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🌎 Your Weekly Travel Briefing - Passport Power, Cruise News & Best Coffee in the U.K.
Published about 2 months ago • 6 min read
The Places Where We Go - Travel Planning Briefing July 6, 2026
Happy National Air Traffic Control Day from the USA, a day that celebrates the vital profession and dedication of air traffic controllers.
We're back from a week off, during which we visited Las Vegas. We had a chance to experience The Wizard of Oz at The Sphere (highly recommended), stopped at the newly opened largest In-N-Out in the world, and made our first visit to the Hoover Dam. Recaps will follow on our YouTube channel in the coming week.
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Your Adventure Agenda - Travel Tips
Hotel Etiquette Tips Every Traveler Should Know
British etiquette expert William Hanson says hotel guests often behave worse on the road than they would at home, from loud corridor conversations to taking items that clearly are not complimentary. His advice for travelers is simple:
Treat staff with respect,
Speak up politely when something is wrong,
Keep hallways quiet for sleeping guests, and
Know the difference between taking slippers or small amenities and stealing towels, robes, or hair dryers.
For travelers, the takeaway is that good manners can improve not only the hotel experience for others but also your own stay — sometimes kindness, remembering a staff member’s name, or leaving a thoughtful review can go a long way.
The 2026 Henley Passport Index has been released, and Singapore remains at the top, giving its citizens visa-free access to 192 destinations worldwide. The ranking, based on official IATA data, measures passport strength by the number of places travelers can enter without needing a visa in advance. Japan, South Korea, and the UAE share second place with access to 188 destinations, while many European countries continue to rank highly. For travelers, the list is a reminder of how passport power can shape trip planning, flexibility, and ease of exploration.
Oceania Cruises has announced its 2027 Specialty Cruises program, offering travelers a more curated way to explore destinations across the Mediterranean, the Baltic, and Japan. The sailings will feature well-known hosts and culinary personalities, including Samantha Brown, Sara Moulton, Claudine Pépin, and Oceania’s own master chefs, with experiences such as cooking demonstrations, tastings, hosted dinners, destination talks, and exclusive events. For travelers who enjoy deeper cultural context, local cuisine, and expert-led experiences, these voyages add an extra layer of connection to already port-rich itineraries.
United Airlines is giving travelers more ways to stay connected in the sky by adding live TV streaming to Starlink-enabled seatback screens through July 20.
The new service, launched with DIRECTV, lets passengers watch live coverage of the FIFA World Cup along with news, weather, entertainment, and sports channels including FOX, ESPN, CNN, CBS, NBC, TNT, and BBC News.
Available on up to 150 Starlink-equipped aircraft, the feature offers a preview of how inflight entertainment may evolve as United expands fast Wi-Fi and real-time streaming across its fleet, with Starlink expected on all aircraft by the end of 2027.
The Federal Aviation Administration is taking new steps toward allowing civil supersonic flights over the continental United States, with proposed rules to establish noise-based certification standards for next-generation aircraft. The goal is to make high-speed flight possible without the disruptive sonic booms that led to earlier restrictions. If finalized, the rules could provide aircraft manufacturers with clearer guidance on bringing quieter supersonic planes to market, potentially reducing long-distance travel times for passengers and speeding the movement of goods. The FAA aims to finalize related rules by mid-2027, marking a major milestone in the future of air travel.
Brighton has been named the UK’s coffee capital in Capital on Tap’s 2026 UK Coffee Report, thanks to its thriving independent café culture and strong local support for artisan coffee shops. The seaside city leads with 57.7 independent coffee shops per 100,000 residents, and nearly 74 percent of its coffee shops are independently run. For travelers, that makes Brighton an especially appealing UK getaway for café hopping, seaside strolling, and discovering local flavor beyond the usual chains.
Why Visit? Wrocław, Poland, is a vibrant and historic city known for its stunning architecture, lively culture, and charming atmosphere. You can experience its rich history by exploring its colorful market squares, museums, and Gothic churches. For those seeking a taste of local life, Wroclaw also offers a variety of unique attractions such as bustling food markets and picturesque parks.
Top Things To Do:
Explore Market Square: The heart of Wroclaw's Old Town, this bustling square is lined with colorful buildings and filled with street performers. It's the perfect place to soak up the city's lively atmosphere.
Take a guided tour to learn about the city, and then go hunting for krasnales (Wrocław Dwarves).
Panorama Racławicka - A 400ft x 50ft painting that commemorates the Battle of Racławice in 1794.
Travel Tip: If you're planning a trip to Wrocław, be sure to visit during the summer months when the city comes alive with festivals and outdoor events. For transportation, consider using public bikes or trams to get around like a local. And don't miss out on trying some traditional Polish dishes at one of the many markets or restaurants in the city.
We’re big on planning travel, typically six months in advance. With an eye on January 2027, here are some top things you can consider for your travel itinerary:
Sundance Film Festival - Boulder, Colorado. Each January, Sundance introduces audiences to major independent films, documentaries, emerging filmmakers, and industry buzz. In 2027, the festival moves from Utah to its new location in Colorado. (January 21-31, 2027)
Harbin International Ice & Snow Festival - Harbin, China - A massive winter spectacle of illuminated ice castles, snow sculptures, and frozen cityscapes that officially opens around January 5 each year and usually runs into February.
Sydney Festival - Sydney, Australia - A citywide January arts festival featuring theater, music, dance, visual art, and free outdoor programming across Greater Sydney. (January 7-25, 2027)
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The Places Where We Go - Travel Planning Briefing August 17, 2026 Happy National I Love My Feet Day from the USA. It's the perfect excuse to pamper your feet and prioritize your foot health. Did you know the average person will walk nearly 250,000 miles in a lifetime? And they're just the thing for hiking and long days of exploration during travel. Thank you, feet! This week, we took a day trip with the littles to Santa Barbara, California, where we visited MOXI, The Wolf Museum of...
The Places Where We Go - Travel Planning Briefing August 10, 2026 Happy National Lazy Day from the USA, a day that gives us permission to relax and kick back. And that suits us especially well today after logging in a 35-mile walk this weekend from Santa Barbara to Ventura, California. We completed the Mission to Mission Pilgrimage Walk for a 5th consecutive year. It is hard. Perhaps when registration opens up around April each year, the memory of the struggle has worn off, and we sign up...
The Places Where We Go - Travel Planning Briefing August 3, 2026 Happy National Watermelon Day, a day that celebrates the taste of summer. And this refreshing fruit is also packed with vitamins A and C. Woo hoo! This past week, we attended a pop-up at our local AAA office and signed up for TSA PreCheck. With a few flights scheduled in the upcoming months, we're looking for a bit of lower stress getting through airport security with this item. Plus, it's good for five years. And we got some...
