Snowbird Season: KAYAK Says Canadians Looking to Cancun and Florida For Holiday Getaways

Canada may be a winter wonderland, but Canadians prefer their holidays in places with turquoise seas and waving palm trees.

A new study from KAYAK, the world’s leading travel search engine, finds Canadians have their eyes set on international travel this holiday season. According to an overwhelming majority (90%) of hotel and flight searches show Canadians are looking at international destinations. 

Cancún, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando top their list of most popular destinations for Canadians. The list isn’t particularly different from other years, but I forgive my fellow Canadians for looking at tried-and-true vacation spots. After all, I’ll be heading to Hawaii, my personal fave, in early January.

For anyone looking to wrap 2024 with a festive getaway, KAYAK compiled a list of the trendiest and most popular destinations Canadians are jet setting to. The good news? Many of these international locales are also seeing a decrease in price during the holidays. 

Trendy locations like Thailand, Japan, Dominican Republic and Portugal are seeing a rise in searches and a decrease in prices. Flights to Bangkok are down 6% in price from Toronto and 13% from Montreal. Flights from Montreal to Punta Cana are also down 15%. 

Overall, flight prices are down 7% over the December holidays this year, compared to 2023.

WHEN TO BOOK

Wondering when to book? KAYAK says the best deal for domestic flights are two to five weeks ahead of departure, while the best time for booking international flights is five to seven weeks ahead.

CHEAPEST DECEMBER DOMESTIC DESTINATIONS

1. Edmonton ($415 average airfare)
2. Calgary ($514 average airfare)
3. Vancouver ($550 average airfare)
4. Toronto ($581 average airfare, which ain’t exactly cheap)

CHEAPEST DECEMBER INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS

1. Las Vegas ($547 average airfare)
2. New York ($592 average airfare)
3. Fort Lauderdale ($630 average airfare)
4. Fort Myers ($646 average airfare. Again, that’s not cheap, but that’s for all of Canada. It’s likely a good deal less for flights from Montreal and Toronto.)

 

KAYAK’s Top Trending Holiday Destinations 

For Toronto-area residents

       Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (searches up 38% YoY)

       Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (searches up 37% YoY)

       Tampa (searches up 27%)

       Bangkok (searches up 21% and prices down 6%)

       Las Vegas (searches up 18%)

       Tokyo (searches up 18%)

       Punta Cana, DR (searches up 15%)

       Fort Myers, Florida (searches up 11%)

       Paris (searches up 8% and prices down 9%)

       Honolulu, Hawaii (searches up 6%)

     

  For Montreal-area residents

      Punta Cana (searches up 43% YoY, prices down 15% YoY)

      Lisbon (searches up 43%, prices down 10%)

      San Jose, Costa Rica (searches up 34%)

      Martinique (searches up 26%)

       Casablanca, Morocco (searches up 26%)

       Tokyo (searches up 25%)

       Cancun (searches up 17%)

       Fort Lauderdale (searches up 9%, prices down 8%)

       Liberia, Costa Rica (searches up 9%, prices down 5%)

       Bangkok (searches up 9%, prices down 13%)

 

For Vancouver-area residents (YoY search and price info not available)

Tokyo

Bangkok

Cancun

Hong Kong 

London, England

Toronto

Puerto Vallarta

Sydney, Australia 

Honolulu

 

 

 

  

🎄Most Popular Holiday Destinations for Vancouverites