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Happy Monday

This week's edition is packed with surprises that will make you rethink your summer plans, question political realities, and explore the lighter side of wild animal encounters.

From a globe-trotting president facing new restrictions to the harsh realities of the aviation industry, we're navigating through it all with a dash of humor and a whole lot of intrigue. Get ready for a journey like no other, where the only guarantee is the unexpected!

🛑  President Trumps Travel Ban  
🐋  Orcas go "Free Willy," Ramming Boats For Fun
🎲  Americans Love Cancun and Vegas
🚢 Cruise Nightmares, Lost Luggage and More…

🚀⏰ Ready, Set, Let’s Go…

| Weekly Travel Tidbit

Smallest Island Nation: Nauru, located in Micronesia, holds the title of the smallest island nation in the world. It's about 24 square kilometers (9.3 sq mi) and has a population of around 10,000. Nauru is known for its unique culture and sandy beaches.

“Your Dose of Travel IQ”

| Summer Vacay Showdown  

The world's most popular summer destinations for 2024 

If you're seeking summer getaway inspiration, look no further than this fascinating map that reveals the top destinations everyone is dreaming about for 2024. Based on Google search data from every corner of the globe, it uncovers some surprises that may make you rethink your vacation plans.

• Surprising tie for #1 spot for a summer vacation: London and Dubai capturing 10 nations each.

While classic spots like London and Barcelona continue reigning supreme, the real shocker is Dubai sharing the #1 spot alongside the British capital. The UAE's glittering desert metropolis has somehow captured the imagination of 10 different nations seeking ultra-luxe summer escapes.

But the insights don't stop there. Who would have guessed that (we) Americans are going gaga over Cancun more than any other international hotspot? Or that Las Vegas takes the domestic crown, luring 14 U.S. states with its neon-soaked promise of entertainment? Talk about betting big on fun in the sun 🎰🎲💰

And Get This: Turns out, Kansans are jetting off to Singapore in droves, while those quirky Rhode Islanders can't get enough of Machu Picchu. And in a plot twist no one saw coming, Georgians love those sandy beaches of Palau, while South Carolinians are packing their bags for...Florence, Italy? Yeah, not the Florence next to Myrtle Beach, though that would be a real head-scratcher!

🌍 Other popular summer hotspots worldwide included Miami, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, and Toronto.

🇫🇷 The choices revealed a mix of urban getaways like Paris and serene beach escapes like Zanzibar.

 🇺🇸 Americans also favored domestic destinations like Denver, Miami, Seattle, and Myrtle Beach.

⛩️ Asians favored cities, while Africans preferred Dubai/London, and South Americans split between cities and beaches.

💫 Europeans leaned toward cultural hubs like Rome and Athens, while Australians and Kiwis picked Bali and Melbourne.

| From Air Force One to No-Fly List

Trump Faces Travel Bans Across 37 Countries and Counting

In a shocking turn of events, former President Donald Trump was found guilty in his hush money trial, making him a convicted felon. And for the once-globetrotting leader, this conviction could seriously cramp his travel style.

Many countries around the world have strict entry policies barring convicted felons from crossing their borders due to security concerns. The list includes G7 powers like Canada, the U.K., and Japan, as well as travel hotspots Israel and China.

• But it's not just these obvious players - data shows at least 37 countries totally prohibit convicted felons from entry. Another 20+ nations reserve the right to deny felons on a case-by-case basis if their criminal record is discovered.

Weekly trip around the world

"Your passport to the latest travel news around the world!"

✈️💀😢 Tragedy struck at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport when a person was fatally sucked into a plane engine before a flight to Denmark. The disturbing incident involved KLM Flight 1341 and an Embraer ERJ-190 aircraft. While rare, similar fatal engine ingestions have occurred at U.S. airports in San Antonio and Alabama within the past year.

🇯🇵🗻🚫 In a drastic bid to curb unruly tourist chasing the perfect Mount Fuji photo op, the Japanese town of Fujikawaguchiko is erecting a giant black screen to block views of the iconic peak from a viral social media spot….sorry instagram influencers, you’re not welcome here LOL.

😃💡🇫🇷 Subscriber Jimmy had a funny experience in Paris: My first time to Paris, checked into my room and nothing worked. No lights, tv nothing. Called the front desk to get a new room and she said “did you dip your key in the slot by the door! I was like what slot,” damn here it was, 2 inches from the door, inserted the key and everything came on! Even in the City of Lights, you have to find the switch first!

Food-Stamp Flight Attendants

New flight attendants for American Airlines are facing financial difficulties due to low starting salaries and long work days with limited paid hours.

The starting salary of $27,315 is barely enough to live on, especially in major cities, and qualifies some flight attendants for government benefits like food stamps. The union representing the flight attendants is calling out this disparity, especially considering the CEO's much higher salary.

• Flight attendants haven't had a raise since 2019 and are looking to catch up with inflation. The union representing the flight attendants is prepared to go on strike if a deal isn't reached. This could happen as early as July.

  • Robert Isom, the CEO of American Airlines, received a total compensation package of $31.4 million in 2023

‘Free Willy’ Sinking Boats For Fun

Killer whales, also known as orcas, have been baffling scientists for years their recent behavior of ramming boats around the world. Here's a breakdown of what researchers believe is causing this and how to avoid such encounters:

• Since 2020, nearly 700 incidents of orcas ramming boats have occurred near the Iberian Peninsula. Scientists believe young orcas are imitating a new "cultural tradition" of play within their pods, similar to carrying dead salmon on their heads.

• An International Whaling Commission study suggests these attacks result from orcas having more leisure time and abundant food, leading to increased exploration and playful behavior.

| News Travels Fast

Quick Trip Roundup 🧳🚀

Quick travel news & updates for your weary, jet-lagged mind.

• 🚶‍♂️🧳 Flight attendant's back broken as severe turbulence strikes Turkish Airlines flight, third major mid-air incident in a week.

• Airlines are stepping up their luggage game! New tracking rules mean fewer lost bags and faster reunions for frustrated International travelers.

• Hidden No More: Southwest Airlines is now available to compare and book on Google Flights, making it easier to find deals.

• Man dies overboard from world's largest cruise ship, cause of fall under investigation by Coast Guard.

• Cruise Catastrophe: How One Fateful Facebook Post cost a family $15,000 and their dream vacation.

• Boeing's largest plant engulfed in "panic mode" amid allegations of hounding workers over safety concerns.

| You Gotta SEA This

• ❤️😊👮‍♂️ Heartwarming video being reunited with family after spending 100 days in a Turks and Caicos jail 

| This Day in Travel History

June 3, 1539 - Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto claims Florida for Spain. This marked an important moment in the European exploration and colonization of the Americas​.

| Travel Stock Performance

The STAYnTELL travel pulse. Stay up-to date each with the the Top Travel Gainer and Loser for the week.

LAST WEEK’S TOP GAINER & LOSER

* Prices as of May 24th, 5:00 PM EST

| Thanks For Reading & Refer Your Friends

We've reached our destination, we hope you found our weekly flight through the news enjoyable. See you in the clouds ⛅