Countries issue unprecedented travel advisories about visiting the U.S. In light of what’s happening in the U.S. right now, such as refusing to allow people into the country who believe they have taken care of the appropriate paperwork, several countries are advising their citizens to avoid traveling here.
These countries include the UK, Ireland, Canada, Belgium, Germany, France, Finland, Denmark, and The Netherlands. More are likely to come. Air Canada, Delta, and United have already cut flights between Canada and the U.S., and experts estimate that the U.S. travel industry and businesses that rely on international travelers will lose billions of dollars.
Arches National Park. Due to federal cuts to national park staffs, Arches National Park has been forced to close its popular Fiery Furnace hike indefinitely.
Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand. A strong earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand on March 28th, killing at least 1,600 in Myanmar. Workers were also killed in Bangkok when a high-rise under construction tumbled to the ground. As of this writing, the death toll is expected to rise to 5 figures.
Raffle for pieces of Notre Dame. To raise funds, Notre-Dame de Paris is holding a raffle for limestone fragments from the reconstruction that have been engraved with the cathedral’s facade. You can sign up on this website by donating 40 Euros (approximately $43) by April 4, 2025. Winners will be announced on April 15th.
Heathrow closure. London’s Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest, suffered a fire at an electricity substation on March 20th that stranded thousands of passengers and affected more than 1,300 flights. The backup generators needed to avoid a recurrence could cost as much as a billion pounds, so unfortunately, this could happen again.
Norovirus cruise outbreaks. The Cunard Queen Mary 2 set sale from Southampton, England on March 8th for New York and the Caribbean, and 183 out of 2,538 guests, as well as 14 crew members, came down with norovirus, including diarrhea and vomiting. Meanwhile, 7 guests and 22 employees on Seabourn Encore also came down with norovirus on their recent cruise leaving Japan for Hawaii on March 16th. Does this make you want to avoid cruises? I have to admit it gives me pause.
No more rechecking baggage? A new program called One-Stop Security (OSS) in the UK and the U.S. will allow passengers to be prescreened so that they don’t have to retrieve their bags, go through customs, and check their bags again. For now, it’s only available on flights from Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta to London, but they’re expecting to roll it out for other routes. I hope they do!
Mexico changes for U.S. citizens. To enter Mexico, you will now have to fill out an immigration form for a visa beforehand. While it isn’t new, it’s just now being enforced.
Amtrak upgrades. It’s apparently been 50 years since Amtrak had a new train, but now, it’s launching the Amtrak Airo in 2026. These trains will have panoramic windows, more legroom, tablet holders, moveable headrests, increased wheelchair accessibility, and more, as well as the ability to be faster and more fuel-efficient.
More on overtourism. Seven organizations in Mallorca have signed a letter basically saying, “Tourists, stay home!” They’re done with the hoards of people converging on them, especially in the summer.
Jetski accident. A 73-year-old woman on a Holland America cruise died this month in an accident when her jetski collided with a rock in the Bahamas. Be careful out there, folks!
Google trouble. The European Commission has accused Google of violating the Digital Markets Act because it allegedly gives preference to its own travel listings over others.
Hong Kong’s public transportation system. TimeOut says Hong Kong has the best public transport in the world. Have you been there? It’s still on my bucket list.
Lost cellphone derails flight. A passenger on a March 21st Air France flight from Paris to Guadeloupe lost their cellphone in their seat. When flight attendants couldn’t find it, the plane had to turn back to Paris. If it had caught fire, it would have been difficult to put out. Once landed and emptied, crew were able to locate the phone.
Thailand Visa-Free Stay. Thailand has decided to allow tourists to stay only 30 days without a visa rather than the previous 60.
Airline News
American Airlines news. American AAdvantage members can now use miles to buy drinks and snacks on some flights. Each mile is worth a penny, so a $5 item will cost you 500 miles and so on.
United Airlines lounge changes. Following in Delta’s footsteps, I guess, United is increasing fees for its credit cards and lounge passes. If you have one of their cards, check out the increased fees to make sure you want to keep it. Lounge memberships are now $750 a year or 94,000 points for one person. For two guests, the annual membership is $1,400 or 175,000 miles.
Delta / Southwest. Delta Air Lines is offering Southwest elite members a limited-time status match. If you qualify, check it out while you can. Of course, those with Delta status are concerned it will mean fewer automatic upgrades for them, but we’ll see.
Air France new first class cabin. Air France is launching its La Premiere cabins with in-flight designer pajamas this spring. These cabins will only have four seats per flight that transform into a bed that’s 6-1/2 feet. Sounds comfy (and pricey). The first flight will be from Paris to JFK in New York.
Melanie Votaw is the Publisher and Executive Travel Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. She has visited more than 50 countries on 6 continents and written for such magazines as Executive Travel, Just Luxe, Business Insider, South China Morning Post, Travel Mindset, and more. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, New York Travel Writers Association, and International Travel Writers Alliance. Melanie's photography has won awards, and she has also written 43 nonfiction books as either the author or ghostwriter.
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