There’s real estate trouble in paradise, it seems. On Friday, more than a dozen resort and vacation properties were seized in Tulum, Mexico, during a government dispute.

The series of evictions of 16 hotels, restaurants, shops, and private residences along the beach has cropped up several accusations of unfair dispossession on the part of the Mexican government. But that hasn’t stopped the seizure from effecting thousands of hoteliers, workers, vacationers, and property owners from feeling the pressure of losing access to the white sand beaches, Mayan ruins, and blue waters of Tulum.

RELATED: 10 Most Affordable Places to See in Mexico Right Now^[1]

At the time the eviction took place, hotels in the affected area had an estimated 60 percent occupancy rate — leaving tourists to scramble for other accommodations. Three hundred tourists were evacuated from Coqui Coqui, the region’s most popular and swanky hotel and spa, by a swarm of security guards who forcefully used tear gas with anyone who resisted the eviction. Moving trucks were seen leaving the area filled with furniture, mattresses, blankets, carpets, paintings, lamps, and numerous pieces of furniture were removed from the rooms of hotels. Additionally, tables, chairs, tablecloths, dishes, and decor were taken from the restaurants and left along the roadside.

"It's essentially a war for the land," Sophia Perlstein of Tulum's KM33 boutique, says in a report from Town and Country^[2].

According to the government and reports from Mexico News Daily^[3], the evictions are a result of property owners alleged “breach of an oral lease contract between business owners and the municipality,” and a failure to pay rent. However, land owners and business operators don’t agree, and state that the evictions are due to the government’s strong interest in profiting from the Tulum tourism sector.

RELATED: Mexico's Answer to Big Bend^[4]

Owners of the land have asked for President Enrique Peña Nieto to intervene and stop what they also call a dispossession, but there has not been a response. Until an agreement can be reached between the government, developers, and entrepreneurs, the idyllic vacation spot is currently a ghost town on the beach. 

Have a trip booked? Don't call the hotel (no one will answer) and don't call the government (again, no one will answer). The best advice is to call the tourism department of Mexico ^[5]to find out your options, and to touch base with other nearby hotels and resorts that are still in business, such as Hotel Ahau^[6].

References

1. ^{^} RELATED: 10 Most Affordable Places to See in Mexico Right Now (www.mensjournal.com)
2. ^{^} Town and Country (www.townandcountrymag.com)
3. ^{^} Mexico News Daily (mexiconewsdaily.com)
4. ^{^} RELATED: Mexico's Answer to Big Bend (www.mensjournal.com)
5. ^{^} tourism department of Mexico (www.visitmexico.com)
6. ^{^} Hotel Ahau (ahautulum.com)

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Thanks to a large expat community and British Columbia ties, Hong Kong is the easiest city to navigate in China without the ability to speak Mandarin or Cantonese. And with airlines like Cathay Pacific offering direct service from Boston and San Francisco, it has never been easier to experience China’s dense cultural heritage, not to mention some incredibly tranquil wilderness hikes just minutes from a bustling, vibrant downtown.

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Despite being one of the world’s most densely populated metropolises, less than half of the city is actually inhabited. The rest is home to some of the most beautifully scenic landscapes formed by volcanic activity; think thick forests of green spanning across majestic rolling mountains. You can access some incredible hikes in just a few quick stops on the bus or MTR train (day passes cost roughly $7 USD). If you want to stay on Hong Kong Island, take a hike on the “Dragon’s Back,” which connects Wan Cham Shan and Shek O over the D’Aguilar Peninsula. Offering plenty of breathtaking views, the full trail takes about four hours; so take a lunch to enjoy at Shek O Peak. You may even catch a paraglider or two in the air, as it is one of the government's sanctioned launching locations. The end finds you on a white sand beach in Tai Long Wan, part of the New Territories, which is a contrast from where the trip started. Toast your completion of the trail with a bite at one of the tiny outdoor cafes. If you don’t feel like hiking all the way back, you can walk to San Wan Pavilion and take a taxi back to the hotel. The bus also picks up there, but while public transportation in Hong Kong is efficient, taxis run on the cheaper side, so if you want to cut down on time, it’s a viable option.

FOUR-DAY WEEKEND: Book Your Next Weekend from One of Dozens of Destinations^[1]

Eat

Hong Kong’s dim sum is the best in the world, so any local eatery you find is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Tim Ho Wan, located in the Central District, is well celebrated and even has a Michelin star, though some locals have been known to call it a “tourist trap.” For a slightly more chaotic — and equally appetizing — experience, visit the most famous dim sum restaurant, Maxim. The décor is as bona fide as its cuisine, with dazzling chandeliers and tasseled chairs. Located in City Hall, it is one of the last remaining locations that still serve their dishes from the traditional pushcarts by waitresses, and you can point to the plates that you want to try. There are no wrong choices. To get a real taste of the city, take the advice of Anthony Bourdain^[2] and sample the traditional street food. There are plenty of vendors serving local cuisine, from eggettes to grass jelly, and a wide variety of meat-on-a-stick options for the adventurous eater.

Late Night

Dress in your best before making your way to the Central District, because when the sun goes down, the area turns into a lively and diverse nightlife scene that rivals the best in the world. Local lifestyle writer Justine Lee recommends making a stop at Dragon-I, a long-established club that has managed to maintain its edge, with a terrace that overlooks the lively Wyndham Street. For a lower key and more regional experience, check out Yu Club, a small-spaced cocktail bar where they feature drinks inspired by seasonal fruits. Completing the alluring experience you access through a narrow doorway, decorated with framed old Chinese newspaper clippings and Bruce Lee posters. For a wild scene with a view, head to Sevva, which is situated on the penthouse level of the Prince’s Building. The lounge boasts a 360-degree of downtown to enjoy while you sip on signature cocktails and indulge in one of their inspired desserts created by the infamous Ms B.^[3][4][5]

ALSO: How Anthony Bourdain Dives into a City^[6]

Sleep

The InterContinental Hong Kong^[7] is located in the city’s artsy Kowloon District, offering the best views of the Victoria Harbour and the island’s tallest skyscrapers, making it a popular stay for visitors. Every night the cityscape is illuminated with a multimedia light show called A Symphony Of Lights, which can be viewed from any of the hotel’s lobbies or one of their Michelin-star restaurants. The ferries across the water are frequent and cost next to nothing, making transport into the Central and Western Districts a breeze, not to mention a sightseeing experience of their own. Kick off your morning with a complimentary tai chi class to get your center balanced before hitting the town.

Insider Tip

Set a day aside to really explore the outlying islands of Hong Kong, like Tung Ping Chau, which lies out in the New Territories and is only accessible by ferry. There are a number of services that help you easily rent gear in the city, like Urban Camper^[8]. Take a day’s worth of supplies and head out early, as the hike will take you around three or four hours, then pitch your tent at the marked campsite next to Kang Lau Shek, where there are barbeques set up for cooking. This is true outdoor life at its best; so don’t expect to see a traditional toilet. But the sunrises and sunsets make it more than worth it.

References

1. ^{^} FOUR-DAY WEEKEND: Book Your Next Weekend from One of Dozens of Destinations (www.mensjournal.com)
2. ^{^} advice of Anthony Bourdain (www.mensjournal.com)
3. ^{^} Dragon-I (www.dragon-i.com.hk)
4. ^{^} Yu Club (www.facebook.com)
5. ^{^} Sevva (www.sevva.hk)
6. ^{^} ALSO: How Anthony Bourdain Dives into a City (www.mensjournal.com)
7. ^{^} InterContinental Hong Kong (hongkong-ic.intercontinental.com)
8. ^{^} Urban Camper (urbancamperhk.blogspot.hk)

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Credit: Donald Goldney for the Norgrove Foundation

The Place: To experience the Scottish countryside in all its rustic splendor, you would want to spend the night in one of its many bothies — small structures typically built from stone, scattered about the coasts and high places of Scotland and Wales, with some in Northern England. A bothy is a simple shelter; it does not come equipped with facilities such as electricity, running water, or a bathroom. They're usually built by locals and almost all are free of charge. This bothy was built with stone and wood into the side of the Mangersta cliffs, on the Isle of Lewis. It was constructed almost 30 years ago by two locals, John and Lorna Norgrove.

John Norgrove for the The Linda Norgrove Foundation

“When we were building it, no one was interested, nor did others see it as much other than a waste of time and energy,” said John Norgrove. “However, now it’s there, it’s attained a life of its own, and people come from far and wide to marvel and to stay.”

The Cost: A night in this bothy is totally free. “The bothy is available for anyone to stay in, but we ask that people let us know beforehand because some people phone and book particular nights,” says Norgrove.

John Norgrove for the The Linda Norgrove Foundation

The Region:

This bothy is located on a specific section of the Isle of Lewis that is noted for dramatic cliffs and sparsely populated grasslands. The Isle of Lewis is a large island to the northwest of the mainland. “There is some fantastic rock climbing in the area,” says Norgrove. “One in particular, right next to the bothy, have been featured in a BBC program about rock climbs, and a Land Rover advertisement.” 

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Face it, you’d rather be on a beach right now, with topaz waves cresting in the Atlantic ocean, soft sand, and coral reefs teeming with tropical fish. Amid the 700 islands and cays that make up the Bahamas is Eleuthera — Greek for “free” — which you have a chance to visit for exactly that prize if you enter this sweepstakes^[1]. 

We’ve partnered with Travel Curator, Esquire, Mouth, Headlines & Heroes, and Savoteur to whisk you away to this ideal beach getaway for a 5-night stay at The Cove Eleuthera. You’ll also get $1,000 towards airfare, a massage, a snorkeling excursion, and a beachside dinner if you win.

Eleuthera is a 110-mile-long island that’s only about a mile wide, and it’s a quick, one-hour flight from Florida. Your home for five nights will be The Cove Eleuthera^[2], with seaside cottages and villages set on the tranquil shores. You’ll also have access to private beaches where you can snorkel, paddle board, or kayak. Did we mention there’s a hilltop infinity pool?

For a chance to win, sign up at this link^[3] and sign up to receive emails from Men’s Journal, Travel Curator, Esquire, Mouth, Headlines & Heroes, and Savoteur.

The sweepstakes begins at 12:00 a.m. ET on May 2, 2016, and ends at 7 p.m. ET on May 23, 2016.

References

1. ^{^} enter this sweepstakes (sweepstakes.headlinesandheroes.com)
2. ^{^} The Cove Eleuthera (www.thecoveeleuthera.com)
3. ^{^} sign up at this link (sweepstakes.headlinesandheroes.com)

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Travelers wait in line before going through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening at Ronald Reagan National airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C. on November 25, 2015. Credit: Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg / Getty Images

If you’re accustomed to showing up to the airport an hour before your domestic flight, there’s a good chance you’ll just be mid-way through the TSA security line during your final boarding call. Arriving two or even three hours early — the recommendation of some airlines — might not give you a fighting chance to make it to the gate on time.

If you haven’t been to the airport lately, be braced for security lines that are worse than the ones you’ve encountered during the holiday season, even if you’re traveling at an odd hour on an off-peak day. And for those frequent travelers, you’re not imagining it: TSA lines during the past few months have been growing longer, causing missed flights and delayed departures. A combination of fewer Transportation Security Administration screeners, tighter budgets, and new checkpoint procedures is compounded by a greater number of travelers causing the absurdly long lines, the New York Times^[1] explains. Come summer, airports and airlines are fearful of a complete logistical meltdown, despite TSA announcing it will hire 768 more officers and assign them to the busiest airports by mid-June. 

RELATED: Grading America's Airlines^[2]

Frustrated passengers have taken to Twitter to show security lines snaking out to baggage claim or starting near the parking garages at some airports. Even the airlines and airports are losing patience: American Airlines has called the lines^[3] “unacceptable.” During a week in March, nearly 6,800 American Airline passengers missed flights, because of checkpoint delays, with the most notorious hold-ups in Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Now, some airports are going so far as to threaten replacing TSA agents with private security personnel. 

References

1. ^{^} New York Times (www.nytimes.com)
2. ^{^} RELATED: Grading America's Airlines (www.mensjournal.com)
3. ^{^} American Airlines has called the lines (www.nbcnews.com)

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