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:

Lat month we were saddened by the news of the sudden death of our good friend and colleague Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions. Ken was major weekly contributor of the Informed Traveler from day 1 providing relevant, timely information to our listeners each week. He will be deeply missed. You can hear our dedication to Ken HERE.

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

“the feeling that you get when you walk in there is that you're staying at someone's country home.”

“We like to think of it as the world's largest fashion show because 175,000 people come to Churchill Downs.”

“the best way to avoid delays or complications. for the most current information, you visit the Government of Canada's travel advisory page”

^{3 Things I Learnt this Month}

Children and young people under the age of 18 will be able to travel for free on VIA Rail this summer when accompanied by a parent, as part of the federal government’s new Canada Strong Pass initiative. Details haven’t been finalized but the plan will be available nationwide from June to August 2025. The government has stated the measure is intended to support young families and help Canadians rediscover the cultural and natural landscapes of their own country. The offer applies to children and youth travelling with a parent or guardian, and will be valid on VIA Rail services across its national network. In addition, young adults aged 18 to 24 will have access to heavily discounted fares during the same period.

________________________________________________

Statistics Canada says the number of Canadians taking road trips into the U.S. dropped by 32 per cent in March year over year. Meanwhile, U.S-bound air travellers from Canada that same month also saw a 13.5 per cent decline. But Canadians aren’t the only group rethinking their U.S. travel plans. U.S. foreign inbound travel is also dipping overall as international visitors fell roughly 14 per cent in March 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Customs and Border Protection.

___________________________________________________

According to research from Roch Dog, a global certification body for dog-friendly hotels, the vast majority of hotels charge dog owners significant pet fees and impose severe restrictions while offering little to no amenities in return. The research showed that more than 80% of pet-friendly hotels require an extra fee for dogs, with charges ranging from $50 per night to as high as $250 per stay. But nearly one-third of those hotels provide no more than two core dog amenities, things like dog beds, water bowls, or treats. In many cases, hotels charge steep pet fees while offering nothing at all for dogs beyond the permission to enter the building.

Looking at the Month Ahead 

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

Bordeaux Wine Festival or Bordeaux Fête le Vin, Bordeaux, France: Annually in mid to late June: 19 – 22 June, 2025 is an annual event that takes place in Bordeaux, France every summer from mid to late June. Starting in 1998, the festival was created to celebrate the culture and tradition of local winemakers of the region.

Celebrate the Sun with Peru’s Inti Raymi: Annually on the Winter Solstice: 24 June, 2025 (June 24, since Peru is in the southern hemisphere) To mark the transition between winter and spring, Peruvians celebrate Inti Raymi in Cusco on the winter solstice. Inti Raymi honours Inti, or the Incan sun god, and dates back to the early 1400’s.

Midsommar – Sweden: Annually on the summer solstice on the weekend closest to 24th June: 24 June, 2025. It is one of the most important celebrations in Sweden and it is celebrated on the summer solstice which is the longest day of the year, or “mid-summer”. Sweden’s midsummer celebrations are a big deal for the entire country and is celebrated with family and friends.

Happy Father’s Day June 15

Travel Tip of the Month

One of the most frustrating things I find when flying is crowding the gate. It slows the boarding process and increases the risk of a delayed departure. Mostly, it’s just annoying to be standing in the way when others are trying to board. Wait for your turn, and only board when your zone is called. Your seat on the plane isn’t going anywhere. Following the airline’s specific boarding process will create a smoother process for everyone.