Canadians have easier ways to get to great European and Asian destinations this summer.
Starting in June, passengers from Montreal will be able to fly direct on Air Canada to Nantes, an historic city on the Loire River in the Normandy region of France. It’s the first time Air Canada will fly to Nantes, which also is served by Air Transat.
Air Canada next month also will begin flights from Montreal to Palma de Mallorca in Spain, and Catania, Sicily.
TravelPulse Canada reports customers in June also will be able to fly direct from Toronto to Shanghai, China, resuming flights that fell victim to pandemic cancellations in 2020. Budapest, a fine city on the Danube River, also is on the list of returning destinations. Another new flight to look for this June is to Ponta Delgado, in the remarkable Azores of Portugal. This route is currently served by Azores Airlines. WestJet will also begin operating the same route starting in mid-June.
Beautiful Taormina, Sicily, famous for its Roman ruins, is only a short drive from Catania. Federico Di Dio-Unsplash Photo
Air Canada in June will launch direct flights from Montreal to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Catania, Sicily and the historic French city of Nantes. Sicily has become a hotbed for tourism of late, with historic sites such as Taormina (seen above) and cool cities like Palermo. The wine is terrific and generally not expensive, and the beaches are some of the best in the world.
They’ll also start non-stops between Toronto and Shanghai, which is a vibrant, fascinating city with tremendous food and splendid places to stay, including the Fairmont Peace Hotel.
Finally, Canada’s largest airline next month also will begin flights from Halifax to Brussels, a vastly underrated city in Belgium that’s also a great jumping off point for other European cities, either by train or plane.
US TRAVELERS LOOK NORTH AND SOUTH (OKAY AND EAST, TOO)
Cancun, Mexico. JIM BYERS PHOTO
International Medical Group has completed its annual review of summer travel data based on customer travel plans in June through August and predicts the top five international destinations for U.S. travelers to be:
- Mexico
- Italy
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- France
While Mexico remains the most popular international destination for U.S. travelers, Italy climbed to second place this summer (up from fourth in 2025), and France joined IMG’s top five, reflecting a broader shift toward European travel as historically popular tropical destinations fell out of the top rankings.
CRUISE NEWS AND A NICE HAWAII STORY
MSN Travel has a nice, informative piece on the majestic (and then some) Na Pali coast on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. It’s hands down the most beautiful part of the state, and something every visitor needs to see at least once. I’ve hiked part of the Kalalau Trail that snakes along the coast, and also have taken a couple boat trips to see it from the water. Both are tremendous, but I prefer the boat rides. You also need to drive to Waimea Canyon and check out the two major lookouts, which give you a view of the ragged, jagged, green-clad mountains from above.
The Na Pali coast is an amazing feature on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Europe is more popular than ever. Ditto for cruising. Which helps explain why Holland America Line is introducing year-round cruising in Europe, expanding its presence in the region with an extended 2027-2028 season sailing through winter. With Nieuw Statendam remaining in Europe year-round, the cruise line is offering more opportunities than ever to experience the region beyond traditional summer travel.
The expanded season includes a dozen cruises aboard Nieuw Statendam across the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, significantly increasing Holland America Line’s offseason presence in the region. The new itineraries add more than 70 additional port days year-over-year, giving guests more time in port along with extended stays and fewer crowds. The deployment also includes two additional voyages aboard Zuiderdam, further expanding options for guests exploring Europe during the winter season.
Winter is a great time to visit Europe, as the crowds are minimal.
