The Summer Travel Outlook released this week by Expedia finds that Canadian travellers are rediscovering the charm of their own country through coast-to-coast exploration.
Trending spots include Tofino, St. John’s, Nanaimo, and Gaspésie. Beyond domestic travel, Canadians are also checking international destinations off their bucket list by visiting international capital cities and the world’s top beaches, with Cancun being the number one popular beach destination for Canadian travellers.
“While we’ve been seeing recent fluctuations in U.S. search activities, Canadians are still eager to travel and have been rediscovering all the beauty Canada has to offer.” says Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group brands public relations. “Not only are domestic travel searches increasing, but travellers are also eager to visit European favourites such as Paris and London, or enjoy a beach getaway in Cancun or explore the hidden gems across Asia.”
From the east to west of Canada and everywhere in between, Canada’s nature and activities are calling travellers like never before. Beyond domestic discovery, international destinations have also been emerging with this summer’s data revealing:
Coast-to-coast exploration
This summer is the time for Canadians to rediscover all the beauty Canada has to offer by exploring all corners of the country. Travellers are embracing nature, the waterfront and Canadian favourites with domestic destinations seeing an increase on lodging searches. Topping the list is Tofino with a 35% increase on searches, followed closely by St. John’s at 30%.
(Jim’s note: St. John’s has one of the best urban walks in the world – the hike from The Battery to Signal Hill – as well as great live music, super-colourful homes, warm/welcoming locals and much more.)
St. John’s, Newfoundland. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Global capital discovery
Not only are Canadians exploring all the Great White North has to offer, but they are also finally scratching some of the most famous global capitals off their travel lists. The city of the lights Paris lands in the number one spot of most popular international destinations, followed closely behind by Tokyo, London, Rome, Athens and Lisbon.
Beach and island vibes
As winter winds down it’s no surprise Canadians are eager to escape to islands and beaches. Cancun earns the title of number one most popular beach destination followed by Punta Cana. Destinations such as Koh Samui, Thailand (+65%) and the Oaxaca Region, Mexico (+55%) are trending for their sandy beaches, whereas some travellers are opting for the black sand, natural pools and hiking trails of Madeira, Portugal (+45%). Madeira makes for a great detour destination, with direct flights from Lisbon which landed in the number eight spot of most popular international destinations. (Portugal is a great value and a wonderful destination.)
A street tram in Lisbon.
French exploration
Not only did Paris top the list as the most popular international destination (quelle surprise), but Bordeaux is seeing an increase in popularity (+50%) as well as St. Pierre and Miquelon (+130%). What makes St.Pierre and Miquelon perfect is that it is just a ferry ride away from Newfoundland, which means travellers can experience the joys of Europe without the long-haul flight.
Where to Go (Domestic)
Trending Destinations
Tofino (+35%), St. John’s (+30%), Regional District of Nanaimo (+30%), Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine (+30%), Halifax (+30%), Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (+20%), Whistler (+20%), Regional District of East Kootenay (+20%), Winnipeg (+20%), Québec City (+15%)
Popular Destinations: Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Québec City, Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, Kelowna, Victoria, Ottawa, Edmonton
Where to Go (International)
Trending Destinations: St. Pierre and Miquelon (+130%), San Juan, Puerto Rico (+120%), Chiba Prefecture (+70%), Koh Samui (+65%), Oaxaca Region (+55%), Bordeaux (+50%t), Helsinki (+45%), Madeira (+45%), Curaçao (+40%), Crete (+35%)
Popular Destinations: Paris, Tokyo, London, Rome, Barcelona, Cancun, Athens, Lisbon, Punta Cana, Osaka
Biking on the Bordeaux waterfront. Jim Byers Photo
Trip planning tips
Allow Expedia’s suite of traveller tools to simplify the journey by taking the guesswork out of booking, saving on airfare and streamlining the planning process.
- Price alerts: Use Price Tracking on the Expedia app to pinpoint the optimal booking window and receive instant notifications when flight prices drop.*
- VIP Access: Become a member and enjoy a variety of benefits by selecting a VIP Access property available worldwide.
- Bundling: With flights, car hire, hotels and activities, Expedia offers customizable holiday packages in one place, allowing travellers to save hundreds of dollars on average when booking multiple items on Expedia. Travellers then also have their itinerary all in one place, making it easier to keep track of their journey.
- July travel: Expedia’s Air Hacks Report busted the myth that summer is the most expensive time to travel, with their data revealing that July is the cheapest month to travel.
VANCOUVER NAMED BEST AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA
Vancouver Airport. Jim Byers Photo
Vancouver International Airport is the best airport in North America and one of the top 15 in the world, according to Skytrax annual rankings released this week.
It’s the second year in a row that YVR has claimed the top spot on the continent at the Skytrax World Airport Awards. Vancouver was also the top North American airport in the 2024 edition of the awards, while it was second in the region in 2023.
Over the last 16 years, YVR has claimed the top spot regionally 14 times. For the world, Vancouver was ranked 13th.
Montreal was named the ninth best airport in Nort America (51st in the world) while Toronto Pearson was 55th in the world. I mentioned this on social media the other day, but I flew into Pearson from Jamaica on Tuesday and all three moving sidewalks in the international arrivals area (the ones that take you to customs) were under repair. Many older people and kids had to walk a long way. The escalator to baggage claim also was not working. That’s appalling, shameful service.
