8 passport mistakes to avoid

France has introduced new rules regarding luggage on trains with fines for travellers who don’t comply. 

Vacations ... aren't they great? There's nothing like heading to a beautiful tropical island in the Caribbean, Florida or the Gulf Coast in the summer or fall. Vacation can be wonderful — that is, until a seasonal tropical weather event or hurricane hits your destination. Then a vacation can become a huge headache or something even worse.

As a freelance travel writer, I know how annoying it can be to plan a dream trip only to realize hundreds (or thousands) of other people had the exact same idea as you.

As someone who was born and raised in London, I've seen tourists make their fair share of mistakes — from unwittingly missing out on one of the best British dishes to clogging up traffic on escalators.

Hogging deck chairs, hanging clothing on balconies, and acting like influencers — these are some of the most annoying things people do on cruises, said Don Bucolo.

Whether due to someone removing their shoes right after boarding or eating a stinky sandwich during mealtime, we've all occasionally wished we had the power to choose our seatmate when we fly. One airline finally gives some customers that option, though for a different reason than the olfactory examples listed above.

Six decades after hosting the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics — when Japan rapidly rolled out new infrastructure like its Shinkansen bullet train and accommodations like Hotel New Otani Tokyo to welcome the anticipated influx of foreigners — the country remains one of the most beloved leisure destinations in the world. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 17.78 million foreign visitors arrived in the first half of 2024, breaking 2019's previous record of 16.63 million. And there are no signs of a slowdown: Japan aims to nearly double 2019's end-of-year record of 31.88 million tourists to a staggering 60 million annually by 2030.

Passport stamps are badges of honour for many travellers, creating a nostalgic paper trail of their adventures.

A few months ago, I realized that my passport was nearly full. It wasn't due to expire for another couple of years, but I was running out of blank pages. I knew that some countries — including popular tourist destinations like Italy and Iceland — might even refuse me entry if I didn't have two or more blank passport pages.

Summer travel 2024, with its record-breaking crowds, is set to reach a fever pitch over Labor Day Weekend. The busiest summer season in recent history is set to end with a bang, as a historic number of people are expected to take to the roads and skies.

The State Department has released new dates for its nationwide Special Passport Acceptance Fairs, continuing to help first-time international travelers score a passport. The new schedule has passport events in Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, and West Virginia throughout the rest of this month, September, and October. For example, travelers in Atlanta, Georgia can get assistance at the Atlanta Passport Agency on Saturday Aug. 24, from 8 a.m. through 11 a.m., and appointments are required. Travelers from Cincinnati, Ohio can visit the Downtown Main Library on Monday, Aug. 26 from 12 p.m. through 7 p.m. for assistance, and appointments are also required.  Additional events are taking place at local government offices in Bridgewater, New Jersey; Burleson, Texas; Clarksburg, West Virginia; and Minneapolis, Minnesota, among others. A full listing of events is located on the State Department’s website.

From holding up the bathroom line with your skincare routine to playing music without headphones and attempting to bring on more bags than allowed, there are numerous etiquette mistakes people make when flying on airplanes.