U.S. News has a nice roundup of top places in the world to explore in the coming year. They also listed top destinations in the U.S.A. and Canada, as well as Europe and the Caribbean. Here’s a look at some of their findings. BEST WORLD DESTINATIONS FOR 2026 Rome (hard to argue with The Eternal City) Tokyo (amazing food and ancient temples) Prague Swiss Alps (so beautiful) Mauritius Iguazu Falls, South America Amsterdam (fab museums and atmospheric pubs) Machu Picchu Palawan (Philippines) Santorini (still never been) Bora Bora (perhaps the most beautiful island on the planet) Tanzania Sydney Paris (not Read more
Banff
The new Canada Strong pass was unveiled last week, providing Canadians and visitors alike with free access to national parks and historic sites this summer, plus great deals on national museums and significant VIA RAIL discounts. I did a series of interviews on the pass last Thursday for CBC radio stations across the country, talking about how the pass works and whether it’s a good idea. Here’s a synopsis. How exactly does this pass work, and where? I think the most obvious deal for people when they first hear about this is that all Canadian national parks are free until Read more
The Canadian government is making national parks free this summer for all visitors, as well as providing free admission to national museums, national marine conservation areas and national historic sites administered by Parks Canada. Ottawa also is making it easier to see the country by train, with free travel on VIA Rail for kids aged 17 and under if accompanied by an adult, and a 25% discount for those aged 18 to 24. On top of that, the government is providing a 25% discount on camping fees for Parks Canada properties. “This summer, Canadians can enjoy the very best Canada Read more
Summer 2025 is shaping up to be a good one for Canadian travellers, with homegrown nature, European escapes, and meaningful experiences leading the way. Booking.com has uncovered new data on Canadians’ summer travel plans. Here’s a snapshot of what’s shaping the season: Travel optimism is high. 72% of Canadian leisure travellers feel excited about exploring the world this summer, and the same amount (72%) expect to spend more on travel than they did in 2024. Canadians are keen to take advantage of our renowned green spaces and biodiversity. 42% of Canadian travellers express a desire to explore natural Read more
Maybe I’m a little sensitive about my home country these days. Many Canadians are, given the “51st state” talk and other nonsense about Canada coming from a certain U.S. president. But I was scanning some travel websites today, as Canada’s Travel Guy is wont to do, and noticed what I thought would be a nice list from Travel + Leisure, a publication I’ve come to respect over the years. This was a list published in January of this year that lists the world’s 25 most beautiful cities. I looked at the top of the list and nodded my head in Read more
