Passport to Adventure: See Where It Can Take You Visa-Free

 

If you’re an international traveler, you have a passport. Every country issues its own, and they are similar in many respects. They’re designed to provide identification for the bearer and allow him or her entry into virtually every country in the world, as well as entry back into their home country. But some passports, evidently, are better than others.

            The major factor in determining how “powerful” passports are is how many countries are accessible and visa-free for that nation’s citizens. As we know, some countries require a visa, in addition to a valid passport, for legal entry. But not everyone has to have a visa for every country they go to. The consultancy firm Henley & Partners puts together the Henley Passport Index, based on exclusive and official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). So, based on that ranking, we know who has the most powerful passport in the world…and it’s not the United States.

            It’s Singapore, the small but economically significant southeast Asian nation. Singapore passport holders can travel visa-free to a total of 195 countries, more than any other nation. There’s a five-way tie for second place between Japan, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, but they’re only three countries behind Singapore.

            Denmark moved up to third place last fall when it gained visa-free access to China. Joining the Danes on the third tier at 191 destinations are Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea and Sweden. Four other countries are slated to move up after gaining visa-free access to China. They are Portugal, Greece, Slovenia and Norway.

            Where are we at? U.S passport holders currently can travel to 186 countries visa-free. That’s still a lot of countries—the United Nations lists 195 countries, including two non-member observer states (Vatican City and Palestine)—so we are only 9 away from getting complete, visa-free access to the world. Only Singapore is there now.

            Ten years ago, the U.S. and the United Kingdom held first place in the index, but we and our British cousins have been eclipsed by the ongoing global trend toward greater travel freedom. The average number of destinations travelers can now visit without a visa is 111, nearly double what it was back in 2006 (58). But the top-tier nations are advancing faster toward visa-free travel than the lower-ranked countries. Afghanistan, for example, can access only 26 countries visa-free. Those countries moving toward open travel are increasingly making this quest part of their diplomatic efforts.

            So, at present, there are 9 countries Americans can’t enter without a visa. What are they? Well, that’s not necessarily easy to find. The Henley Passport Index doesn’t list them. A quick check of Wikipedia listed 19 countries which require U.S. visitors to have visas, including China, Yemen, Venezuela, Turkmenistan, Sudan, Russia, Niger, Nauru, Mali, Liberia, Iran, Ghana, Eritrea, Republic of the Congo, Chad, Central African Republic, Belarus, Algeria and Afghanistan. Others require an “eVisa upon arrival,” such as Tanzania, which my husband and I visited in October.

            It can get kind of confusing, can’t it? The best way to handle it is to ask us to help you with your passport and visa requirements when you plan your trip with us. If some sort of visa is required by the country you intend to visit, it’s best not to find out when you get off the plane or the ship. Give us a call, and we’ll help you make sure all your credentials are in order.

Escape the Freeze: Discover the Warm Wonders of Tahiti

As this is written, my husband tells me it’s freezing cold in Wisconsin. Where I am, on the island of Tahiti, it’s warming up to about 80 today. Maybe a little rain later. It’ll be a busy day here, but perhaps I’ll get in some poolside sun here at Te Moana Tahiti Resort.

            I should explain. I’m here on a working trip. (Really.) I arrived from Cancún, Mexico, where I’d attended a conference last Thursday. The next day, I flew five hours to Los Angeles, and after a five-hour layover, it was eight hours to Papeete, the capital city in the Society Islands, of which Tahiti is the largest. After arriving on Saturday morning local time, it was right to work, joining nine of my U.S. travel colleagues in a six-day inspection tour, during which we’ll be hard at work on behalf of our clients. (Honest!)

            We’re visiting a dozen new and remodeled properties on some of the most scenic islands in the archipelago, so that when I come home, I’ll be able to help my clients find their next dream vacation. If you choose Tahiti, I want to make sure you’ve made the right choice. So, I thought it might be nice to fill you in on the history and culture of this beautiful place. (See, I really am working!)

            The Society Islands are an archipelago of 14 islands in two groups, the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands. Settled by Polynesians about a thousand years ago, they were first sighted by European explorers in 1767, when a British ship, HMS Dolphin, arrived in search of fresh food. Captain Samuel Wallis and his crew suffered from scurvy, a common affliction on long voyages in the age of sail. The islanders were in need of iron for knives, axes and fishhooks, and so a trading relationship was quickly established. What made the islands especially popular for European sailors was that Tahitian women were renowned for their beauty, along with their eagerness to exchange favors, shall we say, for iron and other goods.

            The islands became a French protectorate in 1843 and a colony in 1880. Today, they are a part of French Polynesia. Generally known by the name of the largest island, Tahiti, the 14 islands have a combined land area of 610 square miles and a population of 276,000. By comparison, the Hawaiian Islands, which are in the same time zone, are much larger and more populous. The seven major inhabited islands of Hawaii total over 6,300 square miles and are home to nearly 1.5 million people.

            Being much smaller and less populated than Hawaii, Tahiti is known for its intimacy, not to mention its natural beauty and friendly people. The average daily high temperature is about 80 degrees, varying only slightly from the warm season (November-March) to the cool season (April-October). The heat, high humidity and volcanic soil have combined to cover much of the islands with dense tropical forests, but there are plenty of hiking trails on the islands, not to mention some of the world’s most beautiful golf courses. Swimming and diving are very popular tourist pursuits, of course. Transportation from the international airport on the big island of Tahiti to the outlying islands is by small plane or boat. Another popular way to see the islands is by cruise ship. In 2015, my husband and I spent a very pleasant week aboard the Paul Gaugin, which carries only 330 guests and stops at all the major islands in the chain.

            The ship is named after one of the most famous people ever to live here, the French post-Impressionist painter and sculptor Paul Gaugin, who spent his most prolific periods in the islands in the late 19^th century. One of his sculptures sold for nearly $31 million a few years ago.

            And speaking of ships, one of history’s most famous, HMS Bounty, arrived in Tahiti in 1788 on a mission to collect breadfruit plants and transport them to British colonies in the West Indies. Over its five-month stay, most of the sailors lived ashore with Polynesian women. When Captain William Bligh ordered them back to the ship for the voyage home, many of the Englishmen weren’t pleased. Led by Lt. Fletcher Christian, they mutinied, set the captain and some loyalists adrift in an open boat, and set out to live their lives. Some returned to Tahiti, and others sailed to isolated Pitcairn Island, where their descendants live to this day. The “Mutiny on the Bounty” was made into five movies, with some very famous actors starring as Christian: Errol Flynn (1933), Clark Gable (1935), Marlon Brando (1962) and Mel Gibson (1984). Brando was so entranced with Tahiti, where his movie was filmed, that he bought a nearby 12-island atoll, Tetiaroa, and built a home there. A new resort, the Brando Hotel, opened there in 2014, and I can attest to its beauty.  

            Tahiti is on the bucket list of a lot of Americans, for good reason. We can help you get there. Give us a call!

Sue Tindell

 

Get Ready for 2025-26 Adventures: Discover Tahiti, Greenland, & More!

Many of our clients are now planning their 2025 travel, and some are booking into ’26. Cruises are filling up fast, and many foreign attractions are starting to limit visitors, so it certainly pays to plan ahead, perhaps way ahead. But sometimes just deciding where to go is the hardest part. Let’s take a look at some exotic locations you may want to visit in the next year or two.

·         Tahiti. The Society Islands of the South Pacific, best known by the name of their biggest island, top a lot of bucket lists, and for good reason. An eight-hour flight from Los Angeles, Tahiti lies in the same time zone as Hawaii, so jet lag is minimal. A part of French Polynesia, the islands are well-known for their glistening beaches, pristine waters and friendly natives. Each of the islands in the group have something to offer, but my favorites are Bora Bora, for its over-water bungalows, and Moorea, with its natural beauty that invites hiking and exploring. Another is Rangiroa, which has beautiful pink sand beaches. The Brando resort on Tetiaroa is the place to go for understated, Robinson Crusoe-style luxury. In the coming week, I’ll be spending several days among the islands, scouting out new and remodeled properties.

·         Greenland. The world’s largest island, which is politically a part of Denmark, has long been considered too remote to visit, at least easily, but that is changing. Just last week, a new international airport opened in the capital city of Nuuk, and next summer United Airlines will start offering non-stop flights to Nuuk from Newark. Previously, U.S. tourists had to fly through Oslo or Copenhagen. Greenland hosts about 130,000 tourists per year, arriving by air or ship, to hunt and fish, explore its Arctic tundra and see its wildlife, ranging from whales to musk ox to reindeer and polar bears.

·         East Africa. My husband and I spent nearly all of October exploring Kenya and Tanzania. First came our climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro, a bucket-list item if there ever was one. If you’re ready for the challenge—or think you might be—we’ll be happy to set you up with an experienced, reliable outfitter for what will surely be one of your life’s greatest adventures. Or maybe a safari is more your style. Our recent safari took us through five camps, winding up in the marvelous Serengeti, where we got up close and personal with rhinos, giraffes, elephants, even lions. (Not too close with those.)

·         Lovable cities. Maybe exploring new urban landscapes is more your cup of tea. And speaking of tea, London has just been crowned the best city in the world by marketing consultants Resonance and Ipsos, which ranked world cities based on “livability, lovability and prosperity.” The capital of the United Kingdom is renowned for its museums and nightlife. Paris is next, thanks to its shopping and sightseeing; leading the way for the French capital is the newly restored Notre-Dame Cathedral, which opens this weekend after a five-year-long renovation from the devastating 2019 fire. New York is third on the list, with its Broadway shows and top-tier dining. Rounding out the Top 10: Tokyo, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Dubai, Berlin and Singapore.

There’s truly something for everyone waiting for you out there. Ready to explore in ’25? Give us a call!

 

 A Global Culinary Thanksgiving: From Italy's Pasta to Kashmir's Bread

It’s Thanksgiving week, and everybody’s thinking about food. Whether we’re spending the holiday at home or traveling, food—and probably lots of it—will be a part of our weekend. In the U.S., our Thanksgiving tradition goes back to the Pilgrims of the 17^th century. President Abraham Lincoln established the day as a national holiday on the last Thursday of November in 1863. Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, had campaigned for the holiday for decades.

            When we travel, we like to sample the foods of the places we visit. My husband is on a quest to find the best Bolognese pasta sauce; so far, he says, the most delicious he’s had was prepared by a Macedonian chef on board a cruise ship during our sailing around Italy in 2007. Italy, of course, is world-renowned for its cuisine, but it’s not always about pasta.

            One of Italy’s most famous exports is Parma ham, frequently used in prosciutto. It enjoys a special protected status: only meat cured in the northern region of Emilia Romagna using Italian-grown pork legs, salt and air can be certified as authentic Parma ham, with annual sales of $1.6 billion. Tourist foodies flock to the region for Parma ham, balsamic vinegar and Parmesan cheese. But a warming climate and the spread of viruses affecting the pigs are causing shortages of Parma ham. Some countries, like China, Japan and Taiwan, have closed their markets to Parma ham because of African swine fever. The U.S., Canada and Europe have implemented regional bans, depending on where the virus has been most prevalent. But the industry is adjusting and visitors to the region are still enjoying Parma ham and other local delicacies.

            Here in Wisconsin, we love our cheese. They love it in Europe, too. Earlier this month, the World Cheese Awards were handed out in Portugal. In the biggest contest ever, nearly 4,800 cheeses from 47 countries were judged by a panel of 240 experts. The winner: Queijo de Ovelha Amanteigado, a soft, ewes’ milk cheese produced by a small, 10-employee shop in Soalheira, Portugal. Among the 13 other cheeses that made the finals were five Swiss cheeses, plus entries from the U.S., Brazil, Norway, Italy, Germany and Spain. Cheeses from Norway and Switzerland were winners in the past two years.

            The judging was a spectacle by itself. Over 100 tables were set up, each one filled with around 40 cheeses of all shapes, colors, sizes, ages and textures. The winner was described as “voluptuous” by one of the judges. The lone American-made cheese in the finals was produced by Cellars at Jasper Hill in Vermont. Holland’s Family Cheese of Thorp, up here in northwest Wisconsin, had some entries in the field.

            Fresh bread always finds a place on our Thanksgiving table. We’ll get a loaf or two from one of the many fine bakeries in our area, but when we travel, we like to sample local breads. France is generally regarded as one of the best bread producers in the world, but that status might be challenged now by a place generally known for its soaring mountains and political tensions.

            The Kashmir region of northern India has been contested between India and Pakistan for a long time. Centuries before those countries even existed, the famed Silk Road trade route passed through Kashmir. In the city of Srinagar, amidst the natural beauty of the Himalayas, bakers known as kandurs produce breads that are gaining worldwide recognition among bread gourmands. Nearly a dozen varieties are baked, each one with its own peculiar ritual and time of day to be consumed.

            A Kashmiri kandurwan uses clay tandoor ovens to bake its breads, with methods common in Central Asia. The baking technique has remained largely unchanged for centuries, deeply ingrained in Kashmir’s culture. Crisp-on-the-outside, pillowy-on-the-inside, circular girda and crunchy, thin lavasa are staples in the region’s homes. Picking up the bread at a bakery is a social occasion, with customers visiting while shop boys wrap their breads in day-old newspapers. At home, the bread is consumed along with noon chai, a savory tea. One of the region’s special-occasion breads is bakarkhani, a layered bread that is baked in sizes ranging up to 3 feet in diameter, typically served with mutton dishes.

            Many of Kashmir’s bread traditions, including recipes, are passed down through the generations as oral history, but restaurants in greater India are picking up on them. Kashmiri breads can now be found in Mumbai and other Indian cities, imported by chefs who have learned how to replicate the region’s baking process. It’s only a matter of time, we think, before Indian restaurants in Europe and the States start featuring Kashmir-inspired bread.

            Ready to explore the culinary delights of other countries? Give us a call!   

         Sue Tindell

 Fly Confidently: Quick Compensation for Flight Disruptions!

We don’t want anything to go wrong when we travel, but sometimes it does. One of the most common mishaps our clients encounter is a canceled or delayed flight. Usually, we can help them get on another flight fairly quickly, and their trip won’t be seriously disrupted. Sometimes, though, things can go catastrophically wrong. Whether the airline’s mishap affects you short-term or long-term, it’s nice to know that now, you will be compensated for your trouble.

            Last April, the Department of Transportation issued new rules that dictate how airlines must handle customer refunds for flight cancellations, delays and other disruptions. The rules are now in effect. There are clear standards for what constitutes a delayed flight, and refunds must be provided within 20 days.

            Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said, “Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them, without headaches or haggling.” It took about six months for DOT to get things squared away with the airlines, but as of October 28, the new rules are in place. Here are the highlights:

·         All customers are now entitled to automatic refunds of their original payment when an airline cancels a flight for any reason. This catches U.S. travelers up to Europe, to a certain extent; since 2004, European airline customers are entitled to payments up to 600 euros for a flight disruption. Until now, American travelers would usually be frustrated by airlines pushing vouchers or flight credits in lieu of refunds. Sometimes customers were directed to call a customer service line (usually an unpleasant experience) or fill out a long form. The new rules allow passengers to request a full refund to their credit card or cash, whichever they used for their original payment. If they’ve already traveled partway on their original flight, they are not refunded for the segment completed.

·         Passengers are entitled to refunds for a “significant change” in the flight schedule, and DOT has defined what that means: a change in departure or arrival time greater than 3 hours for domestic flights or 6 hours for international; a change in either arrival or departure airport; an additional connection that wasn’t on the initial itinerary; a downgrade in the class of service previously booked and paid for. Disabled passengers can also get a refund if they’re routed to a different airport or aircraft that is less accessible.

·         Passengers must decline the airline’s offered alternative flight to be eligible for the refund. Airlines must also automatically refund a passenger if they can’t provide a service upgrade, like premium seating or onboard WiFi, if already paid for.

·         Here’s a big one: airlines must now refund bag fees if they don’t deliver your checked baggage within a certain time of the flight’s arrival. That time limit is 12 hours for a domestic flight or 15-30 hours (depending on the length of the flight) when an international flight arrives. You’ll still have to fill out a “mishandled baggage” report with the airline to get the refund.

·         Gone are the days when we were due a refund but had to wait a long time for it, even after promptly filling out all the paperwork. There are now strict requirements for airlines to process claims: 7 business days for credit card payments, 20 for other payment methods.

·         There are several circumstances in which airlines will have to automatically issue refunds, meaning passengers won’t be stuck with massive paperwork or long waits on customer service lines.

·         Passengers’ rights are also affected by the new rules. If you can’t fly because you’ve been restricted by a government, or advised against it by a doctor, due to a “serious communicable disease,” you will now be entitled to a transferable voucher valid for five years from the date of issue. Airline vouchers have traditionally been non-transferable and valid for only a year. This rule goes into effect next April.

·         Finally, airlines are required to inform passengers that they are entitled to a refund for a canceled or significantly altered flight. If the airline doesn’t do this and its customer service doesn’t resolve the issue, passengers can now file a complaint with the DOT.

Airlines don’t like to be socked with government penalties. Since 2020, they’ve had to pay $164 million in fines, according to the DOT. This may be why flight cancellations hit a record low of 1.2% in 2023. But if you happen to be in that 1.2%, it’s not much fun. At least now it won’t be terribly costly. Ready to get out there and see how the airlines are doing? Give us a call!

To the top of Africa--almost

              That would be Mt. Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania. Kili is an extinct volcano, and at its official summit, you can say you’re on the highest point in Africa, just over 19,400 feet. It was something Dave and I had talked about doing for years, and this was it. We trained hard for months with many visits to the gym to build up our strength and weekend hikes around the area. Armed with new backpacks and plenty of other gear, we flew out of Minneapolis on October 3, arriving in Moshi, Tanzania, the next evening. At the hotel we met our climbing companions, 13 other folks with a total of 5 countries represented. On the 6^th, our outfitter, Ultimate Kilimanjaro, transported us to the Lemosho Gate and we were off.

            From the gate to the eventual exit would be 43 miles, and there were no easy miles among them. In fact, it seemed there were no easy yards; the trails were much more difficult than advertised, strewn with rocks and sometimes blocked with boulders so large we literally had to climb over them. But our outfitter did a great job, with porters rushing ahead of us every day to set up camp and have it all ready to go by the time we arrived late in the afternoon. The food was delicious and there was plenty of it, our tents and sleeping bags kept us warm and dry through the frigid nights and the guides provided excellent advice and checked our medical condition twice daily. One gal, from Florida, had to turn back after two days due to altitude sickness, but we did just fine. But the difficult trail took a toll on Dave, who’d had foot surgery just six months earlier, and on the day we were to hike to the base camp, we were told Dave would have to turn back. I accompanied him as a guide and porter were dispatched to take us down to the exit gate, a rugged journey that took us two days.

            We arrived back in Moshi a day before our colleagues, and when they staggered in they told us only 8 of the remaining 12 climbers made it to the summit, scaling the final 4,000 feet in the early-morning darkness, lit only by their headlamps and buffeted by bone-chilling winds. As dawn finally broke, the survivors made it to the summit after a 7-hour climb. Then they had to turn around after only a few minutes and go all the way back down, plus another several kilometers to the next camp. All told, they were on the trail about 17 hours that day.

            Two nights in Moshi gave us a chance to clean up and get some rest, and then we flew to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, for the next leg of our trip, a safari outfitted by Alexander + Roberts. We stayed at the beautiful, historic Fairmont Norfolk Hotel—Dave was excited to learn our room was right next to the one Teddy Roosevelt had when he was there to start his own safari in 1909—and met our new group. After three nights in Nairobi, we set out for our adventure. Over the next ten days and nights, we stayed at five different camps and explored landscapes ranging from heavily forested to desert, and we saw animals. A lot of animals, in their natural state thanks to strict conservation laws in both countries.

            More than once we saw lions, sometimes coming within a couple dozen feet of them. One morning we saw a group dining on a zebra, and the next day another pride was feasting on a wildebeest. Elephants walked past us without an apparent care in the world. There was an amazing variety of antelopes, ranging from small gazelles to the moose-sized eland. We saw hippos and crocodiles in the Mara River, including a tragic example of nature in action, when a croc captured a wildebeest that had made the mistake of trying to ford the river on its own. We saw rhinos up close and a leopard. Lots of giraffes, too; in fact, at the Giraffe Center in Nairobi we were able to feed some. There were large herds of wildebeest and zebras, the occasional buffalo and an amazing variety of birds. At our camp in the Amboseli region, black-faced monkeys were all over, and you had to be careful if you were dining out in the open, because it was not uncommon for a monkey to swoop in and grab something off your plate. We saw baboons and warthogs and mongoose and lizards and so much more.

            The people we met, especially the ones who guided us on our game drives and staffed our lodges, were uniformly nice and provided excellent service. Yes, there were several moments when we drove through the crowded streets of a Kenyan or Tanzanian town and realized we certainly weren’t in Wisconsin anymore, but the people seemed relatively happy and hard-working. One thing was for sure, they really like Americans over there, and not just because we bring our credit cards. What we sometimes take for granted over here, they dream about over there.

            An African safari, even if you don’t combine it with a climb of Kilimanjaro, can be one of the best travel experiences you’ll ever have. Interested in finding out more? Give us a call, we’ll help you put a trip together and you’ll have hakuna matata (Swahili for “no worries”)!

Navigating Travel Challenges with Grace:
Tips for a Smoother Journey

Travel can be one of life’s most exciting and meaningful experiences, but it can also be stressful and frustrating. Sometimes, things are out of our control—lost luggage, delayed flights, messed-up reservations, and more—but many things are well within our ability to smooth the waters, so to speak, and make our experience enjoyable, even if there’s a problem. Travel consultant and writer Christopher Elliott recently noted there are certain things that you definitely should not say if you’re traveling, encounter a problem and approach someone for help.

·         “Why can’t you just do your job?” That’s disrespectful and demoralizing for the person who, after all, is the one you want to fix your problem. Show empathy and respect by saying, “How can we fix this?”

·         “Do you know who I am?” Travelers who have to declare how important they are, whether they’re an elite-level frequent flyer, an “influencer” or a show business celebrity, are just annoying. Employees will find a way to make their lives miserable.

·         “I’ll sue.” Usually accompanied by yelling and swearing, this threat rarely gets the traveler anything more than a downgraded seat section on a rebooked flight or a less-than-desirable room at the resort.

·         “It’s my anniversary.” Hotel marketers say this is a well-known trick to get special treatment. Someone arguing with the desk clerk and using that excuse to demand better accommodations obviously doesn’t realize that everybody else waiting in line is there for some occasion or another, even if it’s just business.

·         “I know the CEO.” Definitely not the right thing to say, and virtually a guarantee to produce a less than enthusiastic response to whatever the problem may be. A related threat, demanding to be given the name of the employee’s supervisor, is also very unlikely to produce results. The best way of getting what you want is to let the facts of your case speak for themselves.

·         “But I’m American.” Absolutely the worst thing to say if you’re traveling overseas, or even overland to Canada or Mexico. In some parts of the world, that declaration will guarantee poor service. Also, remember that there are plenty of people in the world who don’t speak English.

 

So, what should we do when a problem arises and we really would like better service?

·         Be calm. Emotion is the enemy, whether something’s gone wrong or you just have a special request. A level-headed, rational approach is always best. You don’t want to have security showing up to escort you away.

·         Be factual. Describe what you want without embellishment. Let the facts speak for themselves. Every customer at the hotel or the resort, at the airport gate or on the ship, is important to the company. They want you to enjoy your experience so you’ll return (and spend more money). Plus, they know word-of-mouth and online reviews are important in generating new business—and preventing the loss of current customers.

·         Be friendly. Employees are people, even if they don’t look exactly like you or speak your language very well. In your own work, you know that every now and then things will go wrong, and your response is to bend over backwards to help. Well, the people you’re dealing with now that you have the problem are no different.

Travel is at record-setting levels world-wide, but expectations are sky-high, too. Getting preferential treatment is hard, but getting the worst treatment is only a few careless words away.

Ready to get out there and see for yourself? Give us a call!

Sue Tindell