Today in travel, we have several stories that may have flown under your radar. Among them: a tropical storm is heading toward the Gulf Coast; Thailand updates its visa rules; Germany warns that EES will cause delays again; and a suspected otter attack sends a swimmer to the hospital.
Tropical Storm Edouard Strengthens as It Approaches the Gulf Coast
Tropical Storm Edouard was intensifying Tuesday morning as it moved toward the northwestern Gulf Coast. At 8:55 a.m. CDT on September 1, the National Hurricane Center said the storm’s maximum sustained winds had climbed to 50 mph.
At the time, Edouard was about 35 miles south of Cameron, Louisiana, and 60 miles southeast of Port Arthur, Texas. The storm was traveling west-northwest at 8 mph, with a minimum central pressure of 1000 mb.
Data collected by an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft, along with radar observations from Lake Charles, Louisiana, showed that Edouard was strengthening as it neared the coast.
Thailand Updates Entry Rules for Ordinary Passport Holders Starting September 2026
Thailand has published updated visa and visa-exemption rules for ordinary passport holders that will take effect September 15, 2026. The country’s Department of Consular Affairs also clarified an occasionally confusing distinction: “Visa Free” means travelers do not need a visa, while “Free Visa” means a visa is still required but carries no visa fee.
Under the new framework, passport holders from 60 countries and territories — including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and all European Union member states — will be eligible for visa-free stays of up to 30 days. Separate bilateral agreements allow stays of up to 14 days for travelers from Cambodia and, when arriving through international airports, Myanmar; 30 days for nine countries and territories including China, Russia, and Vietnam; and 90 days for citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and South Korea.
Seychelles and Mauritius will receive a separate 15-day visa exemption. Passport holders from Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia will instead be eligible for Visa on Arrival at designated immigration checkpoints, subject to Immigration Bureau requirements and a fee of 2,000 baht.
Read the Thailand bulletin (in Thai).
Non-EU Travelers Face Airport Bottlenecks as EES Exemptions Expire
Airports and airlines in Germany are warning of potentially severe delays for non-EU travelers as temporary flexibility surrounding Europe’s Entry/Exit System (EES) comes to an end. Representatives from Frankfurt Airport, Lufthansa, Condor, and the German airport association ADV are calling for the measures, currently due to expire September 6, to be extended. Without them, they say immigration queues for travelers from third countries could grow significantly.
The EES began rolling out in October 2025 and electronically records eligible non-EU travelers entering or leaving participating European countries for short stays. The system collects passport and biometric information, including facial images and fingerprints. During periods of heavy summer traffic, authorities were allowed to temporarily suspend some EES checks to prevent excessive congestion.
Frankfurt Airport has already recorded waits of up to 90 minutes during busy periods, and officials say connecting passengers regularly risk missing onward flights. Lufthansa executive Michael Niggemann and Condor CEO Peter Gerber have also criticized the limited availability of the EU’s Travel to Europe mobile app, which allows some travelers to submit information before reaching the border. The app is currently available for entry into Sweden and Portugal, while Germany expects broader technical integration in 2027 after testing at a German airport later this year.
Read more at Die Zeit (in German).
CDC Requires 21-Day Waiting Period for Travelers Who Have Been in the DRC
Travelers who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo face strict limits on returning to the United States. The CDC has implemented a mandatory 21-day waiting period for anyone who has been in the DRC, reflecting ongoing concerns about mpox transmission in the region. Travelers should check current CDC guidance before booking trips that include the DRC, as entry requirements and health protocols may continue to evolve.
