Amtrak
Amtrak will begin testing its new fleet of high speed Acela trains. The trains will leave the Alstom New York facility in Hornell New York and make their way to the Transportation Technology Center near Pueblo, Colorado, where they will undergo nine months of testing. The trains will feature updated Wi-Fi, more USB outlets, reading lights and food service. The new trainsets will replace the current Acela Express equipment and begin service in 2021.
Amsterdam, Holland
The mayor of Amsterdam is considering a cannabis café ban for tourists as part of a weed crackdown. The local government is looking into the possibility of restricting the sale of the drug to tourists at the city’s famous coffee shops. They are also investigating ways to reduce visitor numbers to Amsterdam to tackle over-tourism. Many visitors are drawn to Amsterdam because of the relaxed rules on cannabis, legal prostitution and cheap flights. A wave of new measures are set to be introduced to the city, including a ban on night-time tours of the legal prostitution zone. Fines for tour guides lingering in places that are sensitive to pressure will also be introduced. This is a great effort by the government to clean up Amsterdam’s seedy reputation for the benefit of its 1.1 million permanent residents. Browse Holland tours and vacations.
Disney’s Magic Kingdom
Disney is refurbishing Cinderella’s Castle, the centerpiece of the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. When the work is completed, the turrets will be a bolder blue color and the upper portion of the castle will feature a pink hue. Gold elements will be used throughout the building to highlight the features. Work will begin very soon and continue throughout the summer. The stage and nighttime shows that take place around the castle will continue as scheduled. Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland in Anaheim, California underwent a refurbishment last year and now features similar bold colors.
Nintendo Switch Lounges At US Airports
Nintendo is opening Switch lounges across select US Airports to help make the wait to get on n a plane less of a frustration. Passengers at four US airports will be able to play new Switch games, charge up their devices and pick up some goodies. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario Party and Tetris 99 will be available for play and /or purchase. In addition, travelers will receive a free branded luggage handle wrap and a $10 coupon to on Nintendo purchases of $75 or more at Target stores. The Switch Pop Ups will be coming to Dulles International Airport Washington, D.C., Seattle Tacoma International Airport, Chicago O’ Hare International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport. They’ll be available from mid- February to late March.
Related Posts: Playing Nintendo Switch On An Airplane
Air Travel Updates
It’s no secret that air travel can be trying. To make the airport experience more palatable, enroll in programs like Global Entry, which enables a quick move through customs. TSA PreCheck will make getting through security quicker and downloading the Mobile Passport Control app helps move through immigration with ease.
Related reading: Difference Between TSA Pre-Check and CLEAR
What You Need to Know About REAL ID
To further ease the airport experience airline-run services meet the travelers at their car and escort them through security and to the gate. American Airlines and Delta’s VIP Select are offering these services. Some credit cards offer access to lounges and priority boarding.
New routes have been introduced by airlines to limit the number of stops and hours en-route. Some of the smaller U.S. cities are getting non-stop international routes, including Nashville, Pittsburgh and Charleston, S.C. The same thing is happening on the other side of the Atlantic, with cities like Dubrovnik, Croatia and Palermo, Italy getting flights from bigger U.S. hubs.
A new Airbus 321XLR has the range for direct U.S.-Europe routes and is increasingly being used by TAP Air Portugal and Scandinavian Airlines. Jet Blue will also start using the plane next year.
The problem of flying in premium cabins, but its too expensive is also being resolved. LaCompagnie flies from New York to Paris, Azul Brazilian Airlines has lie-flat seats, Copa Airlines operates Boeing 737s with lie-flat seats. JetBlue will bring its Mint premium class with lie-flat seats to a London route next year and will likely continue to expand that service across Europe in coming years.
