Dubai Makes Bold Move: Cash Payments Could Vanish by 2026 in World’s Most Futuristic City

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A happy tourist woman in a white summer dress walks through the streets of Dubai, UAE, during her holiday time

If there’s one city on earth that consistently makes headlines for tourist innovations, it’s Dubai. This emirate metropolis increasingly shows us what tomorrow’s megacities might look like—not just through its architecture and urban planning, but through the services and facilities designed for both residents and the roughly 19-20 million tourists who visit annually. Even for something as “simple” as how we might pay for purchases… “Dubai Cashless” When it comes to innovation, Dubai goes all in. The city has decided to progressively eliminate cash payments from its territory for both locals and visitors. From paying for services of all kinds … Read more

Hawaii to Hit Tourists with New Climate Tax: Your Paradise Vacation Just Got More Expensive

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Street view on Luluku Road at Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu, USA against cloudy sky

Climate change and its devastating effects are now impacting every corner of the globe, prompting more countries, regions, and cities to implement new taxes or increase existing ones. These funds are earmarked for combating climate phenomena and developing protection or rehabilitation programs. Starting next year, your dream Hawaiian getaway is about to cost significantly more. $100 Million Annual Target Through Tourism Fees Future visitors to Hawaii could soon face accommodation taxes of up to 14% during their stay in the archipelago. Currently taxed at 10.25%, with an additional 3% in certain counties of the 50th state, short-term accommodations including hotels, … Read more

Why Isn’t Istanbul Turkey’s Capital? The Surprising Story Behind Ankara

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Ataturk monument in city center, Ulus

When it comes to travel and tourism, we all sometimes ask ourselves simple questions because we wonder why certain things we see or experience are the way they are, how they can be explained, and for what reasons. In short, why… Today, we’re looking at a major city that everyone knows by name at least, but which, oddly enough, isn’t its country’s capital. We’re talking about Istanbul and Turkey. Historical, Political and Geographic Reasons Just as New York isn’t the capital of the United States (it’s Washington DC), Sydney isn’t Australia’s (Canberra), or Rio de Janeiro for Brazil (it’s Brasília), … Read more

Cambodia’s Bold New Airport Promises to Transform Travel to Phnom Penh—But Will It Deliver?

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https://partir.ouest-france.fr/magazine/le-cambodge-vient-dinaugurer-un-nouveau-mega-aeroport/

Following the celebrated Angkor site two years ago, Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, has now inaugurated a new airport that reflects the country’s ambitious tourism goals for the coming years… 50 Million Visitors Expected Annually Within Two Decades For a long time, anyone wanting to visit Cambodia—whether to see its capital or the unmissable Angkor—typically had to transit through neighboring Thailand and Bangkok’s airport for air connections. But that was before the country decided to modernize its transportation infrastructure, notably by opening several new airports across its territory. The goal is to significantly increase visitor numbers, first reaching 20 million by … Read more

Why This Ancient Sky Palace in Sri Lanka Will Leave You Speechless

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Spectacular view of the Lion rock surrounded by green rich vegetation. Picture taken from Pidurangala Rock in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka.

Certain places on our planet captivate us. For good reasons—or sometimes controversial ones—they draw us in through their history, geographical location, significance, religious or spiritual symbolism, or that unmistakable atmosphere that makes them truly unique, if not extraordinary destinations. This is our journey to explore some of these remarkable sites. Today, we’re heading to Sri Lanka to discover the exceptional site of Sigiriya. A Palace-Fortress Lost to Time Here stands one of Sri Lanka’s most remarkable and visited locations. In the country’s central region, this major archaeological site—recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982—is instantly recognizable by its … Read more

The Aral Sea: A Vanishing Wonder You Can No Longer Visit

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Rusty abandoned ships at the Ship cemetery at the former Aral sea coast in Moynaq (Mo ynoq or Muynak), Uzbekistan

There are places and sites we’d love to visit but simply cannot. Either they’ve disappeared due to human folly or nature’s whims, or more commonly, access is no longer feasible because they’re now located in war zones or regions where tourism is strongly discouraged. This doesn’t necessarily mean they’re completely closed off or that things will remain irreversible forever, but still. Today, we’re heading to a place that’s disappearing before our eyes and can no longer be visited—at least not in the form it existed just a few years ago. That place is the Aral Sea. Where is the Aral … Read more

France’s Final Medieval Fortress: The Last Castle Built Before the Age of Artillery

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Saint-Front-sur-Lémance, France - 07/24/2017 : medieval castle of Bonaguil built in the 13th century in the Lot-et-Garonne department

France is dotted with hundreds of castles—some in ruins, others remarkably well-preserved. They’re part of the nation’s heritage that never fails to captivate visitors, often awakening our inner child. But among all these historic fortresses, which one was actually the last to be built? Medieval Castles: A Late Blooming Phenomenon First, it’s worth clarifying that while we associate castles with the Middle Ages, they actually only appeared toward the end of this period. Historians date the medieval era from the fall of the Roman Empire (around the 5th century) to Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas in 1492—roughly a thousand … Read more

The Only Way to See Peru’s Giant Desert Drawings is From a Plane – Here’s What You Need to Know

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Tree geoglyph, Nazca mysterious lines and geoglyphs aerial view, landmark in Peru

Peru’s Nazca Desert draws 300,000 visitors annually to witness monumental geoglyphs that remain invisible from ground level. This peculiarity transforms an arid plateau in southern Peru into a playground for Cessnas and wild theories. The figures span 174 square miles between the towns of Nazca and Palpa, 250 miles south of Lima. UNESCO classified the site in 1994, but protection remains challenging against urban development and occasional looters. The Nazca people carved these lines between 500 BC and 500 AD, never able to admire their work in its entirety. An irony that still fuels debate. Flight Tours: The Only Way … Read more

Europe’s New Digital Border System: What International Travelers Need to Know Before October 12

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EU Flag and shadows of People concept picture

The European Union is rolling out a major change to how it manages border crossings, and if you’re planning a European vacation, you’ll want to know about it. While EU citizens and long-term visa holders won’t be affected, anyone visiting Europe for stays under three months will encounter a new system. Called the EES (Entry/Exit System), it’s finally launching on October 12 after several delays. Here’s what you need to know. The End of Passport Stamps Until now, border control officers across Europe have manually stamped passports of non-EU travelers. That’s about to become a thing of the past. The … Read more

The ideal destination for swimming at the end of October, less than 3 hours by plane from European capitals

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Djerba

Late October in most European capitals means 10-15°C and frequent rain. The idea of swimming in warm-enough water while it’s still possible becomes obsessive. Problem: most European seas are already cold. Spain shows 18°C, Greece 20°C, Malta barely 19°C. To find genuinely swimmable water without flying for five hours, one option remains: Tunisia. Under 3 hours flight from most European capitals, with sea temperatures between 22 and 24°C and reasonable prices. Tunisia: Europe’s last warm swimming spot in late October In October, when most Mediterranean destinations shut down, Tunisia holds steady. Water hovers between 23 and 24°C in Djerba, 21 … Read more

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