“The Council of the European Union, after much prevarication, has let go and delivered a list of countries with a recommendation on the gradual lifting of temporary restrictions on non-essential travel to the EU. Travel restrictions should be lifted for the countries listed in the recommendation, with the list reviewed and, if necessary, updated every two weeks. Of course, this assumes that the countries in question have also lifted their restrictions on French nationals.

On the basis of the criteria and conditions set out in the recommendation, as of 1 July, Member States should start lifting travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following third countries

• Algeria
• Australia
• Canada
• Georgia
• Japan
• Montenegro
• Morocco
• New Zealand
• Rwanda
• Serbia and Montenegro
• South Korea
• Thailand
• Tunisia
• Uruguay
• China, subject to confirmation of reciprocity

Residents of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City should be considered EU residents for the purposes of this recommendation.

The criteria for determining the third countries for which the current travel restriction should be lifted cover in particular the epidemiological situation and containment measures, including physical removal, as well as economic and social considerations. They are applied cumulatively.

For countries where travel restrictions continue to apply, the following categories of persons should be exempt from the restrictions:

• EU citizens and their family members
• EU long-term residents and their family members
• Travelers with an essential function or need, as indicated in the recommendation.
• The Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) also participate in this recommendation.

Member States may revisit this list

The Council recommendation is not a legally binding instrument.

The authorities of the Member States remain responsible for the implementation of the content of the recommendation. They can, in full transparency, only gradually lift travel restrictions to the listed countries.

A Member State should not decide to lift travel restrictions for non-listed third countries before this has been decided in a coordinated manner.

This list of third countries should be reviewed every two weeks and may be updated by the Council, as appropriate, after close consultations with the Commission and relevant EU agencies and services following an overall assessment based on the above criteria.

Travel restrictions may be fully or partially lifted or reintroduced for a specific third country already listed depending on the evolution of certain conditions and therefore on the assessment of the epidemiological situation. If the situation in a listed third country deteriorates rapidly, rapid decision making should be applied.”

What if for your trip you were to experience the journey on foot? It is indeed possible to discover an unknown land only by walking along paths that are accessible on foot, equipped or not, to see things differently and not to depend on anything. So ready to set off on an adventure, you will find in this article some good reasons and tips to get started.

Good reasons to travel by foot

1) Saving money

Living on the road forces you to review your relationship with money. Once you’ve walked through the door of your 4-star palace, you’ll realize that tourism is not synonymous with overspending.

Between bed and breakfast and shopping in local mini-markets, it’s easy to spend little when traveling on foot.

2) Discovering the real face of the country

What a mistake to sum up Bali to its paradisiacal beaches. Behind these postcard landscapes, devoid of imperfections, hides the real face of the country. By accepting to go off the beaten track, you risk exchanging crazy laughs with the locals, discovering authentic rare pearls, and avoiding being drowned in the tourists’ bath. If this doesn’t tempt you, it’s better to forget about the walking trip.

3) Enjoy every experience

When was the last time a sightseeing tour blew your mind? Between false cultural experiences and extreme marketing, the tourist is trapped in an illusion where everything pushes him to consume. Is it different from your everyday life? Running between two buses, rushing into the so-called “must-see” attractions, moving in the middle of the crowd?

Tips for traveling on foot

1) Always give your position to a relative

It is occasional for a walking trip to end in disaster. As long as you keep your common sense and don’t venture into dangerous areas, you won’t risk much. Contrary to what you were told as a toddler, the world is a relatively safe place. However, don’t overdo it. Share your travel plans with someone your family, your partner, or one of your friends, trust, and check in regularly with your loved ones. That applies to both solo and group travel.

2) Learn the local language

Even outside the tourist circuits, English can still be used. Although, unless you are visiting an Anglo-Saxon country, it is not unlikely that you will come across someone who does not speak the language of Shakespeare.

It is up to you to adapt to local customs and not the other way around. It’s essential to learn the local language in this type of trip so that you can get by with the locals and get an early start by deciding to get serious about it by downloading an application and sticking to that new resolution to make progress before setting off on your adventure.

3) Define your route

To make a light and efficient bag, you need to have an idea of the terrain you’re going to face. Moreover, skipping this step is a guarantee of getting lost in the middle of nowhere. Don’t forget that the Earth is vast and that it is highly probable that at any given moment, there is not a human soul within miles. To avoid any misadventures, mark out your path well before putting on your hiking shoes.

Looking for a carefree family holiday this summer? Here are some of the most beautiful summer resorts in Quebec and Ontario.

Quebec – Village Vacances Petit-Saguenay

Imagine yourself in a cottage overlooking the Saguenay Fjord, daydreaming while watching the whales. This dream is becoming a reality in this complex, which includes fully equipped cabins and a campground. Meals included or not. Parents can hike and stop for a picnic while the children enjoy the day camp.

Quebec – Jouvence

It is what we call being conveniently located: in Mount Orford National Park, and only 90 minutes from Montreal by car! Nestled in the woods, this “Cantons-de-l’Est treasure” offers various forms of accommodation, ranging from one room to 18, the ideal place for family gatherings. You can opt for the all-inclusive package, with activities and meals. There are half-days of activities for children and even daycare for children under three. Enough to make parents want to stay there all year round!

Quebec – Fiddler Lake Resort

Resort in all its splendor! This private estate, which offers log cabins for rent, has a leisure center, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool – heated please – as well as a brand new playground. Some cottages have a three-season veranda with a hydromassage bath and sauna. The clear water of the 2.8 km long lake is an invitation to canoe or pedal boat excursions. The forest that forms the backdrop all around is ideal for hiking, cycling, and hide-and-seek games.

Ontario – Fern Resort

All-inclusive formula lovers who don’t want to fly, this refuge located in Orillia is for you. This resort offers so many opportunities that you are dizzy. You can, of course, choose activities to do with your family, but the attraction is the children’s club. The children can have a great time while the parents can relax by the pool. The 3 to 6-year-olds will no longer want to leave Playvillage Park and its wagon, mini Jeep, pony rides among other things. There is also daycare for babies and the youngest. The older ones can climb, go fishing, and help with the exotic birds of the area.

Ontario – The Lakes of Wasaga Resort

If you want a vacation at the cottage but the simple idea of looking for one exhausts you – not to mention the risk of children getting bored after three days – this package is for you. This small island of private cottages is managed like a hotel, with most of the usual services, but at a lower price. There is no restaurant, but each chalet has a kitchen. Located about 6:30 a.m. by road from Montreal, a stone’s throw from Wasaga Beach, the area has three heated outdoor and one indoor swimming pools, jet water fountains, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, a mini golf course, a video game center and a host of family activities, from mid-June to Labour Day. During bad weathers, you can watch movies and then go out and cook marshmallows in the outdoor fireplace.

It is an unfortunate observation: being a woman is not always without risks when you want to travel, especially if you intend to travel on your own.

What do you need to know when traveling alone?

According to a Visa Global Intentions Study (VGIS) survey from 2015, the number of people traveling alone has increased in ten years (1 in 15 on average in 2005, and 1 in 5 in 2015). In this proportion, there are more women than men.

Traveling alone has many advantages. You can spend more time exploring. And above all, you have more freedom. However, the gender factor can be a problem. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, 38% of women worldwide were victims of physical and sexual assault in 2017. Of this 38 %, 41% of women were assaulted while traveling. Therefore, do not minimize the risks when going alone. We must focus on the safest countries.

Japan, the country of respect

On the Asian side, Japan is one of the safest countries. A sense of respect and honor are an integral part of Japanese culture.

Perfect for a solo trip, Japan is full of tourist cities with many cultural activities, such as visiting feudal temples, manga museums, not to mention gastronomy, a unique experience to discover at least once in your life. There are also many natural sites to visit, such as Mount Fuji or the Ogasawara coast.

New Zealand, in the footsteps of hobbits

New Zealand is not only the setting for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but it is also a safe place to travel when you are a woman. You will discover many breathtaking landscapes and exciting cultural activities. Also, you can take treks and hikes in the most beautiful places in the region. Let us not forget the New Zealanders who are unusually warm and welcoming.

Finland, the land of happiness

Ranked first in the United Nations (UN) World Happiness Report 2018, Finland is the country with the world lowest crime rate and is declared the most welcoming. It is not the only criterion for traveling alone when you are a woman: Finland offers many exciting and unique activities to live. Excursions to contemplate the Northern Lights, including husky sleigh rides, as well as picturesque villages and landscapes.

Australia and Melbourne

Australia, one of the safest countries in the world, is full of magnificent and exotic landscapes. Melbourne, on the other hand, has been named the most pleasant city in the world by The Economist magazine. Extremely diversified, it offers green spaces, theatres, museums, and monuments. A visit not to be missed.

Canada and the City of Montreal

Canada is another country that will not fail to welcome you warmly, especially in Montreal. This city is renowned for its friendliness and pleasant atmosphere. Ideal for traveling alone when you are a woman, Montreal is full of cultural, artistic and gastronomic interests. Crime is very low and almost non-existent in tourist areas.

The city is home to more than 200 theatre companies and numerous festivals, including the famous Festival international de jazz de Montréal. In addition to the shows, there are also many remarkable landscapes, from the Old Port to the Lachine Canal.

Bitcoin and other top cryptocurrencies are no longer the domain of just a few people. When Bitcoin values exploded, the world responded by becoming informed and investing in cryptocurrencies. Does that mean it is easy to travel on digital currency today?

We have to admit, it has become easier than when Felix Weiss took off on an 18 month trip around the world in 2016, but it still can be a bit challenging. Let’s take a look at a few of the things you will need to consider if you wish to travel using your cryptocurrency.

Booking Flights – From Difficult to Commonplace

A few years ago it was nearly impossible to book all your flights using only Bitcoin. Today the landscape has changed dramatically. CheapAir.com was the first to start accepting Bitcoin in 2013, but now you can find numerous travel services accepting the digital currency. You can book your flights using CheapAir, Expedia, BTCTrip, Peach Air from Japan, Surf Air out of California, or Destinia, just to name a few.

Using just CheapAir, or Expedia, you would be able to book a flight to anywhere in the world, while getting great prices. Here is a list of the best places to buy bitcoin in 2019 cryptos-monnaies.fr/acheter-bitcoin/

Reserving Your Hotel – Easy Or Not?

Hotel reservations are still a little more challenging. You can reserve a room using services like Expedia, but you will still want to make sure your hotel accepts the digital currency, too. You will need to be able to pay for additional services at your hotel, so verify they accept your crypto.

Car Rentals – The Challenges Begin

Renting a car may be one of your biggest challenges if you want to avoid using a major credit card. Major car rental companies have not climbed aboard the cryptocurrency trend, which is not surprising. Cryptocurrency is more anonymous in nature, which is troubling when renting a car.

You can find some local car rental companies that do accept cryptocurrency, so do not lose hope. We suggest doing a little research using CoinMap.org to locate a car rental agency around your travel destination.

Restaurants – Using Crypto To Put Food In Your Stomach

Finding restaurants accepting cryptocurrency is a hit or miss proposition. You will find a few in most major cities, but the majority of restaurants still are not accepting digital currencies. You can search on CoinMap to see in any restaurants near your location are accepting crypto.

Working Around The Challenges

You might be starting to think it is going to be hard to travel using only your digital currency, but it is not as difficult as you might be starting to think.

All major cities have ATM locations you can use to withdraw cash to pay for restaurants, bar tabs, and entertainment. This eliminates some of the biggest concerns while traveling with cryptocurrency.

It may still be hard to rent a car, but you can overcome your local travel needs by using Uber, or similar services. Uber does not accept direct payment from Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, but you can use the CoinBase service to pay for an Uber ride.

CoinBase is a great solution for many of your other needs, too. You can get a debit card from CoinBase which can be reloaded using your digital currency. This eliminates the need for a credit card at hotels and restaurants.

Tap Into The Community

The crypto community is going to be your best source of information when you travel. While you can learn a lot by using CoinMap, you will learn far more by chatting with other digital currency users on Facebook and forums. They can point you to the local companies who are accepting digital currency that is not listed on CoinMap.

Plus, tapping into the community let’s plan a meet-up with other digital nomads living on digital currency.

Security – Don’t Forget To Protect Your Crypto Assets

We don’t want to end our short talk about traveling with cryptocurrency without discussing security. We advice using a hardware wallet with the multi-signature capability and make sure all of your online accounts are using two-factor authentication. Trezor and Ledger both have excellent hardware wallets.

As you can see, traveling with digital currency may not be as easy as using major credit cards, but it can be done. You will need to take a little extra time planning your trip, but it is worth the effort.

You can also apply for a Tenx Crypto payment card if you are in Asia, Australia or NZ!

There is no doubt that last winter, cruises on the Nile had generated new and high interest.

In the first quarter of 2018, tourism generated $2.2 billion, almost twice the income of 2017. But tourism has not yet become once again the driving force of the Egyptian economy dreamed by its promoters.

Egypt’s return into the interest of the tourists was confirmed this summer, with particularly sharp increases in the number of visitors on the shores of the Red Sea, which saw an influx of people on its sunny beaches.

Egypt has come a long way. Great insecurity accompanied its political chaos. It had scared away the tourists. Since taking power, President al-Sissi has made it a priority task to restore security, even if it means using methods that are at the very least authoritarian. Although people think of the unorthodox methods used, the measures taken have helped to bring tourists back with some security.

The 50% devaluation of the Egyptian currency, which led to a significant drop in the cost of a stay in Egypt, has, of course, also contributed to the relative recovery of tourism. Prices will probably go up.

Moreover, the number of flights to Egypt has collapsed, and airlines have all, and quite logically, reduced the number of their flights. It is now necessary to increase the number of rotations again. It is a challenge to be taken up to receive more visitors.

Tourism in the Red Sea is, as we have seen, the first to start again, followed by the Nile Valley, resulting in the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs. It was a crucial issue for the government, which wanted to raise fuel subsidies. This test still needs to be transformed.

Currently, Egypt’s main foreign customers are Germans, followed by Ukrainians, Italians, Chinese and Americans, followed by Saudis and Kuwaitis.

The Egyptians hope to see the French finally return to Egypt in large numbers, and not only to the Nile Valley, which is a favorite of cultural tourism enthusiasts, but also to the Russians who have deserted since all 224 occupants of an Airbus A321 over the Sinai, most of whom were Russian tourists, were killed in an attack in 2015. An attack immediately claimed by Daech.

And tourism in the footsteps of the Holy Family, whose development Egypt regularly mentions? The Egyptians are working on it. Itineraries have been drawn up, places of reception are already ready, especially in Cairo. But they still have to work, invest.
If the millions of tourists who have left the country return, the Egyptians will be more than overwhelmed and more than delighted.

Abroad, you can’t access your favorite sites because of censorship? Here is why and primarily how to circumvent censorship on the Internet.

When traveling abroad, you may not be able to access your favorite websites or specific social networks. Several reasons for this:

Countries practicing censorship on the Internet

The country practices some censorship on the Internet. This is the case in countries such as China, Iran, and Cuba. For example, in Iran, it is impossible to access Facebook and many other websites. However, we can also talk about Vietnam or Turkey.

The extent of this censorship varies from country to country. Here is a map showing the extent of this practice around the world. It was established by RSF a few years ago:

In short, it is painful if you want to keep in touch with your loved ones. Sometimes even your email can be blocked. The same goes for Skype.

Sites blocked by a local provider.

Not to mention censorship, it is possible that your site is inaccessible from the country where you are. This has happened to me several times during my travels. I remember Guatemala in particular, where I could not access my blog. Which was annoying, because it was impossible for me to work on.

In this case, it was the local provider that had blocked my server IP, for some obscure reason. Indeed, I was probably not targeted because you should know that if your site is hosted on a shared server, which is usually the case, your IP address is similar to hundreds of others. However, it is enough for one host to block the IP of a particular site for all the others to be as inaccessible.

What can be done against Internet censorship abroad?

Simple, the most practical solution is to use a VPN when traveling.

What is a VPN?

In general, it is a small program to download and which, once activated, will offer you an encrypted connection between your computer or smartphone and a server located in a censor-free area.

If you are in Iran for example, by activating your VPN, you will connect to an IP in France for example. It’s like surfing while you’re in France, so no problem!

The advantages of using a VPN are not limited to Internet censorship:

You can surf anonymously.
Your data is encrypted. So you can surf safely.
Without necessarily being in a country practicing censorship on the Internet, a VPN allows several things when traveling:

You are at the airport and need to check your bank accounts? As you know, in general, the wifi offered by airports is public. A hacker or a fraudster can, therefore, intercept your data. Risky. With a VPN, no problem!

You can also save money by finding cheaper hotels and plane tickets. Indeed, prices vary according to location.

Which VPN to choose?

There are a large number of free VPNs. The problem is that these VPNs have advertising and are limited in connection time and speed.

With a paid VPN, no time and data limitation. The comfort is there and the quick connection. For a fee, it is only a few euros per month.

In an airplane, space is scarce and constrained. Especially when trying to make travel affordable, airliners tend to maximize the number of seats available on board. To remedy the discomfort that this implies for passengers, airlines and aircraft manufacturers are multiplying initiatives. In addition to ergonomic seats, the initial focus was on in-flight entertainment.

No more screens common to all, now the individual screen prevails with an ever more extensive choice of content. Another factor, less visible and yet essential, has recently been the object of all the attention of airlines: that of light on board.

No more neon that you turn on or off with no other choice than “on” or “off.” Now, thanks to the LEDs, the crew can choose among a wide range of atmospheres and thus modulate the lighting according to the phases of dinner, sleep, and awakening. To understand how these variations of light are elaborated, we went to Hamburg to the center of “Cab Definition.”

Give the impression of space.

In this 4,500 m² space set up by Airbus in a former aircraft factory, customers, in this case, airlines, select what they need for their onboard facilities. There is furniture specially adapted for kitchens, or new luggage boxes with a capacity increased by 40%. And of course the lighting equipment. In a “mock-up”, hear a life-size cabin model, tests are performed with a choice of millions of colors.

Companies quickly understood that lighting environments would be a distinctive asset that would enable them to strengthen their brand image. Because as soon as they enter the cabin, passengers are marked by the atmosphere produced by the light composition. “Light is a big part of the feeling,” explains Paul Edwards, our guide during this visit. The goal is, therefore, to give the impression of space while differentiating itself from other companies. Finnair will choose a sober atmosphere when Qatar Airways is more luxurious and colorful.

However, this choice is not without constraints, as it is essential to take into account the materials used for the walls and seats of the aircraft if bad associations are to be avoided. Depending on the tones chosen, a metal piece, for example, will look very chic or completely fake. There is a golden rule of mood lighting on which all companies align themselves: no direct light.

Because beyond aesthetics, luminance – that is, the perceived light intensity of a material – also helps passengers to respect the rhythms of sleep. A light that dims gently at bedtime and imitates sunrise a few hours later will help fight jet lag. We even study the variations of the lights depending on where we are on the plane. Nothing is left to chance.