Controversy Surrounding UK Airport's Bus Shelter Prayer Room Goes Viral

Join CNN Travel's weekly newsletter, Unlocking the World, for the newest updates in aviation, culinary experiences, accommodations, and other travel highlights. This week's travel news includes a 50-year love story between a Pan Am pilot and a flight attendant, a canceled three-year cruise, and European ski resorts facing a shortage of snow.

Bus shelter, smoking shed or house of God?

The UKs Bristol Airport has unveiled its new prayer room, adding to the list of must-visit places of worship around the world. The room, which is located inside the airports free waiting zone, the passenger drop-off and collection area, has been likened to a bus shelter with a "multi-faith area" sign affixed to it.

The airport announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that a new private area near the Silver Zone roundabout is now available for customers to reflect and pray while waiting to collect their loved ones. Upon release of the photographs, users immediately began to share their thoughts and prayers, not at all in a private manner. Our sympathies are with the airport's social media manager.

Love is in the air

Pan Am flight attendant Ilona Zahn's decision to spike pilot Ian Duncan's coffee with salt and Tabasco sauce on a flight from Rome to Tehran in 1970 resulted in a remarkable 50-year romance. "It still gives me butterflies in my stomach," Zahn tells CNN Travel today.

Ski season

Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon, a renowned chef in the United States, became famous for her delectable creations surpassing Zahn. However, she also discovered the recipe for love while serving as a flight attendant on a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok to New York in 2006.

Ski resorts worldwide are grappling with the harsh reality of dwindling snowfall due to the climate crisis. Some have permanently shut down, like La Sambuy in the French Alps, while others, like Bellagio, Italy, are considering artificial snow options. However, not everyone is on board with this plan.

While Turkey is well-known for its beach destinations, it also boasts several lesser-known ski resorts. The Kaçkar range in northeastern Turkey, located on the southern edge of the Black Sea, offers snow-covered peaks perfect for heli-skiing. In the United States, Alaska is typically known for summer wildlife adventures, but during the winter, it's an excellent choice for winter sports enthusiasts.

Cruise news

As you prepare for your upcoming skiing adventure, CNN Underscored, a product reviews and recommendations guide owned by CNN, has compiled a list of top-rated ski backpacks recommended by professional skiers.

Promised a three-year cruise at affordable rates, customers were left devastated when the trip was abruptly canceled, with the cruise company revealing they didn't even have a ship. Some passengers found themselves stranded in Istanbul after selling or renting out their homes in preparation for the journey. The cruising experience has also been marred by reports of chair hogs, food fights, and excessive drinking, leading CNN Travel to question if cruising etiquette has disappeared at sea.

Valley of Fire

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Finding the fiery red rocks in Nevada's Valley of Fire

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Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park, located just an hour north of the Las Vegas strip, boasts stunning red rock formations. While many hiking spots are easily accessible from the road, adventurers can also opt for all-terrain vehicle tours to explore more remote areas.

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