Archive: September 2024

Globe Aware volunteers, forget the retinol night creams! Research suggests that travel might be the ultimate way to combat premature aging. Discover why!

Travel could be the best defence against ageing

Tourism isn’t just about leisure and recreation. It could also contribute to people’s physical and mental health.

Sep 5, 2024
ECU Newsroom in Research

Forget about retinol night creams, researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) believe travel could be the best way to defy premature ageing.

For the first time, an interdisciplinary study has applied the theory of entropy to tourism, finding that travel could have positive health benefits, including slowing down the signs of ageing.

Contrary to a recent international ranking, tourists and Globe Aware volunteers frequently express how safe they feel while exploring Quito’s urban and rural attractions. Learn why you shouldn’t be hesitant to consider this South American destination!

Quito, a Safe Destination for Tourists in Ecuador

September 23 2024
Breaking Travel News

Despite what a recent international ranking may suggest, tourists consistently comment on how safe they feel when touring Quito’s main urban and rural attractions.

According to the Igarapé Institute’s Global Homicide Monitor, Quito is one of the least violent capitals in Latin America. In 2023, the city recorded a homicide rate of 9.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, far lower than cities like Caracas (47.9), San José in Costa Rica (22.8), Montevideo (15.2) and Bogotá (13.5).

If you’re a Globe Aware volunteer booking near the end of monsoon season in Goa, India, and don’t mind a little rain, here are some extra activities you can enjoy during your volunteer vacation!

Travelling to Goa in monsoon? All sorts of fun you can have

Precious Rongmei
Sep 20, 2024
TIMESOFINDIA.COM

1 Travelling to Goa in monsoon? All sorts of fun you can have

Many people have mixed feelings about travelling to Goa during monsoon season. It will rain a lot, so what’s fun about that? Well, the fun lies in going and trying something beyond the usual, stepping away from the beaches for the time being, and exploring the hinterlands. During monsoon season, it’s the forest that shines in Goa.

Globe Aware volunteers, look to the skies! Earth will get a second moon for about two months this year when a small asteroid begins to orbit our planet. Learn more about this asteroid that is set to revolve around Earth from Sept. 29 to Nov. 25!

Earth will get a second “mini-moon” for 2 months this year

By Caitlin O’Kane
September 20, 2024
CBS News

Earth will get a second moon for about two months this year when a small asteroid begins to orbit our planet. The asteroid was discovered in August and is set to become a mini-moon, revolving around Earth in a horseshoe shape from Sept. 29 to Nov. 25.

Great news for Globe Aware volunteers who need to renew their passports! The U.S. State Department has recently introduced an option for Americans to renew their adult passports online. Find out more about this convenient alternative!

U.S. passports can now be renewed online, State Department announces

By Caroline Linton
September 18, 2024
CBS News

The State Department announced Wednesday that Americans can now renew their adult passports online, fully rolling out a system that bypasses the traditional method that required printing out a form and mailing a check.

Central America, a region rich in history and culture, is home to many magnificent cities, each offering a distinct glimpse into its vibrant character. Globe Aware volunteers will be familiar with two of these cities, one in Costa Rica and the other in Guatemala, both near our project sites.

The most beautiful towns to visit in Central America

A land of history and culture, Central America has many magnificent cities, each offering a unique perspective on this region with a strong personality. Here are our five favourites.

By Amandine Enard-Hauger
Sept. 5 2024
EnVols

When talking about Central America, you might first mention its varied and breathtaking landscapes, its tropical climate, its exciting cuisine and its legendary hospitality, but who could forget about its cities, each of which deserves to be properly explored over several days.

For many Globe Aware volunteers, booking holiday airfare can feel like a dreaded task. The truth is, it’s never too early to start searching. If you’re one of those frustrated holiday travelers, here’s when to book your ticket to secure the best savings.

Holiday Travel 2024 Outlook: When To Book Thanksgiving and Christmas Flights

by Mia Taylor
September 15, 2024
TravelPulse

Booking holiday airfare is a dreaded chore for more than a few globetrotters.

Let’s face it: who enjoys being gouged on ticket prices to spend Thanksgiving or Christmas with loved ones?

If you fall into that bucket of irritated holiday travellers, read on. Hopper has just released a holiday travel cheat sheet. Translation: When to book your holiday ticket to score the most significant savings (Or at least avoid being quite so drastically overcharged.)

This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 17th, a cherished celebration across East and Southeast Asia. It’s a time for families to come together, light lanterns, and admire the year’s fullest moon. Discover more and start planning a Globe Aware volunteer vacation in Vietnam to join the festivities next year!

Mid-Autumn Festival: Mooncakes, lanterns and so much more

By Maggie Hiufu Wong
CNN
September 16, 2024

Members of a fire dragon dance team spin balls of joss sticks in Hong Kong.

It’s time to hang a lantern, share a mooncake and peel a pomelo – Mid-Autumn Festival is here.

Falling on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, it’s celebrated primarily in East and Southeast Asia and is a time for families to gather to sample autumn harvests, light lanterns and admire what’s believed to be the fullest moon of the year.

Europe plans to introduce a new biometric passport system in November 2024. Here’s what Globe Aware volunteers heading to Romania need to know.

Europe’s New Border Controls For November—What Travelers Should Know

By Alex Ledsom
Aug 25, 2024
Forbes

Europe plans to introduce a new biometric passport system in November 2024, followed six months later by a new travel authorization for many of its visitors—here’s what travelers need to know.

Europe’s New Entry And Exit System (EES) Will Be Live In November 2024

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson confirmed that the new Entry/Exit system would be deployed on Sunday, 10 November 2024 and that the new process is in the final testing stage.

Do Americans need a visa to visit Europe? Starting in spring 2025, the European Union will launch the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), requiring U.S. travelers, including Globe Aware volunteers heading to Romania, to obtain authorization before entering.

Americans Will Need a ‘Visa’ to Visit Europe Next Year—Here’s What to Know

After several delays, ETIAS is now on track to launch in the spring of 2025.

By Jessica Poitevien
August 22, 2024
Forbes

Do you need a visa to go to Europe? It’s a question most American travelers don’t even think to ask, with United States passport holders having long traveled throughout most of the world without worrying about visa applications. But that’s set to change next year, as the European Union prepares new travel document requirements for American tourists.