by Jonathan Spira

The reopening of international borders has given rise to family reunions and the activation of long-dormant travel plans to Europe but such trips come with a fairly large caveat: “Avoid travel” recommendations from Austria to the former Yugoslavia are now in place.
“Because of the current situation,” the CDC writes on its travel-advisory website, “even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading Covid-19 variants.”
The situation that the …

As 2022 Approaches, Airlines and Hotels Extend Elite Status Once Again

by Kurt Stolz

While the number of people flying and driving great distances hit a pandemic high over the Thanksgiving holiday, the travel industry isn’t seeing sustainable increases as the world heads into the final six weeks of the year.
Airlines and hotel chains are making note and taking steps to keep their best customers happy with yet another year of bestowed elite status, mirroring at least in part what happened at the end …

Thanksgiving is Thursday – Here’s What’s Open and What’s Closed

by Anna Breuer

Thursday is Thanksgiving in the United States, a national day of giving thanks for the harvest.  Travel is expected to be close to pre-pandemic levels after a year where the country largely stayed put amidst the coronavirus pandemic-induced decline in group activities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance stating that anyone attending a family gathering should be fully vaccinated, urging everyone to avoid crowded and poorly ventilated spaces.
George …

Ford, GM, Mercedes Among 6 Automakers and 30 Countries in Glasgow Pledging a Zero-Emissions Future

by Paul Riegler

Six automakers and 30 countries pledged, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, to move to eliminate the production of new gasoline- and diesel-powered automobiles by 2040. While the list includes such major automakers as Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo, as well as countries such as Britain, Canada, India, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the Netherlands, the compendium of companies that either abstained or did not pledge was …

Thursday is Veterans Day: Here’s What’s Open and What’s Closed

by Kurt Stolz

Thursday is Veterans Day in the United States, a federal holiday that honors military veterans.  The holiday, which coincides with Armistice Day and Remembrance Day in other countries, marks both the anniversary of the end of the First World War in 1918, as an armistice ending all hostilities went into effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 and honors all veterans.
In 1919, …

Daylight Saving Time for 2021 to End This Sunday

by Paul Riegler

Just one week after the European Union set its clocks back by one hour to Winter Time, the United States will, in lockstep, return to standard time on Sunday, November 7, at 2 a.m. local time.
Daylight Saving Time in the United States will resume on March 13, 2022 and end on November 6. In the European Union, Summer Time will start on March 27, 2022.
Summer Time – or Daylight Saving …

Today is Election Day: Here’s What’s Open and What’s Closed

by Anna Breuer
Today is Election Day: Here’s What’s Open and What’s Closed

Today, Tuesday, is Election Day in the United States, a day set by law for the general elections of federal public officials that also encompasses elections for state and local officials. By statute it is “the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November.”
While Election Day is not a federal holiday, it is a state holiday in many jurisdictions including Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana New …

Great Moments in Travel History – November 2021

by Jesse Sokolow

November, the eleventh and penultimate month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, is the last full month of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and the last full month of spring in the Southern. Originally the ninth month in the calendar of Romulus, November retained its name, which is derived from the Latin “novem” or “nine.”
In the United States, November is the month of the Thanksgiving holiday, a …