Episode 16: Travel News: July 2023
Hi travel besties and welcome to another episode of the Just Book It Podcast. Last month we spoke about how we’re seeing record-breaking travel for Memorial Day and the trend continues with 4th of July travel this weekend. We have lots to cover and throughout my research, I worked to get as much diversity in the news so that we get a larger perspective of what’s happening around the world in the travel industry, so without further ado, let’s get started. Stay tuned for more travel news coming your way and let’s dive into what’s new in the travel industry this week.
News Article #1: United Airlines Gives 30,000 Miles to Passengers Affected by Cancellations, Delays — See If You’re Eligible
Staffing shortages and lack of air traffic control have air travel looking almost as bad if not worse than the car traffic as we’re experiencing four million people traveling this 4th of July weekend. Other airlines are stepping up and acknowledging their inability to meet expectations with compensation in the form of miles, at least 30k for United Airlines customers. There’s no room for error when it comes to getting flights in and out so if you’re affected by these cancellations, look out for an email from United specifically, and if you flew/are flying from a different airline research if they’re offering any compensation.
News Article #2: This Low-cost Airline Has 35% Off Flights to London, Amsterdam, and More — but You’ll Have to Book Soon
Budget airlines always made me second guess because it just seems too good to be true. I have heard all the stories from Frontier and Spirit Airlines about luggage loss, rowdy travelers, and the inability to manage conflict and compensate for their wrongdoings. Considering this is an airline from Iceland, I have higher hopes for them (sorry USA), I think this is definitely one to consider! Ending July 7th, you get the chance to…
“fly from any of the United States airports that Play flies out of, including the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, New York Stewart International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport. The sale is valid on travel to Iceland, Copenhagen, London, Dublin, and Amsterdam through Dec. 15, and to Glasgow, Düsseldorf, and Hamburg through Oct. 31, according to the airline. The flight prices include all taxes, fees, and carrier charges. To book, vacationers must use the promo code “PLAY4JULY.””
Travel & Leisure
News Article #3: $100M year-round water park gives families more to do in Atlantic City
Now sure what to do on a rainy day in the summertime? Look no further than the Island Waterpark in Atlantic City. Starting this past June 30, The Island Waterpark has been open for families and waterpark lovers alike with tons of activities to do. The President of Tower Investments is taking many initiatives to turn Atlantic City from a gambler’s haven to a family-friendly destination. Will you consider traveling to this new waterpark soon? I can’t wait to check it out myself!
News Article #4: Is It Safe to Travel to France Right Now? Country Recovers From Sixth Night of Riots
Paris is not having a good 2023. From increasing the age of retirement to wrongfully shooting an innocent 17 year-old-boy, Nahel, Parisians are pissed about racial injustice and letting it be known to the government.
“Nahel’s death has sparked long-simmering anger about policing and racial profiling in France’s low-income and multi-ethnic suburbs. A record 13 people were killed during police traffic stops last year, the majority of the victims of black or Arab origin.” Six nights of constant riots is definitely a way to stand your ground, but is it safe to travel to Paris now? The government recommends these tips to make sure you’re staying safe as “locations and timing of riots are unpredictable,”
- “You should monitor the media, avoid areas where riots are taking place, check the latest advice with operators when traveling, and follow the advice of the authorities.”
- There may be disruptions to road travel and local transport options may be reduced, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) adds. While some local authorities may impose curfews.
- Buses and trams have been stopping at 9 pm, to prevent them from being targeted by protesters. Trains are expected to continue running as normal, as is Paris’s metro system.
Stay safe and be sure to trust your instincts if something seems off- it’s not worth risking your life.
News Article #5: Texas best friends, age 81, go viral for traveling to 7 continents in 80 days: ‘Make some plans and live’
If you ever thought your age was holding you back, think again! These 81-year-old besties are living their fabulous & adventurous life traveling to all seven continents in 80 days. This is a perfect example of why you should never limit yourself because you really never know just how much you can achieve. This is such an inspiring story!
News Article $6: Could your next trip be planned by a virtual travel agent? Booking.com announces new AI Trip Planner
Travel bloggers like me have some major competition- or do we? Booking.com announces a new AI Trip planner among other AI software. This is going to save so much time and energy when planning your trip that you’ll definitely want to try this out!
News Article #7: These remote Irish islands will pay you €80,000 to move there, but there’s a catch
Looking to make an extra buck, move to the remote islands in Ireland. They’re looking to boost the population of these rather quiet islands and the money given will be used to help purchase and fix the home. Is this something you would do, check out the policies here and pack your bags!
News Article #8: FAA Approves the First Flying Car
Road trips might look a little different now as the FAA approved the first flying car. Although it’s not available to the public, the flying car named ‘Model A’, will start its testing and is available for pre-order. What do we think of this? Will people start flying cars soon?
News Article #9: Sequoia National Park’s Famous Generals Highway Will Fully Reopen Soon — What to Know
With many restrictions in place limiting visitation to Sequoia National Park. As it reopened just a few days ago (on July 1), it’s important to book now so that you can secure your spot! Will you be exploring the national parks soon? Be sure to add Sequoia National Park to the list!
News Article #10: Paris to New York in 1.5 hours: The hydrogen jet looking to Usher in hypersonic air travel
Hypersonic air travel slashes time by eighths. Traveling to Paris for only 1.5 hours instead of the usual eight hours will be a game changer, but it’s not finalized yet. Technology is coming into full swing so that means new advancements will be in the works for the years to come. Just imagine that some people commute 1.5 hours to work and in that time you can be on a whole new continent across the pond.
There You Have It
Travel news just got a lot easier to understand and digest. Listening to the podcast is an easy way to get informed without disrupting your everyday life. Stay tuned for more travel news in the upcoming weeks and be sure to JUST BOOK IT!
what do you think?