• Due to the novel coronavirus and shelter-in-place orders, more people are shopping online than ever before.
• However, shopping online can be tricky since you don't get to see, try on, or test items in person before purchasing.
• Shop worry-free at these stores offering free online returns, including Nordstrom, Target, Sephora, Dell, and more.
• Read more: A running list of stores offering curbside pickup

Since most Americans are currently following shelter-in-place and self-isolation guidelines, that means heading to the store in person to pick up items has become increasingly challenging. Instead, online shopping is skyrocketing for everything from clothes to groceries and alcohol. But online shopping presents the challenge of not getting to see items in person before purchasing, which can leave shoppers hesitant and wary of buying. Let's face it, we've all probably experienced the disappointment of an item showing up and looking nothing like online photos, or being so ill-fitting it's unwearable. 

These companies ease worries and allow you to see items from the comfort of your home before deciding to keep them by offering free online returns. Many are also extending return windows. To take advantage of the free return policies, you'll need an at-home printer to print a return mailing label. If you don't already have a reliable printer, consider one of these options — our top pick is just $50.

Use this running list that covers everything from beauty retailers to home goods stores to alleviate any of your online shopping concerns and hit purchase without any need to panic. Stores are listed by category and in alphabetical order.       

Get free online returns on orders at these nationwide stores: 

Style & clothing

• ALDO: If you're eyeing a new pair of shoes from ALDO you can order online worry-free. If you don't love your items, simply start a return request with your order number online. You will then be sent a free UPS label via email along with instructions for any returns. 
• Allbirds: The buzzy shoe brand allows returns for 30 days with no questions asked, even if you've already worn the shoes around. You can return or exchange any shoes for free that aren't to your liking.
• Bonobos: Men's clothing and accessories store Bonobos includes a pre-paid return label with every order for hassle-free returns. They have also temporarily extended their return period to 90 days. 
• Bloomingdale's: Bloomingdale's has one of the best return policies of any store. You can return an order for free for up to a full year. Just print a mailing label at home for your order.
• Everlane: All purchases from the popular clothing brand Everlane can be returned for free for up to 90 days. That even includes Choose What You Pay purchases. Plus, you can also return anything you bought at a brick-and-mortar store via mail. Do note that while you have 90 days to initiate a return, once you start a return online and print your shipping label your package must be sent in within 30 days.
• Macy's: Macy's offers free and easy returns on most items by mail. Just print a pre-addressed shipping label and send your items back. They've also extended their return window from 30 to 90 days.
• Neiman Marcus: Almost all merchandise can be returned to Neiman Marcus free of charge if received within 15 days of the delivery date. However, you may want to double-check their return policy as a few items aren't eligible for free returns, including anything bought on clearance.   
• Nordstrom: The department store offers free returns in the US via a postage-paid return label. Your return is generally processed within 10-14 days. 
• Patagonia: Outdoor clothing retailer Patagonia offers free returns on all items. Even better, they also usually offer free repairs on all Patagonia items, though this program has temporarily been suspended due to the novel coronavirus. They do, however, have free DIY repair guides online.
• REI: If you're not satisfied with any purchase from REI, you can return it for up to a full year for free. Return shipping labels come with all invoices. The only exception is outdoor electronics, which can be returned for free within 90 days. 
• Shopbop: Shopbop is known for designer women's fashion apparel, which means items often come with a high price tag. Luckily, any items you don't love can be returned for free with a pre-paid shipping label within 30 days. 
• Sunglass Hut: With summer on the horizon, you may be eyeing new frames from Sunglass Hut, the sunglass retailer that carries brands from Ray-Ban to Gucci. Shop with confidence knowing you can return items for free for up to 90 days with a printed shipping label. 
• Urban Outfitters: Returning items to Urban Outfitters is easy. Just start a return online and print a free pre-paid shipping label. They have also temporarily extended their return window so you have up to 60 days.
• Zappos: Zappos has long been heralded as a gold standard for customers when it comes to returns. Return shipping is always free and you have 365 days to do so for all purchases – no exceptions. 

Read all Business Insider style reviews

Home, kitchen, and pet supplies

• Bed Bath & Beyond: Bed Bath & Beyond offers free return shipping on most items. They've also extended their return window by 60 days so you now have 240 days to decide if you like your purchases. There are a few exceptions to the policy or items with shorter return windows like strollers and electronics, so check the policy to make sure all your items qualify for the 240-day window. 
• Chewy: Pet owners will be pleased to learn that returns to Chewy are easy. If you're not completely satisfied with your items, you can return them free of charge within one year. Just send a message with your order number to receive a shipping label. 
• Home Depot: While there are a few exceptions for bigger items, many orders are eligible for free online returns. Once you start a return you'll receive a free UPS shipping label via email to print and attach to your package.
• Target: Shoppers at Target have a full year to return or exchange Target-owned and -exclusive brands. Print a free return shipping label online. 
• Walmart: Walmart makes it simple to return items for free. Just log into your account, initiate a return or replacement, and print a free return label. Refunds or replacement items are issued as soon as the store receives the item. 
• Williams Sonoma: Foodies and home chefs will like that Williams Sonoma allows for free returns by mail within 30 days for any items under 70 pounds. You can use the form attached to your invoice or quickly print a label online. 

Read all Business Insider kitchen reviews& home good reviews

Tech

• Dell: It can be nerve-wracking to buy pricey electronics sight unseen, but you can shop easy at Dell. Ship any items back for free within 30 days of your invoice date for a full refund. 

Read all Business Insider tech reviews

Beauty

• Sephora: Makeup and skincare junkies will love that Sephora.com purchases can easily be returned completely free of charge using a pre-paid shipping label. They've also extended their usual 30-day return window to 60 days temporarily.

Read all Business Insider beauty reviews

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• Moody's downgraded Saudi Arabia's sovereign outlook to negative from stable on Friday, citing increased downside risks to the kingdom's fiscal strength from the oil rout. 
• "The government's balance sheet has weakened since the previous oil price shock in 2015-16, notwithstanding some recent improvements in budget execution, leaving the sovereign's credit profile exposed to the further prolonged period of depressed oil prices that the pandemic may usher in," Moody's wrote. 
• Over the weekend, the Saudi finance minister said the kingdom will take strict and painful measures to reduce its budget, CNBC reported.
• Read more on Business Insider.

The coronavirus pandemic has cratered global oil demand and sent prices plummeting, even into negative territory for the first time ever. That's not a good thing for oil-rich Saudi Arabia. 

On Friday, Moody's downgraded Saudi Arabia's sovereign outlook to negative from stable, citing increased downside risks to the kingdom's fiscal strength from the oil rout. 

"The shock transmits mainly through the loss in government revenue and exports caused by the drop in oil demand and prices," a group of Moody's analysts led by Lucie Villa wrote in a Friday report.

She continued: "The government's balance sheet has weakened since the previous oil price shock in 2015-16, notwithstanding some recent improvements in budget execution, leaving the sovereign's credit profile exposed to the further prolonged period of depressed oil prices that the pandemic may usher in."

The coronavirus pandemic has created uncertainty in the global economic outlook and pushed many countries around the world into recession. Oil demand has also taken a significant hit as most nonessential travel has been banned, and consumers are driving less to maintain strict social-distancing measures. 

Moody's now expects that Saudi Arabia's government revenues will drop 33% in 2020 and 25% in 2021, according to the report. The decline is likely even after accounting for potentially higher dividends from state-owned entities, according to Moody's. 

Read more:Legendary billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman breaks down his 3-part investing methodology — and makes a case for 'a really cheap, interesting stock run by the best investor in the world'

A sharp decline in the country's gross domestic product growth will also depress revenue outside of oil, according to the report. Forecasts are calling for a GDP decline of as much as 3.2%, according to CNBC. In the medium term, Moody's forecasts that debt will grow to around 45% of GDP.

Over the weekend, the Saudi finance minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said that the country will have to take strict and painful measures amid the coronavirus crisis, according to CNBC.

"We must reduce budget expenditures sharply," al-Jadaan told Al Arabiya TV on Saturday, CNBC reported. "Saudi finances need more discipline and the road ahead is long."

Moody's affirmed Saudi Arabia's A1 rating, saying that it is "supported by the government's still relatively robust, albeit deteriorating, balance sheet, which is underpinned by a still-moderate debt level and substantial fiscal and external liquidity buffers."

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Some of the best computer monitors don't need to break the bank. These options all come with attractive designs and affordable price tags.

• Affordable computer monitors may be smaller than more expensive models, but they deliver a variety of settings to maximize screen quality in any environment.

• These screens generally work with HDMI cables and deliver LCD panels, but keep an eye out for unique designs and extra USB ports to make them even more useful.

Buying a computer monitor isn't an easy process. There are a slew of them available, a countless number of features to consider, and so many design differences, like curved or even ultra-wide screens, that it becomes dizzying to simply find a solution.

One of the best ways to start when buying a monitor, however, is by limiting your choices by budget. If you know how much you want to spend, you can narrow your options and find a selection of monitors that fit your budget and come with the features you want.

For the vast majority of shoppers, spending $500 or less on a monitor is a smart choice to make. At that price point, monitors of all shapes and sizes are still available, and some even feature 4K resolution. And, although gaming monitors can often be significantly more expensive, there are even some monitors designed for playing video games that can hit the mark on price.

When looking for a new monitor under $500, there are some features to keep in mind. For one, you'll want to make sure you like the design, since the device will be something you'll be looking at for hours each day. You'll also want to ensure that the monitor isn't too big or too small for your desk.

On the feature side, consider whether you want a curved or flat display, and if resolution matters, opt for a 4K version. Some monitors come with a USB hub built-in, so you can expand your USB inputs. And, in most cases, you can get monitors that use HDMI cables, making it easy to hook up your screen to just about any modern desktop (or laptop). If you plan to use your monitor as a television and computer monitor, look for a wall-mountable version. There are plenty available, all with various features.

If you're in the market for a new sub-$500 computer monitor, you don't need to spend time trying to research a winner. Instead, read below. We've compiled the following roundup to help you find the right monitor for a variety of needs. And, since we've chosen the following options after evaluating their user and critics reviews, as well as their collection of features, you can rest assured knowing the monitors below are worth your money.

Here are the best computer monitors under $500 you can buy:

• Best monitor under $500 overall: Samsung S32R750U
• Best gaming monitor under $500: Alienware AW2518HF
• Best curved monitor under $500: Dell S3220DGF
• Best office monitor under $500: HP 6XJ00AA
• Best family monitor under $500: LG 27UL600

The best monitor under $500 overall

The Samsung S32R750U offers the best combination of features, design, and functionality in a package that, while a bit pricey, is still well worth the price.

Samsung's monitor comes with thin bezels around a 31.5-inch LCD screen that makes it appear as if it's an all-screen design. It comes with a thin stem and attractive-looking base to round out what might be the best-looking monitor design in this roundup.

That big screen is bolstered by a 4K resolution that should make all kinds of content look solid. It comes with a 4ms response time and 60Hz refresh rate, which should make fast-moving content look appealing, and with Mini DisplayPort and HDMI ports, you can hook the monitor up to just about any modern machine.

While it would've been nice to have seen a webcam in the monitor, its versatility, allowing you to use it at just about any height or angle, makes Samsung's S32R750U an ideal choice for most shoppers.

Samsung's monitor earned rave reviews from Trusted Reviews, with a score of four stars out of five. Reviewer Thomas Newton touted the monitor's "space-efficient design" and said its contrast performance was "incredible".

Pros: Outstanding design, big screen size, doesn't take up too much space, 4K resolution

Cons: Too few ports, no webcam

The best gaming monitor under $500

If you're a gamer who's in the market for a high-quality screen that won't necessarily take up too much room on a desk, the Alienware AW2518HF is the way to go.

Alienware's monitor comes with a sharp design that features small bezels around its 25-inch screen, and an attractive base that could be ideal for gamers. Speaking of that 25-inch screen, it comes with LED backlighting to improve bright color representation, and thanks to full-HD resolution, most games and other content, like video, should look pleasant on the display.

Oddly, the gaming-focused Alienware monitor doesn't have 3D support, but it does come with a wall-mountable design, so you can place it on a wall to save more space on a desk. Better yet, the monitor has an ergonomic design that includes the ability to swivel, tilt, pivot, and adjust the height during use.

On the tech side, the Alienware AW2518HF offers a 1,000:1 contrast ratio to boost color accuracy, and 400 cd/m2 brightness means it should be plenty bright enough in most environments. Be aware, however, that Alienware's machine is priced at the top of the sub-$500 range.

I've used Alienware's AW2518HF and found it to be one of the company's better full-HD options. Its thin bezel does the job of reducing space on the desk and its unique base is a welcome addition. It also works great with games.

Pros: Appealing design, ultra-fast response time, wall-mountable, ergonomic stand

Cons: Only full HD, not 3D-friendly

The best curved monitor under $500

Curved monitors can be ideal for those who want a more focused viewing experience without taking up too much room on the desk. For those cases, the Dell S3220DGF is an ideal choice.

Dell's monitor is a 32-inch screen with a deep enough curve on the edges. It comes with a quad-HD (2,560 x 1,440) resolution, which means it's a bit better than what you'd get from full HD, but not quite up to the standard of 4K. But, since it comes with AMD FreeSync technology and HDR, there's a good chance your video gaming on the monitor will look fluid and vibrant all at the same time.

Unlike some of the other options in this roundup, Dell's monitor is designed to be used as a USB hub and includes five USB 3.0 ports to do that. And, since it comes with a wall-mountable design, you can make it do double duty by acting both as your monitor and your television in a smaller room.

The monitor's 3,000:1 contrast ratio is a welcome feature for gamers and movie addicts alike. And, with help from features like a frame rate counter and dark stabilizer, you can enhance your gameplay experience with ease. Overall, it offers a decent value for the price.

Tom's Hardware gave Dell's monitor a stellar four-and-a-half stars out of five and touted its outstanding brightness performance and strong contrast ratio. Dell's monitor also earned high marks for its superior build quality, making it a sturdy choice.

Pros: Big screen size, five USB 3.0 ports included, wall-mountable design, HDR support

Cons: Curved design isn't for everyone

The best office monitor under $500

If you're looking for a monitor for the office that won't blow you away with gaming and video features, but will deliver an ideal solution for productivity, go with the HP 6XJ00AA.

HP's monitor comes with a 31.5-inch screen and utilizes LED backlighting with in-plane switching (IPS) to deliver its picture. In general, that means you can expect bright visuals from the display and colors should look vibrant. Be aware, however, that without HDR support in this monitor, the colors won't be as vibrant as those that use the technology.

The device itself comes with thin bezels around the screen and a sleek silver finish to make the device look attractive on the desk. And, since it comes with an anti-glare design, you can use it in just about any setting or around any window, and you'll find you're able to easily see what's on the screen.

That said, the HP monitor is somewhat bulky compared to the others in this roundup, due in large part to its massive screen, and since it has limited port support, you won't be able to use it as a USB hub for connecting more accessories to your computer. Despite that, it comes with an affordable price that makes it harder for others to beat.

HP's monitor has earned nearly universal rave reviews from users. It earned high marks for its compelling design and bright visuals, and its affordability was a clear selling point.

Pros: Outstanding design, big screen size, solid viewing angles, anti-glare coating

Cons: Limited port support, may be bulky on desk

The best family monitor under $500

LG's 27UL600 is an ideal choice for families that want a monitor that can work well for those who want to play video games, but still deliver solid-enough performance for those who want to get work done.

The LG 27UL600 is a 27-inch screen that uses LED technology to deliver bright, colorful visuals. Better yet, the monitor offers both 4K support and HDR readiness, so you can count on vibrant and high-fidelity visuals when you're watching movies and television shows or playing video games.

On the design side, LG's monitor comes with a rather tired design with somewhat thick bezels around its panel and a simple base. For a device that's a little on the pricier side and has limited port support, a better design would have been welcome.

Still, with its reasonable size and great features, it's a fine choice for most uses.

RTINGS awarded the monitor a score of eight out of 10 and gave it high marks for an outstanding picture and wide viewing angles. It also performs well for gaming, according to the outlet.

Pros: 4K support, HDR support, versatile for gamers and home office, anti-glare coating

Cons: Tired design, limited port support

• High-tech handwashing stations have been popping up in grocery stores around the country as businesses fight the spread of the coronavirus.
• One popular high-tech handwashing station designed by Meritech is "100% touch-free" and can clean your hands in 12 seconds.
• Executives of the company hope the handwashing stations can replace traditional sinks in the future.
• View more episodes of Business Insider Today on Facebook.

A high-tech handwashing station that kills 99.9% of harmful pathogens could become a common fixture in the future.

The handwashing stations, invented over 30 years ago by the small Colorado firm Meritech, have recently become popular in grocery stores as awareness over good hygiene practices has grown during the coronavirus pandemic.

Unlike traditional handwashing stations, the ones made by Meritech are fully automated, chief technology officer Paul Barnhill said. After placing your hands in the machine, 40 nozzles rinse them with water and soap. The process takes 12 seconds and is "100% touch-free," Barnhill said. 

"Every time somebody washes their hands, they may do it a little bit differently, and so they don't necessarily always get the same effect," he said."By automating that process like so many other automations that we have throughout our life is that you're really being able to change that behavior, being able to give you a scientific process very quickly, very easily, every single time."

A 2013 study found that only 5% of people in public restrooms were properly washing their hands long enough to kill germs and bacteria, and 33% didn't use any soap. 

Before the coronavirus, handwashing stations like these were mostly used at healthcare facilities and food production facilities across the US that have higher hygiene standards, Meritech CEO David Duran said.

But due to the pandemic, public spaces like malls, schools, and restaurants are paying increased attention to hygiene guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which says that handwashing can prevent about 20% respiratory infections. 

The new awareness has led to a spike in Meritech sales. Duran said the company's seen a 200% increase from last year — "significant improvement in our demand," he said. 

The handwashing stations have been installed at the Astoria Co-op in Oregon, part of the National Co+op Grocers group that operates over 200 stores nationwide. While they're still keeping Purell dispensers around the store, general manager Matt Stanley says the stations have been a huge hit with customers. 

"I think it is a machine that people will start to see more in public now that the pandemic is here," Stanley said. "We certainly want to minimize traffic to the bathroom, I think was part of it. And we also wanted it to be really front and center center. And something easy that people could do."

The Meritech machines produced and assembled in the US cost between $3,000 and $27,000 for industrial-sized equipment. Barnhill hopes the high-tech handwashing bays could replace regular sinks in the future.

"I would love to have one someday after 28 years of working, but the system isn't really designed for that right now," Barnhill said. "But I do see an evolution of that equipment being designed in the future to where they could be used in a home."

SEE ALSO: US farms are destroying milk and produce — but food banks are struggling to keep up with 200% demand spikes

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Join the conversation about this story »

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• Researchers at OpenAI are using machine learning to generate songs from scratch — complete with lyrics, soundtracks, and vocals.
• Jukebox harnesses the same technology that's behind deepfakes and this recently viral meme generator by training an AI based on music samples from Katy Perry, 2Pac, Elvis Presley, and dozens of artists across multiple genres.
• Surprisingly, some of the resulting songs are catchy and sound legitimate — check out some of the best ones we found.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Artists may need to start competing with — or embracing — computer-made songs and soundtracks in the near future, if a new AI music generator shows any indication of what could come next for the music industry.

Researchers at artificial intelligence lab OpenAI have released Jukebox, an open-source algorithm that can generate music, complete with lyrics, vocals, and a soundtrack. All the algorithm needs is a genre, an artist, and a snippet of lyrics, and Jukebox can create song samples that can be realistic and quite catchy.

OpenAI's music generator runs on the same sort of machine-learning technology used to create deepfakes and employed by the slew of sites that popped up in 2019 generating fake memes, fake Airbnb listings, and fake cats. Jukebox produces its AI creations using artificial neural networks that train a computer to learn from an influx of data. In this case, researchers trained a neural network using 1.2 million samples of lyrics, soundtracks and tunes from dozens of artists.

Some of the results are surprisingly good. Jukebox pulls from songs across genres spanning pop, jazz, country, heavy metal, and hip-hop, and artists including Frank Sinatra, 2Pac, Katy Perry, Eagles, Beyoncé, and Kenny Rogers.

Nonetheless, there are some limitations, as Jukebox's researchers acknowledge in a blog post on OpenAI's website.

"There is a significant gap between these generations and human-created music," OpenAI researchers write. "While the generated songs show local musical coherence, follow traditional chord patterns, and can even feature impressive solos, we do not hear familiar larger musical structures such as choruses that repeat."

The technology also raises some questions about potential legal issues. Jay-Z, for example, has recently been trying to get AI-powered impersonations of himself singing Billy Joel removed from YouTube. His entertainment company, Roc Nation, cites YouTube uploads for "unlawfully" using AI to "impersonate" Jay-Z's voice, according to The Verge.

Check out some of the best samples Jukebox was able to create, with some assistance from OpenAI researchers. You might notice some of the songs mirror lyrics you're already familiar with.

SEE ALSO: Anti-quarantine protesters are being kicked off Facebook and quickly finding refuge on a site loved by conspiracy theorists

This sample mirrors Céline Dion's signature deep voice.

This is one way to honor 2Pac's legacy.

If you ever wanted to reimagine Eminem's "Lose Yourself" in Kanye West's music style, look no further.

Can someone who likes heavy metal tell me how realistic this Rage rendition sounds? Because it sounds legit to me.

There's no mistaking the sound of Elvis Presley.

Bookmark this bop for December. to add into your compilation of Frank Sinatra classics for Christmas dinner.

It's been a few years since a Katy Perry hit has topped the charts — maybe it's worth contacting AI researchers for some of the samples from this track.

While the lyrics may not be up-to-par, the instrumental audio sounds like the makings of a legitimate country hit.

• Thousands of crew members remain stranded on cruise ships around the world.
• Most have been stuck on the ships for well over a month, with no clear path home.
• Workers onboard Norwegian Cruise Lines and Carnival Corporation ships spoke to Business Insider about their frustration with their circumstances, their employers, and the United States government.
• "This is not a private-public sector issue, this is an international relations tragedy," one individual who managed to disembark a Carnival ship in March told Business Insider.
• Are you a cruise-ship crewmember or a cruise-line employee? Email acain@businessinsider.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

For four hours, hundreds of Norwegian Cruise Lines crew members waited on the Tampa Harbour pier, just minutes away from the ships set to take them home after weeks stuck onboard.

Then they were told they had disembarked their ships for nothing. 

Norwegian had planned to dock its MS Norwegian Star and MS Norwegian Dawn in the Florida port for a massive crew transfer on April 21. All European employees and contractors were to report to the Star, which was due to sail for Europe. All other nationalities would board the Dawn. The consolidation was an effort to expedite the repatriation of long-stranded crew members. 

One of the individuals participating in the abruptly canceled transfer described the scene to Business Insider. Around 500 people were set to partake in the transfer, which began at 7 a.m. They had donned gloves and masks, packed their luggage, handed off their cabin keeps, and said goodbye to the friends and colleagues they'd been stuck with for weeks. Border Patrol officers waited at the scene on standby, as did private buses set to shuttle Star crew to the Dawn, and vice versa. The ships were situated about five minutes apart in the port.

But nothing happened as the morning dragged on. The disembarked crew ended up stuck in limbo for hours, standing in line or sitting on their bags. Around 11 a.m., the announcement came in. Representatives of Norwegian's human resources department told employees that the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had halted the transfer.

The Norwegian employees and contractors were told to turn around and re-board their respective vessels.

The botched transfer between the Sun and the Star reflects more than just a disappointing setback for hundreds of employees at one major cruise line. It's a scene indicative of the plight of crew members stuck onboard ships during the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of crew members remain on board ships at port and at sea around the world, unable to return home.

Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and the CDC did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Business Insider has spoken with seven Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Corporation, and MSC Cruises crew members, most of whom remain trapped on their respective vessels. They addressed the fear, uncertainty, and frustration they have undergone as they continue to wait for the journey home. 

Two people onboard Norwegian Cruise ships blamed the CDC and US authorities for failing to help crew members on "healthy ships"— with no cases of COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms onboard – return home. And it's a sentiment echoed by individuals working for other cruise lines.

One Carnival crew member stuck onboard a ship said that the cruise line's repatriation plans have been repeatedly blocked by federal and state governments in the US. They said that Carnival's plan to repatriate crew members by nationality is "risky and unacceptable."

Carnival Cruise Lines recently planned to dispatch ships docked off North America to return crew to "ports in Asia, Europe, and Latin America," including the Asia-bound MS Carnival Panorama.

Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Lines arranged for its ships, including the Norwegian Epic, the Norwegian Bliss, the Norwegian Encore, and the Norwegian Star, to reconvene on its company-owned private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay. An individual who had previously sailed on the Star said that they were transferred to the Epic, which now has roughly 2,300 onboard.

'An international relations tragedy'

As crew members continue to face a lack of options when it comes to disembarking and returning home, many now also face anxieties around their careers and their health.

Many crew members onboard face being trapped without a means to earn a salary after their cruise line contracts expire.

One Norwegian crew member onboard the Epic told Business Insider that the ship's management told employees to report to the ship's Taste restaurant. There, the employees were served with certificates of service, highlighting that their contracts had come to an end. Most stranded crew will not accrue wages despite being still stranded on board, aside from those performing essential tasks. 

MSC Cruises has enacted a similar policy for many of its stranded crew. For MSC Cruises crew members not earning a salary while stuck on vessels, the cruise line has promised that they will receive either a job offer six months after MSC Cruises' fleet is back online. If MSC is unable to offer them another job at that time, a leaked memo said that these crew members are entitled to an amount worth two months' base pay.

In addition to pay, safety also remains a concern for many stranded crew. With passengers long since having departed the ships, outbreaks among crew members have attracted considerably less media scrutiny. The MS Queen Victoria, a Cunard Line ship, has experienced a COVID-19 outbreak, forcing crew to remain isolated in their cabins onboard.

Onboard the Norwegian Epic and the Norwegian Star, there have been no rumors about COVID-19 symptoms presenting in crew members aboard. Business Insider has reviewed a number of photos snapped onboard the Norwegian Epic, showing crew gathered in restaurants or on deck catching some sunlight. The photos do not depict crowded scenes, per se, but they highlight that crew members are not self-isolating.

But it is a different story on the Norwegian Gem. Emails leaked to Business Insider reveal that two crew members have died on the ship in April. One passed away from "cardio-respiratory arrest," and the other died of pneumonia.

'This is not the Navy'

Holland America line ambassador Miles Schoedler told Business Insider he commended "our entire leadership teams for their resolve" in the push to get employees home. Schoedler was able to disembark their ship in March after suspending his contract.

"It's heartbreaking knowing that our shipboard officers, staff, and crew remain vigilant and responsive to the safety of everyone aboard our vessels yet the biggest 'iceberg' our company has had to navigate is the US Federal Government and CDC mandates," Schoedler told Business Insider. "This is not a private-public sector issue, this is an international relations tragedy."

A different employee on a Carnival Corporation-owned ship said it is a problem that entertainers, culinary employees, hotel workers, and other non-essential employees are stuck onboard along with the individuals needed to fulfill the required "minimum manning" on the ship. They said they "are at risk of exposure given the relatively enclosed environment aboard."

"They are not military personnel, this is not the Navy," they said. "They do not swear an oath of alliance to any flag or branch of service, and they certainly don't receive the same protections and privileges of our armed forces and veterans. They are global citizens being turned away from the self-proclaimed 'greatest country in the world.'"

A Carnival cruise director told Business Insider that they hoped that their employer would "embrace our role as a powerful force for reunion within our global family."

"This is bigger than us," they told Business Insider. "We have a duty and responsibility to set the standard for how to treat members of our international community and we must not continue to allow for this tragedy to persist."

Are you a cruise-ship crewmember or a cruise-line employee? Email acain@businessinsider.com

SEE ALSO: Carnival and Norwegian cruise ships are scrambling to get stranded ship workers home by sailing them to different countries as the CDC refuses to let crew disembark in the US

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Mazda dealerships are offering US healthcare workers free oil changes and enhanced cleanings through the company's Essential Car Care program. 
• The initiative was originally supposed to last from April 16 through May 4, but Mazda has extended the program through June 1. 
• Mazda dealerships will deep clean the high-touch surfaces within healthcare workers' cars using EPA-approved cleaning products, and the services are available to those who drive nearly any make or model.
• Healthcare workers can learn more about the program on Mazda's website. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Mazda has been offering free oil changes and car cleanings to US healthcare workers for about a month now, and the company said this week that the program will continue through the start of June.

It's called the Essential Car Care program, and participating dealers will perform the free services on most standard makes and models, not just Mazdas. The program is available to healthcare workers at a range of different types of facilities, including hospitals, urgent-care clinics, long-term care facilities, public-health agencies, medical research centers, and blood banks. 

Mazda's North American division originally announced the Essential Car Care program in April, and it was scheduled to last from April 16 through May 4. But on Monday, the day it was scheduled to end, Mazda announced that the program would continue through June 1.

Mazda said it got the idea for the Essential Car Care initiative after some local Mazda dealerships established their own similar programs for healthcare workers.

According to Mazda, it will alleviate at least $5 million of service costs from US healthcare workers through the Essential Car Care initiative. The "enhanced car cleaning" services included in the program are intended to keep healthcare employees safe by cleaning a car's high-touch surfaces using EPA-approved products. 

To ensure the safety of dealership employees and program participants, "Mazda has also encouraged dealers to continue following the recommendations from the CDC and local public health and government officials, along with workplace personal hygiene practices," the manufacturer said. 

Healthcare workers interested in a free oil change or car cleaning need to show proof of employment in the form of a valid ID or a pay stub. More details about the program can be found on Mazda's website. 

SEE ALSO: 13 things you should do now to maintain your car while coronavirus lockdowns park it indefinitely

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• Cinco de Mayo is a great day to open up a bottle of tequila, whether you're mixing margaritas or tasting it straight. 
• These six experts explain what makes a tequila good — and all the different types for various occasions, including Blanco, Reposado, Anejo, and Extra Anejo.
• Pure tequila must be produced from the Blue Agave plant that has matured for a minimum of six years and be 100% agave; cheap tequila is often only 50%.
• Their top 10 picks are straight from regions in Mexico where tequila hails from, including Calle 23 and Arette tequila from Jalisco.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Any margarita lover worth their salt is warming up the blender for Cinco de Mayo — the day when the entire world seems to celebrate Mexico. Fun fact: Cinco de Mayo is actually not that big of a deal in Mexico itself. Many people think it's Mexican Independence Day, but in fact, the holiday commemorates the Mexican victory in a battle against the French in the Franco-Mexican War. Still, many countries use the day as an excuse to blend up frosty margaritas and tuck into tacos.

As a travel journalist with an expertise in Mexico, I usually spend half the year living south of the border — except, of course, for this particular year amid the pandemic. So instead of sampling tequila in its birthplace, I reached out to six of the top tequila experts in Mexico to unearth their favorites.

SEE ALSO: 16 easy and new Cinco de Mayo cocktail recipes to brighten up your holiday while at home

NOW READ: The 10 best whiskey brands you need to try, according to 2 renowned experts

But first, let's dispel a few tequila misconceptions.

More often than not, we associate the word "tequila" with bad decisions followed by painful mornings. Well, it might surprise you know that the tequila of your past was, simply put, not tequila. And until you've had the real deal, you don't know what you're missing. 

"Great tequila starts with great agave," tequila expert Iliana Partida told Business Insider. Agave is the raw material for tequila. "First, you want to make sure that your tequila is 100% de agave, which means that all of the alcohol in the tequila is distilled from the agave plant." Partida is a fourth generation master distiller at Tres Agaves, based in Jalisco, Mexico. 

What you drank in college was definitely not 100% de agave. That tequila, called mixto, can have as little at 51% of alcohol coming from agave. The other 49% comes from other alcohols — and usually the cheap stuff — which is why you may not have fond memories of drinking it.

But it can't be just any agave.

In order for it to be pure tequila, it must be produced from the Blue Agave plant, and a plant that has matured for a minimum of six years. "The optimum maturing time is nine years, but still the best tequilas are made with agaves that are at least six years in the ground," says Juan Bonilla, CEO of Juan Bonilla Imports, an Atlanta-based company dedicated to importing and distributing tequila. Bonilla grew up with tequila in his blood. His family has owned agave farms for generations in Mexico.

Similar to Champagne, tequila can only truly be called "tequila" when it comes from one of the five designated states in Mexico that have the government designation to make and produce it. The most well-known tequila state is Jalisco, which is where tequila was born. 

After harvesting, the agave undergoes a distilling process and then is aged in barrels, steel or oak, to produce its four different types: Blanco, Reposado, Anejo, and Extra Anejo. Blanco tequila is the youngest tequila, meaning that it is aged for less than 60 days. Sometimes it is bottled immediately after distillation. Reposado tequila is typically aged from 60 days to one year. Anejo, which means "vintage," is aged from one to three years, while Extra Anejo is aged four years.

As for tasting tequila, the experience is quite similar to a wine or whiskey tasting.

There is a "proper" way — and no, it's not in a shot. Tequilas are always best when sipped, usually neat, to get the raw flavors of the spirit. "Tequila is known to have 600 different aromas," said Javier Moreno Gomez, Tequila & Wine Sommelier at Grand Residences Riviera Cancun, a luxury resort in Cancun. "Some of them include citrus, mint, floral, honey, oak, almond, vanilla, butterscotch, chocolate, among others." The basic tasting method for tequila is: swirl, sniff, sip, swallow.

So now, without further ado and in no particular order, here are 10 of the best tequila brands out there, according to our experts.

1. Don Nacho

The family that produces the Don Nacho tequilas have been harvesting agaves for more than two generations. They are one the largest producers of agave in Mexico. "[The family] gives agaves to a lot of other tequila companies, but they harvest the best for their own," said Bonilla. "[Don Nacho] is 100% de agave with no additives. The taste is superb."

Don Nacho has two lines of tequila: Premiere and Extra Premiere. The Premiere has Blanco and Reposado, while the Extra Premiere has Blanco, Reposado, and Anejo. This year they will add an Extra Anejo to their Extra Premiere line.

2. La Cava de Don Samuel

From the small highland town of Atotonilco in Jalisco comes this extraordinary line of tequila. 

"Don Samuel was one of the biggest commercial entrepreneurs in the town," said Bonilla. "In 2007 he created a special production of around 10,000 bottles of Reposado tequila. This reserve is so unique, and there are not that many on the market. It must be tried."

3. Don Fernando

Don Fernando tequila is grown and produced in the lowlands of Jalisco, which gives it a dry flavor. "This gives it a very subtle taste," said Bonilla. "The location brings a lot of natural spring water into the mix, which is just amazing."

Don Fernando has a regular line of tequila, which produces Reposado and Blanco. They also have a premium line, which includes Anejo and Extra Anejo.

4. Tres Agaves Anejo

"I always sip Anejo with some chocolates, berries, or nuts around to snack on when I do - maybe some water, too, so I don't dehydrate myself," said Partida. "I just love the combination of flavors — the caramel and vanilla from the Anejo with the sweet and bitter combinations of the snacks."

5. Fortaleza Blanco

"A tried and true brand, the brand's commitment to heritage shows itself in the consistently pungent agave flavor that is good enough to enjoy neat, and powerful enough to stand out in cocktails," said tequila expert, Tess Lampert. Tess is a New York-based educator and writer about agave spirits. She consults with top tequila brands and restaurants and organizes events across the nation to educate consumers, trade, and media on all aspects of agave.

6. Arette Blanco

"A lot of folks have gone down the path of considering Blanco tequilas the best for 'shots.' I prefer sipping them from a Reidel glass to elevate the experience, and really enjoy the complexities and nuances of the agave characteristics," said Yuseff Cherney, founder and Master Distiller at Cutwater Spirits. He has been distilling spirits for 10 years and his distillery has a partnership with a family-owned distillery in Jalisco.

7. Siembra Valles Anejo

Full-bodied and caramel in color, Siembra Valles Anejo has scents of agave, nuts, spices, and vanilla. Lampert said, "This tequila comes from one of the few producers that expertly ages tequila for a final product that is smooth and full of barrel complexity, without losing the agave core."

8. Siete Leguas Reposado

Excellent for both sipping and mixing, Siete Leguas Reposado is an absolute pleasure. "This is a magical tequila," said Lampert. "I have been including it in guided tastings for years and it is always a crowd favorite. It is so well-balanced with powerful agave flavors, while integrating the soft wood notes."

9. Calle 23 Blanco

The product is from French biochemist Sophie Decobecq (one of the few female tequila producers in the industry). Her tequila, Calle 23, is produced in Los Altos, Jalisco.

"I particularly tend to stay with Blanco tequilas nowadays, not to say other expressions aren't worth trying, I just like the taste of the raw mineral in this case," said Ignacio "Nacho" Jimenez, one of the most acclaimed bartenders in the country. Originally from Mexico, he leads the bar program at Ghost Donkey in New York, which was named Imbibe magazine's cocktail bar of 2020. "Her Blanco has a nice velvet palate complemented by nice earthy and herbaceous notes."

10. Milagro Select Barrel Reserve Anejo

From the highlands of Jalisco comes this premium line of tequila, from 100% estate-grown agaves. 

"By law all tequila must be distilled twice, however a select few choose to distill a third time, like this one," said Jimenez. "This expression is aged three years in French white oak barrels that have been heavily roasted. The result is a rich amber color tequila with some soft and well-integrated oak on the nose, and on the palate cinnamon spice and white pepper."

• Oil prices rose on Tuesday as traders looked optimistically at moves by several major economies to ease coronavirus lockdowns, allowing for greater economic activity and likely boosting demand for oil.
• West Texas Intermediate settled 20% higher, at $24.52 per barrel.
• "Many market participants believe there is light at the end of the tunnel," the UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.
• Concerns persist, however, about future price movements, as storage issues remain for US oil.
• Follow the price of oil live with Markets Insider.

Oil prices rose on Tuesday as traders looked optimistically at moves by several major economies to ease coronavirus lockdowns, allowing for greater economic activity and likely boosting demand for oil.

West Texas Intermediate settled 20% higher, at $24.52 per barrel. Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed 14%, to $31.02 per barrel.

"Many market participants believe there is light at the end of the tunnel," the UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

Naeem Aslam, the chief market analyst at Avatrade, said oil prices were rising "as the world returns to its new normal."

Italy, France, and Spain are among the countries easing lockdown measures or setting dates to do so. They had faced some of the world's most stringent restrictions since mid-March.

Several US states have also moved to ease lockdown measures, with nonessential businesses and beaches reopening in some parts of the country.

Read more:These 22 well-known companies have a rare opportunity to soon get acquired due to the coronavirus crisis, BTIG says

"All of this optimism has helped the oil prices to record the longest run of daily gains in more than nine months," Aslam said. "This further strengthens the argument that the worst may be over for oil, and given the fact that the oil producers have started to curtail voluntary and involuntary supply cuts, the supply and demand curve may reverse its course."

But Aslam added that the June contract for WTI was "still prone to risk" because both a supply glut and a lack of storage space for it persist.

Other analysts echoed the suggestion that the easing of lockdowns was supporting oil prices even though worries about storage continue.

Read more:Renowned strategist Tom Lee recommends 12 beaten-down travel stocks to buy now for an average profit of 32% during the pandemic recovery.

"While the inflection point appears near, we would describe the current environment as the darkest hour just before the dawn," Staunovo said. "With oil inventories still increasing, crude oil prices remain vulnerable to renewed setbacks."

Neil Wilson, the chief market analyst at Markets.com, said: "Oil continues to make steady gains with front month WTI to $22 on hopes lockdowns are being lifted. The idea that we will be moving around anything like as much as before is fanciful, at least in the near term."

US oil prices turned negative for the first time in history two weeks ago because of the lack of storage options — particularly at a key storage facility in Cushing, Oklahoma — and the reduction in demand for the commodity.

Read more:When Wade Pfau isn't writing books or winning awards, he's teaching Ph.D. students the art of retirement income. Here are 4 ways he says investors can reduce risk and thrive financially in the long term.

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• Plagued by bankruptcy filings, food poisoning incidents, and millennial disdain, buffets were struggling well before the coronavirus pandemic began.
• From 1998 to 2017, the number of buffet restaurants decreased by 26% while the number of overall restaurants grew by 22%.
• That decline may well be made worse by trends that are accelerating across the food industry: towards faster, more convenient, to-go options.
• Buffets will also have the hardest time convincing diners that they're safe after the pandemic— and rebuilding consumer trust will be key to restaurants' recovery.
• But buffets may have a chance if they expand takeout and delivery options, and pivot to cafeteria-style service.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for restaurants across the board. But the pandemic may spell the end for one genre of restaurant in particular: buffets.

Buffets were already on shaky footing. From 1998 to 2017, the number of buffet restaurants decreased by 26% while the number of overall restaurants grew by 22%, according to The NPD Group, a market research company. Old Country Buffet's parent company, Ovation Brands, filed for bankruptcy three times in the last twenty years. Ponderosa/Bonanza Steakhouse's parent company, formerly Metromedia Steakhouse, went bankrupt in 2008, eventually selling the buffet brand to FAT Brands in 2017. 

Why have buffets suffered so much in the last two decades? There are several possible factors. One is that at the turn of the millennium, Americans began a shift away from quantity and toward quality when it comes to food. "Super Size Me" and "Fast Food Nation" forced Americans to confront their fast-food habits — and their growing waistlines. Nutrition has become more of a concern when choosing where to eat, and in the 2000s, fast-food chains struggled to climb back into vogue while the farm-to-table movement flourished.

Fast-food chains are now doing just fine. But for some reason, buffets just can't seem to break into the vitamin-fortified hearts of millennials and younger diners.

Business Insider spoke with restaurant analyst John Gordon, who has worked in the restaurant industry for 50 years. Gordon worked at a Ponderosa Steakhouse for 10 years early in his career and is a fan of salad buffets. However, he told Business Insider that he's seen a lot of buffet operators close down over the years.

"Many of those buffet operators have had a falling off in business activity. A lot of it had to do with people's tastes and preferences as a certain generation of adults grew older," Gordon said.

Another factor might be the many cases of mass food poisoning incidents that have occurred at buffets in recent memory. E. coli, salmonella, the questionably-named "fried rice syndrome", campylobacter — if you can name it, there's probably been a food poisoning incident at a buffet because of it.

Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, buffets were already struggling to rebrand and convince the public they were hip, convenient, fast, and most importantly, safe. Now, many won't get the chance to do so. And the ones that do will have a much steeper hill to climb.

Buffets may simply feel unsafe

When asked if he believed the pandemic would be the death knell for many buffet restaurants, Gordon responded, "I believe so."

One theme that restaurant owners and analysts have repeated to Business Insider throughout this crisis is that the pandemic is speeding up trends that were already starting to take hold slowly. These trends — towards increased online ordering, food delivery, cashless payments, off-premise dining — largely leave the buffet format in the dust.

Gordon said that the restaurant industry is likely to see a permanently increased focus on off-premise consumption. Restaurant concepts that are well-built for those models are doing better during the pandemic, too. While casual dining restaurants are seeing an average 60-90% loss of revenue, fast food is only seeing an average 35% revenue loss, according to Gordon, who compiles his own data based on various sources such as NPD Group and Black Box Intelligence, which provide restaurant industry data and insights.

And while survey data hasn't specifically tracked consumer interest in buffets, survey data shows that people are likely to make choices based on perceived risk. Buffets may see the same consumer behavior work against them, as consumers could perceive buffets as high-risk places. Because they rely on shared serving utensils and serving stations, buffets have many more high-touch points than your average sit-down restaurant. Even if strict precautions are taken, buffets, as we know them, may simply feel unsafe.

That's not to say there aren't innovations that buffet owners could make to make their businesses more coronavirus-proof. More than anything, winning back customer trust will be key to regaining business after the pandemic.

Instead of open serving areas, buffets could switch to cafeteria-style serving, with an employee and the food behind a glass shield and a customer in front of it. This would ensure fewer high-touch points for customers and may make it easier to enforce social distancing.

Buffets could also pivot to non-buffet models, Gordon suggests. If a buffet restaurant pivoted to offering takeout and delivery, that could increase its chances of survival.

However, the classic American buffet — touching a hundred communal tongs and spoons to stack piles of food onto your fifth plate — will likely be a relic of a time before the coronavirus, before consumers started to make decisions based on safety more than anything else.

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NOW WATCH: Why thoroughbred horse semen is the world's most expensive liquid

• There's nothing like a glass of wine after a long day, but getting into the bottle can be a hassle without a good wine opener or corkscrew.
• To get that cork out as easily as possible, you should get the best one around — the Pulltap Double-Hinged Waiters Corkscrew.

For many people around the world, enjoying a glass of wine is one of life's greatest pleasures. But first, you have to get the bottle open. If you're like me, chances are you take owning a wine opener or corkscrew for granted. It's something that lives in your cutlery drawer, even if you have no idea how it got there.

When I was a child, I used to pretend that my parents' winged corkscrew was a person. I remember my mother's distress when she couldn't find the corkscrew and her ultimate relief when it was found it in my dollhouse after a lengthy search. I'm a mom now — I get it.

The first corkscrew was patented in Oxford, England, in 1795 by Reverend Samuel Henshall. This basic twist corkscrew was so effective that it was widely used for more than 100 years. While the basic corkscrew is still available for purchase, there are now dozens of other corkscrew varieties to choose from. These are today's most popular varieties:

• Waiter's Corkscrew: Also known as a wine key, it has many variations, but frequently it relies on a double hinge that provides extra leverage to make it easier to remove the cork. With its folded body, it resembles a pocket knife. A tiny knife blade, for cutting the foil wrapping on the bottle's neck, can be found in the handle, which can be crafted in a variety of different materials, including wood and metal. Quick, efficient—and lightweight —no wonder top waiters and sommeliers have been using it for decades.
• Winged Corkscrews: This popular piece first showed up in the US in the 1930s. As the screw is twisted into the cork, two levers (the "arms") are raised; pushing down the levers pulls the cork from the bottle. Oenophiles should ensure they select a variety with a thin screw. Otherwise, it may shred the cork.
• Lever Corkscrews: Because it is so simple to operate, this is the type of corkscrew most often recommended to beginners. Also known as the bunny ears — the two long levers clearly resemble rabbit ears — it has two handles that hold the bottle in place. After the screw is inserted, the levers are squeezed together and the cork should pop right out.
• Electric Wine Openers: Mostly battery-powered, these simple-to-use openers require no physical strength at all, making them ideal for anyone with limited arm mobility. Simply push a button and a corkscrew will insert itself into the cork. Many of them also have a foil removal process, too.
• Ah So Wine Openers: This wine opener is more difficult to use than the other options, but it is ideal for opening vintage bottles of wine or any other bottles that may be sealed with corks that have become brittle. That's because it is specifically designed to avoid damaging the cork. How does it work? Two thin metal prongs attached to a handle are slid in between the cork and the bottle. Simply twist the handle, pull up, and the cork should come out. Nicknamed the "Butler's Friend," because any servant could easily use it to remove the cork, take a quick swig, and then replace it without anyone noticing the bottle had been tampered with. The Ah So has even been known to come to the rescue when a broken cork is stuck in the bottleneck.  
• Air Pressure Wine Openers: This opener uses a needle in place of a screw. Once the hollow needle is inserted all the way through the cork, the simple press of a button sends a small amount of CO2 into the bottle, which immediately pushes the cork out of the bottleneck. Some air pressure openers use pumps instead of automated buttons. It's fast and requires no exertion, making it the ideal option for a reception when you need to open multiple bottles at the same time. That said, an opener usually only lasts for about 80 to 100 uses, although some come with refillable CO2 packs.

Here are the best wine openers and corkscrews:

• Best overall: Pulltap's Double-Hinged Waiters Corkscrew
• Best luxury waiter's corkscrew: Laguiole En Aubrac Solid Horn Waiters Corkscrew
• Best electric wine opener: Oster Cordless Electric Wine Bottle Opener with Foil Cutter
• Best wing corkscrew: OXO Good Grips Winged Corkscrew with Removable Foil Cutter
• Best lever wine opener: Rabbit Vertical Corkscrew

Prices and links are current as of 5/5/2020. We also added a selection of related buying guides.

The best overall

The Pulltap's Double-Hinged Waiter's Corkscrew is the gold standard for waiters and wine lovers worldwide.

Year after year, the Pulltap's Double-Hinged Waiter's Corkscrew appears on list after list of the world's best wine openers. Made by Barcelona-based Pulltap's, one of the world's preeminent wine accessories companies, this double-hinged corkscrew does the job and does it well.

For starters, the Teflon-coated screw and the solid stainless steel arms give the opener a sturdy feeling. The serrated knife that serves as a foil cutter is nice and sharp. When folded closed, one end serves as an easy-to-use bottle opener. The standard handle is black metal but you can opt for other colors or minor upgrades like a chrome finish.

What does double-hinged mean anyway? It means that you have much more leverage to easily remove a cork without breaking it. It actually refers to the fold-out lever that will be placed at two points against the mouth of the bottle. There are single-lever openers out there, but it's well worth shelling out a few more bucks to lessen the number of crumbling corks you encounter. 

This wine opener comes with a one-year warranty.

Pros: Affordable, easy to use, sturdy, travels well, won't chip wine or beer bottles

Cons: Knife is sometimes difficult to open

The best luxury waiter's corkscrew

Hand-crafted in France, the Laguiole En Aubrac Solid Horn Waiter's Corkscrew is built by a master craftsman from the finest materials, so you can open your wine in style.

If money is no object and you're regularly shelling out big bucks for a bottle of wine, then you may opt to go with a luxury wine opener. Laguiole has long been considered the Lamborgini of the wine accessories industry. Made in France, these waiter-style corkscrews have unique handles crafted with amazing materials like ancient trees found in the garden at Versailles, stag's horn, and even fossilized mammoth tusks.

There is a lot of confusion surrounding Laguiole corkscrews. That's mostly because Laguiole is not actually a brand, but the name of a small town in the south of France. Laguiole became associated with a specific shape of a traditional knife — and later high-quality corkscrews — that were hand-made in Laguiole and the nearby town of Thiers. Unfortunately, the name was never copyrighted, so anyone can claim to make a Laguiole corkscrew and knock-offs abound on the Internet. The three most reputable brand names you should be looking for are Aurac, Chateau, and Forge; in addition, make sure to buy your corkscrew from a well-known dealer.

This genuine corkscrew is expertly assembled by a single master craftsman from start to finish, ensuring that your end product is unique. The screw and built-in serrated foil cutter are forged from ultra-strong brushed stainless steel. Your corkscrew also comes with a beautiful wooden storage box and a certificate of authenticity. 

Pros: Extraordinary craftsmanship, easy to use, durable, lifetime warranty

Cons: Expensive, knockoffs abound

The best electric wine opener

Give your arms a break while the sleek-looking Oster Cordless Electric Wine Bottle Opener with Foil Cutter effortlessly opens bottle after bottle. 

Designed to fit all traditional wine bottles, the Oster Cordless Electric Wine Bottle Opener with Foil Cutter can open a bottle in a matter of seconds. The unit comes with a separate foil opener that can be conveniently stored in the base so that it not easily lost. 

Use the ergonomically designed soft-grip handle to place the opener on top of the bottle. Then, a simple push of a button activates the unit's corkscrew spiral, and voila — the cork is rapidly removed from the bottle. Simply press the upper part of the switch and the spiral turns in the opposite direction to release the cork from the wine opener.

Fully charging the unit takes six to eight hours. After that, it is good to go for approximately 30 bottles without having to return it to the small base, which includes a power indicator light. The opener also has a blue LED charging light on it, so you will never be caught unprepared.

This wine opener comes with a one-year warranty.

Pros: Easy to use, quick, affordable, sleek design, long-lasting

Cons: Bulky, not good for travel

The best wing corkscrew

The OXO Good Grips Winged Corkscrew has a stable base and a wide turning head that make opening bottles easy.

To use the OXO Good Grips Winged Corkscrew, simply place the base over the cork, twist the head to drive the screw down into the cork, and press the wings down to extract the cork. 

In my experience, one of the hardest parts of using a wing corkscrew is overcoming the initial wobble before the screw has gripped the cork. The OXO Good Grips Corkscrew has overcome this with an extra wide base that sits on top of the neck of the bottle. You can squeeze the sides of the corkscrew around the bottle to mitigate the dreaded wobble.

My next common gripe with wing corkscrews is that the head is often made of thin metal which makes turning it painful on the hands. But the turning knob on the OXO Good Grips is large and wide, making it comfortable to grasp and easy to turn — no thin metal edges cutting into your fingers.

Built into the base of this corkscrew is a removable foil cutter — it actually must be removed to uncork a bottle. But reinserting it after the job is done allows you to stand the corkscrew up, which is great if you want to leave it out on your counter for easy access.

Pros: Comes with foil cutter, wide base minimizes wobble, large head makes turning the screw easy

Cons: Bulkier than your average wing corkscrew

The best lever-style corkscrew

The Rabbit Vertical Corkscrew is a stylish lever opener that easily removes any type of cork in just three seconds.

Metrokane, a leading wine accessories company founded in 1983, created the original Rabbit brand of manual and electric corkscrews. While the corkscrews have been much copied, they have never been replicated and continue to dominate the field. The innovative standing design of the Rabbit Vertical Corkscrew elevates the original Rabbit's quality and performance to an even higher level.

There is no manual twisting with this opener. Place it on the bottle, lower and raise the handle, and the cork will be instantly removed. One more push of the lever ejects the cork. This corkscrew is compatible with all types of corks, including plastic and synthetic, and comes with a foil cutter and one replacement spiral. 

Pros: Super fast, easy-to-use, durable

Cons: Bulky and hard to store

Check out our other great wine guides

The best wine subscriptions

There are only 172 Master Sommeliers in the United States, but just because you haven't earned that distinction doesn't mean that you can't pick great wine.

We've tested multiple services and their wines (a tough job, but someone's gotta do it!), and have selected some of our favorites for you to try. Whether you've been drinking wine for years or are just beginning to discover whether you prefer red to white, these are the best wine subscriptions.

The best wine glasses

The size, shape, construction, and style of a wine glass can dramatically alter how the wine will taste. There are dozens of different specialized wine glasses, but most glasses are grouped into one of two categories: red or white wine glasses. These are the best wine glasses for both reds and whites.

The best wine aerators

By exposing wine to several minutes' worth of air in just a few seconds, a good aerator is one of the simplest, easiest, and cheapest ways to get the most flavor out of your wines. These are the best wine aerators you can buy.

• Business for Peace Out, a DTC skincare company, has been soaring amid the pandemic.
• Overall business and traffic to its site has quadrupled from the same time period last year.
• Sephora, the company's exclusive retailer, helped the brand fully shift sales to online.
• Peace Out founder and CEO Enrico Frezza said he owes his brand's success to his team's ability to communicate and execute key changes to the business during the pandemic. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Having a strong online presence is becoming the key for retailers to keep business going during the pandemic.

That's good news for some direct-to-consumer companies like Peace Out, which maintained a strong digital presence long before the pandemic wreaked havoc on the retail industry. The women's skincare DTC company has seen some of its highest levels of traffic on its website since the pandemic began. Plus, the amount of people spending more than $500 in one checkout has doubled. 

Rather than getting pummeled by the virus, Peace Out is growing; the brand is even on track to launch in Canada, Australia, and East Asia by the end of 2020.

"There's some luck to it. Not going to lie," Peace Out founder and CEO Enrico Frezza told Business Insider in an email interview. "Working in a category that customers need — food, kids toys, skincare, elements of the comfort economy — we are in the position to do well right now. That's a huge privilege."

Peace Out had plans to confront crisis early on

Frezza said that Peace Out started working on contingency plans in early March. The company worked with Sephora, its exclusive retailer, to fully shift sales to online, shifted to work from home for employees, expanded its marketing efforts, and even started exploring TikTok.

Frezza said he owes his brand's success to his team's ability to communicate and execute these key changes to the business during the pandemic.

"Our team went full throttle into planning, strategizing, executing, communicating with and empowering each other as we shifted operations and our go-forward plan," Frezza said, explaining how in this scenario, communication among teammates and customers was key.

In some cases, marketing tactics pivoted to meet the needs of the current environment

Frezza also mentioned how having Sephora as a retailing partner was important in navigating the crisis. Even after the pandemic began, Peace Out continued to work on existing programs and objectives with Sephora that had already been implemented. 

"From the start of the pandemic, Sephora has supported our sales and marketing initiatives," Frezza said, adding, "It was full-steam ahead."

In some cases, the company worked to quickly pivot its advertising strategy to better resonate with customers. For example, Frezza said that the company swiftly created an entirely new ad campaign focused on product images with detailed descriptions after noticing customers were responding to this type of format.

"It was the fastest creative initiative we have ever executed and it's been successful," Frezza said. "We're working with a level of speed, creativity, and insight that will shape our organization for years to come."

Having a desirable product is key

The DTC companies that are thriving in this climate all seem to have one thing in common: a valuable product that resonates with consumers that can be distributed through online channels.

"The number one factor for a business to be doing well during the pandemic is that the value of their service or product can be provided digitally or through home delivery," said Alex Song, the CEO of Innovation Department, which invests in and launches startup brands.

Frezza also said in addition to his company's ability to utilize online channels, Peace Out's success in the pandemic comes down to the value of its products.

"Our skincare solution products are the top reason we've been able to navigate the pandemic with relative ease," he said. "In trying times, people gravitate toward things they trust. Peace Out Skincare products work and they know it."

SEE ALSO: 10 CEOs from thriving DTC brands like Thinx and Magic Spoon reveal their playbooks for how companies can succeed amid a global pandemic

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• Dr. Rick Bright, a former government scientist who was fired last month, filed a whistleblower complaint on Tuesday accusing the Department of Health and Human Services of ignoring his early warnings about the coronavirus, CNN reported.
• Bright claims he was fired for resisting the White House's push to use the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for coronavirus, despite a lack of robust evidence proving its effectiveness.
• According to CNN, Bright claims in his complaint that he warned about a potential US outbreak as early as January but was met with "indifference which then developed into hostility" by top brass at HHS.
• He is now asking to be reinstated as the head of BARDA and a full investigation into the circumstances of his dismissal.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

This story is breaking. Check back for updates.

Dr. Rick Bright, the former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), filed a whistleblower complaint on Tuesday accusing the Department of Health and Human Services of ignoring his early warnings about the novel coronavirus outbreak, CNN reported.

Bright was ousted by the HHS last month, and The New York Times reported that Bright claimed he was fired for resisting the White House's push to use the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for coronavirus, despite a lack of robust evidence proving its effectiveness.

According to CNN, Bright alleges in his whistleblower complaint that he raised early red flags about the US's preparedness for the coronavirus, which the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in March. Bright reportedly claims he warned about a potential US outbreak as early as January but was met with "indifference which then developed into hostility" by top brass at HHS.

CNN reported that Bright's lawyers claim his ouster violates the Whistleblower Protection Act and that the scientist has "engaged in numerous instances of protected activity."

Bright filed the complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, a government watchdog that oversees whistleblower complaints. He is now asking to be reinstated as the head of BARDA and a full investigation into the circumstances of his dismissal.

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• Pickup truck sales outpaced passenger car sales in April, according to Bloomberg.
• Five years ago, car sales had an advantage of about 500,000 units per month.
• Strong truck sales are, in part, due to attractive financing options.
• Detroit's Big Three are also prioritizing truck sales over small cars.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

US buyers' unquenchable thirst for pickup trucks has finally come to a head: Pickups officially outsold regular passenger cars in the US in April. It was already trending this way, so it's not really a surprise that it's now happened.

Pickups sold by market power hitters such as Ford, General Motors, and Fiat Chrysler surpassed cars by more than 17,000 units last month, reports Bloomberg, citing data gathered by market-research company Autodata Corp. The data shows that just five years ago, cars were outselling trucks by about 500,000 units per month. 

Truck sales in the US have been trending upward for years now while car sales slide the opposite way. It should be noted, however, that auto sales in general are weird right now: Sales reports were miserable for most manufacturers aside from Tesla in Q1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that trend mostly continued into April. 

Either way, Bloomberg credited a few factors for the trucks' newfound market domination.

First, it said deliveries of both pickups and regular cars stemming from Detroit are focused more in the middle of the country rather than in the coastal regions — which also happen to be the states that introduced stay-at-home orders later than those on the coasts. 

Second, Bloomberg reports that truck sales were helped along with 0% financing offers that could stretch out the loans for as long as seven years. 

"Even in a pandemic there are some offers too good to pass up," Charlie Chesbrough, Cox Automotive's senior economist, told Bloomberg on Monday. "Many of our daily tracking numbers were showing strong interest in 0% financing offers, as well as a lot of interest in pickup trucks."

Additionally, gas prices have been very low, so it's likely buyers aren't immediately worrying about buying what's efficient — only what's big.

US buyers have shown an unprecedented appetite for pickup trucks and other large vehicles in recent years, and automakers have responded in kind. 

In 2018, General Motors made the decision to drop sedans and small cars such as the Chevy Volt, Cadillac CT6, Cadillac XTS, Chevy Cruze, Chevy Impala, and Buick LaCrosse in order to focus more on SUVs and trucks. Following that, Buick announced it would drop the Regal, which will soon leave the brand with an all-SUV lineup.

Ford, too, announced in 2018 that it would stop selling passenger cars, with the exception of the Mustang and the Focus Active, and saw 90% of its North American portfolio devoted to trucks, SUVs, and commercial vehicles. 

Last year, Fiat Chrysler announced a $4.5 billion investment for new Jeep SUVs. And despite negative FCA sales overall, Ram pickup sales still increased by 7% in the first quarter of 2020.

So, congratulations to the trucks. You've won.

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NOW WATCH: How waste is dealt with on the world's largest cruise ship

• California lawmakers filed a lawsuit against Uber and Lyft on Tuesday. 
• A consortium of city attorneys from the state's largest cities accused the firms of misclassifying their workers as contractors in order to avoid paying some benefits. 
• In response, Uber said it would fight the action in court, while Lyft said it would work with the state to find a solution. 
• The state cited a law passed in September, which restricts which employees companies may classify as contractors.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

California on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Uber and Lyft, accusing the ride-hailing firms of misclassifying workers in violation of a law passed by state legislators in the fall.

The lawsuit, brought by a consortium of city attorneys from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, accuses the companies of evading "workplace standards" to avoid the cost of providing benefits like minimum wage, paid sick leave, and health insurance benefits.

"Uber and Lyft owe their drivers these benefits and protections," the lawsuit claims.

A representative for Uber accused lawmakers of obstructing Californians' access to work amid record unemployment triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

"At a time when California's economy is in crisis with four million people out of work, we need to make it easier, not harder, for people to quickly start earning," the company said. "We will contest this action in court, while at the same time pushing to raise the standard of independent work for drivers in California, including with guaranteed minimum earnings and new benefits."

A Lyft representative echoed those claims, and said it would work with lawmakers to find a solution.

"We are looking forward to working with the Attorney General and mayors across the state to bring all the benefits of California's innovation economy to as many workers as possible, especially during this time when the creation of good jobs with access to affordable healthcare and other benefits is more important than ever," the Lyft spokesperson said.

Signed into law in September 2019 by Gov. Gavin Newsom, Assembly Bill 5 codifies an existing legal framework, in the form of a three-part test, to determine if a worker can be classified as a contractor or not. If a company controls how a worker does the job, or if that job is a core of the company's business, they likely fall into the employee category.

In the months following Assembly Bill 5's passage, Uber, Lyft and other gig-economy startups like DoorDash vowed to fight the new law with a $90 million ballot drive. Protect App-Based Drivers and Services, an organization set up by the trio of companies to fight the law, did not immediately return a request for comment.

The organization has argued that a change in classification under the new law would strip workers of their flexibility, citing the overwhelming number of gig-workers who work less than full-time. They hope to gather enough signatures to force voters to decide in November if the law should stand.

"Forcing rideshare and delivery drivers to become employees, especially during a national crisis, will lead to the widespread elimination of work for drivers and the curtailment of services that millions of Californians rely on," the group said in March, as it began to deliver the first petitions.

Still, the state and other activists maintain that flexibility can still be offered if workers are considered employees.

"Both companies have launched an aggressive public relations campaign in the hopes of enshrining their ability to mistreat their workers, all while peddling the lie that driver flexibility and worker protections are somehow legally incompatible," the lawsuit reads.

Read the full lawsuit below: 

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NOW WATCH: Tax Day is now July 15 — this is what it's like to do your own taxes for the very first time

• In a Talkshow broadcast with Haystack VC founder Semil Shah, Founders Fund general partner Keith Rabois shared his predictions for the ongoing economic crunch resulting from coronavirus-induced shutdowns.
• Rabois worked at PayPal during the height of the 2000 dot-com bust, and left in 2003 as the tech industry struggled to recover its boom-time gains.
• He said that it was "highly likely" that the United States economy would suffer a depression following the coronavirus crisis if economic and healthcare uncertainties drag on.
• Startups need to start planning now for the long term, Rabois said, and those that wait and see likely won't survive.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

The last time Keith Rabois had seen a downturn that came close to the current situation, investors and founders were referring to the crisis as a "nuclear winter." And this time, he thinks the outcome could be worse for startups that aren't prepared.

In a Talkshow broadcast with Haystack VC founder Semil Shah, the Founders Fund general partner shared his predictions for the ongoing economic crunch stemming from coronavirus-induced shutdowns. Rabois worked at PayPal during the height of the 2000 dot-com bust, and left in 2003 as the tech industry struggled to claw back its previous gains from the early boom times for internet-based startups. That was the long hindsight  Shah was hoping to share with the larger startup and VC community by interviewing Rabois, since this is likely the first economic downturn many of them had experienced.

"He has a historical view on things, he can put trends together, and he's also happy to put together a prediction even if it's wrong," Shah said of Rabois following the discussion. 

Some of Rabois' predictions, however, might not be exactly what the founders tuning in were hoping to hear. Instead of the overly optimistic, open-for-business messages many of Rabois' peers have shared on platforms like Twitter, the long-time investor painted a grim picture of the road ahead.

"The experience between 2000 and, call it 2003 or 2004, is more relevant than the short blip we experienced in the financial crisis in 2008," Rabois said. "In 2008, the effect on Silicon Valley and technology startups was very short and arguably irrelevant, partly because it was really a financial services crisis that had some collateral impact on technology companies and startups, whereas 2000 to 2003 was primarily a technology correction and therefore had massive impact in the Bay Area."

Although many founders and investors had heard the war stories associated with the dot-com crash, few had lived it, Shah told Business Insider. Rabois explained that the late 1990s were akin to the 1920s, full of extravagant parties and IPO celebrations that rivaled the New York City social scene in a way that was "unprecedented" in the Bay Area. But that came to a screeching halt, seemingly overnight, in March 2000, Rabois said.

"People used the term nuclear winter," Rabois said of the Silicon Valley mindset post-crash. "To some extent it was an exaggeration but nowadays, you walk around and you actually feel like you've been through a nuclear war when you see the effects on society, but it was a very commonly used expression that conveyed the magnitude of the change."

Back in 2000, there were some optimistic outliers who wanted to wait and see how the March crash played out before revamping their strategies, Rabois said. Today, the same sense of uncertainty swirls around markets, public and private. But by June of the year 2000, a second market crash cemented the new reality tech investors and entrepreneurs were living in.

"After the second drop, I think almost everybody  —  it would be almost impossible to find anybody that disagreed  —  believed that we were in a new world order and that the high-flying days of the internet bubble were over," Rabois said.

Now, Rabois said, he sees the writing on the wall, and he has already started counseling his companies on how to best prepare for a years-long downturn that he thinks is "highly likely" to turn into a depression. To outlast something like the nearly decade-long depression of the 1930s, Rabois said, he wants the companies he works with to cut back across the board, and to make those cuts immediately.

"You can always easily dial back up the aggressiveness and risk profile if we get more optimistic visibility, but if you don't take action right away — to preserve capital, cut your burn rate, have fundamentally attractive unit economics, edit the product to make more sense in the new world order — if you don't do those right away, the opportunity to do those things and survive is probably lost forever," Rabois said.

SEE ALSO: Startups are raising the funding they need, but aren't announcing new rounds publicly. Data from fintech startup Brex shows down rounds may be to blame.

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• Rear Adm. Timothy Ziemer, a top expert on pandemics, is leaving the Trump administration, Politico reported on Tuesday.
• Ziemer, who previously led the National Security Council's global health unit, has been at USAID as senior deputy assistant administrator.
• The NSC's global health security team was scrapped under Trump in May 2018, and never reinstated.
• Critics point to the move as one of the key ways in which the Trump administration left the US unprepared for coronavirus. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Trump administration just lost one of its top experts on pandemics as the death toll from coronavirus in the US continues to rise, Politico reported on Tuesday.

Rear Adm. Timothy Ziemer spearheaded the National Security Council's (NSC) global health security unit, which was responsible for leading the US response to a pandemic, until the Trump administration disbanded it in May 2018.

Ziemer went to USAID, serving as senior deputy assistant administrator, after the NSC's global health unit was disbanded. His decision to depart the US government was "very difficult and emotional," according to a note obtained by Politico. The exact reasons behind Ziemer's departure are unclear, and there are few details on the nature of his role at USAID in relation to coronavirus.

The NSC's global health security team — established under the Obama administration in 2015 and officially known the Directorate for Global Health and Security and Biodefense — was scrapped under then-National Security Adviser John Bolton. Among other decisions, the move has been pointed to by critics of the administration as one of the myriad ways the US was left less prepared for a pandemic under Trump's leadership. The unit was never reinstated. 

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top expert on infectious disease who's also on the White House coronavirus task force, in March told House lawmakers it would be nice if the global health unit still existed. 

"We worked very well with that office. It would be nice if the office was still there," Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing.

Ziemer had a long career in public service, particularly in relation to public health, leading the President's Malaria Initiative under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama before joining the NSC in 2017. 

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NOW WATCH: We tested a machine that brews beer at the push of a button

The best travel rewards credit cards available now:

• Best overall: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Best for frequent travelers: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Best for easy redemptions: Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
• Best for luxury perks: Platinum Card® from American Express
• Best for dining rewards and benefits: American Express® Gold Card
• Best travel card with a mid-level annual fee: American Express® Green Card
• Our favorite airline card: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Our favorite hotel card: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

When it comes to rewards credit cards, there are two main categories: cards that earn travel points or miles, and cards that earn cash back. With cash-back cards, you simply receive money back on your spending, whereas the rewards you earn with travel credit cards require some effort to redeem. 

While it takes more work to use travel rewards compared to cash back, the upside is that you can get much more value for your points compared to receiving cash back. For example, Business Insider's David Slotnick got almost 6 cents per point when he used Chase Ultimate Rewards to book a first-class flight to Japan. With cash back, your rewards will always be worth the same amount.

In this guide, we're focusing on travel credit cards that earn transferable points — points such as American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards that you can transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs. Airline and hotel co-branded credit cards can make sense if you travel frequently and are loyal to a particular brand, but if your main goal is to earn as many rewards as possible on your spending and have lots of options for using your points, cards that earn transferable points are the best option.

Keep reading for the full details on the top travel rewards credit cards available now.

Best overall: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Welcome bonus: 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months

Annual fee: $95

Pros: High sign-up bonus, great balance of benefits and travel protections

Cons: Other cards earn bonus points faster

While the Chase Sapphire Reserve card was previously our pick for the best travel rewards card overall, it recently increased its annual fee from $450 to $550. While it did add some new perks with Lyft and DoorDash to compensate for the higher fee, it's become harder to recommend the Reserve to more casual travelers. We've updated this guide to reflect the changes, and we now recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card as the best travel rewards credit card for most people. 

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are some of the easiest travel rewards to use — you can redeem them for travel directly through Chase and get more than 1 cent per point (you get 1.25 cents with the Preferred and 1.5 cents with the Reserve), and Chase's selection of transfer partners is great for US-based travelers, with United, Hyatt, Marriott, and more.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a $95 annual fee, and it earns 2 points per dollar on travel and dining. It also earns 5 points per dollar with Lyft, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. The card stands out for its travel protections. You'll enjoy protection if your flight is delayed, if your baggage is delayed or lost, primary car rental insurance, and more if you book eligible travel and meet the benefit requirements. 

Best for frequent travelers: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Welcome bonus: 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months

Annual fee: $550

Pros: 3x points on travel (after earning your $300 travel credit) and dining, $300 annual travel credit that applies to almost any travel purchase

Cons: High annual fee

Not everyone wants to pay a $550 annual fee, but if you're serious about maximizing your rewards and you travel frequently, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®could be worth it.

Not only do you get up to $300 in statement credits toward travel each year (and Chase has a very generous definition of travel — including everything from airfare to highway tolls), but you also earn 3x points on travel and dining (excluding the $300 travel credit). You also get airport lounge access through the Priority Pass network, which has more than 1,200 locations worldwide.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve®'s annual fee recently increased from $450 to $550, so it's now more of a niche card for serious travelers who can maximize all of its benefits. Along with the higher fee, the card now offers benefits with DoorDash and Lyft. You'll get up to $60 in statement credits with DoorDash in 2020, and another $60 in 2021, and you can activate a free year of Lyft Pink membership, which gets you perks like 15% off rides. Additionally, the Sapphire Reserve currently earns 10x points on Lyft through March 2022.

When it comes to redeeming points, you can book travel through Chase and get 1.5 cents per point (a 50% bonus over the standard 1-cent-per-point rate), or you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards to travel partners like Hyatt, British Airways, and United.

Plus, like the less-expensive Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Sapphire Reserve offers some of the best credit card travel insurance around. This includes primary rental car insurance, trip delay and trip cancellation protection, and lost baggage insurance.

Best for easy redemptions: Capital One Venture Rewards card

Welcome bonus: 50,000 Capital One miles after you spend $3,000 in the first three months

Annual fee: $95 (waived the first year)

Pros: Purchase Eraser makes it easy to use miles; no bonus categories to keep track of; option to transfer miles

Cons: No bonus categories; airline transfer partners aren't the most user-friendly

The Capital One Venture is a great "set it and forget it" card, in the sense that you don't have to worry about various bonus categories for earning rewards. You'll earn 2 miles per dollar, no matter what you buy.

This card also offers one of the most straightforward ways to redeem rewards for travel: The Purchase Eraser Tool lets you "wipe" travel purchases from your card statement, at a rate of 1 cent per mile. So the 50,000-mile sign-up bonus is worth $500 toward travel.

You also have the option to transfer Capital One miles to more than a dozen frequent flyer programs, including Air Canada Aeroplan, Etihad Guest, JetBlue TrueBlue, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. The transfer ratio is 1.5 airline miles for every 2 Capital One miles you transfer.

The selection of transfer partners is best suited to someone who wants to travel internationally and who doesn't mind spending some time researching the best ways to redeem miles with the different frequent flyer program options. But the upside is that you can always use the Purchase Eraser tool instead. You also get up to a $100 Global Entry application fee credit.

Click here to learn more about the Capital One Venture Rewards card »

Best for luxury perks: Platinum Card® from American Express

Welcome bonus: 60,000 Amex Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 in the first three months

Annual fee: $550

Pros: 5x points on flights booked with airlines or through Amex Travel; very long list of benefits

Cons: Very high annual fee; statement credits come with lots of limitations

The Amex Platinum has one of the highest credit card annual fees, but it can be well worth it if you travel a lot and you can put all of its statement credits to use.

You'll earn 5x points on flights when you book directly through the airline or through Amex Travel, which makes the card a great choice for purchasing airfare. In 2020, the card will be an even better choice, since it will add trip cancellation and interruption insurance. And the card already offers some of the best purchase protection, so it's a good option for buying expensive items (and don't forget to see if you can take advantage of an Amex Offer for bonus points or cash back).

The Amex Platinum offers more airport lounge access than any other personal travel rewards card — in addition to Priority Pass membership, you get access to Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when you're flying Delta), and more. 

The card's three annual statement credits can go a long way toward offsetting the high annual fee. You get up to $200 in statement credits toward airline incidental fees like checked bags and inflight purchases; up to $100 each year toward Saks Fifth Avenue purchases; and up to $200 in annual Uber credits.

Just keep in mind that there are several caveats. You're limited to one designated airline (you can choose it each year in your Amex account) for the airline incidental fee credit, and both the Saks and Uber credits are divided into portions. You'll get up to $50 in statement credits toward Saks purchases from January to June, and another credit of up to $50 for Saks purchases from July to December. With the Uber credit, you get up to $15 each month, and a $20 bonus in December for a total of $35 that month.

Best for dining rewards and benefits: American Express® Gold Card

Welcome bonus: 35,000 Amex points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months

Annual fee: $250

Pros: Great earning rates, particularly 4x points at restaurants worldwide and 4x points at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 each year, then 1 point per dollar); monthly dining credit can be useful; eye-catching design

Cons: Annual fee is verging on premium; statement credits have limitations; high minimum spending requirement for relatively low welcome bonus

The American Express® Gold Card is an ideal travel rewards card for anyone who frequently eats out and/or shops at US supermarkets. You'll earn 4x Membership Rewards points on these purchases (though note the $25,000 annual cap for US supermarkets; after that, you'll earn just 1 point per dollar, but that's a pretty high cap). The card also earns 3x points on flights booked directly with the airlines or through AmexTravel.com, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

While the $250 annual fee is on the high side, you can offset it by up to $220 thanks to two annual statement credits. You get up to $100 in airline incidental fee credits (it's the same deal as with the Amex Platinum, where you have to select one airline) that you can use to cover baggage fees, in-flight purchases, ticket changes, and more. 

You also get up to $120 in annual dining credits, but it's divided into up to $10 in credits each month, and the credit only applies at the following restaurants and delivery services: Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations.

Best travel card with a mid-level annual fee: American Express® Green Card

Welcome bonus: 30,000 Amex points after you spend $2,000 in the first three months

Annual fee: $150

Pros: 3x points on travel and dining; generous selection of statement credits

Cons: Statement credits are somewhat random and won't be useful for everyone, in which case the annual fee is a bit high

The American Express® Green Card recently got a major update, and it's now a real contender when it comes to travel rewards cards with a mid-tier annual fee. It earns 3x points on travel and dining, which is even better than the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (with a slightly lower $95 annual fee). In fact, you could make the argument that the Amex Green is now a better card than the Sapphire Preferred, but it depends on what benefits matter most to you.

In addition to earning a strong return on your dining and travel spending, the Amex Green card offers a few different statement credits that may or may not move the needle for you. You get up to $100 per year in statement credits when you use your card to pay for CLEAR membership. CLEAR is similar to TSA PreCheck, but in addition to getting you expedited security access at airports, it's available at select stadiums and arenas. It costs $179, so unfortunately the statement credit won't cover the entire cost.

You also get up to $100 in credits each year when you use your card to purchase airport lounge access through LoungeBuddy. 

Frequently asked questions

What is the best travel rewards card?

We think the Chase Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the best overall travel rewards card, but the best card for your particular situation will depend on what benefits you care about the most, as well as how you feel about paying a high annual fee. You don't need to spend $550 a year for a great travel rewards card; there are great options under $100 as well.

We'd recommend opening a travel rewards card that earns Amex or Chase points, since these are among the easiest rewards to redeem and you have various travel partners to utilize. But if you've investigated your options and are confident that you can get value out of their rewards, cards that earn Capital One miles or Citi ThankYou points can make sense as well.

What are the different types of travel credit cards?

There are two main types of travel rewards cards:

• Cards that earn transferable points: Transferable points are generally bank rewards that you can move over to travel partners. Transferable points currencies include Amex Membership Rewards points, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Citi ThankYou points, and Marriott Bonvoy points (which transfer to more than 40 airline partners).
• Airline and hotel co-branded cards: These cards earn points or miles within a respective hotel or airline program; you don't have the option to redeem your rewards with a wide variety of travel partners (or if you do, the transfer ratio usually isn't great). See our guide to the best airline credit cards, as well as our guide to the best hotel credit cards.

How do I pick a travel credit card?

There are a few different things you'll want to evaluate when deciding on the right travel rewards card for you:

• Sign-up bonus — Is this card offering an attractive intro bonus to new cardholders? 
• Bonus categories — Does the card earn you bonus rewards on your most common purchases, such as dining out or travel?
• Ease of use — How easy is it to use your points? A travel rewards card can offer all the points in the world, but if the options for using them aren't convenient for you, chances are you'll be leaving value on the table. Make sure you research your options for redeeming rewards with a travel credit cards before you apply. That means taking a look at the rewards program's travel partners, as well as your options for using rewards to book travel directly through the credit card issuer's website.
• Perks — The more benefits a credit card has, the higher its annual fee tends to be. So you'll want to make sure you'll be able to utilize most of its perks, such as annual statement credits, airport lounge access, and complimentary elite status.
• Annual fee — If you don't want to pay a high annual fee, you can rule several travel rewards cards out. Luckily, though, you still have some great options under $100.

Are annual fees worth it?

Travel rewards cards with annual fees are worth it if you're able to get significant value out of their benefits and rewards. Before you apply for a card, make sure you'll actually use all the features that contribute to the card's annual fee. For example, if a card offers an annual statement credit of up to $200 toward travel but you can't use it, you're probably not getting what you pay for.

How do travel rewards cards work?

Travel rewards cards earn you points (or miles) on every purchase you make, with the goal of helping you earn enough rewards to book free travel. The best travel rewards cards earn points that can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners — like Amex, Chase, or Citi points. 

How do I get a free flight?

Applying for a travel rewards credit card and earning its welcome bonus is a great way to work toward a free flight. Domestic award flights in economy typically require about 25,000 points, so depending on the welcome bonus, you could have enough rewards for a flight right out of the gate. 

• Related Content Module: More Credit Card Coverage

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NOW WATCH: Why electric planes haven't taken off yet

• Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said the pandemic will accelerate changes in the retail industry, including shoppers' adoption of pickup and delivery. 
• "This is just speeding up the significant change the retail industry was already undergoing," McMillon told Business Insider.
• The virus has also heightened the importance of collaboration. "Broad collaboration across all sectors of industry and government has always been important — it's literally become a matter of life and death now," he said.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The coronavirus pandemic is upending the global economy and dramatically shifting consumer behavior.

As businesses slowly reopen across the US, many people are trying to predict what will change permanently about our lives as a result.

We asked Doug McMillon, the CEO of Walmart, for his perspective on how the coronavirus will alter the retail industry and the world.

He told us that the virus is accelerating changes that started before the pandemic, and that shoppers' increased appetite for pickup and delivery "will become part of the 'new normal.'"

"This is just speeding up the significant change the retail industry was already undergoing," McMillon told Business Insider. "Before this crisis, we were already seeing robust adoption of online pickup and delivery in our business.

"As this crisis created the need for social distancing and required people to stay at home, customers embraced the pickup and delivery experience even more," he continued. "My feeling is that once this crisis is more under control, people will have seen the benefits of that service and will likely continue to use it. It will become part of the 'new normal.'"

McMillon said that the pandemic has also highlighted the importance of supply chains and encouraged more collaboration across industries and the government.

"Broad collaboration across all sectors of industry and government has always been important — it's literally become a matter of life and death now," he said.

Furthermore, the virus has shifted the roles of retail workers as they work on the front lines of the crisis. 

"We've come to expect them to be there in a way we never have before, and they have risen to the occasion," McMillon said.

Read McMillon's full response on how the pandemic will change the retail industry and the world. 

We hear the word "unprecedented" a lot these days, and that's probably because there's not really any other way to describe what's going on. And the crisis isn't over at this point; we've got to keep learning and adjusting. But some clear insights are starting to emerge.

One is the important role people on the front lines play.

The first responders are there, as they always are: nurses, police, firemen and women, doctors, EMTs, and others. We see them in their uniforms, and we recognize them right away. But this crisis has showed there are other people on the front lines — tens of thousands of people we might not normally think of as heroes. They wear a very different uniform. They work at retailers and grocers of all sizes in towns and neighborhoods across the country. We've come to expect them to be there in a way we never have before, and they have risen to the occasion.

Along the same lines, the world is seeing the importance of supply chains in a way it hasn't before. Usually supply chains operate quietly behind the scenes. But this pandemic has showed the world that the supply chain is really a lifeline. And the people in the retail industry, foodservice, and delivery services have been standing on the front lines of this crisis and extending that lifeline to all of us, every day.

I think people have also come to see that the supply chain doesn't just extend from a distribution center to the loading dock of a store. It goes all the way to the trunk of a customer's car or their doorstep. The so-called "last mile" of delivery has become front and center. This is just speeding up the significant change the retail industry was already undergoing. Before this crisis, we were already seeing robust adoption of online pickup and delivery in our business. As this crisis created the need for social distancing and required people to stay at home, customers embraced the pickup and delivery experience even more. My feeling is that once this crisis is more under control, people will have seen the benefits of that service and will likely continue to use it. It will become part of the "new normal."

Broad collaboration across all sectors of industry and government has always been important — it's literally become a matter of life and death now. At Walmart, we're proud of the work we and others in the private sector have done to collaborate to help find solutions. Business has the unique ability to make things happen fast and at scale. We've seen this across industries — car manufacturers quickly re-tooling to make respirators, textile makers pivoting to produce masks and gowns, distillers in the beverage industry converting their processes to deliver hand sanitizer. It's nothing short of amazing.

And there's been wide partnership with governments at the federal, state, and local levels. One of the most visible initiatives has been to stand-up mobile testing sites across the country. Walmart has been glad to have lent our hand in those efforts.

Which gets to the biggest lesson this pandemic has taught: the need for cooperation and partnership — the need for community. As one Walmart associate put it, "Though we're working further apart, we've never felt closer." As businesses, as communities, as families, and friends, we need to go forward remembering that we're all connected in one way or another. If there's anything good that can come from this moment, it would be the chance we have to deepen our connections with each other.

SEE ALSO: Costco, Walmart, and Target are barred from selling items like clothing and toys in some parts of the US. Here's what's considered 'nonessential' and where.

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• The coronavirus pandemic has forced millions of workers out of office spaces and into their homes, but 54% of workers polled in a new survey say they would prefer to continue working remotely full time.
• IBM conducted a survey among 25,000 people to gauge how perspectives about work, transportation, and leisure changed since the outbreak of the coronavirus.
• Working from home could make workers happier and save employees and employers money.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The coronavirus pandemic has created global shifts in the way people work, shop, and socialize. While not every change created during the quarantined lifestyle of the pandemic will stick, many employees hope that working from home will.

A survey conducted by IBM found that 54% of employees would prefer to primarily work remotely.

Millions of workers have transitioned their job operations to work remotely in the wake of the coronavirus, and as these workers settle into their home-based routines, many are finding they want to continue working from home after the pandemic, as it lends itself to flexibility and productivity.

IBM polled more than 25,000 US adults during April to figure out how COVID-19 has altered their perspectives on a range of topics including working from home.

Of those surveyed, 75% said they would like to continue to work from home in at least a partial capacity, while 40% of respondents said they feel strongly that their employer should give employees the choice to opt-in to remote work.

Working from home is not only popular but other studies have shown that those who work from home full-time reported being happy in their job 22% more than their counterparts who spent no time working from home. 

Working remotely is also an attractive option because it can help employees save on housing. When workers don't have to report to an office, they have more flexibility to work from home in more rural or suburban settings.

But the shift to remote work might not only benefit employees but employers as well. Instead of leasing huge offices at high-dollar prices, employers could save money by renting smaller spaces — especially since experts predict offices will transition from a place where workers go to every day, to more of a central meeting spot for important meetings and collaborative work.

Some companies have already decided to make permanent shifts to working remotely or partially remote, such as Nationwide Insurance.

The change in working preferences goes hand in hand with IBM's other finding, which found that people are more likely to use their own vehicles for transportation and intend to rely on less public transportation, rideshares, and taxi services.

Nearly 20% of respondents who regularly used public transportation such as trains, buses, or subways said they no longer would, and another 28% said they will likely use public transportation less often.

Rideshare and taxi services saw a similar drop, while 17% of people responded that they plan to use their own vehicle more and 1 in 4 people said they would use their personal vehicle as their exclusive mode of transportation moving forward as a result of COVID-19.

SEE ALSO: Grocery stores like Kroger and Giant Eagle are beginning to limit meat purchases at some locations

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