Shoulder season is here; that time between the big winter getaway and the much-loved summer vacation. It’s a time of year when crowds are still down in a lot of popular spots in the world (hello, Europe and Australia, as well as Canada and many parts of the U.S.), and when prices are often better than during peak season.
On top of that, there are some great places in the world where North American dollars can really help you save money. With both of those factors in mind, here are some great places where both Canadian and American travellers can stretch their dollars and have a fine getaway.
WHERE TO STRETCH YOUR TRAVEL DOLLARS
AUSTRALIA
Sure, it’s a bit of a hike from North America. But flying 12-14 hours isn’t quite like crossing the Prairies in a covered wagon in the 1860s. Once you’re there, Australia offers a world of amazing attractions and things to do, as well as some of the nicest people on the planet. Sydney is one of the world’s great cities, as is Melbourne. I also find Perth very much underrated. I’ve been to all the states and territories except South Australia, and they’re all terrific in their own way. My personal fave is seldom-visited Western Australia, home to Perth, tremendous Outback scenery and the luscious Margaret River wine region. The American dollar will get you a whopping $1.45 AUD these days, while a Canadian dollar gets you $1.05, which is at least a minor help. Don’t forget that the posted price in a restaurant or shop in Australia includes taxes, and that there’s very little tipping. I went on Expedia and found I could book the lovely Shangri-La in the city centre on a weeknight in late April for just $298 CAD; roughly $214 USD. That’s a remarkable deal compared the price you’d pay in Paris or New York City.
The Margaret River region of Western Australia is famous for its beautiful beaches and amazing wineries. JIM BYERS PHOTO
PORTUGAL
Portugal uses the Euro, as they do in France and Germany, but a visit to Portugal is still far, far cheaper than most European countries. From wine trips in the Douro Valley to urban getaways in delightful Lisbon to golf and hiking (and fabulous seafood) in the Algarve, Portugal has emerged as one of the best (and increasingly popular) destinations in Europe. Don’t forget the Azores, a deep green, stunningly beautiful set of Atlantic Ocean islands that are part of Portugal. Lisbon hotel prices. As of March 28, 2026, 100 US dollars gets you 87 Euros, while $100 CAD will get you 63 Euros. But, again, those Euros go a lot farther in Portugal than many other parts of Europe.
Lisbon, Portugal. JIM BYERS PHOTO
NEW ZEALAND
If you thought Australia was a great deal, wait ’til you see what your dollar gets you in New Zealand these days. One US greenback will get you a ridiculous $1.75 New Zealand dollar, while a Canadian loonie will fetch $1.26 NZD. Some of the most amazing and diverse scenery and attractions on the planet, all packed into one relatively small and very easy to navigate country. Auckland is a fine city to explore, especially if you take the ferry to nearby Waiheke Island. There are fabulous, sub-tropical beaches in the north and fjords in the south of New Zealand, so the variety is extraordinary. Expedia was showing the Hotel Indigo in downtown Auckland in late April had rooms for just $203 CAD, including tax. That’s only $146 USD, which means you may have money to spare for that ferry ride to Waiheke and a nice lunch overlooking the water.
Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. JIM BYERS PHOTO
MALAYSIA
I visited the Penang region six or eight years ago and found a richly satisfying country with tremendous food, beautiful temples, cool architecture (especially in Georgetown) and a cool art scene. I won’t try to compare currencies, but I will say I found a hotel room at the Shangri-La Golden Sands, a waterfront property 11 km from central Georgetown, for $171 CAD ,or less than $125 USD. I also saw bargain, chain hotels for roughly one-third of that.
A temple in Penang, Malaysia. JIM BYERS PHOTO
THAILAND
This is another is southeast Asia country that offers up exceptional cuisine and beautiful temples, as well as great street markets and fabulous, tropical islands. I love Bangkok’s energy, but I personally prefer smaller cities such as Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, as well as luscious islands such as Koh Samui. Expedia was showing a room at the W Hotel Bangkok for $298 CAD in late April; about $215 USD. There were tons of decent-looking options for one-half that amount, or even less. On Koh Samui, Expedia said you could book the waterfront Renaissance resort and spa for $251 CAD, or roughly $181 USD.
The Big Buddha on Koh Samui in Thailand. JIM BYERS PHOTO
COLOMBIA
Bogota is a fascinating and relatively cheap city to explore, with fine museums, excellent food and colourful street art everywhere you look. Cartagena has become an increasingly sophisticated Colombian destination, with a plethora (also a lot of) luxury hotels. A friend of mine is from Medellin and swears it’s the best city in the country. Bonus: Colombia is only about 5.5 hours from Toronto and New York City and is just one hour behind, which means no jet lag. I checked Expedia for late April and found I could book the Hotel de la Opera, a fairly simple but charming boutique hotel in the central business district (I stayed here a few years ago) for $170 CAD, or roughly $122 USD.
A colourful street in Bogota, Colombia. JIM BYERS PHOTO
AFAR MAGAZINE SUGGESTIONS
Afar Magazine did a story on this very thing the other day, noting six great places in Europe where the US dollar provides the best value. Their recommendations? Poland, Albania, Hungary, Romania, Montenegro and Serbia. Afar noted that a beer in Warsaw generally runs around $4 USD, while a four-star hotel in the city goes for roughly $145 USD. I haven’t been to Poland, but some good friends were there recently and raved about the cities and natural scenery.
RECORD VISITORS FOR CAYMAN ISLANDS IN FEBRUARY
The Cayman Islands welcomed 49,075 stayover visitors in February 2026, representing a 10.1% increase year over year and marking the second-strongest February on record.
Canada led February’s performance and continued its record-setting momentum with double-digit percentage increases in stayover visitation for the fourth consecutive month. The destination recorded 6,102 visitors from Canada in February – a 47% increase year over year and the highest monthly visitation total ever recorded from the market.
Southern Cross Resort on Little Cayman Island. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Total visitation for the month – including both stayover visitors and cruise passengers – reached 208,992 visitors, reflecting a 7.3% increase year over year.
Overall, this strong February performance builds on January’s record-breaking results, with year-to-date stayover arrivals reaching 95,112 visitors, an 11.8% increase over the same period in 2025.
I had a fabulous visit seven or eight years ago, including a stay at the fine Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa on Grand Cayman. Got a chance to tour around the north part of Grand Cayman, including xxx. I loved Grand Cayman, but the highlight of my trip was my day trip to Little Cayman, where there are two roads and a string of small, family-run boutique hotels. The plane has to cross the island’s main road to take off and land, which is amusing. Checking in was also fun, as I was able to get my boarding pass and then walk to a nearby beach bar and nurse a beer while I waited for my plane to land.
FLIGHT CENTRE OFFERS UP TOP DESTINATIONS FOR CANADIANS
Flight Centre says Canadian travel behaviour is shifting. Rather than waiting, Canadians are booking earlier and locking in plans sooner—particularly for long-haul and European trips. Flight Centre Canada is seeing strong growth in destinations like Portugal (+57%) (see my item on Portugal at the top of my blog), the Netherlands (+40%), Italy (25%) and Japan (17%), as travellers look to secure price and availability.
