Q&A with Hannah Gruen, Administrative Assistant
I love to use events as an excuse to travel. This summer I got to explore Denver while visiting for a concert. Tell us about a time you discovered a new favorite destination because you were there for an event.
Tell us. Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com
Which European Countries Plan to Impose Tourism and Flight Taxes?
In the Sept. 26 issue of eFlyer, we covered the recent implementation of a travel tax to Iceland, as well as a new airport tax at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands. We asked: Do you think countries should be allowed to implement these taxes? One reader wrote in:
Countries are free to charge whatever they wish. My opinion is to pay it or avoid the location. As tourists, we use their resources and tax their infrastructures beyond the benefits they reap from tourism, hotel taxes, tourism jobs, etc.
Duane Weaver, via email
Amsterdam Bans Cruise Liners in City Center; Will Other Cities Soon Follow?
In our Aug. 6 issue of eFlyer, we wrote about Amsterdam’s recent ban on cruise ships docking in the city center. We asked: Do you agree with this ban in Amsterdam and in other cities? One reader wrote in:
I have been to Amsterdam numerous times, as well as Venice and other wonderful and beautiful cities and towns being crushed by hordes of quick stop-in tourists. They disembark, look around, buy a tee or two and get back on the boat. What the tourists don’t overwhelm, the mass of ships and buildings and structures and the environment.
With minimal effort, one can easily enjoy these jewel cities and towns. Reduce the ships and, while we’re at it, the cheap planeloads of “seen it, check it off” folks. Otherwise, what makes these places so sought-after and special will be lost.
By the way, the train from Trieste (current access point near Venice) is a little over an hour away from city center and may cost €15–20, and you get to experience the magic of crossing the causeway and stepping out of the station onto the Grand Canal in Venice.
Jim Heskett, via email
Bedbug Epidemic: Is It Safe to Travel to Paris Right Now?
In our Oct. 25 issue of eFlyer, we covered the recent bedbug invasion in Paris. We talked about other bedbug infestations across the world and provided tips on how to safely travel and check for the insects. We asked readers if they have an upcoming trip planned for Paris. One reader wrote in:
I don’t have an upcoming trip planned but I was recently in Paris for the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup. I’ve been to Paris before and have never seen the city so crowded. Of course, the bedbug situation sat in the back of my head, and during the course of my time there talking with other match goers, I heard some incidents of cheap hotels suffering from bedbugs.
Fortunately, my hotel and the other hotels nearby didn’t have any incidents. That said, I did check my clothes and other items when I got home and washed them all thoroughly to be safe.
Marian Thompson, via email
Updated daily, our blogs offer readers an inside look at the lives and travels of the GT staff. We featured blogs on sports matches, from a Phillies game to a hockey match in Chicago and a college football game in North Carolina. Other staff members detailed time in Miami, a trip to the pumpkin patch and countless culinary delights. One staff member enjoyed a trip to Mexico City.
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FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
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May 18, 2025Aman Announces Global Aman Club Expansion
Aman Club continues its global expansion with the introduction of Aman Club at Aman Nai Lert Bangkok. This invitation-only club offers a lifetime of privileged access across Aman’s hotels and resorts as well as Aman’s future 10 properties currently in development in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.
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Sail Unique with Explora Journeys
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May 17, 2025Viking Takes Delivery of Newest River Ship in Europe
Officially delivered March 18, Viking’s newest Longship Viking Nerthus was presented at Meyer’s Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock Warneműnde, Germany. Accommodating up to 168 guests, Viking Nerthus spans 84 staterooms, all featuring Viking’s signature Scandinavian design.
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May 15, 2025Culture Runs Deep in the Old Town of Corfu
Corfu, or Kerkyra, as the Greeks call it, is arguably one of the most beautiful islands in Greece — and one of the most cultured. Part of the Ionian Islands located off the western coast of Greece and Albania, it boasts a storied history dating back nearly 3,000 years and a heritage shaped by many foreign rulers who made it their own.
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Royal Air Maroc Marks Five Years with oneworld: Strengthening Connectivity Between USA and Africa and Expanding Global Reach
Royal Air Maroc proudly enters its fifth year as a member of the prestigious oneworld alliance. Since joining in April 2020, RAM has demonstrated resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging as a dynamic airline that enhanced its digital services and expanded its network. The airline plans to grow its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037, reinforcing its global presence.
eFlyer Reviews
May 14, 2025Hotel Van Zandt Review
One step onto Austin’s Rainey Street and you’ll feel like you’ve joined the cool kids at the best playground in the city. Just behind the cottage bars, pint-sized skyscrapers soar. One of them, Hotel Van Zandt, the Rainey district's pièce de resistance, beckons with a song-like spirit —apropos because the independently owned property, rife with music motifs, was named after beloved singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Sixteen stories high, the hotel embodies Austin’s lust for music, manifesting with a vinyl corner; trumpet chandeliers; myriad musical references; replica vintage posters in frames; and its own live music venue, which doubles as its acclaimed restaurant, Geraldine’s. Don’t miss the mesmerizing installation of colorful origami-like birds composed from vinyl records that flitter from an old phonograph.
eFlyer Lead
May 14, 2025World Cruises: A Growing Trend?
This week, Crystal Cruises introduced Treasures of the Tides, its most expansive World Cruise to date. The 150-night journey departs in 2028 aboard Crystal Symphony, making it the first time the ship has led a World Cruise itinerary since 2018.
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Explore Europe with the Best River Cruise Line this November
Experience Europe from a fresh perspective with AmaWaterways, just awarded Best River Cruise Line by Global Traveler for the third consecutive year. Step aboard, unpack once and embark on a cruise through iconic capital cities and awe-inspiring landscapes. AmaWaterways' ships, which accommodate an average of just 156 guests, offer a spacious yet intimate setting. Throughout your journey, you'll enjoy exquisite farm-to-table dining; unparalleled service; and a variety of included excursions, from city tours for gentle walkers to thrilling bike rides along the rivers.
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May 13, 2025Explore Fakarava’s Breathtaking Beauty and Biodiversity
You’ll hardly discover the 118 islands of French Polynesia in a single stopover. And as any seasoned sailor in these parts will tell you, even a lifetime of exploring this incredible part of the world may not provide enough time.
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