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Kansai International Airport, a major hub in Japan serving Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto, is celebrating 30 years of operation with an incredible achievement: not a single piece of luggage has been lost since it opened in September 1994.

The airport is known for its efficiency, but its perfect record in baggage handling really sets it apart.
According to Kenji Takanishi, a spokesperson for the airport, there’s no magic trick behind this success. The ground handling staff aren’t superhuman; they just use a system of redundancies to make sure every bag reaches its destination safely.
This airport is an excellent option if you want to go to this area.  Experience Cherry Blossoms in the Spring, stay in a traditional Ryokan..​order some tabi’s before you go to slip on your feet at the door, as no shoes are allowed in Japanese homes.  You will love them and bring home the tabi’s and possibly even install the custom in your home.
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Progress, since they are calling it that, can definitely be sad, espec ially for those of us who have been traveling to distance places for over 50 years gathering Visa etc stamps on our passports to show where we have gone.  Changes noted below: 
Starting in November 2024, a significant change will impact travelers from the U.S. and other non-EU countries, such as the UK, heading to Italy.
The first change will come with the European Entry/Exit System (EES), which will include fingerprinting requirements. This system launches November 10, 2024, and represents a significant shift in how travelers from non-EU countries, including the UK and US, will be processed when entering the Schengen Area, and Italy is a Schengen country.
The next big change is the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which will be introduced in the first half of 2025, as part of the entry process into the Schengen Area. This new system aims to enhance security and streamline the border control experience for visitors. Here’s a comprehensive look at what EES and ETIAS are, why fingerprinting is involved, how the process works, and what it means for travelers.
What is EES?
Under the European Entry/Exit System (EES), you are required to provide fingerprints each time you enter and exit the Schengen Area. This means that your biometric data will be collected at each border crossing to accurately record your entry and exit.
What to Expect Upon Arrival in Italy with EES
When you arrive in Italy, or any country in the Schengen Area, for the first time after the EES is implemented, here’s what you can expect:
1. Biometric Data Collection:

• Fingerprinting: As part of the EES process, you will need to provide biometric data, including your fingerprints, at the border control. This is a critical step for verifying your
• identity and ensuring that your entry is accurately recorded.
• Facial Recognition: In addition to fingerprints, facial recognition technology may also be used to further confirm your identity.

2. Automated Entry and Exit Tracking:

• Entry: When you first arrive in the Schengen Area, your biometric data will be collected and matched against the EES database to confirm your identity. Your entry will be logged in the system.
• Exit: When you leave the Schengen Area, your departure will also be recorded by EES. This helps track the length of your stay and ensures you do not overstay your permitted period.

3. Enhanced Security Checks:

• Cross-Referencing: Your biometric data will be cross-checked against international databases to identify any potential security risks. This helps authorities detect individuals with criminal records or those flagged on watchlists.

What is ETIAS?
ETIAS is an electronic travel authorization system designed for visa-exempt visitors traveling to the Schengen Area. This area includes Italy and most other EU countries, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
The primary goal of ETIAS is to bolster border security by pre-screening travelers before they set foot in Europe. This system will help identify potential risks, including individuals with a criminal background or those linked to terrorism.
Do I need to pre-register for ETIAS and provide fingerprints for each trip?
No, you do not need to pre-register for ETIAS or provide fingerprints for each trip. You only need to complete the ETIAS application once on the official website, and it remains valid for three years or until your passport expires. While ETIAS does not require fingerprinting, you will need to provide biometric data, including fingerprints, when entering and exiting the Schengen Area as part of the European Entry/Exit System (EES) procedures.
Data Retention Period
Biometric Data and Personal Information: The EES will store your biometric data (fingerprints and facial images) and personal information (such as your name, date of birth, nationality, etc.) for a period of three years. Retaining data for three years allows authorities to track travel patterns, verify identity, and conduct investigations if necessary. It also helps in preventing fraud and security breaches.
Will I need to pay for a visa with ETIAS?
No, you will not need to pay for a visa with ETIAS. ETIAS is not a visa but an electronic travel authorization. There is a fee associated with applying for ETIAS, which is around €7 for applicants. This fee is paid at the time of the application. ETIAS is designed for visa-exempt travelers and allows multiple entries into the Schengen Area during its validity period.
Where can I get the latest information:  visit the official website:
https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en
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While some of us in drier states in the US wish for rain...those who live or are traveling in Europe are NOT on the same page! And I don't blame them.  This is from Travel Weekly: 
​Record floods from Storm Boris, which have killed at least 21 people and flooded Vast swaths of Eastern Europe, now are impacting tour groups and river cruises on Europe’s second-largest river, the Danube River. Wildfires are spreading across Portugal. And Boris is headed for Italy.
Avalon Waterways has made changes to two cruise itineraries on the Danube and canceled two future cruises as a result of flooding. Travel advisor Gwen Kozlowski, president of Exeter International, tells TRO that her clients, scheduled to depart Budapest on Viking Jarl, instead were bussed to Vienna.
Intrepid Travel, on its website, reports that “very heavy rainfall across Central Europe since 14th September has resulted in flooding in a number of areas causing road closures and further transport disruption” in Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania and southeast Germany. Trips in Austria have been rerouted and minor changes have been made to itineraries in Czechia, Slovenia, and southeast Germany.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), meanwhile, has issued a travel warning to UK travelers headed to Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic, and particularly to Vienna.
Italy, Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia are hunkering down for record rains starting today and continuing for the next few days; in Italy, the National Civil Protection Service has issued yellow alerts for nearly 50 regions, warning of the risk of storms, landslides and floods as two months’ worth of rainfall falls in the next three days.
The Danube continues to rise in Slovakia and Hungary, where the capital cities of Bratislava and Budapest are preparing for possible flooding. Austria has closed parts of the Danube for shipping traffic, and Croatia’s Meteorological and Hydrological Service, warning of an “extremely rare” rise, is prepared to put out flood barriers if necessary.

Change really is good.
Starting in November 2024, a significant change will impact travelers from the U.S. and other non-EU countries, such as the UK, heading to Italy.
The first change will come with the European Entry/Exit System (EES), which will include fingerprinting requirements. This system launches November 10, 2024, and represents a significant shift in how travelers from non-EU countries, including the UK and US, will be processed when entering the Schengen Area, and Italy is a Schengen country.
The next big change is the  European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which will be introduced in the first half of 2025, as part of the entry process into the Schengen Area. This new system aims to enhance security and streamline the border control experience for visitors. Here’s a comprehensive look at what EES and ETIAS are, why fingerprinting is involved, how the process works, and what it means for travelers.
What is EES?
Under the European Entry/Exit System (EES), you are required to provide fingerprints each time you enter and exit the Schengen Area. This means that your biometric data will be collected at each border crossing to accurately record your entry and exit.
NOTE:  This information is long. If you want more on costs, etc., please contact us for a copy.  (Also thanks to Mi O My Italy for their timely information for travelers as this is where we got a lot of information for the Italian part.)

​​Kansai International Airport, a major hub in Japan serving Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto, is celebrating 30 years of operation with an incredible achievement: not a single piece of luggage has been lost since it opened in September 1994.
​
The airport is known for its efficiency, but its perfect record in baggage handling really sets it apart.
According to Kenji Takanishi, a spokesperson for the airport, there’s no magic trick behind this success. The ground handling staff aren’t superhuman; they just use a system of redundancies to make sure every bag reaches its destination safely.
This airport is an excellent option if you want to go to this area.  Experience Cherry Blossoms in the Spring, stay in a traditional Ryokan..order some tabi’s before you go to slip on your feet at the door, as no shoes are allowed in Japanese homes.  You will love them and bring home the tabi’s and possibly even install the custom in your home. (Etsy has them-they may not look comfortable but they really are.)  Comment with email if you want some Ryokan ideas.

Travelers who are taking along electronics need to know that  Mexico has really strict tax laws regarding laptops and IPads.  You cannot bring more than 1 laptop per person.  They may also   consider an IPad as a laptop and will charge you taxes at customs if you do both.  Just a heads up.  People aren't listening and getting hit at customs.

 Someone I know was just going thru Customs a few days ago and was paying a tax on something she brought in for her house.  She was talking to a guy who was paying big bucks. He said he was paying taxes on an IPad  $150USD of taxes!!! Ouch! He had a laptop and an IPad. So ya they do check and count an IPad as a laptop.

If you don’t know the laws or know someone who knows and tells you, but you don't believe it--, it’s clearly indicated on the official Government website that you can’t bring in more than 1 laptop/person. So I guess they might count an IPad as a laptop.


To be forewarned is forearmed.

​The Cancun arrival process has been simplified, and you no longer need to fill out an immigration form (paper or digital) prior to or on arrival.
Once you deplane, you will be directed to (or choose) one of 2 options for going through immigration
(option 2 available in terminals 3&4 only)
Option 1) The normal immigration lines where you will speak to an agent, and have your passport stamped. Please keep your physical or digital boarding pass until you clear immigration in case it is needed.
Option 2) The electronic passport control machines (only available for 18 years old and up). If you go through these machines, please enter and scan your passport. Wait for your photo to be taken and collect your receipt with the QR code. Make sure to retain your receipt as you may be asked for this upon departure from Mexico.
(at this time, you do not need to go online and fill anything out regarding that QR code receipt. simply hold on to it until departure).
If you fly into terminal 2 ONLY, you will receive a paper customs form on the plane, or you will need to fill one out in the baggage area after arrival. In this terminal only, all baggage will be scanned after you pick it up, and may or may not be searched.
If you land into terminal 3 or 4, NO customs form is required. After immigration, you will pick up your bags at the carousel, and you may or may not be selected to have your bags checked.
The Visitax is a mandatory tax that can be paid prior to arrival in Mexico or during the stay. You may or may not get asked to show proof of payment on departure. It is 271mxn pp and the correct website to pay is https://www.visitax.gob.mx/sitio/. You can also use Travelkore, who is authorized by the government (but does charge a little more https://travelkore.app. Any other website is scam. I know that many have very heated opinions about this tax and this is not the forum for it. We are simply providing the accurate/up to date information-you can choose to conduct yourself/advise. Every person I book to Mexico and this area will have a copy in their documents and/or emailed them, no one can say they did not know.