USA ESTA Travel Pass News

Since the arrival of a certain pandemic in March 2020, Quebec skiers and snowboarders have been greatly missed at Vermont resorts. This is what La Presse found by going down the slopes of two favorited mountains of amateurs, Jay Peak and Stowe, to highlight the reopening of the borders.

Located just under two hours by car from Montreal, Jay Peak station needs no introduction. With its wide variety of trails (81 in total) and its vertical drop of 656 m, the resort delights many Quebecers every year. The feeling is mutual. The proof? To address fluctuations in the lone (which is worth about 78 cents US at the time of this writing), Jay Peak accepts Canadian money at par with US money. To take advantage of the discount, customers must show proof of valid citizenship (passport, driver’s license) and pay cash. Unfortunately, we were unaware of this policy when purchasing our lift ticket. Having withdrawn nothing at the counter before crossing the border, we had to pay for our half-day access by means of a credit card, and thus absorb the exchange rate, which increased the price of the ticket by $22 (from US$76 to C$98).

Another proof of Jay Peak’s affection for Quebecers: the signs are often bilingual. In addition, a track is called Montrealer (La Montréalaise, in French). To get there, take the Jet Triple Chair lift.

In an interview, Jay Peak’s communications director, JJ Toland, welcomed the return of Quebecers. The closing of the borders has affected us a lot. Half of the people who ski at Jay Peak are from Canada. Without them, 2021 has been a tough year, to say the least. JJ Toland, Communications Director of Jay Peak.

For this reason, Quebecers who will find Jay Peak this season will not detect any novelty. “We did not make any significant investments because when we made our budget, we anticipated the worst for the second year in a row, explains JJ Toland. We had prepared for another year of minimal, if not zero, traffic from Canada.

In terms of infrastructure, nothing has changed much in Stowe either, apart from these “Adventure Zones” mentioned by Jeff Wise, director of communications of Vail Resorts, during our visit. These are areas accessible from the beginner and intermediate slopes.

Located two and a half hours from Montreal, Stowe Mountain, which celebrates its 85th anniversary this year, contains two distinct peaks: Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak. The resort offers a vertical drop of 719 m and, above all, 129 runs. Those reserved for experienced skiers being closed during our visit, we exclusively explored the intermediate ones. Too bad, because seeing the look of the double diamonds through the windows of the imposing gondola that took us to an altitude of 1105 m, we were salivating at the idea of attacking some of them. The GOAT, named after the acronym “Greatest of All Time”, which in French means “best of all time”, was certainly part of the lot.

We are very happy to welcome Canadians back. You have always been part of our winter sports community. Jeff Wise, Vail Resorts Director of Communications

After-ski Both resorts offer two different types of après-ski. Jay Peak offers a choice: the “relaxation” option, made up of restaurants, a cinema, a spa, and an outdoor fire surrounded by benches to slouch on, and the “exhaust our last reserves of energy”, with its climbing wall and (fasten your toque) its indoor water park. In just a few minutes, you can therefore switch from merino wool jersey to swimsuit.

As for the pandemic health measures, very present last year, such as wearing a mask outside, physical distancing and the obligation to book well in advance, they have disappeared. “Our visitors can do whatever they want,” JJ Toland assured us.

On the Stowe side, après-ski is slightly more traditional. In the heart of the “village”, at the foot of Spruce Peak (which you access by taking a gondola from Mount Mansfield), there are a few shops, restaurants, a whiskey bar, a microbrewery, as well as a theatre of 420 squares, where a variety of “cultural” events are presented.

For those who wish to fully experience the theme of sliding sports, an outdoor skating rink is in the centre of the esplanade. You can rent skates there, which you leave after use in bins located near the ice area, without having to return to the counter. “It’s a code of honour,” an attendant told us.

Yes, Quebecers like to ski in Vermont, but they are not the only ones. Americans also like to slalom in the north-eastern United States and can travel hundreds of miles to satisfy this need. A single glance at the parking spaces at the foot of the slopes is enough to realize this. Nevada, Florida, New Mexico, Washington, Massachusetts, New York, Rode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania… We identified license plates from all over Uncle Sam’s country during our stay.

If you like history, then Washington is the ideal city for you as it is one of the most historical places to visit. Most museums in Washington DC have free admission, so you can enjoy all its glory without having to take out your wallet.

Washington has many free museums including:

The Smithsonian, Arlington Cemetery, La Casa Blanca, The Lincoln Memorial, The Vietnam Monument, The National Arboretum & The Naval Museum.

There is also usually plenty of outdoor concerts and events during the summer, which are also free.

Baltimore – This city has a long history and allows you to get to know it for free to increase your knowledge and be closer to the city you are visiting.

Places to visit include, climbing the Washington Monument, Visit Edgar Allan Poe’s memorial, visit Fort McHenry and take a stroll through picturesque little Italy.

Orlando – This is not one of the most popular cities in the United States for domestic tourism, but for outbound tourism. There are many tourists interested in knowing this city, which is full of surprises for its visitors. It’s also a cheap city, so you won’t have to scratch your pocket too much to enjoy everything that’s waiting for you.

While it is true that when you go to Disney or the famous Universal, they are not cheap places, there are many other cheaper things you can do to enjoy your cheap Orlando vacation which include:

Rollerblading along the beautiful Orlando shoreline, Visit the Lego Imagination Center, go to the Ripley Museum, Visit the Science Center and getting to know the Museum of Trains and Trolleybuses.

Philadelphia – When you read the name of this city you will certainly think of a very famous film by the actor Tom Hanks, but beyond that you will also think of because it is a city that can bring you a lot without having to spend too much money.

This city is a great place to visit on a budget and there are a lot of things you can do in Philadelphia for free. The sites of historical interest do not charge an entrance fee. It seems unbelievable as you are used to living in a country that almost charges you for breathing. In this case, however, you can enjoy the following places of historical interest, such as:

The Liberty Bell, The Independence Hall, America’s First Bank, The Masonic Temple, the town, The Rodin Museum, various art museums and The Edgar Allan Poe Museum just to name a few.

There is an abundance of accommodation choices from shared hostels to 5-star hotels at affordable prices with many amenities.

Las Vegas – This city is not only the place where many people will get married to celebrate an atypical wedding – it seems that it has already become a classic – but it is also a paradise for those on a tight budget. There are many people who think that if they go to Vegas on a small budget, they will walk away with a lot of cash thanks to the casinos and gambling houses that exist there. However, the reality is that gambling is never a good choice to make money with certainty. So if you are on a low budget it is best not to go near the gambling houses as then you risk running out of anything.

But in Las Vegas you can find many hotel deals, cheap meals, and inexpensive activities or for a limited budget. It is a city that never sleeps, where the lights are always on and that you can always enjoy great walks at affordable prices, like for example:

The Venetian’s gondolas, The Sports Hall of Fame, Silverton Saltwater Aquarium and The Chocolate Fountain in Bellagio.

After a long period of restricted air traffic, there is now good news from Air France, KLM and Delta Air Lines, which have not only increased their route network again but are even offering more connections to the USA than before the pandemic.

Travelers to the USA should be very happy about the new summer flight schedule for 2022 from Air France, KLM and Delta Air Lines. The airline group has significantly expanded its route network.

Delta has already resumed the route to New York-JFK from Frankfurt. The Atlanta connection from the largest German airport was actually maintained for the entire duration of the pandemic. Since December, the hub in Georgia, which is also Delta’s home airport, has once again been served from Munich. That same month, KLM resumed its service to Las Vegas and Air France resumed service to Seattle.

Many more connections are now planned for the summer timetable. A total of 20 US destinations are to be flown to, namely from Paris-CDG and Paris-Orly or Amsterdam. Travelers from Germany have connections from various airports, eight with Air France and ten with KLM.

It has been revealed that a new Korean airline, Air Premia, is accelerating its preparations for service to LA. It aims to operate the LA-Incheon passenger route as early as the end of May or early June, but the airline industry has expressed doubts about the possibility of service within two months, so the specific timing of the start of the operation is drawing attention.

According to Korean media on the 5th, Air Premia announced that it is in the process of establishing a branch and licensing a branch for passenger operation on the LA-Incheon route and is in the final stage. An Air Premia official said, “In line with the easing of distances and the trend of exemption from quarantine for overseas arrivals, we are preparing a route to Los Angeles in the US as a top priority for mid- to long-distance airlines.” he said.

Regarding the timing of service, according to the Korean media and the airline industry, it is known that Air Premia is planning to start the LA-Incheon route at the end of next month or early June at the earliest. This is because the LA-Incheon route is a liberalized flight route, and it is possible as long as an airport slot (the right to take off and land at a specific time) is secured without securing a separate transportation right.

It has been found that Air Premia has already been in contact with multiple travel agencies since last month in relation to ticket sales rights, centred on Korean travel agencies in Los Angeles. An official from a Korean-American travel agency said, “We are working with travel agencies to select a company that is in charge of selling airline tickets between LA and Incheon. ” he said.

Even among Korean investors in Los Angeles who made an initial investment in Air Premia, the possibility of starting the service in early June is being mentioned in relation to the timing of the LA-Incheon route.

In the process of gathering Korean American investors in LA at the initial stage of its establishment, Air Premia put forward the route between LA and Incheon as a prerequisite. Here, Air Premia is also a route that differentiates and identifies a hybrid airline (HSC) that combines the advantages of a low-cost carrier (LCC) and a large-scale carrier (FSC). To this end, Air Premia has already introduced the Boeing 787-9 medium and large aircraft and plans to introduce three more aircraft this year.

National airlines such as Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are also closely monitoring the preparations for Air Premia’s LA-Incheon route. Although they are somewhat sceptical about the target timing of Air Premia’s flight to LA at the end of May or early June, they are looking at trends such as changes in the future situation.

An official of the national airline said, “If the flight to LA starts in early June, there should already be a pre-sale of tickets, but no meaningful movement has been detected.” he said.

The popular United States Botanic Garden in Washington DC has been closed for two years due to the COVID-19 outbreak.  It has been set to open and welcome back locals and tourists beginning the 1st April.

The indoor garden at the botanical garden is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, and the outdoor garden from 7:30 am to 7:00 pm during spring and summer. In addition, the garden near the fountain is open from sunrise to sunset. Admission is free, there is no need to specify a viewing time, and visitors to the indoor garden must wear a mask.

On the 26th, a representative of the Botanical Garden said, “If the weather permits, the children’s garden and the south yard in the botanical garden will reopen from the 22nd of next month.”

As various travel restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic have been eased, the Seattle tourism market is also starting to stretch.

Industry insiders say there is still a long way to go to reach pre-pandemic levels, but there are signs of recovery in several areas.

According to the tourism industry, the tourism industry is reviving, with hotel occupancy gradually increasing in Seattle and other King County areas.

According to the industry status report recently published by Visit Seattle, downtown Seattle hotel occupancy increased by 11% and King County by 8% from January to February, respectively. Over the past four weeks, hotel occupancy across the county has reached 56%.

According to industry sources, Seattle tourism peaked by breaking new records every year from 2018 to 2019, just before the coronavirus pandemic.

During the peak season, Seattle hotel reservations are still far short of when compared to when the sky was a star, but the industry sees it as a positive sign.

Other tourism sectors are also slowly opening up.

According to the industry, a total of 296 cruises departing or arriving from Seattle this year, and the average daily number of passengers at SeaTac Airport is 43,000.

In addition, the Washington State Convention Center, where various international conferences were held, has already booked a number of conferences with a total of 24,000 people expected to attend, including the animation event in April.

Walker Willingham, who runs a business at Pike Place, Seattle’s first tourist spot, said, “The barriers to travel to the US are now back to pre-pandemic levels.

The opening of the Canadian border is also expected to act as another positive for Seattle tourism.

From the 1st, visitors entering or returning to Canada across the border will no longer be required to submit a corona-negative certificate.

“Canadian tourists make up half of our customers,” said Allison Russell, Canmore Airlines, a provider of seaplane tours.

The Ministry of Commerce has decided to ban international flights on 100 planes operated by Russian airlines, Reuters reported on the 18th.

The ban includes 99 US-made Boeing planes operated by Russian airlines such as Aeroflot, Air Bridge Cargo and Utair, and one plane used by Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich.

The ban applies to international flights departing from Russia.

The US judges that these planes currently in Russia violated export control regulations applied to planes manufactured by the US or planes containing US technology or items in excess of a certain percentage.

The Ministry of Commerce warns that refueling, maintenance, repair, or provision of spare parts or services to companies around the world is a violation of export control regulations and may result in US law enforcement, including imprisonment, fines, and loss of export privileges.

Commerce Secretary Gina Ramondo said in a statement to Reuters, “We are releasing this list for the world to know.”

The U.S., Canada and a number of European countries have already banned Russian planes from flying over their own countries, Reuters said.

He said Russian airlines only have a few weeks to find replacement supplies for banned plane parts, and if that doesn’t work, they may need to ban flights to avoid safety concerns.

A case in which the new Korean e-passport, which was issued in earnest since the end of last year, was not recognized abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea began to investigate the cause.

The Korean media reported inconveniences that the new e-passport was not recognized properly at airports in the US, or that an internet bank in Germany failed to open an account because it did not recognize the difference in the security elements between the old e-passport and the new e-passport. recently reported

In response, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “We are investigating the exact reason through the competent diplomatic mission abroad.” Another foreign ministry official also met with reporters on the same day and said, “We are investigating (two) specific cases.”

First of all, these two cases of inconvenience have been raised so far, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is investigating whether there are additional cases through former diplomatic missions abroad.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs started issuing all new e-passports with a polycarbonate (PC) type personal information side from December 21, last year. From 2020, diplomatic and official passports have been issued as new models, and the target of issuance has been expanded to the general public as well. By the 15th of this month, about 200,000 new e-passports have been issued and used.

The obligatory wearing of masks on flights to the United States has been extended by another month.
According to a CNBC economic media report on the 10th, the Federal Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) announced on the 10th that it has decided to extend the deadline for the mandatory wearing of masks for users of public transport such as airplanes, airports, trains and buses until April 18th. . TSA’s mandatory mask policy was originally scheduled to end on the 19th of this month.

The brief one-month extension is being interpreted as the fact that the Joe Biden administration and other local governments are lifting mandatory mask-wearing measures as the spread of the Omicron Corona 19 mutation has recently subsided.

Given the recent atmosphere, it seems highly likely that the mandatory mask-wearing measure in the United States will end during the spring season of this year, and this extension is expected to be the last extension.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said: “Over the next month, we plan to keep pace with sharing information on general policy changes, such as when and how, for mandatory mask-wearing measures on public transportation with government departments.”

Since its inauguration last January, the Biden administration has implemented a policy requiring passengers on planes, trains, subways, taxis, ships and public vehicles to wear masks. Public transit users in the United States aged 2 years and older must wear a face mask.

As far as mandatory mask-wearing measures go, the US airline industry has a problem with passengers who refuse to wear masks on board.