EES Border Checks Starting Now in Europe

I’ve mentioned Europe’s new entry and border system a few times now but this week marked the start of the official roll-out, with all countries on board by April. On the plus side, immigration lines should move faster and be more like Global Entry ones once they work the kinks out and passport stamping will disappear. On the downside, they’ll know exactly how long you’ve been on the continent, plus your movements will be tracked unless you go all Jason Bourne with multiple passports. See the details here.

Text Scams and “Pig Butchering”

I linked to a bizarre story a few months ago about a whole city in Burma built by Chinese internet scammers, using forced labor, and Planet Money highlighted another one in Cambodia in this story: The Secret World Behind Those Scammy Text Messages. “Does anyone really fall for those?” you may be wondering, and the answer is a big yes, for big losses. This week the US Department of Justice seized $15 billion in Bitcoin from just one of the perpetrators running a big “pig butchering” scheme.

Mumbai Has a New Airport

After 20 years of setbacks and diversions, Mumbai’s overtaxed airport in India is getting a sibling. This will hopefully take some pressure off by moving some of the 54 million annual arrivals to the city. The opening is just phase one, with two airlines committed to flying there, but more should follow as it expands to multiple terminals and runways. See more info here on Navi Airport (NMI).

World’s Coolest Neighborhoods?

Each year Time Out publishes its list of the world’s coolest neighborhoods. No matter how well-traveled you are, you’ll find plenty you’ve never heard of, much less experienced. (I’ve only been in three on this year’s list.) It’s clearly written by people with feet on the ground though, unlike many similar round-ups from big publications, and isn’t influenced by who bought advertising that month. It’s a good list for nomads looking to find the local vibe since the purpose is to highlight “places that represent the soul of our cities, while maintaining their own unique local character that draws people in to live, work and play.”

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A weekly newsletter with four quick bites, edited by Tim Leffel, author of A Better Life for Half the Price and The World’s Cheapest Destinations. See past editions here, where your like-minded friends can subscribe and join you.

10/23/25