Tag: Travel Bans

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

November 14, 2011 at 3:36 PM | by | Comment (1)

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.

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

October 3, 2011 at 12:54 PM | by | Comments (0)

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!

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

Where: Beijing, China
July 20, 2011 at 10:52 AM | by | Comments (0)

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]

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

Where: Malaysia
June 27, 2011 at 10:30 AM | by | Comments (0)

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?

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

June 3, 2011 at 3:35 PM | by | Comment (1)

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]

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

May 9, 2011 at 2:52 PM | by | Comment (1)

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.

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

May 3, 2011 at 8:33 AM | by | Comments (0)

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.

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More Airports to Get Havana Flights as Obama Lessens Cuba Travel Restrictions

Where: Cuba
January 17, 2011 at 8:40 AM | by | Comment (1)

You know, ever since President Barack Obama entered office, we've been doing stories on the ever-so-gradual opening of Cuba, including everything from Orbitz's "Open Cuba" campaign to WestJet's direct flights from Canada. And now we are yet another step closer to drinking many a Cuba Libre as Obama has made several changes, all which go into effect in about two weeks and do not require congressional approval.

Here's what's going down:

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The Netherlands is Just Saying 'No' to Tourists Smoking Pot

November 18, 2010 at 9:00 AM | by | Comments (0)

A note to all those travelers (and gap year kids) who are hoping to spend the holidays and the turn to next year blazin' with legal marijuana in Amsterdam; your time for fun may be limited at the Dutch government looks to crack down on the sale of pot to tourists. It's all part of an effort to curb crime, reports Reuters, and also because the Netherlands just isnt' fond of their reputation as a hotspot for drug tourism and all the seediness that creates.

"The heart of the problem is crime and disturbances surrounding the sale. We have to go back to what it was meant for: local use for those who would like it," says Ivo Opstelten, the Minister of Public Safety and Justice.

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Bosnia Bans Angelina Jolie from the Country, Fearing She Could Cause a War

October 15, 2010 at 8:32 AM | by | Comments (0)

Uh oh, it looks like other countries are finally getting sick and tired of letting US actresses do with them what they will. Japan recently kicked out Paris Hilton due to her pending drug charges back in the States, and now Angelina Jolie has been denied entrance to Bosnia...but because of a matter far more delicate than drug charges.

Where is Angelina Jolie now? She's filming that movie already, just in Budapest, Hungary. It's the film that's got Bosnia worried, as it's about a "Bosnian muslim woman who falls for the Serbian soldier who rapes her during the bitter Balkans war." Women's groups, Muslim groups and war victims groups are all outraged that someone would want to film this in their country while the people who experienced the trauma are still very much around. Plus, to have A-lister Jolie throwing her weight behind such a project? Yea, Bosnia is mad. The Daily Mail even quoted a Bosnian official as saying, "With one film, Angelina Jolie is in danger of restarting the war all over again all by herself."

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The Vuvuzela, Star of the World Cup, Now Banned from European Stadiums

September 1, 2010 at 12:59 PM | by | Comments (0)

Now that this year's World Cup has been over for a couple months, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is getting around to discussing those pesky plastic horns so popular in South Africa, the Vuvuzela. Unfortunately, they aren't liking what they're hearing because UEFA has announced a ban on vuvuzelas in stadiums for all European Championship and Champions League matches.

Prior to the South Africa World Cup, vuvuzelas weren't part of the football (soccer, whichever word) fans cheering aresenal, but then those fans traveled to World Cup, spent some pocket change on the big horns, and decided that practically bursting the ear drums of fans of the opposing team was good fun. Thus, the vuvuzela has migrated north and European games aren't having it.

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Obama May Take Cuba Travel into His Own Hands

Where: Cuba
August 11, 2010 at 8:54 AM | by | Comments (0)

While the first family has enjoyed several unique vacation locations, we think that they really want to go to Cuba this winter. President Obama seems eager to open up the travel channels between the United States and the island nation, and it might just happen before the summer is over.

Rumors suggest that Obama could ease travel restrictions to Cuba through a change in US policy without necessarily getting approval from Congress. However, the new rules won’t really apply to everyone, so once again, we’ll have to hold off on getting our tickets and transportation booked. The changes would allow more Americans to head to Castro-country for cultural and educational trips. That sounds kind of vague, so maybe checking out an art museum or two would suffice for cultural experience.

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