In a shocking report released early this morning, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that, unequivocally, climate change is real, it’s being caused by humans, and we have less than one year to try and avoid going over the 1.5-degree temperature change. Massive flooding, roaring fires, devastating droughts, more powerful hurricanes…it’s all the product of an ever-changing (and warming) climate. According to CNN, “With every fraction of a degree of warming, the effects worsen. Even limiting warming to 1.5 degrees, which countries in the Paris Agreement determined was ideal to stave off the worst impacts, the kinds of…
Author: Keith Langston
New York, America’s largest city and metro area, will require workers and patrons to provide proof of vaccination for entry into spaces like restaurants, gyms, entertainment venues, and performance spaces. (The New York Times). The news comes as the country struggles with the highly contagious Delta variant and a stunted vaccination program. Currently, less than half of America is fully vaccinated, with NYC faring a bit better with having 66% of adults fully vaccinated. According to ABC New York, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio stated, “So today I announce a new approach, which we are calling the ‘Key to NYC Pass.’…
Do you know how popular coffee is in America? According to the NCA (National Coffee Association), 7 in 10 Americans drink coffee every week, and a whopping 62% of Americans drink coffee every single day. Unfortunately, thanks to large tubs of Folgers, Keurig K-Cups, and gas stations coffee, many people are probably unaware of what great coffee tastes like and where it comes from. The most common misconception is “Italian coffee” or “Italian espresso”. Italy doesn’t actually grow coffee, but instead is famous for their roasting and brewing methods. So, where does coffee come from? CENTRAL AMERICA Every country…
An ongoing legal battle between the CDC, the state of Florida, and the cruise industry has kept travelers confused and worried for the last few months. Varying rules seem to volley from side to side, sometimes favoring the CDC and COVID protections, and sometimes favoring Florida’s demands for profitability over safety. Last week, all seemed to come to a sad ending after a Florida court officially declared Florida the winner (go figure) and ruled that the CDC and cruise lines didn’t have the right to demand that passengers be vaccinated. Instead, all the CDC could do is offer “guidance” to…
MGM Resorts, which owns numerous properties in Vegas, across America, and around the globe, has announced the launch of their new 100-megawatt solar farm, aptly named the Mega Solar Array. The new project is currently powering 90% of daytime needs for all of MGM’s Vegas resorts, including the MGM Grand, ARIA, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, and more. The Mega Solar Array consists of 323,000 solar panels, The array’s renewable electricity production will be equivalent to the amount of power used by approximately 27,000 average U.S. homes annually. The new solar farm is just step one of MGM’s grand vision for a sustainable…
With the new Delta variants of COVID surging around the globe, it’s never been more important to ensure that travel is safe, both for the traveler and for the locals of the destination they’re visiting. The island nation of Malta, located in the Mediterranean Sea south of Italy, has launched a new program to help make travel to their country safer and easier. Malta is partnering with the travel app VeriFLY to offer travelers an easy and convenient way to upload their health information and documents, allowing for a smooth entry process onto the island. A statement from the Malta…
Surprisingly, during the pandemic, two new airlines launched in the US. On the surface, the timing probably seemed awful. Why would an airline launch during a pandemic, you may ask. But in reality, the launch of an airline is planned years and years in advance as the logistics of starting a new airline is a mind-bogglingly complex affair. However, with the new boom in travel we’re seeing as the pandemic dies down, it’s possible that America’s newest airlines, Avelo and Breeze, launched at the perfect time. Here’s a look at the two carriers to give you a better idea of…
Last week Amtrak revealed that they are making a massive investment, with the hopes that rail travel can finally become a viable, attractive option for US travelers. The railroad’s new CEO has big plans that he hopes will transform the train service into a competitive alternative to flying, especially on short-haul routes. Inside, the new trains will be more passenger-friendly, with more comfortable seating, individual power outlets and USB plugs, onboard wifi, updated food and beverage options, state-of-the-art HVAC systems, and even touchless restrooms. The real improvements are things the passengers can’t see, however. The trains will be faster, smoother,…
In recent years there’s been a big push for travelers to replace short-haul flights with greener modes of transportation, such as trains. A flight from Boston to New York City can easily be replaced with a journey on the Acela Express, and many European and Asian nations have large networks of high-speed trains. However, many other places, such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and all parts of the USA outside of the Northeast don’t have this option. However, a new company thinks they have the answer. Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) is determined to bring back dirigible flights. As everyone probably…
While some worry that the COVID-19 pandemic might have long-term impacts on the travel sector, United Airlines is betting on the opposite. The airline just purchased a whopping 270 narrowbody aircraft to help grow their domestic fleet. While some of the planes will be used to phase out older aircraft, the airline projects to grow its fleet size by 200 planes. The order was for a mix of Boeing 737 MAX 8’s and 10’s and Airbus A321 planes. The MAX planes have been recertified by the FAA as safe to fly, and United is betting on the plane’s larger models…
Royal Caribbean had recently announced that all passengers on their vessels must be fully vaccinated. However, the state of Florida challenged this. The state saw lots of potential revenue dollars being lost and has increasingly been touting its ultra-conservative agenda. Political leaders in the state didn’t want to lose potential tax dollars and also wanted to show how little they care about COVID protections. So, they fought the move, claiming that requiring vaccination verification was an invasion of personal liberties. A Florida judge ruled in Florida’s favor, saying cruise lines were not allowed to request such things while operating in…
The summer of 2021 is seeing an unexpected trend, the rise of “Summer Christmas.” Christmas in July has long been a tongue-in-cheek celebration, and the town of Bethlehem is known for going all-out during the holidays (and with its name, how could it not?). Visitors can expect a full-blown holiday extravaganza running from July 1-25. During that period, all the shops in the historic downtown area will be decked out with exciting window displays. Some will decorate in a traditional style, and others are expected to incorporate the event’s unique timing, creating some wonderfully creative scenes! Visitors are encouraged to…
AAA has released their annual travel predictions for the 4th of July holiday (spanning July 1-5 this year) and based on consumer feedback, the agency believes this is set to be the 2nd busiest 4th of July holiday ever. The busiest was 2019, which saw 48.9 million travelers. This year, that number is set to be 47.7 million…not too far off. AAA also states that driving is by far the most popular form of transportation this year, with 91% of those surveyed saying they will be hitting the roads instead of the sky. But for anyone hoping to escape the…
As vaccination efforts ramp up around the world, more and more Americans are feeling eager to travel. Fortunately, many nations have started opening up their borders to travelers who are fully vaccinated or who are willing to take tests and quarantine. Here are some of the countries welcoming travelers from the USA now. For the full list, click on the links at the end of this post. BELIZE According to CNN, Belize is now allowing travel from America. Non-vaccinated people will need to be tested, but there is no quarantine in place. Vaccinated visitors are exempt from the testing…
NYC & Co., New York’s official destination marketing company, has literally listed every reason, from A to Z, why New York City is the place to be. To celebrate, The World Travel Blog is spelling out N E WÂ Y O R K and listing seven reasons why NYC is an excellent place to visit! N is for NY PopsUP NY PopsUp is a pop-up festival that organizes randomized performances that can happen anywhere and everywhere all over the state. The festival runs throughout the summer until mid-August and features everything from small, local bands, to world-famous musicians like…
During the pandemic last year, many airlines stopped serving alcohol in-flight in order to limit the number of times passengers would take their masks off. Now, however, airlines are once again banning alcohol onboard flights, but for a much different reason. According to The Washington Post, there have been 1,300 complaints about unruly passengers on aircraft since February. Just a few weeks ago, a shocking report came from a Southwest flight where a flight attendant had numerous teeth punched out by a violent passenger. Even worse, the video shows that the assailant punched her multiple times before any of the…
America is finally seeing some legitimate, lasting results from its massive vaccination campaign. On June 3rd, America only saw 19,000 new COVID cases, which is the lowest the numbers have been in almost a year. And as COVID rates continue to decrease and more people get vaccinated against the virus, more people will also be feeling the itch to travel. In fact, according to CNBC, Hilton reported having a whopping 93% of its hotel rooms booked over Memorial Day weekend. It was their busiest weekend since the start of the pandemic, even outnumbering the holiday rush back in November and…
United Airlines, one of the largest carriers in the world, has just signed a deal with Boom Supersonic, a new startup that’s hoping to create the world’s next supersonic aircraft. We had originally reported on the jet’s concept designs last year, and despite the pandemic, interest in the jet seems to be growing, proving that Boom’s prototype plane, called the Overture, has a real shot at success. According to the deal between United and Boom, the airline is spending $200 million per-jet and has a firm order placed for 15, with an option for an additional 35. United is set…
A new website and app, HotelsByDay, is changing the way we travel. The company has partnered with thousands of hotels and resorts across North America to provide travelers with daytime hotel and resort options. Passes can be purchased in increments of 3 -12+ hours, giving you a place to unwind alone, hang out with friends, or hold important business meetings. On the app, travelers can reserve daytime bedrooms, meeting rooms, pool passes, hotel gym passes, cabana rentals, and more. Booking times range from 7 AM to 7 PM. The app has locations in th USA and Canada, including the Radisson…
The deadline for all Americans to obtain the controversial Real IDs has been pushed back to 2023. The new IDs were technically the product of an act from the Bush administration which was created in the post-9/11 frenzy, believing that terrorists were around every corner, just waiting to strike. However, the date for the IDs kept getting pushed further and further into the future until the Trump administration demanded that the ruling go into effect. The original deadline to obtain a Real ID was October 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump administration was forced to push that…