Thursday, June 19, 2025

Summer/Winter 2025 and beyond international travel

 
     This topic, 2025 and beyond international travel allows for analysis, which is why Google's AI overview is a great way to start.
     According to Google's AI overview a mix of dilemmas may or may not affect your travel experience: "Expect a mix of challenges and disruptions due to several actors: Ongoing conflicts: Conflicts in regions like Ukraine, the Middle East and potentially involving countries like Iran and North Korea, could cause flight disruptions, airspace closures, and increased security concerns: Political instability: Countries facing political crises, like Haiti and Venezuela, may also experience unpredictable conditions, such as flight restrictions and reduced travel options: Changed US policies: Some reports suggest that recent US policies, particularly concerning trade and immigration, are contributing to a decline in international visits to the US, particularly from countries like Canada and Western Europe, due to negative sentiment and stricter border controls."
     For my research list, I've included a link to a website that does polling which predicts trends that may or may not develop.  As well I selected a links from well known travel sites. Like fortune.com and businesstravelnews.com presenting a mix of information about the topic of this post.  Travel is affected by political difference, too. I've included The BTN link to tell you where travel can be most affected.
     Lastly, the utube,com/watch informative is crammed full of informational tidbits travelers are not aware of to improve your travel experience in ways you never thought of.
    For those who aren't knowledgeable as to what a Murphy's Law experience consists of. The Wikipedia.org link offers all the details about about this nemesis. Consider yourself lucky if a Murphy's Law travel experience happens to you. As I've found out it. My many "Murphy's Law" disasters while traveling the far reaches of the world now adds adds to my best travel memories.
      Wherever the travel winds blow you, I wish you happy traveling!
 

 

 

 

Monday, May 12, 2025

The dilemma of "real ID"

 
    According to Google's AI's overview, "Congress passed the REAL ID act in 2005.  This law established minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards, and it also restricted the acceptance of these state-issued ID's for boarding commercial flights and entering certain federal facilities.  The act was enacted in response to the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission."
     However, oddly, my research has showcased the blue states refusal to allow real ID voting, as noted in New York State's informational (see above on my research list) that indicates among other things that no "real ID" is **needed for voting**, and similar instructions re the notice that that real ID is only necessary for security when flying commercially at the websites of other states' DMV.
     I cannot avoid asking the question of why security is needs for flying commercially but not for voting, and so I included information about the constitutional right to vote, with from the USA.gov and from another POV about who has the right to vote in Federal elections.  Nonetheless, SCOTUS has weighed in for a number of landmark cases, and the justa-website notes that since 2003 there have been adjustments that may have weakened previous attempts to more strictly define the scope of the amendments to the Constitution that define the right to vote, and which I have cited in the title of this post, is "The dilemma of real ID," that mandates more security for flying and for knowing who is in this country and where they come from, which will have to be determined when someone shows up at the airport without a "real ID."
     It is clear, the 21st century has been a violent one, with wars waged, but not yet another world war, however, the EU and the UK have recently updated their Visa requirements and mandate that everyone have it to enter both, thus, it is not only the USA or the current administration that has determined the need to insure who are the persons entering the country are properly ID'd coming only for the required period of time on their Visa., every nation wants to protect their borders from persons with the intent to do harm.

Friday, April 11, 2025

For 2025 the worldwide travel visa turns into a 21st century digital feature

 
         There is no doubt that in 2025 the worldwide visa travel requirements turned into a 21st century digital experience, and I take advantage of the AI summaries that Google offers as answers to questions, for example, the question I asked, "For 2025 travel visa requirements", I received this AI generated answer: "As of 2025, holders of a United States passport may travel to 183 countries and territories without a travel visa, or with a visa on arrival. The United States passport ranks 9th in terms of travel freedom, according to the Henley Passport Index."
         Also, on the same screen, I found more visa information about transiting through the UK:  "…Starting January 8, 2025, U.S. citizens traveling to the United Kingdom for short visits, tourism, or business, including those just passing through UK airports, will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) if they do not have a UK visa or legal residency in the UK or the Republic of Ireland. This requirement applies to all parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland. The ETA is similar to the U.S. ESTA system and acts as a pre-clearance for travel. This change is part of the UK’s move towards a digital border system…"
         Proof positive that in 2025, visa travel worldwide has entered the digital era of the 21st century's tech information age, but this new AI industrial revolution may still need the human experience when a traveler has a complicated itinerary, or prefers help and is willing to pay extra for those services, for experienced passport services, here are a few as recommended by Goggle's AI informational to look up online:
          "1. RushMyPassport:  a private company that specializing in expediting U.S. passport applications and charges an additional fee for faster processing.
           2. AmericanPassport.com:  Offers a streamlined passport processing service, including processing and courier services is a private company not affiliated with government agencies.
           3. CTBT Visa:  Provides a selection of passport services, including passport renewals, first-time passports, child passports, and passport name changes.
             4. Traveldocs.com: Offers fast and easy passport application services, including assistance with first-time passports, renewals, lost or stolen passports, child passports" 
              As always, I wish you happy traveling making those memories that are priceless.