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R & R Tours

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R&R Tours 5175 County Road 19 Wauseon ,  OH  43567

Phone: +1 419 4453486 +1 419 4453486

E-mail: [email protected]

New for 2024

April 9-11....... . "Daniel" at Sight & Sound   (seats available on this one, other Lancaster trips full)

April 12-13...... . Celtic Woman @ Shipshe   (several seats open due to canceations!  Call to see if still available)

June3-4...... Gospel Jubilee:  Gold City, Triumphant, Guardian Quartettes; Ronnie & Kim Booth,          Legacy 5, Greater Vision, andthe Nelons @ Ships he

July 9-10.... . Ohio Amish Country Getaway, incl "Ruth"   (New Listing!!)

July 23-25...... Gettysburg & "Daniel" @ Sight & Sound   ( 4 seats, maybe?)

Nov 7-9...... ."Daniel" @ Sight & Sound    (wait list)

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1807 S. Washington St., Suite 114 Naperville, IL 60565 Phone: 630-369-2995

We can fulfill all of your travel dreams.

Add more years to your life AND more life to your years by being delighted and dazzled with your next vacation!  Making your trip amazing is what we do:

Exotic Expeditions, Romantic Honeymoons, Charm filled European Vacations, Posh River Cruises, Action packed Tours, L uxurious Ocean Cruises, African Safaris, F un in the Sun with family and friends, the list is endless!   Dive into our website and get lost in a sea of dreams and ideas!  Bucket List trips are our specialty--don't wait until it's too late, go now! Your search for the perfect vacation is here, call today to speak with one of our friendly agents...

Let 's plan the best vacation possible  making memories you'll cherish forever!

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Last Minute Cruises Deals

5 day the bahamas from tampa, fl.

Departs 4/15/2024

11-Day Eastern Caribbean from New York, NY

From $589.00 (USD)

2024 : Secrets of Egypt & the Nile : 3-Night Pre-Cruise, 7-Night Cruise Roundtrip Luxor, 1-Night Pos

From $5,499.00 (USD)

We are thrilled to take you to a fascinating destination: Egypt.

2024 : Essence of Burgundy & Provence : 7- Night Cruise With 3 Nights Pre-Cruise And 3 Nights Post-C

From $6,429.00 (USD)

Indulge in French flavors on a palate-pleasing itinerary that highlights the essence of France's Burgundy and Provence.

2024 : Gems of Southeast Europe : 7- Night Cruise : Budapest to Giurgiu : ms AmaVerde

From $2,999.00 (USD)

Touch history in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, as you sail along the exotic lower Danube.

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“Welcome to R. N. Tours & Travels, your premier tour agency. We craft personalized journeys, ensuring unforgettable travel experiences tailored to your preferences and interests.”

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WELCOME TO R&R TOURS AND TRAVEL (Pty) Ltd. – K2021532873

We proudly specialize in local private tours and transfers, ranging from specialized tours, golf tours, day-tours and private transfers over our beautiful country of south africa and international tours for individual bookings and small groups.

WE WELCOME VISITORS FROM ALL COUNTRIES AND CULTURES AND WANT TO ENSURE YOU WITH SAFE, RELIABLE, VALUE FOR MONEY AND THE MOST IMPORTANT LUXURY TOURS AND TRANSPORT SERVICES WHERE YOU WILL NOT ONLY BE TRANSPORTED IN STYLE IN ONE OF OUR AUDI OR VOLKSWAGEN FLEET VEHICLES, BUT WILL RECEIVE A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE WITH ONE OF OUR PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS/GUIDES!

Due to the current situation with the Covid 19 World Crisis. South Africa is currently clear of any lockdown restrictions. WE ARE OPEN FOR TOURS AND TRANSFERS. We follow strict covid-19 protocol procedures to insure safe and reliable service to our clients. For any queries e-mail us at [email protected] Whatsapp or call us +27 72 275 4599.

R&R TOURS AND TRAVEL WHERE AWARDED BEST TRANSFER COMPANY IN AFRICA 2018/2019 BY LTG LUXURY TRAVEL GUIDE.

R&R TOURS AND TRAVEL WHERE AWARDED BEST TRANSFER COMPANY IN AFRICA FOR THE YEAR 2020 BY MEA MARKETS.

800-221-2216

Journeys without a crowd, special deals on popular trips, pay-in-full savings.

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WHERE TO NEXT? 

R & R Travel Service opportunities abound . . . no matter the type of trip you're looking for, R & R Travel Service can help you plan it. Whether you're searching for a Caribbean cruise, a golfing experience, a Holiday getaway for the entire family or simply a trip leaving soon, we're sure you will be able to find just the vacation you're looking for. However, if you need any help, simply call or email us and one of our skilled agents will get in touch with you right away...

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About R & R Travel Agency

Tabitha Reeves

I personally have been in the travel business off and on since graduating from The International Aviation and Travel Academy in 1988. I started in a small, hometown agency with two agents and the owner. I then went to work for a big nationwide agency, and eventually returned to a larger "Mom and Pop" agency. Where I learned and worked with some of the best agents, managers, and owners. I eventually left to join the corporate travel world, working for the Department of Defense and the Corps of Engineers. I quickly learned that I missed booking all the "Fun Travel". I liked making people smile and working with them to find something to fit their small budgets and big dreams. I still have a few corporate clients and enjoy working with them. But my heart has always been with families and vacationers. I returned to the world of travel where I worked for someone who only "owned" an agency so that he could travel himself. I quickly realized that I had more years behind, and more experience behind me than he could ever accomplish. When my friend and now business partner encouraged me to start my own agency I finally felt I was ready for that. So in 2015 I decided the time had come. And R & R Travel, LLC was born. 

I personally have been in the travel business off and on since graduating from The International Aviation and Travel Academy in 1988. I started in a small, hometown agency with two agents and the owner. I then went to work for a big nationwide agency, and eventually returned to a larger "Mom and Pop" agency. Where I learned and worked with some of the best agents, managers, and owners. I eventually left to join the corporate travel world, working for the Department of Defense and the Corps of Engineers.

I quickly learned that I missed booking all the "Fun Travel". I liked making people smile and working with them to find something to fit their small budgets and big dreams. I still have a few corporate clients and enjoy working with them. But my heart has always been with families and vacationers. I returned to the world of travel where I worked for someone who only "owned" an agency so that he could travel himself. I quickly realized that I had more years behind, and more experience behind me than he could ever accomplish. When my friend and now business partner encouraged me to start my own agency I finally felt I was ready for that. So in 2015 I decided the time had come. And R & R Travel, LLC was born. 

Licensed & Insured

R & R Travel, LLC is fully licensed and insured. We are accredited with IATA/IATAN and are held to great standards. I personally graduated from International Aviation and Travel Academy second in my class in 1988. I graduated with my CTC and Associates in travel and tourism. We are members of ASTA and NACTA as well.

Meet Our Team

R & R Travel offers several agents, each hand picked and personally trained and educated for fit R & R Travel's ideals.

Each agent at R & R Travel must have a specialty.

This allows each agent to be extremely knowledgeable about their specialty. Each agent can work with any client on any destination but has the ability to work with other agents in our office who may be more experienced in the subject that particular client wants. As an agency our combined experience is over 75 years.

Lead: Mexico  

Secondary: Caribbean 

Lead: History & Cultural tours

Secondary: Active Adventure

Lead: Alaska and Central America  

Secondary: Europe 

Lead: Hawaii & Multi Generational

Secondary: Cruises and Disney

Lead: Europe/Corporate 

Secondary: Groups & Everything

Lead: Universal & Disney    

Secondary: Romance/Couples/Adult Only

Lead: Florida (panhandle mainly) and Vegas

Secondary: All things Europe

Lead: Cruises

Secondary: Caribbean

Lead: Mexico

Secondary: Ireland, Scotland, and Groups

We can help you achieve the adventure of a lifetime, no matter what your budget may be. Contact us today.

(660) 584-8747

[email protected], 2817 hwy 13 blvd,, higginsville, mo 64037, useful links.

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Enriching Lives

Through Educational Travel

Popular Destinations

Orlando, fl, disney & universal, chicago, in, new york, ny, statue of liberty, pittsburgh, pa, mount washington, a few words​.

We are experienced in arranging travel for all genres of music and the arts and we understand that no two performing groups are alike. Performance programs require very specialized services and knowledge and we have proven history of handling the unique needs of band, orchestra, choir and dance tours as well as music festivals. Your program is designed with personal service from the moment you contact us until your return.  Our professional and passionate team will assist you with all of your needs.  A dedicated tour planner will be assigned to handle your goals and a knowledgeable Tour Director will accompany you.

Our Customers Love Us​

Latest reviews​.

"Thank you so much for planning our trip to Nashville this year!  Our escorts were terrific and the trip was truly awesome…we had the time of our lives!  We look forward to traveling with you again!"

Band Director

"Thank you so much for everything that you did for us to make our trip to Pigeon Forge, TN happen. Our escort John W. was fabulous!  My parents remarked at how smoothly everything went due to your staff’s planning skills and John’s wealth of knowledge of the area.  We started talking about our next trip already…probably Nashville!"

Choral Director

"We had a fantastic time in New York this year!  The weather was beautiful – the seats for the show were awesome and we loved Ellen’s for dinner.  Thank you for planning yet another great trip for us. I will be in contact about our next trip!"

Orchestra Director

"Our band trip to Disney was amazing!  Everything was wonderful and our escort was on top of everything. We loved the performance in Epcot – great audience!   Thank you for everything!"

We believe that  performance and educational trips offer students a unique musical and cultural experience. Today, more than ever, we advocate travel as an invaluable path to personal growth and cultural understanding. RS Tours & Travel’s mission is to enrich lives 
through educational travel and to exceed all of your expectations 
as your student travel company!

Nashville, TN

Honolulu, hi, ontario, canada, our travelling​.

Trip Information and Desclaimer

RS Tours & Travel’s responsibility is strictly limited.  RS Tours & Travel acts only as an agent for the client in all matters connected with hotel accommodations, sightseeing tours, restaurants, and transportation, whether by motor coach, air, rail, boat or any other means and accepts no responsibility in whole or part for injury, personal injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may happen by default of any hotel, airline, motor coach, restaurant, company or person rendering any of the included services or by natural forces.  No responsibility is accepted for any damage or delay due to illness, pilferage, labor disputes, machinery breakdowns, governmental restraints, weather or other cause beyond our control.  All prices quoted are subject to change.  RS Tours & Travel also disclaims any responsibility for personal injury or property damage arising from the event.  If it becomes necessary to cancel or substitute hotel, transportation services or alter the schedule of events, with substitutions on services of equal value, such alterations or cancellations may be made. RS Tours & Travel will not be responsible for lost wages for any traveler due to trip returning late or being detained.  Travel Insurance is available and highly recommended that you the Director, offer the Cancellation Insurance to all tour participants and RS Tours & Travel is not responsible if it is not offered or if offered and declined.

ALL TRIPS INCLUDE : R/T MOTORCOACH TRANSPORTATION, PRIVATE NIGHT TIME SECURITY, PROFESSIONAL TOUR DIRECTOR, ALL TAXES AND GRATUITIES ON INCLUDED ITEMS, LIABILITY INSURANCE, 24 HOUR EMERGENCY NUMBER, DRIVER'S GRATUITY, DIRECTOR'S UPGRADED ROOM (IF AVAILABLE), DIRECTOR'S GIFT, LUGGAGE TAGS, 2 COMPLIMENTARY PACKAGES PER BUS (MORE CAN BE ADDED), FLEXIBLE PAYMENT AMOUNTS AND SCHEDULE TO MEET YOUR NEEDS.  WE WILL CUSTOMIZE TO FIT YOUR NEEDS.

UNCLASSIFIED (U)

3 fam 3700  travel

REST AND RECUPERATION (R&R) TRAVEL

(CT:PER-1163;   11-17-2023) (Office of Origin:  GTM/ER/WLD)

3 FAM 3721  INTRODUCTION

3 FAM 3721.1  Objective

(CT:PER-925;   09-24-2018) (Uniform State/USAID/Commerce/Agriculture/USAGM) (Applies to Foreign Service Employees only)

The objective is to provide guidance regarding the Rest and Recuperation travel program.  Implementation of these regulations must be consistent with Section 901(6) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (as amended), Department of State travel regulations, and the guidelines and procedures published in 3 FAH-1 H-3720 .

3 FAM 3721.2  Scope and Applicability

This subchapter provides information on R&R travel of U.S. citizen employees of the Foreign Service and their eligible family members from their assigned post, or in limited and specified circumstances, the post at which they are serving extended TDY, to the United States or its territories or other locations abroad which have different social, climatic, or other environmental conditions than their assigned post or post at which they are serving extended TDY.

3 FAM 3721.3  Authorities

Authorities for this subchapter are:

(1)  Section 901(6) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (as amended) (22 U.S.C. 4081(6));

(2)  Subchapter 3 FAH-1 H-3720 ; and

(3)  Subchapter 14 FAM 531.5 .

3 FAM 3721.4  Eligibility

(CT:PER-953;   07-22-2019) (Uniform State/USAID/Commerce/Agriculture/USAGM) (Applies to Foreign Service Employees only)

a. U.S. citizen Foreign Service employees are eligible for R&R if:

(1)  They are assigned to a designated R&R post abroad (including employees of participating agencies assigned to USAID missions) and they serve at such a post for a period of at least 2 years unbroken by home leave (service at two consecutive R&R posts can be combined for R&R purposes for the needs of the Service, in accordance with 3 FAH-1 H-3723 ); or

(2)  They are assigned to, or in specific authorized circumstances, serving extended TDY, at a post that has been approved by the Under Secretary of Management (M) for special R&R under 3 FAM 3727.1 .

b. Locally engaged U.S. citizen employees are not independently eligible for R&R travel.  They may qualify as an eligible family member of an employee who is authorized for such travel.  In such cases, the travel costs are charged to the agency that employs the eligible employee.

c.  Eligible family members (as defined in 14 FAM 511.3 ) residing at post are eligible for R&R.  Unless otherwise approved by post’s management officer in exceptional circumstances (e.g., the marriage of an employee during the tour of duty), eligible family members must reside at post for the entire tour to qualify for the travel benefit.  In exercising this discretion, post management officers must operate under the presumption that R&R will not be authorized if the beneficiaries apply for voluntary SMA immediately preceding or following R&R travel.  Eligible family members may travel separately from the employee and are not required to travel to the same destination.

d. Children on educational travel or education allowance under age 21 are eligible for R&R if they:

(1)  Are away from post on authorized educational travel or education allowance; and

(2)  Normally reside with the employee.

A child does not normally reside with the family if not resident at post during school vacation or holiday periods.  R&R travel should not normally be used in lieu of or to supplement education allowance or educational travel specifically for the purpose of transporting the child to or from educational facilities.  However, post has the authority to approve R&R on a case-by-case basis if such travel is for the purpose of affording the child relief from social, climatic, or other environmental conditions that are present at the post at which the child is a dependent of an eligible employee.

e. When an employee assigned to one R&R post is sent to another post on an extended TDY, family members who remain at the original post and who meet all the criteria (e.g., complete the tour of duty) may take R&R approved for the original post at U.S. Government expense.

f.  Although R&R generally should begin and end at the post of assignment (see 3 FAH-1 H-3720 ), the post management officer may approve travel originating or ending at alternate points if R&R travel can be combined with educational travel or some other form of official travel, and the combined travel is financially advantageous to the U.S. Government (see 3 FAH-1 H-3720 ).

3 FAM 3722  REQUIRED TOUR OF DUTY

(CT:PER-993;   05-26-2020) (Uniform State/USAID/Commerce/Agriculture/USAGM) (Applies to Foreign Service Employees only)

a. Except where a finding has been made pursuant to 3 FAM 3722 , paragraph b or c, or 3 FAM 3727 , R&R is limited to:

(1)  One round trip during any continuous 2-year period of service unbroken by home leave; and

(2)  Two round trips during any continuous 3-year period of service unbroken by home leave.

b. The Director General for the Foreign Service and Director of Global Talent (M/DGTM) may make a determination that for the needs of the Service, an employee(s) may be permitted to take both home leave and R&R within the same tour of duty.  (In the case of a non-State Department employee with an individual request, a designated official from that employee’s agency will make such a determination.)

c.  Employees who fail to complete their full tour of duty will be required to repay all R&R travel expenses incurred during their tour, including those incurred by their eligible family members.  Repayment is not required if the employee was not aware that the tour of duty would not be completed when the R&R was taken, and:

(1)  The Department or other employing agency curtails the employee’s tour at the option and benefit of the employing agency (including curtailments to accommodate training or adjustments in reporting dates between gaining and losing post); or

(2)  The Department or other employing agency transfers the employee for compassionate reasons; or

(3)  The Department separates the employee involuntarily; or

(4)  The employee’s tour is shortened for the convenience of the employee and the tour-of-duty requirement is excused by GTM/CDA (or the employing agency’s appropriate approving official) for compassionate reasons.

d. All requests for approval of a shortened tour must state:

(1)  Dates of R&R travel if taken by the employee and/or family members; and

(2)  The basis for excusing the tour-of-duty requirement, if appropriate.

3 FAM 3723  DUAL ENTITLEMENTS

Employees or eligible family members may not receive dual entitlements.  Therefore, the spouse or domestic partner as defined in 3 FAM 1610 of an employee of a foreign affairs agency who is serving at post as a member of the uniformed services or as an employee of the same or another U.S. Government agency is eligible for R&R travel as the employee’s eligible family member provided:

(1)  The other agency or uniformed service does not accord comparable benefits; and

(2)  The spouse or domestic partner as defined in 3 FAM 1610 is included on the employee’s Form OF-126, Foreign Service Residence and Dependency Report.

3 FAM 3724  CHARGE TO LEAVE

(CT:PER-1163;   11-17-2023)- (Uniform State/USAID/Commerce/Agriculture/USAGM) (Applies to Foreign Service Employees only)

The employee’s absence from post for R&R and necessary travel time is charged to annual leave, sick leave if applicable, earned compensatory time, or leave without pay .   Employees eligible for Paid Parental Leave (PPL) under FMLA may request to take PPL during their R&R and report their time as PPL.  An employee is not entitled to any local holidays which occur after departure from post on R&R travel orders.  Transit time (administrative leave) may be granted by the post if travel cannot be scheduled on non-workdays for reasons other than the employee’s personal convenience and due to circumstances beyond the employee’s control.  Such circumstances might include lack of air transportation from and/or to post on non-workdays, irregular connections from and/or to post, work requirements that prevent the employee from leaving on a non-workday, or for compassionate reasons.  Normally, transit time will be limited to 1 day for each leg of R&R, but should not exceed 2 days.  If the employee makes a stopover for their convenience, transit time may only be granted to the stopover point.

3 FAM 3725  DESIGNATED POSTS AND RELIEF AREAS

3 FAM 3725.1  Designation Procedures

The procedures for designating posts and relief areas are found in 3 FAH-1 H-3720 .

3 FAM 3725.2  Designated Posts and Primary Relief Points

3 FAH-1 Exhibits H-3722(1) - (5) contain a list of the posts and the primary relief points for R&R travel.  This list changes from time to time to reflect changing circumstances.  (If a post is designated for both R&R travel and family visitation travel, see 3 FAM 3735.4 .)

3 FAM 3725.3  Travel to Designated Rest and Recuperation Point

3 FAM 3725.3-1  Option 1:  Travel to Designated Relief Point Abroad

(CT:PER-969;   12-23-2019) (Uniform State/USAID/Commerce/Agriculture/USAGM) (Applies to Foreign Service Employees only)

a. Employees and their eligible family members may elect to travel round-trip to the designated relief point (listed in 3 FAH-1 H-3720 ).  When this option is selected, only the designated relief point can be indicated on the travel authorization and cost-construction is not permitted.

b. Voluntary stopovers are not permitted when an employee elects to travel to the designated relief point.

c.  Involuntary stopovers are layovers that are caused by circumstances beyond the traveler’s control (e.g., local security reasons, cancelled flights or labor disputes).  If an involuntary stopover causes a traveler to incur additional travel expenses (i.e., lodging and M&IE at the involuntary layover point), those expenses may be reimbursed as validated by post’s financial management officer (FMO).

3 FAM 3725.3-2  Option 2:  Travel to One Point in the United States or Its Territories

a. Employees and their eligible family members may elect round-trip travel to one traveler-selected city anywhere within the United States (the 50 States and the District of Columbia) or one city in one of its territories including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  When this option is selected, only the traveler-selected relief point can be indicated on the travel authorization as the destination and cost-construction is not permitted.

b. Provisions for voluntary and involuntary stopovers, as outlined in 3 FAM 3725.3-1 b and c above, also apply to R&R travel to one traveler-selected point in the U.S. or U.S. territories.

3 FAM 3725.3-3  Option 3:  Travel Against the R&R Cost-Construct Cap

a. Employees and their eligible family members may elect travel against post's R&R cost-construct cap.  Each post with an R&R entitlement has a unique "cost- construct cap."  In July of each fiscal year, the Travel Management and Policy (TMP) Division, within the Bureau of Administration, tasks the Department's contracted travel management center in Washington, DC to provide two fare quotes for each post that has an R&R entitlement: 1) the cost of the lowest-cost, unrestricted, round-trip ticket from that post to its designated relief point; 2) the cost of the lowest-cost, unrestricted, round-trip ticket from that post to Washington, DC.  In order to capture travel costs associated with high-demand periods in which R&R is often taken, the dates of travel used for these fare quotes will be departure from post on December 20 and return on January 3.  The higher of the two quotes is rounded up to the nearest $100 (see 3 FAH-1 H-3726.3 for further details on calculation of the cap).  When this option is selected, the traveler may proceed to any location or combination of locations, whether within the U.S. or abroad, using any mode of common carrier transportation, class of service, or fare type (restricted or unrestricted).  Mileage for use of a rental car or POV is not reimbursable under the cost-construct cap.  Any amount exceeding the cap is the financial responsibility of the traveler.

b. When this option is chosen, "R&R Cost-Construct Cap" must be indicated as the destination on the travel authorization.

c.  Checked luggage fees and taxi fare to and from the airport at the first destination are reimbursable in addition to the cost-construct cap. 

d. If a traveler elects to use a restricted fare for any or all of the travel against the cost-construct cap, the traveler is responsible for change/cancellation penalties, regardless of the reason incurred.

e. There is no reimbursement of expenses related to voluntary stopovers when this option is elected.  If an involuntary stopover causes a traveler to incur additional travel expenses (i.e. lodging and M&IE at the involuntary layover point), those expenses may be reimbursed as validated by post’s financial management officer (FMO).

f.  Travelers must comply with the Fly America Act for all R&R travel, including travel against the R&R cost-construct cap. 

g. In accordance with 14 FAM 541 , travel must be booked and ticketed by the travel management center (TMC) serving the employee's post of assignment unless the TMC is unable to issue a ticket on the carrier(s) that will be used for travel.  In such cases, the TMC will issue tickets on all carrier(s) on which it can ticket, and the employee will then need to request a reimbursement audit per 14 FAM 541 in order to determine the amount (if any) that may be reimbursed.

h. Travelers lose the ability to utilize government fares (including GSA city pair fares) when they cost construct any type of official travel (including R&R) per 14 FAM 542 (f).

3 FAM 3725.3-4  Cash Payment Not Permitted

a. Under no circumstances is an employee entitled to a cash payment in lieu of actual R&R travel.

b. If an employee elects to travel against the cost-construct cap and their common carrier ticket costs do not reach or exceed the R&R cost-construct cap, the savings accrue to the U.S. Government.  The traveler is not paid for any remaining amount under the cap, and no amount under the cap can be applied towards any other instance of travel.

3 FAM 3725.3-5  Change of Post's Rest and Recuperation Designation

If a post’s designation is changed from an R&R post to a non-R&R post, employees who began their tour of duty at that post prior to the change and who meet the basic eligibility requirements in 3 FAM 3721.4 will continue their eligibility for R&R travel for the first R&R trip for which they qualify after the change.

3 FAM 3725.3-6  Posts that Gain a Rest and Recuperation Trip

For non-R&R posts that gain a regular R&R trip, the following rules apply:

(1)  Employees with more than 6 months remaining in their tours are eligible for one R&R, provided their tour of duty is at least 2 years at post; and

(2)  Employees with more than 18 months remaining in their tour of duty are eligible for two R&Rs, provided their tour of duty is 3 years.

3 FAM 3726  SCHEDULING REST AND RECUPERATION TRAVEL

(CT:PER-925;   09-24-2018)

(Uniform State/USAID/Commerce/Agriculture/USAGM) (Applies to Foreign Service Employees only)

Posts generally should not grant travel within 6 months of the beginning or end of the employee’s tour of duty, or within 6 months of a previously authorized R&R or family visitation trip.

3 FAM 3727  SPECIAL REST AND RECUPERATION

3 FAM 3727.1  Special Rest and Recuperation (SR&R)

(CT:PER-1050;   07-30-2021) (Uniform State/USAID/Commerce/Agriculture/USAGM) (Applies to Foreign Service Employees only)

a. In extraordinary circumstances, the Under Secretary for Management (M), acting on behalf of the Secretary, may authorize additional R&R trips for posts already designated for R&R trips as specified in 3 FAM 3725.2 , or for a post that does not normally qualify for an R&R but experiences extraordinary circumstances that warrant a one-time R&R.  This discretionary R&R travel authorized by M is known as “Special R&R” travel (SR&R).

(1)  With the exception of Mexico border posts, any post that is in unaccompanied status or has a combined Post Differential and Danger Pay rate of 35 percent or higher will automatically qualify for one SR&R.

(2)  If a post does not automatically qualify for one SR&R or the post automatically qualifies for one SR&R but would like to request additional SR&Rs that post must seek authorization by having the appropriate regional bureau executive director send a memorandum to the Director of the Office of Allowances (A/OPR/ALS).  The memorandum must include a clear justification (in 250 words or less) for any requested SR&R including specific “extraordinary conditions of hardship” which exist at post.   The Director of A/OPR/ALS will convene a nine-member committee—which shall include one representative from each regional bureau, GTM, M/SS, and Allowances—to review all SR&R requests and send recommendations to M for final approval.  In order to recommend an SR&R to M, seven of the nine committee members must vote in favor of the SR&R.  A/OPR/ALS will notify all requesting offices of M’s determination and inform GTM of updates to Special R&R information for the annual bidding tool.  One-year Priority Staffing Posts (PSP) and posts with Service Recognition Packages (SRP) fall outside the purview of this process.

(3)  Authorization for Special R&R expires annually.  Requests for new, multiple, or continuation of Special R&R travel must be resubmitted to regional bureaus by memorandum no later than May 15 each year.

b. The Under Secretary for Management may designate in writing a post for a SR&R where the tour of duty is not traditional.  A Special R&R may be warranted because of extreme danger, unaccompanied post status, severely substandard living conditions, extreme isolation, or other unusual conditions.  Because of their immediate proximity to the United States, Mexico border posts are not eligible for SR&R (or R&R).

c.  Clearances for initiating and terminating a SR&R must be obtained by the requesting regional bureau from other foreign affairs agencies when such agencies have personnel at post.  (For USAID, contact the regional bureau Administrative Management Staff, USAGM (M/OHR), USDA (FAS/APHIS), and USDOC (OFSHC).)

d. For a post that does not normally qualify for an R&R but experiences extraordinary circumstances that warrant a one-time special R&R, the regional bureau executive director may request from M approval for a one-time R&R for employees serving at post during that time period.

3 FAM 3727.2  Eligibility Requirements for SR&Rs

a. Eligibility for SR&Rs differs from regular R&Rs, as shown in the following table:

b . An employee who extends for a third year at an R&R post becomes eligible for two regular R&Rs, but no additional SR&Rs.

c.  Employees are encouraged to review GTM/CDA’s Standard Operating Procedures for additional details regarding TODs and R&Rs.

d.  The TOD requirements outlined above do not apply to tours of duty at Special Incentive Posts (SIPs) as authorized by the Under Secretary for Management . Employees in such a category should consult applicable service recognition packages and post policies to determine eligibility for R&R travel.

e. Special R&Rs are authorized for employees serving at unaccompanied posts from which family visitation travel may be authorized.  However, there are separate eligibility requirements for family visitation travel.  Refer to 3 FAM 3730 for guidance on R&R in connection with Family Visitation Travel.

f. The Bureau of Global Talent Management, Office of Employee Relations, Work Life Division, is available for policy guidance.

3 FAM 3727.3  Posts that Gain a Special R&R 

When a post gains one or more SR&Rs, employees and EFMs may be eligible for those additional SR&Rs if they have more than six months remaining in their tours and they otherwise meet the tour of duty requirements set forth in 3 FAM 3727.2 .

3 FAM 3727.4  Posts that Lose a Special R&R

a. The SR&R committee reviews authorizations on an annual basis.  When extraordinary circumstances that warranted a SR&R are no longer present at a post, the Special R&R committee will recommend that M terminate the SR&R benefit.  Those changes will be shared with the losing posts in a cable that provides the effective date of the loss.

b. If a post has one or more SR&Rs and subsequently loses some or all of its SR&R trips, then employees and EFMs who were serving at post when the reduction in SR&Rs became effective will retain the SR&R benefits that they would have received prior to the SR&R reduction.  For example, if an employee was serving at a post whose 2 SR&Rs were subsequently reduced to 1 SR&R, that employee would still retain the 2 SR&R benefit.

c.  Employees and EFMs arriving at posts on or after the effective date of a termination of an SR&R travel benefit may not be authorized any SR&R trips that were terminated on or before their date of arrival.

3 FAM 3728  AND 3729 UNASSIGNED

3 FAM Exhibit 3725.3-1   R&R Travel Scenarios

(CT:PER-1163;   11-17-2023)

Scenario 1:  Travel from Post to Designated Relief Point

Employee A is posted in Cairo where the R&R designated relief point is London.  The employee and their family are issued and travel directly on a round-trip unrestricted ticket from Cairo to London to Cairo.

Scenario 2:  Travel from Post to One Point in the United States:

Employee B is posted in Tashkent.  The employee selects Atlanta, Georgia as the one traveler-selected point in the U.S. for R&R.  They are issued an unrestricted, round-trip ticket for travel from Tashkent to Atlanta to Tashkent and travels directly on that routing.

Scenario 3:  Travel from Post to Multiple Points in the U.S. and/or Abroad:

Employee C is posted to Accra.  Since the employee plans to travel to multiple points in Europe for R&R , they are exercising the Cost-Construct Cap option.  The Cap is centrally determined in Washington using the higher of the unrestricted round-trip cost of travel to the designated relief point or to Washington, DC.  Employee C can work with their travel management center (TMC) on their desired itinerary with the U.S. Government paying up to the cost-construct cap and the employee paying any costs that exceed the Cap, if any.

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These Are Going to Be the Most Popular Travel Destinations in 2024

A lready thinking about where you want to travel in 2024 ? If you’re hoping to hit the hottest travel destinations of the year, Expedia Group is here to help. The one-stop travel site—alongside Hotels.com and VRBO—just released Unpack '24 , a travel trends analysis for the coming year. In addition to detailing the projected top 10 most popular international destinations of 2024, the site also revealed 10 “dupes” for travelers looking to perhaps spend a bit less, as well as those hoping to be surrounded by fewer fellow tourists. Additionally, they revealed 10 affordable cities where the world’s biggest musical acts are set to perform, as well as where to travel if you live a sober lifestyle.

“At Expedia Group, we have extensive first-party travel data that we use to enhance and curate experiences for our travelers across Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo,” Jon Gieselman, president of Expedia Brands, says in the report. “These insights shape our travel forecasts, revealed in Unpack '24, enabling our travelers to be the first to discover and book the most desired trips before they become well-beaten paths.”

Ready to ignite your travel bug? Ahead, discover the most popular travel destinations of 2024.

The Top 10 Travel Destinations of 2024

Expedia Group predicts that travelers are most likely to jet set to destinations popularized in fan-favorite TV shows and movies. According to the report, “More than half of travelers say they’ve researched or booked a trip to a destination after seeing it on a TV show or in a movie. In fact, travelers say TV shows influence their travel decisions more than Instagram, TikTok, and podcasts.” With that in mind, they reveal that the top 10 travel destinations of 2024 are as follows:

• Thailand - Featured in White Lotus , Season 3—which has sadly been pushed to premiere in 2025
• Romania - Featured in Wednesday , Season 2—which has not yet set a release date
• Malta - As seen in Gladiator 2 , which is set to premiere on November 22, 2024
• Paris - As seen in Emily in Paris
• Scottish Highlands - Featured in Outlander
• London, Bath, and Windsor, U.K. - As seen in Bridgerton and The Crown
• South Korea - Featured in Squid Game —the Season 2 release date has yet to be announced
• Florida Keys - As seen in the series Bad Monkey
• Australia - Featured in Baz Luhrmann’s Faraway Downs series, as well as the film Furiosa , which is set to premiere on May 24, 2024
• Greece - as seen in the films Argylle (set to release in 2024) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3

The Top 10 Travel Destination Dupes

Dupes have long been lauded in the beauty and fashion categories, and now the concept is making its way to travel. “1 in 3 of those polled say they’ve booked a dupe,” the report reveals. “But what do these less obvious alternatives offer besides potential savings? They’re often less crowded, tend to be a little unexpected, and can be every bit as delightful as the tried-and-true destinations.”

Intrigued by the idea of booking a stellar vacation for a fraction of the price? Check out Expedia Group’s Top 10 Travel Destination Dupes, below, which are listed as the original destination of inspiration and the dupe that mirrors it.

• Seoul —> Taipei
• Bangkok —> Pattaya
• Santorini —> Paros
• Saint Martin —> Curaçao
• Sydney —> Perth
• London —> Liverpool
• Lisbon —> Palermo
• Geneva —> Québec City
• Zermatt —> Sapporo
• Nashville —> Memphis

The Top 10 Tour-Inspired Travel Destinations

Music lovers, this one’s for you! As you well know, traveling to see your favorite artists live is expensive, to say the least. With this in mind, Expedia set out to find the most affordable destinations where the world’s most famous pop and rock stars are set to take the stage in 2024.

Through their research, in which they analyzed the average daily rates of tour locations, they found the top 10 most affordable cities (less than $150/night on average) where travelers can witness the likes of Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Coldplay, Metallica, Madonna, and more. They are as follows:

• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - $91
• Edmonton, Canada - $108
• Mexico City, Mexico - $119
• Warsaw, Poland - $119
• Birmingham, U.K. - $127
• Houston, Texas - $130
• Antwerp, Belgium - $140
• Tokyo, Japan - $147
• Perth, Australia - $148
• Detroit, Michigan - $149

For more research-backed travel trends, be sure to check out Expedia’s full Unpack ‘24 Trend Report .

36 Hours in San Juan, Puerto Rico

By Luisita Lopez Torregrosa April 4, 2024

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By Luisita Lopez Torregrosa Photographs by Scott McIntyre

Luisita Lopez Torregrosa was born in Puerto Rico and has written a memoir recalling her childhood on the island.

There’s new optimism in this Caribbean capital. Tourists are coming in record numbers, and the city is recovering the energy it lost after the devastation of hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017; the emigration of tens of thousands to the mainland; a bankrupt economy; and the pandemic. In Old San Juan, the 500-year-old colonial enclave of pastel-colored architecture and ancient forts, and beyond, eclectic restaurants, experimental art and celebrated gritty bars like La Factoría are firing up the Puerto Rican spirit. Calle Cerra, a street in the former working-class barrio of Santurce, is now the epicenter of the island’s public art movement, featuring giant murals alongside a lively nightlife scene where you can join in on the chinchorreo, a local term for bar hopping and street dancing.

Recommendations

• Galería Botello , housed in a 350-year-old mansion in Old San Juan, shows paintings, prints, ceramics and a collection of Puerto Rican santos, hand-carved wooden figures, by the Galician artist Ángel Botello.
• Cocina al Fondo , with a James Beard Award-winning chef, reconstructs Puerto Rican cuisine, but remains loyal to the traditions of the island.
• Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico has the island’s most important collection of paintings, sculptures and carvings by Puerto Rican and Caribbean artists.
• Calle Cerra is the street that is the epicenter of Puerto Rican urban public art and a hot nightlife destination. It is also the site of the annual street art festival Santurce Es Ley (Santurce Is Law) in May.
• Paseo de la Princesa is a bayside promenade in Old San Juan with fountains and sculptures like Fuente Raices (Roots Fountain), which represents the ancestral roots of Puerto Rican identity: Spanish, African and Taino.
• Castillo San Felipe del Morro , one of the largest fortifications built by Spain in the Caribbean, has six levels of barracks, dungeons and storerooms. Kite-flying on the fort’s lawn is free.
• Parque del Indio , off Ashford Avenue in the Condado neighborhood, is a refuge from the crowds with a pristine beach, kitesurfing and games of pickleball and volleyball.
• Marmalade , arguably the best restaurant in San Juan, is reinventing local dishes, injecting Japanese, French and Moroccan accents.
• Bodegas Compostela is a classic Spanish restaurant with outstanding wines, lamb chops, crisp suckling pig and chocolate soufflé.
• Primitivo , an intimate tapas bar, specializes in nigiri and crudo appetizers and specialty cocktails like silky Negronis.
• Pio Pio , a chic wine bar across Plaza de Armas in Old San Juan, offers quiet sophistication, luxurious bites and special wines and cocktails.
• La Casita Blanca , a local favorite, is rooted in traditional Puerto Rican dishes served in a homey and friendly atmosphere.
• La Factoría is a popular nightspot in Old San Juan that houses six bars connected by dark passageways.
• Botánico is a bar and restaurant with Central American dishes and an open-air dance floor.
• Esquina Watusi is an iconic dive bar that often hosts the crazy chinchorreo, a street dancing-and-drinking scene.
• Puerto Rican Art and Crafts stocks acrylic paintings, ceramics and vejigantes, folkloric masks that resemble the faces of colorful demons.
• Avenida Ashford , in Condado, is San Juan’s shopping and tourist gold coast, from Cartier to boutiques like Wild Side , in the hotel Condado Vanderbilt, where you may find exclusive handmade gold and silver jewelry by the local artist María Blondet.
• Calle Loiza , in Santurce, is lined with shops carrying locally made accessories, bags and clothing. Don’t miss the free sidewalk used-book library.
• The Condado Vanderbilt sweeps you in with an open view of the ocean from its opulent pink marble Art Deco lobby. Opened in 1919, the hotel was renovated and reopened in 2014. It is still San Juan’s premier hotel. Rooms in April start at $651.
• O :LV Fifty-Five , a design marvel with a black-and-white marble Art Deco lobby, features a romantic rooftop with a plunge pool and soaring views of the Condado Lagoon and the skylines of Condado and Miramar. Adults only. Rooms start at $449.
• El Convento , a bright yellow Spanish colonial landmark in Old San Juan, has a serene courtyard and beautiful 17th-century arched doorways and beamed ceilings. Rooms start at $278.
• For short-term rentals , search in the neighborhoods of Old San Juan, Condado, Santurce and Miramar.
• Old San Juan, Condado, Miramar and Santurce are clustered within 15 minutes of one another by car, depending on traffic. Taxis prefer cash. Many won’t take credit cards. The car ride from Old San Juan to Santurce runs $18 to $25. Ride-hailing apps like Uber and rental cars are easily available. Public transportation is subpar .

Castillo San Felipe del Morro

Old San Juan is easily walkable. Start at the Paseo de la Princesa , a promenade with fountains and sculptures that runs along San Juan Bay and the city’s fortress walls. It goes by La Fortaleza , the 16th-century governor’s mansion, and comes close to the Catedral de San Juan Bautista , where it is said the bones of Juan Ponce de León, the Spanish conquistador who became Puerto Rico’s first governor, are buried. The stroll ends on Punta del Morro, a waterfront path that culminates at the bottom of the Castillo San Felipe del Morro , also known as El Morro, a 16th-century fortress. It still has some original cannons facing the Atlantic. Entry, $10; two-and-a-half-hour tours , $49. Or just relax on the expansive green lawn where kite-flying is popular.

From El Morro, descend the single-file sidewalks on Calle del Cristo, with its galleries, bars and outdoor cafes. Take a brief break inside El Convento hotel’s serene courtyard, or on a tree-shaded bench at the intersecting Calle Caleta. Continue down Cristo to Galería Botello , a free museum in a 350-year-old house dedicated to Ángel Botello, the Galician artist who came to San Juan in the 1950s and was known as the “Caribbean Gauguin” for his paintings of Haitian women. Botello prints run $50 to $125, and his santos, carved wooden figures, sell for $500 to $3,000. Nearby, the Puerto Rican Art and Crafts stocks acrylic paintings, ceramics and vejigantes, folkloric masks that resemble the faces of colorful demons, sporting horns. Masks from $15 to $44.

Across Plaza de Armas, the chic wine bar Pio Pio , a secluded space that declares its name with a Barbie-pink sign over the bar, has luxury plates like lobster rolls with sturgeon caviar ($32), unusual wines (including Llopart Corpinnat Rose, an organic sparkling rose from Catalunya, Spain, $14 a glass), and cocktails like a vodka martini that hits the spot with a dash of orange bitters ($17).

By this time, the celebrated bar La Factoría , inside a century-old building, already has a line down the sidewalk. It’s worth waiting to enjoy the signature Lavender Mule (ginger tea, vodka, lavender and citrus; $12.80) in the bar’s standing-room-only scruffy main room or one of its smaller drinking dens, reached via dark passageways. Then stroll downhill to Marmalade , whose pale rooms of arches and alcoves evoke Moorish Andalusia. The ahi tuna tartare, seasoned with harissa (North African chile paste), and the bite-size pieces of paella served like sushi rolls are memorable. Leave room for the Choco-L8, eight flavors of local organic chocolate with hazelnut accents. Five courses (each course has eight to 10 choices), $135. Wine pairings, $79 per person. Reservations recommended.

People dance to salsa music at La Factoría.

The sun deck at the Condado Vanderbilt hotel

Enjoy an espresso ($1.50) with a fresh mallorca pastry (a spiral sweet bun; $3.50) at Sobao , an indoor-outdoor cafe at the AC Hotel by Marriott, then walk along Avenida Ashford until you reach a small park called Ventanas al Mar (Windows to the Sea), which has a path that leads to the beach. It is packed, mainly with hotel guests, but anyone may rent a chair for $5 and an umbrella for $10. (All beaches in Puerto Rico are public, even those claimed by hotels.) In the lobby of the Condado Vanderbilt hotel next door check out Wild Side , a boutique that carries fine beachwear and sculptural jewelry in gold and silver by the Puerto Rican artist María Blondet .

The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico , in a neo-Classical building in Santurce, a center of the arts and nightlife, exhibits the major works of artists from different generations, periods and media (entry, $12). Absorb the haunting self-portrait “Azabache,” by the Puerto Rican painter Arnaldo Roche Rabell. Walk to another hall to find “No Crying in the Barber Shop,” a room-size installation depicting a Bronx barbershop, by the Puerto Rican artist Pepon Osorio, exploring the Latino culture’s machismo. Before leaving the museum, visit the quiet sculpture garden and stop by La Tienda, the museum shop, which stocks locally made works like the brightly colored tiles depicting a still life of red flowers, by Susana López Castells ($40).

Bodegas Compostela , in the Condado neighborhood, is a fixture among San Juan’s high-end restaurants, with a classic, understated dining room favored for family gatherings, birthdays and business lunches. Start with the Galician-style octopus, cooked with olive oil, paprika and potatoes ($23.95), and follow it with the roast suckling pig, with crackling skin and juicy meat ($74.95), and a rich chocolate soufflé ($15.95) for dessert. If all that seems too much, order the fresh and light lobster salad ($42.95). Compostela is also known for its fine wines. Try Attis, an albariño from Spain, $51.95 a bottle. Reservations recommended.

Calle Cerra , not long ago a street of rundown buildings and abandoned shops, is now a hotbed of nightlife and the center of the island’s urban art movement. Stroll to take in the street art, much of it exploring political and social issues. An imposing mural painted on a water tower shows a boy carrying a glacier on his back while the ice melts around him. A building-wide mural of three skeletons sinking in the sea symbolizes colonialism and slavery. At the end of one block, a pinkish high-rise, covered from ground to roof with graffiti, murals, swirls and scrawls, looks abandoned. People live in it. At the top of the strip, take a break at Café con Cé with an iced latte ($4.50) and a vegan pastry ($4).

Dine in the open patio at Cocina al Fondo , a restaurant in Santurce, whose chef, Natalia Vallejo, last year became the first Puerto Rican to win a 2023 James Beard Award for Best Chef: South. Try traditional favorites like pastelillos de calabaza (pumpkin fritters, $15) and jarrete de cerdo al caldero (ham hock with rice and beans and ripe plantain; $42), familiar dishes made with a local, farm-to-table ethos. Reservations recommended.

After dinner at Cocina al Fondo, wander back to Calle Cerra, which draws bar-hoppers to its cocktail clubs and salons until the wee hours. Young crowds gather at Botánico , where a giant mural of a face overlooks an open-air dance floor. Farther down the street, where chickens roam free and an old church stands on a corner, are several more bars, including Machete , Graziani and Galeria , and the crazy chinchorreo — what locals call the street dancing-and-drinking scene — is often centered on Esquina Watusi , an iconic dive bar. After the hubbub of Cerra, walk or take a taxi to the secluded tapas bar Primitivo , in the Miramar neighborhood nearby. Sample the nigiri, a slice of tuna set over a tiny alcapurria fritter, a Puerto Rican favorite ($14), and sip a silky Negroni ($15).

People walk down a street in Old San Juan, the colonial enclave of pastel-colored architecture and ancient forts.

A beach near Parque del Indio

Parque del Indio , in Condado, is a refuge, a neighborhood beach park on Avenida Ashford in Condado at Calle C.F. Krug. It’s a favorite of children, dog walkers, pickleball and volleyball players. Rent a chair ($5) and an umbrella ($10) and watch the waves, read a book, or take a long walk on a beach that goes on for miles, along seafront homes, informal grills and beachside guesthouses.

Everyone in San Juan knows La Casita Blanca , one of the city’s most popular home-style restaurants. It is so popular that it won’t take reservations. Guests wait chatting in line on the sidewalk along the restaurant, which is in a modest white house with a facade draped in flowers, on a busy corner of the densely congested Santurce, where traffic is bumper to bumper. Every day the restaurant posts 10 to 12 dishes on a blackboard. The biftec encebollado (well-done filet cooked with onions, $18.95) is a favorite. Another standby, mofongo (mashed plantains, $5.95) and the arepas con bacalao (cod fritters, $12.95) seem unchanged over the decades. And the friendly staff waves goodbye with smiles and hugs, like family.

More From 36 Hours

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Traffic delays and other issues mark total solar eclipse day

Authorities on Monday reported traffic crashes and significant road delays across the country as thousands of people flocked to prime locations to gaze up at the rare solar eclipse – and then made their way home again.

Local roads and highways in states including Texas, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Vermont and New Hampshire were impacted by the flood of drivers, many of whom were from out of state. The most intense bottlenecks appeared to be in the path of totality , a vast swath of the country – approximately 115 miles wide, crossing through 13 states – where people were able to view the total eclipse.

Traffic slowed on major highways in Indiana as the eclipse progressed Monday afternoon. State transportation officials posted video showing backups forming on Interstate 65 headed toward Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Star reported. The Courier & Press in Evansville reported delays after the eclipse ended.

Indiana State Police Sgt. John Perrine posted on X that traffic on state highways was flowing but rest stops along interstates in the path of totality are at or near capacity. 

Perrine said transportation officials planned to shut them down "once they are full and will not allow any more traffic in for the duration of the eclipse." One rest stop along I-74 near Veedersburg, northwest of Indianapolis, closed because it had reached maximum capacity from "eclipse viewing traffic." 

In Oklahoma, a crash around 7:30 a.m. local time narrowed eastbound lanes on I-40, a major transcontinental highway that runs from California to North Carolina. The crash occurred not far from several state parks that were hosting eclipse events, and was within driving distance of the full eclipse path, which included parts of southeastern Oklahoma and Arkansas.

"Crews estimate cleanup will take the majority of the day. Expect delays in the area and use extra caution. #trucking #eclipse," said a post on X by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation .

Multiple crashes were reported in Waco, Texas, a city in the path of totality, which hosted several festivities and eclipse viewing events. The crashes all occurred on I-35, which runs from southern Texas to Minnesota. The wrecks shut down multiple lanes.

"Expect major traffic delays in this area," the Texas Department of Transportation said in a statement around 9 a.m. local time.

Officials warn drivers of delays, dangers ahead of solar eclipse

In the weeks leading up to the celestial event, officials issued warnings about heavy traffic congestion and the danger of driving during the eclipse , including distracted pedestrians and the sudden change in light conditions. Eclipses have previously been tied with surges in traffic crashes, including fatal collisions.

In New York, extra troopers were staged throughout the entire state, especially in northern counties and cities, such as Buffalo, from which spectators can see a full eclipse, according to the New York State Police .

In Ohio, the state's Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission heavily staffed its toll booths, service plazas and maintenance buildings in anticipation of the eclipse, which it has designated as "a high-volume traffic event" like, for example, Thanksgiving.  The Ohio Emergency Management Agency estimates, for the solar eclipse, between 150,000 and 575,000 travelers will visit the state, which encompasses areas in the path of totality.

During the 2017 eclipse, congestion in some areas lasted for up to 13 hours after totality,  according to Transportation Research News , a National Research Council publication. An analysis of traffic patterns from that year suggests the worst of the traffic – on interstates and rural back roads alike – will kick off after the eclipse ends and everyone tries to leave all at once.

Contributing: Kayla Jimenez and Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY ; The Indianapolis Star