Everyone wants to save money on vacation, but steep discounts are rare for most — unless you are a high-profile celebrity, influencer, or, it seems, the mayor of New York City.
22.09.2024 - 22:48 / euronews.com / Rosie Frost
The UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will soon apply to visitors from from Europe, Australia, the US and Canada.
It requires tourists to gain permission to enter the country as part of plans to fully digitise its borders by 2025.
The Home Office began rolling out the scheme last November for nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
It has now been announced when it will apply to other nationalities - including Europeans.
Here's everything we know so far.
Visitors from Qatar were the first to be able to apply for the UK's new ETA scheme, starting on 15 November 2023.
Visitors from the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Jordan were the next group from February 2024.
Previously, nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could apply for a single-use Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) instead of a visa to enter the UK. This cost £30 (€34.30) and was valid for up to six months.
The ETA scheme has now entirely replaced the EVW scheme, offering a lower cost option with multi-entry validity, according to the UK government.
This week, the Home Office announced that the ETA will open up to all other nationalities, except Europeans, this November and be required for entry from 8 January 2025.
Europeans, meanwhile, will be required to have an ETA for travel from 2 April 2025, with applications opening up in March.
Once the scheme applies to your country, you will need to fill in an online application form that will grant you permission to enter the UK. Most visitors will be able to apply using a mobile app with a swift decision on their application, according to the government.
You'll need a valid biometric passport from an eligible country, travel details, an email address and a credit or debit card. You will also have to answer a set of suitability questions.
Like the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) in the US, a small fee is attached to the application process. This will be set at £10 (€11.66).
Travellers are advised to apply at least few days before their planned journey and approval should be granted within 72 hours.
The ETA isn't a visa but it does grant permission to enter the country.
All visitors who currently don't have to apply for a visa will need to get an ETA before they travel. This includes those who do not currently need to make any form of application to visit to the UK - meaning US, Canadian, Australian and European citizens will require an ETA even for short stays.
If you don't apply before your trip, you could be fined. UK and Irish passport holders won’t need an ETA.
Travellers from countries that don't have visa-free entry agreements with the UK will still have to apply for the correct visa
Everyone wants to save money on vacation, but steep discounts are rare for most — unless you are a high-profile celebrity, influencer, or, it seems, the mayor of New York City.
I love visiting kitschy or unique tourist landmarks on a road trip or weekend getaway. In fact, after visiting all 50 states solo, I've enjoyed my short visits to nearly all the major tourist attractions in the United States.
You can listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify each week. Follow this link if you're listening on Apple News.
When the Van Cortlandt family acquired their sprawling Hudson Valley estate in the late 1600s, they couldn't have imagined that it would one day host a jack-o'-lantern festival with pumpkin sculptures including a Kraken, moving windmill, and Statue of Liberty.
If you told me years ago I’d be traveling to Iceland alone to meet a bunch of strangers for a group vacation, I would have called you crazy and laughed out loud.
Sober travelers who wish to take to the seas find it nearly impossible to book an alcohol-free cruises. Major cruise lines focus heavily on alcohol consumption, trying hard to sell expensive drinks package to cruisers. In return, cruisers who paid big bucks for their drinks package tend to indulge a lot more than usual in an attempt to get their money’s worth, creating an atmosphere that’s very unhealthy for those who want to avoid booze altogether.
Scotland has no shortage of draws for travelers. More than 4 million people traveled to Scotland in 2023, and that number is only growing. Famous draws like world-class whisky and museums fill itineraries, as do castles and nature that’s being restored through an ambitious rewilding program. And while there are plenty of things to do, the best way to experience Scotland is through slow travel, which the region is actively promoting. It’s just one of the reasons Matador Network named Scotland its Sustainable Destination of the Year in 2023.
I met my partner in New Orleans right before COVID changed everything, and I never thought our relationship would involve dealing with international borders and visa rules. As an Australian, I was used to long-haul flights, but the emotional challenges were something I didn't expect.
When I first leveled up from casual running to my first marathon, I went to my local Fleet Feet in Hoboken, New Jersey, to buy a pair of real running sneakers. After an extensive chat and consultation, I was pointed towards a pair of Brooks Running shoes.
Have you ever wondered which European cities have the best, worst and busiest metro networks? New research reveals the answers.
Depending on where you're reading this, you might have noticed a chill in the morning air or leaves turning a golden shade of brown.
Fall travelers can rejoice with new discounts on airfare. Frontier Airlines recently announced a fall vacation sale, with one-way fares as low as $19 to popular destinations including Chicago, Philadelphia, Orlando, and more. Dallas has the highest number of deals in the sale, including flights to/from the city to Detroit, San Jose, Houston, Jacksonville, Miami, Portland, and more. Other popular markets in the sale include flights to Orlando from New Orleans, San Antonio, and Syracuse. The sale also includes discounts to several international destinations that Frontier flies to, such as one-way service between Atlanta and Cancun from $85, and Denver to Puerto Vallarta from $99. The lowest discounts at $19 are exclusively for members of Frontier's paid membership program, Discount Den. The program has an annual fee of $99 for the first year, and $59 for subsequent years, and provides access to lower cost fares as well as benefits including free flights for children. The sale ends on September 23, 2024 at 11:59 p.m., and is valid on travel for select days through November 20, 2024. There are several restricted dates in the sale, such as discounted travel to Las Vegas is only available on Sunday through Wednesday. The sale is currently available on Frontier's site. For travelers looking to book a fall vacation, Travel + Leisure spotted deals including: