The “special forces” travel fad among young people in China could be bad news for Beijing

Chinese tourists take their photo with the Forbidden City in the background from Jingshan Park during a sandstorm on March 28, 2021 in Beijing, China. China's capital and the northern part of the country was hit with a sandstorm Sunday, sending air quality indexes of PM 2.5 and PM 10 ratings into the thousands for the second time in as many weeks.

Chinese tourists take their photo with the Forbidden City in the background from Jingshan Park during a sandstorm on March 28, 2021 in Beijing, China. China’s capital and the northern part of the country was hit with a sandstorm Sunday, sending air quality indexes of PM 2.5 and PM 10 ratings into the thousands for the second time in as many weeks.

Young Chinese travelers are hitting the road after three years of covid restrictions, and their approach is all about speed, thrift, and fun.

The new fad, called “special force-style travel” (特种兵式旅游), has gone viral in China over the past couple months. The idea is simple: travel to as many touristic sites in as little time as possible, all while spending the least amount of money. The grueling itineraries that result from the philosophy have earned it the military comparison.

Read more

“Special forces” tourism began trending during China’s

…

Why This Popular European Destination Is Perfect For A Summer Getaway

Share The Article

Last Updated

It’s no secret that this summer is going to be an extremely busy time to travel to Europe.

According to Allianz Partners, a travel insurance company, the number of Americans traveling to Europe this summer has surged 55% compared to the summer of 2022.

Woman standing at scenic overlook in Portugal

Among the most popular European travel destinations for Americans this summer are cities like London, Paris, and Rome.

Still within the top 10 most popular destinations, but further down on the list, is Lisbon, Portugal. While Portugal has certainly been increasing in popularity in recent years, it still remains a somewhat underrated spot for American travelers.

Here are the best reasons to visit Portugal this summer:

Porto Portugal

1. Affordable Prices

Portugal is by far the most affordable country in Western Europe. According to the travel planning tool BudgetYourTrip, you can expect to spend around $149 per day on a

…

Don’t Tip in These Foreign Countries

Not sure of whether to leave a tip? Read on.

Tipping is a hot topic among travelers, primarily because tipping practices vary so widely from country to country. But in most destinations, the differences are small—many service workers accept and appreciate tips for various services ranging from waiting tables to cleaning hotel rooms.

There are some places around the world where tipping isn’t a standard practice, but there are a few others where tipping actually goes against the grain of a country’s culture. Whether collective societies are uncomfortable with individual recognition at the expense of a group effort, or they simply view hospitality as unconditional, these destinations should be approached with care among travelers accustomed to North American tipping practices.

While these countries generally have an adverse view of gratuities, it should be noted that there are also some exceptions.

French Polynesia

Tahitian welcomes are legendary. In this country, spanning

…

Ginza Heist Highlights ‘Dark Part-Time Work” Trend

It was a robbery so brazen, some passersby thought it was a film shoot. On Monday, three masked assassins stole around 70 watches from a Rolex specialty store in Ginza as stunned onlookers filmed them on their phones. The suspects, all in their teens, told the police they didn’t know each other. It seems certain, therefore, that they were recruited for “yami baito,” which literally translated means “dark part-time work.” The phrase made headlines earlier this year due to the so-called “Luffy” robberies.

In other crime news, a 13-year-old boy was stabbed in front of his home in Tokyo, while in Osaka, a 22-year-old man was arrested following the death of his teenage girlfriend. Also this week, we report on the magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck the greater Tokyo region, the downgrading of COVID-19 and calls for the amendment of Article 16 of the Status of Forces Agreement. In

…

Biden proposing new rules to compensate passengers for flight delays

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration wants to require airlines to offer compensation beyond refunds for “controllable” flight cancellations or significant delays.

President Joe Biden on Monday said the Transportation Department will propose later this year new regulations detailing how and when airlines must provide cash or other compensation and cover expenses for meals, lodging, and rebooking when carriers are responsible for stranding passengers.

“If your airline is very delayed or canceled, and the airline could’ve prevented that, you deserve more than just getting the price of your ticket. You deserve to be fully compensated,” Biden said. “Your time matters. The impact on your life matters.”

In the meantime, consumers will be able to check the government site FlightRights.gov to see what airlines are currently offering — which the administration says is not enough.

Airlines for America, the industry trade group for the leading US airlines, pushed back saying airlines have

…