the travel addiction agency

Travel Addiction Travel Agency

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

Santa Barbara, CA 93103

You Might Also Consider

Montecito Village Travel

3.2 miles away from Travel Addiction Travel Agency

Andy P. said "Just got back from my honeymoon that I booked through Montecito Village Travel - it was amazing! I basically told my rep what we wanted to do (relax somewhere tropical for 10 nights), and he came back with a few options. We picked…" read more

in Travel Agents

Ambassador Passport And Visa Services

Need a US Passport or Travel Visa Expedited? We can rush your passport or visa in as little as few days. We are registered and delegated by the government and embassies to assist travelers in obtaining their passport or visa on time… read more

in Passport & Visa Services

EXG Safaris

Welcome to EXG Safaris— the ultimate destination for adventurers and nature lovers! We've carefully curated African Vacations to transport you through some of the most breathtaking landscapes and vibrant wildlife habitats on Earth,… read more

About the Business

Hello. My name is Drea Rubalcava. I am the founder of Travel Addiction Travel Agency. I'm a certified travel agent who’ll help you experience the dream trip of a lifetime. Raised in Santa Barbara, CA I have been giving the opportunity to learn about art, history, culinary wonders, wine country and the beauty of our amazing world. I will help you create lifelong memories that become part of your legacy. The understanding and experiences you gain allow you to taste, smell, see, breathe, and feel the essence of your dream destination. I specialize In Hawaii Travel, Weddings, Cruises, Group Travel, Honeymoon Destinations, Air, Hotel, Land Tours, Amusement Park Trips, Excursions, Weekend Getaways and more. Call me today for amazing deals and adventures and memories that will last a lifetime. …

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about Travel Addiction Travel Agency .

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Providing safe and sober transportation since 1991. We specialize in private charters and weddings and providing top of the line service at an affordable price. All of our buses have AC and Bluetooth sound systems. Call us for wine… read more

in Bus Tours, Wine Tours, Party Bus Rentals

Circle Bar B Stables

Santa Barbara's oldest and finest Horseback Riding tours with views of the Pacific Ocean and channel islands! read more

in Horseback Riding, Kids Activities, Tours

People Also Viewed

Cruise Planners - Timi Travels

Ventura Travel Agent

My Travel Agent Services

Ecom Travel

TJ Limousine Service

Carlson Wagonlit Gold Coast Travel

Santa Barbara Limo Bus & Tours

Executive Limousine and Coach

LL Transportation

Eva’s Limousine Service

Best of Santa Barbara

Things to do in Santa Barbara

Travel Agents Near Me

Vacations Near Me

Other Travel Agents Nearby

Find more Travel Agents near Travel Addiction Travel Agency

Related Cost Guides

Town Car Service

Travel Addiction Is Real

By Eliot Stein

Ever since humans first created maps , we’ve had a compulsion to fill them in. Our desire to see what lies beyond that distant peak, that vast sea, or this planet is an essential part of who we are, and studies show that our inherent wanderlust can also make us smarter , happier , and more creative .

But is it possible to overdose on too much of a good thing? Can this natural instinct to see and better understand the world actually spill over into a legitimate addiction?

“The short answer is yes, it's possible,” says Dr. Michael Brein, a social psychologist who specializes in travel and intercultural communication. “But figuring out what causes it is incredibly complicated.”

It’s a question that’s been puzzling experts since 1886, when a French gas-fitter named Jean-Albert Dadas wandered into a hospital in Bordeaux. After deserting the French army five years earlier, the “pathological tourist” relentlessly crisscrossed Europe on foot for five years, reaching Berlin , Prague, Moscow, and Constantinople before succumbing to exhaustion. By the time Dadas arrived in Bordeaux, he had no memory of his travels.

After treating Dadas for several weeks, psychiatrists sought to explain his extreme version of the travel bug with a diagnosable condition: “dromomania."

Sometimes called “vagabond neurosis,” the term was officially added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as an “impulse-control disorder” and “psychiatric problem” in 2000. The definition states: “sufferers have an abnormal impulse to travel; they are prepared to spend beyond their means, sacrifice jobs, lovers, and security in their lust for new experiences.”

“Travel addiction is much more psychological [than biochemical],” Dr. Brein says. “Like anything, if you let it overwhelm you, it can have serious effects on other aspects of your life.”

If you make it your life’s mission to go to obscure towns and territories like Aargau, Zug, and everywhere in between, does that bring you closer to knowing the world or take you further from reality?

While no one (that we know of) has blacked out on a multi-year odyssey since Dadas’s epic trance, the term “dromomania” has recently reemerged as a common way to describe and diagnose a new breed of extreme wanderers: competitive travelers. Fueled by time, money, and compulsion, competitive travelers dedicate their lives to going—literally—everywhere. Sometimes called “country collectors” or “tickers,” they've carved the world into an endless jigsaw puzzle of cities , provinces, regions, territories, atolls, oblasts, and impossibly remote volcanic specks, and race around the globe accumulating places the way other people collect stamps. What drives them is somewhat paradoxical: They’re on a quest to “know” the world, and to keep score while doing it.

Today, between sites like Most Traveled People , The Best Travelled , and Shea’s ISO List that keep a running tally of each collector’s territory total, there are more than 30,000 humans actively competing to be crowned the world’s most traveled person. It’s a fascinating case study: If you make it your life’s mission to go to obscure towns and territories like Aargau, Zug, and everywhere in between, does that bring you closer to knowing the world or take you further from reality?

“I know a lot of these people, and you can just tell that they’re not right. They can’t stop and are willing to risk everything in life to travel,” says Lee Abbamonte, who, at 32, became the youngest American to visit every country . “Just go down the lists and you’ll see a lot of people who have lost their spouses, their fortunes, and even their houses.”

One such person was John Clouse, a trial lawyer from Indiana who held the title of “World’s Most Traveled Man” in the Guinness World Record book before the company decided the category was too subjective and discontinued it. When a rival closed in on Clouse’s record, he famously declared, “This title cost me six marriages, and I don’t intend to surrender my sword lightly!”

Dr. Brein says that he’s known people so desperate to continue traveling that they’ve ended up in foreign prisons after engaging in illegal activity to fund their journeys. Yet, only a tiny fraction of travelers he’s encountered actually have an impulse-control addiction reminiscent of dromomania.

So, what’s keeping the rest of these self-described “travel addicts” from pumping the brakes?

“Well, once you realize that the experience of travel is extremely rewarding and unlike anything else, the more you want to keep doing it,” Dr. Brein says. “It’s a kaleidoscope of new sights, sounds, and experiences at every turn, and successfully navigating these unfamiliar situations is the best way for a person to achieve the higher-level needs found in Maslow’s pyramid .”

Travel is an escape, but it shouldn't only be an escape.

In other words, the addiction some backpackers, digital nomads, and 3.5 million Instagram #traveladdicts claim is likely just a learned behavioral response to the emotional fulfillment travel offers.

As Dr. Brein explains, in reference to Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, most people subconsciously organize their daily lives to be as predictable, easy, and stress-free as possible in order to achieve the basic human needs of safety and survival. The longer you maintain these routines though, the more you limit potential opportunities, rewards, and personal growth. Escaping this environment and challenging yourself not only feels exhilarating, but it also helps you experience the needs of accomplishment and self-actualization found at the top of the pyramid.

“Travel is an escape, but it shouldn’t only be an escape,” Dr. Brein cautions. “You can only do it so much.”

It makes perfect sense. So much of why travel is rewarding and special is because it’s a physical and psychological escape from your routine. But once travel becomes routine, the less exciting each trip feels and the more you may long to return home—as Abbamonte was doing when we spoke.

These days, when he’s not running his own business or planning an upcoming trip to climb the Vinson Massif in Antarctica , Abbamonte advises younger travelers about the risks and rewards of the road.

“Whenever someone asks me how feasible it is to quit your job, leave your home, and travel full-time, I tell them, ‘Don’t even think about it,’” Abbamonte says. “It’s a slippery slope to madness.”

Yes it is possible to become addicted to travel

Jan 17, 2019 • 2 min read

Sometimes we travel because we have to; perhaps we need to go to a wedding with relatives who live on the other side of the world or we have meetings in cities that aren't our own. But most travel isn't involuntary. Instead, we travel because we want to or because we want to explore someplace new . Because work is too much and we need an escape . Because we got a good deal on flights. Because we want to see April in Paris .

But is it possible to have too much of a good thing? Can this urge to fill in maps and charter new territory lead to an actual addiction? Is there such a thing as a compulsive urge to wander?

"In rare instances, yes, there is," says Dr Michael Brein, a social psychologist who specialises in travel and intercultural communication. "I know and have met many people, some of whom seemed to live to travel in such a manner that they could conceivably get themselves in trouble, for, say, running out of money."

Dr Brein believes that if travel becomes too much for people, too much a form of escapism that overwhelms a life and all other meaningful pursuits and goals are postponed or ignored until it becomes too late, then travel can be as disruptive as any other addiction.

"Most of us are focused on a variety of life goals like education, careers, companionship, marriage, family formation, and planning for and working for retirement," says Dr Brein. "When these are put on hold—when life itself is put on hold—there is the possibility of responsible living getting derailed, maybe even permanently."

He adds: "It is one thing to put life on hold by endless travelling, but there can be a heavy price to pay."

In 2000, the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) officially added ‘dromomania’ to its list as an "impulse-control disorder" and a "psychiatric problem." Generally speaking, it's classed as an uncontrollable psychological urge to wander. People who suffered from the disorder, it said, had "an abnormal impulse to travel" and were "prepared to spend beyond their means, sacrifice jobs, lovers and security in their lust for new experiences."

Yet, for Dr. Brein only a tiny percentage of travellers he’s met actually have an impulse-control addiction similar to dromomania. Travel is a basic human desire. We're a migratory species. Travel broadens the mind , makes people more open-minded, creative and can improve their lives in a myriad of ways. For Dr Brein, travel is a positive experience and the benefits outweigh any negatives.

"I am more left in awe of the matter, understanding what I do of the psychology of travel and realising just how awesome travel is and how it mostly and mainly benefits us rather than harms us."

Explore related stories

Apr 16, 2024 • 5 min read

Miami runs on Cuban coffee, and 3:05pm is cafecito time. Here's our pick of the best places to get your Cuban caffeine fix in the Magic City.

Apr 16, 2024 • 6 min read

Apr 15, 2024 • 7 min read

Apr 15, 2024 • 12 min read

Apr 15, 2024 • 10 min read

Apr 15, 2024 • 8 min read

Apr 14, 2024 • 8 min read

• Latest News
• Emergencies
• Ask the Law
• GN Fun Drive
• Visa+Immigration
• Phone+Internet
• Reader Queries
• Safety+Security
• Banking & Insurance
• Dubai Airshow
• Corporate Tax
• Top Destinations
• Corporate News
• Electronics
• Home and Kitchen
• Consumables
• Saving and Investment
• Budget Living
• Expert Columns
• Community Tips
• Cryptocurrency
• Cooking and Cuisines
• Guide to Cooking
• Art & People
• Friday Partner
• Daily Crossword
• Word Search
• Philippines
• Australia-New Zealand
• Corrections
• From the Editors
• Special Reports
• Pregnancy & Baby
• Learning & Play
• Child Health
• For Mums & Dads
• UAE Success Stories
• Live the Luxury
• Culture and History
• Staying Connected
• Entertainment
• Live Scores
• Point Table
• Top Scorers
• Photos & Videos
• Course Reviews
• Learn to Play
• South Indian
• Arab Celebs
• Health+Fitness
• Gitex Global 2023
• Best Of Bollywood
• Special Features
• Investing in the Future
• Know Plan Go
• Gratuity Calculator
• Notifications
• Prayer Times

Travel addiction is a real thing and it’s called Dromomania

• Living In UAE
• Magical Dubai
• The Kurator

Travel addiction is much more psychological than you think

Do you ever get the jitters if you’re in a place for too long? Are you always planning vacations and checking countries off your bucket list? We all love to travel, but some people have taken it way too far. They have what specialists call ‘an abnormal impulse to travel’ also known as Dromomania .

Studies have shown that people who spend their money on experiences, such as travel tend to be happier in their life. They are more open minded and more creative people. But then there are certain people who will literally spend all their extra cash on travel. They thrive on it and are in constant search for their next vacation.

You become this pathological tourist, who can never stop wandering and exploring.

The idea of someone being addicted to travel was discovered in the late 1800s, when a French man named Jean Albert Dadas left his whole life behind and started walking all through Europe hitting all the major cities, before he finally collapsed from exhaustion in Bordeaux, France.

The psychiatrists in the Bordeaux hospital began treating him and diagnosed his travel bug as “dromomania."

If you suffer from any of these serious symptoms, make sure you meet with a specialist. 

In the meantime, find out if you are inclined to ever suffer from Dromomania.

Take our Quiz

More from travel.

From Bangkok, to Bali, to Boracay on a single visa?

My close encounter with Turkish culinary delights

Burak Ozcivit on his life and fame as Osman Bey

Kurulus Osman: Reliving the Ottoman TV saga in Istanbul

Road caves in due to heavy rains in ras al khaimah, watch: heavy rain continues in uae, navigating gaza conflict: towards a path of resolution, microsoft commits $1.5b into abu dhabi ai firm, 1st uae crew for nasa’s simulated mars journey named.

Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

Happy Guest ! Happy Us 

Ferrari World

Explore the Luxury Destination with most affordability in the world, catering all kind of Traveler from all their need starting from seven-star hotels to affordable. Business, Leisure, Event, Destination Wedding, Single Traveler etc.

Explore the unreal wonders of nature with a very original and close to nature Destination. No need to apply any visa just book the flight and let us takes you to touch the beauty. A must visit place for newly married couple with most affordable rates.

Africa is full of natural gems but yet to not so popular. This place will take you to a roller coaster of wild life and hidden gems of nature. Namouras peaceful and at the same time highly adventurous. A must visit place especially Gorillas and other Wild Life animals Trekking. 

Explore the most under rates but the most beautiful Natural Destination in Pakistan. A must visit place can only be told by visitor himself. Undefined adventure is waiting for you to discover. Highly recommended Destination if you are a Natural beauty lover and Adventurous. 

Travel Packages

Our latest packages.

All kind of chauffeur full days and Transfers including Airports. 

All kind of business and other Events like Weddings.

Tours Packages including Visa, Transfers, Hotel and Tours.

All kind of luxury Resorts and Beach Properties.

Buckle up your stuff and let's explore the world with us

We do Insurances, Visas, Covid Testing and all the essential

Our Food prints are everywhere 

we have record of Happy Clients.

We have 99.9% Satisfied Guests.

We have experience of handling all kind of Travel related requirmentssince many years.

Happy Staff serve Client at their best !

A passionate startup coming from some good & bad experience of Travel industry. A very creative collaborative mindset and management behind a set of unique services.

A dedicated and experienced in smooth operation for Groups & FIT.

A very motived and dedicated sales generation machine.

A very Supportive Partner from Nigeria with strong grip on the Market.

‌‌‌ See the latest guidance from Financial Services on the University Financial Action Plan.

• Business Offices News

Introducing Anthony Travel Agency

Financial Services is excited to announce the relationship* between Anthony Travel and the University of Arizona in support of institutional business travel beginning Monday, May 13, 2024 . Anthony Travel provides comprehensive travel management services for both domestic and international travel, including 24/7 emergency travel assistance and group booking travel reservations with negotiated pricing available to University travelers.

Anthony Travel will dedicate three Travel Account Advisors to support University business travel. All three will have knowledge of institutional travel policies to combine with their own industry knowledge, guidance, and exceptional travel assistance to provide the best possible experience.

In addition to Anthony Travel, a new Travel Authorization Request Process and Booking Tool will also launch on May 13, 2024. Please watch for additional information, including training and resources, on this transition over the next few weeks to ensure that your business office is ready to collaborate with faculty and staff. The use of the Booking Tool and Travel Account Advisors is highly encouraged to ensure the most economical travel costs for the institution and promote the security and safety of University business travelers.

*Shorts Travel will continue to manage Intercollegiate Athletics team travel as their current contracted provider.

For questions, please contact the Accounts Payable Travel office at [email protected] or 520-621-9097.

Electrostal History and Art Museum

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Electrostal History and Art Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• (0.19 mi) Elektrostal Hotel
• (1.21 mi) Yakor Hotel
• (1.27 mi) Mini Hotel Banifatsiy
• (1.18 mi) Elemash
• (1.36 mi) Hotel Djaz
• (0.07 mi) Prima Bolshogo
• (0.13 mi) Makecoffee
• (0.25 mi) Amsterdam Moments
• (0.25 mi) Pechka
• (0.26 mi) Mazhor

US restricts travel of embassy workers in Israel as Iran retaliation looms

Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Thursday, April 11. For the latest news on the conflict in the Middle East, view our story for Friday, April 12 .

The U.S. State Department issued a security alert Thursday for its personnel and their families in Israel, limiting where they can go amid increased concerns of an Iranian attack.

“Out of an abundance of caution, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice,’’ the alert says. “U.S. government personnel are authorized to transit between these three areas for personal travel.’’

There’s no reference in the alert to an impending Iranian strike, but Tehran has signaled it will retaliate for the April 1 assault on its consulate in Damascus, which killed seven senior Iranian military officers. Israel is widely believed to have launched that attack, although it has not claimed responsibility.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken reached out in the last day to the foreign ministers of China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey “to make clear that escalation is not in anyone’s interest and that countries should urge Iran not to escalate,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters Thursday.

With the Israel-Hamas war still raging past the six-month mark, the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem is also urging American citizens to be mindful of the risks of traveling to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, warning against visiting the embattled Palestinian territory.

“The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events,’’ the alert says.

Israel to 'flood Gaza with aid': War of words with Iran also heats up

Developments:

∎ Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews demonstrated near a Jerusalem enlistment office, protesting a recent court ruling that means "Haredim" men will be drafted for the first time since Israel was founded in 1948.

∎ Israel is prepared for military confrontations beyond Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday, amid concern that Iran was getting ready to strike Israel. "Whoever harms us, we will harm them," he said.

∎ The Israel Defense Forces said it began a "precise, intelligence-based operation to strike terrorist infrastructure and eliminate operatives in central Gaza'' overnight into Thursday.

∎ Russia urged countries in the Middle East to show restraint to avoid "complete destabilization" of the region. Russia also warned its citizens against traveling to the Middle East.

Iran says it must punish Israel because UN didn't condemn embassy attack

Tehran must retaliate for the deadly attack on its consular compound in Damascus last week because the U.N. Security Council failed to condemn the strike or take any action against Israel, Iran’s U.N. mission said in a statement posted Thursday on the X platform.

“Had the U.N. Security Council condemned the Zionist regime’s reprehensible act of aggression on our diplomatic premises in Damascus and subsequently brought to justice its perpetrators, the imperative for Iran to punish this rogue regime might have been obviated,” the statement said.

Despite its threats, Iran has indicated to the U.S. through an intermediary that it will respond in a manner that avoids an escalation of hostilities with Israel and wouldn’t rush into it, Reuters reported. The U.S. has maintained it was not involved in or given advance notice of the attack.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the April 1 attack on an Iranian consulate annex building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Syria that killed seven high-ranking Iranian military officers, including Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi of the elite Quds Force. Tensions between the nations have increased, and Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Wednesday that “the evil regime made a mistake and must be punished.”

The top U.S. commander for the Middle East reportedly arrived in Israel on Thursday for meetings with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other senior defense officials to discuss an anticipated military response from Iran,  Haaretz.com  reported. Gen. Erik Kurilla’s trip comes a day after Blinken spoke with Gallant and “reiterated the United States’ support for Israel’s security and made clear that the U.S. will stand with Israel against any threats by Iran and its proxies,” the State Department said in a statement.

U.S. Central Command, in an email to USA TODAY, declined to confirm Kurilla’s trip: “We do not discuss flag officer travel for operational security.”

Hamas official says cease-fire needed to account for hostages

A senior Hamas official on Thursday deflected questions from journalists concerning fears that many hostages could be dead. The possibility gained traction after Hamas said it was not sure it could provide 40 living Israeli civilian captives as part of a cease-fire proposal. Dr. Basem Naim, a member of political bureau of Hamas, said a cease-fire agreement is needed to provide time and safety to collect information on the captured Israelis. They are held in different places by different militant groups − and some are "under the rubble, killed with our own people" and heavy equipment is required to find them, he said.

No one is asking about the thousands of Palestinians kidnapped by Israel since the Hamas-led attack Oct. 7 that ignited the war, he said.

"The most outrageous is the repeated questions regarding the hostages in Gaza, how many alive or dead, does Hamas rejected the proposal because it can’t release 40 hostages in the first phase, etc ..." he said in a statement posted on Telegram. "The lives of their people aren’t more precious than ours."

UNICEF aid convoy hit with gunfire, turned back from Gaza

A UNICEF convoy was hit by gunfire Wednesday as it tried to deliver aid to northern Gaza, the latest in a series of violent obstructions faced by aid workers in the enclave.

"The incident has been raised with relevant Israeli authorities," UNICEF said in a statement. "Sadly, humanitarians continue to face risks in delivering lifesaving aid."

The incident occurred nine days after a World Central Kitchen aid convoy was attacked by Israeli rockets, killing seven workers − and the same day Israel promised to greatly increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a USA TODAY request for comment on the incident.

UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram told Al Jazeera she was in one of the vehicles at a “holding point” area at a checkpoint. She said three rounds hit the car where she was sitting. The mission had been authorized and the Israeli authorities knew about the convoy, Ingram said. After the shooting, Israeli authorities continued to delay the convoy and it eventually was forced to return to Rafah.

“So those life-saving supplies never made it to the children in northern Gaza,” Ingram said.

Israeli commander pitches aid plan to Red Cross, other agencies

Israel's Southern Command chief, Major General Yaron Finkelman, met with representatives of U.N. agencies, the Red Cross, IMC, USAID and the American Humanitarian Coordinator as part of "increasing coordination and cooperation on the issue of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip," the Israeli military announced.

The meeting comes as Israel announced plans to greatly increase access to humanitarian aid for Gaza residents. Plans include a new border crossing designed make it easier to bring humanitarian supplies from overseas and from Jordan to the east.

“These breakthroughs have a direct impact on the flow of aid – we plan to flood Gaza with aid," Gallant said. "It will also streamline security checks and strengthen our work with international partners.”

Contributing: Reuters

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Elektrostal, visit elektrostal, check elektrostal hotel availability, popular places to visit.

• Electrostal History and Art Museum

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Electrostal History and Art Museum in Elektrostal. Take in the museums while you're in the area.

• Cities near Elektrostal

• Places of interest
• Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
• Peter the Great Military Academy
• Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino
• History of Russian Scarfs and Shawls Museum
• Balashikha Arena
• Balashikha Museum of History and Local Lore
• Bykovo Manor
• Pekhorka Park
• Drama Theatre BOOM
• Ramenskii History and Art Museum
• Malenky Puppet Theater
• Noginsk Museum and Exhibition Center
• Pavlovsky Posad Museum of Art and History
• Saturn Stadium
• Fairy Tale Children's Model Puppet Theater
• Fifth House Gallery
• Church of Vladimir
• Likino Dulevo Museum of Local Lore
• Malakhovka Museum of History and Culture
• Orekhovo Zuevsky City Exhibition Hall

Business | Boscov’s travel agency celebrates 50 years in…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)

Daily e-Edition

Evening e-Edition

• Real Estate

SUBSCRIBER ONLY

Business | boscov’s travel agency celebrates 50 years in business, the company is offering several special promotions to commemorate its anniversary..

Business | United Way of Greater Lehigh Valley announces record fundraising

Retail | Wawa giving away free coffee Tuesday for its 60th anniversary. Here are the details.

Shankweiler’s to celebrate its 90th anniversary | PHOTOS

Business | Demolition begins at former factory at busy I-78 intersection Hellertown. LVHN has plans for the site.

• International

April 12, 2024 - Israel-Hamas war

By Chris Lau, Sana Noor Haq, Adrienne Vogt , Matt Meyer and Tori B. Powell , CNN

Our live coverage of Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has moved  here .

USAID worker killed in Israel, agency says

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

A staff member with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) died Friday in the Israeli port city of Jaffa, the agency announced.

The male staffer was with USAID’s West Bank and Gaza mission, the agency said in a brief statement.

USAID did not provide details on the circumstances around his death or his identity or citizenship.

“He was a dedicated member of our team for more than two decades, and our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues,” USAID said.

USAID is working with the US Embassy to work out details about the fatal incident and its follow-up investigation, it said.

US expects Iran to carry out direct strikes against targets inside Israel, sources say

From CNN's MJ Lee and Natasha Bertrand

The United States currently expects Iran will carry out strikes against multiple targets inside Israel and that Iranian proxies could also be involved in carrying out the attacks, according to a senior administration official and a source familiar with the intelligence.  

The targets would likely be both inside Israel and around the region.

The beginning of a state-on-state conflict between Iran and Israel would mark a serious escalation in the region that the US has hoped to avoid.

US sees Iran moving military assets including drones and cruise missiles, sources say

From Natasha Bertrand and Oren Liebermann

The US observed Iran moving military assets around internally, including drones and cruise missiles, signaling that it is possibly preparing to attack Israeli targets from inside its own territory, according to two people familiar with US intelligence. 

It is not clear whether Iran is preparing to strike from its soil as part of an initial attack, or if it is posturing to try to deter Israel or the US from conducting a possible counter strike on its territory. 

One of the people said the US had observed Iran readying as many as 100 cruise missiles.

Some context: The Iranians want their retaliatory strike on Israel — a response to the Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate last week in Damascus — to be "significant," one of the people familiar with the intelligence said. But they also want to avoid getting embroiled in a direct war with Israel and the US, CNN has reported, which is why US intelligence has assessed that Iran may use its proxy forces to launch the first attack.

Israeli settlers storm village in West Bank and kill at least 1 Palestinian. Here's what you should know

From CNN staff

Hundreds of armed Israeli settlers stormed a village in the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting fire to several homes and cars — and leaving at least one Palestinian dead — in one of the largest attacks by settlers this year, according to Palestinian officials. 

The settlers attacked Al-Mughayyir village, east of Ramallah, raided homes and fired gunshots at residents, according to Amin Abu-Alia, the head of the village council. Videos obtained by CNN show parts of the village burning, with smoke billowing over several buildings and settlers lobbing rocks. Houses and cars are seen completely burnt up, with sounds of gunfire and clashes heard in the background.

Here are other headlines you should know:

• More Israeli attacks: An Israeli airstrike early Friday killed at least 29 people and injured dozens more after troops targeted a house belonging to the well-known Al-Tabatibi family in eastern Gaza City, according to a local health official. Israeli forces also surrounded and attacked the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, wounding several journalists and at least one other person. And in the occupied West Bank, troops killed two Hamas members in a raid on the city of Tubas, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials.
• Hezbollah-Israel clashes: Around 40 rockets were fired from Lebanon on Friday evening, according to the Israeli military. Some were intercepted and the rest fell in open areas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. Israeli warplanes also carried out several airstrikes on Friday, targeting "military buildings" used by Hezbollah fighters in parts of southern Lebanon, the IDF said.
• Iranian threats: US President Joe Biden told reporters Friday he expects an attack from Iran will happen “sooner than later," with the White House adding that there is a "very credible" threat of Iranian retaliatory strikes against Israel. Additionally, the US Defense Department is moving additional assets to the Middle East region, a defense official told CNN, as the US and Israel brace for the potential attack . Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US Central Command Commander Gen. Erik Kurilla on Friday discussed preparations for the  potential attack .
• Warnings amid Iranian threats: France , Germany, Canada and the United States are among countries that are warning their citizens not to travel to the region due to the threat of an Iranian attack against Israel.
• Humanitarian aid: The Israeli military does not understand how humanitarian operations work, a top United Nations official said Friday, maintaining there is a "degree of mistrust" that needs to be resolved between the IDF and nongovernmental organizations on the ground in Gaza.
• Sanctions: The European Council has  adopted sanctions  against three Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad entities , in light of "their responsibilities in the brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks" that occurred across Israel on October 7. The US is also sanctioning four leaders of Hamas’ cyber and drone operations based in Gaza and Lebanon, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller announced on Friday. 

US will attempt to intercept launches at Israel if feasible, US officials say

From CNN's Oren Liebermann and Natasha Bertrand

The US will attempt to intercept any weapons launched at Israel if it’s feasible to do so, two US officials told CNN, in an indication of the level of ongoing cooperation between the two militaries before an anticipated Iranian attack .

US Navy forces in the Red Sea have previously intercepted long-range missiles launched from the Houthis in Yemen toward Israel. US forces in Iraq and Syria could also potentially intercept drones and rockets targeting northern Israel, depending on the location from which they’re launched.

Gen. Erik Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command, has been in Israel meeting with the country’s security leadership. On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, met with Kurilla.

There have been a number of conversations where US officials have urged Israel not to escalate the situation in retaliating against Iran, according to one of the US officials. 

Remember: An Iranian attack is expected in response to Israel’s deadly strike of Tehran's consulate in Damascus, Syria, last week.

The Damascus attack was the latest incident to stoke fears of a wider regional conflict breaking out in the Middle East during Israel's campaign in Gaza.

Diplomatic efforts: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held a slew of calls to foreign counterparts aimed at pressuring Iran not to attack Israel.

The top US diplomat spoke with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Friday, according to a readout from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Blinken also spoke with the Turkish, Chinese and Saudi foreign ministers in recent days, Miller said.

Israeli settlers kill at least 1 Palestinian while storming West Bank village

From CNN’s Kareem Khadder and Zeena Saifi in Jerusalem and CNN’s Benjamin Brown in London

Hundreds of armed Israeli settlers stormed a village in the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting fire to several homes and cars in one of the largest attacks by settlers this year, according to Palestinian officials. 

At least one Palestinian man was killed when shots were fired by Israeli settlers in the village of Al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah, according to the head of the village council Amin Abu-Alia. He said he identified the killed Palestinian as his 26-year-old relative named Jihad Abu-Alia, who was meant to get married this summer.

At least 25 others were injured in the rampage, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, the scale of which has not been seen since hundreds of settlers stormed through the villages of  Turmusayya  and  Huwara  in two separate incidents last year. 

Between 1,000 and 1,200 settlers surrounded the village, and around 500 stormed it just after midday local time on Friday, blocking all the roads in the area, Abu-Alia told CNN.

He added that Israeli security forces informed Palestinian officials that the settlers were looking for a 14-year-old Israeli boy who had gone missing earlier in the day.

They attacked the village, raided homes and fired gunshots at residents, Abu-Alia said. Videos obtained by CNN show parts of the village burning, with smoke billowing over several buildings and settlers lobbing rocks. Houses and cars are seen completely burnt up, with sounds of gunfire and clashes heard in the background.

According to Abu-Alia, the Israeli military arrived at the scene at around 3 p.m. and didn’t stop the settlers from attacking the village. Israeli soldiers allowed them to raid homes, prevented Palestinian residents from moving around and blocked ambulances from reaching the injured, he added.  

Abu-Alia told CNN settlers stole approximately 70 sheep from the Palestinian village.

In response to a question by CNN, the IDF said “violent riots were instigated in multiple locations in the area” following the search for the boy.

Israel says airstrikes targeted Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

Israeli warplanes carried out several airstrikes on Friday, targeting "military buildings" used by Hezbollah fighters in parts of southern Lebanon, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The areas include the Aita al-Shaab and the Taybeh in southern Lebanon, said Avichay Adraee, I DF spokesperson for Arab media,  in a post on X.

"During the day, several shells were fired from Lebanon towards the Upper Galilee region, without causing any casualties. IDF forces attacked the sources of fire," Adraee added. 

The Israeli airstrikes were before the 40 rockets that were launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel Friday evening and claimed by Hezbollah.

Biden expects an attack from Iran will happen "sooner than later"

From CNN's Samantha Waldenberg

US President Joe Biden expects an attack from Iran will happen “sooner than later," he told reporters at the White House Friday.

“I don’t want to get into secure information but my expectation is sooner than later,” Biden said when asked how imminent an attack on Israel was.

Asked what his message to Tehran is right now, the president said “Don’t.”

In response to more shouted questions from reporters asking if American troops were at risk, Biden returned to the podium and said that the United States is "devoted” to the defense of Israel. 

“We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed,” Biden said.

Remember: The United States says it is on high alert for a significant Iranian retaliatory attack following Israel's deadly strike on Tehran's consulate in Damascus last week, raising fears of a wider regional war. There remains a “real,” “credible” and “viable” threat of Iran launching strikes, the White House said earlier Friday, following Israel’s attack on  a diplomatic compound in Syria that killed three Iranian generals.

Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.

Already planning to see the next solar eclipse in 2026? What travelers need to know.

Umbraphiles feeling the post-eclipse blues should start checking the expiration date on their passports.

The next total solar eclipse is set to happen on Aug. 12, 2026, over Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and a small part of Portugal, according to NASA . 

In North America, only a partial eclipse will be visible, so if April’s event made you an eclipse chaser and you want to see totality, you’ll need to head overseas.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

Here’s what you’ll need to know before packing your bags:

Do you need a passport or visa for the best destination?

The path of totality for the 2026 eclipse mostly goes through places Americans can travel visa-free with their passport, so long as they’re planning to stay for less than 90 days.

Spain, Portugal, Iceland and Greenland all allow visa-free tourist travel for U.S. passport holders.

Spain, Portugal and Iceland are also members of the Schengen Area, which allows for visa-free travel in much of Europe, meaning if you decide to make a multi-country trip out of your eclipse adventure, you won’t need to clear customs if you’re coming from much of the rest of Europe, either.

One major change for travelers to Europe from the U.S., however, is that electronic preauthorization will become a requirement beginning in mid-2025. The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) requirement will apply to all four open countries in the path of totality. 

Depending on the state of the Ukraine war, travel to Russia may or may not be an option for most Americans by 2026, so it’s unclear what the paperwork requirements will be by then.

Is it better to see it from the beach?

Beaches can be a great place to see the eclipse because there are few natural obstacles blocking observers’ views of the sky. The 2026 path of totality passes over beaches on Spain’s northern and southeastern coasts, as well as over islands in the Mediterranean Sea including Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. The eclipse will also pass over coastal areas in Greenland and Iceland, according to the National Solar Observatory . 

Cruising Altitude: What it was like to see the eclipse from a plane

Will there be eclipse cruises or flights?

Almost certainly, although most operators have not announced specific plans yet. 

Cruise lines will also offer more viewing opportunities. Princess Cruises “has created a bespoke itinerary aboard Sky Princess to position the ship near Spain on that date,” according to a spokesperson for the line. The cruise will open for bookings on Princess’s website on May 23.

Cunard Line has sailings on its Queen Mary 2 , Queen Victoria and Queen Anne vessels that will put passengers in prime spots to watch .

'The ship can move': Why you should watch next solar eclipses from a cruise ship

Holland America Line is also planning multiple sailings around the event, though details are still to be announced. “Guests have reacted positively to our 2024 eclipse cruises and with the next full eclipse in 2026 we plan to have three sailings in Europe that will align with the path of the eclipse,” Paul Grigsby, the line's vice president of Deployment & Itinerary Planning, previously told USA TODAY in an email.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Already planning to see the next solar eclipse in 2026? What travelers need to know.