It’s a tough time to be a sun seeker from the US or Canada. In January, flights were disrupted to the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao) due to the US action in Venezuela. A few weeks later, flights to Cuba were halted because of an ongoing lack of aviation fuel, leaving Canadians and other visitors scrambling for alternative sun destinations. Many would-be Cuba visitors, including personal friends of mine, opted instead for Mexico. But some potential visitors are now spooked because of the violent outbreak in Puerto Vallarta on the weekend following the killing of a top Mexican drug Read more
Portugal
According to travel app Skyscanner’s latest research, while 66% of Canadians are planning to head abroad in 2026, only 48% have taken the plunge and booked their flights. Destination indecision and concerns over cost are reported as the biggest booking barriers, as nearly half (45%) share they are still deciding on destination, and 43% are still trying to find the best deals. Canadian travellers’ perception of flight pricing in 2026 is not the reality of the great value deals on offer. While 69% of Canadians think their round-trip flights are going to cost more than $500 this year, Read more
I’ve been lucky enough to be a full-time travel writer since 2008. I’ve managed to see more than 60 countries around the world, and to visit some of the most exotic places on earth. As well as some tried-and-very-true destinations that are well worth your trouble. Here’s one travel lovers list of great places to explore in 2026. Some of them have specific reasons, such as the Winter Olympics, while others are simply personal faves or places that could use your business right now. AZORES These Atlantic Ocean islands to me are like a combination of Hawaii, Scotland and Portugal Read more
Most Expensive Countries to Visit: Iceland on Top; Air Canada New Flights to Peru, Mexico and Belize
A study by the Forex Complex has named the most expensive countries for Americans (and presumably Canadians) to visit. The study tallied daily costs for a typical visitor, including hotels or other accommodations, meals, transportation and other common expenses. In US dollars, here are the 19 most expensive countries they came up with in daily costs. ICELAND, $401.40 AUSTRALIA, $280.99 FRANCE, $263.21 GERMANY, $258.47 ITALY, $257.67 UNITED KINGDOM, $256.50 CANADA, $241.34 JAPAN, $229.96 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, $217.78 GREECE, $198.84 SPAIN, $187.79 CROATIA, $185.65 PORTUGAL, $163.81 COSTA RICA, $161.34 JAMAICA, $151.38 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, $148.51 MEXICO, $145.78 THAILAND, $81.87 INDONESIA, $70.23 I Read more
MSN.com has a very useful story on where the Canadian dollar goes the farthest. Knowing your foreign currency exchange rates is a great way to save money, as some destinations might surprise you in terms of their value. Many Canadians are avoiding the US these days for political reasons, but also because the dollar is still quite low. As of June 16 ,the Canadian dollar is still down at 74cents US, which means a US dollar will cost you at least $1.35. That’s not so bad in, say, Kentucky or New Mexico, but it could make a trip to a Read more
