Health

Take a seat: 2024’s America’s Best Restroom

Health

Finding a clean public restroom when you’re on the road can be a challenge.

It can be much harder to find a public restroom that is not only clean but also attractive, entertaining, and creatively designed.

That’s why we pay attention to each year’s contest for America’s Best Restroom, which celebrates and rewards businesses that create and maintain innovative public loos.

In 2023, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) took the throne in the contest for its design and for its state-of-the-art smart restroom system, which integrates color-changing LED stall occupancy lights and other helpful amenities.  

This year, Maverik – Adventure’s First Stop, a chain of gas and convenience stores, is the big winner.

Maverik’s restrooms were recognized for their “sparkling fixtures, spacious stalls and fresh amenities that make each pit stop along your adventure a pleasant experience.”

Contest sponsor, Cintas, noted winning loos also have “adventurous décor” and even family-friendly features in over 500 stores across 13 western states.

The list of other restrooms that were in the running for the title of 2024 America’s Best Restroom included:

  • Hop Shops (Florence, Kentucky
  • Indiana Caverns (Corydon, Indiana)
  • Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium (Kansas City, Missouri)
  • Lambeau Field (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
  • MAD (Houston, Texas)
  • Maximilian Motorsports (Chehalis, Washington)
  • Morning Glory (San Diego, California)
  • Natchez Trace State Park Visitor Center (Wildersville, Tennessee)
  • Throne Restrooms (Brentwood, Maryland

Spotted: Mortuary at Schiphol Airport

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This disembodied head sits on a small patch of grass next to the quirky but charming CitizenM hotel at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS).

Behind it: the Schiphol Mortuary.

I was walking to the hotel behind a couple who also stopped to take a photo. And then overheard the man say to the woman: “Well, dear. If I die tonight at the end of this trip you can leave me here and get a refund on the return part of the ticket.”

Not sure if that’s the way it works, but I thought the statement was alarming, romantic and creatively frugal all at the same time.

And maybe even a good travel tip?

Perhaps because it’s the Halloween season. Or maybe it’s the fact that my early morning flight required an even earlier and very dark walk past the disembodied head. But I was really glad that my view out of my tiny hotel room was onto the busy airport street and not out to the … mortuary.

Other airports no doubt have mortuaries as well. And we’ll ask the Stuck at The Airport life and death team to do a roundup. (Let us know if you’ve seen any).

But in the meantime, should we make the Schiphol Mortuary the Airport Amenity of the Week?

Airports with free period products

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May 28 is Menstrual Health Day, designed to raise awareness about the importance of menstrual health education and resources.

Providing travelers with free period products and supplies is an excellent way to support menstrual health. You’ll see baskets, vending machines and some free dispensers with supplies in many airport restrooms.


There are now vending machines that not only dispense free products but also send out an alert when the products need restocking, which is ideal for airports that provide free period products for passengers.

Airports with free period products

We’re working on creating a list of airports that provide free period products.

And we’re glad to see that technology is helping to improve this airport amenity.

In Houston, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), now offer complimentary menstrual supplies via smart technology vending machines from Aunt Flow. Both airports supplied free pads and tampons to travelers for over a decade but the supplies were set out in baskets in the restrooms and there was no reliable way to monitor for restocking.

Other airports are switching to these smart period supply vending machines too.

O’Hare International Airport is replacing its fee-based dispensers with smart vending machines from Aunt Flow that dispense pads and tampons for free.

Do you know of an airport that provides free period supplies? Let us know and we’ll add them to the list in progress.

XpresSpa adds a stretching service to its menu

Health,

We all know travel can be stressful.

And XpresSpa, which offers massage, nail care and rejuvenation services in airports around the world, is now offering a stretching service at 15 of its U.S. airport locations.

Sessions range from 15 to 30 minutes and target travelers who deal with long flights and/or extensive delays. To combat those travel woes, the new stretching service focuses on enhanced blood circulation and reduced muscle fatigue.

For this service, XpresSpa is partnering with a company called Hyperice and makes use of that company’s Hypervolts 2 massage gun and a new heated attachment.

“As air travel enthusiasts and jet-setters prepare to embark on their next adventure, they often focus on packing their bags, checking flight itineraries, and ensuring all necessary documents are in order,” said XWELL CEO Scott Milford. “However, they often overlook the benefits of incorporating relaxing stretch into their travel routine to provide additional peace of mind as they make their way through the world.”

The new stretching sessions are offered in increments of 15 minutes, 20 minutes, and 30 minutes. And the sessions cost $45, $55, and $75 respectively.

Or you can try a do-it-yourself stretching and singing session with this vintage Romper Room song:

If you try the modern XpresSpa version, let us know if you recommend the service.

Don’t worry be happy with this Finnish Masterclass in Happiness

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Finland, which ranked as the happiest country by the World Happiness Report for six consecutive years, is happy to share some of their happiness secrets in a new free online course that leads to a “Masterclass of Happiness.”

The masterclass is available now and consists of video lessons from five Finnish happiness coaches under its four core themes: nature and lifestyle; health and balance; design and everyday; food and well-being.

Complete the course and you’ll get a Master of Happiness certificate and will, of course, be happy.

The Stuck at the Airport team visited Finland a while back and, as you suspect, found happiness immediately at Helsinki Airport (HEL), thanks to all the art, calming patches of live plants, and a charming Christmas cabin.

Santa’s home is in Finland, Finns and others will tell you. So it makes sense that Helsinki Airport has a year-round Christmas Cabin right there in the terminal.

Inside is a faux sauna, a storybook, Scandinavian-style furniture and decorations, and a Book of Names so that Santa knows who has been good or bad.

Read more about how to find happiness at Helsinki Airport in “5 Things We Love About Helsinki Airport.”

XpresSpa company adds another brand: Treat

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The company that offers airport passengers XpresSpa, now with massage and manicure service in 26 locations in 13 airports globally, and ExpresCheck for airport COVID testing, is rolling out a new brand.

This one is called Treat. And it is an upscale airport spa and wellness concept with medical services, state-of-the-art testing, “and a holistic approach to physical and mental well-being.”

The menu of services includes:

  • Relaxation services such as manual massage and hydro massage
  • Self-guided wellness services such as visual decompressions with VR goggles, meditation room, workouts
  • Health services such as IV drips, injections, consultations with providers for acute illnesses, mental health coaching
  • Wellness products to help combat fatigue, relieve stress, boost stamina and promote healthy systems such as adaptogenic herbs and supplements, teas, and tinctures
  • Women’s health products that support reproductive health, pregnancy, and intimacy
  • Beauty and hygiene products such as hydrating masks and lotions, soaps, shampoos, and hand sanitizer
  • Travel products such as compression socks, eye masks, pillows, and blankets.

To schedule an appointment or to see what specific health services are offered and what the charges are, you’ll need to sign up for a free membership on the Treat website or the Treat app.

We took a look at the price list for medical services and found $50 for a flu vaccine or a vitamin injection and $175 to be seen for a wide range of other issues, including eye problems, cold/flu symptoms, sinus infections, wound care, allergic reactions, and pregnancy or STD testing.

The fee for IV therapy or a COVID test is $250.

Under the Wellness Services tab, you’ll find showers (30 minutes for $35), yoga ($30-60), as well fees for meditation time, and a wide variety of fitness programs.

Current Treat locations are Terminal 4 at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), and Concourse B at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).

If you try it out before we do, let us know what your experience is like.

Don’t ditch your masks just yet

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On Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department appealed a judge’s ruling ending a mask mandate on public transportation and airplanes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the measure was still needed.

This comes after a U.S. district judge ruled that mandates, which apply to planes, trains, and other public transportation, were unlawful.

The CDC said it asked the Justice Department to proceed with the appeal and that “an order requiring masking in the indoor transportation corridor remains necessary for the public health.”

Airlines and airports, bus lines, and Amtrak dropped the mandate Monday evening within hours of the TSA announcing that it would no longer enforce the mandate, which was set to expire on May 3.

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration released the latest unruly passenger numbers. It also announced that the agency’s zero-tolerance policy against unruly passengers would now be permanent.

Mask mandate off. For now.

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On Monday a federal judge in Florida struck down the Biden administration’s mandate requiring masks to be worn in airports, on airplanes, trains, buses, and on other forms of public transportation.

The ruling is being reviewed. But late Monday, the Transportation Security Administration issued a statement informing the public that:

“Due to today’s court ruling, effective immediately, TSA will no longer enforce its Security Directives and Emergency Amendment requiring mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs. TSA will also rescind the new Security Directives that were scheduled to take effect tomorrow. CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time.“

TSA’s announcement was followed by messages from airports and airlines saying they too would no longer enforce the mask mandate.

Here are a couple of airport tweets on the subject. Note the tweet from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) where masks are still required.

Airlines were pretty quick to declare that they would no longer be requiring passengers to wear masks on board either.

American Airlines, Alaska Airines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country, United Airlines and most every other airline issued a statement and/or sent out a social media post.

You may – and maybe should – still wear a mask when you travel

While masks may no longer be required when traveling, it may still be a good idea to wear a mask in busy airports and on airplanes and on public transporation to and from the airport.

Coronavirus infections are on the rise in many communities and you, or someone around you, may be immunocompromised and easily susceptible to the current COVID variant, the flu, or whatever else may be going around.

There are also still a lot of unvaccinated people out there. So wearing a mask is an easy way to protect yourself and those around you.

If you decide to no longer wear a mask when traveling, please be respectful of those who continue to wear them.

Mask Mandate Extension + Stricter COVID-19 Rules for Travelers

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Update 12/2/21: Here are the new travel-related mandates and rules issued by the White House as part of a larger plan to address the Delta and Omicron variants this winter.

From the announcement:

  1. Stronger Public Health Protocols for Safe International Travel: Last month, the Administration implemented stronger international travel protocols, including requirements for foreign travelers to be fully vaccinated. The very day the WHO identified the new Omicron variant, the Biden Administration took immediate steps to restrict travel from the countries in the region where it was confirmed to be spreading quickly.
  • Strengthening global pre-departure testing protocols: Early next week, the United States will tighten pre-departure testing protocols by requiring all inbound international travelers to test within one day of departure globally, regardless of nationality or vaccination status.
  • Extending the requirement to wear a mask on airplanes, rail travel, and public transportation: The Administration will continue to require masking during international or other public travel – as well as in transportation hubs such as airports or indoor bus terminals – through March 18. The Transportation Security Administration will extend its implementing orders to maintain these requirements through March 18. Fines will continue to be doubled from their initial levels for noncompliance with the masking requirements – with a minimum fine of $500 and fines of up to $3,000 for repeat offenders.

Wednesday evening, Reuters and other news outlets were reporting that on Thursday, President Joe Biden will extend through mid-March the mask mandate for travelers at airports, and on airplanes, on trains and in train stations, and on buses. The current mandate was set to expire on January 18.  The mandate also covers ships, ferries, and seaports, subways and subway stations, taxis, and ride-hailing services.

Travelers who do not comply are subject to fines.

But wait, there’s more.

In response to concerns about the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the White House is also expected to announce stricter testing rules for air travelers entering or returning to the United States, including reducing the pre-flight Covid testing window to just one day prior to travel.

Right now, vaccinated international air travelers can enter the U.S. with a negative COVID test result taken within three days before the flight’s departure.

We’ll know more about this on Thursday, but it is likely to wreak quite the havoc with international travel plans as we head into the December holidays and the new year.

San Antonio Int’l Airport lights up

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Yes, it looks pretty. But this month the lights at San Antonio International Airport (SAT) are supporting two important national campaigns: Breast Cancer Awareness and Domestic Violence Awareness.

SAT is turning its lights pink to acknowledge Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The airport is partnering with local groups to promote the “Real Men Wear Pink campaign. The campaign raises money for breast cancer research and encourages men and women to get breast exams.

SAT is also participating in the Purple Porch SA Initiative. This campaign raises awareness about domestic violence and the airport’s lights are turning purple to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The lights will alternate between purple and pink until October 31.

As part of the the local campaign, a sculpture made of bras and ties is being commissioned.

Travelers are invited to donate to the sculpture’s creation by dropping bras and ties in bins placed at the information desks in the baggage claim areas of both SAT terminals.

We suggest bringing your donations along with you; not undressing on site.

The sculpture will be unveiled next year and then travel around the city and state to raise awareness of the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women.

The last day to donate bras or ties is October 31.