The city of Palma, on the Spanish Mediterranean island of Majorca, will begin banning short-term apartment rentals (such as those listed on Airbnb.com) in July. Locals have complained that rents for apartments have increased more than 40% since 2013 and also that the conditions of neighborhoods have deteriorated due to the behavior of tourists.

Short-term rentals of houses and chalets, or rooms therein, will not be banned. Palma already requires short-term rentals to be licensed, but...

As of May 31, the $10 fee charged to each foreign visitor flying into the Dominican Republic will be added to the airfare instead of being collected at Customs upon arrival. The island nation is hoping this reduces the hassle and time spent at the airport. Visitors arriving on cruise ships each still must pay the $10 in cash on arrival.

No visas are required to enter the Dominican Republic for US and Canadian travelers. 

The nature-park company Rainforest Adventures opened an ecopark, Rockland Estate (phone 721/543-1135, www.rainforestadventure.com/pages/stmaarten), in the Dutch Caribbean territory of Sint Maarten. It encompasses over 436,000 square meters of natural habitat, with only 3.6% built upon.

At a cost of $90 each, visitors take the Sky Explorer 4-passenger chairlift to the highest point in Sint Maarten, Sentry Hill, for a 360-degree view and to visit the Emilio Wilson Museum, a restored...