Canadians want their travel budgets to go further this summer: survey

Canadian travellers are looking to maximize their summer vacations by choosing destinations that that allow their budget to go further, according to new survey results from Skyscanner.

In its new Smarter Summer Report, the company found that 88 per cent of Canadians believe it’s important to maximize their summer vacation this year.

“It’s not just about where you go but how you plan,” said Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner’s Travel Expert in a press release. “Canadians are taking a more intentional approach this year, looking to extend every aspect of their time off, from stretching their budget and travel time to staying flexible and exploring more destinations.”

The insights are based on a OnePoll survey of 1,000 Canadian adults conducted in March 2025, as well as data sourced from Skyscanner’s proprietary data, analyzing Canadian traveller activity between January 1 and March 31, 2025.

Among the findings: Sixty-eight per cent of Canadians are still looking to book their summer holidays, the survey says.

Additionally, 84 per cent are willing to shift their dates to save money, and 45 per cent are selecting destinations based on budget.

As well, 30 per cent of Canadians are extending their summer by taking holidays in the shoulder season to avoid peak prices and crowds, the survey says. 

Canadians are also mixing dream getaways with smart spending: 76 per cent of travellers are open to lesser-known destinations in exchange for better value. 

Top 10 most affordable destinations

According to Skyscanner’s data, the top 10 most affordable destinations for Canadians are:

1. Calgary - flights from $364

2. Halifax - flights from $371

3. Kelowna - flights from $475

4. St. John’s - flights from $553

5. Puerto Vallarta - flights from $557

6. Nassau - flights from $619

7. Montego Bay - flights from $619

8. Charlottetown - flights from $659

9. Castries - flights from $701

10. Buenos Aires - flights from $723

The cheapest week to travel for Canadians? The week of August 25

The cheapest day to fly for Canadians? Friday, says Skyscanner

Most popular destinations

Skyscanner lists the 10 most popular destinations for Canadians

Out of office energy

The report data also reveals that people are mentally switching to vacation mode well before they take off, and it's paying off – 36 per cent of travellers said that getting into the summer vacation mood earlier makes them more productive.

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