Travel Around The World, Sheridan, WY (2026)

10/07/2021

Why German nightclubs could be declared cultural institutions

As a recommendation to change the status of nightclubs and live music venues gathers momentum, Germany seems to be on track to acquire a swathe of new cultural institutions. This means that music clubs with a focus on artists, young talent and program curation would be placed in the same bracket as theaters, operas, museums and concert halls.

Confirming its agreement that "clubs are culture," the German Bundestag (federal parliament) has now passed a resolution requesting that the country's government recognizes music clubs and live venues under building law as facilities for cultural purposes. Berlin clubs, in particular, are a huge draw for travelers, and the sheer volume and variety of locations throughout the city has made it a key destination for music fans around the globe.

The change in legal status from "entertainment venues" to "cultural institutions" will protect certain clubs from gentrification, and means they will be permitted to open in more rural regions of the country. In confirming the cultural status of music clubs and live music venues, the Bundestag says it is confirming and honoring "the achievements of the operators, artists, employees and freelancers." They will also receive tax breaks. Noise protection solutions will be implemented to help to resolve conflicts of use between the clubs and approaching developments.

According to Live Musik Kommission, club culture is of great cultural and economic value to Germany. "The clubs are entrepreneurially, culturally, socially and architecturally unique open spaces that invite you to experiment, meet and experience" it says. "At the same time, they are an important part of the cultural and creative industries with around 50,000 employees and freelancers with an annual turnover of around €1.1bn ($1.1bn)."

10/06/2021

Portugal opens the world's longest suspension bridge

Travelers with an adventurous spirit may be adding a new suspended pedestrian bridge in Portugal to their bucket lists. The 516 Arouca Bridge has opened to the public, and it has an open metal grid floor that allows those crossing it to see the Rio Paiva river beneath.

The 516m-long (1693ft) bridge is suspended 175m (574ft) above the river in Arouca Unesco Global Geopark just outside Porto. The bridge connects the escarpment of the Aguieiras waterfall and the area of the Paiva Gorge, two of the 41 geosites of the geopark. Its length makes it the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world, a record that was previously held by the Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge in Switzerland.

Designed by Itecons and constructed by Conduril - Engenharia, SA, the bridge is supported by two V-shaped concrete towers. Its design combines elements of a Tibet-style footbridge, and its floor and side railings are made of metal grids to allow visitors to see all around. Construction started in 2017, but was delayed because the location of the bridge needed to be changed due to deployment difficulties and unforeseen geological problems. Construction completed last July, and the bridge has now opened to members of the public aged six and over.

This bridge aims to attract engineering lovers, nature connoisseurs and people who are fond of extreme experiences. Those who cross it will be able to see the Aguieiras waterfall, Paiva walkways, Alvarenga Bridge and Paiva Gorge. It costs €12 ($14.46) for adults and €10 ($12.05) for students, children and seniors.

10/05/2021

You'll need a reservation to visit Yosemite National Park this summer

Those hoping to visit Yosemite National Park in California should bear in mind that day visitors will need to have made advance reservations if they're planning to go between 21 May and 30 September.

The park, located in Sierra Nevada mountains, is a Unesco World Heritage site, and it normally welcomes over four million visitors annually. After its closure in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a phased reopening requiring permits began in June for day visitors. It was designed to cope with guest numbers as the park reopened, but that was lifted in November.

Although the permit system resulted in Yosemite’s visitation rates dropping by half, the system will now be implemented again this year for day visitors during the peak summer season. By limiting the number of visitors, the aim is to facilitate social distancing and curb the spread of the virus. The numbers permitted to enter will also depend on the tier that the county is in at the time. Once they are there, visitors can marvel at the granite monster of El Capitan, the precipitous drop of Bridalveil Fall, and the green, often-wildflower-strewn Half Dome.

Park shuttle buses will not run this summer, and each day-use reservation is valid for one vehicle for three days. Around the US, the National Park Service is using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis. Guests at Yosemite are still urged to follow CDC guidance by maintaining a safe distance between groups, wearing a cloth face covering when social distancing cannot be maintained, and staying home if feeling ill or experiencing symptoms.

10/04/2021

Archaeologists uncover Ancient Egyptian 'lost city' in Luxor

An ancient pharaonic city built around 3500 years ago has been discovered near Luxor in Egypt. It has been revealed to be part of a palace built for the jubilee of the pharoah Amenhotep III at Malqata, who ruled between 1386 and 1353 BCE, approximately.

The city at the 'Palace of the Dazzling Aten' was uncovered in September 2020 near the Colossi of Memnon, the two massive stone statues of the pharoah, who was Egypt’s greatest builder. It is also located near to the Temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu, and the Ramesseum, the mortuary temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Along with the palace, the area housed other palaces, administrative buildings, a temple dedicated to the god Amun and a desert altar known as the the Kom al-Samak.

There was also a huge ceremonial lake known as the Birket Habu, and a vast settlement of houses and workshops to provision the palace, stretching along the Nile for a distance of over seven kilometers. Almost all of this was built from unbaked mud bricks that have now decayed. According to Peter Lacovara, director of Ancient Egyptian Heritage and Archaeology Fund, the new discovery is like an ancient Egyptian Pompeii, where you can walk down the streets of a village from 3500 years ago. "What is remarkable about the latest discovery is its amazing degree of preservation."

"Some of the houses that were found were preserved up to a height of three meters and with much of the contents still intact, including tools, kitchens and pottery vessels - many with the beautiful blue painted decoration known as ‘palace ware.’ Inscriptions on some of the pots name the settlement as ‘the Rise of Aten’ and date them to Amenhotep III’s jubilee. Another inscription discovered records the name of the ‘the domain of the dazzling Aten,’ the name of a temple built at Karnak by Amenhotep’s son, Akhenaton, the “heretic pharaoh” who with his wife Nefertiti, ruled after Amenhotep III.

Peter says that this discovery demonstrates how rich the archaeology of this area was, and its need to be preserved and protected as a national park for Egypt.

10/03/2021

West Virginia will pay remote workers $12,000 to move there

With the world opening up to remote workers and digital nomads, an increasing number of destinations are offering incentives to sweeten the packages. This includes West Virginia, which has announced that it will pay those who move there $12,000 (€10,084) and give them a year's free outdoor recreation worth over $2500 (€2101).

The Ascend WV program offers remote workers who move there $10,000 (€8404) in cash during their first year and $2000 (€1681) during the second year. They will be able to avail of a free co-working space to stay connected, and attend events to connect entrepreneurs with state business leaders. The ability to earn remote work certifications through West Virginia University and access to John Chambers College of Business and Economics’ entrepreneurship ecosystem will also be offered.

As the US state is known for its outdoor living, it is offering a recreation package for participants to encourage a healthy work-life balance. They can explore its 2032 miles of whitewater, 4000 rock-climbing routes, 1.5 million acres of public lands, 1500 miles of public trails and the newest US national park, New River Gorge Park and Preserve.

The package also offers guided excursions to experience West Virginia’s outdoor recreation venues and access to more than $1200 (€1009) in free outdoor gear rentals for use with family and friends. “We are rolling out the red carpet and inviting remote workers from across the country to make Almost Heaven, West Virginia their home,” says West Virginia governor, Jim Justice.

In order to be eligible for the program, participants must currently work remotely or have the ability to work remotely full-time at a business based outside of West Virginia, or be self-employed outside the state. Evidence of employment and income will be required prior to acceptance. They must reside full-time outside the state and have the ability to relocate to the greater Morgantown area within six months of acceptance. They are also required to be US citizens or permanent legal residents.

10/02/2021

St Lucia wants travelers to make the most of their stay with a six-week trip

The Caribbean destination of St Lucia has announced a new program where visitors and remote workers can stay for up to six weeks. The extended stay program is called "Live It," and it's an initiative that places an emphasis on living like a local.

St Lucia is home to the geologic wonder of the photogenic Pitons, which are a World Heritage Site. Nature lovers can hike to jungle-clad waterfalls and explore the forest canopy on land, or dive beneath the calm Caribbean to get up close to St Lucia's marine life.

After filling out a free online form, interested participants are paired with a local tour operator who acts as a personal guide before and during their stay in hotels and villas. They will tailor activities to suit, such as learning local recipes, exploring the rainforests, diving dozens of reefs, hiking the Pitons, or discovering hidden gems that visitors usually can’t find. While in St Lucia, visitors also can work remotely as free wi-fi is offered across the island at hotels, villas and public venues, and many hotels already offer remote work programs, amenities and special perks.

“In a shorter visit, travelers are limited to a few activities, but if they stay for longer they get to roam locally, decompress from a year of lockdowns and also work remotely,” says tourism minister, Hon. Dominic Fedee. “With so many things to explore safely in St Lucia paired with the demand for extended vacations, we created this immersive program so visitors can live like a local, while feeling like a member of the family.”

In keeping with COVID-19 protocols, visitors can choose to stay at up to two of dozens of COVID-certified hotels and private villas. After 14 days, they are free to explore various parts of the island or take residence in a villa or hotel. Visitors interested in extending their experience beyond six weeks may work with their tour operator to apply for an extension of up to one year.

10/01/2021

The Louvre has put its entire art collection to view online

It's the world's most visited museum and houses one of the most famous paintings on the planet - Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa - and those who dream of visiting the Musée du Louvre in Paris can now do so virtually. The richness of the Louvre collections can be seen on a new platform that brings together all of the museum’s artworks in one place, and a new website that is more user-friendly and immersive has also been launched.

For the first time ever, the entire Louvre collection is available online, whether works are on display in the museum, in storage or on long-term loan in other French institutions. Designed for both researchers and curious art lovers, more than 482,000 entries can be seen for free, including works from the Louvre and the Musée National Eugène-Delacroix and sculptures from the Tuileries and Carrousel gardens. There are also works from Musées Nationaux Récupération, which were recovered after WWII and entrusted to the Louvre until they can be returned to their legitimate owners.

The site offers several ways to delve into the collections including simple or advanced searches, entries by curatorial department or by themed albums. An interactive map helps visitors prepare or extend their visit and allows them to explore the museum room by room. Updated regularly by museum experts, the database will continue to grow and reflect advances in research.

The second way to admire artworks from the museum is via its new website. Divided into three main sections and focusing on works in the collections and the sumptuous settings they're displayed in, the site invites visitors to appreciate the former palace as they move from room to room. Available in French, English, Spanish and Chinese, the site can be visited on tablets and computers but is intended primarily for use on smartphones. It is designed to stay in sync with the Louvre as the museum develops more digital content.

"The Louvre is dusting off its treasures, even the least-known," says Jean-Luc Martinez, president-director of the Musée du Louvre. "The Louvre’s stunning cultural heritage is all now just a click away. I am sure that this digital content is going to further inspire people to come to the Louvre to discover the collections in person."

09/30/2021

Mauritius is providing free vaccines to long-term visa holders

The island nation of Mauritius has announced that it has expanded its COVID-19 vaccination programme to include long-term international visitors over the age of 18.

This will be good news for those availing of the renewable premium travel visa Mauritius is offering to international visitors, allowing them to spend up to 12 months there. Visitors holding the premium visa are eligible to receive their vaccinations free of charge, as well as residents of Mauritius holding a work permit, residence permit or occupational permit.

Mauritius is a remote tropical island located more than 1000km off the eastern coast of Madagascar. It is known for its beaches and luxury resorts, but also offers hiking in its forested and mountainous interior and world-class diving and snorkeling offshore. Visitors can enjoy boat trips to small islets and excursions to botanical gardens and colonial plantation houses. It is a great destination for wildlife enthusiasts, and different cultures and quiet fishing villages can be found away from the resorts.

Approximately 1.5m people visit Mauritius each year, more than the population of the island itself. It is heavily dependent on tourism, with approximately 20% of the country’s workforce employed in the sector. "The expanded vaccination programme is part of the national campaign to continue keeping Mauritius COVID-secure and to allow the full reopening of international borders once herd immunity is reached," says the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority.

09/29/2021

Rewilding in Argentina's ecotourism hotspot saved these giant river otters

Conservationists in Argentina are celebrating the birth of three giant river otter cubs. Classified as extinct in Argentina, the birth of the cubs is a result of a massive rewilding project in the country's wetlands. It brings hope for the species - and also creates more opportunities for sustainable ecotourism in the area.

After decades of absence, the three cubs were born in May in the Iberá wetlands of north-east Argentina. The historic birth is part of a major effort to bring the species back by the local Corrientes province government, the National Parks Administration and the Rewilding Argentina Foundation, one of the conservation groups founded by Kris and the late Doug Tompkins to restore wild areas of Chile and Argentina with money from their retail companies, The North Face, Esprit and Patagonia.

"These three cubs are the first that were born in our country in decades and represent the hope to recover a species in Argentina," said Talía Zamboni, a biologist for Rewilding Argentina. "The project being carried out in Iberá is the only one of its kind, never before has there been an attempt to return the giant otter to a place where it had disappeared due to manmade causes."

The giant otter, or choker wolf, is the largest of the otter species. Stretching six feet long (1.8 meters), the South American predator once widely roamed the Amazon Basin but decades of hunting and habitat degradation and destruction, particularly the conversion of grassland for timber, has devastated its species which is classified as endangered globally and extinct in Argentina and Uruguay.

But in recent weeks the situation has improved in Argentina. In May there was the first sighting in 40 years of a giant river otter in the wild. It happened in Parque Nacional El Impenetrable (El Impenetrable National Park), a huge stretch of once-threatened wilderness in the Gran Chaco forest that conservationists have transformed into a sustainable tourism hub. Then followed the birth of the three cubs in the Iberá Park to parents Coco and Alondra, two giant river otters that were recently reintroduced to the wetlands.

Argentina's environment minister Juan Cabandié said the reintroduction of the species brings hope to the future of the area. "It also brings new development possibilities to Iberá through wildlife observation ecotourism, which is today one of the leading economic activities in the Province of Corrientes," he added. "It brings back local pride and identity, as these species were part of the culture of the place."

The giant otter is the top predator in northern Argentina's wetlands, and as as such, it is vital to the ecosystem. Although further studies are required, scientists believe that reintroducing the animal to the wetlands should create a significant impact on the structure of the ecosystem by controlling populations and balancing the food chain.

"The giant river otter is an apex predators in the freshwater systems of the Neotropics," Matías Greco, a vet from Rewilding Argentina told Lonely Planet. "As such, this species has the potential to have widespread direct (by killing) and indirect (by changing prey behavior) effects on prey species triggering what we call 'trophic cascades' with effects on vegetation and a myriad of other organisms and ecological processes."

The giant otters are part of a bigger scheme by Rewilding Argentina to reintroduce several animals to their former habitats in the Iberá wetlands, including jaguars, marsh deer, red-and-green macaws, anteaters, lowland tapirs, yellow anacondas, black alligators and collared peccaries.

The Iberá wetlands — one of the world's largest freshwater reserves — are home to more than 4000 species of flora and fauna, and its wildlife makes up 30% of Argentina's total biodiversity. Twenty years ago the Iberá wetlands was a threatened area but now it's one of South America's greatest ecotourism projects where visitors can enjoy wildlife spotting, hikes through nature trails and boat rides on the lagoon and waterways.

09/29/2021

Tourists return to Thailand as Phuket reopens to vaccinated travelers

After months of border closures, Thailand welcomed its first international tourists today to the island of Phuket, as part of the so-called "Phuket Sandbox". The Sandbox is the only entry point into Thailand for non-essential travel, providing visitors who stay for more than 14 days the opportunity to travel to other parts of Thailand.

The first flight of international tourists arrived into Phuket today under the Sandbox model. As per the program's conditions, fully vaccinated visitors from "low- or medium-risk" countries are permitted to enter Phuket without quarantine. The Thailand Tourism Authority (TAT) says arrivals must be fully vaccinated, and must have tested negative not more than 72 hours before arrival.

Travelers under the Phuket Sandbox program are required to stay in a hotel approved by the country’s Safety & Health Administration for the first seven nights. While on Phuket, visitors are not required to quarantine and are free to leave their accommodation and travel around the island visiting beaches, restaurants and entertainment venues with few restrictions.

Masks are required outdoors and visitors are required to take a second test on day six or seven if they are staying less than a week. Visitors staying a fortnight or longer are required to take two additional tests on day six or seven and again on day 13 or 14. Visitors are also required to register at a government website and use an app that tracks their movements. After 14 nights on Phuket, they are free to leave the island to travel to other points in Thailand.

In preparation for tourists, many of Phuket’s pandemic restrictions have been lifted, and the island’s tourist-oriented businesses have been allowed to operate more or less normally.

The Phuket Sandbox is the first stage in Thailand's border reopening plans. Although currently experiencing a surge in the rate of infections, particularly of the Delta variant, the country is moving ahead with plans to reopen its borders more widely this year. Speaking at a press conference in June, Thailand's prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said fully vaccinated visitors must be allowed entry "without quarantine or other inconvenient restrictions," the Associated Press reported.

While he acknowledged that reopening comes with a risk, particularly as the third wave of the pandemic has not yet subsided in Thailand, Chan-ocha said: "I think when we take into consideration the economic needs of the people, the time has come for us to take that calculated risk." Details are still scant but the Associated Press has reported that the borders could potentially open by mid-October.

The tourism-dependent country is reeling from an almost total lack of visitors over the previous year, and the government is keen to reverse the country’s economic stagnation. Mass vaccination began in June at centers across the country, with the aim of vaccinating 50 million people, or about 70% of the entire population, by the end of the year.

09/29/2021

As cruising restarts in the Caribbean, the pandemic ensures it's not all smooth sailing

Cruising is back – sort of. As cruise lines around the world take their first unsteady steps toward a return to post-pandemic normalcy, the relaunch of a newly refurbished Windstar ship seems to exemplify the complexities of cruising in this moment.

Windstar's Star Breeze, a 300-passenger ship that's just emerged from a dramatic makeover that involved splitting it in half and adding a new section, returned to service for the first time post-pandemic on Saturday. She is outfitted with 50 additional cabins and sleek new restaurants – elements that would be big news in the cruise world, and cause for celebration without the backdrop of a global pandemic.

The Caribbean, however, wasn't exactly ready to welcome the ship back. The problem? While all passengers were vaccinated – a cruise line requirement – some of its crew, which have been with the ship since its dry dock makeover in Sicily, were not.

Beach beds line the edge of a cruise ship.
The Windstar Breeze has undergone a dramatic restoration © Laura Motta / Lonely Planet
This led three of the four Caribbean destinations on the ship's four-country inaugural itinerary – St-Barthélemy, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands – to deny entry to the Star Breeze. Sint Maarten, the fourth, allowed the ship to sail from its port in Philipsburg on June 19, and return there after the cruise is complete on June 26.

The islands' stances are understandable. Some of the first ships to set sail since the beginning of the pandemic immediately found COVID-19 cases onboard – including a high-profile incident on the Celebrity Millennium, one of the first megaships to re-enter service on June 6. In that case, two passengers tested positive, even though all guests over 16 were required to have the COVID-19 vaccine. Given that vaccines don't provide 100% protection against COVID-19, some cases like this were inevitable – on cruise ships and everywhere else.

Vaccination rates in the Caribbean
But in a region where just a few COVID-19 cases can quickly overwhelm hospitals, and where vaccines have been less readily available than in the United States, some Caribbean islands weren't taking any chances. To use one cruise destination as an example, 26% of people in the British Virgin Islands are currently fully vaccinated against COVID-19, compared with 45% of Americans, according to the New York Times. The archipelago's 30,000 residents are served by a single hospital, which is equipped with eight ventilators.

A hot tub and pool on a cruise ship.
The pool and hot tub on board © Laura Motta / Lonely Planet
Here, and in many other Caribbean destinations, there are risks that go along with allowing even vaccinated cruise ship passengers to visit. These seem especially significant when you consider that some Caribbean island ports, pre-pandemic, would see up to a dozen cruise ships each day, some carrying up to 5,400 guests.

Cruises face uncertainty
Onboard the Windstar Star Breeze, about 80 guests – including more than 20 journalists covering the relaunch – set sail from Philipsburg, Sint Maarten without knowing where they were, or if, they would be able to go ashore.

They knew in advance that the trip would face at least some disruption: the line called all guests prior to the sailing and informed them that the planned itinerary would likely not be possible. As a result, Windstar offered the sailing to guests for free, and allowed them to use the dollars they'd spent on the Star Breeze's inaugural voyage on a future cruise.

Most guests, with no money to lose, and when presented with the opportunity to see a mostly-new ship on its first voyage, decided to attend anyway.

"The majority of the guests said, 'OK, we're coming,' said Windstar president Christopher Prelog, who was onboard the ship for the Star Breeze inaugural sailing. "And it was a pretty good success. And that was the objective," he said.

Two days into the Star Breeze's seven-day Caribbean itinerary, which was supposed to have included trips to the blue waters of the Baths on Virgin Gorda, and high-end shopping Gustavia, St-Barthélemy, the itinerary still appeared to be in flux. The captain's announcements indicated that the line's staff was still trying to find a place for the ship to go into port, but wasn't having much luck.

The problem? A patchwork of local and regional guidelines that are interpreted and implemented differently by each country.

Some islands remain closed
"There are islands that are closed," said Prelog, describing the situation that has impacted the Star Breeze's inaugural sailing. "Whether you're vaccinated or not, Anguilla is closed. There are other islands that are about to open up, but are still closed. St. Barths is one of them. "

With St. Barth's giving mixed signals, the Star Breeze circled at sea for a few days before returning to Sint Maarten, where guests were allowed to go ashore for excursions – but only if they followed distancing and mask-wearing guidelines.

The interior of a cruise ship room.
Inside the Windstar Breeze © Laura Motta / Lonely Planet
All guests on the Star Breeze – and on all of Windstar's ships – are required to show proof of vaccination to board. Additionally, a nasal swab rapid COVID-19 test is administered by the cruise line to each guest on the pier immediately before boarding. Once guests board the ship, they are unable to leave unless they're part of a cruise-line-sanctioned shore excursion that maintains this tenuous vaccination 'bubble.' That means that people who like to explore independently in port – on Windstar and on other lines – won't have the option to do so for the time being. It's unclear how long these kinds of protocols will be in place on Windstar and across the industry, and will depend on a the same patchwork of varying local requirements that have impacted the itinerary itself.

Many travelers are still eager to cruise
The mood onboard, however, remained positive.

"The ship has been wonderful," said Star Breeze passenger Cindy Waldrop of Savannah, Georgia. "The itinerary change has not been that big of a deal. I just enjoy the chance to get away and cruise again."

Cindy and her husband Lou – who typically sail on Holland America – decided to book the Star Breeze inaugural at least partly because it was one of the first ships back at sea after an unprecedented industry pause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. When Windstar called two days ahead of sailing to inform them of the itinerary disruption, they didn't consider canceling, and have been pleased with their experience despite the change.

"They've gone out of their way to make me feel content and happy," said Cindy Waldrop.

Windstar has already made plans to remedy the issue that ultimately hobbled the Star Breeze inaugural – its partially unvaccinated crew members.

Prelog said that, following the inaugural voyage, the ship will be sailing to Puerto Rico on June 28, where the line has secured enough vaccines to cover the remaining unvaccinated members of its crew. They'll be given the Johnson & Johnson shot – a more convenient option than the two-dose vaccines when your home is a cruise ship that's in a different place every day. "I understand that the islands need to get their populations vaccinated first. So we had to wait," said Prelog.

The line has canceled two itineraries, on June 26 and July 3, to accommodate the vaccination effort. Sailings will resume on July 10. Guests who booked the canceled itineraries will be given vouchers worth 125% of their original booking or a full refund.

Still, even with a vaccinated crew, that doesn't guarantee that future sailings will go fully uninterrupted. With COVID-19 still impacting the globe, cruising – like all travel – is still a long way from normal.

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