The Weekly Passport

GREETING

3 WEEKS TO GO!

In 3 weeks, we publish the third print issue of Culture Travels, and we’ve got something special for you. In this edition, we’ve had the incredible privilege of sitting down with Mr. Joyful Energy himself, host of the popular National Geographic travel tv show, “Never Say Never”, our friend - Mr. Jeff Jenkins!

COMPANY UPDATES
TRAVEL TV SHOW HOST SITS DOWN WITH CULTURE TRAVELS

In an exclusive one-on-one, Jeff sat down with our publisher to talk about his inspiring journey in the travel industry. From starting Chubby Diaries where he shares his experiences as a plus-size traveler to getting approached by National Geographic to produce his own travel tv show. During his interview, Jeff talked about his motivation, conquering his personal challenges - like the fear of taking his shirt off in public, and imparting invaluable tips on achieving success.

As you read his story, you’ll discover how Jeff’s life mantra, “Your life begins where your comfort zone ends,”become his catalyst for transformative change.

🌍️ WORLD
SHOULD YOU TIP WHEN TRAVELING ABROAD?

Honestly, it depends. We know, we know here in America they make you tip for everything…in front of other people 😳. The social anxiety 😩.

Not all places are like home, though. Read below to learn five countries where tipping is considered rude, and even illegal in one.

🇨🇳 CHINA - In some regions of China tipping is the taxi driver is illegal. So next time you visit, remember your taxi driver is being rude, they just enjoy their freedom.

🇯🇵 JAPAN - In the majority of Japanese restaurants a bill is not brought to your table, you pay upfront, making it difficult to leave a tip.

🇪🇸 SPAIN - Leaving a tip is not common practice because a service charge (servicio incluido) is typically included. For tax rides and hotels services, tips are unheard of.

🇩🇰 DENMARK - Danish law actually decrees that service charges in restaurants have to be included in the price. The majority of hospitality workers in the country make a good salary.

🇧🇷 BRAZIL - In Brazil, tipping is relatively unheard of. Giving a little extra is not an offense, but also not considered necessary.

See what other travelers are saying.

🧳 TRAVEL 
DOES YOUR PASSPORT HAVE PRIVILEGE?

After a recent experience at passport control in Madrid, our founder decided to ask this question to our online community and the responses have been…unexpected.

First, the post went viral. It was played more than 100,000 times! With over 500 comments from people all over the world, there was much to learn about how your passport is connected to your identity how that plays out with “security measures” at airports.

Why the “quotation marks”? Click here to read how non-western passports brought more scrutiny from airport officials, including one Iranian-American sharing how her Nigerian boyfriend was treated with his green passport, including needing a visa for a layover in the airport!

💰️ MONEY 
5 TIPS TO MANAGE YOUR TRAVEL CREDIT CARD

Credit cards can be helpful for travel, but they can also be a source of debt if not used responsibly. Check out 5 tips on how to manage your travel cards brought to you by Chelsea Evans, our Travel Budgeting Writer.

SET A BUGET: Calculate the cost of your trip and determine how much you can afford to spend on your card. Don’t spend a penny more. Oh, and no need to budget for tipping 😁 .

CHOOSE THE RIGHT CARD: Look for a travel credit card that offers the best rewards and perks based on your travel needs. Don’t be afraid to compare cards paying attention to annual fees, interest rates, and rewards.

MONITOR YOUR CREDIT UTILIZATION: Keep your credit utilization below 30% to maintain a healthy credit score. Check your statements regularly and keep track of your spending to ensure you don’t exceed your credit limit.

PAY YOUR BILL ON TIME: Late payments can hurt your credit score and lead to unnecessary debt. Set up automatic payments or reminders to ensure your bill is paid on time.

USE REWARDS RESPONSIBLY: Don’t let the excitement of earning travel rewards cloud your judgment. Only use rewards to pay for travel expenses and avoid overspending to earn more rewards.

Want more tips? Learn more about avoiding debt here.

CULTURE
CHRIS BROWN PAYS SOUTH AFRICAN STUDENT $3000 AFTER SAMPLING HER VOICE

Imagine telling your classmates that Chris Brown not only reposted a video of you singing with the caption “Incredible voice”, but then proceeds to sample your voice in his music, pay you for it, and credit you as a writer so you receive royalties. Ok, Mr. Christopher Brown!

🕹️ GAMES 
Holiday Travels Puzzle

The feeling of completing our Culture Travels crossword puzzle has been compared to remembering not to say “you too” when your Uber driver says “have a nice flight.”

It’s that satisfying. Complete the puzzle.

🛂 SHARE YOUR PASSPORT

Share Your Weekly Passport with your friends, you know, that friend who desperately needs to take a vacation.