traveller it meaning

Chris Stapleton Explains the Deeper Meaning Behind ‘Traveller’

Stapleton set the record straight about the true inspiration that created his massive radio hit.

While Chris Stapleton has gone on the record in a few interviews that he created the songs on his successful album, Traveller , based on the music his father liked, he never really dove into the meaning of the title track.

Getting serious about the theme behind his hit, “Traveller,” Stapleton went to Jimmy Fallon to let fans know the real truth about the lyrics. Although many could assume that it’s about being a man on the road or a drifter finding home from place to place, it goes beyond anyone’s wildest imaginations: NBA referees.

“Well, the song, ‘Traveller,’ is about seeing life through the eyes of an NBA referee. You know, they see this kind of stuff all day long. This one’s for you guys. Oh, and for the people that work at Foot Locker, too,” he said during a video skit for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon .

Pop artists Hailee Steinfeld and DNCE also shared their lyrical inspiration for their hits as well, but Stapleton’s response remained a proud moment for many country and basketball fans.

Jokes aside, Stapleton will be playing many shows throughout the year. His first stop is the Houston Rodeo in March, as well as Tortuga Music Festival in early April. He will also join Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers this summer for a couple special appearances during their 40th anniversary tour. Fans can find tickets for the shows through Stapleton’s website .

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Definition of traveller noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• She is a frequent traveller to Belgium.
• leisure/business travellers
• These hotels are becoming popular with the discerning traveller.
• I'm not a great traveller. I'm happiest staying at home.
• Independent travellers often steer clear of the most touristy spots.
• Local tribesmen earn their living guiding travellers across the mountains.
• Stations can be dangerous places for the unwary traveller.
• hotels that cater to business travellers
• A friendly welcome awaits the weary traveller.
• Seasoned travellers know which places to avoid.
• The new travel card is very popular with rail travellers.
• Travellers might stop at the village but they rarely stay.
• His travel books have given pleasure to generations of armchair travellers (= people who prefer to read about travelling rather than travel themselves) .

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Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

Definition of 'traveller'

Video: pronunciation of traveller

traveller in American English

Traveller in british english, examples of 'traveller' in a sentence traveller, synonyms of 'traveller', related word partners traveller, trends of traveller.

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Browse alphabetically traveller

• traveling saleswoman
• traveling-wave tube
• traveller's cheque
• traveller's joy
• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'T'

Related terms of traveller

• air traveller
• New Traveller
• Irish Traveller
• keen traveller
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English [ edit ]

Alternative forms [ edit ].

• traveler ( US )

Etymology [ edit ]

From Middle English traveler , travelour , travailere , travailour ( “ worker", also "traveller ” ) , equivalent to travel +‎ -er . Compare Anglo-Norman travailur , travailour , Old French travailleor , travelleeur , travelier .

Pronunciation [ edit ]

• ( UK ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈtɹævələ/ , /ˈtɹævlə/
• ( US ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈtɹævəlɚ/ , /ˈtɹævl̩ɚ/

Noun [ edit ]

traveller ( plural travellers )

• 1590 , Edmund Spenser , “Book II, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene.   [ … ] , London: [ … ] [ John Wolfe ] for William Ponsonbie , →OCLC , stanza 31, pages 370–371 : They were faire Ladies, till they fondly ſtriu’d / With th’ Heliconian maides for mayſtery; / Of whom they ouer-comen, were depriu’d / Of their proud beautie, and th’one moyity / Transform’d to fiſh, for their bold ſurquedry, / But th’vpper halfe their hew retayned ſtill, / And their ſweet skill in wonted melody; / Which euer after they abuſd to ill, / T’allure weake traueillers , whom gotten they did kill.
• 1678 , John Bunyan , “ The Author’s Apology for His Book ”, in The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come:   [ … ] , London: [ … ] Nath [ aniel ] Ponder   [ … ] , →OCLC ; reprinted in The Pilgrim’s Progress (The Noel Douglas Replicas), London: Noel Douglas,   [ … ] , 1928 , →OCLC : This Book will make a Travailer of thee, / If by its Counſel thou wilt ruled be; / It will direct thee to the Holy Land, / If thou wilt its Directions understand: / Yea, it will make the ſloathful, active be; / The Blind alſo, delightful things to ſee.
• 1892 , James Yoxall , chapter 5, in The Lonely Pyramid : The desert storm was riding in its strength; the travellers lay beneath the mastery of the fell simoom. Whirling wreaths and columns of burning wind, rushed around and over them.
• 1980 , Peter Hopkirk , Foreign Devils on the Silk Road ‎ [1] , Amherst : University of Massachusetts Press , published 1984 , →ISBN , →LCCN , →OCLC , pages 9–10 : Surrounding the Taklamakan on three sides are some of the highest mountain ranges in the world, with the Gobi desert blocking the fourth. Thus even the approaches to it are dangerous. Many travellers have perished on the icy passes which lead down to it from Tibet, Kashmir, Afghanistan and Russia, either by freezing to death or by missing their foothold and hurtling into a ravine below. In one disaster, in the winter of 1839, an entire caravan of forty men was wiped out by an avalanche, and even now men and beasts are lost each year. No traveller has a good word to say for the Taklamakan. Sven Hedin, one of the few Europeans to have crossed it, called it ‘the worst and most dangerous desert in the world’. Stein, who came to know it even better, considered the deserts of Arabia 'tame' by comparison. Sir Percy Sykes, the geographer, and one-time British Consul-General at Kashgar, called it 'a Land of Death', while his sister Ella, herself a veteran desert traveller , described it as 'a very abomination of desolation'. Apart from the more obvious perils, such as losing one’s way and dying of thirst, the Taklamakan has special horrors to inflict on those who trespass there. In his book Buried Treasures of Chinese Turkestan , von Le Coq describes the nightmare of being caught in that terror of all caravans, the kara-buran , or black hurricane.
• For more quotations using this term, see Citations:traveller .
• ( dated ) A salesman who travels from place to place on behalf of a company .
• ( British ) Someone who lives (particularly in the UK) in a caravan , bus or other vehicle rather than a fixed abode.
• 2010 , R. Todd Felton, A Journey Into Ireland's Literary Revival , →ISBN , page 213 : It provoked criticism for its portrayal of a woman who leaves her marriage for life with a solitary traveler . Irish women did not do those sorts of things, the audiences felt (although the plot came from a story told to Synge on Inis Meain).
• 2012 , Mark Connelly, The IRA on Film and Television: A History , →ISBN , page 212 : Kevin chases after him through a forest and finds the horse with Joseph Maguire (Ian Holm), a poetry-reciting traveler (Irish gypsy).
• 2012 , Maria Pramaggiore, Irish and African American Cinema , →ISBN , page 152 : ...settled Irish people of Southern Ireland treat the traveler boys with racist hostility (2001 180–81).
• A list and record of instructions that follows a part in a manufacturing process.
• ( electrical engineering ) One of the wires connecting the two members of a pair of three-way switches .
• ( nautical ) A metal ring that moves freely on part of a ship’s rigging .
• 1977 , New York Theatre Critics' Reviews , volumes 38-39 , page 134 : That would detract from the austerity of Rudkin's study, and a curtain on a traveler is always slid across the stage [ … ]
• 2008 , David Galt, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Bridge , →ISBN , page 263 : At the conclusion of play, the scores from all the travelers get entered into a computer.
• 2015 , Richard Grant, Dispatches from Pluto: Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta : Nowhere else in the world had I seen such gigantic measures of liquor poured, such widespread enthusiasm for Bloodies and Mimosas on weekend mornings, or such firm insistence on giving sixteen-ounce Styrofoam cups loaded with iced liquor to guests leaving a party, so they might have a " traveler " for the drive home. At a bar in Yazoo City, the bartender asked me if I wanted to "go tall" with my bourbon on the rocks. I didn't know what he meant, but it sounded encouraging. "Sure," I said, "Let's go tall." He filled up a pint glass with ice. Then he filled it to the brim with bourbon. When I got up to leave with about half the drink gone, he poured the rest of it into a Styrofoam cup, assuming I would want a traveler .

Derived terms [ edit ]

• armchair traveller
• Canadian traveller problem
• commercial traveller
• fellow-traveller
• fellow traveller
• New Age traveller
• new age traveller
• time-traveller
• traveller's tale

Translations [ edit ]

See also [ edit ].

• Irish Traveller

• English terms inherited from Middle English
• English terms derived from Middle English
• English terms suffixed with -er
• English 3-syllable words
• English 2-syllable words
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/ ˈtrævlə; ˈtrævələ /

• a person who travels, esp habitually
• See travelling salesman
• sometimes capital a member of the travelling people
• a part of a mechanism that moves in a fixed course
• a thimble fitted to slide freely on a rope, spar, or rod
• the fixed rod on which such a thimble slides

Discover More

Example sentences.

Such a requirement already existed for travellers from the UK, but this new extension brings the US in line with numerous other countries that already mandate the same.

Reed is originally from New Orleans and has been a long-time world traveller.

This is a new kind of hostel for a new generation of traveller.

Nadeau is a frequent contributor to CNN Traveller, Departures, Discovery and Grazia, and appears regularly on CNN, BBC and NPR.

She is a frequent contributor to CNN Traveller, Departures, Discovery and Grazia.

True to form, runs the story of V. S. Naipaul, the increasingly disenchanted traveller.

A colossal steam "traveller" had ceaselessly carried great blocks of stone and long steel girders from point to point.

He had the sun-scorched look of a traveller who has just crossed the Atlantic, and he smiled at Bernard with his honest eyes.

But the traveller took a wide tour; and did not bring the letter to its destination until two months after its date.

This gift of rice was especially pleasing to the traveller, as no dish is held in higher honour in Korea.

“Yes—tea,” answered the traveller with the keen grey eyes, turning, and poking the fire with the heel of his boot.

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traveller | traveler noun

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What does the noun traveller mean?

There are 18 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun traveller , four of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

traveller has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

How common is the noun traveller ?

How is the noun traveller pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun traveller come from.

Earliest known use

Middle English

The earliest known use of the noun traveller is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).

OED's earliest evidence for traveller is from before 1387, in a translation by John Trevisa, translator.

traveller is formed within English, by derivation.

Etymons: travel v. , ‑er suffix 1 .

Nearby entries

• travel centre | travel center, n. 1883–
• travel document, n. 1892–
• travel expenses, n. 1839–
• travel folder, n. 1911–
• travel guide, n. 1881–
• travel industry, n. 1920–
• travel insurance, n. 1912–
• travellable | travelable, adj. 1521–
• travelled | traveled, adj. c1450–
• travelled blood | traveled blood, n. 1962–
• traveller | traveler, n. a1387–
• travelleress | traveleress, n. 1820–
• traveller-like | traveler-like, adj. 1825–
• traveller's cheque | traveler's cheque, n. 1891–
• traveller's diarrhoea | traveler's diarrhoea, n. 1890–
• travellership | travelership, n. 1824–
• traveller's joy | traveler's joy, n. 1597–
• traveller's palm | traveler's palm, n. 1850–
• traveller's tale | traveler's tale, n. 1747–
• traveller's tree | traveler's tree, n. 1809–
• travelling | traveling, n. 1489–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for traveller | traveler, n..

traveller, n. was revised in March 2020.

traveller, n. was last modified in March 2024.

oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:

• further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into traveller, n. in March 2024.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1914)

• Find out more

OED Second Edition (1989)

• View traveller in OED Second Edition

Please submit your feedback for traveller | traveler, n.

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Citation details

Factsheet for traveller | traveler, n., browse entry.

“Traveler” or “Traveller”

Traveler and traveller are both English terms.

Traveler is predominantly used in 🇺🇸 American (US) English ( en-US ) while traveller is predominantly used in 🇬🇧 British English (used in UK/AU/NZ) ( en-GB ).

In terms of actual appearance and usage , here's a breakdown by country, with usage level out of 100 (if available) 👇:

• In the United States , there is a preference for " traveler " over "traveller" (87 to 13).
• In the United Kingdom , there is a 77 to 23 preference for " traveller " over "traveler".
• In India , there is a 87 to 13 preference for " traveller " over "traveler".
• In the Philippines , there is a preference for " traveler " over "traveller" (63 to 37).
• In Canada , there is a preference for " traveler " over "traveller" (62 to 38).
• In Australia , there is a 87 to 13 preference for " traveller " over "traveler".
• In Liberia , there is a 71 to 29 preference for " traveller " over "traveler".
• In Ireland , there is a 85 to 15 preference for " traveller " over "traveler".
• In New Zealand , there is a 70 to 30 preference for " traveller " over "traveler".
• In Jamaica , there is a preference for " traveler " over "traveller" (56 to 44).
• In Trinidad & Tobago , there is a preference for " traveler " over "traveller" (53 to 47).
• In Guyana , there is not enough data to determine a preference between "traveler" and "traveller".

Below, we provide some examples of when to use traveler or traveller with sample sentences.

📈 See Trends

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Examples in Context

Examples of “traveler”.

• … 1662, by the Ottoman Turkish traveler Evliya Çelebi, who described it …
• … to him as "a great traveler , both on land and paper".
• … "pair" of individuals: the path traveler (Pāli: maggattha) and the fruit …
• … or future for the time traveler when they return home.
• … scenery of North America, a traveler must go by foot.
• … TCIP), and SAE J2354 Advanced Traveler Information Systems standards.
• A traveler and amateur naturalist, he regains …
• National Geographic Traveler s main competitors are Condé Nast …
• "The Arkansas Traveler sketch in Vaudeville", America's Library
• This story, of a traveler who falls in love with …

Examples of “traveller”

• … depreciate his merits as a traveller and naturalist, for the belief …
• George Sandys (born 1578), English traveller , colonist and poet, the seventh …
• In this case, the traveller may choose to stay in …
• … John (1735, 2nd edition) Suffolk Traveller .
• … the score entered on the traveller .
• Porphyrius Uspensky (1804–1885), Russian traveller and theologian
• … fiction roleplaying games such as Traveller , Shadowrun and Heavy Gear (the …
• He also tells the traveller of his poor family and …
• A Traveller in Italy is situated in …
• The Arkansas Traveller

(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license.)

Too Much to Remember?

Grammar Palette

Traveler or Traveller: Which Spelling is Right?

People often argue about the correct way to spell words, and one common debate is between ‘traveler’ and ‘traveller.’ Both spellings are okay, but which one is more right? Let’s look at the differences and when to use each.

Table of Contents

American Way: ‘Traveler’

In America, we usually write ‘traveler.’ It’s simpler with just one ‘l.’ This way of spelling came about in the 1800s to make writing easier. So, if you’re in the United States, ‘traveler’ is the way to go.

British Style: ‘Traveller’

Across the pond in the United Kingdom, they prefer ‘traveller’ with two ‘l’s. The British like to keep things traditional, holding onto how words were spelled in the past.

Where and How to Use

The choice between ‘traveler’ and ‘traveller’ isn’t only about where you are. It also depends on what you’re reading. American books and websites use ‘traveler,’ while British ones use ‘traveller.’ Both are right in their own way.

You will like: Center vs Centre: Decoding the Spelling Difference

Language Changings

Words change over time, and that’s cool. ‘Traveler’ and ‘Traveller’ show how English can be different but still right. Instead of thinking of them as mistakes, see them as part of the language’s rich variety.

Deciding between ‘traveler’ and ‘traveller’ is mostly about where you are and what you’re reading. Neither way is wrong – it’s about keeping things consistent. Whether you like the American ‘traveler’ or the British ‘traveller,’ just stick to one. Language is all about talking to each other, and having different spellings just makes it more interesting.

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Is it ‘traveling’ or ‘travelling’?

What to Know When it comes to spelling the forms of the verb travel , traveled and traveling are more common in the U.S., and travelled and travelling are dominant everywhere else.

Spelling is typically clear-cut in modern English: forty unfailingly betrays four ; the sweet treat after dinner is spelled dessert , not desert .

But some words have two forms that appear often enough in edited text to make it clear that something else is going on. And so it is with forms of the verb travel : traveled and travelled , and traveling and travelling .

It might have a different spelling wherever you're going.

One or Two L 's?

If you look at where the single l forms originate and where the double l forms originate a pattern emerges: in the United States, traveled and traveling predominate, and everywhere else travelled and travelling are preferred.

The reason mostly comes down to one man we at Merriam-Webster hold especially dear: Noah Webster. Our lexicographical father (brothers George and Charles Merriam bought the rights to Noah Webster’s 1841 dictionary after Webster died) was a great believer in spelling reform and wanted English spelling to make more sense—and if the English of his homeland had more logic to it than its British parent, so much the better. He decided that travel needed only one l in its past and present participle forms.

Webster’s logic is the reason behind the spelling of canceled and cancelled as well: in the U.S., they have just one l , but elsewhere two l ’s are the norm.

American English Words that Use 2 L 's

Webster didn’t think all double l ’s needed to be reduced to one, however: in cases in which the accent, or emphasis, is on the syllable with the l , two l ’s are preserved: expelled and expelling ; controlled and controlling ; patrolled and patrolling .

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6 alternative and arty ways to discover Mexico City culture

Amid art deco architecture and Frida Kahlo’s creations, find Mexico City’s pre-Hispanic traditions and an Indigenous crafts scene.

Mexico’s sprawling capital is a gateway to the country’s Maya ruins, miles of beaches, rocky canyons and traditional Indigenous villages. But many travellers find the metropolis has an allure all of its own, and a handful of days can be well spent touring its neighbourhoods and historic centre. Mexico’s best museums are here, and its many galleries and markets help facilitate one of the strongest creative scenes in Latin America. Dig a little deeper to find the city’s pre-Hispanic roots, and discover how many customs are linked to the ancient Aztec and Maya civilisations.

1. Kayak the ancient canals of Xochimilco

Before the Spanish conquest in 1521, Mexico City, then called Tenochtitlán, was built on two small islands inside Lake Texcoco. The Aztecs built canals and floating farms called chinampas to feed its growing population. Today, all that remains of these ancient waterways are in Tláhuac and Xochimilco, a neighbourhood 15 miles south of Mexico City’s Centro Histórico. Flat-bottomed party boats called trajineras cruise Xochimilco’s canals daily, but a guided kayaking trip provides a more tranquil — and environmentally friendly — visit. Tours offer the chance to spot Xochimilco’s wildlife, including the critically endangered axolotl salamander and more than 200 bird species, while learning about the history and science behind chinampas, which still provide food for Mexico City residents.

2. Browse the Museo de Arte Popular

In the historic centre of Mexico City is the Museo de Arte Popular , a beautifully designed handicraft museum housed inside a 1920s art deco building. The museum, which once served as Mexico City’s fire department headquarters, celebrates traditional Mexican craft in all its forms, from textiles and pottery to children’s toys, furniture and giant alebrijes — mythical creatures made from wood or papier-mache. High-quality crafts from almost every Mexican state are displayed thematically over several floors, including ceramics from Jalisco, piñatas from Puebla and ceremonial masks from Chiapas. Particularly striking are the small but impressive Day of the Dead craft collection and the á rbol de la vida (tree of life) pieces – colourful, intricate clay sculptures depicting the creation of life.

3. Sip on pulque, the drink of the Aztec gods

Pulque is a drink made from the fermented sap of agave, the same plant used to make tequila and mezcal. It has been drunk for more than 2,000 years, making it Mexico’s oldest alcoholic beverage. During the Aztec empire, pulque was considered a sacred drink, reserved for gods, emperors and ceremonial events. The introduction of beer and distilled spirits by the Spanish in the 16th century marked the beginning of the end for pulque, with many of Mexico City’s pulquerias — taverns specialising in the drink — closing between the early 20th and 21st centuries. But a recent resurgence has seen several reopen across the city, making it one of the best places in Mexico to try the tipple. La Canica — a pulqueria in the Tabacalera neighbourhood run by a family that has been in the pulque business for five generations — takes a modern approach to the ancient drink, infusing freshly made pulque with dozens of seasonal flavours, from guava and mandarin to marzipan and toasted oats.

4. Try Mexico City’s ancient caviar

Ahuautle — which loosely translates to ‘seeds of joy’ in the ancient Nahuatl language and are also known as ‘water fly eggs’ — were sacred to the Aztecs. During the rainy season, a type of water fly called axayácatl would lay its eggs in Lake Texcoco. These were harvested for Aztec emperors and used as offerings to the gods. Montezuma, one of the last emperors of the Aztec empire, is said to have eaten them every morning to improve his strength. Hard to get hold of and up to four times more expensive a kilogram than beef, the eggs have been dubbed ahuautle , the ‘caviar’ of Mexico, by the capital’s chefs. Only a handful of restaurants in the capital still serve ahuautle, one of which is Ayluardo’s — in the Iztapalapa neighbourhood, in the east of Mexico City. It serves the water fly eggs — which taste intensely fishy, similar to dried shrimp — in pancakes with tomatillo (a bright green, acidic fruit native to Mexico) and serrano chilli sauce.

5. Support indigenous crafts at Mercado de Artesanías de la Ciudadela

Just a few minutes’ walk from Museo de Arte Popular is this hub for artisans, Mexico City’s largest and best arts and crafts market. It is home to 350 stands selling a huge variety of crafts, or artesanias in Spanish, from all over Mexico, including handblown glass from Jalisco, silver jewellery from Guerrero and patterned chaquira beadwork from Jalisco, crafted by the indigenous Huichol people. For beautiful ceremonial Mayan masks made of wood and obsidian, head to stand 104, where you’ll often see the craftspeople at work. Also seek out the artisans selling amate — colourful works painted on to paper made from the pulp of fig and mulberry trees; the same type of paper was once used by the ancient Aztecs and Mayas to produce manuscripts.

6. Experience Mexican folk dance at El Ballet Folklórico de México

Founded in 1952 by choreographer and dancer Amalia Hernández, Ballet Folklórico celebrates Mexico’s diverse folklore traditions through dance, music and traditional dress. The performances take audiences from Mexico’s ancient past up to the revolution in 1910, travelling through the states of Oaxaca, Jalisco, Sonora, Zacatecas, Guerrero and more. Many of the dances take inspiration from Mexico’s Indigenous cultures, such as the Deer Dance (a contemporary piece that depicts a pre-hunting ritual practised by the Indigenous people of Sonora and Sinaloa) and the Guelaguetza, a folkloric ballet inspired by the ceremonial dances of the Mixtec and Zapotec people of Oaxaca. Performances are held at the Palacio de Bellas Artes — a white-marbled, art nouveau palace commissioned by President Porfirio Díaz in 1905 — on Wednesdays at 8.30pm and Sundays at 9.30am and 8.30pm.

Related Topics

• CULTURAL CONSERVATION
• ART HISTORY
• MODERN HISTORY

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I've been on 50 cruises. Here are 5 things I wish I'd known before sailing in the Mediterranean.

• I've been on 50 cruises around the world and took my first Mediterranean route last year.
• Picking the right time of the season to go can make a big difference in your trip.
• Before packing, I always check to see if any of the experiences I've booked have a dress code.

As someone who's taken over 50 cruises all over the world, I know firsthand how popular cruising is this year. But one seabound itinerary people often forget to add to their bucket lists is a Mediterranean cruise .

The dreamy ships take passengers around European destinations like Spain, France, Italy, and Greece.

After taking my first Mediterranean cruise last year, here's what I think everyone should know before booking the route.

Going early or late in the sailing season means fewer crowds and better weather.

Many cruise lines, like Virgin, Celebrity, and Disney, start the Mediterranean season in early spring and sail through early fall.

Going early or late in the season usually means you'll have more tolerable weather and smaller crowds in some of the big destinations like Athens .

I made the mistake of going on my Mediterranean cruise at the end of May (over Memorial Day weekend).

Some ports of call, like Nice, France, were easy to get around, but others like Rome were packed to the gills. I wanted the day to end before we even made it to the Vatican on our tour.

Arriving at your embarkation port early is key to having a smooth sailing.

My biggest tip for any cruise — but especially for Americans traveling to Europe for a Mediterranean cruise — is to arrive at your embarkation city at least a day before your sailing starts.

This gives you plenty of time to ensure you make it to the port, especially with the airline delays that typically spike in the summer. The boat isn't going to wait for you i f you don't land on time

Even though it means paying for lodging and likely a few meals before boarding the boat, getting a good night's sleep before a jam-packed vacation is worth it to me.

As a bonus, arriving early also gives you a chance to explore the city.

Be sure to pack at least one shirt with sleeves and bottoms that cover your knees.

Some of the major European tourist destinations have strict dress codes — typically everyone must at least cover their shoulders and knees out of respect.

If you're planning on checking out Vatican Ci t y in Italy or the Meteora monasteries in Greece, b e sure to pack at least one outfit that fits the bill.

Most cruise ships have laundry services (self-serve or valet), so you can wear the same dress-code-approved outfit for a few excursion days if needed.

Food tours are a great way to see a city, taste local dishes, and learn some history.

If you're looking for a unique excursion that still gives you the highlights of a European city, I recommend booking a food tour . I've done tours in places like Amsterdam, Budapest, and Paris, and I've never been disappointed.

Food tours can be booked through third-party travel operators, like TripAdvisor or Viator, and offer the chance to see some of the major landmarks of a city, try local dishes, and learn some history all in one outing.

The tours are usually led by locals, which means the guides can also give you some good recommendations if you have time before you need to return to the ship.

Consider booking tours through third-party sites.

Mediterranean cruises can last anywhere from seven days to two weeks, depending on the company and itinerary. Booking every excursion through the cruise line can add up, but luckily, there are typically more affordable options through third-party companies.

But I only book with third-party operators if the ship docks right at the city I want to explore because I never want to miss the all-aboard time.

For example, on my Mediterranean cruise last summer, the ship anchored at Cannes, and I was able to keep my eye on it throughout my excursion.

If the ship docks in a secondary location and you have to travel to the big tourist destinations , I always book excursions through the cruise line. For instance, the day my family and I explored Rome, the ship docked in Civitavecchia, Italy, and we had to take a two-hour bus ride into the city.

Booking with the cruise company guarantees your return to the ship, even if your excursion runs late.

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Heathrow Border Force strike: What does it mean for your flight?

More than 300 pcs union members plan to walk out from 29 april to 2 may, article bookmarked.

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Hundreds of UK Border Force officers at Heathrow airport plan to strike for four days over what their union calls “an unworkable new roster system”.

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has called the walk-out of members working for UK Border Force over new rosters that it claims “would see around 250 of them forced out of their jobs at passport control”.

Members voted by a margin of 9-1 in favour of industrial action over the issue.

The stoppage, involving more than 300 PCS members, is scheduled for 29 April to 2 May . It will involve UK Border Force offices working on passport control in all four Heathrow terminals.

These are the key questions and answers.

What is the dispute about?

At the root of the dispute is a controversial new rostering system.

The PCS union says planned alterations to shift patterns “would have a detrimental effect on all the current staff and leave nearly 250 without a job on passport control, including many with disabilities or caring responsibilities”.

The union says: “If they refuse to accept the new contracts, they would be forced to seek jobs elsewhere in the Home Office .”

Wasn’t a similar strike called off?

Yes. In late March the PCS union told the Home Office it had called a strike from 11 to 14 April, at the end of the school holidays for many families. But in what the union called “a spirit of collaboration”, the PCS called off the walk-out a week before it was due to start .

At the time the union’s general secretary, Fran Heathcote, warned: “This does not end the dispute. It is an opportunity for the Home Office to demonstrate they are genuinely seeking a resolution.”

But she later called the new strike, saying: “The Home Office should be doing all it can to retain experienced, trained staff – not lose them by introducing an unworkable new roster system.”

What are the possible effects?

Since UK Border Force staff routinely check only arrivals at airports, rather than departures, the initial impact of the walk-out will be on people landing from abroad at Britain’s busiest airport.

But no one can predict exactly what will happen – especially when flights arrive containing a substantial proportion of passengers who need to be examined by officials.

Were large numbers to build up in the immigration hall of one or more terminals, it is conceivable that airlines would be ordered to delay disembarking new flights to avoid overcrowding.

Such an instruction could feed through to delays, with departing passengers unable board those planes on schedule. There could conceivably be cancellations of some departures.

But the strikes in December 2022 did not have a significant effect.

What does the government say?

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are disappointed with the union’s decision to strike but remain open to discussing a resolution with PCS union.

“The changes we are implementing will bring the working arrangements for Border Force Heathrow staff in line with the way staff work at other ports, provide them with more certainty on working patterns, and improve the service to the travelling public.

“Keeping our borders secure remains our top priority and we have robust plans in place to minimise any potential disruption.”

What mitigation plans does UK Border Force have?

The Home Office may use techniques as deployed during the last walk-out by UK Border Force in December 2022.

Military personnel and civil servant volunteers were trained to replace the staff who normally check the passports of arriving passengers.

They were not able to provide the same level of service. But the hope among ministers and managers is that with many arrivals able to use eGates, excessive waits can be avoided.

In addition, it is possible that new Minimum Service Level legislation could be used to require a certain proportion of union members to work.

The Independent has asked the Home Office for a response.

What are my rights if my flight is disrupted?

Cash compensation will not be payable, because the issue is beyond the airlines’ control. But they have a duty of care to provide an alternative flight as soon as possible, as well as meals and, if necessary, accommodation while you wait.

Are other strikes threatened at Heathrow?

Yes: 50 aircraft refuellers working at Heathrow airport will walk out for 72 hours from 4 May in a dispute over terms and conditions for new staff. They work for AFS Aviation, which refuels aircraft for Virgin Atlantic , Emirates and Singapore Airlines.

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• daily passenger
• day-tripper
• grief tourist
• holidaymaker
• peripatetic
• super-commuter

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US issues level 3 travel advisory to China amid safety concerns. Here's what to know

Are you thinking about traveling to China to visit or study abroad? The U.S. government suggests reconsidering your trip for now. 

According to the U.S. Department of State , traveling to China is under a level 3 travel advisory , warning Americans to reconsider. The State Department has four warning levels. The fourth is “Do not travel.”

Is it safe to travel to China right now?

The U.S. is asking Americans to reconsider traveling to China due to various reasons, including concerns about health and safety, such as the prevalence of contagious diseases like COVID-19, as well as political tensions or security risks in certain regions.

As of April 12, there are some specific areas that the U.S. is asking people to reconsider travel to. Those areas include:

• Mainland China due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions.
• Exercise increased caution when traveling to the Hong Kong SAR due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
• Reconsider travel to the Macau SAR due to a limited ability to provide emergency consular services. 

Additionally, the U.S. government may issue travel advisories based on factors like civil unrest, natural disasters, or other hazards that could affect travelers' well-being.

Americans detained in China

Mark Swidan — a man from Houston, Texas — has been detained in China for over 10 years on drug charges. According to The Texas Tribune , Swidan was detained in China in 2012 while on a trip looking for materials for his home and business in Houston. Chinese authorities arrested him after his driver and translator were found in possession of drugs. The driver blamed Swidan, who is accused of trafficking and manufacturing methamphetamine.

A review of Swidan’s case said there were no drugs on him or in his hotel. Last year, the Republic of China’s Jiangmen Intermediate Court denied Swidan’s appeal and upheld his death penalty with a two-year suspended death sentence.

Other Americans considered wrongfully detained include Chinese American businessman Kai Li from Long Island, N.Y., and California pastor David Lin.

What countries have a Level 3 travel warning?

• Trinidad & Tobago
• El Salvador
• South Sudan
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Papua New Guinea
• Saudi Arabia

What countries have a Level 4 travel warning?

• Afghanistan
• Central African Republic
• North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)
• Burkina Faso

Traveling abroad? Here are some safety tips

U.S. citizens are encouraged to enroll in the State Department’s free  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  and to prepare contingency plans for emergencies. 

Safety tips if you're traveling outside the U.S.:

• Don't travel alone.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Keep a low profile.
• Try not to be flashy.
• Avoid going to places at night, especially by yourself.