Black Friday is coming up soon, and Globe Aware volunteers looking to give the perfect gift to a fellow adventurer can check out this list of travel items!

The Best Travel Accessories to Make Your Trips a Breeze, According to an Expert

Add these to your cart before you jet

By Casey Clark and Erika Reals
July 8, 2023
People

Whether you’ve had a dream vacation planned for months or recently decided to pack up your bags and hop on the next flight out, you won’t want to leave without those travel essentials. You may already have your luggage and neck pillow packed and ready to go, but what about everything else? (You know, the stain sticks, earbuds, power banks, blankets — we could go on.)

With the help of Nabila Ismail, seasoned traveler and creator of Dose of Travel, we put together a list of the most helpful travel accessories worth packing, as well as some thoughtful travel advice for your next adventure. “I am team carry-on only, so everything comes with me,” Ismail tells PEOPLE. “Things I remember to put in my carry-on bag specifically are medications (OTC or prescription), electronic devices, contact lenses, lip balm, a hoodie in case it gets cold, and an extra pair of clothes in case your luggage goes missing.” With that in mind, we did our research to find the travel accessories worth buying, some of which we tested ourselves.

Would Globe Aware volunteers pay extra to have a free row of seats? Here’s what you need to know about this new service!

A major airline is letting customers pay $30 for elbow room

Would you pay extra to have a free row of seats?

By Veronika Bondarenko
Oct 23, 2023
The Street

While many travelers will remember scoring that elusive free row of economy seats on an empty plane, even a single free seat next to you has become increasingly rare in 2023.

More and more, airlines are planning routes to minimize the number of planes flying half-empty and spreading out staff based on routes with the most travelers amid the surge of demand (and dearth of staff to meet it) post-pandemic.

The focus on family travel is huge: 81 percent of parents said it’s likely they’ll travel with their children in the next year. Many Globe Aware volunteer vacations are family-friendly, open all year round, and ready for booking.

What Families Want When Traveling in 2024

By Lacey Pfalz
October 26, 2023
Travel Pulse

The Family Travel Association (FTA) has released the findings of its 2023 U.S. Family Travel Survey, identifying an increased desire for families to travel more while being more budget-conscious as costs continue to be higher than average for travel.

The Hindu festival of Diwali is coming up this weekend, Globe Aware volunteers can join in the celebrations by learning more about the sweet treats that go along with it!

A Spoonful of Culture: Why Sweets Hold a Special Place in Indian Festivals

By Slurrp Desk
Apr 15, 2023

In India, several states have their own distinctive sweets, made with ingredients and preparation techniques that are widely accessible. Using new mixtures while retaining the original base ingredients, modern Indian sweets are transformed. These desserts are now consumed by millions of people all over the world.

Our Globe Aware volunteers probably won’t be surprised by the results of a recent survey. “Experiences over gifts” continues as a trend for U.S. travelers and their choices for the upcoming end-of-year holidays that largely involve classic winter adventures.

Millennials and Gen Z Prioritizing Mental Health and Travel: Survey

Selene Brophy
Skift
October 27, 2023

It’s the season for holiday surveys, with sentiment for exploration and unique experiences abounding.

“Experiences over gifts” continues as a trend in the latest Amex travel spending survey of U.S. travelers and their choices for the upcoming end-of-year holidays that largely involves classic winter adventures and quality time with loved ones.

Halloween isn’t one of the top holidays for travel, but the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is offering advice for airline passengers preparing to pass through security checkpoints during spooky season. Globe Aware volunteers might be surprised to know what can and can’t get through security!

TSA Offers Tips and Tricks for Halloween Travelers

By Donald Wood
October 27, 2023
TravelPulse

Halloween isn’t one of the top holidays for travel, but the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is offering advice for airline passengers preparing to pass through security checkpoints during spooky season.

The end-of-year holidays are practically just around the corner. And, with many Americans preparing to visit their loved ones or celebrate in new destinations, now’s the time to lock in your flights for the festive season. Globe Aware volunteers can use a new service to make the task of finding the best times to fly a much merrier one.

New Online Tool Tells You the Best Times To Travel This Holiday Season

By Laurie Baratti
October 27, 2023
TravelPulse

With only two months to go until Christmas, the end-of-year holidays are practically just around the corner. And, with many Americans preparing to visit their loved ones or celebrate in new destinations, now’s the time to lock in your flights for the festive season.

Globe Aware volunteers have the chance to try many of these delicious dishes on an international volunteer vacation! Which ones have you tried or want to dig into!?

Best rice dishes: 20 delicious specialties from around the world

Terry Ward
CNN
May 4, 2023

With thousands of varieties of rice in the world – jasmine, basmati, arborio and Carolina Gold, to name just a few – is it any surprise the grain defines iconic meals everywhere from Singapore to South Carolina?

Plus, half the world’s population relies on rice as a staple, so there have been plenty of culinary innovators over its long history.

And while famous rice dishes such as sushi, fried rice and paella are among the most prominent in the global spotlight, there are so many more rice recipes out there to put on your radar – and seek out on your travels.

Here are 20 dishes from international crowd-pleasers to some that you may not have tasted – yet:

Cambodian cuisine has a long history and a diverse range of influences, yet it’s only now becoming known beyond the country’s borders. In fact, the only place you can experience all it has to offer is in the country itself. Here are 30 of the best dishes for Globe Aware volunteers to try!

30 Cambodian foods every visitor needs to try

By Lina Goldberg
CNN
December 22, 2019

Cambodian cuisine has a long history and a diverse range of influences, yet it’s only now becoming known beyond the country’s borders. In fact, the only place you can experience all it has to offer is in the country itself. Here are 30 of the best dishes to try.

While India can be overwhelming if you have just landed in the country, it is also home to some of the warmest, helpful people on the planet. If you’re planning your first trip to India, Globe Aware volunteers will be delighted to learn our Jaipur location is included in this list!

Most tourist-friendly cities of India

By SHIKHA GAUTAM
TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Oct 15, 2023

While India can be overwhelming if you have just landed in the country, it is also home to some of the warmest, helpful people on the planet. If you’re planning your first trip to India, we will tell you where to go; these places are known for being tourist-friendly, welcoming and easy for foreign travellers to explore.