For five long years, Japan has been sitting pretty in the No.1 position, which means they have the most global travel freedom in terms of how much visa-free and visa-on-demand access to the world. Globe Aware volunteers may be surprised to find out who has taken up that spot!

The world’s most powerful passport for 2023 revealed

By Maureen O’Hare
CNN
July 18, 2023

The jiggling and jostling atop the global passport rankings for 2023 just got a little more interesting.

For five long years, Japan has been sitting pretty in the No.1 position in the Henley Passport Index, which measures global travel freedom in terms of how much visa-free and visa-on-demand access to the world different citizens enjoy.

Etiquette experts recommend that you always bring cash to tip for the services that help your travel plans go off without a hitch. They say there are six times you should always plan to tip while traveling—and you’re probably forgetting at least one. Here’s how Globe Awaer volunteers can mind their manners by tipping when they’re supposed to.

6 Times You Should Leave a Tip While Traveling, Experts Say

THESE ARE THE RULES OF THE ROAD WHEN IT COMES TO TRAVEL TIPPING, ACCORDING TO ETIQUETTE PROS.

By LAUREN GRAY
JULY 23, 2023
BESTLIFE

Whether your travel plans revolve around sun and sand, hitting the ski slopes, or visiting a family member, you’re going to need to budget for things like flights, accommodations, activities, meals, and more. Yet far too often, travelers forget to budget for one of the most important aspects of any vacation: All of the people toiling behind the scenes to make those special moments and memories possible.

That’s why etiquette experts recommend that you always bring cash to tip for the services that help your travel plans go off without a hitch. In fact, they say there are six times you should always plan to tip while traveling—and you’re probably forgetting at least one. Here’s how to mind your manners on the road by tipping when you’re supposed to.

When you’re picking vacation photos to post on social media, there are some you should leave out: any shots of your boarding pass. Here’s what Globe Aware travelers should know about the risks of sharing those documents and how they can protect themselves.

Don’t do it for the likes: Why travelers shouldn’t post their boarding pass online

By Nathan Diller
JULY 24, 2023
USA TODAY

When you’re picking vacation photos to post on social media, there are some you should leave out: any shots of your boarding pass.

Outside their primary function at the airport, the documents might seem like nothing more than travel scrapbook fodder, but they can reveal a lot more than flyers may think. “People often think, like, ‘Just this information isn’t enough to compromise (me),’ but that’s not how the attackers view that information,” said Amir Tarighat, CEO of cybersecurity firm Agency.

What exactly is “skip-lagging”, and why is it landing travelers in such hot water? Globe Aware volunteers can find out why they should avoid this hack.

This Travel Hack Continues To Get Travelers In Trouble With Airlines

July 14, 2023
Travel off Path

Earlier this week, an American teenager was allegedly detained by American Airlines gate agents at Gainesville Regional Airport in Florida.

It was Logan Parson’s first time flying alone. He hadn’t broken any laws and didn’t realize he had done anything wrong.

Bulgaria and Romania look set to join the Schengen Zone by late 2023, affecting tourist visas and long-term travel. Find out what this means for Globe Aware volunteers looking to travel in Europe before or after their volunteer vacation in Romania.

These 2 Countries Will Join The Schengen Zone Impacting All Travelers And Digital Nomads

July 17, 2023
Travel off Path

The Schengen Zone is Europe’s greatest achievement. A borderless customs union comprising 27 countries in its current form, it allows for seamless international travel across much of the bloc, freeing travelers from undergoing strict identity checks and facing long delays when country-hopping.

Earlier this year, Schengen welcomed yet another member – the Balkan country of Croatia – and it looks set to enlarge further in the near future as the group looks to lift all remaining border checks and bolster internal cooperation.

Well, this is no surprise! Once again Mexico continues to soar in popularity, easily claiming the spot of the most-visited country among Americans. Globe Aware volunteers won’t be surprised to see this volunteer vacation destination named as the safest again in 2023!

July 9, 2023
Travel off Path

Amid the surge in demand for international travel, Mexico continues to soar in popularity, easily claiming the spot of the most-visited country among Americans.

Despite their love for Mexico, with its laid-back atmosphere, and incredible culture, one of the things that persists at the back of U.S. vacationers’ minds is safety. After all, Mexico is repeatedly portrayed in the media as a place where crime occurs regularly and gang activity is rampant.

People are making up for lost time after the pandemic, experts said. They’re flooding popular destinations but leaving their manners at home. Globe Aware volunteers can learn on what to avoid in order to be a better tourist. 

By Christopher Elliott
USA TODAY
July 7 2023

My son sat next to the world’s worst tourist on a flight from Sydney to Denpasar, Indonesia. His seatmate nursed a bottle of sizzurp – a potent mix of codeine and Sprite – and the man twitched uncontrollably for the seven-hour flight to Bali, Indonesia.

Costa Rica received a score of 100 out of 100 in this regard, while taking into account the opinions of accommodations, restaurants, activities, and attractions offered to travelers. A Globe Aware volunteer vacation week in Costa Rica is also perfect for families with small children.

Costa Rica aspires as the best destination for small children

June 6, 2023
Travel and Tour

To go on vacation with young children in Costa Rica is one of the best decisions made. This was announced by British Airways after analyzing 200,000 reviews published.