Travel News – January 4, 2024

Check out the latest travel news from around the world:

Venice, Italy is set to limit tour groups to 25 people as of June 1st. That’s about half the number of passengers on an average tour bus. The city will also ban loudspeakers.

China Tourism – According to the Chinese Embassy, “Tourist visa applicants within the United States will no longer be required to submit round-trip air ticket booking record, proof of hotel reservation, itinerary or invitation letter.” This simplifies the process for U.S. citizens.

Where do your U.S. dollars go the farthest? According to Afar, it’s Europe, Australia, Peru, Thailand, Mexico, and Vietnam.

Goodbye to reclining seats on planes? Timeout says airlines are starting to do away with them. What do you think about this development? Do you recline, or do you think it’s wrong to recline?

What are the safest airlines? Airline Ratings says these are the top 25 in order: “Air New Zealand, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, All Nippon Airways, Finnair, Cathay Pacific Airways, Alaska Airlines, SAS, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, EVA Air, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Lufthansa/Swiss Group, KLM, Japan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, Air France, Air Canada Group and United Airlines.”

What’s closed in 2024? Splash Mountain (both in Orlando and Anaheim), my favorite museum in the world – Pergamonmuseum in Berlin (not reopening until 2027 – ouch!), Notre Dame in Paris (scheduled to reopen this December), Smithsonian Castle in Washington DC, Da Vinci’s Vineyard in Milan, the Park Hyatt Hotel in Tokyo (reopening sometime in 2025), and Elephant Trunk Rock in Taiwan.

Bedbug hoax in Greece! People have been posting notices outside apartment buildings in Athens saying that some short-term rentals have bedbugs. But apparently, the notices are false.

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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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