World’s Most Famous Christmas Tree Has Reached Trafalgar Square

BY  Ankita Nov 17, 2023

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) predicts a historic holiday travel season, estimating a record-breaking 30 million passengers nationwide during the upcoming 12-day Thanksgiving travel period. This projection is based on the already set records in 2023, with seven of the best ten busiest travel days in the history of TSA. TSA Administrator David Pekoske assures preparedness for the expected surge, working closely with airline and airport partners to maintain efficient screening processes. Pekoske emphasized the commitment to keeping wait times under 30 minutes in the case of the standard screening lanes. When it comes to TSA PreCheck lanes, the wait time is under 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the aftermath of the devastating Maui wildfires has impacted tourism in Hawaii. Although the holiday travel period may not break records, improving visitor demand and local travel may contribute to a busier atmosphere at state airports. After immediate economic losses following the wildfires, Maui is gradually reopening to visitors, with a projected recovery to pre-fire levels not expected until 2028. Recent tourism data indicates a decrease in arrivals to the Hawaiian Islands, with Maui experiencing a 57% drop in visitors in September. Despite a slower Thanksgiving, Jerry Gibson, president of the Hawaii Hotel Alliance, notes a last-minute pickup for December. This is particularly true on Oahu, the Big Island, and Kauai. Room rates are higher for the festive season, offering travelers more value due to lower volumes. Hawaiian Airlines responds to increased travel demand by adding 20 neighbor island round trips during Thanksgiving. The carrier also enhances service between Honolulu and Las Vegas, with a daily schedule from November 17 to January 12, except on December 31. Additional flights are scheduled between December 21 and 29, and a round-trip third weekly flight between Pago Pago and Honolulu on December 13 and January 3. Read Also: November Trips In 2023: From London To The World Zanzibar Or Oman: Which Do The Hungarian Tourists Like?

BY  Abdul Aziz Dec 27, 2023

The holidays of Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year's are all about happiness, family, and celebration. This entails engaging in festive customs and spending time with loved ones for the majority of people. However, these holidays have a whole new significance for cosmonauts and astronauts in space. Vacations in space were uncommon in the early years of space exploration. The first Christmas spent in space by astronauts was during the Apollo 8 mission in December 1968. Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, and William A. Anders read passages from the Bible's Book of Genesis while in orbit around the moon, broadcasting the scenes to an estimated billion viewers worldwide. Vacations in space increased in frequency and length as missions went on. Astronauts Gerald P. Carr, Edward G. Gibson, and William R. Pogue observed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's in space during the 1973–1974 Skylab 4 mission. They watched a comet pass by, made a homemade Christmas tree out of food containers, and had a festive dinner that included fruitcake. For cosmonauts, the New Year's holiday was particularly important. Yuri V. Romanenko and Georgi M. Grechko were the first people to celebrate the new year while in orbit on the Salyut-6 space station in 1977 and 1978. In a broadcast on television, they raised a glass to the occasion. Astronaut Jeffrey A. Hoffman observed Hanukkah in 1993 while on the STS-61 mission aboard the space shuttle Endeavour. To celebrate the Festival of Lights, he spun a dreidel and carried a traveling menorah. Holidays were not only observed in space, but astronauts went above and beyond to make the occasion joyful. The 1999 STS-103 crew, who were entrusted with fixing the Hubble Space Telescope, celebrated Christmas with a special meal that included French specialties. Twelve Mir expedition crews, including NASA astronauts, spent their vacations on board the Russian space station between 1987 and 1998. Messages were exchanged and customs, like lighting Hanukkah candles and sending Christmas greetings, were demonstrated during these festivities. On board the International Space Station, holiday celebrations are still customarily observed. Whether it's through live broadcasts, symbolic decorations, or special food items, astronauts and cosmonauts find inventive ways to bring the joy of these festivities to the cosmic realm. Though they may be different, people who celebrate the holidays far above Earth still find great meaning and significance in them. Read Also: 6 Things Locals Wish Tourists Wouldn’t Do When In Iceland Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area Is Expecting Big Changes Bora Bora Is Shifting Its Tourism Policy, Aims To Double Tourists By 2033

BY  Abdul Aziz Nov 25, 2023

For Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Travel Tuesday, Play Airlines is offering a new deal. You can now get a 35% discount on flights from Stewart Airport to several popular European destinations, including Iceland, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, London, Copenhagen, Dublin, and Amsterdam. This offer is valid between November 24th and 28th, and you can book flights for travel between December 2023  and May 2024 on flyplay.com. You do not need a promo code to avail of this offer. Two former executives of Wow Air, which ceased operations and went bankrupt in March 2019, founded Play. The airline has been operating daily flights from Newburgh to Reykjavik since June 2022, and it has been expanding its list of destinations. Recently, Play launched new routes to Amsterdam, Glasgow, and Venice, allowing travelers to plan spring getaways, summer trips, and spontaneous vacations, as stated by Play CEO Birgir Jónsson. For Hudson Valley residents, Stewart Airport is a convenient option, while for those coming from New York City, Play provides a Stewart Airport Express shuttle that is timed with its flights. “(Stewart) is a popular airport for New York and surrounding area travelers as it offers the convenience that other airports in the area do not. It is uniquely situated as a hub for travelers in Manhattan, the growing Hudson Valley area, and surrounding states,” Jónsson said. Play's fares encompass all necessary fees, taxes, and carrier charges. However, there are limitations and baggage fees that may apply. You can visit Play's website to obtain more information on their baggage fees. From Friday, November 24 to Tuesday, November 28, Play Airlines, an Icelandic budget airline, is providing a discount of 35% on its already budget-friendly flights from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), and New York’s Stewart International Airport (SWF) to various destinations in Europe. Reyjavík Paris Berlin Frankfurt London Copenhagen Dublin Amsterdam Read More About: Venice Reveals 2024 Dates For Tourist Entry Fees: Report Zanzibar Or Oman: Which Do The Hungarian Tourists Like?