If you’ve ever wondered what it would feel like to walk through a real Roman city, Jerash is about as close as it gets. Sitting in northern Jordan, not far from Amman, this ancient site is often called the “Pompeii of the Middle East,” and it’s not hard to see why.

You planned ahead. You showed up early. You even skipped that overpriced airport breakfast sandwich because you wanted extra time to get through security. Then somehow, despite all your responsible adult behavior, you still watched your plane leave without you because the TSA line looked like a theme park ride designed by chaos itself. Now the airline is offering you a voucher instead of a refund, and suddenly your relaxing getaway has transformed into a customer-service survival game. Unfortunately, airlines usually don’t consider massive security lines their problem, even when half the airport seems trapped in them. That doesn’t mean you’re completely out of luck, though. Between airline policies, credit card protections, and a few strategic moves, you may still have a shot at getting more than a glorified coupon for future stress.

For this ranking, we looked at friendliness surveys, migration patterns, diversity rankings, volunteering culture, and general reputation among other Americans. The results? A few feel-good favorites—and a couple near the top that are sure to surprise some people. Do you agree?.

You show up at the rental counter with a valid driver’s license, ready to pick up your car, and suddenly you’re being told no. But if you’re licensed to drive, shouldn’t that be enough?

Fads, by their very nature, seem to appear out of nowhere and disappear just as quickly. Some fads are harmless, silly, and quickly forgotten—but others become iconic symbols of an era.

A lot of travelers assume border crossings work like airport security with a passport check thrown in. In reality, crossing into another country is more like asking permission than exercising a guaranteed right. Even if you have valid documents, a return ticket, hotel reservations, and absolutely no record, border officers still have broad authority to question you, search your belongings, and decide whether you’re admissible.