With the summer travel season on the doorstep, a recent survey provides a glimpse into the places Canadians plan on visiting when the temperatures warm.
With the use of its Hotel Price Index, Hotels.com says that the U.S. will be the destination for most travellers who want to see other parts of the world, making travel insurance something to consider since provincial health care likely will not pay for medical issues abroad. There are certain cities that they are favouring more than others, however.
Leading the pack is New York City, as the website says that its high-end restaurants and shopping centres make it a must-see metropolitan area for vacationers of all ages and backgrounds. Hotel rates average approximately $250 per night. New York was also the top travel destination for Canadians going away for Family Day.
In the runner-up spot is Las Vegas, which Hotels.com refers to as "Disneyland but for adults." A vast assortment of casinos and live performances combined to make "Sin City" a destination hotspot. Staying one night in a Las Vegas hotel will run you about $110.
Third on the list of Canadians' top travel destinations is Chicago.
"The Windy City has a wide variety of attractions for tourists alongside impressive views and architecture," Hotels.com noted. " It is also known as the 'City in a Garden,' and the perfect urban destination for eco-friendly travellers who are sure to appreciate all the green space."
Average hotel rates in Chicago run about $165, Hotels.com noted. Other U.S. cities ranking in the top 10 were Seattle, Orlando, San Francisco, Boston and Los Angeles.
But more distant cities are also on Canadian travellers' itineraries this year. The survey found that London, Paris, Rome and Hong Kong were all in the top 20 international destinations, finishing 9th, 10th, 15th and 18th, respectively.
With many Canadians intent on having a good time on their vacations, it's likely that tourism indicators will fare favourably. They may even eclipse the kind of numbers that Canada put up as 2011 was coming to a close.
According to Statistics Canada, tourism spending rose approximately 1 per cent in the fourth quarter, as purchases increased among both international tourists and people travelling to a different city or province. It marks the 10th straight quarter in which tourism spending h
