where she had spent nearly 60 years.I had left work in my mid-50s, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/laid-off-retired-early-built-retirement-portfolio-how-2024-10">not necessarily by choice</a>. My wife and I were in the process of selling our house and moving from Southern California to Washington state to be closer to our son's family, but we hadn't figured out where we would live yet.In the middle of that, Nana had a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/massive-heart-attack-signs-women-flu-symptoms-2023-12">heart attack</a> and had been in hospice for nearly a month before her heart finally gave out.<h2 id="f4480fdf-e7ef-41fd-ac01-26f27ff2d4e4">There's an old saying that the only certainties in life are death and taxes</h2>Nana had planned for her death. Her house and car were paid off, and she had some savings, most of which was an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/received-250000-inheritance-regret-how-spent-it-2024-8">inheritance</a> she had received 15 years prior when her mother passed.Her house sold for $750,000, and the proceeds were divided among her three children. She also set aside a separate savings account for my wife and me since we had been helping take care of her and her house since her husband died.After selling costs and legal fees, my wife and I received $250,000 in December 2022.<h2 id="cc1ada05-7040-4a15-b32a-ed39767510e1">We always knew that one day my wife would inherit part of her mom's estate</h2>We never calculated that money into any of our retirement plans. We decided to wait until the time came to determine how to use the money.Receiving an inheritance can be like winning the lottery. This was a once-in-a-lifetime event for us.Though Nana had never specified how we spent the money, we felt a need to be thoughtful. Nana had worked and saved her whole life and wanted her money to go to her kids for something good.When Nana received her inheritance, she used it wisely. She paid off her house and debts, set aside some for future needs and emergencies, and used the rest to travel the world — all things she had wanted to do and was finally able to. We decided to take a page from her book.<h2 id="76624ad5-f1d3-42f0-958d-5095ce29f3da">We chose to take our life on the road</h2><div type="image" title="A silver Dodge Ram truck parked with a small trailer home attached to it." height="3024" width="4032" msid="114945251" hostid="261" sizebytes="1678006"></div>Of the $250,000 inheritance, we spent $95,000 on a new Ram 2500 pick-up truck and $85,000 on a 30-foot fifth-wheel trailer. After another $15,000 on upgrades and accessories, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/struggles-of-living-in-an-rv-camoer-2020-6">the trailer became our house</a>.We next spent $5,000 on materials to build a parking pad in the side yard of my son's half-acre property in Vancouver, Washington. The remaining $50,000 went into savings.<h2 id="f705ca16-c490-44b6-a9b9-25060c1c462c">Life for us is now smaller and simpler</h2>We stay with my son, his wife, and our granddaughter in the warm summer months. We take her on picnics and visit museums, the zoo, and the library. We even go on weekend camping trips with the whole family.Sometimes, she'll come to our trailer for a sleepover. When the winter frost sets in, my wife and I hook up the trailer, say a tearful goodbye to the kids, and head south, searching for warmer weather.<h2 id="ab4b6d54-13b7-4434-94ac-7fb6d6f37069">Our 290-square-foot trailer has all the comforts of home</h2>We have a queen bed, a bathroom with a shower, a kitchen, a 40-inch television, and even a fireplace. We travel the US, visiting <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-underrated-national-parks-according-frequent-traveler">national parks</a> and monuments and seeing the sights as well as family and friends.While we cook most of our meals on board, we sample the local cuisine at all our destinations. Our satellite service lets us have regular video calls with the kids. Every couple of weeks, we stop at a post office and drop off a postcard or package filled with souvenirs and little goodies for them.<h2 id="ea2ad19f-1dce-4a6b-b171-7f68e52b4ebe">We're heading to Anaheim to meet the kids for Christmas at Disneyland in December</h2>Then, we'll start our sojourn east, through the southwest deserts, to the Grand Canyon, Texas, and the Gulf states.Next we're going to Key West, Florida, then staying 10 days at the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/camping-at-disney-world-not-worth-it-fort-wilderness-review-2022-11">Fort Wilderness campground</a> at Disney World, a bucket list item for us. When the spring thaw starts, we'll turn north and then back West. Our destination is simply someplace we've never been before.<h2 id="fe86b38f-5e4a-4c64-bb21-a5460fc4dd05">It was a risk retiring early and traveling the country</h2>The biggest challenge is finding a place to stay. Since the pandemic, many more people are living an RV lifestyle.We have to keep our water tanks full, refill our propane, find gas stations and grocery stores, and places to dump our waste tanks. Nothing works without electricity, so we need a place with good sun so our solar panels can charge up our batteries or a place to plug in for a day.<h2 id="c84c1131-cd96-4225-ad81-e593be3162b7">There was nothing more important to Nana than family</h2>Every year, she hosted a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cooking-full-thanksgiving-meal-one-pan-small-apartment-nyc-2023-11">Thanksgiving dinner</a> in the backyard of her tiny postwar bungalow. Over 60 people could be there, watching football, chatting, eating, and kids and grandkids running around or playing with the old toys and games she kept in the closet for them. Nana loved it.I think she'd be happy that our new lifestyle allows us to spend this time with family and go to all the places we've always wanted.We haven't regretted how we spent the inheritance even for a minute.Want to share your inheritance story? Email Lauryn Haas at lhaas@businessinsider.com

My wife and I inherited $250,000 and bought a camper to travel the country. I have no regrets about how we spent the money.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>My husband and I took the full route on ONCF's train from Marrakech to Fes.</li><li>I bought my tickets ahead online and spent a total of $58 for the 6 1/2-hour trip.</li></ul>Ever since I first went to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/full-day-at-epcot-families-what-to-do-disney-world-2023-7">Disney World's Epcot</a> as an almost 12-year-old, I've been captivated by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/morocco-riad-palace-luxury-hotel-worth-it-anayela-review-2024-3">Morocco</a>. Well, at least fake Morocco, the World Showcase version built in 1984 with the participation of King Hassan II.The intricate tile work, the aromatic tagines, and the friendly people all called to me, but it took me 30 years to pull the trigger and book my voyage. During a 10-day sojourn, I made it a point to see the three major cities that interested me most: <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bullet-train-africa-morocco-casablanca-tangier-2019-1">Casablanca</a>, Marrakech, and Fes. Morocco is not a tiny country, and getting from city to city can take some time. But I was resolute in my desire to make the nearly seven-hour journey from Marrakech to Fes by ONCF train.Although I could've bought tickets the day of, I bought them two months in advance. Each <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/booking-first-class-amtrak-acela-ticket-what-to-expect-2022-3">first-class ticket</a> was $29 — not bad for a ride that long, I thought.<h2 id="861fdc29-6a11-4aa1-be99-2b6d81cbd636">The Marrakech train station alone is worth visiting </h2><div type="image" title="Marrakech train station " height="1426" width="1902" msid="111996393" hostid="261" sizebytes="268348"></div>My husband insisted we arrive an hour and a half early for our 7:50 a.m. train. Fortunately, the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cheap-first-class-train-ride-review-morocco-marrakech-cassablanca-2024-2">Marrakech Railway Station</a> is full of ways to pass the time.We stopped at Segafredo, a link in an Italian coffee chain, so my husband could get his latte fix. But since this was Morocco, I ordered a pot of mint tea. <div type="image" title="tea and coffee " height="1426" width="1902" msid="111996389" hostid="261" sizebytes="215744"></div>We also stocked up on food and drinks in the station's convenience store before boarding our train, though food was also available for purchase on board.<h2 id="9f6a28bb-9b09-4767-942d-082645bf7c2d">There wasn't much legroom on the train, but I managed to rest and make friends on board</h2><div type="image" title="ONCF train " height="1426" width="2140" msid="111996394" hostid="261" sizebytes="166144"></div>Our train arrived at the station on time, and finding our well-labeled seats was easy.My husband and I were initially assigned seats diagonally across from each other, but I asked the person assigned the spot next to him if we could switch, and they agreed.Other passengers had already taken up most of the overhead luggage storage, so we were told to put our bags in the hall. This didn't leave much room for other travelers to pass by.<div type="image" title="Luggage in train hallway" height="1426" width="1902" msid="111996391" hostid="261" sizebytes="210608"></div>By the time all six people in our compartment were seated, there was no legroom. However, the seats themselves were plush, with a neck rest perfect for passing out for an hour or two.When we first got on the train, it was pretty hot. Shortly thereafter, the air conditioner turned on, and the car remained frigid for the rest of the trip. The restroom in our train car wasn't bad, either. It was just a matter of getting used to feeling the cool air from beneath the train rushing toward my nether regions.<div type="image" title="Bathroom on train " height="1426" width="1902" msid="111996397" hostid="261" sizebytes="109016"></div>With frequent stops, there was a constant shuffle of passengers on and off the train. In Casablanca, about halfway through my trip, another English-speaking passenger sat down next to me. The Mumbai-based gentleman told me that he was headed to Fes to meet a potential match for marriage. We talked for most of the rest of the journey.<h2 id="4d3ae925-af4a-422f-bd54-15cb9eff5e0f">The train was the best way to get where I was going, and I got to see more of Morocco</h2><div type="image" title="View of desert from train window " height="1426" width="1902" msid="111996396" hostid="261" sizebytes="156450"></div>Though there are cheap hourlong flights on Ryanair from Marrakech to Fes, I'm glad that I took the train.I felt like I had a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/group-guided-tour-morocco-worth-money-frequent-solo-traveler-2023-10">true Moroccan experience</a>, bags in the hallway and all. I talked to fellow passengers and even made changes to my itinerary based on advice from a gentleman who got on at the last stop.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amtrak-first-class-upgrade-bidding-new-york-boston-2024-2">Taking the train</a> also allowed me to see areas I didn't have time to visit in earnestFor example, when we entered Rabat, Morocco's capital, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of Zaha Hadid's Grand Théatre de Rabat on the Bouregreg River. It's an African answer to Sydney's famous opera house.I was equally enamored with the rolling hills dotted with sheep and the orange groves through which we passed. There's nothing like train travel to facilitate passively seeing the sights.A plane is just a plane. A languid <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/first-long-train-mistakes-amtrak-things-to-know-before-booking-2022-8">train trip</a> is a memorable day on its own. I would do it again without hesitation.

I spent 6 ½ hours in first class on a train in Morocco. It wasn't luxurious, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Puri, Jul 1 () The Lord Jagannath's 'Bahuda Jatra' -- the return car festival -- began on Wednesday in the absence of devotees, and amid tight security and curfew, as the seaside pilgrim town virtually shutdown to prevent gatherings in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the divine siblings -- Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and their sister Devi Subhadra -- embarked on their return journey back to the 12th-century shrine, the administration appealed people to stay home and watch the rituals on TV. The world famous Rath Yatra, which commenced on June 23, is being held sans public attendance as the Supreme Court had on June 22 allowed it, only in Puri, and with condition that a limited number of servitors will participate and there would be no congregation. The three deities end their annual nine-day sojourn to Sri Gundicha Temple, their birth place, and are now returning to Sreemandir or Shri Jagannath temple on three majestic wooden chariots during 'Bahuda Jatra'. The Grand Road between the Shree Gundicha Temple and the main shrine, the abode of the celestial siblings, which hosts lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad during the historic car festival every year, wore an empty look this year. Puri District Collector Balwant Singh said all arrangements have been made in compliance with the Supreme Court's order on conduct of the Rath Yatra. "Devotees are not allowed on the Grand Road. All entry points to Puri town have been sealed and the devotees are requested to stay home and watch the Bahuda Jatra on television," Singh said. Over 5,500 people, including servitors, police personnel and temple officials had undergone COVID-19 tests and only those who tested negative for the virus were allowed to discharge their duties and participate in chariot pulling during the Bahuda Jatra, he said. All the servitors engaged in the Bahuda Jatra have tested negative for COVID-19, said Krishan Kumar, the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). Ahead of the return car festival, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had reviewed the preparations and asked the Puri administration to take all measures to ensure a hassle- free Bahuda Jatra. He had also said the apex court's directives must be complied with and only COVID-19 negative people be engaged in the rituals. Over 70 platoons of force (each comprising around 33 personnel) have been deployed and barricades erected at several locations to prevent congregation of people. Barricades have been set up in lanes and by-lanes leading to the Grand Road to prevent people from proceeding there. Curfew which came into force at 10 PM on Tuesday will continue till 10 PM of Thursday, July 2, said Additional Director General of Police, Soumendra Priyadarshi. While police personnel maintained a tight vigil, a large number of CCTV cameras were installed on 'Bada Danda' to aid them, a senior police official said. Special rituals were performed before the deities were taken out of the Shree Gundicha temple and placed on the three colourfully decorated chariots for the return journey, amid chants of 'Jai Jagannath' and 'Hari Bol'. The deities were taken to the gigantic wooden chariots in an elaborate ritual called 'Pahandi' to the beating of gongs, cymbals and blowing of conch shells. Lord Jagannath was ensconced in the largest of the three chariots - the 45-feet high 'Nandighosh', Balabhadra in 44-feet high 'Taladhwaja' and Subhadra in 43-feet high 'Darpadalan'. Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb performed the 'Chhera Pahanra' ritual. The titular King of Puri offered prayers to the deities and then swept the platforms of the chariots with a golden broom and sprinkled flowers and fragrant water. The chariots were then pulled by selected servitors amid devotion on 'Bada Danda' - the grand avenue leading to Shree Jagannath temple - up to the Lion's gate in front of the Jagannath temple, where they would be stationed till July 4. The deities, who had embarked on the nine-day sojourn to the Sree Gundicha Temple during Rath Yatra on June 23, would finally re-enter the main shrine and again be placed on the 'Ratna Simhasana', the bejewelled throne, following a ceremony called 'Neeladribije'. Ahead of 'Neeladribije', the deities would be decorated with 'suna besha' or golden attire on Thursday on their respective chariots, a ritual that attracts a large number of devotees every year. However, people will be able to witness the grand spectacle only on television this time as they are denied entry into Puri in view of COVID-19. The Puri district administration has made it clear that there will be restrictions on non-essential movement of public till July 4. "I request all to have darshan of the Holy Trinity on television by staying at home," the Collector said. All hotels and lodges in the district have been asked not to accommodate tourists and visitors during the four days and continue their bookings only after that period, he said, adding that all commercial outfits on the Grand Road in Puri will remain closed during the period. SKN RG TIR TIR

Lord Jagannath's 'Bahuda Jatra' beings sans devotees as Puri remains under COVID-19 curfew

You probably saw headlines about <keyword id="6355315" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="elon-musk">Elon Musk</keyword>'s <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-rant-coronavirus-shelter-place-orders-fascist-unamerican-imprisoning-2020-4">earnings call tirade against the coronavirus shutdowns</a> this week.The meltdown was both unprecedented and entirely expected from the sometimes-erratic billionaire.For context, the words fascist or fascism came up just five times in earnings calls going back to 2005, according to a search of Sentieo's database, yet those who have been dialing into <keyword id="107096" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tesla">Tesla</keyword> earnings calls know there's often something that will stand out (like the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-slams-boring-bonehead-questions-in-tesla-q1-earnings-call-2018-5">"boneheaded questions" outburst</a>).Not to slip quietly into the news cycle, Musk doubled down on his calls to "give people their freedom back" soon after the call. And on Friday, he <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1255970250962567170">amplified</a> claims by conservative provocateur James O'Keefe's that coronavirus deaths were being overestimated.Tesla shares, meanwhile, have already given up their gains following the earnings beat. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-workers-slam-elon-musk-calling-stay-home-orders-fascist-2020-4">And Musk's workers? They're scared by his comments. </a><h2>In other news …</h2><keyword id="6362418" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lyft">Lyft</keyword> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lyft-layoffs-17-percent-staff-furlough-hundreds-more-coronavirus-2020-4">laid off nearly 1,000 employees this week</a>, and furloughed hundreds of others as stay-at-home orders gut demand for taxi rides. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-cto-resigns-as-company-reportedly-considers-5400-job-cuts-2020-4">Uber, meanwhile, was reported to be considering cuts of an even greater magnitude</a>, but hasn't confirmed anything yet.If you know anything, don't hesitate to get in touch.Cheap gas prices aren't always as beneficial as they seem. Rachel Premack reports that a pricing quirk lets one sector of the <keyword id="996559" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Trucking">trucking</keyword> industry, known as less-than-truckload carriers, actually benefit from higher fuel prices. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-trucking-companies-secretly-hate-rock-bottom-fuel-prices-2020-4">Here's why. </a>Airline pain continues. More carriers reported just how badly the pandemic affected their business in the first quarter, and voiced concern that demand could take years to rebound.Airline analysts and executives predict it will take up to five years for the industry to recover, and <keyword id="44023" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="airlines">airlines</keyword> as big as American may not survive. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airline-industry-after-coronvirus-when-will-it-recover-bankruptcy-layoffs-2020-4">David Slotnick has their bleak forecasts here. </a>Trump's fight with Amazon has the Postal Service front-and-center. As Trump <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-amazon-build-their-own-post-office-jab-postal-service-2020-4">continues</a> to blame Amazon for the USPS' financial situation, he challenged the company to "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-amazon-build-their-own-post-office-jab-postal-service-2020-4">build their own post office</a>" if it doesn't want to pay higher rates.Front-line employees are less worried about the agency's balance sheet. They <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/postal-workers-usps-worry-for-their-safety-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-4">just want adequate supplies as thousands of their coworkers get sick, Alanis King reports</a>.Finally, some weekend reading: <ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/off-road-rv-uvx-max-truck-equipped-kitchen-dishwasher-2020-4">This $650,000 off-road RV built on a truck chassis fits a king-sized bed and a kitchen with an optional dishwasher — see inside</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-sports-cars-for-sale-right-now-price-photos-reviews-2020-4">The era of the sports car might be coming to an end, but there are still plenty of great ones on sale. Here are 17 favorites, priced from $30,000 to more than $300,000</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-a380-superjumbo-history-boeing-747-emirates-2017-11">The end is near for the Airbus A380 superjumbo jet, which made its first flight just 15 years ago. Here's how it went from airline status symbol to reject in just 10 years</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tips-selling-used-car-experts-surprising-2020-4">13 surprising ways to get top dollar when selling your old car, according to experts</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiny-house-wheels-three-bedrooms-sleep-six-people-2020-4">This $71,000 tiny home on wheels has 3 bedrooms and can sleep 6 people — see inside the 'Grand Sojourner'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-vintage-racecar-porsche-sale-2020-4">A replica of the 1979 Porsche race car with a rainbow Apple paint scheme is selling for $499,000 — take a look</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/truck-drivers-protests-arizona-texas-and-california-2020-4">'We're not going to work for free': Truck drivers protesting plummeting pay rates are 'slow-rolling' and stopping traffic across the US</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-workers-reveal-elon-musk-strengths-weaknesses-2020-4">Tesla workers reveal CEO Elon Musk's biggest strengths and weaknesses</a></li></ul>Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shifting-gears-elon-musk-lyft-why-truckers-hate-cheap-gas-2020-5">Business Insider</a>

Shifting Gears: Elon Musk's very strange week, Lyft layoffs, and why some trucking companies actually hate cheap diesel prices

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Social media testimonies, viewed millions of times, have propelled the popularity of <keyword id="3288872" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="veneers">veneers</keyword>. </li><li><keyword id="6372909" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="turkey">Turkey</keyword> has become a mecca for <keyword id="6397377" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="plastic-surgery">plastic surgery</keyword> tourism for TikTok and YouTube influencers in the <keyword id="6354868" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="UK">UK</keyword></li><li>Dentists warn the procedure could lead to costly fixes later in life. </li></ul>Brooke Odun didn't intend to get <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BirKL_Ph44X/?hl=en">her teeth</a> done so quickly. The cell phone sales representative and YouTube influencer, then 23, had always felt that while she didn't have the worst <keyword id="23660" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="teeth">teeth</keyword> in the world, they weren't perfect - and she wanted them to look better. But getting them fixed would cost lots of money. "I said to myself: 'When I have a bit more money, eventually I'll do it over the next few years,'" she explains. What Odun didn't account for was her best friend's perseverance - and just how cheaply you can buy cosmetic <keyword id="6385833" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dental">dental</keyword> surgery if you don't mind travelling outside of her home in the U.K. to have it done.Odun's friend was more insecure than the influencer about her teeth, and wanted to get a <a href="https://www.insider.com/dentists-say-influencers-with-crowns-will-need-dentures-by-40-2020-11">veneer</a>, a porcelain plate of ideal teeth, which sits on top of your old teeth after they are filed down into stubs. She decided she would do it for her birthday in 2018. When she approached a UK-based dentist, she was quoted more than £20,000 ($27,750). Then, she heard about a second option: if she traveled to Turkey, she could have it done there for £1,500. She told Odun and the two decided to get it done together. "When I saw the price I thought: 'What's the point in me waiting? I might as well go with her and do it at the same time'." Within two weeks Odun and her friend were on a plane to a clinic in Ankara, Turkey. Like any self-respecting influencer, she vlogged the whole experience in a<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_e2QeEmfBQ"> two-part</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sEXUbN-FWE"> video</a> that ended up being seen 1.6 million times. A week later, they'd both return from their sojourn with heavier hand luggage and whiter, brighter smiles.For a while, at least.UK dentists are trained to carry out minimally invasive treatment, even paring back on the number of fillings they give in order to ensure the longevity of teeth. But Gurs Sehmi, a UK-based dentist, worries that in Turkey and other countries popular with health tourists, the production line approach means they worry less about the long-term impacts and more about short-term looks. "The easy way to do veneers is to grind all the teeth down to little stubs," says Sehmi. "That way you're going to get fewer cosmetic complications, and things not fitting. It's kind of like a production line in those places, but the biological cost is irreversible, and that's the problem here."<div type="image" title="teeth face after" height="1713" width="2284" msid="82331644" hostid="261"></div>Before travelling to Turkey, Odun sent pictures of her teeth to a Turkish dentist by email, who provided her with a quote. She then booked her flights into the country, and was picked up from the airport. "They give you the VIP treatment," she says. The morning after she arrived in Turkey, she had her first appointment. "We started the process there and then," she says. The dentist took x-rays and began filing her teeth down to small shark stubs. Odun and her friend were given temporary dentures to last a few days while their custom-made ones were produced.When she first saw herself in the mirror without the temporary dentures, Odun was taken aback. "It was horrifying to see myself in a mirror with pegs and hillbilly teeth," she says. "I thought: 'Oh my God, there's no going back. This smile better look A-1'." But by then there was little she could do, and with hindsight, she doesn't regret it at all. After the success of her initial vlogs, she's provided <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST45LDKUPmU">six-month</a>, one-year and two-year updates on YouTube.Odun's videos are just some of many on YouTube: there are around 20,000 videos if you <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Ayoutube.com+turkey+veneers+OR+turkey+teeth&amp;safe=off&amp;client=firefox-b-d&amp;sxsrf=ALeKk03g55xFd09rcEnmW9LzM6rNKpTEJg%3A1619690685806&amp;ei=vYSKYNzQMKuL1fAPzOanqA0&amp;oq=site%3Ayoutube.com+turkey+veneers+OR+turkey+teeth&amp;gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAM6BwgAEEcQsANQ-R9YmTxg_j1oA3ACeACAAaADiAHlBZIBBTYuNC0xmAEAoAEBqgEHZ3dzLXdpesgBA8ABAQ&amp;sclient=gws-wiz&amp;ved=0ahUKEwico-T_maPwAhWrRRUIHUzzCdUQ4dUDCA0&amp;uact=5PwAhWrRRUIHUzzCdUQ4dUDCA0&amp;uact=5">search for "Turkey teeth" or "Turkey veneers"</a>, while videos posted to TikTok with the hashtag <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/turkeyteeth?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1p=v1">#turkeyteeth</a> have been seen 11 million times. A multi-billion dollar industryTurkey has become a mecca for plastic surgery tourism for bargain-loving Brits - and its popularity has been propelled by social media testimonies posted by influential YouTubers and TikTokers like Odun.<a href="https://www.isaps.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Global-Survey-2019.pdf"> More than 2,000</a> cosmetic procedures are conducted in Turkey every day according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), an industry body. An estimated 1,450 plastic surgeons ply their trade in the country, and<a href="https://www.isaps.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Global-Survey-2019.pdf"> one in five patients</a> going under the knife are medical tourists flying into the country.It's big business: one estimate says Turkey's medical tourists brought in<a href="https://www.dailysabah.com/business/tourism/health-tourism-earns-above-1b-to-turkey-in-2019-under-spotlight-with-covid-19"> $1.6 billion in revenue</a> to the country in 2019, while Turkey's ministry of health plans to have 1.5 million people visiting the country for a nip and tuck of some sort by 2023, from whom they hope to earn $10 billion. Things have of course slowed over the past year due to Covid restrictions, but there's <a href="https://www.dailysabah.com/business/tourism/industry-reps-optimistic-about-turkeys-health-tourism-in-2021">optimism</a> that business will pick up again in 2021.London-based Longevita UK, which facilitates medical tourism from the UK to Turkey for hair transplants, cosmetic surgery and dentistry work, is one of the UK's <a href="https://www.fasttrack.co.uk/league-tables/fast-track-100/league-table/">fastest-growing </a>companies as measured by revenue growth. "We refer private patients to Turkish surgeons and dentists, who are qualified not only locally in Turkey but are also members of international associations in their specialism," says Kağan Seymenoğlu, founder and CEO of Longevita.Business has boomed because of cost, says Seymenoğlu. "These surgeries are mostly available in private healthcare in the UK and are expensive, and not usually covered by private healthcare policies," he says. In the UK, cosmetic remedial work to improve the look of teeth can cost between £1,000 ($1,400) and £2,500 ($3,500)."That's out of the reach of younger people," says Sehmi, the UK-based dentist who worries about the impact of medical tourism. "So they think I can get the same thing done abroad, but they don't know it's not exactly the same thing. They don't know the non-financial costs."In Turkey, the cost might be one-fifth of that. Lower rents, business taxes and overheads help drive down the price in Turkey, as well as lower wages across the board and cheaper liability insurance for plastic surgeons. That, combined with budget air travel, has made it competitive. <div type="image" title="teeth b:a" height="1600" width="1600" msid="82331645" hostid="261"></div>The fact that some patients are vlogging their experiences has helped perpetuate the procedure's popularity among young people, says Seymenoğlu. "People have this fear-of-missing-out element in their minds," he says. "They want to look better and they want to share their pictures or videos on social media. It's almost like there's a competition among people in terms of appearance. That creates a pressure among society, and especially for medium to low-income demographics, they want to have these treatments but can't afford it in the UK."University of Alabama social media professor Dr Jess Maddox reckons it's more than just trying to attain the perfect smile because we're all filtered to within an inch of our lives on social media: travelling to Turkey to get your teeth fixed has become a social media experience. Maddox says the link between social media aesthetics and what people are willing to do to their bodies is undeniable. "I'm always hesitant to say social media directly causes all these things - it's much more complicated than that," she says. "But there is definitely a relationship between online practice and what people want to do and how they'll act in the offline to improve their online presence."Yet the offline damage done to improve one's online presence can make for a painful trade-off. Dentists talk about the "restorative cycle" with teeth: small fillings inserted in childhood will later turn into bigger fillings, then crowns, then root canals. Surgeries tend to be small and done incrementally to spread out work over a long period of time. "If you electively go in and have everything ground down to stubs, you're pushing yourself really far down the cycle," Sehmi says. "The next stage is root canal treatments, and then you're looking at implants because the tooth itself can't be saved. This is a problem that happens five or 10 years down the line."Breakage long before then, while rare, is also a concern. Sehmi says he's had cases where he has had to patch up the work of Turkish dentists. "I'll have patients who have been abroad and within months these crowns and veneers start falling off, just because they've not been glued in properly," he says.Odun knows the teeth she had fitted at the age of 23 won't last her until she's 83. "The general warranty is like 10 or 20 years and then you'll need a touch-up," she says. "But for me that's still worth it. If I'm having to pay another grand or two in two decades, what is that? It's not an issue for me. I'll quite happily go back and do a touch-up again."

Influencers are flocking to Turkey for cheap fake teeth

Pigeonholing holidays by age group throws up as many exceptions as it does stereotypes. A quick online search reveals plenty of websites recommending cruises for teens and skydiving courses for senior citizens. Nevertheless, here’s a list of <keyword id="6354692" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Travel">travel</keyword> tips, trends and traditional tourist activities divided by decade: <h3 style="margin-bottom: 1.42857rem; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 300; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1.71429rem; line-height: 2.35714rem; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: inherit;">Under 10s</h3>Children love splashing about at beaches and swimming pools but they’re not so keen on long flights, so stick to short-haul holidays. Pre-schoolers are happy playing with other kids and won’t care whether they’re in Thailand or Tahiti. You will, though, after 17 hours in the air with a plane change in Auckland. Renting a villa with family or friends is a popular option but make sure the pool is properly fenced off or you’ll never be able to relax. <a href="https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3019895/seven-best-water-parks-world-bali-and-dubai" class="link-text">Water parks</a> are more suitable for older children but those huge slides and water chutes look terrifying to a five-year-old. So while they’re playing it safe in the paddling pool, you’re left wondering why you paid those steep entrance fees when you could have gone to the beach. <h3 style="margin-bottom: 1.42857rem; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 300; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1.71429rem; line-height: 2.35714rem; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: inherit;">Teens</h3> Water parks are great for older children and early teens. Photo: Shutterstock Tiny tots love animals but an African safari is likely to overwhelm and exhaust them. Teenagers are better able to cope with hours spent bumping along dirt tracks and long gaps between wildlife sightings. Steer clear of hiking holidays, though; teens don’t really get scenery. Your encouraging oohs and aahs will be met with little more than a grunt or two. Ditto old buildings – even if they happen to be in Barcelona or Venice. You’re better off booking in at a youth hostel that has a rope swing across a river. For older teens, gap years often combine travel with volunteer tourism. A win-win if well organised – the youngsters learn about life in the developing world and their hosts get a new, if slightly wonky, school building. <h3 style="margin-bottom: 1.42857rem; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 300; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1.71429rem; line-height: 2.35714rem; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: inherit;">20s</h3>Having already been overseas on school trips and round-the-world jaunts, 20-somethings these days are far more worldly than previous generations. They’ve worked with street children in Africa or India and are unfazed by civil unrest, gang-related violence and the odd Ebola outbreak. Ticking off bucket-list destinations motivates these digital natives but they sometimes forget to enjoy the moment. As the sun sets over the Grand Canyon, the multitasking postmillennial next to you is likely to be simultaneously applying filters on Snapchat, live streaming on TikTok and messaging mum to send more money. Generation Zs rarely pass up the opportunity for a selfie and condense their adventures into a series of less-than-inspiring Instagram images (“Here I am hand washing my boxer shorts in the hostel sink.”) <h3 style="margin-bottom: 1.42857rem; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 300; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1.71429rem; line-height: 2.35714rem; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: inherit;">30s</h3> Millennial travel is all about the experience – for those in their 30s, meeting people is more important than splashing out on souvenirs. Photo: Shutterstock Millennials love disruption – in a travel sense at least. They convert their holiday money with peer-to-peer currency-exchange platform WeSwap and get around cities in an Uber vehicle, a Coco car or with Vespa ride-sharing app Scooterino. They’ll use an obscure minibus start-up (online bookings only) to see something of Slovenia and rely on carpooling service Bla Bla Car to reach a rock festival in Romania. Meeting people matters more than splashing out on souvenirs and, where possible, they aim to live like locals, or better still, with locals. About 60 per cent of all guests who have ever booked on Airbnb are millennials. Studies suggest that half of all 30-some­things value memories above possessions or pension plans and would rather save for a holiday than a house. They’re experiential travellers who prefer to explore the Himalayas on a motorbike or go shark-cage diving in South Africa than lie on a beach all day. And they’ll blog about every stage of the trip. <h3 style="margin-bottom: 1.42857rem; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 300; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1.71429rem; line-height: 2.35714rem; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: inherit;">40s</h3>Fully immersed in their careers, this age group are cash rich but time poor. They snatch luxury weekend city breaks when they can and splash out on fancy villas for the annual family holiday. Plenty of singles holidays are aimed at those who have reached an age when, according to some tour operators, “it can be tricky to find a travel buddy”. Then there are those who look back fondly on the carefree backpacking days of their youth without wanting to recreate the squalor. Forty-something “<a href="https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2127940/asias-luxury-hostels-flashpacker-generation-are-classy" class="link-text">flashpackers</a>” keep the overland traveller ethos alive but are prepared to spend more to insulate themselves from the flea-pit dorms and cockroach-infested restaurants they used to think were so cool. <h3 style="margin-bottom: 1.42857rem; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 300; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1.71429rem; line-height: 2.35714rem; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: inherit;">50s</h3> Once-in-a-lifetime trips drive cash-rich Gen Xers to explore. Photo: Shutterstock Now in their peak earning years, Generation Xers are able to push the boat out – that’s a speedboat, not a rowing boat, you understand. Some overworked executives hand over the logistics and legwork to bespoke travel designers who put together once-in-a-lifetime trips with no expense spared. A <a href="https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2135760/glamping-has-grown-tree-houses-yurts-wi-fi-luxury-camping" class="link-text">glamping</a> (glamorous camping) expedition to the Gobi Desert, for example, staying in a luxury ger that bears little resemblance to the traditional round tent a Mongolian might live in.Some frazzled 50-somethings are tempted by a midlife gap year – especially if they missed out the first time around. Self-improvement tourism is all the rage among quinquagenarians – a photography workshop, an intensive language course or Mongolian throat singing classes in the sumptuous surroundings of your glamorous ger. <h3 style="margin-bottom: 1.42857rem; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 300; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1.71429rem; line-height: 2.35714rem; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: inherit;">60s</h3>Their kids have grown up and flown the nest and cashed-up baby boomers are itching to make up for lost time. This group is responsible for 80 per cent of all luxury travel spending, whether it’s finally buying that motor home and setting off across North America, signing up for a Greek islands sailing holiday or a no-expense-spared African safari hosted by a celebrity wildlife photographer. Visiting friends and relations (VFR tourism) is popular with older travellers keen to catch up with family members living on the other side of the world, while genealogy tourism is on the rise among grey nomads wanting to trace their ancestors and fill gaps in family trees. <h3 style="margin-bottom: 1.42857rem; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 300; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1.71429rem; line-height: 2.35714rem; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: inherit;">70+</h3> Septuagenarians still want to travel, and slow tourism is ideal for silver sojourners. Photo: Shutterstock Life in the fast lane might be over but silver surfers have no intention of slowing down completely. Cruises are the holiday of choice, along with extended winter sun escapes, especially to countries where pensions go further, the weather is warmer and there’s a culture of respect for the elderly. Slow tourism is tailor-made for old-timers. The travel trend prioritises the pleasures of immersing fully in a place and enjoying meaningful experiences, rather than trying to see and do as much as possible in a limited time. Then there’s medical tourism, which sees patients head to Bangkok for cheap cataract surgery, Hungary for inexpensive dental implants and Turkey for a half-price hip operation (necessitated by a bumpy landing while skydiving, perhaps).

Holidays for all ages: post-millennial or silver sunseeker, these are the perfect trips for you

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Chevrolet</div></div></div><ul><li>The Chevy Tahoe is a large-and-in-charge American SUV that's a great way to haul around a large family.</li><li>Our tester was a $70,000-plus special edition, but the base Tahoe is $47,500.</li><li>Fuel economy is a negative, comfort and power are not.</li></ul> I have three kids and a dog, which makes me the patriarch of a bigger-than-average American family. In theory, we can cram everybody in a five-passenger car or SUV. But in practice, doing something that foolish would unleash combat. So when we take a road trip of any length, I generally look to secure a seven-passenger vehicle. Ideally a large seven-passenger vehicle.Our lastest jaunt took myself, my lovely wife, and all three kids to the North Fork of Long Island - about a three-hour drive from our home base. Marco the dog didn't join us this time around, as he did on our last family sojourn in a Tesla Model X SUV.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Matthew DeBord/BISorry, Marco, not this time.</div></div></div>Our chariot was a Chevy Tahoe RST - a special, higher-performance version of Chevy's full-size SUV (and the brand's second-biggest ride, behind the Suburban). It tipped the cost scales at over $70,000. And it was pretty much perfect, even when you take into account the fuel-economy, which is unlikely to average better than 20 mpg unless you spend 100% of your driving days on the highway.Seventy grand is a lot to spend for a family <keyword id="34991" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="transportation">transportation</keyword> platform, but with the Tahoe RST you're paying for a 420-horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 and some additional performance goodies, such as beefier brakes and aftermarket-type exhaust, to go along with the 6,600-pound towing capacity (8,600 if you set the SUV up specifically to haul stuff) and the general feeling a driving around in an old-school road-ruler.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">ChevroletNote the blacked-out bow tie badge.</div></div></div>Compare with a perfectly capable minivan, which can also swallow up a family of five. The Tahoe is simply larger, more powerful, more comfortable, and more commanding. And it's much, much more expensive.But you get what you pay for. I've owned a minivan, and last year, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/minivan-comparo-honda-odyssey-toyota-sienna-chrysler-pacifica-2017-9">I surveyed the state of the art for the US minivan market</a>. And while I recommend these oft-stigmatized people-schleppers for families, it is objectively more fun to tool around in a great big old American SUV. It's also objectively worse for the environment, but everyone needs to make up his or her own mind about such matter. I've done my part by avoiding ownership of a Corvette Stingray, favoring a Toyota Prius instead.The Tahoe, now in its fourth generation (it's been around since 1992) has genuine offroad credibility, making a good choice for country-dwelling folks with trailers to tow and trails to negotiate. But it's also a powerful and pleasant freeway cruiser, as we discovered.With a rear-seat entertainment setup and "Star Wars" box set of DVDs, plus some wireless headphone, we were able to offer timeless space-opera storytelling to our two boys. My teenage daughter chose to sack out in the compact third row and Snapchat away while using the 4G LTE wifi setup.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Matthew DeBord/BILast year's Tesla road trip.</div></div></div>My wife and I grooved on the blues as piped through the SiriusXM radio and the Bose sound system. Our gear for a weekend fit nicely in the cargo area. However, for a weeklong trip, space back there would be tight. As it stood, one of the third-row seats was folded down to provide additional room.The Tahoe RST is crazy fast for a giant SUV: the 0-60mph run have been achieved by some reviewers in under six seconds. I wouldn't want to go around corners too hard in this 7,000-pound beast, but in a straight line it's satisfying, at with 460 pound-feet of torque channeled through tidy 10-speed automatic transmission, the Tahoe RST has the oomph to pass freight trains.The infotainment system is Chevy Intellilink, and it's dandy. With been impressed with its features across all General Motors' vehicles. Bluetooth pairing is a snap, the GPS navigation was faultless, and you have both USB and AUX options for devices, as well as numerous USB ports throughout the SUV for charging devices.The RST upgrade is probably not something most families will need. But it does add something special to this very familiar machine. The thousands of dollars extra on final sticker might mean you'll put a dent in the college fund. But they'll also put a smile on your face. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jim-chanos-tesla-elon-musk-truck-video-2018-2"> Jim Chanos says Elon Musk just told his 'biggest whopper' about Tesla yet </a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

I drove a $70,000 Chevy Tahoe RST on a family road trip to put it to the test -here's how it held up

They leave you in awe with their larger-than-life lifestyles. They live in palatial mansions with glamorous draperies and ostentatious décor. Their cars are epitomes of grandeur and elegance with all possible amenities making life on the go easy, comfortable and luxurious. 
 
Wherever they go they exude an aura of sophistication, carrying their name and brands with panache. They have their own private jets and yachts, second villas and private islands to go vacationing at any time of the year without prior reservations. 
 You would just love to sneak into their bank accounts to get a peek of the stacks of dollars. And yet these <keyword id="6393637" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="billionaires">billionaires</keyword> are no strange creatures coming with unmatchable intellect and superhuman characteristics. They have everything just like ordinary men and women do. But what makes them stand out is their ability to manipulate situations in their own favor and get things done in ways as to reap in the highest profits. 
 
Here are some facts about billionaires which will astound you to the core and which inspire you to learn valuable lessons of life too. 
 
Billionaires Love US: Or should we say, US loves billionaires. Well, it seems so, for this nation has witnessed the largest number of billionaires arising from its soil. From world’s wealthiest man <keyword id="45830" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bill-Gates">Bill Gates</keyword>, whose very name brings mind billions of dollars piled upon one another in the mind, to the richest lady Christy Walton, you can get a whopping number of billionaires out of the total 1826 residing in the nation alone. Of course, there are other countries as well who follow suit such as Germany, China, Brazil and Russia but none in comparison with the United States. 
 
Not All Billionaires Live in Sprawling Palaces: You must be awed by the magnificent mansion of Bill Gates. But there are billionaires who opt for frugal living. Carlos Slim wished to dwell in the same house for over 40 decades in spite of his exuberant bank balance and Warren Buffet prefers his cozy five-bedroom villa in Omaha to living in a grand mansion. 
 
Finest of Wine is their Weakness: While you must be thinking twice before splurging on a thing of luxury such as wine, which gets over as soon as you consume it, it happens to be a real object of weakness for billionaires. Yes, as much as they love to travel to myriad places around the globe, they love binging and indulging on finest wines to tantalize their taste buds with their sweet or tangy flavors. 
 
Do Without a Designer Clothing or a Luxury Object: While it is natural and habitual for billionaires to keep such objects of luxury such as private jets and don designer clothes, there are quite a few who love to tread the path of simple living. Take the case of Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad, who prefers to flaunt his simplicity by shunning suits or Carlos Slim who finds solace in not having such fancy luxury toys like private planes simply because they seem burdensome to him. 
 
Billionaires have Big Hearts too: This becomes evident from the fact that most of these personalities with magnanimous and gargantuan bank accounts love to donate instead of hoarding all for their own families. Bill Gates did not think twice before declaring that he would not leave a penny more than 10 million for each one of his children while donating the remaining amount to charity. Young entrepreneur and owner of Facebook <keyword id="6354630" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mark-Zuckerberg">Mark Zuckerberg</keyword> happily donated the Silicon Valley Community Foundations a whopping $900. 
 
Self-Made Women Billionaires are lacking: Although there are quite a few names among women who have made it big and acquired the tag of being a billionaire, only one among them is truly self-made in the face of the 90 percent of men billionaires who have turned rich by their own clout and infallible strength of mind and luck. Roosalia Mera, the late owner of the top-notch clothing brand Zara was the only woman billionaire to have crossed the 10 million dollar line with her own caliber, in comparison to other names Liliane Bettencourt and Christy Walton both of whom acquired the fortune either from their spouse or their paternal side. 
 
Credit Scores Rock: Now, this is one issue which plagues most individuals today. And believe it or not, billionaires have once again proved themselves different by opting to shun loans even if they have huge business endeavors to commence on or execute. 
 
Billionaires are Great Collectors: Many billionaires have shown their knack in collecting things. And in most cases they are unusual and unthinkable. They can be as sassy as collecting a whole room of Hot Wheels Cars stacked in hundreds of shelves to comic books and to such weird things as collecting beetles in boxes. 
 
Home is Where The Hair should be Chopped: Yes, while you may be thinking that all billionaires take sojourns to plush salons and spas to rejuvenate and get those stylish, pompous haircuts, there are quite a few of them like David Cheriton and John Claudwell who still believe in having the liberty to style up their hair in their own way at their own cozy niche instead of frequenting salons, thus saving up quite a handsome annually. 
 
They are Great Investors: And this is what makes them rich for their lifetime. Billionaires know just when and where and how to invest and they do it with proper planning as to ensure having a relaxed life post retirement as well. Investing helps in consistent increase in their wealth for they know it pays to value the money which they have earned not by mere luck but through hard work, smart decisions and perseverance. 
 
(Image: Thinkstock)

10 facts about billionaires that will astound you to the core

<div class="image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"> Christian Lambert Photography via Compfight cc</div></div></div>There's never been a better time to take to the seas. 
Because the new ships are seriously cool. Launching in November, Royal Caribbean International's 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas is so high-tech that industry insiders are calling it truly revolutionary. On board? A glass viewing capsule that rises 300 feet above the sea on a mechanical arm. 
You will find a laser-shooting range on the new Regal Princess and on the Norwegian Getaway, a "plank" for guests to walk that juts over the water. (Don't worry, you'll be harnessed in.) 
River ships are breaking new ground (er, waters), too: with Scenic Cruises, your cabin's balcony becomes a sun room on cool days; Tauck River Cruising's new ships have 22 suites with some 300 square feet of space, larger than any other staterooms on European rivers. 
Starting this spring, Emerald Waterways will offer European itineraries on two ships equipped with heated pools and movie theaters. Scenic Cruises, A-ROSA Cruises, Tauck River Cruising, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and Viking Cruises are among the other lines with new vessels this year. Amenities include butler service, free Wi-Fi, and floor-to-ceiling views.
Because the food rivals what you'll find on land. Immersive culinary experiences are now so much a part of cruising that you can try some of the top city restaurants at sea. Geoffrey Zakarian, chef at Manhattan hot spot the Lambs Club, has restaurants on the Norwegian Breakaway and the Norwegian Getaway. 
You'll find outposts from Michael Schwartz of Miami's Michael's Genuine Food &amp; Drink on Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. Don't miss the molecular and ice bars on Celebrity and Carnival; they're as chic as any urban boîte.
Because going digital has never been easier at sea. Most mega-ships now have digital directional signs, language apps and culture guides with GPS mapping. Crystal Cruises provides live streaming of TV news and movies in all cabins. Regent Seven Seas Cruises is making the Wi-Fi experience so much better: double the satellite bandwidth, greater speed, and even free service for guests in concierge-level and higher suites.
Robots are on board, too: a remote camera on Lindblad Expeditions' new National Geographic Orion lets you see down under, while Quark Expeditions' Antarctic ships have drones with GoPro cameras that give you a view from above. On Quantum, interior staterooms offer real-time ocean views on their virtual balconies.
Because you'll have exclusive, insider-only experiences. In Europe and the Americas, cruisers will mix visits to much-loved cities and heritage sites with VIP adventures, behind-the-scenes access, and events including the World Cup, the British Open, and the Grand Prix of Monaco (all of which tend to make booking hotel stays on land a challenge).
Guests of Celebrity can spend a day driving a Ferrari through villages around Nice, France, while with Seabourn, you can walk through penguin colonies on the Antarctic ice before slipping into the spa back on board for a Thai herbal-poultice massage.
Because you may just learn something. Among the guest lecturers on board ships this year?
<ul>
<li>Retired archbishop Desmond Tutu (on the March 28 Holland America sailing along the coast of South Africa)</li>
<li>Former CIA operative Tony Mendez, whose Iran hostage rescue inspired the movie Argo, on Seabourn Sojourn's 116-day world cruise, departing Los Angeles January 4</li>
<li>On select Quark Expeditions polar itineraries, Jonathan Shackleton, co-author of "Shackleton: An Irishman in Antarctica." He's also a cousin of Ernest Shackleton.</li>
</ul>
<div>Check out the latest up-and-coming cruise ports and the best new ships:</div>
<h2>Russia's Historic Hotspot</h2>
<h2> </h2>
Port: Sochi, Russia
Excursion: Long before this city was chosen to host the <keyword id="45145" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="2014">2014</keyword> Winter Olympics, the region was a favorite retreat of Joseph Stalin. Tour the dictator's austere 1937 dacha, still filled with his personal possessions. The day ends in the 30-acre subtropical Dendrary Botanical Garden (mind the roaming ostriches!).
Voyage: <a href="http://www.celebritycruises.com/home.do">Celebrity Constellation</a>, to and from Istanbul. October 14; 11 nights from $2,499.
<h2>Temples of Burma</h2>
Port: Rangoon, Burma
Excursion: This two-day jaunt is worth the quick flight to Pagan: you'll see a few of the 2,000 pagodas and temples from a traditional horse cart, with stops at a lacquerware workshop. Includes an overnight stay in a local hotel.
Voyage: <a href="http://www.seabourn.com/main/Main.action">Seabourn Odyssey</a>, to and from Singapore. November 9; 14 nights from $6,999.
<h2>California Wine Country</h2>
Port: San Francisco
Excursion: Take a three-hour ride through Napa Valley on a restored 1915 train-passing wineries such as Far Niente (established in 1885), Robert Mondavi, and Opus One. Bonus: thanks to a conductor turned designated driver, feel free to enjoy the tasting bar, replete with some 50 local bottles at any given time.
Voyage: <a href="http://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/">Azamara Quest</a>, from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. February 10; eight nights from $1,499.
<h2>Colonial Colombia </h2>
Port: Santa Marta, Colombia
Excursion: In Colombia's oldest city, you'll see artifacts of the Kogi and Arhuaco peoples in the Gold Museum-and tour the final home of 19th-century liberator Simón Bolívar.
Voyage: <a href="http://www.oceaniacruises.com/">Oceania's Regatta</a>, from Miami to Los Angeles. December 5; 15 nights from $3,499.
<h2>Indonesia's Art Island</h2>
Port: Lombok, Indonesia
Excursion: Visit nearby villages to see locals dye fabrics using ikat techniques and mold decorative pots, then stop at the Sayang Sayang art market to shop for intricate rattan baskets and wooden boxes inlaid with pearl and filigree panels.
Voyage: <a href="http://www.crystalcruises.com/">Crystal Symphony</a>, from Sydney to Bali.February 16; 12 nights from $4,055.
<h2><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/tls-guide-to-cruising-2014/7">Keep reading at Travel + Leisure &gt;</a></h2>
More from Travel + Leisure:
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-places-to-travel-in-2014">Best Places to Travel in 2014</a><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-places-to-travel-in-2014"></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/hotel-travel-tips">Hotel Travel Tips</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/air-travel-tips">Air Travel Tips</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-tapas-restaurants-in-the-us">Best Tapas Restaurants in the U.S.</a><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-tapas-restaurants-in-the-us"></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/secret-caribbean-hotels">Secret Caribbean Hotels</a></li>
</ul>

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