Horrible flood at Nepal-Tibet border. I advise you not to look at the footage of this horrific flooding. It’s truly disturbing. My heart goes out to the people there, as more than 400 are confirmed dead as of this writing, and at least 2000 are missing, including tourists. It is believed that the floods occurred due to a melting glacier. If you want to help, click here for a good source.
Grand Canyon flooding. Meanwhile, a flash flood tore through the Grand Canyon yesterday, killing two, and about 14 people remain unaccounted for. More than 60 people were evacuated.
Greece fires. If you’re planning a trip to Greece, check to see if the region you’re visiting is experiencing wildfires. The heat this summer is proving brutal for the islands.
Big Sur fire. A fire also started raging in California’s Big Sur/Monterey County last week and remains uncontained. Some residents have been evacuated.
Strike in Barcelona. If you’re headed to Barcelona anytime soon, you could face flight and baggage disruptions. There’s a strike of ground handling workers at the airport, and it might continue into September or beyond.
Avoid Uber rides in Italy. Fodors reports that taking an Uber in Italy is different and should be avoided or at least monitored carefully. The price you’re quoted on the app may be less than the total you receive after the ride. This is because drivers will sometimes start your ride on the app while they’re finishing up somebody else’s ride. If you do take an Uber, check to make sure the meter doesn’t start until YOUR ride starts. Then, always ask for a receipt.
Tourist killed on Mt. Etna. A U.S. tourist was struck by lightning and killed on Mount Etna in Sicily in the middle of the month. He was hiking in an area that was closed due to volcanic activity.
King of Norway dies. King Harald V of Norway died on August 28th at age 89. He was beloved by the country and had been king since 1991. He will be immediately succeeded by his only son, Haakon, who is 53 years old.
United adds new international routes. These long-haul flights include San Francisco to Okinawa, Japan; Washington Dulles to Toulouse, France; Newark to Luxembourg; Los Angeles to Osaka, Japan; and Denver to Paris.
European Union approves new airline rules. Airlines in Europe will now allow a free personal item and one small bag under the seat for every base fare, and children under the age of 14 must receive a guaranteed free seat next to the adult they’re traveling with. There will no longer be a fee for fixing a small typo of your name on your reservation, and they can’t cancel a return flight when you miss the outbound flight. When a flight is cancelled, the airline must rebook your flight within 3 hours at its own expense.
Japan simplifies tax-free system starting November 1st. The new system sounds more complex, but it’s actually simpler. Eligible visitors are exempt from paying 10% consumption tax at designated stores. Now, visitors will have to pay the tax and then apply for a refund. But this eliminates some of the complexity of the original system.
No more elephant rides in Indonesia. Elephant rides for tourists have been banned throughout the country of Indonesia. This is wonderful news.
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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