Global Entry revoked. Multiple reputable news outlets are reporting that as U.S. ICE agents use facial recognition technology to identify protesters, their Global Entry memberships are being revoked.
Spain train crashes. On January 18th, 40 people died when two trains collided near Córdoba, Spain. Officials say it’s Spain’s worst rail crash in more than a decade. Another crash happened within three days when a retaining wall collapsed on the track in Catalonia, killing a trainee driver and injuring 41 people. Spain’s rail service is now being investigated, although it’s believed the retaining wall collapsed due to excessive rainfall.
Sicily mud slide. The Italian village of Niscemi in Sicily has had several severe storms that started a landslide on January 27th. About 1,500 people have had to be evacuated, as some of the cliffside is on the verge of falling with homes and cars going with it.
Caribbean air restrictions. Flights to and from Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands have been disrupted this week due to U.S.-Venezuela relations. So if you have plans for travel in these areas, be careful to double-check that all is well for your airlines and routes.
Middle East flight routes suspended. If you’re planning to fly to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Dammam, Amman, India, Iran, or Iraq, be sure to check that your airline is still flying there. Some airlines are suspending flights due to security issues, and in some cases, they’re rerouting flights to avoid airspace closures.
Crew member gets stuck in plane cargo hold. On December 13, 2025, a crew member became trapped in an Air Canada plane cargo hold at Toronto Pearson Airport. As the plane started to taxi, passengers could hear banging and screaming from under the plane. They alerted the pilot, who turned around so that the person could be rescued.
U.S. passport-holders are now banned by other countries. In retaliation for the Trump administration’s banning of travelers from many countries, some are banning Americans from entry. So far, these include Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. But that number could grow. We’ll keep you posted.
AI travel article sends people to a place that doesn’t exist. Be careful even when reading travel articles! An Australian tour company’s AI article sent people to a hot spring in Tasmania that isn’t there. Just so you know, we do NOT use AI and write mostly from personal experience with a destination.
Elon Musk threatens to buy Ryanair. The Ryanair CEO said he had no interest in Musk’s Starlink Wi-Fi provider because of the cost, which precipitated an online argument between the two as they threw jibes at each other. This culminated in Musk threatening to buy the airline.
Bolivia and Uzbekistan institute visa-free travel for U.S. citizens. People with U.S. passports can now travel to these countries without a visa.
Heathrow Airport changes. We can now go through Heathrow with containers of up to 33 ounces of liquid in carry-on bags, and it’s no longer necessary to put liquids in clear plastic bags. Laptops can also be left inside checked bags. This is due to new high-tech scanners. I’m not sure what they do, but there you have it. Just remember that this only applies to Heathrow for now at least.
Former Canadian flight attendant arrested. Just when you thought Catch Me If You Can-style frauds couldn’t happen in the computer age, a former Canadian flight attendant used a fake employee ID to get free flights from three U.S. airlines for four years before he was caught. Yikes!
Restrictions in the Dolomites. The Italian town of Funes in the Dolomites will put up road barriers in May to deter day-trippers from reaching its viewpoint that has gone viral on social media. Now, only overnight guests will have road access to the spot, but it looks like day-trippers can still take a 15-minute hike to get there. Town officials are trying to reduce the crowds.
Hotel fee warning. Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott warns travelers to watch out for added fees at hotels, especially those that purport to be for your “convenience.” He even had a $5 per day charge added as a supposed charitable donation without his consent. ALWAYS check your hotel bills carefully, as you can usually get these removed, but you have to ask. if you don’t, you might be paying for bogus charges without realizing it.
Take your own blanket on a flight? Christopher Elliott also recently reported that on a flight from Doha to Delhi, a passenger said that the crew turned the cabin temperature down to 65 degrees and then upsold everyone with blankets at $10 each. A flight attendant confirmed it was deliberate. Wow!
Crash investigation. According to NPR, “After a yearlong investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board blamed multiple systemwide failures for the midair collision of an Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines regional jet that killed 67 people.”
Plane passengers arrested in Miami. On January 9th, two OnlyFans models were arrested at Miami Airport when they got drunk, sat in the wrong seats on the plane, and refused to disembark. Both women are in their thirties.
Tourist mauled by snow leopard in China. A skier in China’s Xinjiang region spotted a snow leopard, got out of her car, and approached it too close while trying to get a photo. The leopard then attacked and bit her. She survived and is reportedly in stable condition, but it just proves once again that people need to be wary of approaching wild animals.
New water park in Florida. On Captiva Island at Florida’s South Seas Resort on the Gulf Coast, a 330-acre year-round water park opened in December with heated pools, water slides, and restaurants.
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.
0 Comments