Canadians are looking for the usual spots for winter getaways, but Japan is gaining traction, according to a new study by Expedia.
The study finds the most searched winter destinations for Canadians are New York City, Cancun, Las Vegas and Punta Cana. Those are followed by three Florida sports: Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, and then Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen in Mexico. Tokyo is tenth on the list.
For trending destinations (not most searched, but destinations with the biggest recent increases), the top 10 (along with percentage increase in searches) were Osaka (95%), Tokyo (90), Kyoto (79), Dubai (39), Maldives (38), Chicago (38), Paris (36), Manila (34), Bangkok (32) and Honolulu (29).
I love Japan, and I’m not surprised to see it on the trending list. The food is exquisite, the countryside beautiful and the culture rich and complex. I’m also (as anyone who knows me will attest) a big fan of Honolulu, a very diverse and interesting city with more fabulous food and spectacular beaches. Hawai’i can be expensive, but the latest stats from the Hawai’i Tourism Authority show the average daily hotel rate (sadly, in US dollars) on O’ahu is $262. That’s far cheaper than the other Hawaiian islands. Hotels right on Waikiki Beach can be expensive, but if you’re willing to walk a couple blocks inland you’ll often find hotels for $150 to $200 a night.
Kyoto, Japan. JIM BYERS PHOTO
For most-searched Christmas holiday destinations, the top 10 were Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Delhi, Cancun, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Puerto Vallarta and Manila.
For both domestic and international travel, December 22 and 23 are the busiest days of the season. Many travellers are flying out to visit their families and getaway for the holiday season.
For Americans thinking of visiting Canada, the trending destinations for winter were Vancouver (up 113%), Canmore (104%), Quebec City (65), Banff (60), Montreal (34), Victoria (30), Mont Tremblant (29), Niagara Falls (26), Ottawa (26) and Revelstoke (21).
Expedia recently launched its Black Friday Sale, which is their biggest sale of the year. Look for discounts at great hotels in cites Canadians love, including:
- Cancun – Hard Rock Hotel
- Las Vegas – Fontainebleau
- Punta Cana – Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana
- Orlando – Margaritaville Resort
- New York – Park Lane NY
- Toronto – The Sutton Place Hotel
- Vancouver – Paradox Hotel
- Montreal – Warwick Le Crystal
- Quebec City – Auberge Place d’Arms
