Summer starts in December in South Africa with temperatures in the 70s, ideal for being outdoors. Globe Aware volunteers can enjoy hiking and the beaches comfortably during their volunteer vacation there.

11 Best Places to Travel in December 2022

These are the best places to visit in December in the U.S. and around the world.

By Patricia Doherty
October 15, 2022

From frosty ski resorts to warm-weather destinations, there are many fantastic places to travel in December. Love winter, snow, and chilly weather? Mountain ski resorts like Vail are already booking plenty of December reservations, so it’s time to start planning your cold-weather getaway.

Want to stay warm and relax on the beach or by the pool? Cancun and Anguilla are sunny options. Miami in December offers warm weather and annual festivities centered around art. Summer fans might want to head to the southern hemisphere where the season is just beginning in Cape Town and northern Chile. Travelers still wishing for a trip to Europe might consider Portugal’s island of Madeira.

Globe Aware volunteers won’t be surprised to know that Halloween dominates October in much of the Western world. But the rest of the world also celebrate a variety of other traditions in October.

October Traditions Around the World

While Halloween dominates October in much of the Western world, a variety of other traditions are observed that month.

By Brianna Navarre
Oct. 21, 2022
U.S. News & World Report

Though many English-speaking countries spend October awaiting the thrills and chills of Halloween, the month is also marked by a host of other traditions across the world – from daylong holidays to full festivals.

While some, such as Oktoberfest, share the carnivalesque tone of Halloween, many highlight religious customs or pay tribute to local lore. Here is a non-exhaustive smattering of October traditions across the globe:

Pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup considered a national dish, ranked 34th in a list of 100 most popular dishes in the world as complied by an international food magazine. Globe Aware volunteers can taste authentic pho when they visit our Hoi An volunteer vacation site!

Vietnamese pho among world’s 100 most popular dishes

By Hoang Phong
October 13, 2022
VN Express International

Pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup considered a national dish, ranked 34th in a list of 100 most popular dishes in the world as complied by an international food magazine. Globe Aware volunteers can taste authentic pho when they visit our Hoi An volunteer vacation site!

Since, over the past two-and-a-half years, the effects of COVID-19 forced travelers to be more flexible in their plans and book their trips relatively last minute and so a spirit of spontaneity and flexibility is emerging as the new norm in travel. Globe Aware volunteers can learn the psychological effects of this new trend!

Psychology Suggests Spontaneous Travel Trend Increases Happiness

By LAURIE BARATTI
OCTOBER 16, 2022
Travel Pulse

It seems that Americans are becoming accustomed to travel’s unpredictability during the pandemic, as many are now embracing this era of uncertainty and exhibiting highly spontaneous behavior when heading off on their getaways.

Here are some tips that can help Globe Aware volunteers avoid some common holiday travel concerns and get you to your destination on time, without (too much) stress.

Five Tips To Take the Stress Out of Traveling This Holiday Season

GUEST AUTHOR
OCTOBER 07, 2022
TRAVEL PULSE

‘Tis the season to travel. It’s hard to believe, but the holidays are almost here.

The 2022 holiday travel season is likely to be a busy one. Passengers are gearing up for potential flight delays and cancellations, baggage issues, staff shortages, price hikes, and long security lines.

Here are some tips that can help you avoid some common holiday travel concerns and get you to your destination on time, without (too much) stress.

Did our Globe Aware volunteers know that this year Diwali falls on Monday, October 24!? The celebrations for this auspicious Hindu festival last for five days, read on to know all the details!

Diwali 2022 Date: When is Diwali?

Know all about the auspicious five days of Deepavali

By Krishna Priya Pallavi
Hindustan Times
Oct 10, 2022

Diwali 2022 Dates: This year, Diwali falls on Monday, October 24. The celebrations for this auspicious Hindu festival last for five days.

Globe Aware volunteers who are big fans of the Halloween season, how well do you know the history behind this spooky holiday!? Here’s what you should know and why we celebrate!

History of Halloween: Spooky season is here! But how well do you know the holiday?

By Anna Kaufman
USA TODAY
Oct. 1, 2022

Whether you’re going for a spooky, sexy, or sophisticated look, Halloween is right around the corner so it’s best to start brainstorming costume ideas now. The holiday, celebrated by many with pumpkin carving and sugar overload, falls on the same date each year: October 31.

Hurricane Ian continues to disrupt travel for many travelers including Globe Aware volunteers. Here’s what to know when planning travel to Florida.

Is it safe to travel to Florida now? What travelers need to know about Hurricane Ian’s travel impacts

Sean Cudahy
Sept. 30, 2022
The Points Guy

Hurricane Ian continues to disrupt travel as it churns across the Southeast, where it is expected to make a second landfall today in the Carolinas as a Category 1 storm.

The National Weather Service is warning of life-threatening storm surge and hurricane conditions by Friday afternoon from Georgia to North Carolina. Meanwhile, Florida is beginning the cleanup process two days after Ian plowed into the Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm. Popular vacation areas like Fort Myers, Naples and Sanibel Island were hard hit, while heavy rain plagued many parts of the state, including Central Florida and parts of Florida’s eastern coast.

Last week, we mentioned the TSA-Precheck, but did our Globe Aware volunteers know about this app!? The Mobile Passport Control App may be just what you need to clear the airport lines at your volunteer vacation destination.

Save Time Re-entering The U.S. With This Free App

By TYLER FOX
Travel Off Path
July 18, 2022

Have you ever come back from an international trip and noticed signs displaying “Mobile Passport” as you make your way through U.S. Customs? If so, you’ve probably noticed that the line was much shorter than the one you were in. What you may not know is that it is completely free and easy to hop in the shorter line using a U.S. Customs and Border Protection phone app called Mobile Passport Control (MPC). The app is available on iOS and Android, is free of charge, and requires no application or membership fees. This sets it apart from Global Entry, which requires a $100 application fee, with membership only lasting five years.

Excited about your next Globe Aware volunteer vacation, but can’t wait to travel! Here are seven fantastic scenic drives scattered around the continental United States where our volunteers can enjoy fall weather, autumn color and more.

Seven scenic drives across the United States for your fall foliage fix

Forrest Brown
CNN
September 25, 2022

The United States is a car-obsessed nation, and a road trip feels like a natural right to many.

With gas prices slipping from their dizzying early summer heights and other folks wary of taking their chances with the air travel system, the fall road trip possibilities look pretty darn good this year.

In no particular order, here are seven fantastic scenic drives scattered around the continental United States where you can enjoy autumn color and more. Some are well-known; others are a bit under the radar.