Jaunted - Tag: Travel Bans

No More Passing the Dutch as Holland Moves to Ban Tourists from Weed Cafes

JetSetCD — 2011-11-14T15:36:07-05:00

It's happening! That ban on selling marijuana to tourists and allowing them in Dutch pot cafes—the one Holland's been discussing since earlier this year—will begin taking effect next year. And while "next year" seems like a far enough time away to not freak about this, may we remind you that next year is little more than a month-and-a-half away, and the ban hits January 1, 2012.

Don't go booking the first KLM direct to Amsterdam quite just yet, however. This first phase of the pot-for-tourists ban will only reach the southern parts of the country—Limburg, North-Brabant and Zeeland—where drug tourism is more of a problem (the rest of Europe just comes across the border down there for a joint or two, you see). Maastricht has been trialling the program since October, actually. Regardless, officials promise to include Amsterdam and the rest of the country in the ban come January 2013.

Orillia: Russell Brand Claims Canada Won't Let Him Into the Country

cmb — 2011-10-03T12:54:27-05:00

Russell Brand pulled a fast one on his Canadian fans this weekend when he claimed he wouldn't make it to a gig in Ontario due to a problems at customs. Russell was set to perform at the Casino Rama in Orillia on Saturday night but tweeted that he was going to be late because of a customs issue.

@rustyrockets HELP! I'm gonna be late for Casino Rama show unless someone can force Canadian customs officials to let us land in Orillia!

Beijing: Beijing Airport Will Ship Your Banned Items Straight Home, Thank You Very Much

JetSetCD — 2011-07-20T10:52:43-05:00

Does anyone even remember a time when passenger were allowed to bring such threatening items as scissors and full water bottles through airport security? We've had perfectly good bottles of bug spray and shaving cream thrown out for being .5 oz over the 3oz rule, and once witnessed a foreign traveler having his giant jug of very expensive pure maple syrup confiscated at Vermont's Burlington Airport. It's no fun, for sure, and a couple airports have stepped up to at least offer an alternative to the trash can: shipping your banned items home.

Singapore's Changi International pioneered the service, whereby travelers holding more than the allowances or with forgotten box cutters in their bags can now just ship it right from the airport to their home.

Following Changi's lead is Beijing International Airport, where Shanghaiist reports Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 2 is charging 20 RMB for items weighing less than 3kg shipped to Beijing addresses, and 100 RMB ($15.50) to be shipped anywhere else. Not too shabby at all! Everyone is getting Chinese ginseng and swords at Christmas this year!

[Photo: nemo's great uncle]

Flying First Class on Malaysia Airlines Isn't for Cry Babies. Literally.

JetSetCD — 2011-06-27T10:30:01-05:00

Forget strangers who nap on your shoulder, clip their toenails in the aisle or talk to you straight through the flight; the universal worst seatmate a flyer could (not) hope for is a crying baby in their ear. Don't get us wrong as we love babies, just not when we've paid good money to get to where we're going in one piece and in peace.

As you can imagine, the frustrations are magnified when noisy babies are brought into the higher priced Business and First Class cabins. Oftentimes travelers choose to pay the premium cost for the premium benefit of sitting in a quieter cabin, in more spacious seats, and maybe getting sleep to adjust to time zones or prepare for a stressful day. And then a baby cries and what's the point anymore?

E.coli Fears Cause American Airlines to Pull Salads from Europe Flights

JetSetCD — 2011-06-03T15:35:01-05:00

Flying to Europe this upcoming week and weekend? Don't expect to munch on a nice little salad as part of your in-flight meal on American Airlines. AA has removed salads from the in-flight menu due to rising E.coli outbreak fears in Europe, specifically regarding vegetables. The removal includes whole salads, plus lettuce and tomato as garnishes.

Usually we absolutely rail against any skimping on airline meals (especially on long-haul routes), but this is one thing we're totally okay with. The last place you want to feel any kind of sickness, or get any kind of sickness, is trapped for eight hours on an airplane. We'll gladly sacrifice a salad for safety in that case.

Plus, they are planning to serve substitutes, saying: ""We are replacing the salad menu items with other menu options to pre-empt any risk and alleviate concerns." Regardless, this is not the best time to be flying and a Vegetarian.

[Photo: Andy Miles for Jaunted]

FL: The Sunshine State Could Be the Next Spot to Get Its Very Own Travel Boycott

kjb — 2011-05-09T14:52:14-05:00

It’s been some time since Arizona decided that they were going to change some of their rules and regulations dealing with immigration, and that led many travelers to pledge that they would skip over the state until things changed. We don’t have any cold hard facts or figures regarding a decline in Grand Canyon tourism or other Arizona hotspots, but negative attention usually isn’t a good thing.

Florida seems to be the next state looking to cause a little trouble, and as a result, it might just be the next state that some travelers will be boycotting. The state legislature recently passed a new bill that would—in their words—require “a reasonable effort” to figure out the immigration status of all those that are lucky enough to meet up with members of law enforcement. We’re not experts on stuff like this, but we do know that things are a little less intense than the policies and procedures over in Arizona.

The EU Loves the Liquids Ban So Much, They're Keeping It for Two More Years

JetSetCD — 2011-05-03T08:33:40-05:00

If you thought for a moment that the killing of terrorist Osama bin Laden maybe would mean you'd be able to bring your toothpaste/shampoo/jar of souvenir maple syrup back onboard airplanes with you, then think again. There's news that not only is the liquids ban not going anywhere anytime soon in the United States, but the European Union and the United Kingdom, who've been seriously playing with the idea of ditching the ban at Europe airports, has just reneged on all that talk. The ban on carrying on liquids in bottles over 3oz/100ml remains.

It was at this time last year that the EU and UK first officially began complaining about it and voicing their desires to get rid the ban. They hoped, this year, to allow passengers flying from non-EU nations to an EU state, or who are in transit, to carry duty-free goods containing liquids. That would at least be a partial lowering of the ban, but alas it stands.