​New measures were announced yesterday, January 16, 2025, concerning the UK's new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
 
Two Important Updates:

• Effective immediately, following feedback from the aviation industry, the UK government has agreed to a temporary exemption for passengers who transit airside, and therefore do not pass through UK border control.  Those that transfer 'landside' using UK border control, will need an ETA.
  There is no end-date for the 'temporary exception', only mention of a periodic review by the UK government.
  This move will primarily affect Heathrow and Manchester airports, as the only UK airports which currently offer transit facilities. The exemption will be kept under review.
• Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) fee will increase to £16 (formerly £10).  This is subject to UK government approval and as of today remains £10 according to the ETA website.  We encourage travelers to apply now to avoid the increase.

The introduction of ETAs is in line with the approach to border security taken by many other countries, including the USA and Australia.

More about "Why get Travel Insurance"

No one in the states ever seems to know that our health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, are not valid when you are outside of the country.  There are some policies through Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Aetna that MAY provide medical protection overseas.
Also, it's not about trip cost protection, it's protecting your assets if anything happens. If you own a house, a car, a retirement fund, is it worth risking it to save a couple hundred upfront?
Medical insurance when travelling to the Mexican Caribbean needs to be NON NEGOTIABLE. I know I cannot force insurance, but emergency medical alone is very inexpensive and can literally save lives. 

Travel Insurance is something I always STRONGLY advise about purchasing. As a Travel Advisor I cannot make you buy it.   However, you might change your mind after reading this article a handful of Travel Advisors put together after having medical issues themselves and knowing what has happened to clients in the past.  The rest is really up to know. But when you know, you know.
                                                     Why get Travel Insurance?

Explaining travel insurance is really not about trip cancelation or interruption, it's about medical coverage that can potentially bankrupt you or even worse. If refused, my clients must sign a document saying they understand their risk and are willing to take full responsibility.​ (Waiver)
One other important thing (after much studying on insurance) is to have a policy that pays direct. Most people do not have large amounts available on their credit cards if they have to pay and then be re-imbursed.
The other big thing that most people don't know is to make sure of the alcohol tolerance allowance. Most work place and credit card insurances are null and void if the patient has had over 0.07% alcohol (aka 1 drink). When a client says they have it through one of these places I tell them to call and find out about these two things. If they have to be reimbursed then they need to look for a better policy. If the company cannot say about the alcohol tolerance allowance then they need to go and look for a better policy.
I take insurance very seriously with my clients and can tell them lots of stories from people who have had insurance and those who have declined. In the end if they refuse a Waiver is Required.
If the client  chooses to decline it if they want. When they decline, it reminds them nicely that their personal health insurance is not valid while traveling and that emergency care in other countries may require full prepayment before any services are rendered. Almost everyone buys the insurance after that.
No one in the states ever seems to know that our health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, are not valid when you are outside of the country.  There are some policies through Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Aetna that MAY provide medical protection overseas.
Also, it's not about trip cost protection, it's protecting your assets if anything happens. If you own a house, a car, a retirement fund, is it worth risking it to save a couple hundred upfront?
Medical insurance when travelling to the Mexican Caribbean needs to be NON NEGOTIABLE. I know I cannot force insurance, but emergency medical alone is very inexpensive and can literally save lives.
From an Agent who lives in Mexico:  Just heard a horrible story about a tourist who does not have insurance...I hope it has a happy ending health wise, but certainly will not for their life savings.
The tourist hospitals here are ruthless. Don’t take the chance – it is NOT worth it. You will be REQUIRED to sign a Declining Insurance Waiver if you don’t. 
Note: ​Fellow agent tripped off a curb, in Mexico. 35K USD, pins and plate in arm. She had good insurance. She said there were gurneys lining hall with patients waiting for their insurance and/or funds from home before they would be treated. Some had been waiting in a hall for over 24 hrs. I use this example all the time.
​A waiver acknowledging that they have been made aware of insurance and are refusing our advice and are knowingly traveling without it and the associated potential financial risks is absolutely required from all Clients.

​Also-it's so unfair to put pressure on friends and family via something like a Go Fund Me because you didn't want to fork out $50 to cover your HEALTH.

​An Advisor’s personal experience- 100% a necessity.  Dec 2023 I got hurt at XelHa and had to go to the hospital. Before treatment, they immediately took payment from my credit card $2000 usd. Granted that covered ALOT but all of that came back to me.

​Those clients who have made claims to help remind people why it’s important.  Please understand and be aware that without it, nothing I can do to help.  If you can’t afford the insurance you definitely can’t afford the emergency or financial loss.

Mexico and Cancun airports are always in the news and is a close fast getaway for people in the States.
Waiting times for your luggage can sometimes be stressful, patience is needed.  Especially when you may be traveling with children.  Just be aware. 

RESTAURANTS IN LONDON AND PARIS
(or you can use:  The Fork app)
This answer really depends on where they're going to be at the time they want to eat.

Paris : Bouillon Racine , Le Train Bleu , Le Procope , Steam Bar for amazing dumplings , La Rotonde de la Muette , Cafe Lipp, Kong for rooftop Frenchie Pigalle , Le Chardenoux, L’Alcazar Cabaret , Qasi Lebanese , Aux Crus de Bourgogne , Atelier Robuchon, The Eiffel Tower (views at night are really memorable and very romantic)

London : Trinity in Clapham, Fallow , Bob Bob Ricard , the Devonshire Arms , Nopi, Flour and Grape , Holborn dining room , Jamaica Wine House (originally the first coffee house turned into a pub).
Balthazar. Daphne Chinatown! Donutelier for sweets.

Dishoom, Flat Iron, Fionas, Mother Mash, Seven Dials Market, Pizza Express.
Want a great Indian meal? Go to Colonel Saab near Trafalgar Square., Gaucho is good Argentinian in Covent Garden.

In London, I always suggest some street food if they’re that type of person. You can find some in Camden Street Market, Borough Street Market, and Kingly Court in SoHo. There’s also Greenwich Market but it’s a bit far out from the city center.

Wherever you go, take time to be patient and enjoy!  Greet your Waiter and Head Waiter and you will get much better service.

I rarely do travel for people to New York as I am an expert on Europe, Asia, Egypt, Hawaii and Mexico and that's where my clientele goes. However, I do know people who go to the East Coast for work from time to time and others who go to see the City. So, when I was reading an article in Travel and Leisure this morning over tea, I thought I'd share it because it's going to effect New York Travel!
Driving into the heart of New York City just got more expensive thanks to a long-anticipated congestion pricing plan that went into effect this week.
The congestion pricing plan, which started on Sunday, will now charge most passenger vehicles headed into the busiest parts of Manhattan $9 during peak times and $2.25 during off-peak times. The congestion pricing zone includes all of Manhattan below 60 Street, but does not include the outer highway roads like the FDR Drive or West Side Highway.
Peak hours are from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. Drivers will only be charged once per day on their E-ZPass, and drivers entering a tunnel — including the Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Queens-Midtown Tunnel, and Hugh L. Carey Tunnel — will receive a discount on the toll.
Travelers who ride in taxis will have to pay a surcharge of 75 cents per trip and Uber and Lyft riders will be charged $1.50 per trip. For its part, Lyft told Travel + Leisure the company would credit riders the $1.50 for the month of January, which could be used the following week.
The goal of the congestion pricing plan is to reduce traffic and raise money for public transportation improvements. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) projected congestion pricing will lead to 80,000 fewer vehicles in the busy area each day.
“Funding public transportation is a good thing, however, Lyft understands it’s grown more and more expensive to live in and visit NYC,” the rideshare company wrote in a statement shared with T+L. “This [credit is] a small gesture to help people adjust to another new expense - even as Lyft works to reduce the overall cost of rides in 2025.”
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said in a statement the implementation of the project has “gone smoothly” and hopes drivers now “take another look at the speed and convenience of mass transit.”

There are so many things to try and remember when one is traveling.  I just read an article about some passengers coming home to a huge cell phone bill.  This happens more often than not.  So I thought I'd put a note in the BLOG about it.

ALWAYS PUT YOUR CELL PHONE IN AIRPLANE MODE !  and keep it there until you get  home. 

France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Mexico. the UK (London/Scotland/Ireland), Germany, Greece and Austria are, and continue to be dominant players in the global tourism landscape.  These nations, and my personal favorites,  all offer a captivating mix of cultural landmarks, breathtaking natural beauty and world class hospitality.
For the next few weeks, I am going to highlight some of the  places that will strike a nerve and make you want to experience some history, art, culture and food. 
France is first on my list.  Other than the Olympics in the Summer of 2024 which 99% of us watched people do things that we wished we could do ourselves.  Remember Simone Biles and the rest of the gymnasts? The runners from Africa? Tennis Players from all over plus the water sports?  They all brought PARIS and its environs to our living rooms daily for days.
Now, we can also see ourselves experiencing a Paris Seine Rriver Cruise by day or night; roaming the charming streets of Montmartre or perhaps shopping at the luxurious shops of the Champs Elysees.
Paris is the epitome of romance and culture with timeless landmarks and unforgettable experiences. Think of visiting the Eiffel Tower where you can have lunch or a romantic anniversary dinner with the lights of the City behind you. During the day, take a walk to the Louvre Museum then down to visit the newly re-opened Notre Dame Cathedral.
Venture outside of Paris, take the train to Nice, known as the  jewel of the Riviera. The beaches, and possibly zip over to Monaco.
Then off to Lyon touring Old Lyon, the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere, a museum of fine arts. Savor authentic Lyonnairs cuisine wander renaissance era streets and admire panoramic views from Fourviere Hill.  Lyon--France's culinary capital. You won't want to leave.


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I know I have posted about this before. People tend to read and forget or not read.  IF you are going to Mexico, travelers had better pay attention.  It isn't as though you haven't been advised!
​As you (hopefully) know, it is illegal to bring vapes into Mexico (despite your clients nephew’s girlfriend’s daughter not getting in trouble). They recently implemented a nationwide ban on the sale of vapes, and they are cracking down on this in the Mexican Caribbean.
I will share an excerpt from an article I just read:
“Just one month after a nationwide ban on the sale of vapes was implemented, the Directorate of Protection against Health Risks in Quintana Roo has announced that efforts are underway to close down any vending machines or physical stores that continue to sell these products. Jaime Torres, the director of the institution, stated that prior to the ban, owners of these machines could potentially seek legal protection. However, since the ban was approved on December 11, 2024, this legal avenue is no longer available.
Torres acknowledged that this could potentially lead to individual or clandestine sales of these devices. He emphasized that both the sale and use of these devices are being actively discouraged in the region due to the health risks they pose. In 2024, following the implementation of the ban, over 23 vending machines and stores selling these electronic devices were closed down.”