Ben

Hello! I'm Ben Fischer, a travel enthusiast who has journeyed far and wide to bring you unique and inspiring stories. Each destination is a new adventure for me, a chance to explore diverse cultures and share unforgettable experiences. In my articles, I take you beyond mere descriptions of places. I share the encounters, special moments, and anecdotes that make each trip unique. My writing is an invitation to see the world through my eyes, blending practical tips with personal insights. As a lifelong traveler, I approach each journey with respect and curiosity, eager to uncover the stories hidden in every corner of the globe.

Airbus vs Boeing: When Trade Threats Trump Product Quality

September 30, 2025 by Ben

Not so long ago, we discussed what increasingly looked like Airbus’s dominance over its rival Boeing. The European aircraft manufacturer saw orders skyrocketing – for instance at the last Paris Air Show – while the American giant struggled with multiple setbacks, including the troubled 737 Max. But that was before. Before the blackmail that America and its increasingly mob-like president are now trying to impose on the entire world… Not necessarily a winning bet… The Tariff Weapon As we know, the United States has implemented its infamous tariff surcharges on virtually everything entering American soil from abroad. The stated goal? … Read more

Night Trains in Europe: Why These Romantic Routes May Not Survive 2025

September 29, 2025 by Ben

Since their recent revival, night trains have been making a comeback across France and Europe. However, while the initiative seems admirable, it’s not necessarily proving successful. At least not on certain routes like Paris-Berlin and Paris-Vienna where these two services, launched just recently, may not make it through the year. A Return to Grace Let’s look back at the history. After experiencing strong development and reaching their peak between the 1930s and 1970s, night train services gradually declined in France and Europe, facing competition from high-speed trains, cars, and especially budget airlines for longer journeys. But in recent years, both … Read more

You may be hearing about it more and more, but what exactly is ‘suitcase gambling’?

September 28, 2025 by Ben

Here’s a look at a travel trend you might have heard of but aren’t quite sure what it’s all about: “suitcase gambling”. It’s another one of those expressions, like “extreme day trips”, “dupe destinations”, and “Spring break”, that has made its way over from the English-speaking world. So, what exactly is it? A Gamble for Better or Worse We all remember lucky bags, don’t we? For some, it might even bring back fond memories of those large paper cones filled with toys and sweets that kids used to get from bakeries and local shops. You never knew what you were … Read more

Less Than a Week to Get Your US ESTA Before Price Doubles

September 27, 2025 by Ben

New York City Midtown with Empire State Building at Amazing Sunset

The increase had been on the cards for a while, originally scheduled for 2026. But things have moved faster than expected, and US authorities have officially announced that the new ESTA pricing will take effect at the end of September. Nearly Double the Price! This is part of the budgetary reforms passed by the Trump Administration to boost revenue. The cost of the ESTA, or Electronic System for Travel Authorization, will jump from the current $21 to $40 on September 30 – a nearly 100% increase. This change could further impact tourism numbers, which have already declined since the new … Read more

AI Hunts Down Thousands of Illegal Airbnbs on Spain’s Party Island

September 26, 2025 by Ben

We all knew this day would come eventually, but perhaps not quite so soon. Artificial Intelligence is now being deployed in the fight against overtourism, specifically targeting vacation rentals like Airbnb that aren’t playing by the rules. This is exactly what just happened in the Balearic Islands, particularly on Ibiza. Spain Leads the Charge… Because It Has To Spain remains one of the hardest-hit victims of overtourism, a phenomenon increasingly affecting destinations worldwide. The symptoms are familiar: vacation rentals multiplying like rabbits, squeezing out long-term housing options, and disrupting residents’ quality of life. That’s why the island of Ibiza decided … Read more

This Revolutionary Cruise Terminal Shows What the Future of Cruising Looks Like

September 25, 2025 by Ben

We’ve mentioned it several times before: the cruise industry is thriving, with more ships sailing the world’s oceans than ever and a passenger base that continues to grow. The 40 million cruise passenger milestone could be reached this year, or at least by 2026—a record! This is thanks in part to the revolution and innovations that began after the end of COVID. A Continuous “Renewal” Like every other tourism sector, the cruise industry also had its concerns about the future coming out of the pandemic. Perhaps even more so than others, given that a cruise means spending time in a … Read more

Is Antarctica Already Too Crowded? Tourism Boom Threatens the White Continent

September 24, 2025 by Ben

“The tourism boom in Antarctica is accelerating the melting of the white continent” – these are the terms in which the international scientific community is raising alarms about the number of visitors Antarctica receives year after year. And even though we’re still far from the overtourism now seen almost everywhere on the planet, this influx is beginning to cause concern. Over 100,000 Visitors The latest figures tell the story. While fewer than 40,000 people traveled to Antarctica annually during the previous decade, for the 2024-2025 season, 118,000 made the journey, with half being North Americans. This boom is primarily due … Read more

Why Costa Rica Should (or Shouldn’t) Be Your Next Adventure Destination

September 23, 2025 by Ben

Choosing a travel destination isn’t always straightforward. Between sometimes conflicting opinions from fellow travelers, our current desires and budget constraints, travel documentaries and advertisements we’ve seen, not to mention the positive or negative impressions we might have formed, making a decision can be challenging. That’s why we’re taking you through the main arguments that might convince you to visit a particular place… or not. Today, we’re exploring Costa Rica. The compelling reasons to go Minimal entry requirements Costa Rica has long prioritized tourism, making entry formalities remarkably simple for most visitors, with authorized stay durations significantly extended for many nationalities. … Read more

Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia Nears Completion After Nearly 100 Years of Construction

September 22, 2025 by Ben

Barcelona, Spain - February 10th, 2016: Tourists at backside of famous church and cathedral Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Seen from subway station Sagrada Familia. Church also called Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família - famous basilica built by Antoni Gaudi in year 1882 and til today not finished. Church is located in district Eixample in North of town. Some parts of church are UNESCO World Heritage.

While the towers of Notre-Dame de Paris have just reopened to the public after five years of restoration, another tower is set to make headlines in the coming months. Specifically, the eighteenth tower of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, which should be completed next year, marking the end (or near-end) of construction work on one of Europe’s most time-consuming monuments. June 1926-June 2026 It will have taken a full century for the construction site of one of Spain’s most famous landmarks to reach its final phase. But the task has been immense, given how imposing and intricate the basilica remains … Read more

Why Switzerland’s Flag is Almost Unique in the World (And What It Really Means)

September 21, 2025 by Ben

Flags are everywhere – countries, regions, cities, international organizations, various institutions, political movements, social causes, and countless other entities that have adopted them as commercial emblems or symbolic statements. There’s something for every taste and every field, often with quirks and specificities we tend to overlook. And if you look closer, many flags tell us a story – or rather, History itself. At least when it comes to countries… Today, we’re talking about the Swiss flag, which has an almost unique characteristic you might not have noticed… Switzerland and the Vatican It’s true that outside of Switzerland, not everyone has … Read more