In July, some visitors to Thailand who were traveling on tourist visas were prevented from entering the country by Immigration officers when they could not show they were carrying at least 20,000 baht (near $600) in cash. Other reports indicated that travelers without the cash in hand were taken into custody for questioning before being allowed to enter the country.
The US Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) launched on-site Global Entry Enrollment Centers at five airports on July 7: Vancouver International Airport (YVR), San Francisco International (SFO), Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS) and, in Houston, George Bush Intercontinental and (IAH) William P Hobby Airport (HOU).
Global Entry gives enrolled travelers faster entry through Customs when returning to the US from another country. It also makes them eligible for TSA Preê (Pre-check), which provides a separate line for expedited security clearance for departures.
The US Department of State warns against travel to remote areas of Algeria due to the threat of terrorist attacks and kidnapping. Extremists have conducted attacks in the mountainous region south and east of Algiers, farther east outside the city of Constantine and in the southern and eastern border regions.
On May 25, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began testing new protocols at security lines in 10 US airports. The new protocols require that any electronic device larger than a cell phone, such as a tablet or e-reader, must be removed from carry-on baggage before going through the x-ray machine. Additionally, some other items, including food items, may be required to be removed from bags for inspection. These rules do not apply to TSA Preè (Pre-check) passengers.
My wife, Marcia, and I finally made it to Victoria Falls in March 2017, and we weren’t disappointed. In fact, our visit there was downright spectacular. A major contributor to our enjoyment was the Zimbabwean guide Moses Ndhlovu (phone +263 777 835 960 or email mosndhlovu@yahoo.com).
Our hotel, the Bayete Guest Lodge (Stand 584, Manyika Rd., Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe), put us in touch with Moses, and he came by the day before our tour to finalize arrangements. The next morning, he showed up right on time driving a spotless van, and off we went.
Travelers deplaning from an international flight at Terminal 2 in Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City will no longer be required to go through random bag checks. Previously, arriving passengers each were required to push a button at Customs that would randomly flash a green (free to go on) or red (mandatory bag check) light.
A new mobile x-ray machine now checks bags between the aircraft and baggage claim. If successful, the program is expected to be expanded to other airports in Mexico.
A new law in India, which began being enforced on April 1, prohibits alcohol from being sold at shops or served by bars or restaurants that are within 500 meters of a national or state highway. This law forced more than 100 bars in restaurants and hotels in Delhi to close. As the law begins to be enforced in other cities, more establishments will be affected.
A number of hotels could lose their 4- and 5-star ratings if they cannot sell alcohol.
Dear Globetrotter:
Welcome to the 496th issue of your monthly foreign-travel magazine. (Approaching 500! We must be doing something right.)
I’ve got a lot to cover this month, so I’ll get right to it.
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Starting sometime in late February, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) quietly changed the way its agents perform pat-downs in airport security lines.
Dear Globetrotter:
Welcome to the 495th issue of your monthly foreign-travel magazine.
Visitors entering India with an e-Tourist visa (to apply, indiavisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html) are eligible for a free cell phone SIM card that also includes phone call credits and 50 megabytes of data for free. A user will be charged for any calls made or data used only after the credits run out. The card will give the visitor an Indian phone number during his visit, which will allow him to contact local and national services.