The Best Time to Visit - Page 9 of 27 -

US Government Shutdown: What American Travelers Need to Know Right Now

October 4, 2025 by Ben

A bison stands in front of Mount Moran, north of Jackson Hole Wyoming

Sure, it’s not the first time this has happened, but still. It matters because what Americans call a “shutdown” – beyond its implications for the country and its citizens – can also affect tourists visiting or planning to visit the US. And since October 1st, the United States has once again entered a shutdown period. What exactly is a shutdown? A shutdown, in its political and economic definition as used in the USA, refers to the immediate closure of government services and the furloughing without pay of all non-essential federal employees – tens of thousands of people critical to the … Read more

India and Bhutan Are Building a Railway Connection—Here’s What It Means for Travelers

October 3, 2025 by Ben

"Bumthang, Bhutan aA June 27, 2012: Three young Buddhist monks peer out from a monastery window at a local festival in the Bumthang Valley of Bhutan."

Sure, this news won’t revolutionize the travel world or even the transportation industry, but the fact remains that by the end of the decade, you’ll be able to take a train between India and Bhutan. A project that’s been in the works for over twenty years… Two Cross-Border Lines in the Pipeline Two railway lines—with potentially more to follow—will connect Kokrajhar (India) to Gelephu (Bhutan) and Banarhat (India) to Samtse (Bhutan). These aren’t exactly household names, but these towns sit on opposite sides of the border between the two countries, in the Assam and Bengal regions on the Indian side, … Read more

Why Graz, Austria’s Hidden Second City, Should Be Your Next Fall Getaway

October 2, 2025 by Ben

Classic view of the historic city of Graz with main square and famous Grazer clock tower in the background sitting on top of Schlossberg hill, Styria, Austria

Vienna, the Tyrolean Alps, and perhaps Salzburg with its Mozart connections—these are the places typically associated with Austria. Yet the country offers much more, and when it comes to cities, Graz is far too often overlooked. As Austria’s second-largest city after Vienna, Graz truly shines in autumn. Where is Graz? Home to 300,000 residents, Graz sits in southeastern Austria in the state of Styria, just a few miles from the Slovenian border and about two hours by road from Vienna. Here you’ll find Austria’s plains (or nearly so), foreshadowing what nearby Hungary calls the puszta—vast flat expanses of wild grassland … Read more

India Introduces Digital Arrival Card: What Travelers Need to Know Before Their Trip

October 1, 2025 by Ben

Keeping up with travel news isn’t always easy—important updates can slip through the cracks, especially when it comes to entry requirements. That’s why we’re bringing back this recent development that could affect your upcoming trip to India. Going Digital Like Everyone Else We’ve all seen it happening: paper documents are gradually disappearing in favor of digital alternatives, and entry formalities are no exception. More and more countries are making the switch, and India has just joined the club by replacing its traditional paper arrival form with a new digital system called the e-Arrival Card. Like the old paper form, this … Read more

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