HAPPY NEW YEAR 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:

“there has been some significant impact to the island, but what it is, the the country has taken it as an opportunity to reinvent, to reorganize, to take the opportunity to also take us into the next level of innovation for the island”

“They they just want to get out um of an urban environment. They just want to get out and you know, really smell the smell the rain and smell the trees and and uh you know hear the leaves crunch under their feet”

“you'd be surprised that we have so many different ecosystems. We have seven different ecosystems on the island“

^{3 Things I Learnt this Month}

A new direct Calgary to Cozumel flight landed at the island’s international airport for the first time on December 20. With that inaugural flight WestJet became the first airline connecting Cozumel with Calgary in Canada with one weekly flight using Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with a capacity for 174 passengers.

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Mexico welcomed 16.5 million international tourists by air between January and October 2025, marking steady year-over-year growth and reaffirming the nation’s strength as a global travel destination. This represented the arrival of nearly 100,000 more tourists compared with the same period in 2024 and a 10.2 percent increase compared with what was recorded in 2019. Visitors from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom lead the list. Tourism from Canada showed strong momentum, with 2,079,000 visitors, up 11.4% compared with 2024 and 18.1% higher than pre-pandemic levels.

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London Heathrow (LHR) has retained its title as the world’s most connected airport for the third consecutive year in 2025, offering over 59,000 possible connections to 226 destinations on the busiest day. Two Canadian airports made the annual top 50 ‘Megahubs’ list: Toronto Pearson at 26, and Vancouver, 46. In the US, Chicago O’Hare (ORD) is top the international hub.

Looking at the Month Ahead 

The Québec Winter Carnival:  Quebec City, Canada Feb. 6-15 - The Québec Winter Carnival is a dazzling celebration of winter, culture, and community spirit. As one of the world’s largest and most vibrant winter festivals, it transforms Québec City into a snowy wonderland brimming with excitement and charm.

Winter Olympics:: Milano & Cortina, Italy Feb. 6-22 - The 2026 Winter Olympics will transform Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo into the epicenter of winter sports and global celebration. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Alps, the Games will unite innovation, heritage, and Italian flair in a spectacle that bridges tradition and modernity.

Rio Carnival: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil February 13–21 - Brazilians know how to have a ball and celebrate the event in full swing. The key highlight happens at the Sambadrome, showcasing traditional shows, costumes, and the grandeur of Brazilian culture. Many travelers come here for a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience.

Travel Tip of the Month

Learn the Local Customs: Understanding the local culture and customs can provide a deeper appreciation for your destination and enhance your interactions with locals. Plus, it can keep you from getting into some embarrassing situations.