The Fourth of July weekend is officially here, and that means last-minute getaways. Here are some of the top hotels I’ve stayed at in various part of the United States. TEN GREAT PLACES TO STAY IN THE U.S. New York City: The Conrad by Hilton in downtown New York is a former Embassy Suites, so you can expect super-large rooms and luxurious touches worth of the Conrad designation. The on-site restaurant, Atrio Wine Bar, is terrific, and the rooftop Loopy Doopy Bar is a fun spot for a cocktail. Lower New York is filled with cool architecture and great shopping.  Read more

A new report from Trip Advisor ranks one U.S. hotel and one Canadian property among the top hotels in the world. Here’s their top 10 for the world: G.H. Universal Hotel – Bandung, Indonesia Hotel Colline de France – Gramado, Brazil Hotel Sporting Family Hospitality – Livigno, Italy Royal Lancaster London – London, England, United Kingdom FivePine Lodge and Spa – Sisters, Oregon, United States La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa – Hoi An City, Vietnam Abigail’s Hotel – Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort Aruba – Eagle Beach, Aruba Hotel Moments Budapest – Budapest, Hungary Read more

U.S. domestic travel is up sharply for the Fourth of July weekend, and the big winners are Florida, California and Texas. U.S. domestic travel demand for the July 4th holiday period is pacing ahead of last year, as domestic flight reservations for travel between July 2 and July 6, 2026 are up +8.1% year on year according to new analysis from The Data Appeal Company / Almaviva Group. The study looked at flight booking performance from January to May 2026 for travel within the United States between July 2 and July 6, 2026, complemented by consolidated lodging stay data for Read more

  Expedia has a new study on where Canadians are heading for Canada Day.   This year, Winnipeg leads all trending destinations with a 70% increase in YoY searches. But as the nation’s capital and home of the largest Canada Day party in the country, Ottawa is not far behind at +40% YoY.   The top five looks like this: Winnipeg +70%  Ottawa +40%  The Blue Mountains +35% London +35%  Montreal +25%     Meanwhile, for those looking for a getaway on a budget, the most affordable destinations to stay over the long weekend are: Regina – $165 CAD Edmonton – $180 Read more

The USA is a remarkable destination, with incredible variety. Here’s a look at 10 places around the United States to enjoy for a Fourth of July vacation or long weekend. The Oregon Coast: The Pacific Coast in Oregon features incredible beaches and wonderful towns. Top spots along the way include Cannon Beach, with its 235-foot-high Haystack Rock, as well as great towns such as Astoria and Newport. Stop in Portland for a taste of a fabulous west coast city. Milwaukee: This is very much an underrated city. The Historic Third Ward is home to buzzing restaurants and clubs, while the Read more

Canada Day is a week away, and that makes it great time to explore some of what this great country has to offer. Here are some tips from a guy who’s been to all ten provinces and the Yukon. VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA –  This is a tremendous and underrated Canadian city, with a lovely waterfront, beautiful parks and excellent food offerings. The James Bay neighbourhood is a fun place to check out little fairy houses that locals have built. Top hotels include the venerable Fairmont Empress Hotel and the fine Magnolia Hotel and Spa. WATERTON LAKES N.P., ALBERTA –  Banff Read more