Europe ETIAS postponed again. After all the problems implementing the new European Travel Information and Authorization System, it has been delayed until next year. It’s a good thing since there were way too many kinks. Let’s hope they get them worked out.
Humanitarian crisis in Spain. 50-60,000 migrants from Morocco have breached the border with Spain, and 18 have died. They are apparently trying to get into Spain since there is little work in Morocco, and they are struggling to survive. But Spain’s leaders want to send them all back, while some leaders in the EU have condemned Spain’s actions.
American Airlines policy change. The 24-hour refund policy will no longer be in effect if you book within seven days of your departure.
Edinburgh is the latest to add a new tourist fee. Edinburgh, Scotland is now adding a 5% fee to all overnight accommodations.
River cruise ship accident. The MS Anna Katharina, a Scylla AG ship, crashed into a lock gate in Vienna on July 24th, injuring more than 12 passengers.
JetBlue wins former Spirit Airlines slots at LaGuardia. These slots will be for up to a dozen roundtrip flights at LaGuardia Airport in New York.
Attack at Berlin Pride. A 21-year-old man drove a minivan into a crowd during a Pride celebration in Berlin, Germany on July 25th near the Brandenburg Gate. Police shot him dead on July 26th.
Middle East flight disruptions. Due to the war, some airlines aren’t running at 100% capacity. These include Emirates, Qatar, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Air France. If you’re flying in the region, be sure to check with your airline.
New Four Seasons opens. A new Four Seasons hotel has just opened on the Greek island of Mykonos. Check it out.
Caution about Mexican beach vacations. The Caribbean coast of Mexico is set to have its worst sargassum seaweed season ever. The heaviest months are now through August but can run through October. Check before you go to Cancun, Tulum, or Playa del Carmen.
Ryanair incident. Earlier this month, a man was almost sucked out of a cabin window during a Ryanair flight. His wife grabbed his legs, holding him for at least five minutes until he could be pulled back inside. Passengers said the window was smashed by pieces of the jet’s engine, but this has not been confirmed. The man was treated for friction burns and shock, but he survived the incident. The plane landed safely back in Greece from which it had taken off.
15-year-old British girl stranded in Rome for 6 weeks. After a British teen went to visit her grandmother in Italy, she wasn’t allowed to return to Britain for six weeks. It was due to a new Labour government rule that requires people with dual citizenship to have a British passport to get back into the country.
The Odyssey and the Peloponnese. The Peloponnese peninsula of Greece has been struggling with wildfires and diminishing natural resources. Now, it’s bracing for increased tourism after part of the new Odyssey movie was filmed there.
Delta to Manila? Starting next March 28th, Delta will be the only U.S. airline to offer nonstop service between Los Angeles (LAX) and Manila, Philippines.
Watch for fake police when you travel. A current scam involves people posing as police to check your passport or currency. Before you travel, familiarize yourself with the uniforms and vehicles of law enforcement. Some experts also advocate carrying a decoy wallet with an expired credit card and small bills that you can pass to thieves to hopefully prevent them from finding your real wallet.
Take care of your passport! Did you know your passport could be deemed invalid if it’s stained, torn, or has missing pages? Be sure to take good care of it!
Website scams. Scammers are providing incorrect phone numbers for hotels and airlines on Google and other search engines. They might also set up an imposter website that AI is making increasingly easy to do. So before you use a website, even after a Google search, check the URL carefully, and don’t call a phone number until you double-check it through the airline’s or hotel’s app if at all possible. Note that the URL should begin with https, not just http.
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