Every day, 10,000 people enter New York’s Grand Central Terminal—with no intention of catching a train. They come to slurp bivalves at the Oyster Bar or cocktails at the Campbell Apartment.

They gawk at the ceiling embellished with gold constellations, browse shops, and take tours. It’s enough to make the landmark one of America’s top five most-visited attractions.

Click ahead to see the most-visited attractions >

Location, of course, plays a role, and many of the most popular attractions are found in major cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Seattle. Size, too, matters. While the National September 11 Memorial had an impressive 4.5 million visitors during its first year (it opened on Sept. 12, 2011), it was dwarfed by Central Park with 100 times the area.

Yet for every traveler drawn to the big city, there are others who embrace the great outdoors. With its accessibility and size, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a natural choice for millions—more than 9 million to be precise, making it the No. 16 most-visited attraction in the nation.

Like it or not, the white-tailed deer, black bears, and brilliant foliage of the Great Smokies can’t quite compete with the popularity of Disney among Americans and international visitors; five theme parks made it into the top 20.

To determine these rankings, we gathered the most recent data supplied by the attractions themselves or from government agencies, industry reports, and reputable media outlets.

Read on to find out which tourist attraction claimed the No. 1 spot with more than 41.9 million visitors in 2011. Were you one of them?

The Methodology: Our definition of tourist attractions included natural, cultural, and historic sites as well as recognized areas of limited geographic scope like the Las Vegas Strip. (We eliminated national parkways as they spread over extensive distances).

Accurate numbers weren't available for some popular attractions such as Waikiki Beach in Honolulu and the Atlantic City Boardwalk in New Jersey.

In the case of transportation hubs like Grand Central Terminal or San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge that bring in both travelers and locals, we focused as much as possible on visitor data that excluded the strictly commuting set.

Check out the most-visited attractions >

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World's Most Visited Ancient Ruins

America's Most-Visited Monuments

World's Most Popular Landmarks

Times Square, New York City

Annual Visitors: 41,900,000

Neon signs, megastores, street performers, and historic theaters lure tourists to this five-block intersection that has become increasingly family-friendly.

The addition of pedestrian-only areas with café tables, for instance, has made it more appealing to hang out here.

At the small museum within the visitors’ center, the 2007 New Year’s Eve Centennial Ball drops four times an hour.

Write a wish on a piece of confetti, and it—and two tons of other pieces of confetti—will flutter down on Times Square at midnight New Year’s Eve.

New York City

Central Park, New York City

Annual Visitors: 40,000,000

Locals and visitors alike find respite among these 843 acres of paths, lawns, lakes, and gardens in the center of Manhattan.

Walk, skip, skate, ride a bike, row a boat or ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

You can admire the views from 19th-century Belvedere Castle; check out the modest-size zoo; or join the fans who gather to pay quiet tribute to John Lennon at Strawberry Fields.

Central Park, New York City

Union Station, Washington DC

Annual Visitors: 36,500,000

Designed during the age of railroads and opened in 1907, this grand train station was built to be a monumental gateway—symbolized by its many arches—to America’s capital.

The Beaux-Arts gem is also a gateway to commerce, with more than 120 shops and eateries.

The 36 statues of Roman legionnaires lining the balcony were originally nude, but concerns that the public would be shocked led to the addition of strategically placed shields.

Union Station, Washington DC

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As China settles into its role as the world’s largest car market, domestic car manufacturers are working overtime to find ways to satiate the needs of the country’s increasingly mobile populace.

Unlike the West, however, China’s car market doesn’t have the 100+ years of automotive history we benefit from, which leads its domestic car manufacturers to build some, well, interesting vehicles.

Though China’s car industry has evolved past carts powered by lawnmower engines, it still produces vehicles that leave us Westerners a bit dumbfounded.

Here are 10 modern Chinese cars that leave us scratching our heads.

Great Wall Hover Pi

BAW Motors Yongshi

“Unusual” doesn’t always equal “bad.”

Take, for example, BAW Motors’ Yongshi (“Warrior”). Looking a bit like a cross between a Humvee and a Range Rover, the Yongshi is a military-grade off-road machine.

It’s not the most powerful off-roader around, but it is solid enough to be used by the UN.

English-language promo photos show the Yongshi solely as a military machine, but as the Chinese consumer site touts its five-passenger seating capacity and CD player, we’re sure that anyone with the cash — which does usually mean some sort of government official — can buy one.

Haima Auto Happin

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I have a wedding coming up this week, and it’s black tie.

I have a terrible confession though…I do not own a tuxedo.

I know, I know, what kind of respectable menswear blogger lacks this true staple of formalwear?

But, I just have not attended the necessary events to warrant the dough for quality cloth like that.

So I am improvising with a slick black suit, a crisp white shirt, and a sharp charcoal wool tie to give it a little texture.

I had a thought that suspenders could add a little sophistication to the look and little old-school flair.

Let’s take a closer look at the historical menswear staple common to every level of style from the skinhead/punk, to the banker on Wall Street, to the black tie gala, and of course now, the stylish hipster.

The Belt Starts Here

Suspenders originated over 300 years ago. At the core, they are simply fabric worn over your shoulders to help hold your pants up from the front and the back.

Unlike a belt, which cinches your pants tight around your waist to keep trousers from falling, suspenders merely hold them in place. This is important to consider when thinking about your silhouette, and your pants. If the waist is too big, suspenders won't help the pants look tighter; they merely help keep pants in place…literally suspended around the waist.

Albert Thurston introduced the first modern suspenders in 1822. Thurston invented the suspender in response to the high cut of pants at the time, which made a belt unrealistic. Still, men continued to view suspenders as an undergarment.

The belts we know and love today returned to prominence by the 1930s as the stylish waistcoats (that were used to hide suspenders from view) became less worn. But suspenders live on.

When to Suspender

Are suspenders formalwear only? As you’ll see above, they were historically viewed as undergarments. However, high quality suspenders—often made of silk—are notably white collar wear, only to be attached by buttons that are placed on the inside of a waistband.

RULE: If you do choose to go the button route, be sure your shoes match the leather of the suspenders! Clip on suspenders, which attach to the waistband of any pants are also a viable option. TIME.com notes, “In the 1960s, British skinheads adopted suspenders as part of their working-class look—often attaching them to tight blue jeans that didn't really need help staying in place.”

Though perhaps not as formal, many writers agree that it is OK to wear them with pants that even have belt loops. No matter how they attach, they are not formalwear only. If you’re as cool as Larry King you can get away with them anywhere.

Why not try it out to add some texture and a layer to your daily wear. Just be sure the fabric color matches or contrasts your shirt, pants, socks…you know, the usual rules of matching.

The Conclusion

In my opinion, it depends entirely on the material and the make. If they are silk then wear them to your next cocktail party or black tie event. Whether they clip or button, I'm not concerned—if they look sharp, and you know how to match, then break the rules.

However, be forewarned: This sartorial staple is not on trend yet, so be prepared to stand out. My only piece of absolute advice is widely agreed upon by every style writer—never wear suspenders and a belt together!

The GQ Style Guy puts it best: “Whenever I see a man wearing a belt and suspenders, which is not all that often, I think, Now, here is a pessimist. Guys who wear a belt and suspenders probably carry umbrellas on sunny days and wear more than one condom.”

Essentially, this modern man is explaining that one would only wear both pieces if he was that worried about his pants falling down, in which case he probably worries about the sky falling daily, the world ending tomorrow, and spilt milk. What are you so worried about hiding?

As we enter the holiday season, whether it’s a holiday party, a new years bash, or a gift, check out some of these modern sharp suspenders and find the one that’s right for your style from street, to punk, to heritage, to classic, to formal.

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As we transition to the winter months, two kinds of people emerge.

There are the gung-ho winter activities lovers — the people who live for 5 am wake-ups and fresh tracks in the snow, undaunted by even the coldest temperatures.

Check out these awesome mountains >

Then, there are the people for whom the thought of spending several hours outside in 30 degree temperatures sounds like pure torture.

What’s a family to do then, when faced with planning a winter vacation for a combination of ski bunnies and the snow averse?

Here at Hopper we live for these travel quandaries and have pulled together our list of best ski destinations with something for everyone.

To do this, we looked at the biggest resorts in the East and West, narrowing it down to mountains that are easily accessible by plane or car with a wide variety of on and off mountain activities.

From challenging black diamonds to cozy chalets, here are the mountains that offer the best of both worlds:

More From Hopper Travel:

Europe's Best Ski Resorts

Skiing In Vermont

Top Utah Ski Destinations

The Slopes Of Aspen

Stowe Mountain, Vermont

Two very different ways to hit the slopes in Stowe, VT.

Stowe, Vermont is a New England winter wonderland with an Alpine vibe. In 1950 the Von Trapp family (famously depicted in the movie classic Sound of Music) opened a ski lodge in town, and the place has been a mecca for families ever since.

Stowe Mountain Resort is one of the largest in New England, boasting 116 trails over 39 miles. Mt. Mansfield, one of Stowe’s two peaks, is the highest in Vermont and the birthplace of downhill skiing in VT.

The first slopes were carved into the mountain in 1933. With terrain for all abilities (16% beginner, 59% intermediate and 25% expert), everyone from wobbling school kids to wild teenagers will have plenty of trails to choose from.

Non-skiers will be equally occupied. Stowe Lodge boasts a top of the line Wellness Center and Spa for pampering. The town is classic New England with clapboard colonials and a white church.

It’s also home to more than 70 unique stores and several outstanding restaurants. Off mountain activities include dog sledding, a trip to the Ben & Jerry’s factory or a tour and tasting at Boyden Vallery winery.

Under 4 hours from Boston and a little more than 6 from New York, it’s accessible from most everywhere in New England. Burlington is the closest airport, just 45 minutes away from Stowe’s snowy peaks.

Mont Tremblant, Quebec

Mont Tremblant, like the Alps, but in Canada.

Mont Tremblant is like Disney World on ice. Just 90 minutes from Montreal, it’s a winter playground in the vein of the great European resorts, which means awesome skiing and snowboarding but just as much off mountain fun.

First, the ski facts: with 95 ski trails, four separate slopes, and 13 lifts, there’s enough terrain here to keep even the most intense athletes happy and buzzing on adrenaline for days. The off mountain activities are equally buzzworthy.

Tremblant boasts its own casino and over 40 top tier restaurants and bars. The resort village is home to number of chic boutiques as well as a spa and wellness center. Families will love the movie theatre, ice skating rink, acqua club, and dog sled or helicopter tours.

Mont Tremblant also wins for its charming ambiance. Its distinctly European vibe is entrenched by the abundance of native French speaking Quebecois and its quintessential Alpine architecture.

Its village set up, with many of the bars and restaurants accessible on foot and by skis, means it’s easy for families of all activity inclinations to meet up for lunch or dinner.

Flying into Montreal from NYC and Boston is more affordable for East Coasters than a trip out West, and the drive (7 hours from Boston and 8 from NYC) is not so prohibitive either.

Snowbird/Alta, Utah

The best of both worlds, less than an hour apart.

Utah’s Snowbird and Alta resorts are known for being havens for dedicated skiers & snowboarders (note: Snowbird allows both, Alta is skiing only).

While this would suggest it’s not necessarily the best spot for the snow sport averse, its prime location makes all the difference. Only 45 minutes from the surprisingly hip Salt Lake City, non-skiers have access to all the amenities of an urban center.

With an elevation of 10,550 feat, Alta easily trumps Eastern peaks and has 116 trails on 2,200 acres of land. Yes, everything is bigger in the West. Like so many resorts, Snowbird/Alta has a top of the line spa as well as several heated pools and hot tubs for all your relaxation needs.

Further afield, there’s a lot to do in Salt Lake: explore the city’s unique Mormon culture at the Church History Museum and Temple Square or hang with some “hipsters” in trendy neighborhoods like 900 South & 900 East. Enjoy great local food and good music at Tin Angel (very kid friendly) or farm to table fare at the Copper Onion.

Park City, home to the Sundance Film Festival, is only an hour or so from Alta, and another fun day trip for the mountain weary. Since it’s so close to Salt Lake City, Snowbird and Alta are an easy plane ride for most travelers, and since SLC is a Delta hub, chances are you’ll be able to score some affordable flights as well.

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You’ve planned your trip within an inch of its life, from the location of your seat on the plane to the perfect dinner reservations at that place so-and-so recommended.

Your flight goes fine, you land at destination X, hop in a cab and head to your hotel. The taxi pulls up, the valet opens the door, and suddenly you’re faced with a dilemma.

Check out the tipping tips >

How much should you tip the ca bby? What’s the proper amount to tip the doorman and the bellhop?

Depending on the destination, the tipping customs can vary. To help, the team at Hopper has assembled our handy guide to gratuity.

We’ve run through the most popular travel destinations for the average American and pulled out the key rules for polite tipping.

If you frequent these locations you’ll want to take note, savvy compensation can ensure you enhanced service and friendly faces on your next stay.

Read more from Hopper Travel:

Top Las Vegas Casinos

Punta Mita Travel Snapshot

Spain Travel Snapshot

Top Caribbean Beaches

Christmas in New York

Las Vegas

In Las Vegas, cash is king, so it should be no surprise that tipping is practically an art form in this city. It starts in your cab, where taxi drivers generally receive 15% on top of the fare.

At your hotel, plan on three separate tips: one for your bellhop, maid, and the concierge. Depending on the level of service, a concierge can get upwards of $100 but in most cases $10 will do. As for the your bags and room, the average is $5-10 for you bellhop and about $1-$2 per night for the maid.

Eating out in Vegas is a must (Joel Rubichon or bust), and with great service comes a great tip; you should account for 15-20% of the bill.

If you’re headed to Vegas chances are you’ll be setting foot in a casino or two. Depending on the level of your winnings, tip accordingly to your dealer. The good news? If you are wiped clean, no  tipping is needed. Keno and Bingo runners are generally rewarded with a $1 to $2 offering.

Mexico

Americans love visiting Mexico. In fact,  34% of all outbound US travelers find their way there annually. Visitors frequent the country’s Aztec temples, sparkling beaches and luxury resorts.

At your hotel, plan on leaving 20-50 pesos per day (or $2-$4 USD) for the maid service . Bellhops get 10-20 pesos ($1-$2) on average.

If you plan on eating out, tipping in Mexico is a must. At most restaurants it is typical to round up your bill to add an additional 10-15% (think rounding ~$26 to $30).

If you drive in Mexico, the rule of thumb dictates giving your gas station attendant 5 pesos (about 50 cents). Taxi drivers don’t expect tips.

If you opt for a guided tour of Chichen Itza or any Mexican destination, plan on a 100-200 peso gratuity (8-16 dollars). This is baseline, so if your tour guide really wows you with their knowledge of Mayan architecture consider a more generous tip.

But, the question arises, should you tip in American dollars or in pesos? Although not required and most places accept US dollars, tipping in pesos is not only appreciated but a polite gesture.

Spain

Europe is also high on Americans’ places to travel, accounting for over 19% of all outbound travels each year and the Iberian peninsula remains a top destination. Spain boasts an amazing cultural legacy from the Moorish architecture of Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba to Goya’s masterpieces at the Prado in Madrid. Not to mention those tapas...

Spain, like much of Europe, is not a cheap destination (despite its current economic woes), and even after you pay for your transportation and hotel costs you can't forget to budget tipping. Leaving an extra few dollars won’t break your bank, but not leaving it could ruin a trip. No one likes awkward waiter encounters, so 5-15% will adequately compensate them. However, if your service was short of your expectations you can leave without gratuity and won't be ostracized.  

Getting around in Europe is easy. Planes, trains and automobiles are all fairly accessible, and Spain is no exception. When opting for a taxi you can take a sigh of relief, as tipping is not expected. However, to save face it is typical to round up your fare to the nearest euro (think 10.5 euros to 11).

Although in some places you might be able to get away with spending US dollars, you will want to convert your cash at the start of your trip or use a credit card. But be warned: tipping in restaurants on a card is frowned upon.

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This post originally appeared on Zagat's Buzz Blog.

Give thanks this holiday season — to the chefs who are saving you from cooking for the family, that is.

Thankfully, the Big Apple is providing its residents dining options that will make you wish Thanksgiving were every day.

We've rounded up a list of hot spots where you can enjoy festive, seasonal dishes all day long after the parade. Just be sure to make those reservations now, as Turkey Day is traditionally one of the industry's busiest.

Back Forty

This East Village Thanksgiving prix fixe features a traditional bird along with options like roasted delicata squash and wild sockeye salmon. And don't forget to save room for dessert, because who can pass up heirloom apple pie? Seatings are available from 2-8PM, and it's $60 per person.

The Details:190 Avenue B # 1;212-388-1990

Del Frisco's

From noon to 9 PM this Midtown steakhouse will be serving up a special three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving menu. Eighty dollars will get you holiday favorites like butternut squash soup, apple sage stuffing and pumpkin cheesecake. And if you feel like tackling dinner at home, they're here to help — a selection of signature sides will be available for takeout so you can focus on not burning the bird.

The Details:1221 6th Ave.; 212-575-5129

Edi & the Wolf

Make your way over to this East Village Austrian restaurant to celebrate the holiday with chefs Eduard Frauneder and Wolfgang Ban's three-course prix fixe dinner. Enjoy dishes like roasted duck with sweet potato purée, spaetzle with wild mushrooms and Brussels sprouts and a sweet ending of pumpkin pie and champagne ice cream. Seatings are available from 3 PM-12 AM, and it's $45 per person.

The Details:102 Ave. C; 212-598-1040

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Justin and Jessica in Italy! Gwyneth in Spain! The Kardashians in Bora Bora!

It seems impossible to open up a magazine or pull up an entertainment website without being bombarded with pictures of celebrities enjoying luxurious vacations.

It’s enough to give you a major case of travel envy.

Here at Hopper we wanted to dig deeper into celebrity vacation statistics to find out just how big a dent these mega-trips make in celebrities bank accounts.

According to a recent American Express survey, American households planned to spend about $1,200 per person on summer vacations this year.

That translates to an estimated five to seven percent of income dedicated to vacationing.

How do A-list celebrities’ compare to the average American family when it comes to their trips?

Read more from Hopper's Blog:

Celebrity Travel: Kardashian Vakation Hot Spots

Hawaii Travel Snapshot

Bora Bora Travel Snapshot

Paris Travel Snapshot

The Kardashians

Where: Dominican Republic
Hotel: Casa De Campo
How Much: $22,575 (estimated)
Income: $65 million
% of Annual Income: 0.03%

The Kardashians know how to vacation, descending en masse on luxury resorts from Bora Bora to Mexico. This year they hoofed it to the Dominican Republic, enjoying a few days at Casa De Campo, a 7,000 acre resort with stunning tropical vistas and interior design by none other than Oscar De La Renta. Villas here don’t come cheap, but a standard room can start at around $250 dollars a night.

Jessica Alba

Where: Amalfi, Italy
Hotel: Hotel Santa Caterina
How Much: $57,770 (estimated)
Income in 2011: $9 million
% of Annual Income: 0.64%

Jessica Alba and her family enjoyed the Mediterranean beauty and architecture of Amalfi, Italy this summer. The picturesque Italian town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noted for its distinctive medieval architecture with strong  Byzantine influences. Alba, Honor and Haven luxuriated in style at the Hotel Santa Catarina, a 19th century seaside palazzo turned into a 5 star hotel.

Britney Spears

Where: Maui, Hawaii
Hotel: Grand Wailea
How Much: $28, 750 (estimated)
Income: $10 million
% of Annual Income: 0.29%

Britney Spears, her two sons and fiance jetted to Maui, Hawaii for the 4th of July. There they relaxed poolside at the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria resort on 40 acres of beachfront property. The grounds here are impeccable (and kid friendly!) with activity pools boasting water slides, rapids, and the world’s first water elevator.

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It’s incredible how fast the value of currency is changing these days; by that we mean it’s incredible how fast that 20 euro bill in your wallet suddenly turns into a couple awkwardly large coins lost somewhere at the bottom of your backpack.

While studying abroad may feel like an extended vacation most of the time, one thing is most certainly not luxurious about the experience: your ever-tightening budget.

The good people at Party Earth understand your desire to avoid the inevitable kiss-of-death email from Mom with the subject line “stop spending money on alcohol.”

They also understand the importance of spending money on beer, which is why they’ve compiled a list of great student bars throughout Europe that are guaranteed to offer you a cheap drink and a good time.

This story was originally published by Party Earth.

N’Importe Quoi: Paris

If you are on the hunt for the kind of bar that still has an “Operation Flash Boob” policy in place that awards free shots to girls who show their assets, N’importe Quoi is the quintessential place to make that happen.

Although it isn’t much to look at on the inside or out, this tiny dive bar offers endless drink specials and no-frills fun. From the bottle-spinning bartenders, to the rowdy crowd of college students looking for some cheap thrills, everything about N’importe Quoi makes it one of the perfect bars in Paris for some down-to-earth boozing.

16 Rue du Roule
75001 Paris

The Roxy: London

Although The Roxy boasts ivory chandeliers, chamois barstools, and sleek leather loungers, patrons will most likely be focused on dancing to the venue’s retro and pop DJs and surviving the crowd swell of university students. If you get to The Roxy early enough you can enjoy half-priced wine and beer during Happy Hour that runs Monday though Friday. Wednesday is official student night where you will find crowds of rowdy lads and lasses enjoying affordable drinks and socializing shoulder-to-shoulder.

3 Rathbone Place
London W1D 1

Chupitos: Barcelona

Chupitos is a rowdy bar that specializes in creative shots and dramatic bar service performances, some of which involve lighting the bar on fire with a blowtorch. The tiny bar attracts a mix of fun-loving locals and young international travelers looking to grab a simple and cheap drink. The venue is a dark hall with a bar on one side and spunky menu board featuring shots with names like “the General” and “the Monica Lewinsky” on the other. The cramped but wild atmosphere at Chupitos makes this one of the best bars in Barcelona to pregame some late-night adventures.

Passeig de Colón, 8
08002 Barcelona

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Very rarely does a super sports car think about saving fuel.

It is all about packing as much power as possible to get the maximum output, which results in massive fuel consumptions.

But with the world's leading companies looking at the green side, Lamborghini couldn’t be left far behind. The brand new 2013 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 gives out a better fuel efficiency with a cylinder deactivation and innovative start/stop system.

With one of the world’s most advanced start/stop systems, the new Aventador is able to deliver the energy restart after a routine traffic stop through high-performance capacitors known as supercaps.

It might sound fancy and technical but what these supercaps basically do is bring the car to full V12 power in a very fast 180 milliseconds, one of the world’s fastest systems.

Also keeping in mind Lamborghinis lightweight objective, this unit reduces the over all weight by 3 KGs as it supplies power to the electronic systems of the car. Guess what the best part about this system is? It lasts virtually the entire vehicle life.

The Cylinder Deactivation System is another feature on this new LP 700-4 and this comes in handy when the car goes below a speed of 135 km/hr. The CDS acts up in conditions less than 135 km/hr and turns of one cylinder bank effectively making the car run as an inline 6. The smallest of acceleration and the V12 kicks right back in taking the car’s power to full capacity.

These new systems have brought out the best in Aventador’s fuel efficiency and bring consumption down to 16 liters/ 100 KM and reduced CO2 emissions from 398 g/km to 370 g/km.

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Your outfit may be awesome, but it's the details that get noticed.

No matter how nice your tie is, nobody will remember it if your knot looks like a pile of scrambled eggs.

These videos will show you all you need to know about the knots you need for every formal occasion.

Every man should have these mastered. And we're here to help.

Just remember: Sometimes all it takes is a little extra move to make that old tie look fresh.  

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A lot of people love taking photos of their fancy dishes – especially on special occasions.

But at New York-based Momofuku Ko, which charges about $200 per person, taking photos is not allowed, Helene Stapinski of The New York Timesreports.

When one diner at Momofuku Ko took a photo of her plate, one of the employees asked her to put her phone away. He told her that there are no photos allowed.

Not even without flash. 

"I was definitely embarrassed," the woman told The New York Times.

The diner, who partly owns several restaurants, understood why she was asked to put her phone away, but says she was still caught off guard. 

But this is actually somewhat common at high-end restaurants. 

As Stapinski reports, there are several chefs who either prohibit food photography or have a policy against taking photos with flash. 

One chef, David Bouley, says that when diners take photos of their food, it totally disrupts the ambiance. 

“It’s a disaster in terms of momentum, settling into the meal, the great conversation that develops,” Bouley told The Times. “It’s hard to build a memorable evening when flashes are flying every six minutes.”

Watch Below: This NYC Restaurant Serves Food That's A Work Of Art, And You Can Take All The Pictures You Want

SEE ALSO: The Most Unhealthy Restaurant Foods Of The Year

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A new survey by Deloitte shows that travelers are most concerned with getting a good deal, flying safely, and arriving on time when choosing an airline, a position that seems to justify many airlines' decisions to limit amenities and reduce fares.

Of 4,000 travelers asked to rank various attributes based on their importance when choosing an airline, 49 percent ranked "value for money" as "very important."

"Service" and "staff attitude" were ranked by nearly 40 percent of respondents as very important. But amenities and services like access to executive lounge and VIP privileges, free meals and parking, and in-flight technology received such high marks from fewer than 20 percent of travelers.

The Deloitte survey also revealed a shift away from business and first class travel on domestic flights: 64 percent of respondents fly economy even when traveling for business; 79 percent fly economy for leisure. The message is the same: Traveling cheap is preferable to traveling luxuriously.

This preference for value is good news for low-cost air carriers like Spirit Airlines, which have added fees for services long offered as part of the ticket price, like meals and checking bags.

Craig LaRosa, a principal at innovation and design consultancy Continuum, has argued that adding fees is not a sustainable growth model, and that passengers may eventually be driven away by extra costs that make a low fare more expensive than they expected.

But as the airline industry's profit margins are squeezed by high fuel prices, airlines will likely continue to reduce their own costs as much as possible, while offering low fares. For now, travelers seem to be okay with the tradeoff.

SEE ALSO: The Best Airlines For Leisure And Business Travel

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Bloomberg has an amazing team of reporters hunting down the world's billionaires. Some of these super wealthy are out in the open and living opulently, others are hidden and living modestly.

Veteran billionaire tracker Matt G. Miller and his team will find them and rank them.

And now Bloomberg has created a new data visualization tool that will let you see the world's richest in a way you've never seen them before.

Not only can you filter billionaires by country, gender, and industry, but you can also track their wealth and rank on a day to day basis.

Right now the list includes 100 billionaires, but expect this application to grow. Miller says he and his team have 100s of suspects and they're working every day.

Welcome to Bloomberg Billionaires, here are the 100 richest ranked for today. This is the 'Explore' option, there's also a Map, Plot, and Rank.

If you scroll down, you'll see that you can change the date you're looking at. You'll also see that the ranks will change.

Click on each person, and page will appear that includes the billionaire's bio, Bloomberg's method for collecting their information, and their level of confidence that the information is completely accurate.

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From the ground, Manhattan is a maze of brick and steel. From above, it's something else entirely.

The photo enthusiasts at AirPano have created a hi-res aerial tour of Manhattan that shows the island in a new light.

The team, led by Russian photographer Sergey Semenov, shot pictures from helicopters and pieced them together to create an interactive interface.

AirPano's interactive software makes it easy to jump any view you want.

The welcoming beacon of New York, Lady Liberty.

The lower tip of Manhattan, with views of Battery Park and the Financial District.

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Turkey is planning to build the world's biggest airport in Istanbul, the country's Transportation Minister Binalis Yilidrim said yesterday.

To be built on a 828 million-square-foot plot of land on the European side of the city, it will be able to serve 150 million annual passengers, making it the busiest airport in the world, according to ABC News.

Istanbul is already served by two airports: Istanbul Ataturk, which served 45 million passengers in 2012 and is under strain, and the much smaller Sabiga Gokcen International Airport.

Another airport would add capacity and give Turkey the chance to become a major air hub, a significant economic opportunity. Ataturk can not be expanded because of land constraints, Bloomberg Businessweek reported.

The new airport is expected to be built in four stages; it could be operational and capable of serving 90 million annual passengers by 2017. The project is predicted to cost $8.84 billion, according to ABC.

Istanbul is not the only major city working to expand its airport capacity. London is facing similar strain, and may have to deal with 300 million passengers every year by 2030. Politicians and officials are debating whether to expand Heathrow (Europe's busiest airport) or build a new airport — one proposal calls for an airport on the Thames estuary, for a $79 billion price tag. 

China is also building a new, high-capacity airport outside Beijing, which will have a capacity of 130 million passengers per year.

The world's busiest airport is Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, which serves 90 million passengers annually.

SEE ALSO: Beijing Is Building An Airport That's Bigger Than JFK, LaGuardia, And Newark Combined

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When artist Paul Emsley unveiled his official portrait of Kate Middleton, the world was surprised to see the beautiful Duchess of Cambridge's not as attractive painting.

The press was somewhat harsh, calling Middleton's first official portrait "ghostly" and "an aesthetic disaster."

There have even been countless internet memes dedicated to making fun of the portrait >

But now, for the first time since the much-hyped portrait's unveiling, the 65-year-old artist is speaking out against what he calls were "vicious" criticisms.

"Some of the words written about it were so personal. I'd be inhuman if I said it didn't affect me," the award-winning artist told Hello! "When you take on commissions like this, it is hazardous and you expect a bit of flak, but I expected nothing like the criticism I have received. I didn't expect it to go to the levels it did."

While Prince William described the piece as "absolutely beautiful” and Middleton herself said it was "amazing" and "brilliant," Emsley said the backlash was like a "witch hunt" and "circus" that took an emotional toll on his two daughters and his wife.

"At first the attacks were so vicious that there was a point where I myself doubted that the portrait of the duchess was any good. But now I've had time to reflect, I am still happy with it and am getting on with my life. There is nothing I would have changed," said Emsley, who spent four months on the portrait.

But Emsley says that perhaps his painting just isn't photographing well, and he suggests you visit it in the U.K.'s National Portrait Gallery before knocking his work.

After sitting for Emsley on two occasions, in May and June of last year, the artist says of his royal subject:

"She struck me as enormously open and generous and a very warm person. After initially feeling it was going to be an unsmiling portrait, I think it was the right choice in the end to have her smiling—that is really who she is."

SEE ALSO: The first official portrait of Kate Middleton is ... interesting >

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The first commercial passenger elevator was installed by the Otis Elevator Company in 1857 in New York City. It climbed at a then-staggering rate of 40 feet per minute.

Today, an Otis elevator in the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai soars up at a speed of 22 mph. And it didn't even top a new ranking of the fastest elevators in the world from Emporis, a database of construction projects.

The list is dominated by elevators located in Asia, including China, Taiwan, and Japan.

#5 Jin Mao Tower — Shanghai, China

Speed: 1,791 feet/min, 20 mph

Height: 1,381 feet

Time From Ground To Roof*: 46 seconds

Elevator Supplier: Mitsubishi

Fun Fact: The Jin Mao Tower has a total of 130 operating elevators, which includes the two express elevators in the basement.

Source: Emporis

*If traveling at full velocity

#4 John Hancock Center — Chicago, USA

Speed: 1,801 feet/min, 20.5 mph

Height: 1,129 feet

Time From Ground To Roof*: 38 seconds

Elevator Supplier: Otis

Fun Fact: Instead of taking the elevator, visitors can also take the stairway from the main lobby to
the "Observatory." It has a total of 1,632 steps.

Source: Emporis

*If traveling at full velocity

#3 (tie) China World Trade Center Tower III — Beijing, China

Speed: 1,968.5 feet/min, 22 mph

Height: 1,083 feet

Time From Ground To Roof*: 33 seconds

Elevator Supplier: Schindler

Fun Fact: These elevators reach their full velocity of 22 mph in eleven seconds.

Source: Emporis

*If traveling at full velocity

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Former Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez is back, in rare form, displaying bulging muscles from his pecs to his calves, bronzed from head to toe, dressed in the skimpiest of black briefs.

After almost two years of seclusion, Alvarez reemerged in November Hulk-like, taking home first prize in the National Physique Committee's South Florida "Over 60s" Master's bodybuilding competition at Miami's James L. Knight Center.

Event promoter Sergio Pacheco said Alvarez's victory over five other men qualified him for the more prestigious Junior National Master's competition.

Pacheco, who owns Pacheco's Physique Gym in Hialeah, said he had heard the former mayor competed in an event a few weeks earlier in West Palm Beach, but had no idea he had entered the Knight Center contest.

"When I saw him walk in, I said, 'Wow, I know him,' " Pacheco said.

The former mayor and county police director was recalled from office in March 2011 by 88 percent of the electorate, after constituents had a hard time wrestling with a series of raises he awarded his inner circle and with his backing of the new, $634 million Miami Marlins ballpark in Little Havana.

Since the recall, Alvarez, 60, has rarely been seen in public. He has been spotted spending lots of time at a tony gym at Merrick Park in Coral Gables. Deanna Clevesy, a spokeswoman for Equinox Gym Coral Gables, confirmed Tuesday that Alvarez works out there, but refused to share details on his regimen.

Spotted on the field before the Marlins' inaugural game at the new ballpark last April, it was apparent Alvarez had been hitting the barbells -- muscles ripped from his short-sleeved shirt, various media reports noted.

Peter Potter, who judged Alvarez to victory at the Knight Center, said there was no mention of Alvarez's mayoral past in his bio, just a mention that he was the former police director. Potter initially had no idea of Alvarez's former life.

"One of the other judges who lives in Miami pointed out to me'' that Alvarez was the former county mayor, Potter said. Alvarez "didn't broadcast it."

The mayor's bodybuilding victory was first reported Tuesday by the Miami New Times.

Michael Sansevero photographed the event. He said Alvarez forked over $75 for pictures and video.

"I was kind of surprised when I saw him," Sansevero said. "He must always have been in good shape, but he was in real good shape."

Alvarez, whose current employment status is unknown, could not be reached for comment.

Alvarez spent 35 years with Miami-Dade County, the first 28 in the police department, where he worked his way up to the top job.

When the former mayor left office, he was earning salary and benefits worth $325,309, county records show. His last financial disclosure put his net worth at $1.74 million.

Alvarez's annual police pension pays him $180,216, and he received a one-time payout of $287,879 for entering an early retirement plan.

Alvarez also participated in a retirement investment plan during his seven years as mayor, during which the state matched his contributions. Numbers weren't immediately available for that plan Tuesday. ___

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Wayne Gretzky is selling his custom designed home in California for $15 million, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Gretzky designed the 11,000 square foot home with the help of Richard Landry who also designed a home for Tom Brady.

The giant mansion has 6 bedrooms (one of which we're guessing belongs to Gretzky's daughter Paulina), 7.5 bathrooms, a movie theater, a pool, tennis courts, an outdoor wood-burning pizza oven, and two guests homes, one of which is a full gym.

Here's an aerial view of the sprawling property

And a look at the beautiful scenery surrounding it

The driveway

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This is the Instant Wine Chiller from Ravi.

Why We Love It: If you want to chill your white wine instantly (but don't want to water it down with ice cubes) consider the Instant Wine Chiller. Store it in your freezer, and when you need to cool your wine insert the wine chiller into the bottle neck. The inner frozen tube will alter the temperature of your wine to as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit as it pours into your glass.

The tube is made from the same stainless steel used for wine fermentation tanks, so it never alters the flavor. A valve controls the rate of flow to regulate the wine's temperature, and the Instant Wine Chiller stays efficient for 90 minutes outside of the freezer due to its insulating shell. It comes with a wine thermometer and air pump for thorough hand washing.

Where To Buy: Available at Amazon, as well as Bed Bath & Beyond.

Cost: $31.98.

Want to nominate a cool product for Stuff We Love? Send an email to Megan Willett at mwillett@businessinsider.com with "Stuff We Love" in the subject line.

DON'T MISS: Sail Around On Hammacher Schlemmer's Hot Tub Boat

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