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:

If you haven’t heard this month’s podcast episodes yet you can find the full interviews HERE. Some notable quotes include:

“It is a destination where you can attend an international event in the morning, and maybe you know, the same afternoon you can go to the beach, you can go to a natural park, or you can go dining in a local neighborhood.”

“And as you walk through the town, it feels like a city that's layered in terraces, and it and all these terraces are beautiful honey-colored stone. The they have elegant churches, historic buildings. They just rise above like the narrow street..”

“And then statues of Achilles appear throughout, and it symbolizes um his strength, the beauty, but also the tragedy, and it has a beautiful view of um the port and uh the old town.“

^{3 Things I Learnt this Month}

Amen to this. Travelers who fly with United Airlines are now required to use headphones to listen to their personal devices, and can be removed from the plane if they refuse. Among the list of guidelines for traveler and crew safety that may lead to passengers being removed from a flight are people “who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content.” The airline also said it is not liable for the removal of a passenger who doesn’t follow any of their safety rules and can ban the offender from future flights. “UA has the right to refuse transport, on a permanent basis, any passenger who engages in any of the activities in this rule,” the rule states.

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Amen to this as well Carnival Cruise Line has issued a strict warning against the social media trend of moving mattresses onto balcony cabins for "al fresco" sleeping. The practice is banned due to serious safety hazards, including potential fire risks, strong winds, and damage to mattresses from marine humidity. Violators may face fines of up to $500.

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A Leger survey revealed that Canadians who have travelled to Mexico previously are more likely to say they will return, despite the recent violence in some states. Of those polled, 46 percent said they would still visit Mexico as intended, but that number jumps to 64 percent for those who have repeat visits planned. Among those with a trip to Mexico planned or intended within the next year, 31 percent said they will go somewhere else instead. Seven percent said they are considering calling off the trip altogether and only two percent said they have already cancelled. Having a previous Mexico trip was also a strong indicator of how safe people were likely to rate the country as a destination. In general, 55 percent rated their safety concerns between eight and 10 out of 10. People who had been to Mexico before averaged 6.5 out of 10.

Looking at the Month Ahead 

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival: Takes place in California over two weekends, April 10–12 and April 17–19, featuring top music acts and art installations, attracting global audiences.

Cherry Blossom Season in Japan: Peak bloom occurs in early to mid-April, offering spectacular viewing opportunities in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto.

130th Boston Marathon: April 20 (Patriots’ Day) One of the world’s most prestigious marathons, drawing elite runners and spectators globally.

HAPPY EASTER!

Travel Tip of the Month

We often get so busy planning out our trips and creating the perfect itinerary that we forget to think about how we’re going to get around at our destination! Make sure to research your destination well in advance to seek out the best mode of transportation. Getting around efficiently can save time and money while enhancing your travel experience.