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(CNN) In this week’s travel news, the European Commission is set to impose fees on a new visa waiver program next year, plus our selection of Croatian and Italian destinations and new Asian hotels.
Europe postpones visa exemption regime until 2024
The long-awaited ETIAS visa waiver scheme, which will require all non-EU passport holders to obtain authorization to enter the bloc prior to travel, should be in place by November this year. But it was pushed back to 2024.
Check out this interactive content on CNN.com
It will be quick online authorization for non-EU citizens from the 60 or so countries that currently do not require a visa to travel to the EU – such as the United States and the United Kingdom – and will work very similarly to the United States ESTA program.
It costs 7 euros ($7.43 at Friday afternoon exchange rate) and covers you for three years. Compared to the ESTA – $21 for two years – this is admittedly a steal.
Destination Europe
So where do you want to go while things are still going well? We have a few suggestions for you here.
Croatia’s northern Adriatic coast is home to some of the country’s most intriguing regions of secret beaches, ancient Roman ruins and Venetian villages. Read our guide to discover culture, history and good food.
Then there’s the Italian region of Friuli, tucked away on the north-eastern borders of Slovenia and Austria, with a stunningly diverse landscape of mountains, gorges, beaches and lagoons. The locals are proud that it’s one of Europe’s best kept secrets, so keep it to yourself, ok?
Travel destination Asia
With travel returning in full force, Asian destinations in particular are scrambling to boost their post-pandemic tourism economies. Hong Kong has already announced plans to give away half a million plane tickets, and now its neighbor Taiwan plans to pay people to vacation there.
Savings like this could leave some extra cash to check out the region’s most exciting new luxury hotels opening this year.
However, if you’re looking for something even more from your hotel than infinity pools and Egyptian cotton sheets, we’ve found nine Asia Pacific hotels where the adventure begins before you even reach the front door.
We’re talking the ultimate grand entrance—from ziplining to a waterfall and landing in the hotel bar to a leisurely river cruise through a verdant canyon.
The future of transport
Designers and engineers are endlessly working on new transportation solutions for a greener, cleaner and faster future, from a new generation of airships to a hydrogen-powered superyacht that can “fly” across the water.
But what will traffic look like by 2050? Alisyn Malek, executive director of a global mobility innovation center in Detroit, gives us an overview of hyperloops, supersonic jets and electric airplanes.
Finally, as part of ongoing infrastructure improvements, India last month opened the first section of a 1,386-kilometer (861-mile) expressway linking New Delhi and Mumbai. When completed, it will be the longest roadway in India and is expected to halve travel times between the two cities.
Naughty Traveler of the Week
A Pennsylvania man was arrested on February 27 after allegedly trying to get explosives onto a flight bound for Florida. The suspect was known to Lansford, Pennsylvania police for a series of relatively minor crimes over the years, but “there’s nothing that would light up and say, ‘Hey, this guy is going to try to bomb a plane,'” he said a former police chief.
The best beaches in the world
The 10 best beaches in the world in 2023 according to Tripadvisor
1. Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil: Baía do Sancho may not be easy to get to, but according to a 2023 Tripadvisor ranking, it’s the best beach in the world.
2. Eagle Beach, Aruba: Fofoti trees grow on the golden sands of Aruba. Eagle Beach is ranked #2 Best Beaches in the World for 2023.
3. cable strand, Broome, Australia: Sunset camel rides are a major draw along this 14-mile stretch of Indian Ocean shoreline.
4. Reynisfjara Beach, Vik, Iceland: Not every beach on Tripadvisor’s list is known for its warm weather. This striking black sand beach in Iceland is a major playwright and appeared in Game of Thrones.
5. Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: Rated #1 in 2022, Grace Bay Beach’s three-mile stretch of sandy beach is a sun-worshipper’s paradise.
6. Praia da Falesia, Olhos de Agua, Portugal: From cliffs to sand to sea, Praia da Falésia in Portugal’s Algarve region offers plenty to see while being lulled by the sound of the surf.
7. Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, India: Surrounded by lush vegetation, Radhanagar Beach in the Andaman Islands is one of the best beaches in Asia and #7 on Tripadvisor’s 2023 Global List.
8. Spiaggia dei Conigli, Sicily, Italy: This powdery stretch of coast on the island of Lampedusa rose in the rankings from 10th place in 2022.
9. Varadero Beach, Cuba: Last year’s #2 beach, Varadero Beach in Cuba longs for relaxation. “It’s hypnotic,” said one Tripadvisor reviewer.
10 Ka’anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii: Located on the west coast of the island, Ka’anapali features three miles of white sand and a famous cliff-diving ceremony at Puʻu Kekaʻa.
According to users of the travel website Tripadvisor, the Caribbean is home to three of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. However, the best sandy beaches are found in an archipelago bathed by the warm waters of the South Equatorial Current.
Great photo book service
“Pics or it does not happen” is perhaps the defining statement of our time. And to make your travel memories even more tangible, there’s now a wide range of excellent photo book services to turn your digital snaps into glossy, hardcover keepsakes. Our partners at CNN Underscored, a CNN product rating and recommendation guide, have rounded up some of the best.
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The longest flight in the world spent more than two months in the air.
In the late 1950s, two men flew over Vegas for almost 65 days.