Globe Aware volunteers can soon start planning their volunteer vacations in India and Vietnam. India will begin granting tourist visas for the first time in 18 months and Vietnam plans to reopen tourist destinations from December to vaccinated visitors from countries deemed “low risk.”

Travel news: India, Bali and Vietnam announce opening plans

Maureen O’Hare
CNN
October 9, 2021

(CNN) — This was a pretty good week for the world’s wannabe jetsetters. The UK and Israel both cleared out their travel “red lists,” while India, Bali and Vietnam all announced reopening plans.

Here are 10 things we learned in pandemic travel this week.

Globe Aware volunteers can be excited to learn that Machu Picchu has become the first international destination to obtain the carbon neutral certificate. This means the historical site is an environmentally friendly tourism spot.

Machu Picchu is now the world’s first carbon neutral tourist destination!

TIMESOFINDIA.COM
|TRAVEL NEWS, PERU
Sep 30, 2021

Machu Picchu has become the first international destination to obtain the carbon neutral certificate. The certification was awarded to the Historic and Natural Sanctuary of Machu Picchu by the Green Initiative, which is an institution that seeks to promote green and environmentally friendly tourism. The Green Initiative positioned Machu Picchu as a global reference in terms of sustainability.

Globe Aware volunteers flying within the United States may soon need to prove they’re likely COVID-free if a proposed bill becomes law. This is in hopes of reducing a potential surge this coming winter.

Domestic flyers may need to show proof of vaccination if Senate bill passes

BAILEY SCHULZ AND DAWN GILBERTSON
USA TODAY
September 30, 2021

Domestic flyers within the United States may soon need to prove they’re likely COVID-free if a proposed bill Wednesday becomes law.

The U.S. Air Travel Public Safety Act, introduced by California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, would require all U.S. passengers to be fully vaccinated, fully recovered or test negative for the coronavirus before boarding a domestic flight.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
VoyageDallas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Haley-Coleman.

Hi Kimberly, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

My career has been circuitous, to say the least! From training on-air CNBC staff in financial tools, putting dead people into space with Space Services, working at museums and start-ups! But I found my true calling when I founded Globe Aware a couple of decades ago, organizing experiences that allowed people to have fun helping people. These short-term experiences in 26 countries are designed to give back, show participants a side of the culture they are visiting in a way they never would, but also to make a huge social impact in a short amount of time. Prior to Globe Aware, such experiences were primarily the domain of high school and college students or of churches or meant a 2.5 years Peace Corps commitment. Since then, the organization has grown in ways we could never have anticipated. For example, now corporations send their staff through us, using contribution matching, paid Volunteer Days Off, allowing tax deductions for portions the staff member pays for, etc. BUT THEN the pandemic. Borders closed, travel safety called into question, the world stopped, and I decided to temporarily pivot. And THAT is what led to my creating The Tickle Bar, America’s newest and most unique affordable luxury.

After being battered by the pandemic, South Africa is slowly loosening its travel restrictions, the country is also considering a vaccine passport. Those interested in our South Africa volunteer vacation, can begin planning for 2022.

Chile, Fiji and South Africa ease travel restrictions and are ready for travelers to come back

Maureen O’Hare
CNN
September 18, 2021

(CNN) — There have been mixed fortunes for the world’s island communities this week, as some have restricted entry due to Covid surges while others are making plans for reopening.

Here’s our latest roundup of the biggest news in pandemic travel.

Globe Aware volunteers who want a digital option of always whipping out their vaccine card, can choose from plenty of apps. Here’s a breakdown of which one is right for you.

Which Vaccine Passport App Should I Use?

For those who want a digital option instead of always whipping out their vaccine card, there are plenty to choose from.

BY SHANNON MCMAHON
September 2, 2021
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER

Planning travel abroad might have you wondering what kind of vaccine passport app you’ll need to download on your phone to confirm your vaccination or proof of a negative test upon entry. But with the highly contagious Delta variant causing a rise in cases in the U.S., you don’t need to leave the country anymore to run into coronavirus vaccination requirements.

While traveling abroad is returning for Globe Aware volunteers, movement in and out of Hong Kong — once Asia’s biggest international hub — remains at a near-total halt. Dream Cruises has come up with a fitting alternative vacation option — a voyage with no destination, taking passengers from and to Hong Kong by sailing in a big loop. Would you try this if you couldn’t travel?

What it’s like to sail on a ‘cruise to nowhere’

Tara Mulholland
September 12, 2021
CNN

A “cruise to nowhere” feels like a fitting metaphor for Covid-era Hong Kong.

As with the city’s previous failed attempts to re-establish international travel, it offers a facsimile of forward movement that ends up taking you right back to where you started.

While the possibility of traveling abroad is slowly returning to the US and Europe, movement in and out of Hong Kong — once Asia’s biggest international hub — remains at a near-total halt.

In a big COVID travel update, Bangkok has announced it will reopen completely for fully vaccinated travelers from October 1. Thailand has been meaning to restart tourism for a long time and now, with Globe Aware volunteers getting vaccinations, there is hope in visiting the beautiful country soon!

Fully vaccinated travellers can visit Bangkok from October 1

TIMES OF INDIA
Sep 12, 2021

In a big COVID travel update, Bangkok has announced it will reopen completely for fully vaccinated travellers from October 1. Thailand has been meaning to restart tourism for a long time now but given the rise in infection cases, the plan couldn’t take shape. But now, with people getting vaccinations, it has given hope to the world of tourism once again.

US officials have expressed optimism that Covid-19 booster shot delivery can start for all adults on 20 September. Globe Aware vaccinated volunteers are recommended to get the booster when available for future travel safety.

US officials optimistic Covid booster rollout will start on 20 September

But they insist shots won’t be rolled out without health agencies’ authorization, leaving open possibility of delays

Victoria Bekiempis
Sun 5 Sep 2021
The Guardian

US officials have expressed optimism that Covid-19 booster shot delivery can start for all adults on 20 September, the goal set by President Joe Biden, as cases continue to rage across the country fueled by the highly transmissible Delta variant.

There’s something extra special about traveling during the fall for our Globe Aware volunteers. South Africa and Mexico are two of those travel destinations, whether you’re making plans for this fall or fall 2022!

The Best Places to Travel in October

Where to go for harvest festivals and Halloween fun.

BY CAITLIN MORTON
August 17, 2021

Alamy

As much as we love beach lounging in summer and exploring snowy wonderlands in winter, there’s something extra special about traveling during the fall. Aside from fewer tourists and lower prices, October brings harvest festivals, Halloween parties, and the best foliage of the year. (And those warm beaches are still open, if you’re willing to fly for them.) Whether you’re looking to view some spectacular fall foliage or escape to the warm Caribbean this year, these are 10 of the best places to travel in October.

Note: Due to the Delta variant of coronavirus, it’s a good idea to consider extra precautions if traveling this fall. We recommend investing in “cancel for any reason” travel insurance and only booking changeable flights and accommodations. It’s also crucial to obtain medical insurance that will cover you abroad, and to research different countries’ case and vaccination rates when choosing your destination.