Have you ever wished you could travel the world and experience new things without spending a fortune doing it? It’s a common dream among travel lovers, and it can be a reality if you are willing to give some of your time. Using the app or website, Worldpackers, travelers are able to find experiences all over the world that allow them to volunteer some of their time in exchange for food and accommodation. Typical experiences call for about 25 hours a week of volunteer time and offer one to three meals a day, plus a place to stay.
What Kind Of Experiences Are There?
Many hosts on Worldpackers offer more than just room and board; some of the work you can sign up for is an experience in and of itself! For instance, some of the opportunities available include:
Gardening
Party promoting
Animal care
Bartending
Photography
Painting
Handyman work
Many, many more
How does 25 hours a week of drawing and painting on the walls of a social hostel in Portugal sound? Perks include three meals a day, a free place to stay, free parties to attend, discounts on drinks and tours, free laundry, and three days off a week to explore.
Or how about helping out with content creation for a summer camp in Spain for 25 hours a week with most afternoons free, two days off a week, three meals a day, and a free place to stay?
These are just two of the many experiences available in over 140 countries.
When looking for a place to volunteer, it’s good to make a favorites list so that you have some options to choose from. Once you’ve narrowed it down, you’ll be able to apply to the volunteer slot and reach out to the host. All you need to do is tell them which dates you would like to begin and end your trip. Many of the more popular experiences tend to fill up, so it is good to try to stand out when you reach out and have a well-thought-out profile on Worldpackers. Once you are accepted, your host will send a confirmation. All there is left to do now is meet at the agreed-upon location and date!
How Free is Free?
While Worldpackers is an excellent way to travel the world on a budget, the service does charge an annual membership fee. It isn’t exorbitant and is currently $49.00 per year for a solo traveler and $59.00 per year for couples or a pair of friends. Worldpackers charges this fee in order to support their service, verify hosts and volunteers, and offer an included insurance in case of any mix-ups along the way.
Other costs to look out for when using the service are experiences that don’t include all meals. While not a dealbreaker, food costs can certainly add up while traveling if you aren’t careful. If choosing an opportunity that only provides breakfast, for instance, expenses can eat into the savings offered by using Worldpackers. Some experiences also charge an additional fee when staying, though it is usually only 5 to 15 dollars a day, depending on the experience.
Is It Worth It?
Monetarily, Worldpackers is an excellent way to cut down on costs while traveling all over the world. However, not all costs are financial. Exchanging your time, skills, and energy for food and accommodation may not be worth it for those looking to go on a relaxing luxury vacation.
For those looking for interesting life experiences who don’t mind putting some work in while they travel, Worldpackers may be an excellent way to see more of the world. Hosts welcome volunteers all the time and make an effort to make the experience one that you won’t forget, and the other like-minded volunteers you meet along the way may turn into lifelong friends.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
Two and a half years into the pandemic, numerous countries are dropping their excessively bureaucratic travel rules and/or easing mandates that have essentially barred tourists from visiting. The latest to have done so are Greece and the British Virgin Islands, two vacation hotspots that seem ready to move on from Covid… At last.
The travel industry may be in turmoil amid the wave of flight delays and cancellations, pushing the virus aside and giving us something else to worry about. Irrespective of these more pressing issues, Covid remains a secondary concern, especially when world leaders like the U.S., Canada, Brazil and France are yet to fully lift their own entry requirements.
Luckily, these two sunny destinations are no longer aligned with them:
Greece Ends Mandatory Quarantine For Infected Tourists
In April 12, Greece scrapped all of its Covid mandates and allowed tourism to resume. Prior to that date, the Hellenic Republic had stood firmly on the side of Europe’s pro-restriction group. Throughout most of the crisis, it barred unvaccinated foreigners from visiting and imposed a series of restrictive measures to keep Covid from being imported from abroad.
Surprisingly, in the months leading up to summer, Greek Health officials took a U-turn and decided the country would now join other Mediterranean competitors, including Croatia and Montenegro, in reopening the external EU border. Since then, foreigners have been allowed to enter Greece restriction-free, as it was prior to 2020:
No vaccination is required
No pre-departure or post-arrival tests
No quarantine
No health registration form
While this was already incredible news for the travel industry, Greece had retained some of its internal Covid curbs, indicating it was not declaring Covid an endemic disease – just yet. Now, even this is slowly changing, as authorities announce that mandatory isolation for infected tourists has been scrapped.
You read that right. In case you get infected traveling in Greece, you will not be required to undergo isolation at a government-listed hotel. All quarantine rooms have been converted back into tourist accommodations, and the five-day isolation period for Covid-positive travelers has ceased applying.
You were infected by Covid during your island-hopping adventure in Greece? No worries! Although you’re advised to isolate until the virus has been cleared, you’re free to carry on traveling as usual, as if you had caught the flu or any widely disseminated respiratory disease treated as endemic.
You will also not be forbidden from accessing any of the following:
Public transport within Greece, including ferries, trains or planes*
Museums and cultural sites
Restaurants and indoor venues
*Valid for domestic routes only (e.g. if you’re infected and flying from Greece to a country that requires a negative test for entry, you will of course not be allowed to board the aircraft)
Despite not being subject to isolation, infected tourists must continue wearing FFFP2 or KN95 face masks if they choose not to quarantine. In other words, Greece’s recent lifting of face masks in all indoor settings does not apply to them, at least until the end of the voluntary quarantine period and/or subsequent negative test.
The British Virgin Islands Scrap All Entry Rules And Declares Covid Endemic
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) may not be as popular in the Caribbean as the likes of Jamaica or the Dominican Republic, but it is always a good sign when more nations, however small, let go of their draconian measures. If you’re visiting the BVI on a cruise in the weeks to come, you may be thrilled to learn that you’re no longer treated as a potential health threat for the archipelago.
On July 15, he Commonwealth collective of small islands lifted its only, yet much criticized entry requirement: that of mandatory pre-departure testing, applying to all irrespective to immunization and/or recovery status. Now that testing has been scrapped, there are officially no Covid mandates left to be observed when crossing the BVI border.
According to Petrona Davies, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, this relaxation is based upon the ‘reduced impact of Covid and the move from pandemic to endemic’. Based on this statement, we can safely assert that the British Virgin Islands is officially leaving Covid behind as it returns to a pre-pandemic state of normality.
Mrs. Davies confirmed that, after two years of living in a state of emergency and the vaccination campaign, the virus is having a ‘very minimal impact’ on the population. Cases may oscillate, but mortality rates have ‘significantly decreased’. She cites the positive health trend as the reason why they are reopening borders and allowing ‘pre-Covid’ tourism.
These may be exciting times now that Covid is being treated more like a mild disease and less like a major health threat, but we should not let our guards down: international travel is still very much in a state of chaos, from long delays for passport renewal to the spate of cancellations affecting air passengers.
When flying abroad, make sure you get insured in order to minimize risks of being left stranded, or facing under a financial strain due to flight disruption and other emergency expenses. You can find out more about different insurance policies, including those fit for long-term travel, on this link.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
Air travel is an absolute mess right now, especially in Europe, where two-thirds of all airports are seeing some level of disruption. On their part, a majority of airlines have failed to strike a balance between staffing constraints and a high travel demand, resulting in a spate of cancellations. However, one of them has somehow managed to weather the storm, cancelling far fewer flights than its counterparts.
Perhaps surprisingly, this isn’t a full service airline either: the kind of carrier that should be better prepared for emergency situations, like the crisis the aviation sector currently faces. In fact, Europe’s most reliable airline is its most popular ultra low cost, usually criticized for a sub-optimal service, restrictive baggage rules, and lack of in-flight comfort.
Based on this information, you can probably already guess which one:
In 2022, Europe’s Most Reliable Airline Is…
According to data shared by OAG, a provider of digital air travel information, Ryanair was the best performing major airline for the first half of 2022, not only in Europe but worldwide. During this period, it cancelled only 0.3% of all scheduled flights, in stark contrast with full service British Airways, which axed 3.5%.
Effectively, this means that Ryanair customers were 12 times less likely to have their flight cancelled than those flying British. Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s outspoken CEO, stated his company ‘saw the recovery coming’ and rushed to get staff back ‘early’. This might have been instrumental in mitigating the impacts of this chaotic summer of travel.
For those of you who are not frequent travelers in Europe, you may not have been introduced yet to Ryanair. This Irish carrier was founded in 1984 and has historically offered low fare tickets on popular vacation routes not only within Europe, but also a number of destinations in Western Asia and Northern Africa.
It is the European equivalent to Southwest, operating in 40 countries and connecting over 200 destinations. Ever heard someone who’s just back from their Eurotrip boasting about that unbelievably cheap, 9 euro flight tickets to Barcelona? It is very likely they have flown Ryanair or any of its main competitors – Vueling, easyJet, TUI Airways, Wizz Air etc.
On the other hand, you might have been warned traveling low cost in Europe comes at a price. Usually, you’re only sold the seat and any additional items you would like to bring on board, including small bags, involves paying extra. There are also no complimentary drinks or food, and in-flight catering is not these airlines’ forte.
Due to their lack of preparedness for the crisis – think staff shortages and logistical issues – low cost carriers have been those driving up cancellation rates in several airports. Strangely enough, Ryanair is not among them, despite its history of less-than-stellar service. Based on recent figures, it is arguably Europe’s most trusted airline right now.
What’s Behind Ryanair’s Success Story?
As we have pointed out already, lack of staff has been one of the main issues behind the latest industry woes, as airlines struggle to graduate enough pilots and flight attendants amid a renewed interest in travel. They just weren’t ready for such a pronounced increase in air traffic, after several countries reopened, dropping all Covid rules simultaneously.
CEO O’Leary attributed Ryanair’s success to its participation in the European Single Market, a privilege British competitors no longer enjoy since the United Kingdom left the European Union. According to O’Leary, Ryanair was able to benefit from ‘friction-less European labor’, unlike British Airways and other UK carriers in the wake of Brexit.
Regardless of the geopolitical reasons behind it, Ryanair’s improbable new status as a low-risk airline has not been mirrored by other EU competitors. All of the leading European airlines, such as Air France, Lufthansa, easyJet and KLM had higher cancellation rates than Ryanair, with KLM cutting as much as 5% of its flights so far in 2022 – the worst of them all.
This leads us to believe this success story has more to do with the fact that the airline has enough staff to fulfill most of its schedule, like O’Leary stated himself, as opposed to Brexit or other disruptive factors. There are no official data shared by OAG, or other aviation intelligence services, to confirm this as of yet.
Getting Insured Ahead Of Flying Is Key
There you have it: Ryanair may not be exactly world-renowned for the flight experience it offers, but it is a more reliable airline than all others in the continent at the moment. If you’re concerned about seeing one of your Europe flights get cancelled, as you should, you can insure your trip and get covered for travel disruption visiting this link.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
Italy’s primary train operator, Trenitalia, recently launched three new high-speed rail services connecting Rome-Fiumicino’s International airport to main train stations in Naples and Florence.
Trenitalia started serving these new routes on July 11 and new train schedules were designed considering air travel to synchronize comfortable connections between air —arrivals and departures— and train travel. Great news for international travelers!
The new routes will connect the Frecciarossa—the name of the fast trains in Italy— and will allow tourists who arrive at Rome’s airport to go straight to Napoli to taste the original pizza. And those exploring charming Florence will now also be able to take a fast train to Rome’s international airport. These are the new services:
From Naples —Napoli Centrale (central station), and Napoli Afragola (high-speed trains station)— to Fiumicino Airport.
From Fiumicino Airport to Naples: Napoli Centrale and Napoli Afragola.
From Florence’s train station, Florence Santa Maria Novella, to the Fiumicino Airport.
American travelers will benefit from the new routes. The Aeroporti di Roma stated in the official announcement: “With these connections, passengers can be in New York in the early afternoon, leaving early in the morning from Naples or Florence.”
The alliance between the Ferrovie Dello Stato Italiane and Aeroporti di Roma hopes to keep improving schedules and connectivity and allow passengers to register and carry out baggage check-in from train stations in the near future.
These new routes go hand in hand with the Italian Government’s strategy to facilitate connectivity and help travelers visit different destinations in this country. They recently also launched a campaign to promote 1,000 off-the-beaten-path destinations in Italy.
More Routes And Connections For Travelers
The new services will improve connectivity between central and southern Italy, enhance the integration between rail and air service and also comply with the European Union’s sustainable strategies in transportation.
The new connections will include the Leonardo Express route, which is the fast train service from Rome’s main station to the International airport, which is the quickest way to get to the airport and it takes 32 minutes. This airport shuttle usually offers travelers train services every 15 minutes.
Now international travelers will not only get the fastest services to Naples and from Florence to the Airport, but they will also have many more options to visit other fascinating destinations in Italy faster and easier.
The routes of the Frecciargento trains —the high-speed train services in Italy that go up to 250 Kilometers per hour (around 155 miles per hour)— also provide services that, with the new connections, will be more accessible for travelers.
The Florence route will allow passengers who visit iconic destinations like Venice or Padua, and Bologna, to get to Rome’s international airport faster and plan exciting routes while they visit this fascinating country.
About Naples and Florence
Travelers from all over the world will now be able to land at Rome’s main international airport and quickly arrive in the south of Italy to taste the original pizza. Naples is known as the “Home Place of Pizza”, where it was created, but it also hosts fascinating architecture, landscapes, and fascinating activities.
From Florence, travelers will also be able to reach very social-media-trendy getaways at the moment like the beautiful Amalfi coast or the fascinating Capri, an island located in the Bay of Naples.
For travelers looking to discover more about Italian history and art, Florence will definitely satisfy their needs. Visitors can explore the most fascinating museums and worldwide famous art galleries. Unique pieces from Brilliant artists like Da Vinci, Botticelli, and Michelangelo are located in this city.
Venice is also a trendy and iconic destination —travelers must remember that next year visitors will have to pay a fee to visit for the day— famous for its beautiful architecture, bridges, and gondolas. Those visiting Venice will also benefit from the new route and access to high-speed trains that will connect them quickly to Rome.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
Canadian airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet have been accused of making up excuses in order to avoid paying compensation to travelers. As anyone who has traveled over the past few months will admit, the travel industry is a mess right now. From spiraling flight costs to flights that are delayed or canceled completely – not to mention luggage going missing in great numbers – flying right now is a not an easy endeavour.
Yet whilst travelers can usually consider themselves protected against the worst, travelers in Canada have accused airlines of offering wishy-washy excuses to get out of paying compensation. Through a series of actions such as changing their stories and reasons for their delays and cancellations and not offering details, passengers have grown weary of airlines in Canada trying to get out of paying compensation – and they demand better. Here’s a closer look at this story, plus a recap of passenger rights and how they should benefit from flights that have been affected.
Airlines Making Excuses – What Travelers Should Know
Whilst passengers are seemingly well protected in the event of delays in theory, in practice the reality is quite different, as a growing number of Canadian travelers are beginning to find out this year. More and more travelers have criticized the response to their valid claims for compensation by large airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet, accusing them of making up excuses and stretching the truth in order to get out of their legal requirement to pay compensation to travelers.
Passenger Scott Aalgaard described what he called highly suspicious excuses from Air Canada for denying his right to compensation. He was first notified that his flight had been delayed on July 5th due to a ‘maintenance issue‘. Eventually the flight was cancelled due to ‘staffing issues‘.
Three days later when he filed for compensation, he was denied because his flight was cancelled due to a ‘labor dispute‘ outside the airlines control.
This isn’t the first time passengers have gone public to the media. One such traveler highlighted an incident that saw herself and her fiancé – who were on the same flight – filing for compensation after a delay of six hours on Christmas Day. Her partner was awarded $700 in compensation for the delay in line with the current legal requirements. However, she was left empty handed after Air Canada replied that the delay was due to a safety-related “technical fault”, thus making it outside the airline’s control and not warranting compensation. Two identical passengers, two wildly different outcomes.
That isn’t the only example of funny business that has been brought to the fore. Other passengers have complained of airlines flip-flopping between different reasons for delays and rejecting claims for compensation despite the reasons being within the airline’s control and thus worthy of redress, such as flight crew availability. Other airlines, such as WestJet, have been criticized for not providing travelers with adequate details of why their flight has been canceled, making filing a claim difficult.
This isn’t the first time that travelers have been suspicious of airlines trying to get out of paying compensation. An inquiry that finished in November 2021 stated that whilst they found no evidence the airlines “intentionally misled passengers,” they did however feel that information provided to travelers “was inadequate, terse and unclear.” The CTA has called on travelers to file complaints if they feel aggrieved.
Passenger Compensation – Information For Travelers
In the event that travelers in Canada are subjected to a delayed or a cancelled flight, they are within their rights to receive compensation from their airline. For large airlines, such as Air Canada or WestJet, the levels of compensation a are as follows:
3-6 hour delays – $400
6-9 hour delays – $700
9+ hour delays – $1000
Travelers on small airlines are also due redress for delayed flights, though these amount to sums of $125, $250 and $500 for the same respective delay lengths as above.
Compensation is only due to passengers who face a delay or cancellation that is within the airline’s control, and isn’t safety-related. Travelers have a year to make a claim for compensation and whilst airlines can offer alternative forms of compensation, such as flight tickets, vouchers or credit, passengers are within their rights to ask for it in monetary form. Such rights were enshrined in an update to policy from the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) on December 15th, 2019.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States recently updated its Travel Notice page and moved four countries in its COVID-19 Travel Recommendations section.
All countries were previously in “Level 2: COVID-19 Moderate”, but due to increasing cases in these locations, the agency is now considering these destinations as high risk. The criteria consider new cases per 100,000 population and for this category over 100 cases must have been registered.
The countries that were already deemed high risk:
Sweden
Jamaica
Mexico
Bahamas
Aruba
Dominican Republic
Argentina
France
Germany
Greece
Four New Countries Join The High Risk Category
Bolivia, Peru, Lebanon, and Tunisia now join the list of countries and popular destinations considered high risk. high risk like the Dominican Republic —updated just a few weeks ago—, Mexico, Sweden, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, Argentina, France, Germany, and Greece.
CDC’s Travel Advice For Bolivia, Lebanon, Peru, And Tunisia
The US agency has similar considerations and travel recommendations for Bolivia, Peru, Lebanon, and Bolivia regarding COVID-19.
These are the CDC’s main recommendations for travelers who are interesting in visiting these nations:
Before travel, make sure to have all COVID-19 primary vaccines series and boosters.
Non-vaccinated travelers should avoid traveling to Bolivia, Peru, Lebanon, and Tunisia.
Travelers must understand that even if they are vaccinated, there is a high risk of getting and spreading the virus in these destinations.
Travelers over 2 years old should wear face masks properly in indoor public spaces and in public transportations, including trains, airplanes, buses, or ferries.
Those with weakened immune systems should consider delaying the travel because even vaccinated travelers could be seriously affected by the virus.
Follow and respect recommendations and requirements from local authorities in Bolivia, Peru, Lebanon, and Tunisia —including mandatory testing, mask mandates, and quarantine requirements— and also from airlines.
Travelers who decide to visit high-risk destinations should take precautions and get tested before traveling.
Those with any COVID-19-related symptoms —such as cough, fatigue, headaches, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea, or difficulty breathing— should not travel.
Travelers can visit the CDC Travel section to learn more about health and travel recommendations as well as travel requirements.
More About The Now High-Risk Destinations
The CDC has recently shared general recommendations for travelers focused on COVID-19. But travelers might also be interested in learning more about these destinations in South America, North Africa, and the Middle East, as well as other travel recommendations:
Peru: This country hosts one of the greatest attractions in Latin America, the Machu Picchu. Travelers from all over the world come to explore the remarkable Inca ruins, one of the Seven Wonders of The World, and enjoy the beautiful landscapes and the rich culture in this country.
Besides, COVID-19-related warnings, the CDC has more travel warnings regarding Altitude Illness —typical while climbing Machu Picchu—, yellow fever, malaria, and other infectious diseases.
Bolivia: This country has gained popularity for its loads of lamas, beautiful landscapes, and the impressive Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat. American travelers need a visa to visit this country, it will allow them to visit for 30 days.
There are no local COVID-19-related restrictions at the moment, but according to the information shared by the US Embassy, facemasks are still mandatory in public places and some rules might change depending on the municipality.
Tunisia: Travelers enjoy visiting its great variety of historical attractions, amazing sand dunes, and deserts used as Star War sets. Tunisia has the 4th most important city in the Islamic World, Kairouan, established 670AD.
Lebanon: Besides its amazing music, food, and art, this small country is also home to ancient Roman ruins, castles, and also historic mosques and churches.
Travelers enjoy exploring this country for its rich culture, delicious food, and great attractions: from beautiful beaches to ski resorts.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
And that’s one more down. After imposing some of the strictest entry rules in Central America, requiring either proof of vaccination or a negative test, and routinely issuing quarantine orders for those who tested positive on arrival, Belize is finally removing all of its Covid entry requirements, returning to a pre-pandemic state of normality.
According to the Belize Tourism Board, the lifting of the measures has immediate effect. This means that, from this moment forward, tourists will not be subject to Covid travel rules arriving in Belize. This is great news both for vacationers and long-term travelers country-hopping across the increasingly popular Central America.
Here is everything you need to know about Belize’s latest policy update:
No Vaccination, No Testing – Entry Is As Easy As It Was In 2019
Belize is one of trendiest places to be in the Americas right now. Home to a vast jungle where some of the best preserved Mayan-era monuments can be found, including the landmark Caracol ruins, and an immaculate Caribbean coastline with turquoise waters and sandy beaches, the small nation is ready to reclaiming its status as a tourism powerhouse.
More than two years into the pandemic, Kevin Bernard, Belize’s Minister of Health and Wellness, has decided it is time to move on to the ‘next level’, one where the public is responsible for assessing Covid risks on their own, including whether they should wear masks, be vaccinated, or practice social distancing.
As Bernard stated, ‘it is now everyone’s personal responsibility to decide whether they want to be vaccinated or not‘, and that includes foreigners landing in Belize, who up until this week had been expected to comply with vaccine and testing requirements, as well as purchasing mandatory health insurance.
Luckily, since July 12, all of these prerequisites stopped applying.
Which Rules Have Been Scrapped And Which Ones Were Extended?
Bernard remarks that, now that ‘weaker variants’ of Covid are circulating and a majority of countries are jumping on the reopening trend, ‘the time has come’ for Belize to join them in taking the ‘pressure’ off of its health system, as well as easing rules at the border. In sum, none of the following are needed for travel to Belize:
No vaccination or booster certificates
No pre-departure testing, including for the unvaccinated
No post-arrival testing
No post-arrival quarantine, irrespective of immunization status
No Covid health insurance
Flying from any departure points in North America into Belize City, or crossing any of the land borders with neighboring Mexico is as easy as it had once been, making this exciting country a strong contender for your next trip abroad. Direct flights are available from every major U.S. city, including Chicago, L.A., Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami and Orlando.
Despite the relaxation of health-related rules, the country’s authorities have reiterated that international visitors must continue booking their stays at a ‘Gold Standard’ hotel – namely one of the governments’ approved accommodation providers. The full list is available on the Belize Tourism Board’s official website.
Why You Should Still Get Insured Ahead Of Traveling To Belize
Even though insurance has ceased being an official requirement, it is our duty to remind you it remains a necessity. You wouldn’t think of traveling to another country without sufficient funds to cover all your expenses, the right amount of clothes or any of your travel essentials, so why are so many people treating insurance like it’s a waste of money?
In case you haven’t heard yet, air travel is in absolute turmoil right now, flight delays and cancellations having become the new normal. This includes airports in the Americas. Needless to say, purchasing insurance ahead of flying is a must, unless being stranded abroad or having travel plans ruined is not a big concern for you.
Even though they removed insurance as a precondition for travel, Belizean officials are aware insurance is still markedly important in the current volatile scenario. In fact, they are encouraging all travelers to get insured as an ‘extra level of protection’. You can find more about travel insurance fit for your trip to Belize here.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
Digital nomads need a good internet connection and a comfortable space to work. Since the pandemic, many hotel chains have adopted the “work from hotel” trend and have been making improvements thinking of remote workers.
It’s a win-win situation: hotels get guests to stay for longer and travelers can be happy with their “workation” experience. According to a survey published by HighSpeedInternet.com last year, 84% of Americans consider wifi important for their short and long-term stays and 30% consider a good internet connection “essential”.
For those whose income depends on a high-speed internet connection, just good internet isn’t enough and hotels are popular for having horrible internet connections.
Digital nomads need fast and reliable wifi, and sometimes —even while visiting the best cities for remote work— they don’t have enough time to view the wifi reviews of all the hotels in the area.
This is why we researched, considered recent surveys, and created a list of the most popular hotel chains in the United States —and some worldwide— with fast internet connections for all budgets.
Holiday Inn / Holiday Inn Express
This American Hotel chain with more than 1,100 active hotels around the world can be a great option for digital nomads because it offers free high-speed wifi for guests. In the United States—where the company has hotels in 552 locations—, the average speed is 42.1Mbps, a great service for video calls, streaming, and downloading large files.
Hilton Hotels
These hotels have a good reputation among remote workers. The hotel chain offers free wifi in certain areas or for Hilton Honors members and the Internet’s minimum speed is 16.2Mbps. On average, guests have to pay around $14.99 per day for a fast internet connection.
Ritz-Carlton
For those who prefer luxury and the fastest internet connection, the Ritz-Carlton hotels offer the fastest wifi among popular hotel chains. This company offers guests 76.2 Mbps that can be free for loyalty members or cost from $13 to $17 per day.
Marriott
Another large luxury brand that offers travelers special experiences across the world at its over 5,500 locations. Digital nomads staying at any of the Marriott Hotel & Resorts can expect an average internet speed of 45.9 Mbps which is free for loyalty members and at certain lobbies. Otherwise, travelers must pay around $15 per day for premium wifi.
InterContinental
The British multinational hospitality company offers travelers free and fast internet connection. Guests can experience up to 30.7 Mbps at the InterContinental Hotels at no extra cost.
Rodeway Inn
This economy-priced chain with more than 578 locations in the United States can also be a reliable option for digital nomads. In 2019 this hotel chain earned recognition as the hotel chain with the best free wifi in the US. The average internet speed for guests is 7.66 Mbps and the company also offers premium internet for a slightly faster speed.
Econo Lodge
This economy hotel chain has been offering decent free wifi for travelers, earning great reviews worldwide. Not all hotels have great connectivity, but on average digital nomads will find a stable Internet connection for free.
Internet Connection can always vary
Digital nomads learn to live with uncertainty, but these options are usually good and reliable. Of course, there are many factors that can affect the Internet connection such as:
The location and the specific hotel: Not all hotel brands can provide the exact same service, and it might vary depending on the country or area.
The number of devices connected: It’s also a good idea to consider if the hotel is crowded. Too many people connected to the same network will affect speed, even if it is over 25 Mbps
Ethernet vs Wireless: sometimes Internet speed uses Ethernet—the wired option which is usually faster— as a reference and not wifi. If the wifi doesn’t work well, having access to an Ethernet port is always valuable.
A good strategy to guarantee a good internet connection is to request the hotel a speed test and information about occupancy.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
In recent weeks, we’ve seen a huge furor on the internet after Europe announced tourists will be charged an entry fee from 2023. Millions of U.S. citizens, who had been allowed to travel to the continent for years requirement-free, were not exactly thrilled at the prospect… Except they should be. On this article, we will explain why this is good news.
And while you read it, you may find out things about your own country that may surprise you…
For years, Europe has been mulling over the introduction of a travel authorization system, which would require non-European travelers to apply online for a permit to visit ahead of flying to the region. After dealing with several delays resulting from Covid and other internal issues, it seems like European lawmakers’ new priority is introducing this scheme.
Trust us, although it feels like being picked on by the cold-hearted politicians in Brussels, Americans will in fact benefit from this:
What Exactly Is Europe’s New Entry Fee?
The ETIAS, an acronym for European Travel Information Authorization, is a system the European Union and its Schengen Area-associates will put in place starting in 2023, aimed at increasing security at their external borders and cutting down irregular migration. On top of that, it aims making the screening process easier for foreigners.
Once it launches, the ETIAs will have an official website, as well as a mobile app, where visitors will be able to apply. Americans (as well as Canadians and Brits) who were allowed to travel to the Schengen Area with only their passports, as of now, will not be allowed to board their flights unless they hold a valid travel authorization.
It will cost €7 (or roughly $8) and it will be valid for up to 3 years. This means that, once you have obtained your first ETIAS in January 2023, you will be able to travel to Europe as many times as you want until January 2026, provided that you respect other Schengen Area rules, such as not staying for longer than 90 days out of every 180-day period.
So Why Should Americans Europe Is Charging Them?
Europe is overhauling its whole immigration policy. Besides bringing in the ETIAS, it may also be moving its cumbersome visa application process online, in a move that would make it easier for visa-requiring nationals (like Indians, the Chinese, Turkish) to submit applications via the internet. Americans have, luckily, been exempt from the latter.
Many U.S. passport holders do not know, but the travel freedom they enjoy is not shared by all other nationalities. Americans can visit up to 186 countries either visa-free, or by paying for a visa on arrival – Iran citizens are not so privileged, being welcome in only 42 other countries without visa restrictions.
Applying for one is not the easiest task either. Unless they are traveling to an obscure African or Asian nation that demands visas, Americans will never have to fill out an application form, schedule a visa appointment at a Consulate, fly thousands of miles all the way to D.C. to attend a scrutinizing interview, surrender their passport, and then still risk getting a hard ‘no’.
That is the reality for many travelers, usually those coming from low-income countries when they seek entry into the Western World, namely the U.S., Canada and Europe. It is not as straightforward or simple as it is for Americans. In order to enter the Schengen Area, those subject to this regime currently need to apply for a new visa every single time they travel.
Even if they have a layover in Europe, or a short four-day vacation in Barcelona or Athens, certain categories of travelers are subject to the grueling procedure we have detailed above. Not once, but on every individual trip they take, and refusal rates are getting higher. Fortunately, Americans are not among them.
Instead, they can simply pack their passport, other travel essentials and hop on a plane the day after booking a ticket. Doesn’t freedom feel awesome? Well, believe it or not, Europe is in truth extending that freedom through its ETIAS scheme. Once the new border regulations are rolled in, all nationalities who will not require a visa will need instead an ETIAS.
By being subject to a Travel Authorization, Americans are being granted the privilege to continue visiting Europe visa-free. Unlike other media news outlets have wrongly pointed out lately, the ETIAS is far, very far from being equivalent to tourist visas. As you have learnt today, those are much harder to obtain.
Main Differences Between Schengen Visas And ETIAS
Here’s a quick comparison between both:
Actual visas
Face-to-face interviews are usually required
A visa sticker is glued to the passport page every time an applicant seeks entry into Europe, making they run out of pages faster
Visa nationals are granted the right to travel for the exact amount of dates they inform the Consulate, whether it’s 7 days, 14 days, etc
It costs $81 to apply
Refusal rates are high and a majority of fees are non-reimbursable
ETIAS
It is a simple online form that can be filled out in a matter of minutes
You can use a single ETIAS for travel up to the 3 years
The fee is only $8
If your 7-day vacation plans change, you can still stay in Europe for up to 90 days without being penalized
95% of ETIAS will be automatically granted, while the remaining 5% will be processed within a few days, and an even smaller percentage denied
The ETIAS will facilitate screening once arriving to Europe. Were you ever welcomed by one of those grumpy border guards that grilled you about the purpose of your trip? Those holding a Travel Authorization will still need to go through customs, but they will have an ‘approved traveler’ status, dramatically reducing wait times.
You get it now? As strange as it may seem, Americans are not being punished by Europe’s new entry conditions: they are being included on the ‘fast-track’ group. ETIAS in hand, they will be allowed to keep country-hopping across a restriction-free Europe – as will Canadians, Brits (now that they are out of the EU), Australians and New Zealanders.
The U.S. Has A Travel Authorization Scheme Of Its Own
Europe is not the only destination that has a travel authorization scheme in place. Many Americans will not be aware of this, but the U.S. has its own, called the ESTA, which Europeans themselves have had to apply for years. Of course, U.S. passport holders (as well as Canadians) do not need an ESTA for travel, but it still applies to all of these countries.
America’s ESTA has been in place since 2009, much earlier than Europe’s, and has proved a powerful tool in stopping ‘undesirable’ foreigners, such as criminals, from visa-waiver countries from entering. Europe is merely ‘returning the favor’, and that is not necessarily a bad thing for travelers on both sides of the pond.
Countries like Australia and New Zealand also demand a travel authorization of visa-exempt nationals, and they are not necessarily a bad thing. They are a pact of mutual trust between countries, seeing that, beyond the Western World bubble, most of the world still requires traditional visas.
Earlier this year, the U.K. was the latest to announce its own ‘ETA‘, signalling this online pre-approval form is the future of travel. So Americans, rejoice: Europe has not identified you as risky travelers who might overstay their time as tourists and will, thus, need visas starting in 2023. All that’s needed is a quick, easy-to-fill online form, a negligible $8 fee, and that’s you.
For more information on ETIAS, including its implementation date, please visit this page.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
At last, Time Magazine has revealed its yearly list of the World’s Top 50 Greatest Places. While some old classics have unsurprisingly made the list, such as Miami, Istanbul and Bali, a couple of up-and-coming destinations were also featured, including a beach strip in Mexico that attained the coveted title of World’s Hidden Gem. On this post, you will learn why this destination has been awarded the honor, what makes it special, and where exactly you should go based on your own travel preferences.
Although Cancun and the wider Riviera Maya get all the international recognition, this spot has equally stunning beaches. It runs for nearly 200 miles up Mexico’s Pacific coastline, nestled between the historical San Blas port and Banderas Bay, where countless natural landmarks and picturesque seaside towns can be found.
Mexico’s Next Cancun Is Ready o Be Discovered
In compiling the list, Time accepted nominations from their international network of ‘correspondents and contributors’, with a particular focus on ‘new and exciting experiences‘. Each destination was then granted a unique title, such as Seoul, named ‘The Smartest City’, or Nairobi, deemed a ‘Cultural Metropolis’.
As an off path travel blog, we couldn’t help but gravitate towards 2022’s ‘Hidden Gem’ – or namely, the absolutely stunning Riviera Nayarit in Mexico, that does not get half as many tourists as the ultra-packed Cancun or Tulum, though it is definitely growing in popularity. As Time Magazine points out, Nayarit is home to the Pacific’s ‘most unspoiled tropical beauty’.
Mexico has always been a vacation hotspot, and its relaxed attitude towards Covid have now crowned it the unnoficial ‘King of Tourism‘. This year alone, 40 million visitors are expected, superseding major tourism powerhouses, such as Spain and France, whose weaker-than-expected rebound is attributed to stricter health regulations.
Mexico has been open to tourism from the get go, long before vaccination certificates were introduced for travel and all of these European countries started dropping curbs. This bold move is now being acknowledged, with Time adding country’s rising star as one of the top picks on its revered yearly travel list.
What Are Some Of Nayarit’s Strongest Assets?
As the publication details, the ’emerald forests’ of Sierra Madre and the clear blue Pacific Ocean are two of Nayarit’s strongest assets, as well as its extensive list of luxury hotels that are either open for the season, or will launch soon. The best thing is: it doesn’t matter which hotel you’ll be staying, you’re never too far from the ocean.
Time specifically mentions the all-inclusive haven of Susurros del Corazon, an Auberge Resorts, scheduled to open this November. Additionally, the magazine lists the all-inclusive, adults-only Naviva resort as one of the reasons why the Nayarit Riviera is the ultimate vacation destination. In fact, it might as well become the next Cancun, especially now that safety concerns are widespread across the Riviera Maya.
On top of that, the beaches in Nuevo Vallarta, the gateway into Nayarit, have been named the third best in all of Mexico, beating the crowded Playa Delfines in Cancun and Cabo’s Medano Beach. Snorkeling and horseback riding tours are among some of the other best rated activities tourists can undertake in the region.
Where To Visit In Riviera Nayarit?
The Riviera Nayarit is divided into five sections:
Bahia de Banderas
Southern Nayarit
Jaltemba Bay
Central Nayarit
Northern Nayarit
Bahia de Banderas is home to Nuevo Vallarta and all of the most popular hotels, including several golf courses and family-friendly beaches. Southern Nayarit, on the other hand, is the furthest point from the main urban centers, and where various secret beaches and small Mexican towns are ready to be discovered.
If you’re looking for more classic Mexican cityscapes, with all the vibrant colors and Instagrammable streets, then you should head instead to Jaltemba Bay, especially the towns of Rincon de Guayabitos and La Peñita. Central Nayarit is for the countryside, animal sanctuaries and outdoor tourism; lastly, Northern Nayarit is where Mexico’s colonial past is displayed in both architecture and customs.
San Blas, in the Northern section of the Riviera, is renowned for its Spanish-era architecture, 18th century ruins, museums and the landmark Las Ilitas cliffs, a must-see for all who visit the state. As you can see, the Riviera Nayarit truly has it all, from culture to beach retreats, and it is really no wonder Time Magazine has named it 2022’s Hidden Gem. Luckily, several American Airlines offer direct flights there.
When vacationing in the Riviera Nayarit, tourists can either fly into Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR), located in the neighboring Jalisco and providing easy access to the small state of Nayarit, or the Tepic International Airport (TPQ). A full list of airlines serving both airports can be found here.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
