Seniors are particularly vulnerable to the flood of flight, cruise, tour and other cancellations. To insure the latest word on personal schedules, please keep in daily touch with all aspects of your travel plans, especially those that involve the Far East and other most affected areas of the world. Example: www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2020/01/29/coronavirus-british-airways-lion-seoul-air-suspend-flights-china

The Netherlands government no longer promotes the capital city as a tourist destination, while touting other Dutch cities and towns. This year, Amsterdam city tours are limited to 15 visitors.

Sadly, for eager male visitors, tours of the infamous Amsterdam Red Light neighborhood are forbidden entirely. Also, to earn the city more tax income, all hotel room tax charges have gone higher, as are extra taxes on museums, boat trips and other tourist attractions. In other words, as with Las Vegas and other rip-off travel destinations, the bargain prices you see for Amsterdam are just the beginning you’ll pay for your visit.

As the world gets more dangerous, American wanderers are officially banned from venturing to potentially dangerous destinations. The most recent list includes Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, Venezuela and North Korea.

If you’re considering making plans for this year, before you commit to reservations that involve ground and air travel into or through forbidden countries, be sure they’re not officially banned to U.S. citizens. apnews.com/753968e412fab06e6fb8180e7ac98d47

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Maybe now as you arrive at your airline seat, you’ll hear: “Hey, stupid! Get your big old butt settled in so we can take off!” Seriously, low-cost carrier EasyJet crews now greet boarding passengers with gender-neutral language.

The British airline is training them to use more contemporary greetings than the traditional "ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard.” Other airlines, including American and United, are also encouraging flight and airport crews to make their customer greeting language more individualized. Example: Have a safe, enjoyable flight, Mr. And Mrs. Jones.