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WEEKLY TRAVEL NEWS ROUNDUP

New Rules to Compensate Travelers When a Flight Is Delayed or Cancelled

This New Initiative pushed by the White House & Department of Transportation is aimed at bringing in consumer protections for airline passengers that are similar to those offered in the European Union. Here’s what it contains,

Proposed on Monday

One of the main features of this initiative is the introduction of compensation for delayed flights, which is great news for travelers who have faced unexpected delays or cancellations in the past.

As part of this process, the DOT is considering the possibility of requiring airlines to offer compensation to passengers on top of refunds and reimbursements for expenses incurred during flight delays or cancellations.

If this rule comes into effect, airlines would be required to provide compensation for things like meal vouchers, overnight accommodations, rebooking, and even ground transportation to and from a hotel.

“When an airline causes a flight cancellation or delay, passengers should not foot the bill,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement Monday.” This rule would, for the first time in U.S. history, propose to require airlines to compensate passengers and cover expenses such as meals, hotels, and rebooking in cases where the airline has caused a cancellation or significant delay.”

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PARADISE MEMEING

🤨 Thisss

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HAPPENING

01: U.S. Embassy in Mexico releases new warnings about a real estate scam

Timeshare (meaning - the arrangement whereby several joint owners have the right to use a property as a vacation home under a time-sharing agreement.)

If you own a timeshare, or looking into buying one, this is a scam you need to lookout for to avoid losing your money to a buyer who might not exist. The scammers often use high-pressure tactics and false promises to deceive victims into buying timeshares or making investments in real estate.
Such common scams involves the following steps.

02: On the footsteps of giants with Dinosaurs Trips

Imagine traveling to the land where dinosaurs once roamed.

This travel company offers you group departures and private trips around the world that focus on dinosaur digs, discoveries, and paleontology.

03: Big In Japan - Japan Simplifies Visa Rules For Skilled Workers

Are you a skilled worker, looking to move to Japan ? Japan’s new visa program aims to make it easier for highly skilled workers to move to the country.

• This applies to researchers and engineers with an annual income of at least 20 million yen (€134,000) and either a Master’s degree or 10 years of work experience, according to Japanese newspaper The Mainichi.

• Corporate managers are required to have an income of 40 million yen (€268,000) and 5years’ experience to qualify.

• Graduate ? Japan also hopes to lure them from the world’s top 100 universities, & also,

• If you’re an Entrepreneur aiming to start a business in Japan, you may also be allowed to stay longer than one year under the country’s ‘start-up visa’.

04: Berlin’s BVG nets over a million subscribers ‘thanks to €29 transport ticket’

Berlin's public transportation company BVG saw a significant increase in subscribers last year? One of the main reasons for this spike was the discounted €29 ticket, which attracted tens of thousands of new riders, netting over a million subscribers in total.

05: Getting into any airplane lounge in the world - now comes with a discount

Priority Pass - a network of over 1,300 airport lounges and experiences worldwide. It's not just your typical lounges either - Priority Pass offers some unique perks like discounts at airport spas and relaxation areas, as well as credits at restaurants.

1. The Standard Membership for Priority Pass is currently on sale at a 30% discount, bringing the annual cost down to just $69. This membership gives you access to over 1,300 lounges and experiences around the world, with a visit fee of $35 and a guest visit fee of $35. It's perfect for frequent travelers who want to make their time at the airport more comfortable and enjoyable.

2. For the Standard plus membership see details here

06: Disney Cruise Line Adds New Experiences

The beloved animated films from Walt Disney Animation Studios, "Encanto," and Disney and Pixar's "Soul," have made their debut on the open waters with new family-friendly experiences now available aboard the Disney Magic cruise ship.

LOOKING FORWARD TO 
📅 Music Festivals around next week

• Welcome to Rockville 2023 - May 18-21, 2023

  Venue: Daytona International Speedway | Daytona Beach, FL.

• Infrasound Music Festival 2023 - May 18-21, 2023
  Venue: Harmony Park Music Garden | Ellendale, MN.

• EDC Las Vegas 2023 - May 19-21, 2023
  Venue: Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Las Vegas, NV

• Head in the Clouds Festival 2023 - May 20-21, 2023
  Venue: Forest Hills Stadium | Queens, New York City, NY

📰 Read - Hawaii's New Visitor Fee Bill Gets Rejected By Lawmakers

You already know how popular the state of Hawaii is, & its dealing with issues caused by overtourism, such as tourists causing harm to wildlife, and damaging coral reefs.
In an effort to address these problems, Hawaii had planned to introduce a “conservation fee” for tourists. The goal was to collect funds that will be used to protect and preserve the state's delicate ecosystem that is Home to around 25,000 unique species, An annual $50 fee (€46) was suggested for all tourists to enter the state, for tourists to visit its state parks and trails.
But it failed ➜ Full story.

👁️‍🗨️ Watch - This Weekend watch a Meteor Shower Zoom Across the Sky

Within the next few days, you might be able to see the Eta Aquariid meteor shower which according to the American Meteor Society, we might be able to see up to 30 meteors per hour in the Northern Hemisphere. But get this - Space.com is reporting that there could be an outburst with more than 120 meteors per hour!
They'll be blazing across the sky at up to 44 miles per second, which is crazy fast. so make sure to mark your calendar - April 15 to May 27- and find a good spot to watch. But there are steps you need to follow carefully.
Here’s the best practices to ➜ catch em all.

😲 React - Tourists Banned From Machu Picchu After Taking Nude Photos

Two tourists were kicked out of the UNESCO World Heritage site after they were caught taking nude photos. The park's surveillance personnel spotted them, with one of the tourists posing naked and the other taking a picture of him near the House of the Guardian Inca site.
And this isn’t the first time ➜ this has happened.

MY TRAVEL BUCKETLIST 
An Icon Of Nature

📍 Kirkjufell Mountain, Iceland 
Over 428 excellent reviews on tripadvisor | See 360^o degree view 

As you approach Kirkjufell Mountain, the crisp, cool air fills your lungs as you take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The mountain stands tall and proud, its jagged peak piercing the sky above. The sound of rushing water fills your ears as you make your way towards the base of the mountain, where you're greeted by the thundering roar of Kirkjufellsfoss, the nearby waterfall.

Nestled on the northern coast of Iceland's Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Kirkjufell - meaning “Church Mountain” in Icelandic - stands out as a remarkable natural wonder that has enchanted visitors with its stunning shape and idyllic seaside setting. Renowned as one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland, Kirkjufell's unique formation and location near the town of Grundarfjörður have made it a beloved landmark and a must-see attraction for any traveler exploring this part of the country.

GOT Connection - It can be seen in season 7 episode 6 when the heroes go to north of the wall, described as the “Arrowhead mountain”. It also appeared in season 6 episode 5 with Kirkjufellsfoss which is also on the photo, when the children of the forest created the first White Walker.

Whale Watching: The nearby town of Grundarfjörður offers whale watching tours, which allow you to see these magnificent creatures up close in their natural habitat.

Review - “We arrived at kirkjufell mountain just as the sun was coming down for the day. It was absolutely freezing, but the light was such a perfect blue. I couldn’t stop looking at the mountain as it was so beautiful. We walked down to the waterfall and had the most amazing view from the bottom. It is a spectacular place that almost feels quite magical. The snow and ice definitely added to this feeling. This is a must visit place.”

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EASE YOUR TRAVELS 
Hike & Psyche

Hiking can be a great way to improve your mental health and well-being. Spending time in nature, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, can be a powerful antidote to stress, anxiety, and depression.

Here are some of the ways that hiking can benefit your mental health:

💪 Building Resilience - Hiking can be a challenging activity, requiring physical and mental endurance. By pushing yourself to overcome obstacles on the trail, you can build resilience and develop a sense of confidence in your ability to tackle challenges in other areas of your life.

🥳 Boosting Mood - Physical activity, like hiking, releases endorphins, which are natural mood-boosters. Hiking can also increase feelings of accomplishment and self-esteem, which can help to improve your overall mood.

🤗 Connecting with other - Loneliness is spreading like an epidemic. Hiking can be a social activity, allowing you to connect with others who share your love of the outdoors. This can help you to combat feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Have some of your own ?
Sound off in the comments below, (available only on website) / tweet at us.

TRAVEL & BEYOND
Staying Connected with the world beyond your travels..

1. Trump Attacks E. Jean Carroll at CNN Town Hall after Legal Defeat

2. AC Milan vs Inter final score, result.

3. Ray Liotta’s silent killer revealed, a year after his death.

4. Ed Sheeran wins the copyright battle.

5. Title 42 has ended. What happens next ?

GUESS THE PLACE

Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth. What is the Second highest mountain on earth ?
(Answer revealed in next issue)

- -

Hint - Only 2 Letters

Last week’s answer to:
At 3.6 million square miles, this Desert is as big as China or the U.S.A. - Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world, and the third largest overall after the Antarctica and the Arctic. The Sahara Desert covers an incredible 9.2 million km², which is almost the same size as China, and a total of 8% of the earth’s land area.

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