Romania’s 2024 Christmas Markets open early and bring new attractions

During the holiday season, cities across Romania open up their Christmas markets, promising an enchanting mix of festive lights, traditional treats, and unique attractions. Globe Aware volunteers plan your volunteer vacation there for winter 2025!


Romania’s 2024 Christmas Markets open early and bring new attractions

Oana Vasiliu
November 22, 2024
Business Review

As the holiday season approaches, cities across Romania are preparing to open up their Christmas markets, promising an enchanting mix of festive lights, traditional treats, and unique attractions.

Each city brings its unique flair to the holiday festivities, blending traditional charm with modern attractions. From Sibiu’s Santa’s Land to Craiova’s fairytale zones and Bucharest’s panoramic wheel, Romania’s Christmas markets promise to have something for everyone. With stunning decorations, hearty Romanian foods, and festive activities, these markets are the perfect way to celebrate the season. Mark your calendars and join the festive cheer across Romania this winter.

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Seeking thrills? These 7 Halloween destinations will haunt your dreams!

If you want to add excitement to your spooky season, check out this guide to some of the best Halloween experiences worldwide. It includes a Globe Aware volunteer vacation destination. Discover which eerie program offers a visit to a haunted castle as part of its optional activities.


Seeking thrills? These 7 Halloween destinations will haunt your dreams!

Halloween is creeping up fast! Have you made your plans or are you still wondering where to go? Your options will vary from legendary castles to catacombs to adventure parks, depending on whether you are looking for costume parties, ghost tours, or aiming for deeper exploration into tradition and history.

Oct 3, 2024
By Rehnuma Shahreen
THE DAILY STAR

So, if you are ready to spice up your spooky seasons, here is a guide to some of the best Halloween experiences around the world. No matter your Halloween style, each destination mentioned offers a unique way to celebrate the spooky season, combining tradition, thrill, and festivity. Pick your adventure and be prepared for a Halloween like no other!

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Europe’s New Border Controls For November—What Travelers Should Know

Europe plans to introduce a new biometric passport system in November 2024. Here’s what Globe Aware volunteers heading to Romania need to know.


Europe’s New Border Controls For November—What Travelers Should Know

By Alex Ledsom
Aug 25, 2024
Forbes

Europe plans to introduce a new biometric passport system in November 2024, followed six months later by a new travel authorization for many of its visitors—here’s what travelers need to know.

Europe’s New Entry And Exit System (EES) Will Be Live In November 2024

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson confirmed that the new Entry/Exit system would be deployed on Sunday, 10 November 2024 and that the new process is in the final testing stage.

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Americans Will Need a ‘Visa’ to Visit Europe Next Year—Here’s What to Know

Do Americans need a visa to visit Europe? Starting in spring 2025, the European Union will launch the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), requiring U.S. travelers, including Globe Aware volunteers heading to Romania, to obtain authorization before entering.


Americans Will Need a ‘Visa’ to Visit Europe Next Year—Here’s What to Know

After several delays, ETIAS is now on track to launch in the spring of 2025.

By Jessica Poitevien
August 22, 2024
Forbes

Do you need a visa to go to Europe? It’s a question most American travelers don’t even think to ask, with United States passport holders having long traveled throughout most of the world without worrying about visa applications. But that’s set to change next year, as the European Union prepares new travel document requirements for American tourists.

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AAO Member Finds Innovative Approach to International Humanitarian Work

September 4, 2024
American Association of Orthodontists

As a second-generation orthodontist, Dr. Drew Lombardi had an orthodontic practice in Fort Lee and Jersey City, New Jersey for 40 years until his transition to retirement in October 2023. Considering how to spend his time in retirement, Dr. Lombardi was eager to use his professional knowledge to give back to people in need.

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How not to be a terrible tourist: What Europeans want travelers to know

These are valuable tips for Globe Aware travelers bound for Romania or any volunteer vacation destination worldwide!


How not to be a terrible tourist: What Europeans want travelers to know

Two people posing for a selfie together, a crowd and ornate fountain and buildings behind them

Tourists take a selfie in front of the Trevi Fountain in Rome. “A city is not only monuments and marbles; it is people,” says Giovanni Andrea Martini, a city official in Venice. (Andrew Medichini / Associated Press)

By Laura King
Aug. 11, 2024
LATimes

AMSTERDAM — Travel can be exhilarating or awful, and like it or not, we all leave footprints. Of course, some tourists tread more heavily than others, leaving residents swearing, slack-jawed or just shaking their heads.

In this busy European travel season, here are some things tourism professionals and local people would like you to know, so you won’t be that tourist:

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A Blend of History and Mythology: Castles and Fortresses

In the heart of Eastern Europe lies Romania, a country often overshadowed by its more famous neighbours. Yet, those who venture into this enchanting land are rewarded with an array of unique attractions and experiences that make it an ideal destination for family travel. Known for its rich history, diverse landscapes, and warm hospitality, Romania also stands out as one of the most affordable and safest countries in Europe for tourists.


A Blend of History and Mythology: Castles and Fortresses

April 12, 2024
TTW

Romania’s historical tapestry is studded with castles and fortresses that seem to emerge straight from the pages of a fairy tale. Perhaps the most famous is Bran Castle, often associated with the legend of Dracula. While it offers a glimpse into the life of Vlad the Impaler, the real-life figure who inspired Bram Stoker’s famous vampire, the castle is also a family-friendly attraction with its beautifully preserved rooms and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

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Passport checks for air travellers lifted as Bulgaria and Romania join EU’s Schengen

News from Romania for our Globe Aware volunteers planning travel in Europe. Airports in Sofia and Bucharest on Sunday removed passport checkpoints for those departing to or arriving from most European Union member states as Bulgaria and Romania partially joined the Schengen open-travel zone.


Passport checks for air travellers lifted as Bulgaria and Romania join EU’s Schengen

By Reuters
March 31, 2024

SOFIA, March 31 (Reuters) – Airports in Sofia and Bucharest on Sunday removed passport check points for those departing to or arriving from most European Union member states as Bulgaria and Romania partially joined the Schengen open-travel zone.

The two countries reached an agreement late last year to join Europe’s free-travel area by air and sea after Austria opposed full membership, including land crossings, saying Romania and Bulgaria needed to do more to prevent illegal immigration.

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Family Travel Tips Every Parent Should Know

Globe Aware volunteers are well aware that traveling during the holiday season is chaotic! But going in prepared can make your journey as smooth and stress-free as possible. Take a deep breath in and read on for a few holiday travel tips for the busiest time of year.


11 Family Travel Tips Every Parent Should Know

Advice from globe-trotting editors, flight attendants, and industry experts who have seen and survived it all.

Oh, to have a time machine so we could tell our past selves about the challenges—and triumphs!—that came on the road as traveling parents. We would warn against bringing giant suitcases and Play-Doh on the plane; remember how many new friends were made in playgrounds around the world; and recall that there are worse things in life than a crying baby. Thankfully, we’ve learned from our mistakes and come here with family travel tips, tricks, and a whole lot of encouragement for those heading out on the road with younger travelers. This list is never going to be complete or exhaustive—every kid is different. For families traveling with children with disabilities, it’s also encouraging to see the advancements being made to make travel more accessible—and hopefully, ultimately, a bit easier and more fun for everyone.

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The fairytale European destination where Netflix loves to film Christmas movies

Not many Globe Aware volunteers may know it, but this program location has made a name for itself as a popular place for filming kitschy Christmas classics. Find out where!


PICTURE THIS The fairytale European destination where Netflix loves to film Christmas movies

The country has featured in several Netflix Christmas films already

By Ryan Gray
Nov 5, 2023
The Sun

CHRISTMAS is just around the corner, which means it’s almost time to curl up in front of the TV and watch cheesy festive films.

If you’re planning on doing that this winter, there’s a good chance you’ll end up seeing lots of scenes shot in a surprising European destination.

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