The Informed Traveler

On this week's podcast we share the last 4 days of our 7 day adventure visiting Loreto, California Baja Sur, Mexico. It was a busy 4 days that included visiting San Javier Mission, founded by the Jesuits in 1699. Visiting the newly opened Cordelia Resort and Spa. Sailing out on the Pacific Ocean searching for gray whales. Hiking Tripui Hill and touring the north part of Loreto Bay onboard a luxurious catamaran. 

On this week's podcast we share the first 3 days of our 7 day adventure visiting Loreto, Mexico. While staying at the Hotel Santa Fe our activities so far have been whale watching and exploring the islands and islets of Conception Bay. 

Lots of news happening on the airline front on both sides of the border so on our podcast this week travel expert Onanta Forbes will join us to discuss Lynx airlines ceasing of operations and the increase in the baggage fees with US carriers. Plus, we'll have a conversation with a couple in Australia who host their own travel podcast mostly about Australia titled BeachTravelWine. They are Leanne and Lyle McCabe and they're actually located in Queensland, Australia so we'll get some tips on traveling to that area of Australia and traveling to Australia in general. And, Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up. 

We've got 5 destination ideas for you on this week's podcast as Susan Cato from TravelZoo will join us to share their Best Bets list for 2024. Plus, we'll check in with Onanta Forbes who is spending the winter in Mexico and she's got a special guest lined up for us from the Secrets Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resort located at Banderas Bay near Puerto Vallarta.  And, Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up. 

On our podcast this week we're going to talk about long stays, our resident travel expert Onanta Forbes is doing just that and has been staying in Mexico for the past few weeks and plans to stay for a couple of more months so we'll get some insight and tips from her on what to do when planning for a long stay somewhere. Plus, we'll chat with travel creator Max Zaharenkov who has traveled extensively throughout the world and shares his experiences on his website Zaharenkov.com. One of his blogs is titled "The Best Things to do in Istanbul" so we'll find out what those best things are and get some tips on traveling to Istanbul in general. And, Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up. 

On our podcast this week we talk about International Driving Permits or IDP's. Travel expert Onanta Forbes will join me to discuss why you need one. Then the folks from Booking.com will join me to share their list of the friendliest or most welcoming destinations and we'll reveal where the friendliest destination in Canada is. And, Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up. 

The folks at Contiki recently came out with their list of the Top Travel Trends for 2024 so on this week's podcast travel expert Onanta Forbes will join me to discuss what those trends are. Plus, the new international airport in Tulum opened a few months ago so we're going to talk with Travis Bembenek, CEO of the Mexico News Daily who took a tour of the airport back in December. Speaking of Mexico, our good friend Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions is in Mexico this week staying at the Iberostar Parisio Lindo in Puerto Morelos so we'll get an update from him as well. 

One of the big stories literally, from the travel industry this past week was the arrival of Royal Caribbean's new mega cruise ship the Icon of the Seas. Carrying 10,000 passengers and crew it is now the largest cruise ship in the world. So on this week's podcast, travel expert Onanta Forbes will join me to discuss the question; are cruise ships getting too big? Plus, if beautiful beaches, hiking through rainforests, exploring historical sites and enjoying great tasting food are part of your list for your next vacation look no further than the Caribbean island of Grenada. We'll learn all about it when we speak with Sekou Strode from the Grenada Tourism Authority. And, Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up. 

One of the issues that will always affect your travel plans is weather. It can delay flights and bring traffic to a halt. So on this week's podcast travel expert Onanta Forbes will join us with a few tips to help you prepare for any weather issues that may arise. Plus travel writer Debra Smith will join us this week, she was recently in Montreal so we'll get some insight on what to see and do in Montreal. And, Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up. 

The start of the New Year also marks the start of Wave Season, meaning anyone looking at going on a cruise, now is the time to do that. So, on this week's podcast Travel expert Onanta Forbes will join me to discuss some tips for first time cruisers. Also, as the new year begins we'll look ahead to 2024 with the folks from CheapOair to see what travelers should be aware of and looking for in the coming year as far as airfares and other fees. And, Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up. 

On our last podcast for 2023 we'll check in again with Travel Expert Onanta Forbes who is sailing onboard the Viking Sea over the holidays so we'll get an update on where she is and what she's seen. Speaking of cruising, we'll get a review of cruising around Japan from David Yeskel, the Cruise Guru. He was onboard Windstar Cruises' Star Breeze recently. He also spent a couple of days in Tokyo so he's got lots to share with us. And, Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up. 

Our resident travel expert Onanta Forbes is traveling over the holidays, sailing onboard the Viking Sea so on this week's podcast we'll check in with her to get an update on where she is and what she's doing. Plus we've got a bonus segment for you, we'll be getting some packing tips from Annie Hennessey, PR Director for Samsonite. And once you've got the packing done, maybe you'd like to plan a trip to Mazatlán. We'll find out what's new in Mazatlán. And, Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up. 

Tis the season for holiday travel so in this week's podcast travel expert Onanta Forbes will join us to offer up a few holiday travel reminders to help smooth out the process. We'll also chat with Tracie Barnthouse from Travel Nevada, she's going to share some planning tips to explore Reno, Nevada and the Lake Tahoe Loop. And, Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up. 

Air Canada announced last week that they will be offering a new feature for its mobile app that enables customers to track the progress of their baggage so on this week's podcast travel expert Onanta Forbes will join us to discuss that and some of the other gadgets that are available to keep track of your luggage. Plus, if traveling to Machu Picchu is on your list of destinations for 2024 we've got some tips for you from the folks at GAdventures. And, Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up. 

As the saying goes, there's only 2 things certain in life; death and taxes and that includes tourism taxes so in this week's podcast travel expert Onanta Forbes will join us to discuss some of the tax increases on airfares and the increase on other tourism taxes and fees. And any new taxes that you may need to pay. Plus, the folks from the Florida Keys will join us to give us some tips on planning a trip there. And, Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up. 

The airlines are back in the news again so on this week's podcast Travel Expert Onanta Forbes will join me to discuss the good and not so good news that transpired last week. Then we'll look ahead to 2024 and chat with the folks from Booking.com who recently released their travel predictions for 2024. And, Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up. 

A new report from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection recently revealed what they say are the safest countries and the safest cities to travel to so in this week's podcast travel expert Onanta Forbes and I will review which countries and cities topped the list. Plus, the Marriott hotel group is looking to expand their portfolio in the Caribbean and Latin America so we'll find out more about that. And, Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up. 

On this week's podcast Travel Expert Onanta Forbes and I will discuss our Mexico experience. And the Travvy Awards were announced this past week. They are like the Academy Awards for the travel industry, so we'll run through some of the winners. Plus in honor of Remembrance Day this weekend I'll play a conversation I had a few weeks ago with Rory Cory, the Senior Curator at the Military Museums in Calgary. And Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up. 

We were in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for this week's podcast taking in all the sights and sounds of Day of the Dead. 

Our resident travel expert Onanta Forbes is in Los Cabos, Mexico staying at the Dreams Los Cabos so on this week's podcast we'll check in with her to see how she's enjoying her stay. Plus, with Halloween coming up we'll explore some spooky stories about haunted hotels. And, Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions will be along to give us a few destination ideas and travel deals with our Weekly Round Up.