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(CNN) — In the travel news this week: What it takes to master one of the world’s toughest airport landings, Japan’s picky penguins, and why American travelers might want to consider a trip to Europe this year.
Destination Inspiration
The euro plummets. For American tourists, this means that European vacations are more affordable in dollars than they have been in 20 years. So as airfare and other travel costs rise, the strong dollar could help offset those increases for happy Americans heading to Europe.
At the moment of writing, the euro and the dollar are close to parity. The British pound is also weak, trading at $1.20.
If you are planning a trip to Europe, why not consider Occitania, a region of France with a long stretch of the Mediterranean coast dotted with laid-back coastal villages and one of the largest wine regions in the country. Or perhaps DublinIreland’s lively, walkable capital, where you can take in the sights and then go for a swim in the sea at a seaside town loved by Harry Styles and Matt Damon.
Greece is another classic choice for American tourists. It certainly worked for Cleveland-born Sura Crutch, who had an affair with an Athens native in 1971 — and now half a century later, they are still together.
Our animal friends
In 2015, Tom Turcich, a New Jersey man, rescued his dog Savannah from a Texas shelter and took her for a walk. Seven years and thousands of miles later, they are finally done. Here’s the story of how a man and his best friend walked around the world.
In other animal news, at Japan’s Hakone-en aquarium, animals, including penguins and otters, are not at all happy with feeding cheaper fish as a cost-cutting measure. Have you ever seen a more disgruntled water bird than? this one?
Wildlife enthusiasts can also enjoy CNN’s new original documentary series “Patagonia: Living on the Edge of the World,” which premieres on Sunday, July 10 at 9 p.m. ET. Filmed over an action-packed year, it shows what it takes to survive and thrive in one of the wildest places on Earth.
Travel trends
glamping — that portmanteau of “glamor” and “camping” — is the latest travel fashion among China’s young people. Northwest China, where travelers can leave city life behind and be surrounded by farms, pastures, goats and yaks, is a popular destination.
When it comes to trendsetting around the world, the power of the social media influencer cannot be ignored, whether you love them or hate them. Now that the travel world opens up again, we caught up with brands and influencers to get their view.
Hotel news
The Norwegian Juvet Landscape hotel consists of 10 cabins in a vast nature reserve, each of which has a unique view. The minimalist interiors only help to emphasize the glory of the forest scenes outside.
Further east in Dubai, Anantara has opened its new resort on World Islands, an archipelago of 300 man-made islands. Only 15 minutes from the coast, but completely secluded, it is only accessible by speedboat.
Nashville’s 112-Year-Old Landmark Hotel The Hermitage Just Got A lavish makeover.
And in London, the legendary Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair is undergoing a major renovationwith its new interior to be unveiled in September 2022.
The shortest commercial runway in the world
Landing from the airport on the small Caribbean island of Saba is so challenging that only an elite group of specially trained pilots are equipped to do it. Experienced aviator Captain Roger Hodge says, “Once a man is fully trained and we are satisfied, we send the radio to operations that another Top Gun is born.”
In case you missed it
An Airbus A380 flew from Dubai to Australia with a hole in its side.
A train enthusiast has solved a true Orient Express mystery.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resignation thursdayafter a tumultuous few years in British politics.
Stop bothering me
Imagine it. A warm evening breeze, a margarita and a date night with your loved one in a chic resort that you have been saving for all year. And the only thing that ruins your mood: your sun-kissed limbs covered in big, red, itchy bug bites.
To prevent this from happening on your next vacation, our partners at CNN Underscored, a guide to product reviews and recommendations from CNN, have tried and tested the best bug sprays on the market. Here are the sprays they recommend.
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