Train accident in Spain. A high-speed train collided with another train on the tracks on October 28th in the Castilla La Mancha region of Spain, killing 68 people and injuring many more. Spain suffered another deadly train crash in January. Officials say traffic control issues caused the latest crash, which has also disrupted train travel throughout the country.
Peru wildfires. Peru is suffering from numerous wildfires in the Cuzco area and other parts of the Andes, as well as the Amazon.
Iguassu Falls, Argentina. Earlier this month, the Argentine side of Iguassu Falls had to be closed to tourists briefly because of excessive rainfall from El Nino.
Fake police scam. In some countries, there is now a fake police scam, where someone posing as a cop goes up to a tourist on the street and claims they have committed an infraction for which they now owe a fine to be paid then and there in cash. If this happens to you, ask to see identification, and if need be, say you will settle the matter at a police station. Chances are, they will leave you alone at that point. If they don’t, go into a business, if possible, and use a translation app, if necessary, to speak to the person in the store about the situation. It’s unlikely the scammer will continue with the charade after that.
Cruise ship suspends trip midway. Villa Vie Residences had to suspend operations mid-cruise because of the fuel costs caused by the Iran war. About 200 passengers were left in Cambodia, some of which had sold everything at home to live at sea on the ship.
Europe protests. Several European countries are experiencing protests that could interfere with tourism. Depending on the country, the protests have been about fuel prices, schools, and other government practices. The protests have been happening in France, Spain, Albania, Italy, Portugal, and Germany, among other countries.
New national park. Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona is the newest national Park in the U.S. as of October 20th.
Music and motion sickness. A new study has found that listening to joyful or peaceful music might help to curb motion/seasickness.
Airbnb rules changes. As of November 20th, Airbnb hosts will no longer be allowed to require guests to do so much cleaning before they check out, such as washing dishes or taking out the trash.
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 46 nonfiction books as either the author or ghostwriter.
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