Italy: Overcrowding and Environmental Concerns Italy: Overcrowding and Environmental Concerns (image credits: unsplash) Italy’s breathtaking cities and coastlines have always drawn crowds from every corner of the globe, but now the country is reaching a breaking point. In Venice alone, tourist visits exploded to 30 million in 2024, overwhelming the city’s delicate infrastructure and putting …
Jacqeline Nomora, M.Sc. Biology
Sweden: Where Recycling Becomes a National Sport Sweden: Where Recycling Becomes a National Sport (image credits: unsplash) Walking through the streets of Stockholm, you might be shocked by the sheer absence of litter. Sweden has turned recycling into a way of life. According to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the country recycles over 99% of …
Overrated Tourist Traps: Times Square, New York City Overrated Tourist Traps: Times Square, New York City (image credits: pixabay) Times Square is often the first stop for visitors to New York City, lured in by the promise of shimmering lights and a buzzing atmosphere. Yet, many who make the pilgrimage end up frustrated and overwhelmed. …
Canada: Proximity, Familiarity, and a Welcoming Society Canada: Proximity, Familiarity, and a Welcoming Society (image credits: unsplash) Canada remains one of the most popular countries for Americans considering a new life abroad. Its close proximity to the United States makes visiting friends and family much simpler, and the cultural similarities help ease the transition. According …
Mount Everest, Nepal Mount Everest, Nepal (image credits: unsplash) There’s something almost magnetic about Mount Everest, drawing adventurers from every corner of the world, despite its deadly reputation. In 2023 alone, over 800 climbers braved its icy slopes, creating traffic jams at heights where oxygen is scarce and mistakes are often fatal. The risks are …
Whispers of Silence in Bhutan Whispers of Silence in Bhutan (image credits: pixabay) Imagine a hush falling over the emerald valleys of Bhutan, where prayer flags ripple in mountain breezes and the air smells of wild jasmine and pine. Bhutan already tightly controls tourism with a “High Value, Low Impact” policy, but whispers from Thimphu …
Paradise With a Shadow Paradise With a Shadow (image credits: wikimedia) Close your eyes and picture yourself on a powdery white beach in Playa del Carmen, the waves glittering turquoise, and the salty breeze tangled in your hair. Now imagine the distant echo of sirens, a news chopper circling overhead, and a sense that not …
Heightened Travel Advisory Levels Heightened Travel Advisory Levels (image credits: unsplash) The U.S. State Department has taken the unusual step of raising its travel advisory for Mexico to Level 3, which urges Americans to reconsider traveling altogether. This escalation follows Mexico’s own government issuing a nationwide alert, a move that has startled both citizens and …
Canada: A Beacon of Equality Canada: A Beacon of Equality (image credits: wikimedia) Canada stands out as a shining example when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, offering some of the most comprehensive legal protections anywhere in the world. Since legalizing same-sex marriage in 2005, the country has continued to expand rights, including protections under the …
Paris, France Paris, France (image credits: pixabay) Paris, despite its romantic image, has developed a reputation for being less than hospitable to outsiders. According to a 2023 European Travel Commission survey, 45% of tourists reported feeling unwelcome, citing curt service in cafes and shops as a main factor. The city’s immense popularity has led to …