🪧 Protests in France

+ Spring in Japan, CDC Warnings for deadly fungus across US

Welcome Traveler,

Good Morning and happy Friday, Last week was quite an eventful one; it doesn’t seem like a time to be in France with all the protests going on. Meaning Spring season has started in japan. Read onn..

📬️ In Today’s Email

1. Protests in France cause transportation troubles.

2. Spring in Japan check the best places to view it.

3. CDC Warnings against a new drug resistant fungus.

& much more..

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WEEKLY TRAVEL NEWS ROUNDUP

Protests in France

There are ongoing strikes related to pensions, and it's causing a lot of trouble for transportation.

  • Trains and flights have been cancelled, and there have been more than 200 demonstrations across the country on March 18th.

  • In Paris alone, around 56,000 people participated in the demonstrations.

The strikes have been happening since December 5th, 2019, and they're in response to proposed pension reforms that would create a single points-based system by unifying the country's 42 different pension schemes. Workers and unions are resisting these reforms because they believe that it would lead to lower benefits and longer working lives.

Child Safety

The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) is calling for a ban on infants sitting on parents' laps during flights due to safety concerns. The AFA argues that having an infant on a lap can increase the risk of injury during turbulence or an emergency situation. A study by the Federal Aviation Administration, which found that during turbulence, an unrestrained infant can become a projectile and weigh up to 20-30 times its body weight. The AFA is pushing for a requirement that all children under the age of 2 have their own seat and use an approved child restraint system.

We’ve seen airplanes go through turbulence recently and drop 4,000 feet in a split second,” said Sara Nelson, the international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.
The G-forces are not something even the most loving mother or father can guard against and hold their child. It’s just physically impossible.

Swifties Unite

Concert tourism is on the rise, with fans traveling from all over to attend Taylor Swift's kickoff to the "Eras" tour. The tour is set to take place in multiple countries, and fans are excited to see the pop star perform live. Global concert ticket sales hit a record high in 2022, with over $32 billion in revenue.

In the US alone, concert ticket sales totaled over $10 billion, with more than 75 million tickets sold. The rise of concert tourism has been attributed to the increasing popularity of music festivals and the trend of fans traveling to see their favorite artists perform live.

So, if you're a music lover, it's a great time to catch a concert or music festival and join the thousands of fans who are traveling to see their favorite artists.

Family Friendly Seating

President is urging airlines to stop charging extra fees for families who want to sit together on flights. The fees can range from $10 to $35 per seat, and they're often charged to guarantee that family members can sit together.

A study by the Government Accountability Office, which found that families paid $22 to $88 in extra fees to sit together on a round-trip flight. The President believes that the fees are unfair to families and should be eliminated. Some airlines, such as Delta, have already eliminated family seating fees, while others, such as United, offer free seat assignments for families with children under the age of 14.

So, if you're planning to fly with your family, it's worth checking with your airline to see if they charge extra fees for family seating and if they offer any free options.

No one should have to pay extra to be seated with their kids, Biden wrote on Twitter.

AirAsia’s Millions - has launched a mega-sale offering 10 million free seats to various destinations in Asia and the Asia Pacific region. The promotion is aimed at boosting tourism and making travel more affordable for people. AirAsia has previously offered similar promotions, which have been successful in attracting more travelers. In fact, the airline reported carrying over 90 million passengers in 2021, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

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PARADISE MEMEING

QUICK TAKES

🎥 Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo - The Making of Harry Potter is set to open on June 16, 2023, becoming the second Harry Potter-themed attraction in Asia after Universal Studios Japan. The studio tour will showcase the behind-the-scenes magic of the Harry Potter films, featuring authentic sets, costumes, and props from the movies.

✈️ Singapore Changi Airport has been named the world's best airport for 2023, according to the Skytrax World Airport Awards. This is the 9th consecutive year that Changi Airport has received this recognition, based on a survey of over 10 million passengers worldwide. Changi Airport also boasts impressive numbers, such as handling over 68 million passengers and more than 2.1 million tonnes of cargo in 2021, making it one of the busiest airports in the world. The airport's exceptional facilities and services, such as its entertainment options, comfortable lounges, and efficient operations, contributed to its top ranking.

🇦🇪 Emirates Airlines reported a significant increase in vegan meal requests by 154% in 2019. The airline attributed this growth to a rising demand for plant-based options, as more people are choosing to adopt vegan diets. Emirates has been expanding its vegan meal options, offering over 170 vegan dishes to its passengers.

🤝🏻 MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) - Despite the pandemic, Colombia and Mexico share the first position in several hybrid events, followed by Argentina and Brazil.

🐻 FUN - Big Black Bear Relaxes in Hot Tub in Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

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💡 TIPS FOR TRAVEL

FINANCING YOUR TRAVELS

01: Collecting the cream - Review your bank account on a daily, weekly, monthly basis, you can easily identify odd amounts that can be transferred to your savings account. For instance, if you have $104. in your account, you can transfer the odd $4 to your savings account. You have the option to round off to the nearest £5/$5, £10/$10, or even £100/$100, depending on your financial situation. This effortless practice will allow you to gradually increase your savings over time without even noticing it.

02: Avoid high fees - Get the foreign money before you leave - Never exchange money at the airport, too much high rates. Still you see so many people line up to exchange money at airports, even if they promise zero commission, they provide poor exchange value.

03: More for less, Use a City travel card - They give you access to local transport services, discounts on train, subway tickets to museum fees. Some even offer more added benefits like events, exhibitions, shopping, if you do some research.

SHARE your travel tip, tweet at us.

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MY TRAVEL BUCKETLIST

J.J. Ying on unsplash

A country that boasts a unique combination of ancient traditions and modern innovation. The country's rich cultural heritage is still evident today, with practices such as tea ceremonies, ikebana, and kabuki theater.

In 2022, Japan hosted the Winter Olympics in Beijing, which showcased its world-class hospitality and organizational skills, as well as its dedication to promoting sports and healthy living. Alongside these achievements, Japan has a fascinating culinary scene that draws on both traditional and modern influences, offering a diverse range of flavors and dishes, from sushi and ramen to wagyu beef and matcha desserts. As its spring season, we specifically recommend japan.

1. FOR THE CULTURE -
Viewing the Cherry Blossom or Hanami (literally, “flower viewing”)
Cherry blossom viewing in Japan is a grand social event that brings together families, friends, and colleagues to celebrate the beauty of sakura trees. People gather under the trees equipped with picnic boxes and blankets to eat, drink, and make merry. Popular spots often have stalls selling snacks and drinks.
As the sun sets, the atmosphere becomes even more magical, with the blossoms illuminated by simple lights and lanterns, creating a surreal and enchanting experience. The mood becomes livelier as the night progresses and people start to indulge in sake. Visitors are always welcome to join in the festivities.
To fully enjoy the experience, it's recommended to bring a picnic blanket and head to a supermarket to pick up a spring-themed bento box, including dishes such as ankake meatballs, inari sushi, strawberries, and red bean mochi. Limited-edition hanami-themed goodies, such as pink Sakura Pepsi, pink KitKats, and clear Asahi beer, are also available to make the celebration even more special.

Some scenic places to enjoy the cherry blossoms - Kawachi Wisteria Garden Fukuoka Kyushu, Himeji Castle - Hyogo, Kansai, Fuji Five Lakes, Chubu

2. FOR THE ADVENTURE -
Mario Kart in Real Life - Kart experience in Shinjuku drive metropolitan area is a unique and thrilling way to explore the city of Tokyo. Allowing you to dress up in a character costumes and drive go-karts on the streets of Tokyo, guided by a tour leader. It is an exciting way to see the city's landmarks and neighborhoods up close, such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Tokyo Tower, while feeling like a character in a video game. The experience is available to both tourists and locals and offers a fun and adventurous way to explore Tokyo's bustling streets. However, it's important to note that safety precautions must be taken, and participants must follow traffic rules and regulations.

Around $145 per adult
Duration: 60–120 minutes

3. FOR THE CUISINE -
Udon (うどん or 饂飩) is a thick noodle made from wheat flour. Udon noodles are typically served as a noodle soup in a hot broth. It is usually topped with thinly chopped scallions. Served in many different varieties in both hot & cold ways. some other savory toppings include prawn tempura, kakiage (mixed tempura fritter), abura-age (sweet, deep-fried tofu pouches), the kamaboko which is a sliced fish cake, and shichimi or spice added to taste. This one surely a treat for you to try.

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TRAVEL & BEYOND

  1. Japan won the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday night, downing Team USA 3-2 in the championship game at loanDepot Park in Miami.

  2. AI Generated images of donald trump flood the internet

  3. UBS x Credit Suisse - On 19 March 2023, Swiss investment bank UBS Group AG agreed to buy Credit Suisse for CHF 3 billion in an all-stock deal brokered by the government of Switzerland and the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority.

  4. Rare tornado near Los Angeles rips building roofs; 1 injured. Strongest in 40 years.

  5. 'Urgent threat': CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) warns against Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus invading health care facilities. Read More

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GUESS THE PLACE

About 80-90 % of the people in this country live on the coast.
(Answer revealed in next issue)

- - S - R - - I -

Hint - 9 letters, Think South

Last week’s answer to - Which country is known as the biggest exporter of flowers in the world ?
Netherlands.

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