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 will depart from London and will offer three-night journeys on three different itineraries that will visit Cornwall, the Lake District, and Wales.”

"I definitely would recommend taking a catamaran cruise along the western coast of Barbados, which is considered the platinum coast. It is a really amazing experience.”

“I think, one of the fantastic spaces up there is Eight, our rooftop bar. It's on the eighth floor, overlooking Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, the London Eye,”

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^{3 Things I Learnt this Month}

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 TravelPulse Canada hosted its 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. The Awards celebrated the top names in travel as chosen by Canadian travel advisors and industry insiders. Held in Toronto, the event recognized those delivering outstanding service and unforgettable experiences. Air Canada was voted Best Canadian Airline, while WestJet won for Best Customer Service. Transat took home Best Tour Operator, and Sandals Resorts earned Best All-Inclusive. Viking claimed Best Cruise Line, applauded for its luxury and innovation. The awards highlighted the brands that resonate most with Canadian travelers and agents, reflecting a vibrant, customer-focused industry poised for continued growth and success in 2025 and beyond.

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Tulum’s new airport isn’t living up to anticipated hype when it first opened in December 2023. It was expected to be a major gateway to Mexico's Riviera Maya. However, demand has not met expectations. Major carriers like United Airlines, American Airlines, and Air Canada have reduced or eliminated routes, citing lower-than-expected passenger numbers. The combination of overestimated demand, rising costs, infrastructure challenges, safety concerns, and competition from established hubs has led airlines to reassess and reduce their services to Tulum's new airport. Nearby Cancún International Airport continues to attract more travelers due to its established infrastructure and broader range of services. Airlines are redirecting capacity to Cancún, where passenger performance remains strong.

Looking at the Month Ahead 

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

CANADA DAY - July 1: Canada celebrates it’s 158th Anniversary of Confederation. Canadians are encouraged to take part in celebrations in their communities across the country and in the heart of Canada’s Capital Region.

US INDEPENDENCE DAY - July 4: Expect to find countless parades and parties across the cities, as well as firework displays galore as the celebrates it’s 249th birthday.

CALGARY STAMPEDE - July: 3 – 13: A celebration of the cowboy heritage and culture of North America. It was first held in 1912 and has been a major event for over 100 years. The event attracts more than one million people from all over the world each year, which makes it one of Canada’s largest festivals.

COLLISIONI FESTIVAL BAROLO, ITALY: - Annually in Mid-July: Known as one of the best literature and music festivals in Italy. It consists of of non-stop concerts, tastings, and events. The town becomes a stage for speeches held by Nobel Prize winners, writers, journalists, and actors in an informal setup. Meanwhile, concerts are going on continuously and simultaneously in the five main squares, offering every possible kind of music to meet the tastes of the diverse public.

JUST FOR LAUGHS COMEDY FESTIVAL, MONTREAL PQ - July: 1 – 31: The first edition of Just for Laughs featured 12 shows with about 200 performers and attracted about 3,000 people. Today, the festival features over 3,000 performances by 1,200 artists from 30 countries.

Travel Tip of the Month

When leaving your hotel room for the day a simple yet effective tip to deter unwanted visitors is to keep your television on. It creates the illusion someone is present, which can be enough to discourage potential intruders. The sound of voices emanating from your room suggests activity, so it’s less likely to be targeted.