Traveling to the Maldives Just Got Way More Expensive

And other travel news from the week.

This week in travel, we’ve uncovered several stories that might have flown under your radar. Among them: severe weather is still impacting U.S travel this week; a travel insurance company allegedly attempted to deny proper care to a woman with a $19 million policy; and it just got more expensive to travel to the Maldives.

Dive into these and more as we explore the week’s five most intriguing, under-the-radar travel news.

NO.1

GREENLAND OPENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, is now home to a new airport, which will connect the remote country to the rest of the world. Previously, travelers arrived in Greenland on cruises or flew into airports in smaller cities like Kangerlussuaq and Narsarsuaq.

With tourism growing, the new international airport will improve accessibility. Services from Copenhagen and Reykjavik will run year-round, and seasonal flights will be added in the summer. Air Greenland will use Nuuk as its hub for domestic and international flights.

Greenland is optimistic about travel expansion. Two more airports are slated to open by 2026, while United Airlines will operate a non-stop, four-hour flight between Newark and Nuuk starting in June next year.

Related: Is Greenland About to Become a Tourism Hotspot?

NO.2

WEATHER DISRUPTS POST-THANKSGIVING TRAVEL 

This weekend, an Arctic blast settled over parts of the Northern Plains, Great Lakes, and the Midwest, and temperatures dropped 10 degrees below the normal average. As travelers prepared to drive back after Thanksgiving, multiple counties issued warnings against the treacherous driving conditions in New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The National Weather Service said on X, “Travel could be very difficult to impossible in spots.”

The New York State Police assisted 111 disabled vehicles from Thanksgiving to December 1. Around 5 million people are under weather alerts, and cold conditions are expected to continue through Tuesday and into Wednesday. Travelers should be cautious on the roads—check local advisories, pack for emergencies, and drive safely if visibility is low.

Related: Worried About Storms and Travel? Here’s How You Plan a Vacation Around Natural Disasters

NO.3

THE MALDIVES INCREASES DEPARTURE TAX

Luxury resorts in the Maldives are the dream of a lifetime for many, but a trip to the Indian Ocean archipelago costs a pretty penny. And it has just gotten even more expensive this month as the island nation has started imposing a departure tax from December 1 based on the class (economy, business, or first class).

Economy class passengers must pay a $50 departure tax, up from $30. It has doubled for business class travelers from $60 to $120, and first-class passengers must pay $240, up from $90. Private jet travelers now pay $480 per person, a fourfold increase from $120. The length of the flight has no impact on the tax.

The taxes are typically included in flight tickets, so travelers might not even notice it, as it’s not paid separately. Authorities have stated that the revenue from the taxes will be used to maintain the airport.

NO.4

TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY TRIES TO PULL COVERAGE FOR WOMAN WITH BRAIN INJURY

A woman from Scotland suffered a brain injury on a trip to the U.S. Jane Rubens, a 73-year-old Edinburgh resident, is in a coma at the St. Louis University Hospital in Missouri, where she has undergone five surgeries. Her children allege that the insurance company, AXA Partners, is forcing them to repatriate their mother to the U.K. against medical advice. She took out a travel insurance policy with the company for coverage up to $19 million.

Doctors in both the U.S. and the U.K. have recommended that Rubens stay in the U.S., but her daughter, Cat Ruben, was told by the insurer that they would revoke the policy if they refused to repatriate her. The insurer also refused to provide details on how many stops the air ambulance would make and what level of sedation Rubens would receive. The doctor caring for her in Missouri also couldn’t obtain details about the doctors in Edinburgh.

After Cat Ruben wrote about the predicament on X, the insurer apologized and stated that they wouldn’t take any action without the consent of the family and doctors on both sides of the Atlantic, the BBC reported.

1. I don’t often tweet about my personal life, but on 1st November, my mum Jane was hit by a large vehicle as a pedestrian in St. Louis, USA. She suffered a severe brain injury & remains in a coma in hospital.

Here’s Jane & me in happier times. pic.twitter.com/D1vyyQAUrQ

— Cat Rubens (@catrubens) November 25, 2024

NO.5

U.K. ANNOUNCES ETA DETAILS FOR U.S. TRAVELERS 

Starting January 8, 2025, American travelers will need to obtain an ETA before traveling to the U.K. The government stated that 6 million travelers from the U.S., Canada, and Australia will need to apply. Europeans will also need to apply starting March 5, 2025, while all those who don’t need a visa for short stays will need to get an ETA from April 2025.

The government successfully rolled out the program last year for Gulf Cooperation Council (UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait) nationals. The change aims to make border crossings more efficient and secure, according to the announcement. “ETAs will enhance security through new technology and make the U.K. border more efficient, preserving the U.K.’s appeal as a dynamic, diverse, and exciting destination to visit.”

Travelers can already start applying on the U.K. ETA app or the gov.uk website for this authorization. It costs £10 ($12.60) for multiple entries for two years or until passport expiration.