Winter is here and travellers around the globe are packing their bags and planning for their next adventure. Not only are Canadians seeking out top destinations domestically and internationally, but Americans are eager to plan a visit to the great white north to experience the best the country has to offer. Expedia’s winter travel outlook highlights this year’s winter trends as well as best ways to save and when to book.  

Global travellers flock to Canada: 

• Americans exploring the great white north¹: Many Canadian destinations have seen a search increase among American travellers this winter season. Vancouver, which is set to host the final leg of the Era’s tour, has seen a 113 per cent surge in searches from a U.S. origin. Other notable destinations on American radar include Québec City (65 per cent), Banff (60 per cent), Montreal (34 per cent), and Canmore (104 per cent), which was recently named as one of Expedia’s Detour Destinations for 2025.  

Most Searched for Canadian Destinations2   Based on lodging searches for American travellers

Vancouver  Toronto  Whistler  Montreal  Quebec City  Niagara Falls  Banff  Mont-Tremblant  Victoria  Calgary

• French culture exchange: Based on flight searches³, travellers from France are eager to visit Montreal with the city ranking seventh in the top ten most searched for destinations during the Christmas holidays. This is a 6 per cent increase compared to the previous year. Toronto has also seen an increase (25 per cent)⁴ on flight searches during the winter holiday season.  

• Brits visiting major Canadian cities⁵: In the UK, two Canadian destinations are piquing the interest of travellers with search increases both in Vancouver (45 per cent) and Montreal (70 per cent). 

Canadian travel habits: 

• Japan Travel Pulse⁶: Travel to Japan is becoming increasingly popular among Canadians with search increases in three major Japanese cities topping the list, including Osaka (95 per cent), Tokyo (90 per cent) and Kyoto (79 per cent). The longer holiday vacation period means more time for travellers to explore far-off destinations.  

Most Searched Destinations this Winter7 Based on lodging searches for Canadian travellers
Domestic	International
Toronto  Vancouver  Montreal  Quebec City  Banff   Niagara Falls  Whistler  Calgary  Edmonton  Ottawa	New York  Cancun  Las Vegas  Punta Cana  Orlando  Fort Lauderdale  Miami  Puerto Vallarta  Playa del Carmen  Tokyo

Warming up with family and sun⁸: This holiday season Canadians are escaping the cold by warming up with their families as well as under the sun in sun-soaked destinations. The most popular flight searches during this period are for warm locales like Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Delhi, Cancun, and Las Vegas with travellers from Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal leading the charge. 

Most Searched Destinations over the Christmas Holidays Based on flight searches for Canadian travellers
Domestic	International
Toronto  Vancouver  Montreal  Calgary  Edmonton  Ottawa  Winnipeg  Halifax  Kelowna  Saskatoon	Fort Lauderdale  Orlando  Delhi  Cancun  Las Vegas  Los Angeles  Miami  New York  Puerto Vallarta  Manila

Best and Busiest Times to Travel This Winter⁹ 

For both domestic and international travel, December 22^nd and 23^rd are the busiest days of the season. Many travellers are flying out to visit their families and getaway for the holiday season.  

• Busiest Travel Dates: Week of Dec. 18 is the busiest; December 22^nd and 23^rd (lead-up to Christmas) are the busiest days.  

• Lightest Travel Dates: Week of Dec. 4. 

Cheapest Day of the Week to Fly⁹ 

According to Expedia data, Fridays are typically the busiest days at the airport during the winter months, while Tuesdays see the least crowds. To maximize savings, depart on a Sunday instead of Saturday to save around 8 per cent on domestic flights. 

Winter Travel Tips: 

• Find the sweet spot for bookings: Expedia data shows the ideal booking window for winter travel is 21 to 30 days out for optimal savings. Booking 14 to 20 days increases average prices by 3 per cent, whereas booking 91+ days could see a jump of 32 per cent higher rates on average.  

• Opt for morning flights: According to Expedia’s 2024 Air Travel Hacks Report, morning departures are 18 per cent less prone to cancellations than flights after 3 p.m¹⁰., highlighting the benefits of seizing the day. 

• Take advantage of sales deals: From now until Dec 4^th travellers can save 30 per cent or more on select hotels, when booking as a member. Hotel savings can also apply when you bundle your hotel with a flight.