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:

“To start with, is it's a place that it's not really that easy to get there because like there's no car access to get there. So either you go hiking or either you go by train.”

Going forward as of November 5th you'll get it free the first year you have your card but then you have to spend$5,000 on your card over the course of a year to get any future companion vouchers each and every year.

“It's something something unique in the area because it's like uh an island, but it looks like a crater of the moon. And the only way to get there is like taking a boat”

^{3 Things I Learnt this Month}

Canadian citizens travelling to the United Kingdom will soon need to obtain a travel authorization from the British government before boarding a flight. The British Home Office announced this month that visitors from 85 countries who can travel  to the United Kingdom without a visa will be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) starting Feb. 25, 2026. This includes citizens from Canada.

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Did you know that Christmas Markets date back centuries. The first Christmas market is believed to have started in Vienna, Austria, in 1298. It was called the "December Market". Germany is home to some of the oldest Christmas markets, with Dresden's "Striezelmarkt" dating back to 1434. One of the biggest draws of Christmas markets is the delicious food and drinks. Glühwein, a hot spiced wine, is a staple at German Christmas markets. It's perfect for warming up on a cold winter's night. In Hungary, "chimney cakes" or "kürtőskalács" are a popular treat. These sweet, spiral-shaped pastries are cooked over an open flame. Belgium's Christmas markets are famous for their waffles, which are often topped with chocolate, whipped cream, or fruit. Mmmmm yummy!

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The U.S. Department of the Interior has revamped its national parks policy and starting January 1st it will charge foreign visitors higher entry fees than U.S. residents, as part of its initiative to prioritize American tourists. Non-U.S. resident visitors who enter any of the 11 most visited parks commercially or on foot will have to pay a $100 per person fee. Alternatively, an international visitor can purchase a $250 yearly pass, valid for all passengers in a single vehicle and granting entry to all U.S. national parks for one year.

Looking at the Month Ahead 

Festival of Sydney: Sydney, Australia - January 4 to 26 January, 2026 The Festival of Sydney is a huge cultural event in Australia that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to the harbour side city each year. Sydney’s performance venues, parks and public spaces come to life with indoor and outdoor events.

Sundance Film Festival – Utah, USA: Park City, Salt Lake City and the Sundance Mountain Resort, Utah, USA - January: 18 – 28, 2026. The Sundance Film Festival is the largest independent film festival in America and is held annually in January and organized by the Sundance Institute. It is said to be one of the best festivals in the US for film lovers!

Up Helly Aa – Shetland Islands, Scotland: Held annually between January and March. Considered to be in the top 5 of the best January world events. The Up Helly Aa fire festivals commemorate Shetland’s Viking past and are also a celebratory demonstration of the islanders’ spirit, skill and sense of community. The festivals bring people from all generations and backgrounds, from across the 15 islands, to celebrate. The largest is held in Lerwick on the last Tuesday in January where a year’s worth of preparations are put on display.

Travel Tip of the Month

From all of us at The Informed Traveler, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a season filled with peace, joy, and well-deserved downtime. Whether you're staying close to home or heading out on a festive getaway, I hope this time of year brings you moments to relax, reconnect, and recharge. If you are travelling remember that airports are especially busy this time of year, so give yourself the gift of time. Arrive early, have your documents organized in one place, and download your airline’s app for real-time updates—it’s one of the simplest ways to make holiday travel smoother and stress-free.

MERRY CHRISTMAS