A pair of Vancouver Island communities are among the most travelled this winter, based on lodging searches.
Ucluelet – up 45 per cent – and Victoria – up 30 per cent – land fourth and sixth in a list of trending domestic destinations for Canadians, according to Expedia’s Winter Travel Outlook. PEI, Jasper and Kitchener top the trending list, with Charlottetown in fifth.
Kamloops, in seventh was the other B.C. destination cracking the national top 10.
Trending destinations are those with the fastest year-over-year growth in searches, often driven by new attractions, better accessibility, or major events, while popular destinations are those with the highest overall search volume.
Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal remain among the most popular domestic destinations overall, with Whistler ranked seventh.
Data shows the slowest domestic times to find lodging are Feb. 9 and 24 with the busiest times Dec. 5 and 26. The cheapest is Jan. 6 and 13 and most expensive Dec. 30 and Feb. 28.
The data shows Canadians are swapping snow for sand with beach destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean surging. For Canadians who prefer to embrace winter, ski destinations are trending close to home. Whistler, Banff, and Quebec City remain popular for their world-class slopes and alpine charm, while smaller spots like Jasper, Ucluelet and Charlottetown are gaining traction for cozy winter retreats.
For those leaving the continent, Europe remains a favourite for Canadians. The Canary Islands (+70%) lead the pack for mild-weather escapes, while Italy continues to shine with surges in Cortina d’Ampezzo (+130%) and Milan (+115%), for a true winter sports extravaganza.
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Email: christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
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