When visiting Tokyo, it’s key to book a luxurious hotel that feels like a serene retreat removed from the crowds. After all, Japan’s sprawling capital is populated by 37 million people, making it the single largest city in the world.
19.07.2023 - 09:43 / cntraveler.com
At the start of this year, the Henley Passport Index 2023, compiled by consultancy firm Henley & Partners, revealed that Japan had the most powerful passport in the world. For the fifth year in a row, the Japanese passport bagged the top spot—either alone or tied with Singapore. But now, according to the most recent ranking, based on exclusive and official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Singapore has pipped Japan to the post and become the most powerful passport. Japan has dropped to third place for the first time in half a decade.
This ranking of the world’s most powerful passports is based on the number of destinations passport holders can access without a prior visa. Singapore’s citizens can visit a whopping 192 destinations out of 227 without a visa. Meanwhile, Germany, Italy, and Spain have risen to tie in second position—each country’s citizens can access 190 countries without a visa.
Japanese passport holders join six other countries—Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, South Korea and Sweden—in third place. These countries’ citizens can access 189 countries without a visa.
If you’re wondering where the United States ranks, it’s tied for eighth place with Lithuania—these passports can enter 184 destinations visa-less. The United Kingdom is tied for fourth place with Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands. These citizens can access 188 destinations. That means that the UK has moved up two places from number six to number four, following a six-year decline. It wasn’t so long ago that the UK occupied the top spot (tied with the United States) in 2014, but the country has dropped the rankings in the years since.
The weakest passports, meanwhile, include Afghanistan, which is at the
When visiting Tokyo, it’s key to book a luxurious hotel that feels like a serene retreat removed from the crowds. After all, Japan’s sprawling capital is populated by 37 million people, making it the single largest city in the world.
Royal Caribbean already operates the world’s largest cruise ship—Wonder of the Seas—but next January it will break that record with Icon of the Seas, which boasts 2,805 staterooms (including more than 1,800 with balconies) and 179 suites. Nearly 1,200 feet long, Icon of the Seas has 20 decks and features a 55-foot-waterfall, multiple pools and waterparks and a “chill island” and a “thrill island”—depending on a passenger’s vibe.
Cruising is one of the best ways to take in multiple destinations on a single trip, not to mention some killer ocean views. For those reasons and more, we look forward to Cruise Critic’s annual Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards. Based on port ratings from avid cruisers and readers, Cruise Critic picks 15 destination winners each year.
Ever dreamed of packing up everything and moving to another country? Here are the most livable cities in the world, according to a study by The Economist.
When it comes to the world’s most popular destinations, two travel hubs have been in a tug-of-war match for the title of ‘most-visited’ over the past few years.
Looking for a new museum to add to your travel to-do list? TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company) has released the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Museums of 2018, including the top 10 worldwide and the top 10 in the United States, with some surprising frontrunners. The findings also highlight bookable ways to see each winner—think VIP tours and scavenger hunts—with some offering the added perk of allowing you to skip the lines to get in.
Survivor meets The Truman Show. As a pretty clever marketing ploy, the Helsinki Airport invited Chinese actor and TV personality, Ryan Zhu, to live in the city’s airport for 30 days.
I don’t suppose that most travelers choose their trip destinations based on a country’s happiness index. On the other hand, if they knew that Country A scored near the top of the happiness index and Country B scored near the bottom, it seems probable they’d be inclined to book their flights to Country A. Who wants to spend their vacation among unhappy people?
AirHelp, the online service that files complaints against airlines on behalf of passengers entitled to compensation for air delays or cancellations, knows a thing or two about air travel. Because it’s hard for the average person to understand air passenger rights and pursue a legal claim when they’ve been wronged, AirHelp is always going toe-to-toe with airlines and airports—and reveals once a year which ones that treat their passengers for the better (or worse).
Skytrax is out with its annual list of the World’s Top 100 Airlines, perhaps the most recognized worldwide ranking of best airlines. As usual, and to the chagrin of travelers here in the states, most of the top performers are not U.S. airlines. Instead, the list is dominated by Asian, Middle Eastern, and, to a lesser extent, European carriers.
2020 likely wasn’t anyone’s favorite year ever, but for citizens of one country, it was a little bit better, according to the United Nations.
In this time of isolation, businesses and individuals around the world are sending out messages of hope. Discover, in photos, how we’re keeping our spirits up during the COVID-19 pandemic.