I took a $249 round-trip Amtrak from New York City to Rochester. Here are 9 things that surprised me.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A side-by-side of a selfie of a woman in a seat and an Amtrak train.
I was surprised by some elements of my Amtrak journey from NYC to Rochester.

Samantha Pettyjohn/Business Insider

There's a spending split between Americans, and it's popping up from McDonald's to Uber

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Environment
People walk in a shopping district along 5th Avenue in Manhattan.
Despite better-than-expected sales in the first half of 2025, some retail companies are still being cautious going forward.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

A Gen X couple living in a camper says hourly wages aren't enough to afford housing: 'It just feels like it's out of reach'

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Travel
Chris Hoskey standing outside her camper in Northwest Michigan.

Courtesy of Chris Hoskey

CEO Brian Chesky says Airbnb is going to become an AI-first app with agents that can book trips for you

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Brian Chesky speaking into a mic
Brian Chesky said he thinks all the most popular apps will be AI apps in the future.

Myunggu Han/Getty Images for Airbnb

I spent a year traveling around Europe to find where I wanted to live. After several misses, I've settled into my dream city.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Fleurine poses in front of a viewpoint by a river.
I traveled around for a year to find the best European city to live in.

Fleurine Tideman

Disney World just posted a record quarter — even as Epic Universe opened

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Travel
Disney Parks Parade at the Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney Parks Parade at the Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World Resort.

Handout/Getty Images

A couple went to Africa on their 5th date. Now they're engaged, and the bride-to-be has a custom ring that nods to that trip.

Tech Insider : Business, Style, Travel
Natasha Gabbayan and Josh Banayan getting engaged.
Natasha Gabbayan and Josh Banayan getting engaged.

Lovesick Photographs

This tech CEO is trying to stop AI killing the internet. Why is everyone so mad at him?

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Style
Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince
Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince

Reuters

Alaska Airlines is flying to Europe for the first time — and the planes are getting a fresh look

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Travel
A generated image of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Alaska Airlines' Boeing 787 Dreamliner livery.

Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

My family rents the same beach house every summer. We never feel like we're missing out by not going somewhere new.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A composite image of a home on a hill surrounded by trees, and Holly, her husband, and two daughters sitting on a beach.
We vacation in the same rental home every year.

Holly Humbert

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