Globe Aware volunteers will be delighted to see we offer volunteer vacations at two of these locations, Zimbabwe and Bhutan! If you’re looking for adventure abroad, while still making a positive impact on a community, book with us today!

World’s 50 greatest places of 2022, according to TIME magazine

Maureen O’Hare
CNN
July 12, 2022

(CNN) — Get your credit card out and your favorite booking platforms at the ready: US magazine and news website TIME has just released its list of the world’s 50 greatest places of 2022.

The list was compiled by its international network of correspondents and contributors, and, says TIME in a statement, “with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences.”

If you are not well-prepared for the upcoming monsoon season, then it could affect your overall experience abroad. Here’s a curated a list of travel tips, do’s and don’ts for the monsoon travel for our Globe Aware volunteers.

Monsoon travel tips you must remember

Times of India

1 Be Prepared

A rainy-day trip for some means looking out the car window and imagining themselves in an emotional Bollywood scene, and for some, it’s the petrichor, must-inhale-the-vibe kind. The bottom line is, that it is fun. Everything around you looks fresh and vibrant; you witness nature refresh itself and you in the process.

The sky may be overcast, the sound of distant thunder coming at regular intervals, and you are looking forward to reaching the destination of your choice. It’s a different kind of fun traveling during the monsoon season.

But, if you are not well-prepared for the season, this could easily be one of the worst experiences as well. We don’t want you to go through that, so we have curated a list of travel tips, do’s, and don’ts for monsoon travel.

Sometimes cancellations and delays are unavoidable, even for our seasoned Globe Aware volunteers. Here are ten great trips to help ease the frustration of air travel these days.

10 TRAVEL TIPS TO DEAL WITH FLIGHT DELAYS OR CANCELLATIONS

By SAM CHUI
JULY 11, 2022

I recently had 2 delays out of 3 flights taken on domestic U.S. trips. With a shortage of staff at airports and a sharp rebound in demand for air travel, I think no traveler can escape from flight disruption.

Let’s take a look at some stats on airport delays and airline cancellations:

Airports with most cancellations in Europe

1. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: 14,200 flights
2. Frankfurt Airport: 8,600 flights
3. London Heathrow: 8,200 flights
4. London Gatwick: 6,800 flights
5. Munich Airport: 6,400 flights
   *Flight cancellations between 1st April and 29th June

UK Flight Cancellations

• Air France/KLM: 2,135 scheduled departures, 113 cancellations (5.3%)
• EasyJet: 15,601 scheduled departures, 738 cancellations (4.7%)
• British Airways: 11,590 scheduled departures, 419 cancellations (3.6%)
• Lufthansa: 1,080 scheduled departures, 38 cancellations (3.5%)
• Ryanair: 12,105 scheduled departures, 32 cancellations (0.3%)

Airline Delay and Cancellations in the US

US Flights Stats June 8-July 7:

• Scheduled Flights: 782,267
• Cancelled Flights: 19,640 (2.5%)
• Delayed Flights: 179,468 (22.9%)

Cancellation and delay stats for the U.S. airlines (mainline flights)

1. American Airlines: 93,040 scheduled flights, 4,358 cancelled (4.68%), 26,105 delayed (28%)
2. Delta Air Lines: 86,689 scheduled flights, 2,678 cancelled (3%), 17,508 delayed (20%)
3. United Airlines: 68,794 scheduled flights, 1,863 cancelled (2.7%), 15,404 delayed (22%)
4. Southwest Airlines: 115,833 scheduled flights, 1,058 cancelled (0.91%), 33,615 delayed (29%)

Cusco is a city in southeastern Peru, with great history and culture and is often called the “historic capital” of the country. Find out what beautiful sights our Globe Aware volunteers will have the chance to see on their volunteer vacation in and around this South American city.

Cusco highlights – 7 best things to see

July 4, 2022
Breaking Travel News

Cusco is a city in southeastern Peru, with great history and culture. It’s often called the “historic capital” of the country, as it was the capital of the Inca Empire, until the Spanish conquest. The best Cusco hotels are even built on colonial houses, experiencing a modern and classic colonial fusion.

The vast history and culture of the city and its proximity to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu have made Cusco one of the most visited cities in Peru. The Inca architecture is so precise and resistant that it has survived even major earthquakes, such as the one in 1950 that damaged and even toppled several of the colonial buildings. There are plenty of activities, and many places in and around the city to visit.

Just because COVID-19 testing is no longer required for travelers bound for the U.S., that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pack a few COVID-19 tests. There are still plenty of good reasons to for our Globe Aware volunteers, find out what they are!

Why I’m still traveling with COVID-19 tests

Kyle Olsen
The Points Guy

After two years, the COVID-19 testing requirement for travel to the U.S. has finally been dropped, which means there’s one less hurdle for international travelers. However, if you’re like me, you still have several unused eMed proctored tests. Is it time to stash them in the back of the closet?

Recently South Africa’s government made the decision to drop all of the country’s remaining pandemic-era restrictions. For Globe Aware volunteers, the primary change is the removal of vaccination and testing requirements for entry into South Africa, but other revisions include the lifting of the nation’s indoor mask mandates and the limits on gathering sizes, and the elimination of COVID-19 border checks.

South Africa Drops All Remaining COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

LAURIE BARATTI
JUNE 23, 2022
Travel Pulse

On Wednesday evening, South Africa’s government made the decision to drop all of the country’s remaining pandemic-era restrictions, after the Presidential Coordinating Council and Cabinet determined that they’d served their purpose and were no longer needed.

For travelers, the primary change is the removal of vaccination and testing requirements for entry into South Africa, but other revisions include the lifting of the nation’s indoor mask mandates and the limits on gathering sizes, and the elimination of COVID-19 border checks.

Nearly 48 million Americans are planning to travel this Independence Day weekend and setting expectations now and planning ahead can help ease the blow of spending more time and money on the trip. Here are five things Globe Aware volunteers should know before heading to the airport for the Fourth of July and beyond.

Traveling for July Fourth? Here are 5 things to know before flying, driving this weekend.

Eve Chen
USA TODAY
June 28, 2022

Flight cancellations, high gas prices and inflation have already soured countless vacations this summer.

With no quick fixes in sight and nearly 48 million Americans planning to travel at least 50 miles from home this Independence Day weekend, according to AAA, the holiday weekend could feel extra long in more ways than one. Setting expectations now and planning ahead can help ease the blow of spending more time and money on the trip than planned months ago.

The Indian government is considering doing away with the Air Suvidha portal as travel restrictions ease worldwide, a change that will make entry easier for visitors, including Globe Aware volunteers. The Health Ministry has stated they will review the possible changes in August.

COVID-19: India considers dropping Air Suvidha as global travel restrictions ease

Health Ministry to review programme in August

Khaleej Times
June 19, 2022

The Indian government is considering doing away with the Air Suvidha portal as travel restrictions ease worldwide.

“We have written to the Health Ministry seeking removal of Air Suvidha requirements given that it could add to the convenience of flying as international traffic grows. But the Health Ministry has replied saying they will review the programme in August and decide on this,” a senior Civil Aviation Ministry official told The Indian Express.

Thailand is lifting a pre-arrival registration requirement for foreign visitors and it’s current outdoor mask mandate would be dropped as of July 1 except in crowded venues. Globe Aware volunteers should still pack masks for their volunteer vacation in case of changes in regulations.

Thailand drops registration for visitors, outdoor mask rule

Thailand is lifting a pre-arrival registration requirement for foreign visitors that was seen as onerous and a drag on the recovery for a tourism industry battered by the coronavirus pandemic

By The Associated Press
June 17, 2022

BANGKOK — Thailand is lifting a pre-arrival registration requirement for foreign visitors that was seen as onerous and a drag on the recovery for its ailing tourism industry.

The government’s COVID-19 center also said Friday that an outdoor mask mandate would be dropped as of July 1 except in crowded venues. The mask mandate was not controversial in Thailand and generally obeyed.

Costa Rica has long been the region’s most popular destination for Globe Aware volunteers! Our programs there showcase the land’s abundant biodiversity, vast rainforests and emphasizes sustainability, making it the perfect volunteer vacation to post-pandemic.

Why everyone is travelling to Costa Rica right now

You’re not the only one whose feed has been swamped with rainforest snaps in recent months

By Anna Prendergast
Friday 10 June 2022
Time Out England

Strung between Nicaragua and Panama like a pendant on Central America’s isthmus chain of countries, Costa Rica has long been the region’s most popular destination for travellers from the USA. But if you’ve noticed your Instagram feed increasingly full of friends geo-tagging Costa Rica and returning home with tales of its tropical climate, endless coastlines, extraordinary encounters with wildlife and epic adventures, you’re not alone. With its abundant biodiversity, vast protected areas and emphasis on education as a damage prevention tool, it’s not just a pioneer of ecotourism but an industry leader. Here’s why it’s become the perfect antidote to pandemic-induced ennui.