All posts tagged: tourist

From JJ Watt to Ella Langley, this viral German tourist is getting a real US welcome

From JJ Watt to Ella Langley, this viral German tourist is getting a real US welcome

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more A viral German influencer who goes by the name Freddy has received a luxurious welcome to America during his road trip across the country for the 2026 Fifa World Cup tournament. The X user, who goes by the name @FreddyLA7 and keeps his face hidden, has been traveling to different parts of the U.S. for the first time to support his home nation during the soccer event. The European content creator — who has 638,100 followers on X and a photo of Cristiano Ronaldo as his profile picture — recently went viral with his hilarious and enthusiastic reactions to trying staple spots in America during his trip, including visits to Taco Bell, Waffle House and Buc-ee’s. Since sharing the clips, his American vacation has …

The House | The Tourist Tax Is Coming – But How Will It Work? And Who Is Fighting It?

The House | The Tourist Tax Is Coming – But How Will It Work? And Who Is Fighting It?

Published by Sam Flores

Illustration by Tracy Worrall 10 min read1 hr An overnight visitor levy is coming to England – but what will it look like? And will it be resisted? Noah Vickers reports Take a flight to Rome, Lisbon or Amsterdam, check into your hotel and you’ll see it: a charge at the bottom of your bill. It might be called a city tax, an overnight levy or a tourist charge, but it means the same thing – a few extra euros you’ll have to pay up. For a long time, the UK has been an outlier in Europe by not having tourist taxes, but that is starting to change. In July, Edinburgh will introduce a five per cent charge on overnight stays, followed by other Scottish cities setting their own rates in 2027. That same year, councils across Wales will be free to impose levies of £1.30 per person per night, reduced to 75p for hostels and campsites. Throughout its first year in office, the Labour government in Westminster was clear: England …

Italy’s top court rules against tourist refused tap water in Dolomites hotel | Italy

Italy’s top court rules against tourist refused tap water in Dolomites hotel | Italy

Published by Sam Flores

A tourist’s simple request for a glass of tap water at a hotel restaurant in the Italian Dolomites has culminated in Italy’s top court ruling that being served water from the tap is not a consumer right, after a lengthy and costly legal saga. The case dates back to 2019 when the woman spent a week at the five-star hotel in the ski resort of Corvara, in Badia, over Christmas and new year. She was on a half-board deal with the evening meal included, except for drinks. According to Italian press reports, the woman repeatedly asked for tap water with her meal, even offering to pay for it. This was refused and instead she arrived at dinner each night to find a 0.75-litre bottle of mineral water, costing €7, on the table. During her stay, the tourist complained about “constantly being denied the opportunity to consume tap water, and instead being forced to purchase bottled water”, Corriere Alto Adige reported, citing court papers. The woman then pursued legal action, arguing water was “a natural resource …

experts on plans for cost of living, EU ties, tourist tax and more

experts on plans for cost of living, EU ties, tourist tax and more

Published by Sam Flores

The government has set out its legislative agenda for the new parliamentary session in the king’s speech. Our panel of experts reveals the key points. Measures to ease high living costs Jonquil Lowe, Visiting Academic, The Open University Surveys suggest that the cost of living is still a major concern for UK households, with energy and food prices topping the list of worries. In response, some campaigners have called on the government to use the energy independence bill announced in the king’s speech to break the link between electricity and gas prices and volatile global gas prices. And they want it to provide support, especially for low-income households, to switch away from heating homes with fossil fuels. Among other measures, the bill aims to ensure landlords upgrade their properties to reduce tenants’ energy bills. These kinds of measure need to be introduced urgently if they are to save households from heftier energy bills expected this winter. Other cost-of-living reliefs are welcome, although their impact may be small. For example, a move to “strengthen ties with …

Athens protests over explosive Ukrainian sea drone found in cave on tourist island – POLITICO

Athens protests over explosive Ukrainian sea drone found in cave on tourist island – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Kyiv is pressing to slash Russia’s oil income, making the tankers that help Moscow a prime target. In this case, Kyiv said it had no information on the drone. “There is no evidence that it belongs to Ukrainian operators of maritime drones. We are open to cooperation with the Greek side to clarify the circumstances of the incident, if there are relevant requests from them,” Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson of the Ukrainian foreign ministry, told reporters on Tuesday. Kyiv has, however, repeatedly complained that Greece’s giant tanker fleet is helping prop up Russia. At the beginning of the war, the then-Ukrainian ambassador to Athens, Serhiy Shutenko, said that “the money of certain shipping companies is stained with blood.” On the other hand, the incident could now dent the conservative New Democracy government’s public image as Athens has gone a long way in offering support to Ukraine over the past five years, reversing traditionally close ties with Russia. The government is now facing criticism from opposition parties across the political spectrum, which note that Greece seems to …

Huge boost for famous UK seaside town as new 36-metre tourist attraction opens | UK | News

Huge boost for famous UK seaside town as new 36-metre tourist attraction opens | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

Council chiefs are hoping a new 36-metre observation wheel will bring in more tourists to a pretty seaside town. Teignmouth’s new attraction will give visitors spectacular, panoramic views for miles across the town and its surrounding coastline, according to the local council. The wheel, located at The Den park overlooking the seafront, welcomed its first visitors on Saturday. It is set to remain open for four weeks in a boost to the Devon town which has been described as a “gem”. Councillor John Nutley, executive member for leisure and recreation at Teignbridge District Council, said: “We’re very pleased to be able to host an observation wheel in Teignmouth. “We know how much people enjoy visiting the area, and having an attraction like this will enhance their experience and, we hope, encourage even more people to visit our beautiful coastal town.” The wheel had been transported to the site in small sections over the past week. The council said this had attracted considerable local interest and “excitement among residents and visitors alike”. The attraction includes multiple …

How to Dress for the Kentucky Derby Without Looking Like a Tourist

How to Dress for the Kentucky Derby Without Looking Like a Tourist

Published by Jenni Sidey

The Kentucky Derby has been drawing fast horses and nattily dressed spectators to Louisville for over 150 years. And for the uninitiated, there may seem to be a fine line between the classic Derby looks some regulars achieve and the type of costumed clickbait often flown in by the social media set. For the locals who dress them both, however, there’s a world of difference. Allyson Rawlings is design director at Crittenden, a menswear store in Kentucky specializing in tailored clothing. She learned the art of outfitting the Kentucky gentleman from her late father, Crittenden Rawlings, who founded his namesake company in 2003 following decades in the menswear industry, including a post as president of men’s tailored clothing at Polo Ralph Lauren. With the 2026 Kentucky Derby set to hit Churchill Downs this weekend, we asked Rawlings to help us decipher the style moves that’ll make you look like a proper Southern gent—and the ones that’ll out you as a tacky interloper. Here’s how to harness your inner dandy on race day. Nail the fit—then …

People In Other Countries Are Weirded Out By How Much Americans Smile

People In Other Countries Are Weirded Out By How Much Americans Smile

Published by Jenni Sidey

Smiling is a big part of American culture. When we pass strangers in the street, thank the server at a restaurant, or squeeze past someone in the grocery store, we flash them our pearly whites.  While this act may seem like a small way to spread positivity, people from other countries say that they find it unsettling. Tourists within those countries are easily marked as Americans when they smile too much or have perfect teeth. This smile-related gap tells a lot about nonverbal communication in other countries and how Americans have put pressure on showcasing the “perfect smile”.  People from other countries find the American act of smiling a lot to be fake and call it ‘turkey teeth.’ We see smiling at others as a way of being polite, and for a lot of people, it’s something done subconsciously. For non-Americans, though, it’s weird.  In the U.K., they have deemed this type of smile as “turkey teeth”, a derogatory term that links back to Britons who would come back from Turkey with cheap veneers. Even …

‘America must be more welcoming’: Tourist visits to the US are falling, led by one country

‘America must be more welcoming’: Tourist visits to the US are falling, led by one country

Published by Sam Flores

Fewer people are choosing to visit the U.S., with the country seeing a 5.5 percent drop in visitor numbers in 2025 compared to 2024, a new study reveals. The United States remained the largest travel and tourism market in the world in 2025, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) latest economic impact research, but international visitor spending fell 4.6 percent to $176 billion. Furthermore, while some overseas markets grew by 1.7 million visits, this was outweighed by arrivals from other countries shrinking by 5.7 million, leading to an overall decline of around four million. This downward trend was largely driven by Canada, with 4.2 million fewer Canadians heading south to the U.S. for vacations. Germany was the second-biggest decline driver, with 225,000 fewer visits. Other significant drops were linked to India (down 130,000) and France (down 116,000). The United States remained the largest travel and tourism market in the world in 2025, but international visitor spending fell 4.6 percent to $176 billion (Getty Images/iStockphoto) The concern for the U.S., the WTTC points …

Gunman kills tourist and wounds 6 others on Mexico’s Teotihuacán pyramid

Gunman kills tourist and wounds 6 others on Mexico’s Teotihuacán pyramid

Published by Sam Flores

MEXICO CITY — A gunman opened fire Monday from a pyramid in the famed Mexican archaeological site of Teotihuacán, killing a female Canadian tourist and wounding six others. At least seven other people were injured as tourists scrambled to escape the gunfire. The shooter later took his own life, officials said. The injured included six U.S. citizens, one of them a 61-year-old woman, as well as a 6-year-old boy from Colombia and two other Colombian nationals. Two Brazilians, one Russian and one Canadian were also injured. At least six of the injured suffered gunshot wounds, authorities said, while others apparently were hurt in falls while trying to escape. There was no immediate breakdown on the conditions of the injured, all of whom were being treated in area hospitals, authorities said. Various Mexican media outlets, citing police sources, identified the assailant as a 27-year-old Mexico City resident who had expressed admiration for Hitler and for the perpetrators of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Colorado. Monday’s attack occurred on April 20, Hitler’s birthday, and also the anniversary …