Anybody can see that it's been a difficult and eventful year. That's even evident to the satellites orbiting our planet.

With each new disaster of 2020 — record-breaking fires, lockdowns of major cities, the shocking explosion of a warehouse in Beirut — spacecraft turned their cameras to the scene on Earth. Together, these shots from space offer a zoomed-out picture of the year's most shocking events.

It wasn't all doom and gloom, though. Satellites also captured a historic rocket launch and the aftermath of a successful (though explosive) rocket test.

Here are the 21 most striking satellite images of 2020.

SEE ALSO: The 34 most awe-inspiring scientific achievements of 2020 include ancient mummy tombs, historic rocket launches, and the fastest vaccine in history

2020 revealed what kind of year it was going to be right away. In January, eastern Australia went up in flames.

From space, it was easy to spot the bushfires and plumes of smoke they sent across the ocean.

The smoke circled the globe for three months.

In the end, the blazes burned more than 46 million acres, according to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. That's an area roughly the size of Syria.

At the same time, another disaster was spreading in Wuhan, China. By February, the city was speed-building hospitals for COVID-19 patients.

As the coronavirus inundated Wuhan hospitals with new patients, the city built new facilities, including the Huoshenshan Hospital (right), which was constructed in just 10 days.

Soon, countries across the globe were closing their borders and their airports.

In response, airlines canceled flights and their grounded planes filled airport runways.

As stay-at-home orders followed, the changes in human movement were visible from space.

The Great Mosque in Mecca was packed in February (left). By April (right), lockdowns and travel restrictions had emptied it.

The virus's death toll also left its mark on the Earth, as Iran and other countries dug graves en masse.

In March, Maxar satellites spotted new trenches at a cemetery in Qom, Iran, along with what appears to be a pile of lime, which is sometimes used in mass graves to prevent decay and manage odor.

The pandemic hasn't stopped SpaceX. In the spring, Elon Musk's rocket company launched its first astronauts aboard its Crew Dragon spaceship.

The mission flew NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station. They stayed there, with the Crew Dragon capsule docked to the station, for two months then plummeted safely back to Earth.

Can't see the rocket? Here it is up close.

It was the world's first crewed commercial spaceflight.

Back on the ground, the US erupted in protests following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police.

On May 25, Floyd died after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes. The next day, protests began in Minneapolis. Within days, they had spread across the nation.

In June, North Korea blew up the liaison office that served as its informal embassy with South Korea.

After a week of threats, North Korea demolished the building in the border town of Kaesong. No South Korean citizens were reported to be stationed at the office, since it had been emptied due to the coronavirus.

An oil spill in the Russian Arctic turned the Ambarnaya River red.

On May 29, a Norilsk Nickel fuel tank in Siberia lost pressure and leaked 21,000 metric tons of diesel into nearby rivers and soil. The company said melting permafrost had weakened the storage tank's support. But federal investigators detained three power-station managers and charged the mayor of the city of Norilsk with criminal negligence, Reuters reported.

The following month, a bulk carrier ship called the MV Wakashio got stuck on coral reefs off the coast of Mauritius, began to sink, and spilled its oil into the ocean.

Barges managed to pump 3,000 tons of oil from the ship, but another 1,000 tons leaked into the ocean, endangering coral reefs and pristine azure lagoons.

An initial investigation found that crew members searching for better cell phone signals may have steered the ship two miles closer to shore than planned, according to the Associated Press.

The aircraft-carrier-sized ship split in two, and its front half soon drifted away into open waters.

Mauritius is a tourism hotspot, so the oil spill added insult to the injury of the coronavirus pandemic. Japan, which owns and operated the ship, offered to resolve the issue with a $300 million loan rather than a more thorough investigation, Forbes reported.

On August 4, a huge warehouse exploded in Beirut, devastating the Lebanon capital.

Authorities believe the blast was caused by the ignition of 2,750 tons of confiscated and abandoned ammonium nitrate fertilizer. The explosion killed more than 200 people, according to the UN Refugee Agency.

A series of wildfires broke out across California, Oregon, and Washington in late summer. By September, the entire West Coast was shrouded in smoke.

The smoke turned skies orange and wafted across the country, tinting New York skies sepia and even reached the Netherlands.

Tens of thousands of people evacuated their homes. In California, 4 million acres burned — more than double the previous state record. Fires killed at least 31 people in California, nine in Oregon, and one in Washington.

Colorado, too, went up in smoke. Three of the four largest fires in the state's history burned in late summer.

Satellites captured the blazes in natural color (left) and infrared (right), revealing both the smoke and the heat.

The region hadn't seen fires of that scale in 1,000 years, journalist Eric Holthaus reported.

Hurricane season brought more cyclones to the Atlantic basin than any prior year on record. Satellites tracked their progress.

More of these storms made landfall in the US than in any prior hurricane season. Hurricane Delta intensified faster than any other cyclone on record, whipping itself from a mere tropical storm to a Category 4 in just 24 hours.

Climate change is making hurricanes stronger, slower, and wetter.

Two hurricanes battered Lake Charles, Louisiana. By mid-October, entire neighborhoods had become seas of blue emergency tarps.

Hurricane Laura ripped up Lake Charles homes with 150 mph winds. Six weeks later, Hurricane Delta dumped more than 15 inches of rain on the town.

In November, violent conflict erupted in Ethiopia. The impacts were visible from space.

The Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which had previously ruled the country for 27 years, began fighting for control over parts of the country's Tigray region in November, Politico reported.

On December 1, the Arecibo radio telescope collapsed. Two recent cable failures had left it damaged beyond repair.

The telescope's 900-ton platform, which was suspended 450 feet in the air to send and receive radio waves, crashed into its disk below, pulling with it the tops of three support towers.

The loss dealt a major blow to efforts to protect Earth from hazardous asteroids and search for signs of intelligent alien life.

SpaceX had its own explosion in December, when a model of its Starship spaceship went on its most ambitious test flight yet, then crumpled upon landing.

Overall, the flight was a success, rocketing the spaceship tens of thousands of feet into the air. But it left only scorched remains on the landing pad.

• Finding a sports bra that looks good, fits well, and gives you enough support for your workout is really hard.
• We've done the heavy lifting to find the best sports bras for every size and budget.
• Sweaty Betty and Zensah make the best sports bras for A to B cups, Brooks and Champion make the best sports bras for C to D cups, while Panache and Syrokan make the best sports bras for DD cups and up.
• The most important factors to consider are size, comfort, and support. Here's what you should be looking for when shopping for a sports bra.
• See also: The best workout clothes for women

The first prototype of today's modern sports bra was invented over 40 years ago in 1977. Not so surprisingly, traditional lingerie bras just weren't cutting it on runs, so two women named Lisa Lindahl and Polly Smith took matters into their own hands. Thanks to them, we've come a long way from the "jockbra" and now there is an overwhelming number of styles and sizes of sports bras to choose from. 

Besides your running shoes, as a woman, your sports bra is the other most important — and personal — piece of workout gear that you shouldn't do without. It keeps your chest supported during your workout, minimizing any bounce and jiggle. This is important because while your breasts don't have any muscle, the skin and ligaments that give them their shape can stretch over time without proper support.

With so many styles and sizes to choose from, you're bound to find your perfect fit so you can run happy and bounce-free. Below are some important factors to consider when it comes to finding your perfect bra.

There's plenty to think about when searching for the perfect sports bra to add to your running wardrobe, but we've done the testing and read the reviews to find you well-performing sports bras for every size.

Here are the best sports bras:

• Best sports bra for A/B cups: Sweaty Betty Stamina Workout Bra
• Best budget sports bra for A/B cups: Zensah Seamless sports bra
• Best sports bra for C/D cups: Brooks Rebound Racer bra
• Best budget sports bra for C/D cups: Champion Spot Comfort sports bra
• Best sports bra for DD+ cups: Panache Women's Underwire sports bra 
• Best budget sports bra for DD+ cups: Syrokan Front Adjustable sports bra

Updates on 12/24/2020 by Maria Del Russo: Updated formatting, prices, and links. Added more options for each cup size. 

SEE ALSO: The best fitness trackers you can buy

The best sports bra for sizes A/B

The supportive under band, wide straps, and waffle detailing for extra ventilation make the Sweaty Betty Stamina workout bra an all-around winner when it comes to support and performance.

Pros: Wide under band for support, seamless design, wide straps for added comfort, waffled fabric detailing for extra ventilation, washes well, multiple colors to choose from

Cons: Expensive, some reviewers wished it came in extra small

Sizing options: S-XL

With a compression-style bra, the band and material are especially important, as these are the things that will provide you with the comfort and support you'll need. The Sweaty Betty Stamina delivers in both departments, with a wide under band and sweat-wicking, seamless fabric.

The wider band makes this an ideal bra for high impact sports like running, and if you cross-train, on the days you aren't running, it will do double duty. It's comfortable enough for other types of workouts like spinning and yoga. 

The Sweaty Betty Stamina's seamless design adds comfort and reduces chafing on longer runs, and the strategically placed waffling in the fabric provides extra ventilation where you'll need it most. According to the product description, it will give medium support up to a C cup, but for adequate running support, most reviewers with up to a B cup felt that it provided them with the support they needed for higher impact workouts. Those with larger busts loved the comfort of this bra, but don't recommend it for running.

The best budget-friendly sports bra for sizes A/B

The Zensah Seamless is a no-fuss, affordable sports bra that has a seamless design, making it a favorite among distance runners who want chafe-free runs.

Pros: Seamless design, sweat-wicking fabric, ribbing on the sides and in the band for extra support, affordable

Cons: Not as much coverage across the chest

Sizing options: S/M-L/XL

While it may look simple, the Zensah is anything but. Most of its features are knitted directly into its sweat-wicking, odor-resistant fabric. The wider knitting in the back allows for ventilation, while the more sturdy ribbing on the sides and in the band itself offer more structured support without the use of underwire or additional padding.

The simplistic, clasp-free style also lends itself well to mat workouts on the days when you're giving your muscles a rest, so you can do your Savasana without anything digging into your back. If yoga isn't your thing, the Zensah's support also lends itself well to other high impact cardio workouts.

There are few downsides to this bra, but if you're looking for extra coverage on those cold days, be aware that the material across the chest doesn't have any additional padding.

Other great bras for A-B cups

Product Embed:
Product Name: Athleta Ultimate Bra
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The best sports bra for sizes C/D

The Brooks Rebound Racer is a high impact bra that delivers support without extra padding and has adjustable straps for comfort and a customizable fit.

Pros: High impact support without padding, adjustable straps and rear enclosure for a customized fit, sweat-wicking fabric, washes well

Cons: Some reviewers feel that the sizing runs small

Sizing options: 34B-38C

While Brooks is a well-known brand when it comes to reliable running shoes, the company also makes some great running apparel. The Rebound Racer bra is a perfect example. Finding a high-impact sports bra that provides enough support without any padding can be a challenge, but this sports bra does just that.

Compression style bras don't always provide enough support for those with C or D cups, but the molded, compressive cups keep everything in place while creating a flattering silhouette. In short, you get compression-style support without the dreaded "uni-boob" effect that can sometimes occur with this style of bra.

The sweat-wicking fabric and strategically placed mesh ventilation keep you dry and comfortable. Adjustable straps, as well as an adjustable rear enclosure, add to the comfort of the Rebound Racer, provide a more customized fit, and make it easier to get it off after a long, sweaty run. 

Some reviewers did feel that the sizing was a little off, and did need to size up to find their perfect fit. It's important to note that this is a compression style bra, so the fit will be snug, but it shouldn't be snug enough to make you uncomfortable. 

The best budget-friendly sports bra for sizes C/D

With gel-cushioned straps, wire-free molded cups, and targeted ventilation, the Champion Spot Comfort sports bra provides comfort where you need it most. 

Pros: Molded cups for additional support and more natural silhouette, adjustable gel-cushioned straps, targeted ventilation, sweat-wicking material, hook and eye closure for easy on and off, multiple colors to choose from

Cons: Back clasp can be difficult to reach, some people found the flat stitching in the interior of the bra itchy

Sizing options: 34C-42DDD

A more affordable option than most, the high impact Champion Spot Comfort bra features molded cups, making it ideal for C and D cups that need a little extra support but don't want any underwire.

Instead of having a racerback design, the Spot Comfort clasps in the back and is adjustable so you can find your perfect fit. Being able to completely unclasp the bra allows for easy removal — a major plus after a sweaty run when you can easily give yourself a workout just by trying to get out of your sports bra.

Along with an adjustable rear enclosure, the straps of the Spot Comfort are also adjustable and are gel-infused, giving you freedom of motion, and preventing any shoulder chafing. Mesh paneling is placed along the top and in between the cups, giving you ventilation where you'll need it most on your runs. The material is sweat-wicking and quick-drying, so you'll stay comfortable even on summer runs.

The inside of the bra features a smooth lining for additional comfort, and the back is tag-free to minimize any chances of chafing. There are plenty of color combos to choose from, so you can find the one that goes with your favorite running top. This is also a bra that looks stylish even on its own for the hot summer days when you want to ditch as many layers as possible.

The Spot Comfort goes by traditional bra sizing (band and cup size) for a more tailored fit and goes up to a DDD cup size. Some people have found the back clasp difficult to reach, and others don't care for the stitching on the inside on the top of the bust, finding it itchy. Overall, though, the Spot Comfort is a good and affordable option.

Other great bras for C-D cups

Product Embed:
Product Name: Girlfriend Collective Paloma Bra
Card Type: medium
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Product Name: Lululemon Up For It Bra
Card Type: medium
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Product Name: Kiava The Nursing Bra
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The best sports bra for sizes DD and up

If you have a large cup size and need a sports bra that will keep bouncing out of the equation, the Panache Underwire sports bra is for you.

Pros: Bounce-free design, plenty of colors and patterns to choose from, wide adjustable straps, adjustable hook-and-eye closure, mesh paneling for added ventilation, encapsulation-style support for a more comfortable and flattering fit

Cons: Expensive, the sizing ran small for some people, metal rings on straps can squeak when worn as a racerback

Sizing options: 36C-40H

The Panache Women's Underwire is specially designed for women with a full bust. Notable for its ability to eliminate bounce, this sports bra combines both function and style, creating a flattering shape in multiple colors and patterns to choose from.

The Panache also has adjustable straps and an adjustable hook-and-eye closure so you can create a more customized fit. The wide padded straps are designed for comfort and are convertible so you can choose if you want a racerback style.

The underwire gives extra support and shaping and is completely encased so you won't feel any uncomfortable jabbing during your run. There is a science behind the bounce-free design, as it encapsulates instead of simply compressing your breasts against your chest, making for a far more comfortable (and flattering) fit while reducing movement in all directions.

Some people have found that sizing runs small for them, and found a better fit by sizing up. Others report that the metal rings on the straps tend to squeak when worn as a racerback.

The best budget-friendly sports bra for sizes DD and up

Women with a DD+ bust will appreciate the comfort the affordable Syrokan Women's Front Adjustable sports bra offers, with its wire-free, full coverage.

Pros: Velcro adjustable straps, adjustable rear enclosure, sweat-wicking fabric with mesh inserts for additional ventilation, encapsulation for additional support

Cons: Some people find the rear enclosure hard to reach, some wished there were more separation for an even more flattering fit

Sizing options: 32B-44F

It can be hard to find a sports bra that truly keeps everything in its place, looks flattering, and provides options for a more customized fit for an affordable price. The Syrokan Front Adjustable is a sports bra that rises to this challenge.

True to the name, the straps are completely adjustable, and they can also be undone. The wide under band offers full coverage and support and prevents the bra from riding up during high impact workouts like running. The racerback has a rear enclosure, giving the band a more customizable fit, and allowing for easier removal. Though it doesn't have any underwire, this bra uses more than compression for motion control.

It may not be the flashiest sports bra, but the Syrokan does offer a good number of color options, and its simple style allows it to look good under any running top. It also has just enough padding so it will also look flattering worn on its own.

Some people find it tricky to reach the rear enclosure or wish for even more separation, but, despite some downsides, the Syrokan is a worthwhile purchase, especially at the affordable price.

Other great bras for DD+ cups

Product Embed:
Product Name: Shefit Ultimate Sports Bra
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Product Name: Knix Catalyst Front Zip Sports Bra
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What to look for in a sports bra

Size

Starting with the right-sized sports bra is the key to having comfort and support during your workout. Unlike 40 years ago, there is now a wide range of sizes to choose from whether you're on the petite side or rocking a curvier figure. Women come in all shapes and sizes, and sports bras finally reflect that fact. 

Comfort

Once you've determined the size you'll need, you'll be able to find a comfortable fitting sports bra. Material and style can also determine how comfortable a bra will be. Sweat-wicking synthetic materials are best, since they'll dry more quickly and reduce the chances for uncomfortable chafing during a run. Style is very much a personal preference, but features like adjustable straps, mesh paneling, and seamless designs can all contribute to comfortability.

Support

Even if it feels comfortable at first, there's no point in wearing a sports bra that doesn't give you adequate support once you put your body in motion. If you feel any jiggle up top, or have to do any adjusting, it likely means your bra isn't fitting correctly and isn't supportive enough.

A sports bra's support comes more from the band than the straps. For running, you'll want to look for a medium to high impact sports bra depending on your size. Save the low impact sports bras for workouts like yoga or barre, when you aren't hitting the pavement. With medium and high impact sports bras, the only bounce you should feel is in your step.

Sports bra care

Once you've found a sports bra you love, the last thing you want to do is shorten its lifespan by washing it incorrectly. Doing so can cause it to lose its elasticity, and in turn its support. While no sports bra can last forever, with the proper care, you'll be able to get the most mileage out of it, and make the most of your money.

The best practice is to hand wash and air dry your sports bras, but if you do have to machine wash them, avoid using fabric softeners which ruin the effectiveness of sweat-wicking fabrics. The one thing you should avoid at all costs is putting them in the dryer with high heat, as this can ruin the elasticity of the fabric.

Check out our other great workout gear guides here

The best workout clothes for women

The best running shoes for women

The best running belts

The best running socks

• COVID-19 continues to spread across the US, which means even in winter travelers are looking to destinations with ample outdoor activities.
• Mountain resorts make it easy to savor nature in all seasons with hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and, of course, skiing.
• We rounded up the best mountain hotels including rustic lodges, luxe ski resorts, and boutique hotels for warmer escapes.
• Our top hotels range in price from $134 to $649 to start and are well-rated, meticulously researched, and boast coveted amenities.
• Read more: Is travel safe? We interviewed experts on risks associated with flying, booking hotels or Airbnbs, renting cars, and more, plus ideas on safe vacations during COVID-19

There's nothing quite like waking up to fresh mountain air and a glimpse of rugged peaks outside your window. America's finest mountain resorts offer a quiet retreat from bustling urban life with opportunities to explore the great outdoors, any time of year. 

That scene is now more attractive than ever due to the continued spread of the novel coronavirus. As travel slowly picks back up, many US travelers are looking to stick closer to home with domestic options that embrace the great outdoors in order to avoid crowds and practice social distancing. 

If you're wondering if it's safe to travel and stay in hotels, it's important to understand the risks. Without a vaccine, there is no firm guarantee on safety, and it's crucial to follow guidelines from organizations such as the CDC and WHO, and wear a mask, wash your hands, and maintain social distancing. Additionally, check current state travel restrictions before booking, stay up to date on new policies from major hotels, and consider your own level of risk and whether you're traveling from or to a hotspot, so as not to increase infection rates.

If you're comfortable with how to best protect yourself, you'll find breathtaking sky-high locales all across the US. We also highlighted new COVID-19 policies for each, so you may make informed decisions on what to expect before booking.

On the East Coast, discover vast wildernesses from New York's Adirondacks to the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. In the West, the rugged Colorado Rockies feature some of America's best skiing, plus posh resort towns like Aspen and Vail. In star-studded Sun Valley, Idaho, known as America's "First Destination Ski Resort," celebrities from Clark Gable to Bruce Willis have hit the slopes. Though, if skiing is your primary objective, you may want to consider our list of the best ski hotels in the US. Additionally, if you're wondering if skiing is safe right now, be sure to read up on expert recommendations and precautions to take.  

Of course, the mountains aren't just for skiing. The startling red rock formations of Sedona have lured New Agers and spiritual seekers who find healing powers in the mountains' energy vortexes. 

All the aforementioned destinations also draw off-season crowds who enjoy spring, summer, and fall activities, or the simple pleasure of soaking up the beautiful scenery.

We've chosen our favorite mountain resorts in the US based on the following criteria:

1. Going hand-in-hand with their mountain locales, all hotels have excellent proximity to nature and access to year-round outdoor activities.
2. All hotels are well-appointed stays with excellent amenities from pools and hot tubs to ice skating rinks.
3. Our choices range in price from $134 to $649 per night to start to suit a variety of budgets and needs.
4. We selected these options based on personal travel experiences, as well as input from trusted traveler sites such as Trip Advisor and Booking.com. 

Rates for these hotels generally tend to be highest during winter and summer, so consider fall or spring for the best deals.

These are the best US mountain resorts, sorted by price from low to high.

SEE ALSO: The best hotels for families in the US

SEE ALSO: The best beach hotels in the US

The Lodge at Nakoma - Portola, California

Book The Lodge at Nakoma starting at $134 per night

The centerpiece of this California mountain lodge is its Frank Lloyd Wright-designed clubhouse, home to the dramatic octagonal-shaped Wigwam Room with soaring wood-paneled walls, stained-glass windows, and a towering four-sided stone fireplace.

It's one of many stunning spaces at the four-star property, located 45 miles north of Lake Tahoe in Lost Sierra, an alpine wonderland of mountain peaks dotted with glacial lakes, crisscrossed with trails for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. 

Set on 1,280 acres, The Lodge at Nakoma also features a championship golf course, a spa, swimming lake, and the 12,000-square-foot Altitude recreation center, with a huge range of family-friendly amenities including a heated outdoor pool, indoor climbing wall, game room, movie theater, children's play area, and a casual bistro. 

The property is scattered with private residences and villas but the lodge itself holds just 42 rooms in a two-story wooden building that emulates Frank Lloyd Wright's minimalist aesthetic. A double-height lobby features tall windows overlooking the golf course and is decorated with sleek leather furnishings, anchored by a tall gas fireplace. 

Rooms are similarly mod, done up in neutral tones with large picture windows. Most rooms, whether King or Double Queen, measure 400 square feet, though there are a handful of Executive rooms that are larger with separate sitting areas. There is a two-night minimum on weekends year-round.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 1 out of 3 hotels in Portola

Booking.com Rating: 8.9 out of 10

Pros: The setting is simply gorgeous, especially in fall when the leaves are changing colors. There are many year-round, kid-friendly activities at the recreation center, and equipment is available to rent on-site for winter and summer sports. 

Cons: There is a nightly $25 resort fee. Many guests complained about the room layout, which has the bathroom sink located separately from the bathroom in the bedroom.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations, but but in accordance with California's Public Health Order, the hotel cannot accept out-of-state guests unless their reservation is for a minimum of 10 days and the guests quarantine during that period or they are traveling for essential travel as outlined in the health order. The following new cleaning policies are in place:

• Reduced dining hours.
• The recreation center is available for members and hotel guests only.
• The spa is open for select treatments only.

Hotel Ketchum - Ketchum, Idaho

Book Hotel Ketchum starting at $146 per night

This Sun Valley boutique hotel is close to all the mountain attractions, while its downtown Ketchum location places guests in the heart of the town's lively bar and restaurant scene. A free local bus stops out front and shuttles you (and your equipment) to the slopes of Baldy and Dollar Mountain for top-notch skiing in winter, and wildflower-filled hiking and biking in summer.

The lobby, dubbed The Hangout, is decorated with a modern mountain look, featuring a huge copper gas fireplace surrounded by fluffy flokati chairs and curving leather sofas, and faux animal heads dotting the walls. Cozy seating nooks have cowhide chairs and funky, nature-inspired wallpaper patterned with birch trees and local fauna. Outside, there's a sprawling courtyard with spectacular mountain views, a year-round heated swimming pool, and hot tub. The newly opened Barrio 75 offers savory street tacos and more than 40 different tequilas among bright, Mexican-inspired decor.

Rooms start from 340 square feet and are done up in minimalist style with wood floors, tartan headboards, and modern furnishings. Consider upgrading from the entry-level King room to one with a fireplace and balcony with mountain views. The Baldy King rooms measure 450 square feet and include a larger seating area and fantastic mountain views through multiple windows.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 5 out of 10 hotels in Ketchum

Booking.com Rating: 9.2 out of 10

Pros: The hotel offers free continental breakfast, parking, and storage for your skis or bikes. If you didn't bring your own, the hotel also operates a shop on-site that rents all the seasonal equipment you'll need.

Cons: Balconies facing the street can be noisy. The breakfast choices are a bit limited.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations and announced new procedures that include:

• Contactless check-in options, text communications, and remote key pick-up. 
• Outdoor entry to all guestrooms to aid in minimizing person-to-person contact.
• Limited occupancy levels to allow for increased comfort and distance among guests.
• Breakfast service is currently suspended but expected to resume with the start of the 2020/2021 winter ski season.
• All hotel employees will engage in frequent hand washing and use of hand sanitizer.
• Hand sanitizer dispensers shall be placed at key guest and employee entrances and contact areas.
• All employees shall receive COVID-19 safety and facility sanitation protocol training recommendations from the CDC and practice social distancing and wear masks.
• Contactless payment processes are encouraged.
• Self-parking options are emphasized, shuttle service is limited.
• Linens, towels, and laundry shall be washed in accordance with CDC guidelines and cleaning and disinfecting protocols will require attention to high-touch, hard nonporous items.
• Daily housekeeping will not be offered, however fresh towels and trash/linen collection will be performed upon request and delivered to and picked up from in front of the guest room door.
• In the event of a presumptive case of COVID-19 the affected guest room shall be removed from service and quarantined. 
• Pool operation will be monitored regularly for water conditions and proper sanitizing and chemical balance. Seating shall allow at least six feet of separation between groups of guests.

The Foundry Hotel Asheville - Asheville, North Carolina

Book The Foundry Hotel Asheville starting at $178 per night

For a bit of urban flair with your mountain town experience, this industrial-chic four-star hotel is set in a converted steel mill in the heart of Asheville's historic African-American business district, The Block. Yet the Blue Ridge Mountains and all its hiking and leaf-peeping opportunities are just a few miles away. 

Mixing vintage and contemporary design, the three foundry buildings and two new builds feature many preserved artifacts including exposed industrial ceilings and original pulley elevators and signage. The award-winning Benne on Eagle serves rib-sticking modern soul food among exposed red-brick walls, and locals love the craft cocktails in the lobby's Workshop Lounge, housed in a 1920s woodworking building.

Rooms blend modern tufted headboards and dark wood furnishings with vintage touches like industrial-style windows and historic black-and-white photos. Some rooms also feature exposed brick walls and wood floors. The entry-level King rooms are spacious and offer views of the surrounding downtown or the courtyard. But if you want Blue Ridge vistas, you'll need to trade up to a Mountain View room.  

The hotel is managed by the Hilton Curio Collection, so members can earn or redeem Hilton Honors Points.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 17 out of 76 hotels in Asheville

Booking.com Rating: 9.1 out of 10

Pros: While you are within walking distance of many Asheville attractions, the hotel's free Tesla drop-off service will take you anywhere in the city you want to go. 

Cons: Rooms on the first-floor lack views. Only valet parking is available and it's pricey.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations and will follow new procedures from Hilton Hotels' 'CleanStay' program:

• The Hilton 'CleanStay' room seal will add an extra measure of assurance by placing a room seal on doors to indicate to guests that their room has not been accessed since being thoroughly cleaned. 
• 10 High-Touch, Deep Clean Areas will include extra disinfection of the most frequently touched guest room areas including light switches, door handles, TV remotes, and thermostats.
• Removal of pen, paper, and guest directory; supplement with digital or available upon request. 
• Improved guidelines for disinfecting fitness centers, possibly closing for cleaning multiple times daily, and limiting the number of guests allowed in at one time. 
• Increase the frequency of cleaning public areas and provide stations at primary entrances and key high traffic areas, for instance, a station to allow guests to wipe the elevator button before pressing. 
• Contactless check-in using digital key technology for guests who desire to have a contactless arrival experience. Guests can check-in, choose their room, access their room with a digital room key, and check-out using their mobile devices through the Hilton Honors mobile app at participating hotels.
• Hilton will continue to expand its Digital Key capabilities to common doors and access points throughout the hotels. 
• Hilton is exploring the addition of new technologies like electrostatic sprayers, which use an electrostatically charged disinfecting mist, and ultraviolet light to sanitize surfaces and objects.

Amara Resort & Spa - Sedona, Arizona

Book Amara Resort & Spa starting at $189 per night

Set along the quiet banks of Oak Creek with incredible views of Sedona's towering red rock formations, the four-star boutique Amara Resort offers a modern take on the region's Native American heritage.

The desert-hued facade blends in with the natural surroundings, while the lobby, with its vaulted ceilings and wood-paneled walls hung with Native American baskets, showcases extraordinary mountain scenery through a wall of windows. 

The hotel's best amenities are all outdoors. From the stone patio and fire pits, the SaltRock Southwest Kitchen terrace, and the infinity pool and hot tub, you can soak in views of the famous "Snoopy Rock" in the distance. If you're itching to explore the surrounding mountains, the hotel is about a 10-minute drive from several trailheads.

Rooms are on the smaller side for the area, with entry-level guest rooms measuring 340 square feet, plus a furnished balcony. All are warmly decorated in tan tones with wood headboards and colorful artwork. The best views (which are naturally pricier) are in the Creek Side Spa rooms and suites, which overlook the creek and have partial red rock views. 

Trip Advisor Ranking: 31 out of 50 hotels in Sedona

Booking.com Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Pros: A daily yoga class, nightly wine hour, valet parking, use of the spa's eucalyptus steam room, bikes, and shuttle service to nearby attractions are all included in the room rates. The award-winning spa offers unique, locally-inspired treatments like massages that incorporate native rattles, smudging with sage, crystals, and specially crafted oils. The hotel is just a short walk to the buzzy Upper Sedona area.

Cons: On the whole, rooms are small and some rooms face the adjacent property or parking lot. There is a nightly $33 resort fee.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations. Their new policies include:

• Team members wear masks and gloves, and, in accordance with local regulations, a mask or face covering may be required in all public spaces for guests.
• Social distancing will be followed with rearranged common areas and new signage.
• The spa is open but steam rooms and showers are closed.
• Increased frequency of cleaning public and high touch areas with antimicrobial fogging sanitizing and cleaning systems. UV light cleaning technology will sanitize room keys, key card packets, and credit cards.
• Hand sanitizer dispensers have been added around the hotel.
• All guest rooms will offer individual packet(s) of sanitizing wipes as an additional amenity.
• Housekeeping will only be provided upon request and guest rooms remain vacant for 48 hours (based on occupancy) between bookings. Turndown service is suspended.
• All non-essential items have been removed from guest rooms.
• Shield protectors have been added to applicable areas including front desk stations, reception desks, host stands, and retail outlets.

Topnotch Resort & Spa - Stowe, Vermont

Book Topnotch Resort & Spa starting at $220 per night

Nestled on 120 wooded acres in Vermont's lush Green Mountains, this sleek four-star boutique hotel is nicely situated between Stowe Village and the ski resort of Mount Mansfield. Interiors take a contemporary spin on the typical rustic alpine lodge, notably in the lobby. The open-plan space features stone walls, a wood-burning fireplace, and low-slung modern sofas that look out onto surrounding peaks through a wall of windows.

The excellent Flannel restaurant offers tasty, locally-sourced fare — be sure to order the cheese plate, with an array of Vermont cheeses, and enjoy it out on the stone terrace with sweeping mountain views.

Other amenities include indoor/outdoor pools (plus a separate adults-only outdoor pool), an award-winning spa, and indoor/outdoor tennis courts. An on-site gear shop provides arrangements and equipment for outdoor activities from winter skiing to summer mountain biking. Topnotch Stables offers horseback riding and winter sleigh rides, too.

Rooms and suites are minimal and modern with warm wood furnishings and tartan accents. Entry-level Deluxe King rooms, located on the first and second floors of the hotel, measure around 350 square feet. The top-floor Executive rooms feel far more spacious thanks to 13-foot ceilings, while suites are packed with amenities like gas fireplaces, kitchenettes, and private decks with mountain views.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 8 out of 25 hotels in Stowe

Booking.com Rating: 8.7 out of 10

Pros: You're never without a view of the mountains, whether strolling the beautifully manicured grounds, playing a round of tennis, or relaxing with a drink on the stone terraces. During ski season, there is a regular shuttle to Stowe Mountain Resort.

Cons: The hotel isn't within walking distance of Stowe village and there is a daily $30 resort fee.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations and announced new procedures that include:

• Resort guests will have access to the outdoor pool as well as the outdoor tennis facilities, on-property hiking trails, and direct access to the Stowe recreation path.
• Additional amenities and guest services will resume on a gradual basis including indoor fitness, the indoor pool, additional spa services, and food and beverage operations.
• The spa is open for some services but reservations must be made in advance. The same applies to tennis courts.
• The resort gear rental shop will clean, disinfect, and deliver any rental equipment guests may need during their stay.
• New cleaning and disinfecting standards are in place for public spaces and communal areas, guest rooms, restaurants and bars, meeting and retail spaces, pools, and any area where guests or team members queue.
• Guests should come prepared and follow all CDC and local health guidance including practicing good hygiene and social distancing, wearing facial coverings in public spaces, and staying home and not visiting while sick.

The Omni Homestead Resort - Hot Springs, Virginia

Book The Omni Homestead Resort starting at $254 per night

From Thomas Jefferson to Bill Clinton, 23 US presidents have visited this grand Allegheny Mountains resort built in 1892 and listed as a National Historic Landmark.

The magnificent red-brick building is enormous with multiple wings fanning out from a central turreted lobby. The hotel sits on a 2,000-acre property that boasts a vast number of amenities, including a spa, water park, ice-skating rink, several indoor and outdoor pools, a myriad of restaurants, two golf courses, a zip-lining course, shooting range, and even its own ski hill.  

Traditional decor spans the resort's many public spaces, from the clubby Lobby Bar, lined with presidential portraits, to the elegant main dining room with its original columns, coffered ceiling, and wood dance floor. Top marks go to the indoor pool built in 1904 that is fed by local spring waters and flooded with light thanks to enormous arched windows.

Rooms are also traditional in design and supremely tasteful, with striped wallpaper, floral draperies, and classic dark wood furnishings. They vary in size, layout, and views, depending on the wing. Entry-level Traditional rooms are a snug 170 to 220 square feet; the next tier up is similar in size but with better views of the manicured grounds. If you want mountain views, upgrade to a pricier Premium room. Members of the Omni Loyalty Program can earn or redeem points for their stay.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 1 out of 2 hotels in Hot Springs

Booking.com Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Pros: The wealth of history makes staying here feel truly unique even though the hotel is operated by a large hotel chain. Family-friendly activities abound, no matter the season.

Cons: There is a $40 daily resort fee. There are few amenities in the tiny town of Hot Springs, which means nearly all meals and shopping are confined to the resort. Some restaurants require dressy attire or coat and tie. 

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations. Omni Hotels & Resorts enacted the 'Stay A Part of Clean' initiative, which includes new cleaning guidelines and additional procedures that include:

• Daily health screening, including temperature checks for staff, as well as frequent sanitization of all common areas, thorough re-training on proper hygiene, and best practices including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Increased frequency of sanitization with EPA-certified cleansers that are CDC-compliant, additional guest sanitization stations in public areas, increased cleaning of HVAC systems, and replacement of air filters.
• Signage and distance indicators will be used throughout the hotel in high-traffic areas to allow for and encourage proper social distancing.
• Custom menus will focus on quality ingredients that limit contact in kitchen prep, with attendant-only served buffets, plated meals, receptions, and coffee stations. Hotels will use single-use, individually sealed food and cutlery items, where applicable.
• Cleaned and disinfected guest rooms will have an "Omni Safe & Clean" seal of approval sticker upon completion with single-use amenities provided in each guest room, as well as enhanced disinfecting of high-touch items, and requested items delivered in a contactless manner.

The Whiteface Lodge - Lake Placid, New York

Book The Whiteface Lodge starting at $585 per night

Set two miles outside of Lake Placid village and encircled by the towering Whiteface Mountains, this luxuriously rustic all-suite property evokes the famed bygone Great Camps of the Adirondacks — though it was built in 2005.

From peaked timber building to its wood-lined interior outfitted with exposed logs, hand-hewn railings, and handcrafted Adirondack-style furniture, everywhere you look is surrounded by wood. Adding to the lodge-like feel are wood-burning stone fireplaces, antlered chandeliers, and the requisite mounted deer, elk, and moose heads. The grand Kanu dining room serves local Adirondack specialties like duck and venison, while the more casual Peak 47 has a fantastic wine and regional beer list. 

Family-friendly on-property amenities include a 56-seat surround-sound movie theater, two pools (including a heated outdoor pool), hot tubs, tennis courts, a game room with billiards and foosball, and a two-lane bowling alley. Visitors can take advantage of the surrounding snowshoe and cross-country ski trails (ideal for hiking in the warmer months) and there's ice-skating (with free skates provided) on the adjacent pond. In summer, that same pond offers catch-and-release fishing, and there's free shuttle service to the nearby private Canoe Club where you can take out complimentary kayaks and canoes.

Suites range from one to three bedrooms and include Adirondack-style furnishings, wood-beamed ceilings, and balconies. Entry-level One-Bedroom Junior Suites measure 500 square feet and sleep four, with a Queen-sized bed and Queen-sized pull-out sofa. Second-floor Clubhouse Suites are larger and have mountain views and cast-iron gas fireplace. 

Trip Advisor Ranking: 2 out of 33 hotels in Lake Placid

Booking.com Rating: 9.3 out of 10

Pros: There's a huge range of complimentary activities available year-round, plus guests have access to an award-winning spa. A breakfast buffet is also included the rate, as are s'mores at the nightly bonfire. Best of all, there is no additional resort fee.

Cons: The hotel is located far from Lake Placid village with its many restaurants, bars, and attractions, though there is a free shuttle service. Skiers should note, Whiteface Mountain is a 20-minute drive and there is no direct shuttle from the hotel.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open in limited capacity and accepting reservations as follows:

• Spa is open with reduced hours and steam rooms and saunas are closed.
• All breakfasts are packaged to-go and may be delivered to guest rooms or picked up.
• Cleaning efforts are increased throughout our resort and include, but are not limited to, cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces and frequently touched items in guest rooms and throughout the public spaces of our lodge. Cleaning materials and supplies meet or exceed industry standards.
• Valet services and shuttle services are currently unavailable.
• Daily housekeeping services are not provided to reduce guest and employee contact.

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa - Beaver Creek, Colorado

Book Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa starting at $599 per night

Winter sports fans will adore the location of this five-star resort, set right at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain, one of the top destinations in Colorado's Vail Valley.

The ski-in/ski-out property is mere steps from the lifts and gondola, and the on-site ski valet will take care of all your equipment. Just out front is bustling Beaver Creek Village and its outdoor ice-skating rink. In warmer months, hop the lifts for access to the mountain's hiking and biking trails. Year-round, take advantage of the hotel's swanky Exhale spa, outdoor pool (heated in winter), five outdoor hot tubs, and sprawling slope-side terrace with fire pits — an especially relaxing apres-ski spot. 

Inside, the resort is decorated in a cozy lodge style with a fireside lobby decked out with comfy couches; grab a complimentary hot chocolate and soak in spectacular mountain views through the enormous windows. The signature 8100 Mountainside Bar & Grill serves meat-heavy fare like steak and elk sausage, while the lobby bar has a nice selection of local cheeses and micro-brews on tap.  

Rooms are modern and simply decorated with rustic wood doors and trim as the only nod to its mountain surroundings. Entry-level Standard Kings are large, measuring 450 square feet, with space for a desk, windows that open, and balconies at no extra charge. Upgrade to a Slopeside room for mountain views. World of Hyatt members can use and earn points for their stay.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 3 out of 9 hotels in Beaver Creek

Booking.com Rating: 9.3 out of 10

Pros: The resort is seriously family-friendly with a whole host of free activities including table tennis, corn-hole, board games, seasonal family outdoor movies, and in winter, complimentary s'mores kits. In the hallways, mounted signs stating "family quiet time" (between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.) mean your sleep won't be interrupted by boisterous partying. 

Cons: There's an expensive nightly resort fee ($35 in summer/$50 in winter) for so many activities and the daily parking rate is pricey. 

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations and will follow new procedures from Hyatt as part of their 'Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment,' a global bio-risk advisory council accreditation at all of their hotels globally. The first hospitality brand to commit to the GBAC STARTM accreditation will include the following measures:

• Detailed training at 900+ Hyatt hotels with internal and third-party audits.
• A working group of trusted medical experts and leading industry professionals from organizations like Georgetown University Medical Center, American Airlines, Ecolab, the Global Wellness Institute, and hygiene managers appointed at every Hyatt hotel by September 2020.
• Limited service available - food service, shuttle.

The St. Regis Aspen Resort - Aspen, Colorado

Book The St. Regis Aspen Resort starting at $649 per night

Located at the base of Aspen Mountain, with swanky Aspen town right at your doorstep, this five-star resort has all the plush amenities you'd expect from the St. Regis luxury brand.

Indulge in a treatment at the posh Remède spa, dine on upscale Rocky Mountain-inspired cuisine at the Velvet Buck restaurant, and sip a signature St. Regis Bloody Mary at the cozy Mountain Social Bar & Lounge. And there's no better spot for an apres-ski soak than in the mountainside outdoor pool and hot tub area.

The decor takes an elegant spin on the classic ski lodge with wood-paneled walls and big leather couches in the sprawling fireside lobby, where guests gather for the live nightly piano music and champagne sabering. Adjacent is the cozy book-lined library, decked out with leather club chairs and a wood-burning fireplace. Be sure to say hello to the resident Bernese Mountain Dog

Rooms have high-end custom Ralph Lauren leather beds and desks, wood floors, Frette linens, and marble bathrooms with heated floors, and most have mountain views. Entry-level rooms measure a generous 400 square feet. Higher category rooms feature fireplaces and balconies and suites offer butler service. Marriott Bonvoy members can use and earn points for their stay. 

Trip Advisor Ranking: 9 out of 34 hotels in Aspen

Booking.com Rating: 9.4 out of 10

Pros: In addition to the luxurious feel of the hotel, there are some nice freebies included like valet service from the Aspen airport, and a ski shuttle to ferry you to other ski resorts in the area. There is no resort fee.

Cons: Wi-Fi in the rooms is surprisingly only available for a fee. 

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations in line with new policies from Marriott Bonvoy that include:

• New cleaning technologies that include electrostatic sprayers that allow for touchless disinfecting capabilities and cleaning processes, along with and new regimen changes. 
• In public spaces, the company has required that surfaces are treated with hospital-grade disinfectants and that this cleaning is done with increased frequency. 
• In guest rooms, Marriott has added detailed cleaning practices, requiring all surfaces be thoroughly cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectants. The company will also be placing disinfecting wipes in each room for guests' personal use.
• Signage in lobbies will remind guests to maintain social distancing protocols.
• Marriott will remove or re-arrange furniture to allow more space for distancing. 
• The company is planning to add partitions at front desks to provide an extra level of precaution for guests and associates and is working with supply chain partners to make masks and gloves available.
• You'll see more hand sanitizing stations around Marriott's hotels particularly near the entrances and front desks, elevator banks, fitness areas, and meeting spaces.
• In more than 3,200 of the company's hotels, guests can choose to use their phones to check-in, access their rooms, make special requests, and order room service that will be specially packaged and delivered right to the door without contact. These "touchless" services can all be done quickly via Marriott's mobile app.

• A dependable camp stove lets you prepare hot meals, brew fresh coffee, and purify gathered water wherever your outdoor adventures take you.
• The best camp stoves are portable enough that they don't take up too much space in your vehicle, are easy to light with a lighter or match, and can hold up in a variety of weather conditions and environments.
• Our top pick, the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe, is compact enough for backpackers to use, intuitive and easy to operate, and has a built-in igniter that's reliable all year long.

A warm sleeping bag and dependable headlamp are certainly key in smart and comfortable camping, but when you're sleeping on the ground and haven't showered in days, there really is nothing like a hot cup of coffee on a cold morning. Except, perhaps, a hot meal on a cold evening while camping. Neither of these is possible, however, without access to a reliable camp stove.

With the right camp stove, not only can you expect fresh-brewed java in the morning or a warm meal at night but you can rely on it for a range of uses: Maybe you want to grill some fresh fish minutes after you've pulled it from the stream, or you want to whip up a mug of hot cocoa (or a hot toddy) to sip by the campfire. If you're in the backcountry, a stove can save you as boiling stream water is one of the best ways to ensure it's safe to drink.

Have the right camp stove at your disposal, and you're able to enjoy whatever creature comfort you prefer — no matter how far off-grid you might be. 

At the end of this guide, we go into detail on how to shop for a camp stove and how we tested the options. Narrowing the list down to just five choices was a tough ordeal, so we included six of our favorites after rigorous testing. The final choices are a who's who among the outdoor industry with brands like MSR, Coleman, and BioLite unsurprisingly making an appearance.

Here are the best camp stoves:

• Best camp stove overall: MSR PocketRocket Deluxe
• Best budget camp stove: Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove
• Best high-powered camp stove: Mr. Steak 1-Burner Infrared Portable Grill
• Best high-tech camp stove: BioLite CampStove 2
• Best stove for fast boiling: Jetboil Flash
• Best stove for travel: MSR Whisperlite International

Updated on 12/24/2020 by Rachael Schultz: Updated the intro and formatting, checked the availability of all recommended stoves, and updated the prices and links where necessary.

The best camp stove overall

The MSR PocketRocket Deluxe is a compact and lightweight stove that fits inside a coffee mug but has a convenient auto igniter and simmering capability.

Pros: Lightweight and compact, self-igniting, simmers well

Cons: Not the best in high-wind without a screen

You shouldn't need to carry an extra piece of gear to make a spark, yet, many camping stoves still rely on matches or a lighter for a flame. One of the best features of the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe is that it has a built-in automatic piezo igniter that's cased in steel for reliability.

Despite its small size and weight (two other key pros), the PocketRocket Deluxe is no slouch. It can boil a liter of water in less than four minutes. The burner is adjustable, so you can lower the heat for a simmer — something that's hard to achieve with a one-setting burner. There's also a built-in pressure regulator to ensure you get reliable and fast cooking until the gas canister is depleted.

As long as you place the stove (with gas canister attached) on a level surface, it supports anything from a frying pan to a small cup. Like all lightweight backpacking stoves, the PocketRocket Deluxe will only run on self-sealing isobutane fuel canisters.

If you're flying to a destination, just pack the PocketRocket and stop by a local outdoors retailer after you've arrived to pick one up (you can also get advice on where to camp, hike, and climb, if you aren't familiar with an area).

I've used this stove extensively, as well as other PocketRocket variants. I like the simplicity of the design, and with the deluxe version, I now have the convenience of a push-start igniter; the igniter adds an extra 10 grams when compared to the standard PocketRocket, but it's totally worth it.

What I also like is MSR's warranty: Even after years of abuse, MSR stands by its products and offers extremely economical repair or replacement options.

Whether I'm camping in my car or on a complicated thru-hiking trip, the PocketRocket Deluxe's excellent durability and the convenience of the built-in igniter make it one item I now bring along. — James Stout

The best budget camp stove

The Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove acts like a standard stovetop burner, and it's powerful, rugged, and well-priced.

Pros: Low price point, long burn time, easy flame output adjustment

Cons: Very heavy and bulky

With camp stoves, it's easy to look at the price and think that's a steal — but you have to also factor in camp stove fuel, which some gas stations and outdoor retailers like to gouge you on. But the best field stove in the world is just a paperweight without fuel, so buy it you will, regardless of the price.

With the Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove, those canisters of propane fuel are surprisingly low-priced — you can often get a two-pack of the 16-ounce fuel cylinder for less than 10 bucks. One such tank will burn for two hours at full blast and as long as eight or nine hours on a low setting. So if you want to make campsite risotto, go for it. Oh, and the stove itself is affordable, too.

Flame control is remarkably easy with this stove, just twist that large plastic knob all the way open for a roaring 10,000-BTU output or dial it back for hours of simmering. And thanks to the deep bowl shape and generous wind baffles, this stove will maintain a consistent burn in all but the most powerful gusts of wind. The burner is large and stable enough to accommodate an 8-inch pan or pot, so you really can almost treat it like a standard stovetop.

I used one of these stoves for several years and still keep one on hand in case the stove in my house ever has a problem or for some sort of apocalyptic nightmare during which I still wanted to cook pasta. But you'll probably never see me bringing this stove along for another hike or climb.

Why? Weight and size. This stove weighs more than two pounds, with the canister adding another three pounds or more when filled. That's heavier than some tents and sleeping pads combined. So while I highly recommend this stove for car campers or emergency preparedness, it's a poor choice for climbers or trekkers. — Steven John

The best high-powered camp stove

The Mr. Steak 1-Burner Infrared Portable Grill cranks out 14,000 BTUs and can heat up to an astounding 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pros: Amazing heat output, large cook surface, electric ignition system

Cons: Expensive, not suitable for hauling on foot

If you're pushing for the mountain summit of Denali or the Eiger, then it's probably best to leave the Mr. Steak 1-Burner Infrared Portable Grill back at base camp.

At around 30 pounds and measuring 25 by 16 by 16 inches, this is most definitely a car camping grill. But with that size comes 165 square inches of cooking space, below which an immensely powerful ceramic infrared burner can heat up to as much as 1,000 degrees. Not that you will need that much heat most of the time, but hey, it's there for you.

The Mr. Steak 1-Burner Infrared Portable Grill works with a standard one-pound propane cylinder (the squat green ones, like the ones the Coleman stove uses) and has an electronic ignition system.

When you're not using the grill, you can fold its legs up for easier storage or transport, and when you are using it, you'll appreciate the cool-to-the-touch silicone cover on the handle and a latch that can hold the cover open while you're flipping burgers. — Steven John

The best high-tech camp stove

The BioLite CampStove 2 cooks your meal and charges your phone at the same time thanks to a built-in, thermoelectric generator fueled by heat.

Pros: Charges small devices, built-in fans regulate heat, works with myriad accessories

Cons: Getting initial fire burning can be frustrating

When you're out there in the wilderness, you shouldn't be staring at your phone; you should be looking at the stars, the mountains, or the valleys and such. That said, keeping a charged phone is important for safety — and for selfies.

Keeping a rechargeable flashlight fully powered is always a good idea, and those GoPro camera batteries always seem to need recharging, don't they?

Maintaining battery life in all your devices while camping means carrying battery packs, using a solar charger, or firing up something you're already likely traveling with: Your stove.

The BioLite CampStove 2 is a wood-burning stove that has a built-in generator capable of producing 3 watts of electricity while the fire is hot. That's enough power to charge small devices, illuminate a Biolite lamp, or to charge the unit's internal battery for later use when the fire isn't burning.

Besides providing power, it's also a damn good stove. With a decent fire built up, the BioLite CampStove 2 brings a liter of water to boil in less than five minutes and produces plentiful heat for cooking. In fact, there are compact fans inside the burn chamber that you can set at four different speeds to increase or decrease the intensity of the heat.

The best stove for fast boiling

The Jetboil Flash gets a lot of water really hot, really fast. If you primarily rely on your stove to make hot drinks and rehydrate meals, this is the stove for you.

Pros: Boils water quickly, contains all the parts inside the pot, push-button ignition

Cons: Can be hard to clean, can't be used with other pots or pans easily

When I get back from a long day on the trail, I want the most food in the shortest amount of time. This means pouring hot water onto couscous or a dehydrated meal. If it's the mornings, then it's coffee posthaste.

For these moments, I rely on the Jetboil Flash. Using a cleverly-designed pot that's attached to a large burner — it looks (and sounds) like a jet engine — the Flash can boil 16 ounces of water in less than two minutes. It is so fast that the first time I used it, it began boiling over while I was still prepping my meal.

This is a product designed with backpackers in mind. The whole thing packs down into the provided pot and even has space for a small fuel canister. Not only does this mean it takes up very little space but it also makes it hard to lose or forget a part of the stove.

If you want to sear, sauté, and simmer, the Jetboil Flash isn't for you. Although there are accessories that will let you use a frying pan, this is really a stove for heating your water fast, which is all most backpackers need. — James Stout

The best stove for travel

The Whisperlite International from MSR can go anywhere and burn almost anything. If you're traveling to remote locations, this is the reliable and rebuildable stove to take with you.

Pros: Compatible with various types of fuel, excellent longevity

Cons: Not the lightest stove

Isobutane is great for cooking fast with a steady flame and comes packaged in convenient canisters. Unfortunately, you can't fly with it, which could be an issue if you're going to some remote area where there isn't a camping store nearby. In this type of situation, the MSR Whisperlite International is a better alternative. Not only can the stove burn white gas, kerosene, or unleaded gas, it's also incredibly robust.

This reliability combines with MSR's clever shaker jet design, which prevents the fuel jet from getting clogged by using a needle inside the jet — cleaning it out when the stove is shaken. All of this makes the Whisperlite International the go-to choice for big expeditions.

With some practice, you'll be able to quickly light the Whisperlite International (you do need to bring a lighter). Advanced users can regulate the flame enough to simmer water if required. I'll admit that most of my uses have been limited to heating water and making oatmeal and coffee, but more adventurous cooks will be happy with the Whisperlite, especially when the alternative is going stove-less or using a wood or alcohol stove with pitiful heat output. — James Stout

How to shop for a camp stove

Although all camp stoves largely have the same overall goal (i.e. heating food, boiling water, etc.), they're not all necessarily created equal. Some function better for rapidly boiling water while others are light enough for backpacking trips or pack a more powerful cooking punch.

Any decent stove produces plenty of heat and resists the elements, but beyond that, there are all sorts of differences between various brands and models that make a given unit ideal for one user but a poor choice for others. In discussing the six camp stoves on this list, we'll cover not only each option's inherent qualities but will also talk through why each model is well suited to specific activities, as well as why a given stove may be a poor choice for other scenarios.

How we tested

Here are the main features to consider when shopping for camp stoves (and the criteria we judged when doing our own testing over many nights spent camping, backpacking, or just taking to our own backyard): 

• Boil time: How quickly a stove can bring water to a boil is one of the most important features for anyone who wants to quickly prepare food that only requires hot water, campers who want the ability to reliably purify gathered water, or those who need their coffee brewed mere moments after they wake up in the morning.
• Ease of setup and use: Being able to easily set up your stove when you need it is vital. Most stoves are intuitive once you get the hang of them but it's still nice to have one without steep learning curve. 
• Wind resistance: Depending on where you plan to do the bulk of your camping, a stove that's able to not only light but stay lit while it's windy is highly useful. While most stoves won't have a specific wind-resistant rating, many should list how well they'll work in blustery conditions.
• Heating power (and total BTUs): Lighting the stove is one thing but how powerful it ends up being while lit is something else entirely. After all, you don't want to be sitting around for upwards of an hour waiting for a simple can of soup to heat up. The higher the BTUs (British thermal units), the more powerful the stove will be. Look for a stove between 10,000 and 30,000 BTUs. 
• Fuel type: There are generally two kinds of camp stove fuel: Gas fuel like propane and butane or liquid fuel. Propane and butane canisters tend to be easier to use in terms of lighting the stove and don't require priming before being lit. Liquid fuel stoves require a bit more work (such as priming) but perform better in colder weather. They're also liable to be more dangerous to use. If possible, we recommend using propane or butane canisters as they're far easier to manage.
• Price point: The importance of price point is completely up to you. If you have the budget to buy are more full-featured stove, by all means, go for it. If you're looking for a budget option, there are plenty of those, too, and many have negligible differences to more expensive options. 

After years of anticipation, and a gaggle of delays, "Cyberpunk 2077" finally launched last week for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Just one week later, Sony outright pulled the game from its PlayStation digital storefront. Moreover, full discounts are available to anyone who purchased "Cyberpunk 2077" through the PlayStation Store or the Xbox Store. The game's developer, CD Projekt Red, has seen its stock value plummet as gamers report that the game is rife with bugs.

So, what went wrong? Here's everything we know so far.

SEE ALSO: 'Cyberpunk 2077' is so full of bugs that PlayStation has booted it out of its online store, and offered refunds to players

"Cyberpunk 2077" was in development for a very long time — its first teaser trailer premiered in early 2013, before the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 launched.

Hype for "Cyberpunk 2077" has been building for nearly a decade at this point — the game was announced and given a teaser trailer months before the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 launched back in 2013.

Between then and now, "Cyberpunk 2077" developer CD Projekt Red has been drip-feeding new trailers and major announcements. With each year's video game trade show, E3, a new trailer for "Cyberpunk 2077" would appear. In 2019, Keanu Reeves even showed up to get people hyped up (Reeves plays a character, Johnny Silverhand, in the game). It was very effective.

Some of that hype was due to tens of millions of dollars spent on marketing the new game, but at least part of the blame can be directed at something out of the developer's hands: With the launch of "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" in 2015, and its overwhelming success, "Cyberpunk 2077" developer CD Projekt Red accidentally ballooned expectations for its next project.

By 2020, with new PlayStation and Xbox consoles arriving during the critical holiday sales season and few major games to play on those new consoles, hype for "Cyberpunk 2077" had reached a fever pitch.

The game's first launch date, in April, got pushed back to November. Then that got pushed back to December. Looking back, the delays were likely the first sign of problems to come.

When Reeves made his surprise appearance at the Xbox event during E3 2019, memorably shouting, "You're breathtaking! You're all breathtaking!" in response to fans in the crowd, he announced a release window for "Cyberpunk 2077": April 2020.

But by April 2020, the game had been delayed to November — the most important month of the year for video game launches. The PlayStation 5 and new Xbox consoles launched in mid-November, as did this year's "Call of Duty" game. 

Then, in a last-minute surprise, CD Projekt Red delayed "Cyberpunk 2077" once more. This time, the studio said, the game would come out for sure on December 10. It was the fourth release date and third such delay to "Cyberpunk 2077," and it came after the studio's public announcement in October that the game had "gone gold"— a video game industry term that signifies a game is content complete, can be played from beginning to end, and is ready to be pressed to a disc.

Between the time that a game "goes gold" and its launch date, many game studios work on a "Day 0" update that players must download before playing. These updates are intended to fix any known issues before players can encounter them, and it's this update that caused the final delay of "Cyberpunk 2077," according to its developers.

When game reviewers got "Cyberpunk 2077," they were only able to play it on PC — the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions weren't available until the last minute.

"As a reviewer with the benefit of hindsight, I feel duped and used [by 'Cyberpunk 2077' developer CD Projekt Red],"VentureBeat's Jeff Grubb wrote in a piece about the review process for the new game.

Grubb was one of a handful of journalists who were given access to the game early on the condition that they reviewed the game on PC. Though that condition unto itself isn't problematic, it was particularly relevant to "Cyberpunk 2077"— a game with major technical issues on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

As highlighted in the piece, CD Projekt Red CEO Adam Kiciński had even explicitly said "the game is performing great on every platform"during an investors call in November. He referred to the game's performance on the base model PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as "surprisingly good."

Reviewers, however, didn't have access to those versions of the game until the night before the game's launch. Though reviews mentioned bugs, crashes, and other technical issues, it was generally received well — the game has an 87% average on Metacritic.

When people finally got to play "Cyberpunk 2077" on December 10, they encountered wild bugs — missions that couldn't be completed, enemies that floated across the ground, and guns that floated in mid-air being held by no one, among many other things. Worse: the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions run terribly.

When the public finally got to play "Cyberpunk 2077" on December 10, they encountered a variety of wild bugs and technical issues.

Some player saw tiny trees everywhere, and some were unable to complete missions because the game's logic broke; some players reported crashes, and others reported extremely blurry textures.

In my experience with the game on an Xbox Series X, I've encountered a handful of bugs: a character who kept turning his head while speaking, and objects in the world that appeared to "pop in" too late. I got into a car accident, and part of my busted up car remained mid-air, floating next to my car (seen above).

The worst experiences, however, appear to be on the base models of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

On PS4, for instance, the game runs "between 720p and 900p resolution," and the framerate regularly drops below 30 frames-per-second — the standard for smooth-looking gameplay — according to an analysis by Digital Foundry.

For PS4 and Xbox One players, that means blurry visuals and a game that doesn't run smoothly.

As backlash to the game has built across the last week, CD Projekt Red apologized and even offered refunds. The studio said that major patches for the game are coming in January and February.

Just four days after the game launched, CD Projekt Red was offering refunds and apologizing.

"We should have paid more attention to making it play better on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One,"the company said. Unhappy players who bought the game through the Xbox and PlayStation digital storefronts could request a refund, the message said. 

"Should this not be possible, please contact us at helpmerefund@cdprojektred.com and we will do our best to help you. Starting from today, you can contact us for a week up to December 21, 2020," the company said.

Then, on December 17, Sony announced it was pulling "Cyberpunk 2077" from the PlayStation Store and anyone who wanted a refund could have one. Refunds are also available to Xbox One players.

In an unprecedented move on Thursday night, Sony announced it was removing "Cyberpunk 2077" from the PlayStation digital storefront and granting refunds to anyone who requests one.

"[Sony Interactive Entertainment] strives to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction," the statement from Sony said. "Following discussions with CD Projekt S.A., the publisher and developer of 'Cyberpunk 2077,' SIE will begin to offer a full refund for all gamers who purchased 'Cyberpunk 2077' via PlayStation Store and want a refund at this time."

The game is no longer available to purchase through the PlayStation Store, and won't be available again "until further notice," Sony said. Without saying as much directly, Sony removed "Cyberpunk 2077" from sale specifically due to how poorly it runs on the PlayStation 4. 

The game is still available at retail elsewhere for the PlayStation 4, and Microsoft has yet to remove the game from the Xbox Store. Xbox representatives did say on Friday that it would honor refund requests for the game. "To ensure that every player can get the experience they expect on Xbox, we will be expanding our existing refund policy to offer full refunds to anyone who purchased 'Cyberpunk 2077' digitally from the Microsoft Store, until further notice,"the company said.

Due to the messy launch, "Cyberpunk 2077" developer CD Projekt Red has lost billions in stock value across the last week.

The game's development studio CD Projekt Red saw its stock value plummet by over a third in the week since the game's December 10 launch: from about $27 per share the day before the launch to about $18 per share on December 18, representing billions of dollars in value.

That dropoff in stock value is no doubt due to the massively-hyped game's messy launch.

Notably, despite taking a hit to its stock value, CD Projekt said that the new game was already profitable ahead of launch thanks to massive pre-order sales: Before "Cyberpunk 2077" launched, it had already sold over 8 million copies. At a minimum of $60 apiece, that's just shy of $500 million in sales before anyone could even play the game. CD Projekt said this week sales had topped 13 million, taking into account returned games. 

In the long term, however, those early numbers may matter less as players request refunds and sentiment turns sour on a previously beloved game studio.

Got a tip? Contact Business Insider senior correspondent Ben Gilbert via email (bgilbert@businessinsider.com), or Twitter DM (@realbengilbert). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a non-work device to reach out. PR pitches by email only, please.

• With beach access, gorgeous views, and water sports, beachfront hotels are some of the most coveted lodgings.
• In response to COVID-19, many top beach hotels have new procedures in place for a safe, socially-distanced getaway.
• Our choices for the best beach hotels all have great beach access, attractive design, fun amenities, and are highly reviewed.
• Read more: Is travel safe? We interviewed experts on risks associated with flying, booking hotels or Airbnbs, renting cars, and more, plus ideas on safe vacations during COVID-19.

The novel coronavirus continues to spread across the US, with many states currently seeing big upticks in cases. However, with pandemic fatigue at an all-time high, the snowy winter months setting in, and vaccines beginning to roll out, many are still looking for a sunny, domestic getaway for some R&R.

If you're wondering if it's safe to travel and stay in hotels, it's important to understand the risks. While vaccinations are underway, there is still no guarantee of safety when it comes to travel right now. It continues to be crucial to follow guidelines from organizations such as the CDC, wear a mask, wash your hands, and maintain social distancing. Additionally, check current state travel restrictions before booking, assess your own risk levels, and consider whether you are traveling to or from a hotspot so as not to increase infection rates. Finally, be sure to stay up to date on new policies from major hotels.

However, if you're looking to escape a winter cold snap and hit the beach while social distancing, there are plenty of great options across the US for a closer-to-home vacation. Whether located on paradisaical islands or romantic, windswept coastlines, beachfront hotels that overlook the waves act like surgical glue for the soul.

We chose top beach hotels in the US based on the following criteria:

1. Every hotel on our list boasts ocean views, plentiful activities, and of course, beautiful stretches of sand. Some also come with extra perks and amenities like spa treatments, dining offered beachside, included chairs, umbrellas, towels, and oceanside food-and-beverage service.
2. Our best coastal vacation resorts cover a wide variety of geographies so you don't necessarily need to hop on a plane if you're not yet comfortable doing so.
3. They are also well-rated and reviewed on trusted traveler sites such as Trip Advisor, Booking.com, and Hotels.com, with a minimum of 4 out of 5-stars on the former and an 8.2 out of 10 on the latter two.
4. Our options begin around $150 per night and accommodate a wide range of budgets. However, all properties jump in high season, and some have daily resort fees. But even the ones with the highest sticker shock are worth it for the solace they bring when we need it the most.
5. All hotels also feature enhanced COVID-19 policies, which we outline below.

Keep reading for the best beach hotels in the US, by state: 

• Oregon
• Hawaii
• California
• Georgia
• Florida
• South Carolina
• New York
• Massachusetts
• Maine

These are the best beach hotels in the US, sorted by state and price.

SEE ALSO: The best all-inclusive resorts in Mexico

SEE ALSO: The best affordable hotel rooms with private plunge pools

SEE ALSO: The best honeymoon destinations and hotels that are luxurious, but still affordable

SEE ALSO: The best hotels for families in the US

Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa - Pacific City, Oregon

Book Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa starting at $420 per night

Whether you want to catch crabs and fish from the bracing Pacific or simply enjoy them by the fire at signature restaurant, Meridien, Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa is delighted to oblige.

As the name indicates, you really couldn't get closer to the water than here, where the Nestucca River meets the Oregon coastline. 

Choose from one of the 33 King or Double Queen rooms, all of which have 440 square feet (or more, if you request a corner room) and poetic views of Cape Kiwanda's waves and Haystack Rock through picture windows. With luxe rustic furnishings, cast-iron tubs, gas fireplaces, and amenities that range from a Bonavita brewing system to a Bluetooth lantern speaker, there's no need to upgrade to a two- or three-bedroom cottage unless traveling with a group.

While Tidepools Spa, which has an outdoor hot tub, and the restaurant are sophisticated, everything here is about the natural world, the adventures to be had in it, and the relationship with the small, unpretentious Pacific City community. 

Trip Advisor Ranking: 1 of 3 hotels in Pacific City

Booking.com Rating: 9.3 out of 10

Pros: A full calendar features activities aplenty, from clamming to kayaking to earning a free pint by cleaning up the beaches. The lodge is also dog-friendly, so ask for those rooms if you're bringing your pet along.

Cons: Guests who didn't research the region are sometimes surprised by the isolation and lack of entertainment options. The hotel is two hours from Portland, so you will need a car. Also, the glass-walled showers in the King rooms are designed to provide a view of the ocean even while you bathe — which offers anyone else in the room a view of you. For more privacy, ask for a Double Queen room, which has a different setup.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open. Many services and amenities have been updated to ensure the well-being and safety of guests, team members, and the community. These new measures include:

• All team members will wear masks and shifts begin with a wellness check, including a temperature check.
• Guests are asked to wear face coverings in public spaces and makes will be provided upon request.
• The hotel has implemented a rigorous schedule of sanitation for all guest rooms, public spaces, and team member areas.
• New signage has been placed to help maintain proper social distancing, and hand-sanitizing stations have been placed throughout public spaces and team member areas.
• Check-in and check-out services have been redesigned for efficiency.
• Reservations are required for dinner in Meridian Restaurant & Bar, with table spacing in the dining room. Guests must wear masks while moving about the dining area. Other meals may be delivered to guest rooms.
• Private adventure outings are available with physical distancing in place and group activities are capped at six guests.
• The spa reopened for treatments on  June 5, but the hot tub, steam room, and showers will remain closed.
• The fitness area and yoga studio are available for guest use with a maximum occupancy of four. Personal training sessions and private classes with social distancing in place are available.

Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort at Po'ipu Beach - Kauai, Hawaii

Book Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort at Po'ipu Beach starting at $340 per night

Ideal for a romantic getaway, this award-winning resort is known as Kauai's closest waterfront lodging. "Po'ipu" translates to "crashing waves," and this south shore beach resort is one of the sunniest spots on the island, and consistently recognized by Trip Advisor and travel magazines for its 121 rooms that are only steps from the sand.

The Spa at Ko'a Kea incorporates island clay, indigenous nut oils, locally grown sugar, coffee, and floral essences in products. Try a treatment in the outdoor seaside cabana room; you'll never want to go back to an indoor spa again. And, if you upgrade to a suite, the spa can provide an extraordinary in-room floral bath experience designed to restore and improve your immune system.

With executive chef and Kauai native Noelani Planas at the helm, the highly-rated Red Salt restaurant provides local and seasonal dishes, including ahi tartare and vanilla-scented Mahi. Sushi nights at Red Salt Lounge offer an alternative to the regular menu.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 3 of 7 hotels in Po'ipu Beach

Hotels.com Rating: 9.4

Pros: Romantic resort that makes it easy to hit the beach, book surfing lessons, or learn how to paddle a Hawaiian Outrigger Surfing Canoe on-site through Hoku Water Sports.

Cons: Some guests complain about customer service as well as small or outdated rooms.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open with new protocols, including:

• Face masks are required in common areas.
• All guests must adhere to federal regulations including the practice of social distancing at all times, including hallways, pool, ocean lawn, and dining spaces.
• With restrictions on businesses, there may be changes to availability and operating hours of dining and spa options. 
• The cleaning team has been briefed and trained on proper cleaning procedures to ensure the prevention of the COVID-19 virus.
• Public facilities will be cleaned more frequently than recommended by CDC guidelines and include enhancing and increasing the frequency of sanitation of commonly touched objects.
• Comprehensive cleaning and sanitization of guest rooms between stays.
• Additional signage throughout the hotels reminding guests and employees of healthy practices.

Wailea Beach Resort Marriott, Maui - Maui, Hawaii

Book Wailea Beach Resort - Marriott, Maui starting at $625 per night

This 22-acre playground is a terrific family-friendly beach resort, whether taking a whirl down the longest water slide in Maui (325 feet!) or nesting at the adults-only infinity pool that overlooks waters so blue you ache to paint them. Bypass the pools to walk to Wailea Beach and Ulua Beach Park.

Rooms with private balconies (also known as lanais) are spacious, beginning at 437 square feet, and are soothing with marble bathrooms and palettes of white and wheat rather than clichéd tropical hues. 

Views are stunning from wherever you are on property, but particularly from the Mandara Spa, which overlooks the Molokini crater and the island of Kaho'olawe. You can also experience the grandeur of the three championship 18-hole golf courses — the Wailea Golf Club is considered one of the best in the country — or get SCUBA dive-certified.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 5 of 9 hotels in Wailea Beach

Booking.com Rating: 8.8 out of 10

Pros: The views are incredible and the spa even offers services for children. There are a variety of dining options available to cater to all tastes, from a food truck and a Starbucks to a Roy Yamaguchi venue.

Cons: The whole resort might feel a little bit Disney-ish and rooms are outdated. If you're a stickler for authenticity, this might not be the resort for you. Past guests have complained about too-few lounge chairs at the adult pool, along with premium prices for low-quality fare.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open with policies put in place by Marriott's 'Global Cleanliness Council,' which include the following:

• Face coverings are required in all indoor public areas.
• New cleaning technologies that include electrostatic sprayers allow for touchless disinfecting capabilities and cleaning processes, along with and new regimen changes. 
• In public spaces, surfaces are treated with hospital-grade disinfectants, and cleaning is done with increased frequency. 
• In guest rooms, Marriott has added detailed cleaning practices requiring all surfaces be thoroughly cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectants. Disinfecting wipes will be placed in each room for guests' personal use.
• Signage in lobbies will remind guests to maintain social distancing protocols.
• Marriott is planning to add partitions at front desks to provide an extra level of precaution and hand sanitizing stations will be added as well.
• Touchless services will be added via Marriott's mobile app.

Tower23 Hotel - San Diego, California

Book Tower23 Hotel starting at $208 per night

Sleek and modern, with a distinct minimalist architectural style, Tower23 takes its moniker from the lifeguard tower near the hotel. 

Tower23 also takes its position as a place to sleep seriously. White goose-down duvets almost guarantee that once you retire for the night, you're going to have a hard time getting up. The rooms themselves are uncluttered and painted in deep blues and aqua hues, and suites come with living rooms.

Still, whether you start or end the day with a sea-inspired spa treatment, the friendly resort staff knows their role is to get you out to the beach. The proximity to those Pacific Beach sands and the frothing surf is a large part of the hotel's appeal, which is why the rooms face the west and bikes and beach accouterments are included. Even the highly regarded JRDN features a 70-foot long "wave wall" that reflects the famous sunset every night.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 3 of 292 hotels in San Diego

Booking.com Rating: 9.4 out of 10

Pros: Hotel staff are lauded for being both down home friendly and superbly professional at this beachy enclave where even the pool comes with ocean views. 

Cons: Some guests complain about the area, which may see some homeless people hanging around. Others don't appreciate the austerity with furniture.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations, but in accordance with California's Public Health Order, the hotel cannot accept out-of-state guests unless their reservation is for a minimum of 10 days and the guests quarantine during that period or they are traveling for essential travel as outlined in the health order. The following new cleaning policies are in place:

• Increase the already stringent frequency and rigor of cleaning and sanitation in all public areas, guest rooms, and office space. The process includes EPA approved disinfectants and allocating extra time for housekeepers to focus on high touch areas.
• Rotating in use guest rooms to allow more time between guest and staff entering rooms for cleaning.
• Provide additional training for all employees on safety and illness prevention, with a strict "don't work sick" policy for all employees.
• Employees are required to wear masks when they come within six feet of other people as required by San Diego County. Guests are asked to do the same.
• Implement contactless check-in plus temporary reduced services such as modified and/or suspended food and beverage, in-stay room cleaning, valet parking. 
• Continuous monitoring and adherence to all recommendations of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the San Diego County Public Health Order.

Sanctuary Beach Resort - Monterey, California

Book Sanctuary Beach Resort starting at $246 per night

Pretty and romantic, this eco-efficient resort is ideal for couples or a group of friends. Aptly named, the Sanctuary Beach Resort is burrowed into the Marina Dunes of Monterey Beach and presents amazing opportunities from whale-watching trips to learning from local artisans.

Housing is in water-facing bungalows where rooms start at 380 square feet and come with a private patio or deck, as well as French slip covered chairs, and binoculars for the aforementioned whale and other wildlife watching. A natural gas-fueled fireplace provides warmth, and beds are made up with Harbor Linen's Monocle Collection that provide a spectacular night's sleep.

Tour around town on specially made Dutch-inspired Republic bicycles, and revel in complimentary nature walks, led by local guides through the Marina Dunes Preserves, every Saturday and Sunday. Complete the experience with a picnic basket on the beach from the hotel's signature restaurant, Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 2 of 9 in Marina

Booking.com Rating: 8.8 out of 10

Pros: The proximity to nature, wildlife, and water is idyllic. Salt Wood's chef also makes a daily salt exfoliation rub out of local and seasonal ingredients for the spa.

Cons: Bathrooms are outdated, and spa facilities are un-noteworthy, though treatments are unique. In some bungalows, the view of the ocean is blocked.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently accepting essential travelers only through January 11, 2021.

Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel - Santa Monica, California

Book Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel starting at $405 per night

Dependable and reliably upscale without being pretentious, the Loews hotel brand always performs well in popular markets. Parked on Santa Monica Beach next to the Pacific Park Amusement Park, the Loews Santa Monica is no exception.

The contemporary interior design couldn't say "Southern California" more. The double-story lobby's floor-to-ceiling windows frame each inch of beach and ray of sun. The 347 rooms and suites, recently refreshed, are done in creamy tones of white and tan with wave-patterned carpets and sky-blue accent pillows. Views alternate between the beach and palm trees, or the fourth-floor pool deck and fire pits.

Have a light meal next to one of those 13 oceanfront fire pits, or take advantage of a more elegant al fresco opportunity on the terrace of Ocean & Vine, the celebrated coastal California cuisine restaurant. The daily resort fee includes beach and pool amenities, so be sure to allow the pool concierge to pamper you with fruit smoothies and spray Evian mist as many times as you require.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 14 of 38 hotels in Santa Monica

Booking.com Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Pros: Loews is a trusted luxury brand offering a consistent high-end experience with great pool and beach facilities. Extras like beach volleyball, footballs, soccer balls, or other sand sport fixtures are all easily provided by the concierge. Plus, Venice Beach is only two miles away and complimentary shuttle service makes it easy to visit without the hassle of parking. 

Cons: Not all extras are included in the pesky resort fee. Bikes will cost extra, as will boogie boards, scooters, skateboards, and Rollerblades.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently accepting reservations, but in accordance with California's Public Health Order, the hotel cannot accept out-of-state guests unless their reservation is for a minimum of 10 days and the guests quarantine during that period or they are traveling for essential travel as outlined in the health order. The following new cleaning policies are in place:

• When physical distancing is not possible in common areas, staff and guests are asked to wear masks. Based on role and responsibility, some staff will be required to wear gloves as well. All vendors will wear masks and gloves when inside the hotel.
• All staff and vendors will undergo temperature checks before entering the hotel.
• Improved standards for cleaning guestrooms, meeting rooms, outlets, corridors and public areas with a Peroxide Multi Surface Cleaner and Disinfectant, an EPA approved product created by Ecolab, which is effective against emerging viral pathogens and COVID-19
• This includes the frequent cleaning of "high touch areas" such as telephones, remote controls, door handles, light switches, elevators, and tabletops, among others. 
• High alcohol content hand sanitizer stations have been added to front desks, spas, fitness centers, meeting rooms and other high traffic guest areas. There are also increased protocols for team member handwashing.
• Contactless experiences will be offered that includes an app to control the television, chat requests for room service, concierge, or valet; and dropping new linens and towels in a sealed bag at the door instead of servicing the room.
• When and wherever possible the hotel will leave occupied guestrooms vacant for 48 hours, upon checkout, before thoroughly cleaning and checking in a new guest.
• The number of passengers will be limited in each elevator ride and lobby attendants will clean the elevator area frequently.
• Many bars, lounges, and restaurants will be closed until proper social distancing guidelines are in place. Service will be offered as takeout and delivery.

The Westin Jekyll Island - Jekyll Island, Georgia

Book The Westin Jekyll Island starting at $154 per night

With a manicured lawn in front and a beach in the back, this LEED-certified, pet-friendly resort represents both the south and the raw beauty of Jekyll Island to a T. Lushly landscaped with palm trees and tropical plants, the hotel offers nature, tranquility, and immediate access to seagrass dunes and sandy beaches, where birds, sea turtles, and other wildlife abounds.

Clean and modern, with updated technology and complimentary Wi-Fi, the business-accessible rooms are generously sized with at least a partial view of the water and a balcony. Some have inland views and no balconies, though, so be specific when you book. Westin's trademarked Heavenly bedding is especially comfortable, and the rainforest showerheads are comforting.

Dining options include The Reserve Steak House, which features native Georgia seafood in addition to meat. Before or after a meal, perch at Harry's Lounge for a craft cocktail and look over the dunes. A 20-mile bike path that stretches in front of the hotel is a terrific alternative to working out in the WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio, even though it is nicely outfitted and open 24/7.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 4 of 10 hotels in Jekyll Island

Booking.com Rating: 9.0 out of 10

Pros: The expansive grounds are well-kept and inviting, and electric car charging stations are a nice perk. 

Cons: Because everyone has to drive to get here, parking can be a problem. Also, don't expect easy access to ride-sharing services. If you don't need to drive to pick up an item, don't; Jekyll Island Beach Village is next door for all your shopping needs.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations. They are following new policies put in place by Marriott's 'Global Cleanliness Council,' which include the following:

• Face coverings required in all indoor areas.
• New cleaning technologies that include electrostatic sprayers allow for touchless disinfecting capabilities and cleaning processes, along with and new regimen changes. 
• In public spaces, surfaces are treated with hospital-grade disinfectants, and cleaning is done with increased frequency. 
• In guest rooms, Marriott has added detailed cleaning practices requiring all surfaces be thoroughly cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectants. Disinfecting wipes will be placed in each room for guests' personal use.
• Signage in lobbies will remind guests to maintain social distancing protocols.
• Marriott is planning to add partitions at front desks to provide an extra level of precaution and hand sanitizing stations will be added as well.
• Touchless services will be added via Marriott's mobile app.

The Diplomat Beach Resort - Hollywood, Florida

Book The Diplomat Beach Resort starting at $208

This lavish Hollywood resort is located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, bridging the land between the beach and the Intracoastal, so it's essentially surrounded by water.

After a $100 million renovation that was completed in 2017, the hotel emerged with 1,000 rooms and suites, most of which have views of the waves. Rooms have either a sunrise or sunset color scheme, depending on which side of the resort they face. The lobby is dramatic, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows at the back where the indoor-outdoor wraparound Hotel Bar is located. That lobby also contains eight noteworthy restaurant concepts that range from Geoffrey Zakarian's Point Royal to the Diplomat Prime Steak House.

While the beach offers jet skiing, ocean kayaking, and paddleboard rentals, younger family members also appreciate the Dip + Slide water park, where the slides end in a lagoon pool. There, parents can keep sight lines on the kids while enjoying poolside spa and lunch service. The kids' club, Ocean Ambassadors, relieves parents of duty so that they can enjoy The Diplomat Golf Club and The Diplomat Tennis Center, too.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 14 of 79 hotels in Hollywood

Booking.com Rating: 8.2

Pros: The hotel is only a mile from Hollywood Beach's Broadwalk, where dozens of restaurants and cafes offer service. You can also head there for bicycle and water sports rentals if the hotel's beach gets too busy. Across the street, The Marina at Diplomat Landing provides extra venues for dining and entertainment.

Cons: Because this is a popular convention hotel, it's crowded when fully booked, and can become competitive for spa times and pool loungers. Also, the high-rises in the area block the sun by mid-afternoon depending on daylight savings time.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently closed through April 1, 2021.

South Seas Island Resort - Captiva Island, Florida

Book South Seas Island Resort starting at $256 per night

A combination 330-acre wildlife sanctuary and resort, South Seas dominates Captiva Island. It's a family-friendly Gulf Coast resort that offers a variety of rooms, multi-bedroom villas, and private houses where you very much feel at home — if your home comes with sea turtles, manatees, dolphins, and long-legged water birds of various hues.

This former key lime plantation now caters to a variety of families, groups, and couples all looking for the same things: relaxation and beachside entertainment. Fortunately, it's easy to find, given that rooms in the Harbourside Hotel are close to nine restaurant options, the resort's interactive pool complex, the Gulf-side golf course, the marina, and the beach. Jet-Skis, fishing charters, sailing lessons, banana boat rides, parasailing, and kayak tours are just a few of the on-site activities that are available to book. If that's not enough adventure and exercise, check out the beach and paddleboard yoga classes. 

Trip Advisor Ranking: 4 of 4 hotels in Captiva Island

Booking.com Rating: 8.2

Pros: The pools are large and varied and the beaches are filled with shells, unlike the fine white sands on the northwest and east coasts of Florida. Looking for sharks' teeth is another great, free activity for kids.

Cons: This is a huge resort and it's easy to get lost. You'll need a car, golf cart, or catch the provided trolley to get around. Depending on the room, villa, or home that you rent, you might have issues with upkeep or maintenance as some are timeshare units and in need of renovation. As such, design and decor can vary dramatically from unit to unit.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations. They are following new policies that include:

• The vast majority of outlets are operational, however, some may have reduced hours or limited services.
• Masks are required at all indoor public spaces.
• Standards for hygiene, cleaning, and safety have been elevated to follow CDC guidelines, and as such, the hotel will not offer any early check-in or late check-out requests until further notice.
• Training hotel staff on cleaning and sanitizing procedures developed by AIMClean, the hotel's proprietary robust cleaning and sanitizing certificate program that includes best practices from in-house and outside experts, such as Ecolab.
• Increasing the frequency of cleaning and special sanitizing using EPA-approved products throughout all public areas of the hotel, meeting spaces, guest rooms, and work areas with a focus on high-touch areas and hard surfaces.
• Providing food and beverage offerings in a grab and go format or touchless delivery.
• Physical distancing throughout all areas of the resort including public areas, fitness centers, meeting spaces, lobby, pool, beach, and other retail outlets.
• Hotel staff must use PPE such as face coverings, temperature checks, with increased personal protocols for handwashing and wearing gloves.
• Encouraging all guests to utilize touchless services, from check-in to making payments.

Omni Amelia Island Resort - Amelia Island, Florida

Book Omni Amelia Island Resort starting at $260 per night

The versatility of the well-named Omni brand is legend. It can work as easily for a corporate retreat or destination wedding as it can for a couples' getaway or family vacation. That's because the resort, with 402 oceanfront rooms, sprawls over the tip of this barrier island, and includes everything from a conference center to a chapel.

Done up in pastel blues, aquas, and creams — with a patterned or red accent thrown in — the rooms start at a liberal 425 square feet. Beachy decor (think cane back chairs) extends to the balconies. The beds are particularly comfortable, with 330-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets over pillow-top mattresses.

If you don't want to take advantage of the 3.5 miles of beach that beckons right outside the window, check out what the venue calls its "multi-tiered pool deck." For adults-only, the infinity-edge pool is highly tempting, and for families, the 10,000-square-foot splash pool and water park is just as exciting. On cool nights, cozy up to two oversized fire pits.

Omni Amelia Island Resort is renowned for its two golf courses, one designed by Tom Fazio and the other by Pete Dye. Park the kids, if you have them, at Camp Amelia and head out for a round or two. Or take them with you. There's instruction for all ages available.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 10 of 14 hotels in Amelia Island

Booking.com Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Pros: Sweeping views and stunning grounds with a mind-boggling array of dining options from 10 different restaurants that range from steak to seafood to Southern-inspired fare.

Cons: Cleanliness and maintenance issues pop up among customer complaints from time to time.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations. Omni Hotels & Resorts has enacted the 'Stay A Part of Clean' initiative, which includes new cleaning guidelines and additional processes and procedures to ensure the health and safety of guests. That entails:

• Daily health screening, including temperature checks for staff, as well as frequent sanitization of all common areas, thorough re-training on proper hygiene, and best practices including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Increased frequency of sanitization with EPA-certified cleansers that are CDC-compliant, additional guest sanitization stations in public areas, increased cleaning of HVAC systems, and replacement of air filters.
• Signage and distance indicators will be used throughout the hotel in high-traffic areas to allow for and encourage proper social distancing.
• Custom menus will focus on quality ingredients that limit contact in kitchen prep, with attendant-only served buffets, plated meals, receptions, and coffee stations. Hotels will use single-use, individually sealed food and cutlery items, where applicable.
• Cleaned and disinfected guest rooms will have an "Omni Safe & Clean" seal of approval sticker upon completion with single-use amenities provided in each guest room, as well as enhanced disinfecting of high-touch items, and requested items delivered in a contactless manner.

WaterColor Inn & Resort - Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Book WaterColor Inn starting at $325 per night

Fair warning: WaterColor Inn & Resort is situated in the prettiest part of Florida Panhandle, where the award-winning beaches are so white and fine that you can't help but think of cake icing. 

David Rockwell designed the 60 rooms starting at 500-square-feet with Adirondack chairs on the balconies and cabana showers on the patios. The 500-acre setting includes long leaf pine forests for hiking and biking, a coastal dune lake for kayaking and canoeing, and a 1,400-square-feet of private beach. The hotel is also next door to Grayton Beach State Park, where you can make good use of the property's complimentary bicycles, kayaks, and canoes. 

Renovated in 2019, the resort also offers local seafood, Southern, and family-friendly fare via FOOW (formerly known as Fish Out Of Water) and a terrific collection of craft beers, wines, and cocktails. The spa and fitness center provides plenty of distraction, as do beach bonfires and outdoor movies.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 3 of 3 hotels in Santa Rosa Beach

Booking.com Rating: 9.3 out of 10

Pros: The location might feel remote, but satellite and cable flat-screen televisions and comped Wi-Fi keep you connected seamlessly. And Santa Rosa Beach and the small towns that surround it all feature plenty of restaurants and boutiques.

Cons: Occasionally, nature gets in the way — the dunes can block the view, for example. Santa Rosa is also difficult to get to from certain parts of the country.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations. New policies include:

• Enhanced sanitation procedures and frequency throughout WaterColor Inn.
• Enhanced hotel housekeeping protocols,
• Access to hand sanitizer in key locations around the hotel with physical-distancing procedures in all communal spaces, including beach access.
• Community pools are monitored by the WaterColor Community Association; chairs and tables are set in line with physical-distancing guidelines. 
• Touchless entry to hotel and hotel facilities, when possible.
• Making mask and gloves available to guests, upon request.
• Thermal temperature controls for all team members and guests, as needed.
• Wristbands will be issued and required to enter the Beach Club. Lounge chairs will be spaced 6 feet apart and sanitized after each use (please do not move furniture). Towel service will not be available and any towels left unattended will be removed and sanitized.
• To adhere to group size limitations, pool entry will be based on a first-come, first-served basis, and monitored to ensure limited occupancy is maintained. Towel services will not be available and pool decks will close in phases for proper sanitation procedures beginning at 5 p.m. daily.
• The public beach is open but the only permitted activities are sunbathing, walking, jogging, fishing, swimming, paddleboarding, boating, and surfing. All guests need to vacate their beach chairs promptly at 4 p.m. to allow for proper sanitation. 
• The gym and spa are open but no couples massages are permitted at this time.
• Dining will be available but with modified service.
• Complimentary bicycles are available for guest use; please return prior to dusk. Bicycles will be sanitized after each use.

The Miami Beach EDITION - Miami Beach, Florida

Book The Miami Beach EDITION starting at $559 per night

With a bowling alley, an ice-skating rink, and a nightclub all in the lowest level alone, this hotel practically screams fun. But that doesn't mean it lacks luxury. The tropical greenery and sleek midcentury modern decor stuns from the moment you walk into the posh lobby.

Custom and exclusive are two words that guide you through the EDITION experience, from the La Labo bath products to the fragrance made just for the hotel. Sip creative craft cocktails and trendy bites at Matador Bar or outdoors at Tropicale. Follow with a dip in the serene pool to soak up Miami's Art Deco feels and beach breezes. Finish with an exquisite pan-Latin meal at Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Matador Room. 

Standard rooms, larger than average for the region, are tastefully decorated in hues of driftwood and white with marble bathrooms, wood paneling, and a variety of natural textures. Feather mattresses with pillow tops and duvets ensure an excellent night's sleep.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 12 of 222 hotels in Miami Beach

Booking.com Rating: 8.8 out of 10

Pros: Rooms are larger than average for the region, which helps justify the higher price. Happy hour oysters, welcome drinks, beach attendants, and Marriott Bonvoy upgrades all add to the sophisticated appeal of staying here.

Cons: The overbuilding on the beach in this area has created a wind tunnel. Be prepared for the breeze to be super strong at night. When it's full occupancy during holidays and school breaks, guests complain about noise and slow housekeeping service.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations. They are following new policies put in place by Marriott's 'Global Cleanliness Council,' which include the following:

• Masks are required in indoor common spaces.
• New cleaning technologies that include electrostatic sprayers allow for touchless disinfecting capabilities and cleaning processes, along with and new regimen changes. 
• In public spaces, surfaces are treated with hospital-grade disinfectants, and cleaning is done with increased frequency. 
• In guest rooms, Marriott has added detailed cleaning practices requiring all surfaces be thoroughly cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectants. Disinfecting wipes will be placed in each room for guests' personal use.
• Signage in lobbies will remind guests to maintain social distancing protocols.
• Marriott is planning to add partitions at front desks to provide an extra level of precaution and hand sanitizing stations will be added as well.
• Touchless services will be added via Marriott's mobile app.

The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island Golf Resort - Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Book The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island Golf Resort starting at $240 per night

Kiawah Island is more known for its stately residences than hotels, but one of the few luxury hotels available is the elegant Sanctuary Hotel. It's also the only hotel located directly on the island's 10 miles of beachfront property. 

King bedrooms begin at 520 square feet with custom-made mattresses outfitted with matelassé bed covers. Lounge on them in the Italian linen robes provided, or just savor the stunning bathrooms with marble walk-in showers, double vanities, and soaking tubs.

If the beach begins to pall, visit two separate pools, one for adults and one for families, which are tended by beach concierges. To continue your workout routine, enjoy LCD flat-panel touch screens on cardio equipment, followed by a dip in the indoor pool. Or choose private Pilates and yoga sessions with personal instructors. Play outdoors on any of the five world-class golf courses or tennis on the 22 courts in the famous Roy Barth Tennis Center, now directed by Roy's son, Jonathan.

As guest after guest notes, you get what you pay for at The Sanctuary Hotel. A room might not come cheaply, but the experience lingers.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 1 of 3 hotels in Kiawah Island

Hotels.com Rating: 9.4 out of 10

Pros: The Sanctuary Chapel opened in 2019, making destination weddings even easier. In other helpful news, the resort has partnered with Volvo and maintains a fleet of new vehicles for first-come, first-serve use (see the concierge).

Cons: Some regulars say service has declined in the past year. Regardless, it's best to stay in the hotel. While villas and rental homes are also available, these are part of the resort holdings as a whole but not part and parcel of the hotel, which offers guests separate privileges.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations. New policies include:

• Once a guest has checked into their room, staff will not enter the room for the duration of the guest's visit, including daily housekeeping services. Fresh towels and bath amenities will be delivered anytime to a guest's door upon request. Nightly turndown service is also currently suspended.
• Chair and umbrella service will be available with seating restrictions at both the outdoor pool and Sanctuary beach access.
• The Sanctuary pools and fitness center are reserved for hotel guests only, and will operate with restricted use, and require reservations.
• Bike rentals, beach chair and umbrella service, and youth programs are by reservation only. 
• Select retail stores are open with restricted occupancy, allowing for safe social distancing.
• Guest temperature checks are implemented at all restaurants throughout the resort, using a contactless thermometer.
• Golf courses and tennnis courts are open.
• The salon and spa are open, however, many amenities are suspended.
• Dining is available at many restaurants, with modified services.

Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa - Montauk, New York

Book Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa starting at $295 per night

The embodiment of the Hamptons, Gurney's is the only hotel in Montauk that's open year-round. Stylish, sexy, and focused on service, the resort is a crowded, see-and-be-seen hot spot during the summer season when prices spike. But booking May through September gives you access to the 1,000-square-foot private beach, with its array of lounges and daybeds, as well as The Beach Club for food and beverage service. However, some seating is reservation only, so be sure to inquire about where you're allowed to sunbathe. 

Standard rooms feature natural cottons and linens and a crisp, nautical palette of white, beige, gray, and navy. Don't let the bathroom's vintage brass fixtures fool you — the rainfall showerheads are as up-to-date as they come.

If you like steam rooms, you'll love the Finnish Rock Sauna, Russian Steam Room, and Roman Bath at the Seawater Spa, which offers Thalasso therapies. The indoor-outdoor seawater pool is a draw, too, as are the five dining-and-drinking options, including a sibling to Manhattan's renowned Scarpetta.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 11 of 39 hotels in Montauk

Booking.com Rating: 8.6 out of 10

Pros: Gurney's is one of a few luxury hotels in the area, offering an upscale alternative to many of the renovated motels along this stretch coastline that charge a similar pricepoint for less of a resort feel. Also, the Seawater Spa offers bridal services, so destination weddings are easy to arrange.

Cons: The standard rooms and bathrooms are tiny for the money, and guests complain that they can be worn out and have climate control problems.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations. New policies include:

• New steps to ensure safety, from check-in to check-out, including the addition of rigorous cleaning protocols, increasing the frequency of cleaning, and placing hand sanitizing stations, wipes, and masks throughout the property.
• Self parking upon request and valet options.
• Arrival package inclusive of your room key, letter from your Resort Manager, and details on in-room programming offerings, which are expanded to include in-room dining menus, kids activity kits, and curated playlists.
• Utilization of additional outdoor spaces throughout the resort.
• Scarpetta Beach outdoor dining now open, reservations required. The Beach Club, The Firepit, and Tillie's are open to resort guests only. Reservations required.
• Due to state regulations the fitness center is closed and the spa is currently closed as well.
• Travelers must self-quarantine for 14 days from these states (subject to change): Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah Washington D.C. and Wisconsin.

Wequassett Resort and Golf Club - Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Book Wequassett Resort and Golf Club starting at $550 per night

Cape Cod has a certain captivation that exerts a pull like a magician on a rabbit's ears. And the 22 historic buildings that comprise Wequasset Resort and Golf Club are Cape Cod incarnate, with beachside rooms and villas replete with plush armchairs, white wicker dining sets, gas fireplaces, and marble bathrooms.

Twenty-Eight Atlantic is not only the resort's iconic restaurant, but it attracts foodies from all over the Cape. Chef James Hackney's fluke crudo with salmon roe or his lobster carbonara served on Limoges china, explains why. After, enjoy cocktails under a pergola at LiBAYtion, which features stunning views of the water.

The neighboring par-72, 18-hole Cape Cod National golf course is one of those courses that is always and forever beloved by serious golfers. But for casual players, it's also one of the prettiest places to play (even if you will tee off into the trees). Four Har-Tu tennis courts provide another option. But don't forget why you're here. If you want to get onto the water, Down Cape Charters & Boat Rentals will arrange any kind of kayaking, sailing, or fishing tour or charter.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 1 of 5 hotels in Harwich

Booking.com Rating: 9.3 out of 10

Pros: Stunning Cape Cod scenery with a full slate of resort programming, including a children's center, supervised splash park, and playground that makes it especially family-friendly.

Cons: The beach and pools are crowded in the summer season, and guests complain about cleanliness and upkeep issues in certain rooms.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations, but there is a two-night minimum stay. New policies include:

• The hotel will communicate with you prior to arrival to determine your housekeeping preferences, dining reservations, and planned activities and encourage you to use their texting platform for communication prior to and during your stay.
• Check-in will be offered curbside and staff will use contactless credit card devices. Guests will be directed to an assigned parking space. Bell service will be available, but optional. Luggage will be left at the entrance to guest room and luggage handles will be disinfected.
• Concierge service will be available virtually or by appointment.
• Social distancing practices will be observed, and staff will wear face coverings and gloves.
• You may depart remotely; a guest folio may be reviewed on your television. 
• Housekeeping services will be provided based upon guest preferences with the option to receive daily service and nightly turn-down service or to have linens, towels, and amenities delivered to the room or left at the entrance instead in a sealed bag.
• All staff will wear masks and gloves and changed frequently when cleaning guest rooms and bathrooms.
• Staff has been trained to properly address high touch points and avoid any possible cross-contamination when cleaning.
• When possible, guest rooms and suites will be left vacant for 24 hours between check-out and check-in.
• A letter will be placed in each guest room noting the specific policies and protocols the resort has adapted for cleanliness and sanitization.
• All restaurants and bars will follow the guidelines set by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker. In-Room dining will be available to guests and other meals may be enjoyed on patios, decks, or other outdoor areas to allow proper social distancing. Restaurant dining will require a la carte menus and reservations, with stringent cleaning practices.
• The pool area seating capacity has been redesigned to accommodate social distancing policies. Cabanas will be available with upgraded food and beverage selections. All lounge and beach chairs will be thoroughly sanitized after each use. Prepackaged sunscreen and twice daily refreshments will be offered. The public jacuzzis will remain closed per the state.
• Additional seating will be offered on the private beach with beach chairs, umbrellas and towels provided.
• The main fitness center has a maximum capacity of five guests.

Inn by the Sea - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Book Inn by the Sea starting at $179 per night

Located in Cape Elizabeth, just seven miles north of Portland, Maine, the ecologically friendly Inn by the Sea commands a mile of sand on Crescent Beach that guests access by strolling through lush nature. The entire 61-room and suite property, which is also landscaped with indigenous flowers and bushes, attracts native birds and butterflies and is an Instagram lover's dream.

Because Crescent Beach is spacious and the property limited, the beach never gets crowded, though there is also a pool. On cooler evenings, it's also extremely pleasant to sit out on the expansive patios and balconies that rim the rooms and suites, which are decorated with a variety of lush textiles, metallic accents, and marble countertops. 

A spa provides ocean-inspired treatments that use seaweed, salts, oils, and marine peptides. Dinner at Sea Glass, one of the best restaurants in the area, is an inventive adventure in seafood, especially if you order the tasting menu. The chef also is a whiz with vegan menus as well as gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free dishes.

Trip Advisor Ranking: No ranking of hotels (it may be the only one of its caliber in Cape Elizabeth) but 4.5 stars out of 1,610 reviews

Booking.com Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Pros: There's plenty to do with regular calendars that provide information on activities ranging from family movie nights to mixology classes. The resort is also pet-friendly.

Cons: While the property provides some activities and games like bocce, it doesn't offer a ton of recreation. It's best used as a base to explore Portland and the surrounding area.

COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations. New policies include:

• Touchless curbside check-in. Guests may pre-register and receive key packets without entering the inn.
• Enhanced housekeeping services to ensure the safety and well-being of all guests and hotel staff. 
• Expanded space between tables both indoor and outdoor at dining venues.
• Social distancing will be observed at the pool, outdoor decks, and throughout the resort.
• All team members will wear face masks and receive training on COVID-19 safety and sanitation protocols that will also be supplemented with various in-state certification courses.
• Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Items will be available for guests upon request, such as gloves and masks, and each guest room will be pre-stocked with hand sanitizer.
• Each guestroom will be carefully inspected and overstocked with various items to ensure a safe and seamless arrival experience. 
• Upon request, housekeeping will access your room to provide service and restock linens and amenities. Guests requesting limited service should coordinate in advance. It is preferred that the room be vacant when staff enter/exit. Fresh linens and towels along with any other requested amenities will be packaged and placed at your door upon request
• The frequency of cleaning and sanitizing has been increased in all public spaces with an emphasis on frequent contact surfaces. In addition, the frequency of air filter replacement and HVAC system cleaning has been increased and fresh air exchange will be maximized.
• All pool chaise lounge chairs have been preset in groups of two, with one table and umbrella offering a total of 24 available seats, all set six feet apart.
• Beach chairs and umbrellas will be sanitized before and after each use and set six feet apart.
• The spa and fitness center are now open, with reduced hours and new policies to protect associates and guests.

More safe vacation ideas during COVID:

• The best US mountain resorts for all seasons
• The best hotels near US national parks
• The best US island hotels that don't require a passport
• The best vacation rentals near US national parks
• The best ski vacation rentals in the US

Without PayPal, there may not have been Palantir. Or YouTube. Or SpaceX, LinkedIn, and Yelp. 

The payments company — launched as Confinity in 1998 by Peter Thiel, Max Levchin, and Luke Nosek — grew to become a Silicon Valley giant. It was acquired by eBay in 2002 for $1.5 billion in a deal that altered Silicon Valley history and helped spawn the careers of some of tech's most famous names.

The PayPal Mafia, as its early employees came to be known, have gone on to become venture capitalists, tech founders, and even a US ambassador. 

Here are the tech companies that may not have gotten their start without the success of PayPal. 

SEE ALSO: One of Facebook's earliest employees is about to take his billion-dollar startup, Asana, public. Here's where the rest of Facebook's first employees ended up.

Secretive data company Palantir was founded in part by Peter Thiel, PayPal's cofounder.

When it was founded: 2003

What it does: Palantir creates software that manages and analyzes data. Its software helps other companies and agencies like law enforcement find patterns in large swaths of data.

How it's related to PayPal: Thiel founded Palantir after PayPal's sale to eBay, and the idea for the company was born out of Thiel's experience dealing with credit card fraud at PayPal. 

Joe Lonsdale, who worked as a finance intern at PayPal while still in college at Stanford University, is also a Palantir cofounder. 

Affirm was launched by Max Levchin, a PayPal cofounder.

When it was founded: 2013

What it does: Affirm offers instant lines of credit to customers shopping online, allowing them to buy a product and pay for it over time. The company raised a $500 million Series G round last month.

How it's related to PayPal: Affirm is the brainchild of Max Levchin, one of the original PayPal founders. The company launched out of Levchin's startup incubator, HVF — Levchin took over as CEO in 2014.

Levchin founded the company along with a team that includes Nathan Gettings, who also cofounded Palantir. 

Fertility tracking company Glow was also born out of Levchin's startup incubator.

When it was founded: 2013

What it does: Glow makes a family of apps that use data science to help track periods, ovulation, fertility, pregnancy, and children's' growth. 

How it's related to PayPal: Glow was also founded in Levchin's HVF startup incubator, and Levchin now serves as executive chairman. 

YouTube's founders worked together at PayPal during the early days.

When it was founded: 2005

What it does: YouTube is a platform for hosting and sharing videos. It was sold to Google in November 2006.

How it's related to PayPal: Founders Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim were all early employees at PayPal.

When PayPal sold to eBay for $1.5 billion, it sparked a "healthy competition" among the company's alumni, early YouTube investor Roelof Botha told Business Insider earlier this year. When it came time for YouTube to sell, the team intentionally chose a price of $1.65 billion — 10% more than what eBay sold for. 

Elon Musk founded SpaceX after working at PayPal.

When it was founded: 2002

What it does: The goal of SpaceX, short for Space Exploration Technologies, is to make space flight cheaper and eventually colonize Mars. 

How it's related to PayPal: In 1999, Musk launched an online banking company called X.com. That company merged with Thiel's Confinity in 2000, then became PayPal in 2001. Musk was briefly PayPal CEO before being replaced by Thiel. But when PayPal sold, Musk netted $165 million from the deal, which he used to start SpaceX. 

Musk was an early investor in and cofounder of Tesla.

When it was founded: 2003

What it does: Tesla manufactures electric vehicles, batteries, and solar panels. 

How it's related to PayPal: Musk was an early Tesla investor and cofounder. He became CEO in 2008. 

Musk launched The Boring Company after becoming irritated by Los Angeles traffic.

When it was founded: 2016

What it does: The Boring Company builds underground tunnels with the intention of housing high-speed transit systems to reduce traffic in cities. 

How it's related to PayPal: Musk initially proposed The Boring Company in a white paper in 2013 and launched the company three years later. 

Musk also created OpenAI and Neuralink.

When they were founded: 2015 and 2016, respectively

What it does: OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research lab, while Neuralink's goal is to make computers that can be implanted in people's brains.

How it's related to PayPal: Musk founded both companies to fight against what he sees as the dangers of AI.

LinkedIn was founded by early PayPal exec Reid Hoffman.

When it was founded: 2002

What it does: LinkedIn is a social network for professionals. 

How it's related to PayPal: Hoffman was an executive vice president at PayPal in its early days. He founded LinkedIn and initially served as its CEO before later becoming executive chairman. 

Yelp was founded by two early PayPal employees, Jeremy Stoppelman and Russel Simmons.

When it was founded: 2004

What it does: Yelp is a platform for hosting reviews and recommendations about local businesses. 

How it's related to PayPal: Stoppelman and Simmons met while working at PayPal in the early 2000s — Stoppelman came from X.com and served as vice president of technology while Simmons worked as an engineer. Levchin provided the initial investment in the company. 

If you're among the richest people in the world, chances are you've found some unusual ways to spend your money. 

That's what tech executives like Larry Ellison, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk have done, anyway — they've spent money on everything from a massive chunk of the state of Hawaii to the submarine car from the James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me." 

Some tech billionaires are famously frugal, while others spend money on more conventional expenditures like mansions or fabulous vacations. And while the tech billionaires featured below own their fair share of homes and yachts — plus found time for more noble pursuits like donating to charity or signing the Giving Pledge— they've also used their billions to pursue passion projects.

Here are some of the more unusual and extravagant ways tech executives have spent their money. 

SEE ALSO: How billionaire Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk went from getting bullied as a child to becoming one of the most successful and provocative men in tech

Many CEOs make expensive home and land purchases, but perhaps none more so than Oracle founder Larry Ellison. In 2012, the billionaire purchased 98% of the Hawaiian island Lanai.

Ellison reportedly paid $300 million for the island in 2012. It contains 90,000 acres of land and several resorts, and is home to more than 3,200 residents. Ellison plans to use to land to test environmentally friendly practices like solar power and electric vehicles. 

In December 2020, Ellison revealed that he has moved to the island full-time. 

Source: Forbes,Business Insider

Unsurprisingly, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has an interest in unusual vehicles. In 2013, for example, he bought the Lotus Esprit submarine car that's used in the James Bond movie "The Spy Who Loved Me." Musk paid $920,000 at auction.

"It was amazing as a little kid in South Africa to watch James Bond in 'The Spy Who Loved Me' drive his Lotus Esprit off a pier, press a button and have it transform into a submarine underwater," Musk said in a statement to Jalopnik at the time. "I was disappointed to learn that it can't actually transform. What I'm going to do is upgrade it with a Tesla electric powertrain and try to make it transform for real."

Source: Jalopnik

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has invested $42 million in a mechanical clock that's buried inside a mountain in Texas.

The 10,000-year-clock, as it's called, was created by a group called The Long Now Foundation. It's a 500-foot-tall clock that's powered by thermal cycles and is designed to keep time for millennia.

Source: Business Insider

Bezos also has a passion for space, as evidenced by his Blue Origin rocket company. In 2013, the exec funded an expedition to retrieve the remains of multiple Apollo engines from the bottom of the ocean.

Bezos led a team that sent unmanned robots 14,000 feet down to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean off of Cape Canaveral, Florida, to gather the engine parts from the Apollo 12 moon mission. 

"To bring those pieces up on deck and actually touch them, that brought back for me all those feelings I had when I was 5 years old and watched those missions go to the moon," Bezos said in a video about the expedition, according to the Seattle Times. "If this results in one young explorer, one young adventurer, one young inventor, doing something amazing that helps the world, I'm totally fulfilled."

Source: Seattle Times

Google cofounder Sergey Brin has reportedly invested between $100 million and $150 million of his own money into building a 600-foot flying airship.

Brin is said to be building the airship, which would be the world's largest aircraft, out of a NASA research center near Mountain View, California.

He reportedly envisions using it to make deliveries for humanitarian missions or as an "air yacht" for friends and family. 

Source: The Guardian

Brin's fellow Google cofounder Larry Page is also interested in flying vehicles, though of a slightly different variety: Page funds three different flying-car startups.

Page has invested in a two-seater flying taxi called Cora and a flying boat called Flyer, which are both made by electric flight transportation company Kitty Hawk. He's also involved in Opener, a startup that makes a flying vehicle called BlackFly. 

It's not clear how much money Page has invested in these projects. 

Source: The Verge

And while many high-powered executives have private planes, Page and Brin one-upped the typical Gulfstream jet. In 2005, they bought a former passenger plane, a Boeing 767-200.

But in true Google fashion, Page and Brin tricked out the inside, adding a dining area, two staterooms with adjacent bathrooms, and multiple seating areas. The jet can hold up to 50 passengers and includes several first-class seats.

Meanwhile, Oracle's Larry Ellison owns a decommissioned Soviet jet fighter, the Mikoyan MiG-29.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Find further detail about each of these events below.

November 17, 2019: A person displayed the first detectable case of COVID-19 in China.

The 55-year-old from Hubei province was the first known case of COVID-19 in the world (though the virus hadn't received that name yet), and one of hundreds identified by Chinese authorities in 2019, according to an investigation by the South China Morning Post.

However, Chinese medical experts didn't realize they were dealing with a new virus until late December. Many cases were likely backdated after health authorities took samples from suspected cases, according to the investigation.

December 31, 2019: Chinese Health officials informed the World Health Organization about a cluster of 41 patients with a mysterious pneumonia in Wuhan.

"The cause of the disease is not clear," The People's Daily newspaper, a state-owned publication, said at the time, according to Reuters.

Researchers think the coronavirus originated in bats, then may have jumped to an intermediary species that passed it to people.

January 1, 2020: Chinese authorities closed the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, to which many cases in that early cluster had links.

Although the market was initially suspected to be the site where the outbreak first started, research has suggested that it simply boosted transmission via an early superspreader event.

China has since banned the buying, selling, and transportation of wild animals in markets, restaurants, and online marketplaces. 

January 7: Chinese authorities identified the virus that caused the illness as a new type of coronavirus.

At that time, the researchers called the virus 2019-nCoV. 

Coronaviruses get their name from their appearance under a microscope: They appear to be covered with points that look like a crown (hence, corona). Other viruses in the coronavirus family cause pneumonia, SARS, and some common colds. 

January 11: China recorded its first coronavirus death. Chinese researchers also published the virus' genetic sequence.

The first person to die was a 61-year-old man who was a frequent customer at the Huanan market.

After researchers published the genetic sequence of the coronavirus, at least two companies quickly got to work creating vaccine candidates: Moderna and BioNTech.

January 13: The first coronavirus case outside China was reported in Thailand.

A 61-year-old female tourist in Thailand was diagnosed on January 13. She'd recently spent time in Wuhan. Airports in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and South Korea began to screen passengers for fever.

January 20: The US reported its first case: a 35-year-old man in Snohomish County, Washington.

The man left Wuhan and landed at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on January 15. He reported to a clinic with pneumonia symptoms on January 19, then was diagnosed with the coronavirus a day later.

January 23: Chinese authorities placed the 11-million-person city of Wuhan under quarantine, and the rest of the Hubei province followed days later.

The Hubei lockdowns affected an estimated 60 million people, making China's action the largest quarantine in history at the time.

Still, this lockdown came too late to stop the coronavirus from spreading throughout the province and beyond its borders. Wuhan officials had allowed a district in the city to hold a Lunar New Year gathering of 40,000 families on January 18, according to the Financial Times.

January 30: The WHO declared a public-health emergency of international concern.

The WHO's "global public-health emergency" determination has been around since 2005 and had been used five times before.

Those instances were the Ebola outbreak that started in 2013 in West Africa, another Ebola outbreak that's been ongoing in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2018, the 2016 Zika epidemic, polio in war zones in 2014, and the swine-flu pandemic in 2009.

January 31: President Donald Trump banned foreign nationals from entering the US if they'd been in China within the prior two weeks.

Several of President Donald Trump's top advisers — including Anthony Fauci, HHS Secretary Alex Azar, and CDC Director Robert Redfield — had urged him to limit travel from China, according to journalist Bob Woodward.

February 2: The first coronavirus death outside of China was recorded in the Philippines.

The 44-year-old man, a Wuhan resident, had traveled to the Philippines on January 21 with a 38-year-old woman.

Hours before announcing the death, Philippines government officials said they would temporarily ban all non-Filipino travelers from China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

February 6: A person in California died from COVID-19, the first known American death.

Santa Clara County officials found via autopsies that three people who died in their homes on February 6, February 17, and March 6 had the coronavirus.

Before those cases were identified, officials thought that a fatality reported in Washington state on February 29 was the earliest US death from the virus.

February 7: Wuhan doctor and whistleblower Li Wenliang died. At the onset of the outbreak, Li warned contacts from medical school about a new virus but was reprimanded by authorities.

Li was forced to sign a letter saying he made "false comments" after he alerted fellow doctors about the worrisome SARS-like disease. 

Li caught the coronavirus himself and died a little more than a month later. He left behind a son and pregnant wife. After his death, Chinese social media was filled with outpourings of grief and anger. Many posts featured a hashtag saying "We want freedom of speech."

February 11: The WHO announced that the disease caused by the new coronavirus would be called COVID-19.

"We had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual, or group of people," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, adding that the WHO wanted a name that was "pronounceable and related to the disease."

February 14: A Chinese tourist who tested positive for the virus died in France, becoming Europe's first death tied to the outbreak.

The victim, an 80-year-old man from Hubei province who'd traveled to France on holiday, was hospitalized and quarantined on January 25. France had confirmed 11 cases of the virus by then, according to the BBC.

Also at the time, more than 1,600 people had died in Hubei.

February 29-March 19: Nearly all US states declared a state of emergency.

The announcements enabled states to activate emergency response plans and spend money to deploy additional personnel, buy equipment, and prepare stockpiles of supplies.

March 9: Italy placed all 60 million residents under lockdown.

Initially, two regions in the north become hotspots, so Italian officials locked down towns there on February 23. Then on March 9, the government expanded the restriction zone to encompass the entire nation.

March 11: The WHO declared the outbreak a pandemic.

The WHO made the designation based on the geographic spread of the disease, the severity of illnesses it causes, and its effects on society.

"Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly," Tedros said.

March 11: President Trump banned travel from 26 European countries.

The ban went into effect on March 13. The UK and Ireland were later added. The ban did not prevent US citizens and some other groups from entering the country from Europe.

March 13: Trump declared a national emergency.

The declaration triggered the Stafford Act and allowed for more federal aid to states and municipalities.

Congress also passed a roughly $2 trillion stimulus package.

March 19: China reported no new locally spread infections for the first time since the pandemic began.

The nation has since kept its case numbers under control, with fewer than 20,000 new cases since May among a population of nearly 1.4 billion people. 

China's strict lockdowns helped it contained COVID-19 so quickly. A March study found that the Wuhan lockdown on January 23 prevented tens of thousands of infections throughout the Hubei province. Without the lockdown, cases in Hubei would have been 65% higher, the study calculated. 

March 21: Italy saw the peak of its first wave, with 6,557 new cases of COVID-19 in a day.

The country's coronavirus caseload had skyrocketed by the end of February. As of late December, more than 2 million people have gotten the coronavirus in Italy.

March 23: New York City became the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the US.

New York state has recorded more than 887,000 cases in total, though many early cases in the spring weren't counted due to limited testing. More than 36,000 people there have died. 

March 26: The US became the world leader in confirmed cases with more than 82,400, surpassing China's total of 81,780 at the time.

At the time, President Trump claimed the high numbers in the US were due to high levels of testing, even though the country lagged behind other nations in tests per capita, including South Korea and Italy. 

March 30: Iran recorded 3,186 new daily cases, the peak of its first wave.

Iran's schools and universities closed February 23, as did movie theaters and cultural centers. Government officials also released 54,000 prisoners to prevent outbreaks in its prisons. Still, the country became an early epicenter of the pandemic.

March 31: More than one-third of humanity was under some form of lockdown.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi told India's 1.3 billion residents to stay home on March 24, 2.6 billion people across the world were under lockdown. That's more people than were alive on the planet during World War II.

April 2: The world passed 1 million COVID-19 cases.

The US had the most infections at the time, with more than 234,000 cases, or about one-quarter of the world's total. Italy had about 115,000 cases, and Spain had reported 110,000. More than 51,000 people had died worldwide.

April 7: Roughly 95% of all Americans were under some form of lockdown as a result of state, county, or city orders.

Governors in 42 states issued stay-at-home orders by the end of March, affecting a total of 308 million people, or about 95% of the US population.

April 10: The global death toll surpassed 100,000.

The world reached this milestone 101 days after Chinese health authorities first alerted the World Health Organization about the coronavirus. At the time, the US had the second-highest death toll of any country, with 17,925 deaths. Italy was highest, with 18,849 deaths.

April 14: President Trump ordered a halt on $400 million in US funding for the World Health Organization.

In a prepared statement on April 14, Trump blamed the WHO for "severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus."

April 24: Coronavirus cases began to spike in Brazil.

Brazil currently has the third-highest number of COVID-19 cases: more than 6.9 million. More than 181,000 people have died there, the second-highest death toll after the US.

Like President Trump, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has endorsed unproven COVID-19 remedies like hydroxychloroquine and downplayed the pandemic's overall threat.

May 11: Many countries, including Spain, Iran, Italy, New Zealand, and Thailand, began to ease lockdown restrictions.

New Zealand, in particular, has successfully managed its COVID-19 outbreak. Since an initial spike in April, the country has not reported more than 25 new cases in a single day. Overall, it has only reported 2,128 cases and 25 deaths.

May 16: Coronavirus cases begin to surge in India.

India has reported more than 10.1 million coronavirus cases. More than 146,000 people there have died of COVID-19.

May 21: The number of global COVID-19 cases surpassed 5 million.

The number had passed 4 million on May 9, just 11 days earlier. At the time, nearly a third of the 5 million cases — 1,551,853 — had been reported in the US. More than 93,000 people in the US had died from the virus at the time. 

June 28: Global cases surpassed 10 million, and global deaths surpassed 500,000.

About half of those infections were still active and ongoing, while the other half of people had recovered.

July 7: Bolsonaro announced he'd tested positive for COVID-19.

After he announced his diagnosis, Bolsonaro claimed he was getting treated with hydroxychloroquine.

September 2: The WHO issued a strong recommendation for the use of steroids among seriously ill COVID-19 patients.

The organization based its recommendation on the results of seven clinical trials, which found that critically ill COVID-19 patients given steroids were significantly less likely to die.

"Clearly, now steroids are the standard of care," Dr. Howard Bauchner, editor in chief of the Journal of the American Medical Association, told The New York Times.

September 22: US deaths from COVID-19 topped 200,000.

In March, disease modelers predicted that COVID-19 would kill as many as 195,000 people in the US by the end of the year. The country reached that number three months earlier than expected. 

The disease has killed more Americans than every war US troops have died in since 1945 combined. The US's current death toll stands at more than 327,000.

September 28: Global deaths surpassed 1 million.

Combined, the US, Brazil, and India combined accounted for nearly half of that total.

The 1 million figure was almost certainly an undercount, given the lack of widespread testing in many nations, as well as suspected concealment of cases and deaths in some countries like Russia and Brazil.

October 2: President Trump announced he'd tested positive for COVID-19.

The president's diagnosis came about a week after he and more than 150 others gathered in the White House Rose Garden to celebrate the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. 

After Trump, at least 34 White House staff members, GOP officials, journalists, and other people in the president's orbit tested positive for COVID-19.

October 23: The US entered its third surge of coronavirus cases, the beginning of its deadliest phase yet.

Daily cases rose more than 40% from the beginning to end of October. Since then, new cases have continued to trend upward. Patients with COVID-19 have overwhelmed intensive-care units in cities like El Paso, Texas, and Salt Lake City, Utah. 

On each of six days in December, more than 3,000 people in the US died, eclipsing the daily high of the first wave: 2,752 deaths on May 7.

November 9: Global cases topped 50 million.

By that time, the virus had killed more than 1.25 million people.

December 2: The UK authorized Pfizer and BioNtech's vaccine.

"This is a day to remember, frankly, in a year to forget," British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said, according to the Associated Press.

Two other companies, Moderna and Astrazeneca, had by this point also announced promising trial results. But Astrazeneca's came under scrutiny, since it turned out that researchers had given some participants a half-dose for their first shot by mistake. Among the group that got a half-dose followed by a full dose, the vaccine was found to be 90% effective. Among the rest of the trial participants, who got two full doses, the vaccine showed 60% effectiveness.  AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot told Bloomberg that the company would likely launch a new global trial of the vaccine because of the skewed data. 

December 11: The FDA authorized Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine.

The decision followed an endorsement from an independent panel after Pfizer and BioNTech announced its vaccine was 95% effective in a major trial.

The FDA had said it would approve a vaccine that showed at least 50% efficacy, and Fauci had said he hoped for 70%. The vaccine's development process was also unprecedentedly fast— previously, the fastest vaccine ever developed took more than four years.

December 18: The FDA authorized Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccine was more than 94% effective in the Phase 3 trial. 

The most popular figures on social media platforms like TikTok are well beyond mega-celebrity status in the eyes of their teen fans.

These TikTok stars claim millions of followers — many who are of part of Gen Z themselves — and found fame by creating short video clips lip-syncing to soundbites, showing off viral dances, and crafting comedy skits that get shared thousands of times. Even if you've never heard of the app, it's worth getting familiar with. TikTok has more than 1.5 billion all-time downloads, and its popularity and influence only continues to spread.

TikTok is both a launchpad for some of the biggest trends on the internet: think Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road," which set Billboard chart records in 2019, or TikTok's homebrewed "Ratatouille" musical, which was formed through collaboration on the app in 2020.

However, it's also proven its worth as a celebrity incubator. In November 2020, 16-year-old Charli D'Amelio became the first TikTok star to hit over 100 million followers, and all of the app's top stars have follower counts that name in the tens of millions. Now, TikTok stars like D'Amelio or Addison Rae have gone on to secure TV and podcast deals.

Note that this list consists of independent creators who blew up online thanks to TikTok or its predecessor, Musical.ly. The rankings exclude accounts run by companies, and those from users who got famous first through other means — like former Vine stars Cameron Dallas and Zach King, and JoJo Siwa and Mackenzie Ziegler of "Dance Moms" fame.

These are the 40 biggest stars on TikTok:

SEE ALSO: How to use TikTok, the short-form video app Gen Z loves and that's ushering in a new era of influencers

40. Kody Antle — 21.4 million

Kody Antle has been a social media star since before his father, Bhagavan "Doc" Antle, appeared on the Netflix series "Tiger King." He began posting on TikTok before his father appeared on "Tiger King," and his first video on the app is dated to September 2019.

Referred to as a "real-life Tarzan," Kody Antle has become one of TikTok's most popular accounts by posting videos from the Myrtle Beach Safari, which frequently feature tigers and other animals. 

39. Beauty Khan — 21.5 million

Beauty Khan became one of India's most popular TikTok stars through a mix of dance and lip-sync content.

By follower count, she remains one of the most popular accounts on the app. Her most recent video was posted on June 30, the day after TikTok was banned in India.

(TIE) 37. WigoFellas —21.7 million

WigoFellas rose to fame through posting comedy and prank content. The pranks frequently include members of WigoFellas' family.

Little is known about the man behind it, but posts on the account date back to 2018.

(TIE) 37. Naim Darrechi — 21.7 million

Naim Darrechi appears to have begun posting videos on Musical.ly, TikTok's predecessor, in 2016. Since then, he's built a significant following by posting dance, lip-sync, and comedy videos, and is a member of creator collective Privé Crew.

Darrechi is also a musician, and most recently released the single "Escápate." 

36. JeanCarlo Leon — 21.8

JeanCarlo León, also known by his TikTok and Instagram handle @jashlem, appears to have begun posting on Musical.ly, TikTok's predecessor, in 2017.

He posts a variety of lifestyle, vlog, dance, and lip-sync content, and is a member of creator collective Privé Crew.

35. Ondreaz Lopez — 22.1 million

Ondreaz Lopez, 23, is the older brother to Tony Lopez. The pair of brothers rose to fame together with dance content and by association with the Hype House early in 2020.

In late 2020, he released the single "No Baila."

34. Domelipa (Dominik) — 22.2 million

Dominik, perhaps better known by her handle @domelipa, is 19 years old according to online celebrity tracking site Famous Birthdays.

The creator is from Moterrey, Mexico, and appears to have begun posting on TikTok predecessor Musical.ly in early 2018, and now posts a mix of dance, lifestyle, and lip-sync content. 

33. Avneet Kaur — 22.6 million

Avneet Kaur first emerged on the scene as a contestant on an Indian reality dance competition in 2010 at 9 years old, but has since become a popular actress and choreographer.

The 18-year-old Kaur frequently features on her TikTok behind-the-scenes footage from her time on set and lipsync videos with family and friends. Her most recent TikTok post dates to June 29, the day that TikTok was banned in India.

32. Noah Beck — 22.7 million

Noah Beck, 19, was named one of TikTok's top creators of 2020.

A member of the Sway House, he's a former D-1 soccer player and is known for lifestyle and comedy content.  

31. Piyanka Mongia — 22.7 million

Piyanka Mongia, 23, appears to have begun posting on TikTok in 2018 and was one of India's most popular stars on the app.

She posted predominately lip-sync and dance videos, and her last posts date to June 30, just after TikTok was banned in India.

30. Tony Lopez — 22.8 million

Tony Lopez, 21, rose to fame alongside his older brother Ondreaz Lopez by posting dance videos.

In the past, he's been associated with the Hype House influencer collective, and in June came under scrutiny for past tweets that contained racist, sexist, and homophobic statements. 

(TIE) 28. Junya — 23.3 million

Junya, also known by his TikTok handle @junya1gou, appears to have started posting on TikTok in mid-2019.

In the time since, he's risen to fame with a variety of wild comedy videos that feature him engaging in ridiculous stunts, performing dances, and generally being extremely funny. Despite having over 23 million followers, his account still hasn't been verified. 

(TIE) 28. Jayden Croes — 23.3 million

Jay Croes, 22, is the younger half of popular social media sibling duo Croes Bros. The two brothers grew up in Aruba, where life was "pure and simple," then started to grow their fanbase on Musical.ly in 2015.

27. Rodrigo Contreras — 23.5 million

Rodrigo Contreras, 21, is also known by his handle @elrodcontreras.

A Mexican TikTok star, he appears to have started posting on the app when in 2017 (when it was Musical.ly) and posts primarily dance and lip-sync videos. 

(TIE) 25. Savannah LaBrant & Family — 23.7 million

Savannah Labrant is the matriarch of a family with a wildly popular social media presence. Her husband, Cole, is a former Vine star known as part of a dancing trio dubbed "Dem White Boyz."

The couple's YouTube channel about their family has more than 10 million subscribers, and their two children — age 6 and 7 months— each have Instagram followings of over 1 million.

(TIE) 25. Josh Richards — 23.7 million

Josh Richards, 18, is one of the six TikTok stars living in Sway LA, a rented house in Los Angeles designed for its creators to easily engage in content collaboration and video production. 

24. Jacob Sartorius — 24 million

Jacob Sartorius was one of the most popular stars on Musical.ly, which has helped the 16-year-old launch a mildly successful career in music.

Sartorius also made headlines in 2018 as part of a much-publicized relationship with "Stranger Things" star Millie Bobby Brown. 

23. Sameeksha Sud — 24.5 million

Sameeksha Sud is known for her comedic sketches alongside two other India TikTok stars, and the three of them altogether run a successful YouTube channel called TeenTigada.

The 27-year-old Sud is also an actress, but has gained in popularity thanks to TikTok. Her most recent video was uploaded on June 29, the day that TikTok was banned in India.

22. Kristen Hancher — 24.7 million

Kristen Hancher has gained an incredibly large fanbase who have watched the 21-year-old through years of lip-syncing videos and dozens of hair color changes.

Hancher, originally from Canada, announced in 2019 that she was joining Team 10, the Jake Paul-founded influencer collective, but as Seventeen reported she later left the group. 

21. Awez Darbar — 26 million

Awez Darbar is a 27-year-old dancer from India known for posting videos showing his original choreography to viral hits.

The most recent video on his account was posted on June 29, the day that TikTok was banned in India.

20. The Dobre Twins — 26.8 million

Lucas and Marcus Dobre are a pair of 21-year-old twins whose TikTok videos comprise comedic skits, pranks, gymnastics, and vlogs.

The twin brothers also create content for YouTube with their older brothers Cyrus and Darius, and the four embarked on a cross-country tour in 2019 to meet fans.

19. Joe Albanese — 27.6 million

Joe Albanese, 19, rose to fame with his breakdance skills and an assortment of colored wigs.

The first video on his TikTok account is dated to December 2018, and in the time since, he's become one of the app's most-followed stars by posting videos that frequently feature members of his family and focus on dance and comedy. 

18. Nisha Guragain — 28 million

Nisha Guragain is a 22-year-old from India who capitalizes on viral trends by recording lip-sync videos to songs growing in popularity on TikTok.

Her most recent video was posted on June 28, one day before TikTok was banned in India.

17. Jannat Zubair Rahmani — 28.2 million

Jannat Zubair Rahmani is a 19-year-old actress whose career started at 8 years old. She has since found success on TikTok as one of India's most popular accounts, where she shares music she produces and shares lip-syncing videos.

Her most recent video was posted on June 24, several days before TikTok was banned in India.

(TIE) 15. Lilhuddy (aka Chase Hudson) — 28.6 million

Chase Hudson, 18, has rocketed to fame as another member of the Los Angles-based creator collective, Hype House.

Hudson, who goes by Lilhuddy online, is perhaps just as well known for dating Charli D'Amelio, the 15-year-old who recently took over as the most followed creator on TikTok.

(TIE) 15. Arishfa Khan — 28.6 million

Arishfa Khan is a 17-year-old creator from India who got her start as a child actress at age 9. However, she gained a major following for her lip-syncing videos on her TikTok account and has since created a beauty and makeup-centric YouTube channel.

Her videos often feature fellow TikTok star Lucky Dancer. Khan posted her most recent TikTok video on June 29, the day that TikTok was banned in India.

14. The Stokes Twins — 28.7 million

Alex and Alan Stokes are 24-year-old twins who have channeled the internet's obsession with twin pairings to go viral and garner a following on YouTube and Instagram.

"It's the same reason why couples channels do well," Alan Stokes told The Atlantic in 2019. "Twins are the closest you can get to someone without it being a couple thing."

13. Czn Burak (aka Burak Özdemir) — 29.8 million

CZN Burak— whose real name is Burak Özdemir — is the most famous chef on TikTok. He's known for cooking elaborate Turkish meals while his face features a seemingly permanent, unmoving smile.

12. Avani Gregg — 29.9 million

Avani Gregg, 18, is one of the several teens on this list who shot into the TikTok elite in 2020 thanks to the launch of the collective Hype House, a group of up-and-coming creators who often collaborated on videos and viral challenges thanks to a shared house in Los Angeles.

Now with her own TV show available to view using Facebook Messenger's "watch together" feature, Gregg continues to post dance and makeup videos on TikTok.

11. Gilmher Croes — 31.4 million

Gil Croes is the other half of the wildly popular Croes Brothers and is one of the older stars on TikTok at age 27. Croes told Business Insider that since starting to make videos in 2015, the brothers have been forced to change and adapt in order to maintain popularity on the platform.

"We never get comfortable, can never do the same thing that we were doing before," Croes said. "You can't please everyone, but we try to adapt in a way where people enjoy our content."

10. Mr. Faisu (aka Faisal Shaikh) — 32.1 million

Mr Faisu is part of a squad of Indian creators dubbed Team 07. After he was suspended from TikTok in 2019 for violating its community guidelines, he returned in early 2020 to continue making videos and maintaining his spot as one of India's most popular creators.

His last video posted on TikTok is dated June 28, one day before TikTok was banned in India.

9. Baby Ariel (aka Ariel Martin) — 35.2 million

Baby Ariel, aka Ariel Martin, was the first individual to surpass the 20-million-followers mark on Musical.ly, and her fame has only grown from there.

The 20-year-old's illustrious TikTok fame has led to multiple gigs on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon TV shows.

8. Michael Le — 43.4 million

Michael Le began posting videos to TikTok's predecessor Musical.ly back in 2016 and has been growing his fame on the app ever since.

Known for dance videos and choreography, TikTok named him one of its top creators of 2020. Le is also the "ceo of escalator tiktoks" (as he once described himself in a video caption), regularly posting videos that show him dancing on escalators in public. 

7. Riyaz Afreen — 43.7 million

Riyaz Afreen is only 17, but established himself as an actor and star by going viral on TikTok.

He has often featured other popular Indian TikTok stars on his accounts, including Mr. Faisu and Aashika Bhatia. His last posts on TikTok are dated June 29 – the day that TikTok was banned in India.

6. Dixie D'Amelio — 47 million

Dixie D'Amelio is the older sister of TikTok's biggest star, Charli. Dixie, 18, is also known for her dance videos and choreography.

D'Amelio signed a contract with a major talent agency alongside her younger sister in late 2019, and has released two singles — "Be Happy" and "One Whole Day (feat. Wiz Khalifa)"— in 2020.

5. Bella Poarch — 49.1 million

Bella Poarch was one of TikTok's breakout stars in 2020 and came to possess its most liked video — a zoomed-in lip-sync to British rapper Millie B's "M to the B."

Poarch came into TikTok fame in the latter half of 2020, posting lip-sync, dance, singing, and gaming-focused videos. While some of Poarch's personal details like her real name and age remain unclear, she's become one of TikTok's biggest stars.  

4. Loren Gray — 50.2 million

Loren Gray was a star on TikTok's predecessor, Musical.ly, at only 13. Gray has been a frequent part of TikTok's lip-dubbing trends and viral dance challenges and has garnered nominations at the Teen Choice Awards and People's Choice Awards for her social media presence.

She recently told Insider she was planning on focusing more on her career in music, which she's been producing since 2017. In late 2020, she launched her own jewelry brand, &always.

3. Spencer X (aka Spencer Knight) — 50.3 million

Spencer X is the stage name for Spencer Knight, a beatboxer who shows off his skills to millions on TikTok.

The 27-year-old artist has been able to turn professional thanks to a sponsorship from energy drink brand Moster Energy.

2. Addison Rae (aka Addison Easterling) — 51.3 million

Addison Rae— as 20-year-old Addison Easterling is known online — quickly rose to fame after joining TikTok in the summer of 2019.

She regularly draws hundreds of thousands of views on videos where she dances and lip-syncs to popular songs on the app and hosts a Spotify-exclusive podcast called "Mama Knows Best" with her mother, Sheri Nicole. 

1. Charli D'Amelio — 103.6 million

Charli D'Amelio is officially TikTok's biggest star. After launching her channel in June 2019, the 16-year-old from Connecticut rocketed to the top of TikTok in just a matter of months through choreographed dances to viral songs.

Her breakout success has led her to a spot in Hype House, a cameo appearance in a Super Bowl commercial, and a contract with a premier talent agency. Now, her family is getting their own documentary TV show on Hulu in 2021.

2020 was a fantastic year for sneakers, pandemic notwithstanding. 

While lockdowns and store closures initially hurt production, the industry quickly bounced back, thanks to a variety of factors that helped ignite demand for certain pairs.

Across all sneakers available on resale platforms, Air Jordan soared above the rest in 2020, in part, thanks to the launch of ESPN's Michael Jordan docuseries "The Last Dance." 

Read more:In the 'year of Jordan,' GOAT CEO says demand for the retro sneakers has skyrocketed for reasons other than the 'Last Dance' documentary

Beyond Air Jordan, a slew of interesting new releases this year also fueled the hype.

The controversial Ben & Jerry's-themed "Chunky Dunkys" and the Grateful Dead SBs are still fetching more than $1,100 and $700 on StockX, respectively.

Thus far, the $2 billion sneaker resale market has proven to be somewhat pandemic-proof. GOAT, a leading sneaker resale platform, saw a surge of new sellers joining the app at the start of pandemic. StockX, another leading sneaker resale platform, announced in a July report that it had surpassed 10 million lifetime sales and had its two biggest sales months ever during the months of May and June.

As 2020 draws to a close, Luxury consignment retailer The RealReal shared a roundup of the most expensive sneakers to sell on its platform in 2020. From the always popular "Back to the Future" themed Nikes to the Tom Sachs Mars Yard, here were the top sellers:

SEE ALSO: Sneakers are now an asset class. Here's how Rally, an app that splits valuable collectibles into shares, is capitalizing on the trend.

10. Nike Air Force 1 Low Scarr's Pizza

Sold for: $5,000

These sneakers were a result of a collaboration between Nike and Scarr's Pizza, a New York City restaurant. The shoes were released for friends and family in August of 2019 and were inspired by the restaurant's retro look. 

9. Nike SB Dunk Low "Reese Forbes Denim"

Sold for: $5,250

Released in 2002, this sneaker marked skateboarding legend Reese Forbes' second Dunk collaboration. The denim-on-denim silhouette has made this pair iconic.

8. Nike x Tom Sachs Mars Yard Shoe 1.0

Sold for: $5,300

Designer Tom Sachs collaborated with Nike to launch this sneaker that was inspired by his experiences with NASA scientists. The sneaker initially launched in May of 2012 and was re-released in 2017.

7. Jordan 1 Retro Legends of Summer Red Glitter

Sold for: $6,500

These glittered sneakers launched during Justin Timberlake's and Jay-Z's fall 2013 "Legends of Summer" tour. At the time of the release, only a few pairs were given to fans.

6. Nike Air Force 1 Low G Dragon Peaceminusone Para Noise

Sold for: $8,000

This low-top sneaker features a yellow leather Nike swoosh and daisy embroidery on the tongue.

5. Jordan 1 Retro Legends Of Summer

Sold for: $8,000

These limited edition Jordan 1s are were also from Justin Timberlake's and Jay-Z's fall 2013 "Legends of Summer" tour. This pair only surfaced on the resale market about a year after it dropped at the concert. 

4. Nike MAG "Back To The Future"

Sold for: $9,995

The shoes inspired by the ones Michael J. Fox's character Marty McFly wears in"Back to the Future Part II" was released in 2011. A product description on the Stadium Goods website describes the shoe as "perhaps the most sought-after sneaker of all time."

3. Jordan 3/8 Retro 'Kobe Bryant' PE Pack

 Sold for: $11,875

The Jordan brand released these special-edition Jordans on February 14, 2016, to celebrate basketball legend Kobe Bryant. These sneakers are a tribute to Bryant's 20 years in the NBA and feature the colors of the Los Angeles Lakers.

According to Amir Azarcon, The RealReal's sneaker and streetwear expert, this limited edition pack became even more popular after the sudden death of Kobe Bryant in January.

2. Air Jordan 1 High OG Dior

Sold for: $16,500

Designer Kim Jones collaborated with the Jordan brand for this iconic Dior sneaker, which Azarcon described as the sneaker of the year. Launched in April of 2020, this pair represents a successful cross between sneaker culture and the luxury fashion space.

1. 2005 Parra x Nike Air Max 1 Hyperstrike Albert Heijn Amsterdam

Price sold for: $20,000

These sneakers were one of two pairs designed by Dutch artist Pieter Jansen (Parra Patta) that were inspired by his hometown of Amsterdam. The colors on this pair represent Albert Heijn, a Dutch supermarket chain.

"This is one of the most coveted Air Max's in the world, and this pair sold in less than 24 hours on our site," said Azarcon.

• Whether you want to read some literary classics in their original language or speak to family in their native tongue, learning Russian is worth the work of memorizing a new alphabet.
• Below are 10 free or cheap online courses, apps, books, videos, and resources to help you learn how to speak, listen, read, and write in Russian.
• Read more: If you want to learn American Sign Language, here are 10 free or cheap online courses, apps, books, and resources to start with
• Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.

During the pandemic, many people are using the extra time at home to learn a new language (or brush up on an old one). 

If you're interested in learning Russian, there are two things you should consider. First, figure out what you are learning the language for. Do you want to be able to read "Anna Karenina" in its original language? Watch "Solaris" without captions? Speak to a loved one in their native language? Deciding which facet of the language you most want to focus on — writing, reading, listening, or speaking — will aid you in finding a curriculum and the best courses for your needs.

You should also prepare to learn a new alphabet. Russian uses Cyrillic, an alphabet system that tends to look deceptively like your standard ABCDs. For instance, the "H" letter in Russian actually makes an "N" sound, while a backwards "N" symbol ( "и") makes an "eee" sound. Russian is also a gendered language, meaning nouns, verbs, and adjectives have to be in accordance with feminine, masculine, or neutral genders. 

However, don't get discouraged. Any challenges you might encounter are worth the work of opening yourself up to a wonderful language, steeped in a rich and storied history with over 258 million speakers worldwide.

With that, here are the 10 best online resources to kick off (or resume) your Russian-learning. 

Here are 10 free or affordable online courses, apps, books, and videos to learn Russian:

For reading and writing

Product Embed:
Product Name: Duolingo (Russian)
Card Type: small
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Width: 100%
Height: 150%

Price: Free

Length: 80 modules 

Duolingo has a solid reputation for being a reliable language-learning application, and for good reason: its fun, gamified content still teaches you a lot. Each module focuses on a specific subject, ranging from places to common phrases. The more you advance, the more specific the modules grow. Another helpful facet of Duolingo is that it challenges you to practice everyday, offering incentives in the form of "XP points" which are a great way to track your progress and keep you practicing. All in all, it's a great application if your focus is to learn the basics of how to read and write. 

Price: Free

Length: Varies

If apps aren't your thing and you prefer clicking around a website, this one is the best of the best. With 38 grammar modules, 18 phrase lessons, 16 quizzes, and plenty of games, this website offers enough resources to get you started. Beginning with the alphabet and general Russian sounds, you will be able to practice reading different phrases across a range of topics, ranging from family to school to countries and nationalities.

Price: Free with 7-day trial; $49 a month to keep learning after trial ends

Length: About 4 months (4 courses total)

Coursera courses are often offered by universities, which is helpful as you have the opportunity to hear real-life, practical diction. Most courses resemble ones you would take in a college-setting: that is to say, they offer quizzes, readings, and video instructions. Coursera courses are similar to Duolingo in the fact that there is little opportunity to practice your speech; the main difference between the two is that Coursera requires longer learning sessions, as each module takes around 1-2 hours to complete, while Duolingo is more short-term and can be used while on the go. Recognizing which method works best for you will help you decide between the two (although you can certainly do both in tandem!) 

Price: $31.49 on Amazon

Length: 234 pages

Having a physical textbook can help immensely with your language learning, and "Sputnik" can act as a fantastic supplement to any one of the aforementioned apps. Written by Dr. Julia Rochtchina, who also developed the Russian For Everyone website, this textbook offers concise explanations for common grammar and vocabulary questions, and provides subsequent work problems. It's also great if you're looking for a screen-less learning option.

For speaking and listening

Product Embed:
Product Name: Babbel (Russian)
Card Type: small
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Width: 100%
Height: 150%

Price: $20 a month (the more months you register for, the less it costs per month); there are some free modules as well 

Length: Varies based on the class

Babbel has a voice recognition feature which helps it stand out from the other learning platforms on this list. While using it via the Babbel website, you have an option to vocalize words and get feedback on your pronunciation — it's not as effective as speaking with another human being, of course, but it's certainly a start and can help you pin down the Russian sounds that don't exist in English. The module exercises resemble the ones found in Duolingo (i.e. matching Russian words to their English translations; matching Russian words to pictures), so if you like Duolingo's structure but want more speech practice, Babbel might be a great fit.

Price: Free with 7-day trial; $14.99 a month to keep learning after trial ends

Length: Varies

Rosetta Stone is one of the oldest language-learning resources around, and its continued relevance is testimony to its merit. Rosetta Stone offers many resources in order to immerse you in Russian as you're studying it: you'll have phrasebooks, audio companions, and moduled courses as guides. What is most valuable about Rosetta Stone is that it offers live tutoring sessions where you can practice your speech and pronunciation. It's an invaluable tool for truly learning Russian (though it does cost extra).

Price: Free 

Length: Videos range from 2 minutes to 1 hour in length

Like learning a language through watching TV, these free YouTube videos are great in combination with some of the other courses listed in this article: for example, they can pair well with an app like Duolingo or Babbel, where there isn't much verbal instruction going your way. The videos cover many different topics, from the alphabet to specific conversational phrases, and are great for getting accustomed to listening to the language. 

For immersion and practice

Product Embed:
Product Name: italki (Russian)
Card Type: small
https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5fe3a47efb3ed9570149b587&type=small&live=true
Width: 100%
Height: 150%

Price: Varies; starts at $6 per hour

Length: Varies

Humans are social creatures and there's only so much learning we can do via applications, no matter how thought-out or accurate they are. This is why italki is such an invaluable app: speaking with a tutor will help you not only practice back-and-forth conversations, but get corrections on any pronunciation mistakes in real time. This can also help you key-in to cultural aspects of the language which, in focusing on grammar and vocabulary, applications gloss often over if not miss altogether. You can choose from a number of tutors to see who best fits your needs. 

Price: Free

Length: Varies

Brainscapes' flashcards will be ineffective if they're the sole resource you choose: they offer no formal instruction, they simply provide already-made flashcards that are separated into helpful categories like colors and animals. These flashcards (separated into helpful categories like colors and animals) will help you if you've completed one of the aforementioned courses and feel confident in your reading skills and ability to learn new words. There is also a function that allows you to make your own flashcards to practice anything you feel needs reinforcement. 

Price: Free with Netflix subscription

Length: 2 hours

Watching engaging Russian TV and movies can help you familiarize yourself with the language more quickly and naturally. "Dovlatov" (2018) from Russian director Aleksey German, Jr. is a nuanced portrayal of the life of Russian-Jewish writer Sergei Dovlatov during the 1970s. Not only is this film an excellent peek into Soviet-era Russia, but it also offers a great opportunity to exercise your ear. Watch the film with English subtitles when you're just starting out to ensure that you catch the meaning of the speech — when you feel more confident in your reading, you can watch the film with Russian subtitles, which can help you match the spoken words to their written counterparts and vice versa. 

The bottom line

Russian is a complex yet rewarding language as well as a window to a rich culture. Whether your intention is to learn the basics or achieve fluency, it's worth embarking on this linguistic journey. 

Удачи! (Good luck!)

Hedge funds are notoriously secretive, famed for using a number of different strategies to achieve high returns for investors, including aggressive and derivative-based techniques.

Goldman Sachs has removed some of the secrecy. On November 19, Goldman Sachs' equity analysts analyzed 814 hedge funds with $2.4 trillion of gross equity to gain better insight into hedge fund positions both long and short.

The analysis predominantly looks at 13F filings as of November 16 to understand hedge funds long positions and leverage publicly disclosed short interest statistics from exchanges to understand their short positions.

The equity analysts then break down the most important stocks for hedge funds, placing the top 50 stocks that are most important to hedge funds into a bucket known as VIP ("Very Important Positions).

Hedge funds have been under pressure in recent years due to underperformance and high fees. In 2019, hedge funds posted their strongest year since 2009 but still lagged behind the broader stock market, according to MarketWatch.

Despite this, Goldman Sachs basket of top hedge fund stocks still outperformed the S&P 500.

"Due in part to its concentration in Growth stocks, our Hedge Fund VIP basket of the most popular hedge fund long positions (ticker: GSTHHVIP) has outperformed the S&P 500 by 20 pp YTD (32% vs. 12%)," said Goldman Sachs' equity analyst, Ben Snider. "This would represent the basket's strongest annual excess return on record since 2001."

However, the analysts do note that hedge funds have been increasingly relying on market beta to support returns and that funds have reduced portfolio concentration to the lowest level in five years.

"But recent vaccine announcements caused the sharpest reversal in our Momentum factor's 40-year history, eroding hedge fund alpha as well," Snider said.

Some market analysts, however, question how accurate the list is as it is based on 13F filings, which might not be reflective of current holdings. 

"Importantly, we believe our analysis of hedge fund holdings based on 13F filings with 45-day delays is generally more reflective of actual current holdings than many market participants are inclined to believe," Snider said.

Goldman Sachs also provides a complimentary top 50 short basket called the "Very Important Short Positions." These are the S&P 500 stocks with the highest total dollar value of short interest outstanding. These are not based on 13Fs but publicly disclosed short interest statistics, meaning swaps and other derivatives are not included.

"The performance of a long GSTHHVIP/short GSTHVISP pair tracks hedge fund performance better than the long GSTHHVIP/short S&P 500 pair. The long/short VIP pair has generated an average quarterly return of 131 bp (5.2% annualized) since 2001, just 1 bp below the average return of the HFR Equity Hedge index but with a higher information ratio (0.36 vs. 0.28)."

Here's Goldman Sachs top 15 most important stocks to hedge funds and the top 15 short positions for US holdings.

Top 15 most important long positions:

1. Amazon.com Inc

Ticker:AMZN

YTD return: 70%

Number of funds with positions owning the stock: 179

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 113

2. Facebook Inc

Ticker:FB

YTD return: 34%

Number of funds with positions owning the stock: 163

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 87

3. Microsoft Corp

Ticker:MSFT

YTD return: 37%

Number of funds with positions owning the stock: 154

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 82

4. Alibaba

Ticker:BABA

YTD return: 21%

Number of funds with positions owning the stock: 114

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 56

5. Alphabet Inc

Ticker:GOOGL

YTD return: 32%

Number of funds with positions owning the stock: 108

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 53

6. Visa

Ticker:V

YTD return: 13%

Number of funds with positions owning the stock: 94

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 37

7. PayPal Holdings

Ticker:PYPL

YTD return: 78%

Number of funds with positions owning the stock: 97

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 34

8. Apple Inc

Ticker:AAPL

YTD return: 64%

Number of funds with positions owning the stock: 80

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 33

9. Mastercard Inc

Ticker:MA

YTD return: 13%

Number of funds with positions owning the stock: 83

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 31

10. Charter Communications

Ticker:CHTR

YTD return: 32%

Number of funds with positions owning the stock: 51

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 28

11. Fiserv Inc

Ticker:FISV

YTD return: -5%

Number of funds with positions owning the stock: 65

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 25

12. Salesforce.com Inc

Ticker:CRM

YTD return: 58%

Number of funds with positions owning the stock: 66

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 25

13. T-Mobile US Inc

Ticker:TMUS

YTD return: 64%

Number of funds with positions owning the stock: 60

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 25

14. Uber Technologies Inc

Ticker:UBER

YTD return: 64%

Number of funds with positions owning the stock: 67

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 25

15. Fidelity National Info Svc

Ticker:FIS

YTD return: 7%

Number of funds with positions owning the stock: 73

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 24

Top 15 Short Positions:

1. Intel Corp

Ticker:INTC

YTD return: -22%

Value of short interest (as of October 30): $3.8 billion

Short interest (as of October 30) as a percentage of float cap: 2%

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 0

2. AT&T Inc

Ticker:T

YTD return: -21%

Value of short interest (as of October 30): $3.7 billion

Short interest (as of October 30) as a percentage of float cap: 2%

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 4

3. Advanced Micro Devices

Ticker:AMD

YTD return: 82%

Value of short interest (as of October 30): $3.5 billion

Short interest (as of October 30) as a percentage of float cap: 4%

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 8

4. Comcast Corp

Ticker:CMCSA

YTD return: 13%

Value of short interest (as of October 30): $3.5 billion

Short interest (as of October 30) as a percentage of float cap: 2

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 12

5. Aon Plc

Ticker:AON

YTD return: 0%

Value of short interest (as of October 30): $3.4 billion

Short interest (as of October 30) as a percentage of float cap: 8%

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 8

6. Duke Energy Corp

Ticker:DUK

YTD return: 6%

Value of short interest (as of October 30): $3.3 billion

Short interest (as of October 30) as a percentage of float cap:  5%

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 1

7. Analog Devices Inc

Ticker:ADI

YTD return: 16%

Value of short interest (as of October 30): $2.9 billion

Short interest (as of October 30) as a percentage of float cap: 7%

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 4

8. international Business Machines

Ticker:IBM

YTD return:  -8%

Value of short interest (as of October 30): $2.7 billion

Short interest (as of October 30) as a percentage of float cap: 3%

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 1

9. Walmart Inc

Ticker:WMT

YTD return: 27%

Value of short interest (as of October 30): $2.1 billion

Short interest (as of October 30) as a percentage of float cap: 1%

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 3

10. Adobe Inc

Ticker:ADBE

YTD return: 42%

Value of short interest (as of October 30): $2.1 billion

Short interest (as of October 30) as a percentage of float cap: 1%

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 13

11. Verizon Communications

Ticker:VZ

YTD return: 3%

Value of short interest (as of October 30): $1.9 billion

Short interest (as of October 30) as a percentage of float cap: 1

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 6

12. Proctor & Gamble

Ticker:PG

YTD return: 16%

Value of short interest (as of October 30): $1.9 billion

Short interest (as of October 30) as a percentage of float cap: 1%

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 3

13. Texas Instruments

Ticker:TXN

YTD return: 25%

Value of short interest (as of October 30):  $1.9 billion

Short interest (as of October 30) as a percentage of float cap: 1%

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 1

14. Kroger Co

Ticker:KR

YTD return: 12%

Value of short interest (as of October 30): $1.9 billion

Short interest (as of October 30) as a percentage of float cap: 7%

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 1

15. Johnson & Johnson

Ticker:JNJ

YTD return: 4%

Value of short interest (as of October 30): $1.8 billion

Short interest (as of October 30) as a percentage of float cap: 0%

Number of funds with stock as top 10 holding: 6

• For as long as there have been financial markets, there have been market crashes.
• The March 2020 market crash — driven by the rapid spread of coronavirus around the world — is just the latest in a long line of panics over hundreds of centuries.
• From the infamous Tulip Panic of the 17th century, to the 2008 financial crisis, Markets Insider decided to round up a handful of the most notable and interesting crashes in market history.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

For as long as there have been financial markets, there have been market crashes.

The March 2020 market crash — driven by the rapid spread of coronavirus around the world — is just the latest in a long line of panics throughout the hundreds of centuries that have roiled markets, crashed economies, and led to financial ruin for countless people.

Generally driven by investor panic and loss of confidence in the markets, often after a period of excitement and speculation, market panics are features of the financial and economic system around the world.

From the infamous Tulip Panic of the 17th century, to the 2008 financial crisis, Markets Insider decided to round up a handful of the most notable and interesting crashes in market history. Check them out below.

SEE ALSO: Hedge funds in Hong Kong are considering pulling out over fears that China's new security law could ruin their operations

Covid-19 Market Crash, 2020

The novel coronavirus outbreak not only led to a global health crisis, but also the most recent global financial recession beginning on February 20.

Although the biggest impact of the crash was initially felt in China, it quickly spread to the rest of the world as the virus spread, forcing lockdowns and plunging economic activity around the globe.

The US officially entered recession, and virtually every other economy around the world is set to follow.

Markets were initially stunned, and on March 16, the S&P 500 reported its steepest drop since 1987 as many businesses were forced to shut down and travel restrictions were set in place. The market's reaction was sharp but short-lived, and by June, stocks were back to their pre-crash levels.

Oil Price Crash, 2020

US oil prices went into negative territory for the first time in history on April 20, 2020 as the commodity faced a staggering drop in demand during the coronavirus pandemic as travel virtually ceased.

As the May futures contract for oil expired, many traders were faced with taking delivery of physical oil, so were forced into panic selling, which in turn pushed the commodity below zero.

In March, oil producers cartel OPEC held discussions to reinforce production cuts amongst allies from 2.1 million barrels per day to 3.6 million bpd and to continue this until the end of 2021.

Russia disagreed and a price war was launched by OPEC's top trading member Saudi Arabia to fight for a greater market share. 

Oil lost almost a third of its value with Brent crude crashing 24% to $33.36 and US oil dropping 34% to $27.34.

China's Stock Market Crash, 2015

Over three weeks in June 2015, fear of a market seizure and growing financial risks across the country caused chaotic panic selling which erased over $3 trillion in the value of Mainland shares.

Possible triggers of the market crash include a surprise devaluation in the Chinese yuan and a weakened outlook for China's growth, which then put pressure on emerging economies that relied on China for growth.

The crash's worst day was on June 12, when the Shanghai stock index lost about a third of its value, while losses were even more pronounced in the smaller Shenzhen Composite. 

Source:CNN

Global Financial Crisis, 2008

Known to be the worst crash since the Great Depression, the 2008 financial crisis grew out of deregulation in the financial industry that eventually led to the inflation of an enormous housing bubble.

Like all bubbles, it eventually popped, as housing supply overtook demand and house prices fell, making it difficult for homeowners to meet their mortgage obligations, leading to a wave of defaults 

The crisis worsened when investment bank Lehman Brothers — which was highly exposed to the sub-prime market — collapsed. Numerous other lenders were bailed out by governments around the world, and markets crashed, before the global economy spiralled into recession.

Source:The Economist

The Dot-com Bubble, 1990's

This bubble was fueled by investments into tech-based companies during a bullish market in the late 1990s.

By the end of 2001, dozens of companies had gone bust, and the share prices of tech giants like Cisco and Intel plunged.

Over $7 trillion in market value was destroyed, and equities entered a bear market.

It took the tech-heavy Nasdaq fifteen years up to April 23, 2015 to regain its dot-com peak. 

Source:Grin

The Asian Financial Crisis, 1997

With its origins in Thailand, a severe financial crisis struck many Asian countries in late 1997.

Foreign investors were worried that Thailand's debt was rising too rapidly when Bangkok unpegged its currency from the US dollar, and general confidence evaporated.

Indonesia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia, and the Philippines were the most affected countries as currency declines spread rapidly across, and they saw a drop in capital inflows of over $100 billion.

The Asian crisis eventually destabilized the global economy at the end of the 1990s.

Source:Britannica

Black Monday, 1987

33 years ago, global financial markets witnessed one of their worst days in what came to be known as Black Monday.

The crash began in Asia, gained ground in London, and wound up with the Dow Jones Industrial Average weaker by 22.6% the same day in New York.

It is believed the crash was triggered by a combination of computer-based trading models gone wrong, a fall in oil prices, and rising US-Iran tensions. 

But unlike the 1929 market crash, Black Monday did not lead to an economic recession.

Source:Quartz

Wall Street Crash, 1929

The "Roaring 20s" were an age of excess and wild speculation. That all came to an end in September and October 1929, culminating in Black Tuesday, 29 October, when 16 million shares were sold on the NYSE in one day and the market collapsed

On 21st October, panic selling kicked off and by the tragic 29th, prices fully collapsed.

Finance legends like the Rockefeller family and William Durant ventured to correct the market by purchasing large quantities of stocks, but the rapid price drops did not stop. 

By 1930, America was in the Great Depression — possibly the most painful crash in recorded history.

It spread well beyond the US, and by 1932, the world's GDP had contracted around 15%.

Source:History Extra

Vienna Stock Exchange Crash, 1873

On the historic Black Friday, 9 May 1873, unlimited speculation in banks and companies that existed only on paper set off a massive fall in value of shares on the Vienna stock exchange and caused a wave of panic selling.

This marked the beginning of a lesser-known Great Depression that lasted five years and spread across Europe and to the US. 

The crash brought economic growth in the Habsburg Monarch to an end, and harshly impacted a group of bankers, some counselors of the imperial court and friends of the Emperor, including the imperial family itself. 

Source:Habsburger

Dutch Tulip Mania, 1637

The Tulip mania was one of the first recorded financial bubbles, and occurred primarily in the Netherlands between 1634 and 1637.

After tulip bulbs contracted a non-fatal tulip-specific mosaic virus, their prices rose steadily and made the already overpriced flower even more popular and exotic. Tulip bulbs then saw a 20-fold increase in value in just one month.

But as it happens in speculative bubbles, holders eventually began to sell off their tulips to solidify their profits resulting in a doom loop of continuously lower prices. Although it was not a widespread craze, it hurt a handful of buyers in the short-lived luxury market.

More than anything, the tulip bubble crash serves as a lesson for the perils that excessive greed and speculation can lead to.

Source:Barrons

• The hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman is among few who minted a multibillion-dollar profit during the throes of the coronavirus pandemic. 
• The famed investor turned a relatively modest $27 million bet into a whopping $2.6 billion windfall as the outbreak continued to drag on stocks and threatened deep economic recession.
• From George Soros' breaking of the Bank of England in 1992, to Michael Burry's now world-famous Big Short during the financial crisis, Markets Insider decided to round up some of the best trades of all time. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Pershing Square Capital's CEO Bill Ackman made headlines after making $2.6 billion for his hedge fund off a wise, yet controversial bet that the coronavirus would crash the stock market. 

With stock markets going into free-fall during the economic downturn, Ackman was one among a handful who landed massive profits by using credit protection on investment-grade and high-yield bond indexes.

Ackman's was the latest in a long line of renowned risky but wildly successful bets on the markets.

From George Soros' breaking of the Bank of England in 1992, to Michael Burry's now world-famous Big Short during the financial crisis, Markets Insider decided to round up some of the best trades of all time. 

Check them out below.

Read more:'We have a depression on our hands': The CIO of a bearish $150 million fund says the market will grind to new lows after the current bounce is over — and warns 'a lot more pain' is still to come

SEE ALSO: Apple employees will start returning to the company's offices soon even as other tech giants are letting staff continue working from home

Bill Ackman turned $27 million into $2.6 billion during the coronavirus pandemic

Ackman, the billionaire hedge-fund manager, had an intuition that the coronavirus-driven market meltdown would have a greater impact than investors expected.

That led him to mint a multibillion-dollar profit in March 2020, turning a $27 million position into a $2.6 billion windfall through defensive hedge bets as the coronavirus outbreak threatened a deep economic recession.

Ackman's bet that the debt bubble would burst was based on a hunch that investors would cast aside riskier securities in bond indexes as the coronavirus spread across the world.

The trade was so good that one columnist said it "may be the single best trade of all time."

Read more:Buy these 13 tech stocks that are abnormally disconnected from Wall Street's expectations for profit growth and poised to rocket higher, Credit Suisse says

Michael Burry's 'Big Short'

Possibly the most iconic trading victory of all time, Michael Burry's fund Scion Capital built up huge short positions against the US sub-prime mortgage market starting in 2004.

When the market collapsed during the financial crisis in 2007 and 2008, Burry netted a $100 million profit for himself, and $725 million for other investors.

His successes became the subject of Michael Lewis' seminal book about the crisis "The Big Short," and then a film of the same name.

Source: Vanity Fair

David Tepper's $7 billion win during the depths of the financial crisis

In 2009, American billionaire David Tepper bought large quantities of distressed bank assets.

The huge investments he made in Bank of America and other burdened companies netted his hedge fund an enormous $7 billion.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Read more:BANK OF AMERICA: Investors should buy these 12 cheap stocks to bet on the coming US recovery — but they should steer clear of these 8 competitors

'Evil Knievil' Simon Cawkwell's ingenious shorts against Northern Rock

In 2007, British spread-better Simon Cawkwell predicted the demise of the bank Northern Rock and made a neat profit of over £1 million ($1.2 million) by short-selling its shares. 

Source: Financial Times

Kyle Bass' $4 billion win on the US housing market collapse

In 2007, famed investor Kyle Bass and his hedge fund made a $4 billion profit by buying credit default swaps after the housing market crashed due to the ongoing US recession. 

Source: D Magazine

Read more:A real-estate investor who generates $342,000 of annual cash flow shares his unique spin on a popular investment strategy that's helped land him 114 units

Andrew Hall's $100 million profit on $100 oil futures

In 2003, oil trader Andrew Hall bought cheap long-dated oil futures that would pay off if the price reached $100 at some point over the next 5 years.

By 2008, oil reached $100 and Hall acquired $100 million for his employer Phibro, and a mammoth paycheck for himself.

Source: Time

Neil Woodford's unconventional bets in tobacco stocks

In 2000, British fund manager Neil Woodford invested generously in tobacco stocks which were being shunned before the dotcom bubble burst.

By 2014, his flagship equity fund received annual returns of more than 20% from British American Tobacco (BAT).

Source: Financial Times

Read more:BTIG says to buy these 25 under-the-radar stocks that have been neglected for years because they're tempting M&A targets with big upside

George Soros: 'The Man who Broke the Bank of England'

In 1992, billionaire philanthropist George Soros and his hedge fund made a profit of over $1 billion by bringing the Bank of England to its knees after betting that the price of the Pound Sterling would drop. 

Source: Forbes

Louis Bacon's 86% return through betting on oil prices

In 1990, American investor Louis Bacon chose to invest in oil after correctly predicting that the Iraq War would impact the commodity's prices.

He ended up with an 86% return on that bet. 

Source: Money Week

Stanley Druckenmiller's double bets on the Deutsche mark

Between 1988 and 2000, American investor Stanley Drunckenmiller made millions by making two long bets in the German currency, Deutsche Marks, while working as a trader under George Soros' hedge fund Quantum. 

Source: Trading Education

Andrew Krieger at odds with the Kiwi dollar

In 1987, currency trader Andrew Krieger took up a short position worth hundreds of millions of dollars against the New Zealand dollar. His sell positions exceeded the entire money supply of New Zealand and ultimately led to him netting $300 million for his employer Bankers Trust.

Source: Traders DNA

Paul Tudor Jones' $100 million profit on Black Monday

In 1987, famed hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones predicted the 'Black Monday' crash. By shorting the stock market, he ended up with 200% returns for investors besides a $100 million paycheck for himself, an almost unheard of sum at the time.

Source: New York Times

If you're looking to up your career, grow your network, or brush up on your knowledge about the legal world, reading is one way to do that.

A new corporate lawyer, for instance, would find a guide to financial markets by an ex-Hogan Lovells and Freshfields attorney helpful. And those who eventually want to land an in-house job at a company might pick up a copy of "The Insider Counsel Revolution," written by the former general counsel of GE.

Business Insider spoke with 16 industry insiders, including lawyers, GCs, and legal recruiters, about the books they found the most interesting and eye-opening about the industry.

SEE ALSO: 9 recession-proof legal practice areas set to boom, according to top lawyers and recruiters

SEE ALSO: How 2 general counsels made the leap from Big Law firms Ropes & Gray and Sullivan & Cromwell to the world of fast-growing fintechs

SEE ALSO: Students are weighing the pros and cons of virtual law school. Here's why some are deferring, and what that means for job prospects.

"All You Need to Know About the City" by Christopher Stoakes

Now in its 15th year of publication, "All You Need to Know About the City" is known in the legal and financial circles as the essential guide to financial markets. It's written by Christopher Stoakes, a former lawyer at Freshfields and Hogan Lovells.

Nathan Peart, recruiter at Major Lindsey & Africa, remarked, "It's fantastic. When I first started recruiting, I read that and it basically explains all of the financial products available. And because of that legal writer context, it's quite interesting. It's a really good book that gives people a very fundamental understanding of how the money market works and how law firms are structured."

"Benefit of Law: The Murder Case of Ernest Triplett" by Robert Bartels

In a sweeping legal drama, "Benefit of Law" tells the story of how a man, Ernest Triplett, was wrongfully convicted after prosecution used inadmissible evidence by the state, where officials administered medication that made Triplett incoherent in trial. J. Michael Dull, father of legal recruiter Joshua Dull, was a lead attorney on appeal in the habeas corpus case in Iowa that ultimately led to Triplett's release from prison after nearly 20 years. 

"The punchline or takeaway from the book is that anyone being accused or convicted of a crime, regardless of the crime, is entitled to legal counsel and procedural due process under the law," said Dull.

"Courageous Counsel: Conversations with Women General Counsel in the Fortune 500" by Kara Baysinger and Michele Mayes

Dentons partner Kara Baysinger and Michele Coleman Mayes, general counsel at Allstate Insurance, interviewed more than 50 women who have held GC and high-profile management roles in legal departments.

"The book showcases stories by women who have 'made it' as successful GCs and legal executives," explained Catherine Kevane, securities litigation partner at Fenwick & West. "The book is by women, for women, and pushes women toward to equity."

"The Authenticity Principle" by Ritu Bhasin

A lawyer turned entrepreneur, Ritu Bhasin draws on her childhood experiences as a Canadian born to Punjabi parents and her ten years at a law firm to explore the feeling of needing to fit in. Combining neuroscience, diversity, leadership, and mindfulness research, Bhasin makes an argument for finding your "authentic self" to thrive in your personal and professional life.

"Ritu started her career in big law and understands the associate experience personally," said Sarah Evenson, director of law school programs at law firm Barnes & Thornburg. "She shares great stories I think many new lawyers can identify with. Her book is a great mix of personal stories, practical self-reflection exercises, education, and advice."

"The Connector's Advantage: 7 Mindsets to Grow Your Influence" by Michelle Tillis Lederman

Networking expert Michelle Tillis Lederman provides guidance on how to cultivate relationships to advance your career, which is especially important if you're stuck in a state of uncertainty when it comes to your profession.

"Relationships and communication are critically important to the practice of law," said Barnes & Thornburg's Evenson. "No matter if you are an introvert or extrovert, this book has great tools and advice on how to build stronger relationships and improve your networking skills in an authentic way."

"Indispensable Counsel: The Chief Legal Officer in the New Reality" by E. Norman Veasey and Christine T. Di Guglielmo

In-house lawyers play a crucial role at companies, offering legal counsel that balances risk and innovation to help them make the best business decisions. Former Supreme Court Justice of Delaware, E. Norman Veasley, and Christine T. Di Guglielmo, attorney at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, examine the role of corporate counsel and offer guidelines on how to balance the many hats they wear.

"The book raises all of the issues that a GC faces that involves more than the black-letter law," said Deborah Marson, general counsel of information management company, Iron Mountain. "It talks about what it really means to be a GC and flex between having your primary client be the company [and being] their advisor to the board of directors, the CEO, and everyone in the c-suite. How you maneuver and judge properly what your role is between all those constituencies is not easy, and this book dives into those issues." 

"Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman

Former science reporter, Daniel Goleman, breaks down how factors like self-awareness, self-discipline, and empathy benefit our health, relationships, and work.

"Beyond having technical or "hard" skills, law firms are looking for lawyers to exhibit a high EQ," said Nicole Spira, partner at the recruiting firm Cardinal Search Partners. "'Emotional Intelligence' is pivotal and this book can help a lawyer thrive in front of clients and within his or her own firm."

"The Anxious Lawyer" by Jeena Cho and Karen Gifford

It's no secret that meditation and mindfulness are scientifically-proven tools to help combat the stresses of life. Jeena Cho and Karen Gifford both came to meditation as practicing attorneys, and created an 8-week guide for lawyers, drawing on examples from their own personal and professional lives.

"Law firms have been increasingly cognizant of the stress that attorneys are under — mindfulness has been a core initiative that many firms have implemented," explained Spira, the recruiter from Cardinal Search Partners. "This book helps attorneys navigate the new and stressful waters of law firm practice by offering tools to stay balanced and grounded."

"Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't" by Jim Collins

"Can a good company become a great company and if so, how?" This is the question that Jim Collins, a business management expert with experience working at McKinsey and Hewlett-Packard, tackles in "Good to Great." The book is an in-depth study of 28 companies, including Coca-Cola, Intel, and Merck, offering analysis into what makes a great business — something that all lawyers, who deal with corporations across various industries, should know.

Tracy Bowden, general counsel at insurtech startup Hippo, recommends this book for its message on "the importance of reflecting on 'how it is always done' to reengineer and improve processes," especially in an industry like law, which is largely seen as old-school and conservative.

“The Practicing Mind: Developing Focus and Discipline in Your Life” by Thomas Sterner

Entrepreneur and founder of The Practicing Mind, Thomas Sterner, demonstrates the importance of practice and discipline, which can be applied to any industry — especially one as rigorous and skill-oriented as law.

"This book was recommended to me by my son who is a pianist and aspiring golfer," said Bowden, GC at Hippo. "I reflect on this book across both my personal and professional life.  Staying focused on repetition and preparation. Taking time to learn any new area of the law or skill requires [being] not merely knowledgeable, but proficient. 

"My Own Words" by Ruth Bader Ginsburg

This collection of previous writing and speeches by Ruth Bader Ginsburg offers glimpses into the Supreme Court Justice's perspectives on a wide range of topics, from gender equality to law and lawyers in the opera.

"'My Own Words' resonated with me because of the incredible life that Ruth Bader Ginsburg has led, both as a woman in a male-dominated field and as a legal revolutionary," said Lisa Hawke, vice president of security and compliance at Everlaw, a legal tech company. "For anyone with an interest in the legal industry, this book will get you excited about the power of the law when matched with resilience and courage, something we can all be inspired by today amid a global pandemic."

"The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement" by Eliyahu M. Goldratt

"The Goal" is a novel written by business leader, Eli Goldratt, about a plant manager working to improve performance at his factory. Through fiction, Goldratt explores fundamental business management practices that can be applied to a variety of organizations across industries.

"It's a novel-like read... and, even though it takes place in a factory setting, I believe that it offers lessons in management that lawyers the world over should heed," said Ben Lambert, president and GC of 360 Business Law America. "It has certainly had a huge impact in my career in general and, after transitioning back to law practice, a hugely positive impact on the way I deal with clients and legal work."

"Never Eat Alone" by Keith Ferrazzi

Keith Ferrazzi, formerly the chief marketing officer at Deloitte Consulting, lays out the power of relationships and networking in "Never Eat Alone." 

"This book is a great tool when it comes to networking — one of the strongest books out there," said Ru Bhatt, partner at the recruiting firm, Major Lindsey & Africa. "If you have an opportunity to have a working lunch, it's important to take it to network with your colleagues or your peers from your law school. At the end of the day, those are potential clients or partners down the line."

"Tiger Tactics: Powerful Strategies for Winning Law Firms" by Ryan McKeen, Billie Tarascio, William Umansky, Theresa DeGray, and Jay Ruane

"Tiger Tactics" is a collection of essays from five prominent attorneys. It offers a diverse range of stories about what it takes to become a successful lawyer — so diverse, in fact, that Joshua Lenon, resident lawyer at legal tech startup Clio, called it "contradictory," in a good way.

"What's worked for Billie Tarascio in the beginning of the book, hasn't worked for another lawyer at the end," he said. "So it gives a better view of the fluid nature of the practice of law, the individual circumstances that arise due to geography, due to practice area, and just comfort with some of the stuff that's out there... This book is it's about finding what's right for you."

"The Client-Centered Law Firm: How to Succeed in an Experience-Driven World" by Jack Newton

Jack Newton, CEO and co-founder of legal tech company Clio, discusses the importance of keeping the client at the center of all business decisions at law firms.

"When we lose sight of that, I think we lose sight of how to really make the fights that we're having matter," said Clio's Lenon. "And so 'The Client Centered Law Firm' talks about how to keep that focus on the ultimate end user political system — your client — and how it's a win-win for lawyers and clients when we have that focus."

"The End of Lawyers?: Rethinking the Nature of Legal Services" by Richard Susskind

Legal advisor Richard Susskind critically analyzes the four major pressures that the industry is confronting — to charge less, to work differently, to embrace technology, and to deregulate — and offers four business models as possible solutions.

"It was enlightening to hear that someone else thought that the legal profession could be improved and become more customer-centric like other service industries, and to hear that the government and clients were driving that change," said Robert Taylor, CEO and GC of the virtual firm, 360 Law Group. It was also comforting to know that someone else saw the need for change, and was talking about it."

"The Four Steps to the Epiphany" by Steve Blank

The legal industry is seeing a surge in innovation right now. Though this book is geared toward startups, Jack Newton, CEO and cofounder of the legal tech company Clio, thinks that its message about customer development can be applied to any business — including law firms.

"It's really profound. He talks about the idea of customer development, and I think that's really important when you're thinking about developing in a new market or a new space," said Newton.

"The Inside Counsel Revolution" by Ben W. Heineman, Jr.

Ben Heineman was the top legal executive at General Electric for nearly 20 years, and shares his insider knowledge in "The Inside Counsel Revolution." He tracks the transformation of general counsel and in-house lawyers at companies, which are now regarded as the coveted position to end up at for many young corporate lawyers.

"It's an excellent book on balancing the ever-evolving role of the general counsel as both a strategic advisor and guardian of the company," said Caroline Tsai, Western Union's chief legal officer and corporate security. "The book provides great insights and practical advice on how to lead with integrity, particularly as general counsels across the globe engage in corporate sustainability efforts for their businesses."

"Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age" by Brad Smith and Carol Ann Browne

Microsoft's president, Brad Smith, explores the risks and ramifications that accompany the digital transformation that has fundamentally changed the way the world operates. From privacy and cyberattacks, to artificial intelligence and big tech's relationship to inequality, the book pulls back the curtains on both the hopes and threats presented by technology.

"You really see how, with GDPR and privacy laws and regulations changing, privacy has really become embedded into the product," said Shana Simmons, GC at Everlaw, a litigation management software company. "You see this beautiful relationship between the legal product and the business."

"Crossing the Chasm" by Geoffrey Moore

Legal tech is on the rise, and lawyers both new and old should start looking into how they can use AI and software in their work, according to legal experts.

"This is a great book and should be required reading, specifically in legal tech," said Leah Del Percio, who left DLA Piper to start her own legal tech company, Trustate. "It outlines in detail how the tech-adoption lifecycle works and underscores how crucial product market fit is along with delivering a product to market most efficiently. The legal industry has obviously been late to embrace technology and this book may help other entrepreneurs with this notoriously difficult customer segment."

"What It Takes" by Stephen A. Schwarzman

Although he isn't a lawyer, Stephen Schwarzman, CEO and co-founder of Blackstone, offers a personal look into how he built a successful business, from cultivating work culture and high-value talent to establishing processes that allow the firm to analyze and handle risk — all relevant to big law firms.

"He has a really incredible story that highlights how he not only had to work hard, but also work smart. The book also contains some excellent tips to reducing your "big idea" to practice and building something great," said Del Percio.

"Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business" by Gino Wickman

Lawyers — especially partners and senior associates — are essentially business people, but they aren't trained as such, said ex-DLA Piper associate Del Percio. She recommends "Traction," where leadership expert Gino Wickman gives six key components of making good business decisions for success, including how to manage teams and scaling business.

"If there is no meaningful leadership and the team doesn't share a clear vision for the future trajectory, you can't grow effectively," Del Percio explained. "This book offers solutions and tools lawyers can employ to help scale their business, whether it be their law practice or a legal tech startup."

"Zero to One" by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters

A lesser-known fact about Peter Thiel is that he was a securities lawyer at Sullivan & Cromwell before catapulting to entrepreneurial fame with companies like Paypal and Palantir. Although the book focuses on startups, Del Percio thinks its message of being willing to go against the grain applicable to the legal industry.

"In the book, he talks a lot about the value of thinking differently in order to go from zero to one in any meaningful capacity," she said. "As someone who notoriously thinks differently (whether I like to or not), the book helped me to harness that and see the value in it. I think this is important for lawyers in particular as they can appreciate the "dissent" in theory, but don't always find practical value in thinking differently."

Robinhood, the popular stock-trading platform, has picked Goldman Sachs to lead a 2021 IPO that could value it at more than $20 billion, according to Reuters.

The company has helped popularize commission-free stock trading, and has seen a new generation of millennial traders flock to its trading platform during the pandemic. The platform currently counts around 13 million users.

But the growth has brought its own set of challenges. Earlier this month, Robinhood agreed to pay $65 million to settle charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission that the discount brokerage misled customers on the quality of its trading service. Like other brokerage firms, Robinhood sells its orders to high-speed trading firms for execution. 

Founded in 2013, Robinhood was last privately valued at $11.7 billion following a $660 million Series G fundraising round that closed in September. The company has raised $2.18 billion since its founding from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Alphabet's venture arm GV (formerly Google Ventures), Index Ventures, DST Global, and Sequoia Capital, according to PitchBook. 

With plenty of cash on hand, Robinhood is on a hiring spree, with nearly 150 available positions on its career site ranging from product engineering to marketing. A company spokesperson declined to comment.

So how much does Robinhood pay its employees? 

To gain insight, Business Insider poured over data showing how much Robinhood pays the workers it hired from overseas in the third quarter of 2020. Employers have to disclose to the federal government how much they pay employees through the H-1B visa program, a key part of how Silicon Valley recruits employees, and that information is published regularly by the Office of Foreign Labor Certification. 

While this is salary data only — it does not include other compensation, such as stock or bonuses — and only includes a subset of Robinhood's employee base, it still gives rare insight into what the firm pays. 

Take a look at how much some of Robinhood's over 1,820 workers make annually:

Robinhood paid software engineers in California a salary range of $121,000 to $252,000 a year.

Of the 35 positions for which Robinhood hired an employee from overseas in the third quarter, 20 were software engineers. The engineering roles are all in Menlo Park, California, about 30 miles south of San Francisco.

The pay scale varied widely for this title, between $121,000 to $252,000. Notably, a senior software engineer is making less than the highest range for a software engineer without the senior title:

Software engineer: $121,000 - $252,000

Senior software engineer: $170,000

A data scientist at Robinhood can make up to $236,000 a year.

Robinhood hired four overseas workers with the job title "data scientist" or "data analyst," with a salary range between $129,000 and $236,000. 

Robinhood included an upper bound of what a data scientist could be paid so we included that number here as well.

So, what does a statistician do for a living? According to a recent job posting, the day-to-day responsibilities involve developing insights around key metrics that drive the company's success and working with partners to identify and track analysis, guidance, reports, and dashboards.

Data scientist: $174,000, up to $236,000

Data analyst: $129,000, up to $167,000

A product manager at Robinhood makes $167,000 a year in California.

A product manager for Robinhood's growth team is expected to work with data scientists, marketing, research, and design teams to drive marketing experiments across TV, online, and offline channels, according to a recent job description.

The job requires at least three years of experience building consumer products and "passion for financial products and improving people's financial lives." 

Product manager, Growth: $167,000

An engineering manager can make up to $326,000 a year working at Robinhood.

Engineering managers at Robinhood are paid handsomely with a starting salary of $183,000. 

The labor data also showed what the earning potential could be if Robinhood offered at the top of the salary range, with $326,000 being the highest reported potential salary.

Engineering manager, Data engineering: $252,000, up to $326,000

Engineering manager, Search and analytics platform: $222,000, up to $287,000

Engineering manager, Discovery: $183,000, up to $260,000

Engineering manager, Data infrastructure: $238,000, up to $322,000

The lowest reported salary at Robinhood is $117,00 a year.

The lowest reported salary for an overseas worker at Robinhood still ranked in the six-figures.

Benchmarking insights and strategy associate: $117,000

2020 has been a wild ride, especially for Gen Z.

The generation, the oldest of whom turned 23 this year, has been grappling with the pandemic during pivotal life stages. Younger Gen Zers are at a point in their adolescence when forging social relationships is central to identity formation— something difficult to do during quarantine. And older Gen Zers are in the phase of emerging adulthood, the period between adolescence and adulthood when they struggle to figure out who they are and what they want of life.

Many of the older cohort have graduated into the chaos of the coronavirus recession, which is putting them on track to repeat millennials' money problems. They've become the most unemployed generation, and many have moved back home with their parents.

On the other hand, 2020 has made many Gen Zers aware of politics and activism, and the generation is set to take over the economy in just a decade.

From financial behaviors to mental health, here's a look at the life of a Gen Zer in 2020.

SEE ALSO: Meet the average American millennial, who has an $8,000 net worth, is delaying life milestones because of student-loan debt, and still relies on parents for money

DON'T MISS: The class of 2020 on what it's like to face down crumbling colleges, a frozen job market, and COVID-19 disrupting your entry into adulthood

The pandemic has put Gen Z on track to repeat millennials' money problems.

"I'm a little worried about ending up like those who graduated around 2008," Maya Tribitt, a junior at the University of Southern California, previously told Insider. "A lot of the fear people my age have about getting jobs right out of college have come from the horror stories of people 10 years older than us. It's really scary to think that might be our new reality."

Tribitt's concerns are valid. A Bank of America Research report called "OK Zoomer" found that the pandemic will impact Gen Z's financial and professional future the same way that the Great Recession did for millennials.

"Like the financial crisis in 2008 to 2009 for millennials, Covid will challenge and impede Gen Z's career and earning potential," the report reads, adding that a significant portion of Gen Z is entering adulthood in the midst of a recession, just as a cohort of millennials did. "Like a decade ago, the economic cost of this recession is likely to hit the youngest and least experienced generation the most."

They've been impacted the most in the workforce, facing higher unemployment rates than other generations.

Unemployment rates for all generations peaked in April, according to data from the St. Louis Fed. Gen Z was hit hardest, with an unemployment rate of nearly 27% for those ages 20 to 24. By July, that unemployment rate had dropped to 18.5% but was still higher than other generations. By November, it hovered just over 10%.

Between February and May, when the pandemic first hit, one in four American workers between the ages of 16 and 24 had lost their job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This is largely because Americans of those ages tend to work in industries such as retail and hospitality, both of which were hit hard by pandemic layoffs and store closures. 

More than 2 million Gen Zers have moved back in with their family in the wake of the coronavirus.

By the beginning of August, 58% of Gen Zers were living with their parents as the coronavirus continued to sweep through the nation, according to a study by StuDocu, a crowd-sourced online learning and sharing platform for students.

StuDocu's findings echo a June report by online real-estate marketplace Zillow, which found that nearly 3 million young adults have moved back in with their parents or guardians as a result of the pandemic. Gen Zers comprise the majority of that number, at roughly 2.2 million.

The pandemic has also pulled Gen Z off course to becoming the most educated generation.

Gen Z was set to unseat millennials as the most educated generation ever, but the pandemic has delayed — and set back — Gen Z's educational progress, according to the "OK Zoomer" report. It's intensified the troubling pre-pandemic trend of learning stagnating for American children at all levels.

At this point during the pandemic, the report said, half of lower secondary school graduates will now lack minimum levels of proficiency, compared to the typical 40%.

This shift to at-home learning will have a long-lasting impact on the educational landscape, Charles Thornburgh, a veteran education technology CEO, previously told Business Insider: "We'll have reverberations with this generation that we won't even begin to understand for a few years."

It's no surprise, then, that one-third of Gen Zers are financially stressed and one-quarter think they'll be worse off when the pandemic is over.

That's according to the Center for Generational Kinetics' State of Gen Z report, which also found that Gen Z is more stressed about saving money and having money to support their basic needs than anything else. But the generation isn't as financially stressed as millennials, per the report's findings.

The report surveyed over 2,000 Gen Zers and millennials.

It also found that the pandemic has caused 43% of Gen Zers to fall behind on credit cards, rent, or other payments, and 46% to borrow money from a family member or friend.

Financial stress, combined with quarantine, is hurting Gen Zers' mental health.

Gen Z is most likely to feel not "mentally well" during the pandemic.

And when the pandemic first hit, 62.4% of Gen Zers said isolating during COVID-19 had worsened their mental health, social-learning network StuDocu found in a poll of 1,600 students between March 24 and April 17. The top emotions for those polled were stress, frustration, anxiety, and loneliness. 

Michael Pankowski, a sophomore at Harvard University, told Insider's Dominic-Madori Davis that he has felt "overwhelmed" and "distraught" by how many lives have been lost to the coronavirus, even as his own world has been knocked off balance.

He said that in addition to the stress of the pandemic, his school closing also had an emotional impact on him, as it happened with such haste. "With one email, we learned we had just five days to say goodbye to all of our friends," Pankowski said. 

But the pandemic has made some Gen Zers more cost-conscious than ever, which has helped them make strides in financial preparedness.

More than half (54%) of Gen Zers have saved more money since the pandemic began than prior to it, according to the State of Gen Z report. And 38% have opened an online investment account, while 39% have opened an online bank account.

The pandemic has taught Gen Z how to be frugal, according to Jason Dorsey, president of Center for Generational Kinetics (CGK), the company behind the report. They've begun saving money earlier in their lives than previous generations, have started investing, and are seeking good job benefits, he said.

And even though the pandemic could ultimately cause Gen Z to potentially lose $10 trillion in earnings, they're still set to take over the economy in a decade.

Gen Z students could lose $10 trillion of lifecycle earnings due to Covid lockdowns, the World Bank has estimated.

But Bank of America Research's "OK Zoomer" report found that Gen Z will fare well in the long run. The generation currently earns $7 trillion across its 2.5 billion-person cohort, it stated. By 2025, that income will grow to $17 trillion, and by 2030, it will reach $33 trillion, representing 27% of the world's income and surpassing that of millennials the following year.

While Gen Z has grappled with how the government has handled social injustice issues, it's pushed the generation to the front lines of activism.

Gen Z  has been at the forefront of numerous demonstrations, such as the March for Our Lives anti-gun protest and the climate change movement.

2020 put the generation front and center in the anti-police-brutality demonstrations sparked by the killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a white police officer in Minneapolis violently restrained him.

Yubo, a social networking app, exclusively worked with Business Insider to poll 38,919 US-based Gen Zers between the age of 13 and 25 to see how Gen Zers are responding to the civil unrest sparked by the ensuing protests, reported Davis.

The survey found that 77% of respondents had attended a protest to support equality for Black Americans, and 62% said they were willing to get arrested during a peaceful protest to support this equality.

The generation played a pivotal role in the 2020 election, which may have finally captured the elusive youth turnout.

The youngest voters may have played a pivotal role in the 2020 election making voter turnout history, Insider's Juliana Kaplan reported.

Tufts University's Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE) has been tracking and analyzing young voter turnout since 2001. According to its latest estimates, youth voter turnout for 2020 was up by at least 5% from 2016 — and could have been up by as much as 9%.

Milu Parrilla, an 18-year-old freshman studying biology at Georgia State University and an organizer with Student PIRGs New Voters Project, told Kaplan that many of the young voters she spoke with wanted to become more involved in politics.

"A lot of young people are scared. Once they get out of college, how will they be able to get work?" Parrilla said. She said that students wanted to become a part of the discussion — and many have sought out information on key dates or registration procedures.

Gen Z, known for creativity, remains as innovative and entrepreneurial as ever.

More than half (58%) of Gen Z respondents in a DoSomething Strategic survey said that, since the pandemic, they had picked up a new activity or were doing more of something they already enjoyed.

Similarly, 88% of Gen Zers polled in an April VSCO survey said that creatively expressing themselves has helped them feel less anxious during this time.

"Gen Z is innovative and powerful," Emma Havighorst, a 22-year-old 2020 graduate, previously told Insider. "The way we see the world is very different from prior generations."

For three years, Havighorst has hosted the podcast "Generation Slay," which profiles Gen Z creators and entrepreneurs, from mental-health advocate Gabby Frost to nonprofit founder Ziad Ahmed. She said she thinks the pandemic will produce even more innovators.

"Necessity breeds invention," she said. "We'll be trying to figure out solutions to problems that plagued past generations."

Consider high schoolers Daniel Lan and Jalen Xing, who created homemade face shields for hospitals during the pandemic, starting the initiative Students for Hospitals.

But despite the pandemic potentially slowing down Gen Z's futures, one psychologist thinks they'll "shrug it off" in the long run.

Jeffrey Arnett, a Tufts University psychologist who studies when and how people become adults in modern life, said he thinks the pandemic downturn will be more catastrophic for those in their 40s and 50s, who have established career and financial obligations. Gen Z, despite the setbacks, will eventually get by.

"Even in good times, young adults feel they're falling behind and not making enough progress," he said, adding that it's typical for young adults to struggle in their 20s as they figure out their identity and future. It's a positive, he said, that they have less at stake.

"I wouldn't make light at all of the challenges Gen Z will face," Arnett adds, "but they will be able to pick up the pieces and move on."

It's a reseller's world these days. 

Arbitrage, or the practice of buying items and reselling them online for a premium, is quickly becoming a popular tactic among entrepreneurs looking to jumpstart a side-hustle. Some people are even leaving their jobs to pursue their reselling ventures full-time.

If done correctly, arbitrage can bring in massive returns on investment. For Ty Blunt, figuring out how to sell products on Amazon for a premium has been the basis for his income since May of 2019.

Read more:A 28-year-old quit his insurance job to resell discontinued items on Amazon. Here's how he's sold $1.2 million worth of goods on the platform since 2015.

The 26-year-old's current business made him over $1.5 million in sales in one year between May 2019 and May 2020, according to a screenshot of his Amazon seller dashboard viewed by Business Insider. 

Business Insider previously spoke to Blunt about how he went from losing thousands of dollars in his first venture and living in his warehouse to finding a successful niche in reselling. His method involves scouting out listings for products on platforms like eBay, Mercari, and OfferUp and then checking out what the products are going for on Amazon. When the profit margin is worth it, he buys the items from one of these sites and then sells them on Amazon.

Blunt developed a Google Chrome extension called lacROI, which simplifies this process by automatically comparing listings for the same products on different sites. He also created a program called Hammoq, which automates the process of uploading listings online to different marketplaces.

According to Blunt, there is still plenty of room for newcomers in the world of arbitrage. To help newcomers learn the ropes, Blunt offers lacROI for free and shares tips in videos on YouTube.

From how to get started to the best products to buy and sell, here are Blunt's top tips for breaking into the world of resale and arbitrage.

SEE ALSO: 'It's the California Gold Rush on the internet:' How an entrepreneur made over $1.5 million in sales in one year by buying items on eBay and reselling them on Amazon

Make sure you are buying the right products

Blunt's method of reselling — what he calls "marketplace arbitrage"— involves buying items on marketplaces like eBay, Mercari, and OfferUp, and then reselling them on Amazon for a premium. 

According to Blunt, products on Amazon are generally more expensive than on competitors' websites because Amazon's vast market share of web traffic allows it to keep its prices high. Selling products from other marketplaces on Amazon generally offers the highest profit margin. 

The first step to success in marketplace arbitrage is understanding what products are worth buying and selling. While Blunt's LacROI tool is great for this, he said resellers can also compare listings for products on different sites manually.

Blunt's first major success was with Weight Watchers calculators. The product was selling quickly for Blunt on eBay and was going for double the price on Amazon. Blunt bought a bunch of these calculators on eBay and sold them on Amazon for about a penny under the market price, using a tool called a "repricer," which automatically adjusts a listing price to be just below competitors' listings.

"Once you find that product, you can buy it over and over and over again," Blunt said. "Your whole goal is to find great products and build your list out."

You can find success with new and used products

Blunt recommends that beginner resellers start off with used products because they tend to have a large profit margin.

For example, old video games from eBay tend to sell well on Amazon.

Blunt also gave the example of a Bogan TPU 250, a telephone paging system that can sell on Amazon for more than $300 than those on eBay.

"There's a bunch of products out there," Blunt said. "Look at calculators, look at anything that you have during the day."

If one product works, explore other products in the same brand

In Blunt's experience, when a product sells well, he generally finds similar success with other products in that brand.

"See if you can sell a brand, then find all models in that brand, then find similar products based on category," Blunt explained.

For example, Blunt had success in selling other Weight Watchers items, not just calculators. He also recommended brands like Linksys, Cisco, Petsafe, Liftmaster, and Sportdog which tend to sell well on Amazon. Blunt said he made six figures in sales off of Petsafe's training and accessories products alone and more than $40,000 in sales off of products from Kwikset, a lock company. 

"You find one thing that sells well and then you dive deeper into that category again," Blunt explained.

Don't be afraid of trial and error

"There's no one telling you what's right and what's wrong," Blunt said, explaining how learning the market takes a bit of trial and error before it can be mastered.

However, Blunt said people shouldn't be discouraged if they don't pick up arbitrage right away. Like other trades, marketplace arbitrage can be learned. And since the market is still in its early stages of growth, it's not yet oversaturated with sellers, so it's a great time to get involved.

"Doesn't matter if you're new, it doesn't matter if you're old," Blunt said about the world of arbitrage. "There's just so much opportunity in the new game, the used game, [and] multiple marketplaces. It's the California Gold Rush on the internet, in my opinion."

The COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders have made the case for Bumblebee Spaces, a modular smart-home robotics startup staffed by Apple and Tesla alums. The company is the modern, high-end version of Murphy beds, but for all furniture, which gets stored away in the ceiling when not needed. Bumblebee has upgraded and improved its design, which it first showed to Business Insider's Katie Canales in early 2020.

Sankarshan Murthy founded Bumblebee Spaces in 2017, after working as a product manager at Apple and a product technologist at Tesla. He wouldn't have been able to start Bumblebee without spending time at those companies, Murthy told Business Insider.

Bumblebee is a way to address the lack of affordable housing and people crowded into small apartment, but it's different from typical solutions. From the beginning, Murthy says, the company was focused on addressing the ballooning cost of space, especially in cities. When people can't afford space or are forced into homes that are too small, especially when that includes working from home during the coronavirus pandemic, it leads to "crappy living situations." 

Read more:The battle between Facebook and Apple over privacy is about more than just ads — it's about the future of how we interact with tech

Fixing the problem of space would either require building out into new areas, which is "terrible for the environment," or making small spaces more appealing. Murthy and Bumblebee focus on the latter. 

"I would rather make space for wilderness. If you can have a nice backyard, don't put concrete there!" he said of the backyard office trend that emerged this year.

Here's a look at how Bumblebee has improved its product and found a niche during the pandemic.

SEE ALSO: Look inside the $5,000-a-month San Francisco apartments with voice-activated beds and dressers that drop from the ceiling

One of the locations with Bumblebee's designs is a condo in San Francisco. Anyone buying a condo in the building has the option to upgrade with Bumblebee.

Bumblebee works directly with residents when they move in to make upgrades that make sense for their life and routine, Murthy told Business Insider. This is more crucial than ever as people are stuck inside during the pandemic.

The bed is one of the clearest examples of how Bumblebee can transform a small space, like a studio or one-bedroom apartment.

After the resident gets up, the bed goes away into the ceiling until it is needed again, freeing up that space.

The key to Bumblebee, Murthy says, is that the technology works around the life of the user.

"The conventional wisdom is that better quality of life equals a bigger home," Murthy said. Bumblebee and Murthy attempt to make "truly efficient living" desirable.

He says he is really proud of the way the desk works; it can function as a standing desk, a typical sit-down desk, or work can be left completely intact and the desk can be stowed in the ceiling.

That way, Murthy says "When work is out of the way, it's truly out of the way — you're not sleeping in the office."

The times when different pieces of furniture and appliances are needed are staggered, so it creates wasted space.

The system is modular, so residents can add only what they will actually use and need.

"Eventually, anything taking up a footprint in the home should not be static," Murthy says, including appliances like washers and dryers.

The designs are minimalist enough to fit into nearly any space, and come in different finishes to match the aesthetic.

Most surprisingly for Murthy, the system actually gets used the way that it was designed, and people are able to find their things and rearrange rooms multiple times per day.

The Bumblebee team initially worried that the system might end up as "overspilled storage," but all of the pieces are virtual and searchable.

Home is mostly "piles of stuff" that people don't track, but in the Bumblebee control center, they can.

The system is designed to understand the user and what is stored to make helpful suggestions. It was designed to be a platform, rather than a product, Murthy told Business Insider.

Murthy says Bumblebee isn't competing with Murphy bed manufacturers — they're in a new category all together, with "robotics and concrete coming together."

It "feels like you walked into the future; this is how people should be living," Murthy says of his company's designs.

Interested buyers can contact Bumblebee Spaces through the website and create a custom design based on their home. The designs are also available to tenants in The Smile in East Harlem, NY.

Bumblebee Spaces

Products range from $12,000 to $40,000, depending on the design and configuration.

Murthy is joined by some of "the best of the best" from his former employers, Apple and Tesla. He says that they joined him because "they believe this is the biggest creative challenge and the right thing to take on for the world."