In this inspiring episode, host Trina Wilcox speaks with Kimberly Haley-Coleman, founder and executive director of Globe Aware, a nonprofit organization creating sustainable volunteer travel experiences around the world.

Globe Aware volunteers, get ready for a busy travel season! With Thanksgiving and Christmas travel bookings already surpassing last year’s numbers, read our latest blog for tips on planning your volunteer trips during the holidays.

Flight bookings for Thanksgiving and Christmas are up from 2024

By Megan Cerullo, Kris Van Cleave
October 15, 2025
CBS News

Thanksgiving and Christmas travel is set to shatter records this year, according to new data.

Booking data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, indicates that the number of reservations made between June 20 and Oct. 8 for travel during the two major holiday periods is up compared to the same time last year. Bookings for Thanksgiving travel are 2% higher, while bookings for travel around Christmastime are up roughly 1% compared to 2024.

Globe Aware volunteers planning holiday trips can save money by booking early and exploring affordable destinations. A travel expert shares her top tips and inspiration for making the most of the holiday travel season.

With prices already trending up, here are some ways to save on holiday travel

Emmy-nominated travel host Alice Ford shares tips on the best times to book flights, her favorite holiday destinations, and more.

Scripps News Group
Oct 08, 2025

The holidays are right around the corner and if you’re planning to fly home or maybe get away to somewhere new, you’re going to want to start planning that trip sooner rather than later.

Alice Ford is an Emmy-nominated travel host and she sat down with Scripps News to share some of her top tips for saving money and finding inspiration on destinations to visit this holiday travel season.

What if your next vacation changed a community and changed you? In this episode, Jake sits down with Kimberly Haley-Coleman, founder/CEO of Globe Aware, to unpack the reality of short-term, no-politics/no-proselytizing volunteer vacations—one-week service projects designed to build cultural awareness, gratitude, and real-world impact.

Globe Aware volunteers might find it surprising that the US passport has dropped out of the top 10 on the Henley Passport Index, now tied for 12th place with Malaysia. Meanwhile, these countries lead the rankings with the most visa-free access worldwide.

US drops out of world’s most powerful passport top 10 list for the first time

By Maureen O’Hare
Oct 14, 2025
CNN

World’s most powerful passports of 2025

World’s most powerful passports: For the first time ever, the United States has slipped out of the top 10 in the Henley Passport Index, a global ranking of travel mobility. It now holds 12th position in the rankings, tied with Malaysia. (San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is pictured).

India Visa Update for Globe Aware Volunteers! As part of its move toward more modern immigration procedures, India has officially launched its digital arrival card for foreign travelers this month. Find out more about this new entry requirement in today’s blog.

India officially launches e-Arrival Card

As part of its shift toward more modern immigration procedures, India is officially launching its digital arrival card for foreign travelers on October 1, 2025. Available online or through a mobile app, this new entry requirement will coexist with the traditional paper version during a six-month transitional period.

By VisasNews
October 1, 2025

As of October 1, 2025, foreign travelers arriving in India can now complete their arrival card online through a new official platform. This digital document, called the e-Arrival Card, is designed to streamline the entry process into India while reducing paper usage.

VisasNews had already mentioned this possibility in our article last week, when the portal was still in beta mode and its October 1 launch date was just speculation based on local media reports.

Stanford’s Executive Director of Sustainability Utilities and Infrastructure interviews Kimberly Haley-Coleman about how international development work can be done in a way that truly serves local communities and respects their culture, rather than imposing external solutions. Lincoln and Kimberly discuss the importance of fostering cultural connections and empathy through international service, the evolution of Globe Aware‘s projects over 25 years, and the significance of understanding community needs. The conversation highlights the challenges and rewards of volunteer work, the sustainability of projects, and the transformative experiences for volunteers. Kimberly emphasizes the need for deep listening and collaboration with local communities to ensure meaningful outcomes.

In this podcast conversation, we explore the transition from executive leadership to volunteer-driven roles and how designing a life centred on giving back can create lasting impact. Through the lens of volunteer service vacations and ethical travel, we explore how to bridge professional success with global purpose — utilizing skills, time, and resources to empower communities. Key themes include valuing depth over breadth, building intentional teams, and recognizing the expertise of local partners. Whether through short-term service vacations, volunteering overseas or ongoing volunteer work, giving back isn’t a break from achievement — it’s an evolution of it. That transforms your life and theirs; transformational travel!

Globe Aware volunteers will recognize several of our volunteer vacation destinations among this year’s favorites, celebrated for their rich culture, warm hospitality, and unforgettable experiences.

The best countries in the world: 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards

Europe dominated this year’s list of the countries Traveller readers have been choosing to go – matching what you were probably seeing all over Instagram

October 7, 2025
Condé Nast Traveller

Italy is a perennial favourite in our awards – when you see its scores for food, scenery and places to stay, well, that’s amore. More of a surprise is this year’s runner-up, though it shouldn’t be: in 2024, Qatar, with its world-class restaurants, museums and activities, drew more visitors than Malta and Jamaica. Once reclusive Bhutan is having a moment, thanks to its dragon-fired culture; Japan was rated highly for things to do and its streamlined transport; and you loved Thailand for its pungent food and famous welcome – a criterion that Morocco also embraced. In that spirit, a high five for Estonia: this is the Baltic nation’s first showing in our awards, with impressive scores for its slow-burn culture and outdoor activities.

Halloween season is here, and Globe Aware volunteers can join in the spooky fun. Learn how these customs began and discover the origins of Halloween’s favorite symbols and colors.

The History of Halloween: Why We Celebrate the Haunted Holiday

Discover the origins of trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and other beloved Halloween traditions.

Sept. 29, 2025
By Sarah Lemire
TODAY

Halloween season has officially arrived. Dedicated to all things spooky, Oct. 31 is the one time of year that being a witch, werewolf or vampire is not only allowed, it’s totally encouraged.

But did you ever wonder why we dress up in costumes and go trick-or-treating on Halloween night? How about carving pumpkins or playing pranks?