Beyoncé Filmed Her Newest Music Video at Havasu Falls — and Not Everyone Is Happy About It

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Whatever Beyoncé wants, Beyoncé gets — especially when it comes to incredible and hard-to-reach filming locations.

According to the Arizona Republic, the music superstar shut down the area of the Grand Canyon known as Havasu Falls on July 10 in order to film her music video for the upcoming movie, "The Lion King."

The new video, titled “Spirit,” was released online on Tuesday, July 17, in anticipation of the photo-realistic Disney remake. Beyoncé herself plays the adult Nala.

Havasu Falls, or Havasupai Falls, has always been a hidden gem of Arizona tourism since it is considerably hard to get to. In order to reach the falls, hikers must trek a trail that’s about eight miles long, plus two more to get to the campground and another three to reach the falls itself, USA Today reported. But it’s well worth it to see the falls’ shimmering emerald green and blue waters.

For this very reason, only 300 permits per day are issued by the Havasupai Tribal Council, which controls the land, according to the Arizona Republic. These permits are released yearly on Feb. 1, according to AZ Central, and are snapped up very quickly. Permits cost $100 per night on weekdays and $125 per night Friday through Sunday, with a minimum three-night stay. Since they have a yearly release, you have to plan your trip way in advance.

So Beyoncé shutting down the place for five hours of filming, according to TMZ, is a pretty big deal. Fortunately for the singer, the Havasupai tribe was “honored” to have the falls be featured in the video, according to the Arizona Republic.

“Knowing that Beyonce advocates for the preservation of water rights around the world, we were particularly pleased to be able to accommodate her request,” said Muriel Uqualla, chairwoman of the Havasupai Tribal Council, to the Arizona Republic. “Her choice to visit the Havasupai Indian Reservation as a setting for her new video and to share it worldwide is a testament to the stunning beauty of our remote homeland.”

But not everyone was happy to see that it was completely off-limits for part of the day last week. Particularly, hikers and campers who set a reservation for that day back in February and did not get the chance to take full advantage of it. Even worse, people who made the 10-mile hike from their campground were in for a shock if they arrived when it was closed. It’s unclear how many people were affected by the film shoot, according to the Arizona Republic.

According to AZ Central, many visitors expressed their unhappiness on a Havasupai Facebook group, though it is not clear which one. Not only was the shoot an inconvenience for hikers who had an advance reservation, many visitors expressed concern that it would make it harder to get permits.

Beyoncé is no stranger to booking high profile venues, though this may be the only time it was for a place that required so much advanced planning for people who are not celebrity status.

The singer and her husband, Jay-Z, filmed another music video, “APES**T,” at the Louvre in Paris, back in 2018, which helped the museum see record visitor numbers that same year.

Even if Havasu Falls is considered a “secret,” perhaps the remoteness of the location will serve as a deterrent for unwanted droves of visitors. Then again, perhaps the exposure will also help boost tourism and bring awareness to the area. Don’t underestimate the power of Bey.

All the Baby Names Kate Middleton and Prince William Have Boosted in Popularity

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This story was originally published on September 21, 2017.

Little Prince George may only be four years old, but according to the Office for National Statistics, he’s already a huge tastemaker.

The prince, who just recently had his first day of school, appears to be following in his mother’s footsteps by influencing the British people in big ways, even with just his name.

As the office recently revealed, one of the most popular baby names for 2016 in both Wales and England was indeed George, and it was no doubt inspired by the adorable royal.

According to Vogue, the moniker George appeared to plateau in the early 2000s, hovering between the 16th and 12th most popular name in the United Kingdom. However, after July 22, 2013, the day the new heir to the throne arrived, the name quickly began to rise. In 2014, Vogue noted, it made it into the top 10, in 2015 it was the fourth most popular name, and in 2016 it came in at number three.

And it’s not just George creating a rush for royal names. Little Charlotte, who will soon be a big sister, also caused a huge spike in the popularity of her classic name. Charlotte, according to one name tracking site, plummeted in popularity over the years, falling to the 25th most popular name in the United Kingdom. However in 2015, when Charlotte was born, all that changed. Now the name has skyrocketed back up to the number 12 spot.

Related: Prince William Hints Kate Middleton's Due Date Might Be 'Sooner Than You Think'

Even the names the royals simply discuss for their new heirs appear to trend, according to Vogue.

“When Kate was pregnant last time with Charlotte we had a huge surge of interest in the name Alice. So much so, that the name went from being a 50:1 outsider to the 5:2 favorite,” Katie Baylis, spokeswoman for Betfair, a bookmaker, told Vogue.

Joe Crilly, spokesperson for William Hill, another bookmaker, agreed, adding, “Most of the names towards the top of the betting are ones which have been popular the last two times around and we expect they will be again.”

So will the royal couple’s third child cause a naming trend? It’s likely, especially when you consider bookmakers are favoring more classic names like Alice, which according to the Telegraph is currently the firm favorite for a girl at 7/1 odds, while Arthur, at 10/1, is the male favorite. Other potentials to keep an eye out for — and ones that could see an upcoming bump in popularity as well — are Victoria, Alexandra, Albert, and Philip. 

How global tensions are impacting travelers

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Originally published on May 1st, 2017.

Both leisure and business travelers from the U.S. are reporting elevated concerns over terrorism, healthcare threats, and other global crises, often seeking additional security or avoiding certain destinations, according to new research.

More than half of corporate buyers have seen an increase in the number of business travelers reporting safety concerns, and around 25 percent have seen a spike in travelers requesting security training in the past six months, according to research from the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE).

“Given the recent terrorist events in what used to be safe cities — no one ever got a security briefing when they were going to Paris or Brussels or London — but now we’re starting to see concern from travelers going to what used to be safe cities," Greeley Koch, executive director of ACTE, told Travel + Leisure.

Staying closer to home

Many travelers are opting for domestic locations and avoiding certain destinations in Europe, such as London and Paris, that have seen terror attacks in recent years, according to data from flight aggregator Hopper. That trend could continue over the summer, as the U.S. State Department issued a travel alert for Europe through September.

In the first six months of 2016, Paris lost $846 million in tourism revenue as the capital city saw a slump in visitors following concerns after multiple terror attacks in 2015.

“People are worried that the big, wide world is not as safe anymore,” Patrick Surry, chief data scientist at Hopper, told CNN Money. “People are choosing to stay closer to home.”

Fears are statistically irrational

While people might be avoiding European destinations, both data and experts agree that there is little reason to do so. In 2015, France saw the worst attack on its own soil since World War II, when terrorists killed 130 people in Paris the night of November 13. It was also the same year of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, in which 12 people were killed in the offices of a satirical magazine.

Despite 2015 being the bloodiest for terrorism in France, the country welcomed a record 85 million visitors. There were 66.81 million people living in France in 2015 according to the World Bank.

This means that of the 151.8 million people who spent time in France in 2015, 142 died from terrorism, putting the odds of being killed in a terror attack at just .00000094.

“The fear of terrorism is not something rational,” Axel Dyèvre, a former French military officer and director of the European Strategic Intelligence Company, told T+L in August.

Domestic politics are playing a role.

Concerns from travelers are not just over international destinations, however. Analysts have pointed to the effect of U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive orders that have restricted immigration to the U.S. and cracked down on business travelers having access to their tools such as laptops and tablets.

Fears of not being able to have access to technology for work or of being forced to unlock that technology upon entry to the U.S. is a top concern for foreign business travelers, according to Koch of ACTE.

Business travelers blazing the trail.

With these fears likely to continue throughout 2017, business travelers may be some of the poeple most likely to travel in spite of threats. While domestic travelers may have the ability to choose a different destination or stay home if security concerns arise, business travelers are often more restricted, as their travel frequently depends on specific clients and cities.

“Business travelers are resilient," said Koch. "They know the odds.”

This Common Vacation Mistake Could Be Costing You an Extra $689 (Video)

There's nothing better than that care-free vacation feeling — but it turns out your nonchalance could be wreaking more havoc on your wallet than necessary.

New research shows that more than 1 in 10 travelers don't keep track of what they spend while on vacation, and almost two-thirds have trouble budgeting their money while they're away.

Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (ATOL), a U.K.-based financial protection scheme for vacationers, found that we underestimate our spending while on a trip by £536.80 (that's about $689) on average. 

Among the largest causes of this, according to ATOL, are food and drink expenses. While some travelers are arriving at their hotels expecting more to be included than actually is, according to the Mirror, others are simply not properly budgeting for their meals.

Related: How to Save Money for Your Dream Trip

The best way to avoid this? Call beforehand and clarify what comes with your stay, and have an idea of what you can spend before you go out for dinner or cocktails. If you don't trust yourself after a few margaritas, don't bring a ton of extra cash out with you.

In addition to meals, going into each day with an idea of how much you can afford to spend overall is always a good idea. Simply calculate the total amount you're okay with spending on your trip, and divide it by the number of days you're going. Allot more of an allowance on days when you have more expensive activities planned, like guided tours, a fancy dinner, or an excursion to a shopping district, but then cut back on overpriced cocktails and other unnecessary expenses on those other lazy days at the beach.

Another costly common mistake, according to the study, is withdrawing cash from foreign ATMs instead of getting the best exchange rate in advance. Local ATMs are likely to hit you with extra fees galore, so check the specifics with your bank before you make that withdrawal, and arrive prepared.

And finally, unexpected transportation fees are cleaning us out, as more airlines charge for "extras" like carry-on baggage and choosing a seat (it's easy enough to check policies online before you book your ticket) and we tend to forget about minor costs that can add up fast, like taxis and parking.

There's sometimes no avoiding a spur of the moment need for a taxi, but consider keeping notes on what you're spending in your phone so you can adjust your budget accordingly.

Staying on top of your finances isn't exactly what we call a fun time, but keeping track as you go will save you a whole lot of regret when you get home. Almost $700 of regret, to be specific.

How to Quit Your Job and Travel the World, According to People Who Have Done It

Johnny Ward, now 33, has been to all 197 countries in a span of 10 years. Oh, and did we mention he made $1 million while doing it?

Ward, who had to volunteer himself for medical research to afford a plane ticket in the first place, says he is proof anyone can accomplish what he did.

Once he was able to purchase a flight to Thailand, he started spending long nights blogging. Now, he owns a media brand with 100 different sites and makes a living off advertising revenue.

Ward gives tips on how to start a successful travel blog in 2017 on his website, One Step 4 Ward. He warns not to pigeon-hole yourself: “Choose something you can mold into something else should you wanna do that later down the road,” and he reminds young bloggers how important it is to be professional: “...anything referencing drugs, getting drunk, having sex might seem cool now, but when Nikon, or the Four Seasons refuse to work with you 2 years later because of your branding, you will wish you choose something more professional.”

And most of all, the traveling entrepreneur advises wannabe travelers to never give up.

“I've had to be diligent enough to take out my laptop and work in the evenings when I was in Mongolia, or Kazakhstan, or Ethiopia,” Ward told The Telegraph. “Those were the tough times, putting the work in while I was actively traveling, not knowing if it would pay off or not.”

Read more about him here.

10 Things You Must Pack for Coachella, According to Festival Regulars

Congratulations, you’ve done it. You bit the bullet, bought the ticket, and are headed off to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in sunny southern California. This year’s headliners — including Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and Radiohead — are sure to entertain, but one teeny, tiny thing can throw off your entire music-going experience: poor planning.

A scorching sunburn, a cough that lasts for days, or tired, aching feet can (and will) ruin your festival experience. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead and pack accordingly so you’re ready for anything the festival gods may throw your way.

We went straight to the source — Reddit’s Coachella community — to ask the experienced festival-goers for their packing recommendations. Here are a few of their top must-haves.