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WEEKLY TRAVEL NEWS ROUNDUP

Which Airlines are Mishandling your luggages ?

According to revised data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, there were more passengers who had their luggage mishandled or were unable to board their flight in 2022 compared to the prior year.

Who’s fumbling your bags ?

1. American Airlines mishandled the most luggage, with 0.88 per 100 enplaned across their network. If you were flying on an American mainline flight, your risk increased to nearly one bag mishandled per 100.

2. Fellow Oneworld member Alaska Airlines came in second, with 0.72 mishandled bags across their network per 100 loaded,

3. while JetBlue came in third.

Which airlines handled your luggages better ?

Believe it or not, low-cost carriers performed the best at getting luggage to its final destination in 2022.

1. Leading the way was Allegiant Air, which had only just over 10,000 mishandled bags out of the 6 million loaded onto their aircraft, which is pretty impressive, right?

2. Frontier Airlines also ranked in the top 3, while Spirit Airlines came in 4th place.

Turning you away !

However, the same cannot be said about Frontiers overbooking policies.

In fact, the Denver-based airline ranked at the bottom of the list when it came to involuntarily denying passengers boarding, with 2.66 passengers per 10,000 being turned away.

1. Southwest Airlines, which had a major meltdown at the start of 2023, came in second with 0.56 passengers involuntarily denied boarding per 10,000 boarded.

2. American Airlines also fell into the bottom three for involuntary denials, with 0.46 passengers turned away at the gate per 10,000 across their network.

Complaints against airlines fly skyhigh!

Flyers issued a total of 16,876 complaints to the agency, which is a staggering increase of nearly 400% compared to the previous year. The majority of the complaints, 13,912 to be exact, were filed against carriers based in the U.S. Meanwhile, only 2,452 complaints were made against foreign carriers.

So, if you value your luggage, you might want to factor this report next time you book a ticket.

FROM WEEKLY TRAVEL NEWS ROUNDUP >

Escape to the Mediterranean:
🇨🇾 Cyprus Launches Visa for Digital Nomads

For Who, How Much & How Long ?

The Cyprus digital nomad scheme is open to individuals who are not citizens of the EU/EEA and are employed by a company registered outside of Cyprus. Applicants must have a monthly income of at least €3,500 after taxes and contributions.

Those who qualify for the program are allowed to bring their families along, but their family members are not permitted to work in Cyprus. The initial permit is valid for one year, but participants can apply for a two-year extension.

How to apply for the Cyprus digital nomad visa ?

To start the application process, book an appointment at the Cypriot embassy in your country of residence.

You’ll need your passport - valid for at least three months after your arrival in the country - and a variety of other documents. These include:

• Proof of income (bank statements and payslips)

• Your CV

• A letter of intent outlining why you want to work in Cyprus

• Proof of €30,000 in health and accident insurance during your entire stay in Cyprus

• Proof that you have found accommodation in Cyprus

• A certificate showing that you have a clear criminal record

You will also have to fill in an application form and pay a €70 application fee.

The approval process will take between 3 weeks and 3 months. Successful applicants will have to attend a follow-up meeting at the offices of the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia - Cyprus’ capital - to secure a temporary residence permit.

In Other News we’ve got some Travel related internet beef..

Follow Paradise Calling to stay updated

FROM WEEKLY TRAVEL NEWS ROUNDUP >

Playing with your food in the Sky ?

Twitter Divided as United Airlines Flight Attendant Asks Pregnant Wife of MLB Player to Clean Up After Child

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass took to social media to express his frustration with United Airlines, alleging that a flight attendant had demanded his pregnant wife to clean up after their toddler daughter on the flight.

“My poor sister is on her hands and knees crying in the aisle, completely humiliated and exhausted with her children, while everyone else watched,” Decker reportedly wrote.

Twitter Outrage - Twitter users who criticized Bass himself for his tweets about the incident. Some users felt that Bass was overreacting or being unreasonable in his expectations of the flight attendant, while others accused him of using his platform and celebrity status to unfairly target the airline and its employees. with tweets like these. 

The Response - The Association of Flight Attendants, which represents United crew members, said in a statement Tuesday that its members and travelers share the same space: “We want this space to serve the needs of everyone on the plane and that takes strict safety rules and a recognition that we’re sharing the aircraft cabin to do something we can’t do alone.”

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COVID-19 WATCH

🇮🇳 India Records 12,591 New Covid Cases, Highest In Nearly 8 Months

🇬🇶 Marburg Virus - a highly infectious and potentially lethal virus, that belongs to the same family as the Ebola virus. Equatorial Guinea is being warned by the World Health Organisation about its inability to track cases of the highly contagious Marburg virus and protect healthcare workers from contracting the disease, as the nation's outbreak continues to spread.

QUICK TAKES

1. Adventure Time - Smithsonian Journeys Introducing Active Vacations. With a focus on outdoor excursions that involve walking, hiking, and biking, our itineraries are designed to suit a range of activity levels and pace.

   • Discover the enchanting beauty of Tuscany and Cinque Terre on this tour of Italy's treasured regions. Explore idyllic hill towns and mountainside villages, while immersing yourself in the local culture and natural surroundings. Hike, bike, or walk the scenic trails, and take in the breathtaking vistas and historical landmarks along the way.

   • Gorillas of Rwanda - Observe the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, where you can witness their behavior up close and personal. Glide past picturesque communities on the Mukungwa River in a canoe and spend three unforgettable days in Volcanoes National Park. Plus, consider extending your adventure with a Kenyan safari to make your journey even more memorable.

   • Glaciers and Waterfalls - :Get ready for an unforgettable adventure in Iceland with the Glaciers and Waterfalls tour. Follow Iceland's trails and get up close and personal with its breathtaking glaciers and cascading waterfalls. Hike across the glacier and descend into a lava tube to experience Iceland's geology like never before.

   • Costa Rica Treetops and Trails - From the base of the majestic Arenal Volcano to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and the beach-lined jungles of Manuel Antonio National Park, you'll experience the beauty and biodiversity of Costa Rica like never before.

   
   

2. Marriott slapped with A Hefty Fine of $225K For Hiding Resort Fees

   Marriott International has been ordered to pay a fine of $225,000 in Pennsylvania for not complying with an agreement that obligated them to disclose "hidden" resort fees to consumers.

   According to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office, Marriott frequently engages in "drip pricing," You see, this is a tactic where additional fees, such as resort fees, destination fees, facility fees, and other similar charges, are not included in the total price of the hotel room until the final stages of the booking process or during check-in.

   
   

3. Walk through the Land of the dead - Dinosaur Trips Launches Dinosaur-focused Tours

   Dinosaur Trips, a custom-travel tour operator, has launched offering tours focused on paleontology. The tours are led by professional paleontologists and take travelers to locations with significant fossil finds in North America, including Montana, Utah, and Alberta, Canada. The tours aim to provide an educational and hands-on experience for travelers to learn about paleontology and explore the history of dinosaurs. The company also plans to offer customizable trips for families, private groups, and school groups.

   Travelers can join the Badlands & Beyond itinerary, which can cater to a maximum of eight guests. The cost for the four-day fossil dig with the Dinosaur Institute is $1,695, and the remaining eight days of the itinerary are priced at $4,895.

Looking forward to.

• Going Intergalactic Star Tours Offers New Disney Adventures In 2024

  Disney has recently made an announcement that is sure to excite Star Wars enthusiasts. The company is expanding its first-ever Star Wars attraction, Star Tours, across three of its parks worldwide. The expansion will include new and exciting features that will be available later this year.

  The announcement was made during the Walt Disney Imagineering panel at the 2023 Star Wars Celebration event in London. For avid Star Wars fans, this news is certainly something to look forward to.

  
  

• Sleep on the clouds Air New Zealand has introduced the first-ever bunk beds on an airline,

  According to a recent announcement. “The Skynest” as its called is designed in collaboration with passengers and is aimed at enhancing comfort on long-haul flights. This new feature allows passengers in the economy class to purchase a “Skynest” sleeping pod, which includes six full-length lie-flat sleeping pods stacked on top of one another. For long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights, they’re are expected to added to the carrier’s fleet this fall. So when it come out, make sure to catch some zzz’s & test them out.

📹 Watch - Iconic Chinese Attraction Taken Down Amid Safety Concerns. Anyang City’s 'Daredevil Stone' was demolished by Chinese authorities because of its overwhelming popularity with tourists.

📝 Read - Merida, a city in Mexico that is a haven for birdwatchers due to its diverse array of bird species and habitats. You can spot Pink flamingos, gazelles, hawks, pelicans, Herons, cormorants, turtles, iguanas & even more.

😳 React - This couple travels the world naked. They have spent nearly $19,000 on their travels to various destinations where they can embrace nudity from sunrise until sunset. Continue to article → NSFW

MY TRAVEL BUCKETLIST

The House of Glass

Chihuly Garden and Glass
is an exquisite museum located in Seattle, Washington, that showcases the stunning works of glass artist Dale Chihuly. The museum features a range of Chihuly's most famous pieces, including large-scale installations and delicate blown glass sculptures, all set amidst a verdant garden backdrop.

Google Maps | Over 20,000 5 Stars on Tripadvisor | 1 Adult - $26.78

The museum houses a impressive collection of glass art created by Dale Chihuly, an internationally renowned artist whose work is known for its vibrancy, intricacy, and sheer beauty.

As you step into the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum, you're immediately enveloped in a world of color and light.

MUST SEE -

1. Inside the museum, you'll find a variety of galleries showcasing Chihuly's work. One of the most stellar pieces of work is the "Glasshouse," a soaring structure that features a 100-foot-long sculpture called the "Seaform Pavilion." This installation consists of hundreds of hand-blown glass forms that seem to float in mid-air, creating an ethereal and immersive environment.

2. Another must-see is the "Persian Ceiling," a stunning installation made up of over 1,000 hand-blown glass pieces. As you look up at the ceiling, you'll be mesmerized by the intricate designs and vivid colors, which seem to dance in the light.

3. Outside, the museum's garden is a true oasis of tranquility and beauty. The garden is home to several large-scale installations, including the "Sun," a radiant sculpture made up of hundreds of yellow and orange glass pieces, and the "Icicle Tower," a shimmering structure that stands over 40 feet tall.

It's hard to believe that all of this stunning glass art is the work of just one artist. Dale Chihuly has been creating glass art for over 50 years and has achieved global acclaim for his unique and captivating designs. He has also been honored with numerous awards and recognitions, including the National Medal of Arts and 12 honorary doctorates.

In addition to admiring the art, you'll also have the opportunity to learn more about the creative process behind Chihuly's work. The museum features videos and exhibits that explore his techniques and approach to glassblowing.

Overall, the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum is a feast for the senses and a must-see destination for anyone visiting Seattle. With its dazzling array of glass art, tranquil garden, and educational exhibits, it's a one-of-a-kind experience that you won't soon forget.

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💡 EASE YOUR TRAVELS

Museums

01. Get a Tour Guide 

Gazing at a towering dinosaur skeleton is breathtaking, but comprehending the paleontological methods used to excavate and assemble the fossils can truly ignite your interest and admiration, alleviating the need to strain your eyes reading the exhibit captions.

02. Lookout for Special Exhibits

When you’re checking that museum site before your visit, be sure to see what’s on while you’re there. When special exhibits are on loan from other museums around the world, you may have a rare “two-for-one” opportunity to see something truly special without traveling to another part of the word. Special exhibits may only last for a few months so you’re fortunate indeed if one coincides with your museum visit!

03. Get a City Pass for museums

If you plan on visiting a bustling metropolis such as London, Paris, or Barcelona, consider reaching out to the local tourism office to inquire about discounted rates for visiting multiple museums. Several cities provide combination packages that allow you to access multiple museums over a span of days or weeks at a considerably reduced price.

Got any advice to share > SHARE your travel tip, tweet at us.

TRAVEL & BEYOND

Staying Connected with the world beyond your travels..

1. 💸 Fox News reaches $787.5 million settlement in Dominion’s defamation lawsuit.
   
   

2. 🌑 Celestial spectacle - Rare hybrid solar eclipse wows South Pacific spectators
   
   

3. 🇫🇷 France: Hundreds of protesters storm Paris' Euronext building
   
   

4. 🚀 SpaceX’s Starship rocket exploded minutes after launch.

   
   

5. 🏀 Stephen Curry and Warriors rally to keep NBA Finals dreams alive in Game 3 win

GUESS THE PLACE

This country tops the list of world’s Powerful Passports in the world for 5 yrs. in a row
(Answer revealed in next issue)

- - - A -

Hint - Think East.

Last week’s answer to:
This Country which hosts the largest tomato fight festival, → Spain

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