Hello and welcome to the Informed Traveler Podcast Newsletter, our monthly newsletter designed to compliment our weekly travel podcast, offer additional travel tidbits and tips. As always, your feedback is welcome.

Quotes from last month's podcast:

January marked the start of the third season of the Informed Traveler Podcast. Topics included a review of the travel stories from 2024 as well as travel need to knows for 2025. We also discussed booking errors made from booking your own travel, hotels brands that offering vacation rental properties and aggressive taxi drivers at the Cancun Airport. Places likes Madrid and Mazatlan were also highlighted along with a newly opened glamping resort in Kananaskis Country, Alberta. If you haven’t heard this month’s podcast episodes yet you can find the full interviews HERE. Some notable quotes include:

“These errors aren't just embarrassing, though. They're really expensive as well… with one wrong click, you can really obliterate your hard earned dollars.”

“they must apply for the ETA before traveling and they must use the passport they applied on with for their ETA. So it is required for everyone, regardless of how long they're staying in the UK or reasons for travel, including through just simply connecting through a UK airport, because a lot of people do that, to go maybe onwards to the rest of Europe or Africa.”

“restaurants are busiest probably around 10 to 11, but then a lot of them it's hard stop right at 11… We expected to go out and be able to find a place. And after 11, it was actually pretty tough around our hotel.”

^{3 Things I Learnt this Month}

John Wayne Airport located in Orange County, California, is known for its unique operational challenges, particularly its short runway, strict noise restrictions, and difficult takeoff procedures. First, it has a short runway, only 5,701 feet long, which is shorter than most major airport runways. Pilots must carefully calculate weight, speed, and fuel loads to ensure a safe takeoff or landing. During landings, planes typically require aggressive braking to stop safely within the limited distance.

The airport is surrounded by densely populated residential neighborhoods, leading to some of the strictest noise abatement rules in the U.S. Departures are prohibited between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM (8:00 AM on Sundays). Arrivals are restricted between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM (8:00 AM on Sundays). Aircraft are required to reduce engine power significantly after takeoff once they reach a certain altitude to minimize noise over nearby communities. Noise levels are continuously monitored, and violations can result in penalties or operational restrictions for airlines. Due to noise restrictions, aircraft must climb steeply after takeoff to quickly gain altitude over residential areas, followed by a sudden reduction in engine thrust. The steep climb, rapid thrust reduction, and adherence to strict flight paths require precise piloting and can feel unusual for passengers. Passengers often notice a sharp nose-up climb and a sudden leveling off, which may feel abrupt compared to typical takeoffs.

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The Sundance Film Festival takes place annually, typically in January, in Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah, was named after the the 1969 classic film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Redford, who starred as the Sundance Kid in alongside Paul Newman named his Utah-based arts organization, Sundance Institute, after his character in the movie.
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Have you ever saved that precious boarding pass from a far-flung adventure, or carefully preserved that train or concert ticket as a memento? Did you know there's actually a word for that travel habit? It's called Ephemera - items that were not originally designed to be retained or preserved, but have been collected or kept. 

Looking at the Month Ahead 

Here some of the events happening around the world in the month of February.

Sapporo Snow Festival, Japan February 4 - 11, 2025: The Sapporo Snow Festival is an annual winter event in Sapporo, Japan. The history of this event can be traced back to 1950, when high school students built a few snow statues in Odori Park. Since then, this has blown into a large, commercialized event, featuring spectacular snow and ice sculptures.

Taiwan Lantern Festival, Taiwan February 12, 2025: The Taiwan Lantern Festival is an annual festival celebrated on the 15th day of the Chinese New Year, to mark the coming of spring.

Rio Carnival, Brazil When: February 28 – March 8, 2025: Known as the biggest carnival in the world, the Rio Carnival is a true manifestation of Brazilian culture and spirit. The streets of Rio de Janeiro buzz with life as locals and tourists alike bask in the vibrancy of the celebrations.

Valentine's Day When: February 14, 2025: Who could forget Valentine’s Day celebrated around the world. What better place is there to celebrate than in the “City of Love”, Paris, France. The celebration is amplified with its charming streets, scenic riverbanks, and world-renowned landmarks like the Eiffel Tower. Couples often enjoy intimate dinners in cozy bistros, take romantic strolls along the Seine River

Travel Tip of the Month

Check your passport and make sure it’s up to date. Many countries won’t accept a passport that has expired 6 months prior to your travel dates. If you do need to renew, apply early. It’s best to renew your passport even if you don’t plan to travel in the near future, so you won’t have to worry if you make plans later. For more information on how to renew your passport click HERE.