Canadians are increasingly avoiding U.S. travel this winter and instead booking trips to lesser-known destinations, according to new data from travel search site Skyscanner.
The shift comes amid political tensions and tariffs under U.S. President Donald Trump. Statistics Canada reports Canadian car return trips from the U.S. dropped nearly 31 per cent compared with the same month last year.
Skyscanner analyzed tens of thousands of searches and identified 10 destinations with the biggest year-over-year spikes among Canadian travellers — many off the beaten path, including several within Canada.
Top trending destinations for Canadians this winter:
- Terceira Lajes, Portugal — up 209%
- Basseterre, St. Kitts — up 170%
- Castries, St. Lucia — up 160%
- Guadalajara, Mexico — up 160%
- Comox, B.C. — up 145%
- Kaohsiung, Taiwan — up 122%
- Victoria, B.C. — up 115%
- Gander, N.L. — up 105%
- Lyon, France — up 99%
- Ponta Delgada, Portugal — up 98%
Skyscanner said Canadians are gravitating toward smaller, culturally rich destinations offering new experiences beyond traditional hot spots like Orlando or Cancun, helped by new direct flights and seasonal routes from Canadian cities.
The trend suggests travellers are seeking fresh, affordable alternatives — and looking closer to home or farther afield — as U.S. travel loses appeal this winter.