Europe is introducing a new authorisation system for visa-exempt visitors to the European Union or the Schengen Area. It is expected to become effecting starting November 2023. More about ETIAS below. European Travel Information and Authorisation System is a planned electronic authorisation system of the European Union for visa-exempt visitors travelling to the European Union or the Schengen Area (including EFTA countries), except for the Republic of Ireland which is a member common travel area. It is similar to other electronic travel authorisations like the ESTA in the United States. Australia, Canada, on the other hand, operates a scheme called ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) and New Zealand as New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority. The United Kingdom is also working on a similar system, which for now is being called Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA),and will serve the same purpose as the ETIAS. This means that once the UK ETA becomes effective, travellers from the EU will need to obtain one to enter the territory of the UK. ETIAS travel authorisation will be required for travel to the Schengen Area as well as Bulgaria, Cyprus & Romania. Ireland is the only EU member state that will continue to have its visa policy. It was expected that ETIAS would be available from May 2023, but now it would be implemented only from November 2023. Application Procedure for ETIAS Applying for ETIAS is so much easier than for a visa. Prospective visitors will have to complete an online application & €7 fee from those between 18 and 70. The only document required is your valid passport. It is expected to process the applications automatically by providing an immediate response. The whole application procedure will not take more than 10 minutes. If approved, the ETIAS will be valid for 3 years or until the expiry date of the travel document whichever is earlier. General Information: The website through which applicants will apply for an ETIAS has not been launched yet, but the EU authorities are working on it. The ETIAS website will be under the Europa.eu domain. Some Links to access to have more insights on ETIAS: 9Things You Need to Know About ETIAS Before It Becomes Effective in November -SchengenVisaInfo.com ETIAS - European TravelInformation and Authorisation System (schengenvisainfo.com) Schengen Visa - Comprehensiveinformation about EU Visa (schengenvisainfo.com) Which CountriesAre Not Part of Schengen Area? - SchengenVisaInfo.com Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Linkedin & also subscribe to our website LuxembourgExpats 

Road resurfacing works will be carried out on Rue de Hamm from 5:30 on Saturday, 11 September to 5:00 on Monday, 13 September 2021. Rue de Hamm will be closed to all traffic on the section of this road between No. 174 and Rue Englebert Neveu for the duration of these works. The Service Circulation (Traffic Department) will ensure proper signage is provided to inform road users. Please also note the following changes to the municipal bus service during the works: On line 9, all buses bound for Hamm will end their route at the stop "Ierzkaulen" (on Rue Englebert Neveu), which will serve as a temporary terminus. The stops "Hamm-Colonie", "Hamm-Schoul", "Hamm-Kierch", "Rue Haute", "Käschtewee" and "Rue de Bitbourg" will not be served. In the opposite direction, service to Bonnevoie and the city centre will begin at "Ierzkaulen". On line 15, all buses bound for Hamm will end their route at the temporary terminus "Hamm, Kierch" (temporary stop on Rue des Peupliers). The stops "Hamm-Schoul", "Hamm-Colonie" and "Ierzkaulen" will not be served. In the opposite direction, service to Fetschenhof and Clausen will begin at "Hamm, Kierch" ((temporary stop on Rue des Peupliers). On the CN3, all buses coming from Bonnevoie will end their route at "Englebert Neveu" before changing direction and travelling back towards Bonnevoie and the city centre. No service will be provided to Pulvermühl and the upper area of Hamm. The following stops in particular will be closed: "Hamm-Colonie", "Hamm-Schoul", "Hamm-Kierch", "Peupliers", "Pulvermühl", "Hammer Dällchen" and "Général Patton" For more info: Road resurfacing on Rue de Hamm | Ville de Luxembourg (vdl.lu) 

Luxembourg is removed from the mandatory Hotel quarantine list in Ireland. Travel is to be permitted for non-essential reasons from 19 July More information can be found here: thejournal.ie/us-france-belgium-luxembourg-mandatory-hotel-quarantine-5451585-May2021

New Health Measures are announced for travelers arriving from India. Given the increased intensity of the virus, travelers from India who arrive in the Grande Duchy within the past 14 days are required to take a Covid test and place themselves in strict quarantine for 7 days. The new measures is applicable from 1 May till 15 May inclusive.

While the European Union is considering easing restrictions for people from highly vaccinated countries, Britain is considering announcing a "green list" of countries where the Brits can travel to for holidays.  Travel companies are a happy bunch about the news given they consider there is a huge pent-up demand for travel Read more on Reuters reuters.com/world/uk/britain-will-announce-travel-green-list-shortly-minister-2021-05-04

For protection of traveler rights, the European Union has established the EU Regulation 261/2004. The regulation specifies what airlines should do in order to ensure that a person receives all the attention and care in case of a delayed, cancelled, overbooked or downgraded flight and other similar cases.If you have been in such a situation, this article will help you to figure out if you qualify to ask for compensation.How Much Can I Claim in Compensation For my Delayed Flight? The compensation for a flight delay range between â€¢ €250 and €600 per passenger. How much you will be compensated depends on the distance of the journey, as follows€250 for flights shorter than 1500 km.• €400 for flights between 1500 km and 3500 km. If your flight took off and arrived in the EU, this is the amount of compensation even for flights over 3500 km.• 600 for distances over 3500 km. If the delay lasts between three and four hours, your reimbursement could be reduced in half in this case.For more info: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/travel-guide/flight-delay-compensation/

The first of a new fleet of Azuma trains to enter regular service carrying passengers will depart from London to Leeds on Wednesday morning, bringing the promise of faster, more reliable services – and more seats – for the East Coast line. One of the British-assembled Hitachi trains made an uneventful launch run between King’s Cross and Peterborough on Tuesday. By the end of 2021, with a new timetable, the trains are expected to cut regular journey times between London and Edinburgh to four hours. Managing director of London North Eastern Railway, David Horne, said the Azumas would bring “huge benefits” and were “more reliable, stylish, environmentally friendly and accessible”, and would have about 100 more seats than trains they replace. Click here to read more

Can you imagine hanging over a straight drop -- and staring down 245 feet into the gaping maw of an underwater tunnel? Well, you no longer have to imagine.   You can travel to Canada's Wonderland, a large theme park outside of Toronto, and submit yourself to that thrill on the Yukon Striker roller coaster. Canada's Wonderland says it's "the longest, fastest and tallest dive roller coaster in the world."   Few stats about this roller coaster supplied by the park that will take your breath away: 1. 80 mph (130 km/h): That would be the maximum speed.   2. 3,625 feet, 1,105 meters: That's how far you'll travel (about the length of 12 football fields).   3.  4: That's the number of inversions (coaster speak for being turned upside down and then returned right side up) you'll be put through.   And because all of this isn't going to be special enough, the Striker will have floorless seating for "enhanced visibility," a three-second dangle before you're released into the straight drop and a 360-degree loop, which the park says has never before been on a dive coaster.

Working out can be extremely rewarding and is only further enhanced with the right accessories to accompany it. Whether you choose to lift weights in the gym, do Zumba at a studio or run in the park, there are a few essentials that will refresh, hydrate and nourish your body so it's best to have them on hand, especially if you're heading straight to work or a meeting.    Before you workout next, add these to your exercise bag :   1. SmartShake You need to refuel as soon as possible after exercising if you want to maximize the effects of your workout and recover properly. Shakes are a great way of doing this, and a SmartShake is the best way of storing them.   2. Hair Kit Pack an elasticated headband, a bottle of your favourite dry shampoo, some sturdy clips and a styling product. Using these accessories you can tie your hair back. It's always a smart choice to keep  Dry Shampoo in hand until you have time to wash your hair with water.    3. Moisturisers The gym puts your skin through a lot, so when you finish your workout you need to nourish your skin with decent moisturisers. As well as a body and face moisturiser and a lip balm too.   4. Water Bottle If you’re not comfortable with drinking out of public taps and water fountains you need a water bottle. This will help to keep you hydrated as you work out.   5. Weight Lifting Gloves For those of you who lift weights at the gym, you’ll know there’s nothing more annoying than having to interrupt a set because you lose your grip. Weight lifting gloves alleviate this problem by providing a more solid grip than your bare hands can achieve.   6. Gym Towel Pack a gym towel which you can either sit on our use to wipe sweat down before you use other equipments.   7. A pair of Bluetooth earbuds or  Earphones Listening to motivating or favourite playlists will help to stay motivated and you will enjoy the workout session even more.   8.  A tube of deodorant Deodorants are often alcohol-based and some have  antibacterial power to temporarily kill bacteria which will stop the stink before it starts.   9.  A first aid kit No matter how coordinated you are or like to think you are accidents happen. When you're in a room surrounded by heavy weights and the occasional sharp edges, those odds become even higher.  Put stuff  like bandages, tape, and gauze in the kit for safety.    10. A lock to store your gym bag Its always safe to to lock your bag so that you dont loose your stuffs.