During the pandemic, accommodation rental platform Airbnb has identified a new trend that it is calling "wish list wanderlust". The term refers to people spending time daydreaming about where they want to go when travel opens up again.
From exploring new destinations online to looking back over past trips, Airbnb says that this travel-planning pastime can also lead to a sense of happiness.
In a recent survey, Airbnb found that more than a third of those questioned said they thought about travelling on a daily basis and a quarter of those questioned said planning a trip made them feel hopeful.
To help people hang on to this sense of optimism, Airbnb has revealed its most wish-listed stays in every state in the US.
From a cabin in the wilds of Alaska to a luxury treehouse on Hawaii's Big Island, these unique Airbnb's are garnering something of an online fan base.
Click through the gallery above to see the Most Wish Listed Stays in 50 States or read on for details on some of our favourites.
Cozy Alaskan Log Cabin
An authentic Alaskan cabin overlooking Creamer's Field Waterfowl refuge topped the wish list in Alaska. Both outdoor and nature lovers are drawn to this timber tree house set in the forest with trails and wildlife viewing all around. A cosy retreat to hideaway in for the weekend.
An earth house in Arizona
This unique one-room earth house is called a hogan and provides a true off-the-grid experience. Located in a secluded and remote location of the Western Navajo Nation, it's close to the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley.
This Topanga canyon guesthouse
Changeling a Pirates of the Caribbean vibe, you can stay in this tropical guesthouse in Topanga which starred in Cody Simpson's music video Love. It's a hit with people planning a stay in the Californian valley. Surrounded by waterfalls, ponds, totem poles and tepees, it also has a private sauna and hot tub.
Kukui Treehouse on Hawaii's Big Island
Make childhood dreams come true is this elevated Kukui treehouse in Hawaaii. Built in a Kukui Nut tree, it has amazing ocean views and live tree trunks growing through its centre. A spiral staircase leads down to an outdoor shower and four-person hot tub, and there's three acres of land on the doorstep to explore.
An old firehouse in Louisiana
You can always bank on New Orleans to do things a little differently, so it's no surprise that the only firehouse on Airbnb's most wish-listed property rankings is located in the Big Easy in Louisiana. The 19th-century firehouse building has a main floor, penthouse and town house, an adjacent courtyard and a superb location near the French Quarter in the offbeat Marigny district.
This 20th-century cabin in Indiana
A renovated 20th-century barn called Birdsong is the most popular Airbnb property in all of Tennessee. Spanning 2,500 square feet, this property sleeps six guests and has a huge flat-screen television, hot tub and billiards table. Outside, there's sixteen acres of private land to explore and a firepit for gathering around once night falls.
The Dream Rock Silo in Virginia
An old 1950s dairy barn and silo have been transformed into a four-storey home, and the top two floors are for rent on Airbnb. All the rooms in this silo are circular and the bedroom at the very top of the tower has windows that go all the way around for a stunning 360-degree view of the mountains and valley. The owner of the property is also a master cabinet maker, so guests checking in can get the chance to try to solve some clues to find a secret cabinet compartment in the silo.
Casita Don Gaspar tiny house in New Mexico
Nestled among the pines, this super cute tiny house is a two-storey, 900-square-foot residence that's the most desired in New Mexico. Located on 10 acres of rural land, the bright pink house has a well-equipped kitchen, queen bedroom and huge windows overlooking the surrounding trees and mountains. Upstairs, there's a balcony with a hammock swing that offers visitors a spot to sit and stare at the stars and listen to birdsong or coyote calls.
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
UAE'S%20YOUNG%20GUNS
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
MATCH INFO
Wales 1 (Bale 45 3')
Croatia 1 (Vlasic 09')
MATCH INFO
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
2017%20RESULTS%3A%20FRENCH%20VOTERS%20IN%20UK
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFirst%20round%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EEmmanuel%20Macron%3A%2051.1%25%3Cbr%3EFrancois%20Fillon%3A%2024.2%25%3Cbr%3EJean-Luc%20Melenchon%3A%2011.8%25%3Cbr%3EBenoit%20Hamon%3A%207.0%25%3Cbr%3EMarine%20Le%20Pen%3A%202.9%25%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESecond%20round%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EEmmanuel%20Macron%3A%2095.1%25%3Cbr%3EMarine%20Le%20Pen%3A%204.9%25%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
