In addition, the
Whether it was Plan A or Plan C(ovid), it's clear Canadians spent 2020 exploring smaller towns in their own province with close proximity to the outdoors and ones that were only a drive away. As we look ahead to the new year, insights tell us that Canadians are thinking about a new plan C:
This year, in addition to tapping into its own database of search and demand data, Expedia partnered with ARC for a deep dive on the effect of the pandemic on air travel.
Airfare Booking Hacks for 2021
For six years running, travellers have come to rely on the annual Expedia ARC report, which analyzes billions of flight segments, to provide insider tips and tricks for getting the most out of air travel. Considering the atypical year, a new view is needed now more than ever.
What this means for Canadian travellers is that while average ticket prices are a bit lower for both domestic and international flights, prices rise during peak travel periods such as summer and the holidays. To get the best deal, travellers need to know when to book and start their trip.
- Best Day to Book and Travel: The best day of the week to book1 an international or domestic flight is Sunday and the best day to start your journey2 for a domestic trip is Friday, with international travel being Thursday; this planning could save you around 10 percent.
This year, average ticket prices (ATPs) for domestic flights hit their lowest in early July right around
Priorities for Canadian Travellers in 2021
- Flexibility isn't a "nice-to-have", it's required: In 2021, flexibility will continue to be top of mind for travellers, who booked refundable rates nearly 10 percent more often this year compared to last. Luckily, flexibility is more affordable than ever. Expedia.ca lodging data shows average daily rates for refundable bookings were nearly 15 percent cheaper in 2020 compared to 2019.
- Health and safety advancements are essential: In 2021, concerns about staying safe while travelling will continue to impact every aspect of trip planning, from what type of accommodations to choose to where to go to who to travel with. Since May, nearly 300,000 properties have added health and cleanliness information on Expedia.ca, which includes enhanced cleaning measures, contactless check-in, social distancing and other guest safety considerations.
- Shorter booking windows for travel plans: In 2019, the average Canadian traveller booked flights around 34 days in advance of their departure date, but during the onset of the pandemic, that window shortened to 22 days, where it remains. The new, shorter planning cycle illustrates how travellers have adapted to the rapidly changing environment and ongoing uncertainty. This is a trend we see with lodging as well. Last minute bookings during the summer were on the rise with around half of Canadian travellers booking trips 0-7 days out, an increase from previous years.3
- Growth in alternative accommodation options: While the most popular lodging type in 2020 was hotels, this year certain alternative property types were more popular than in previous years. Specifically, this is the case for: private vacation homes, cottages, glamping experiences, treehouses and house boats. When looking to book a stay, the data shows that the lowest average daily rates are usually found on Mondays.
2020's Trending Destinations Hold Canadian Roots4
This year's trending destinations list looks quite a bit different than last year's, with more rural and remote places outside of city centers, and domestic destinations completely filling the top ten. In previous years, trending destinations included a mix of
The Next Big Trip: Top-Searched Destinations for 2021 and Beyond
While nearby getaways and road trips are likely to remain popular as travellers navigate the ongoing realities of life amid a pandemic, search data5 proves that Canadian wanderlust remains strong. More specifically, it seems vacation-deprived Canadians dreaming of their next trip fall into one of two categories:
Sun and Beach Seekers. Looking at the top 20 most-searched destinations, over half are islands in the southern hemisphere or those offering a warm and sunny beach escape. After a year like 2020, it's not hard to imagine why so many travellers want to escape to an island the next chance they get. Typically, Canadians are used to trading in their winter coats for their summer clothes based on general seasonality, but of course this has been a year like no other, though this hasn't stopped travellers from staying inspired and dreaming of warmer weather.
- Riviera Maya, Playa
del Carmen andTulum (#1) Puerto Vallarta (#2)Orlando (#3)Cancun (#4)Oahu (#5)Maui (#7)Punta Cana (#8)Maldives (#9)French Polynesia (#11)Bali (#13)Barbados (#15)- Turks and Caicos (#16)
St. Lucia (#17)
Slope and Coast Explorers. Whether travellers are looking for outdoor time to ski or take in the snowy mountains, or alternatively more temperate temperatures, the good news is
Banff (#6)Okanagan Valley (#10)- Whistler (#12)
Mont Tremblant (#14)Victoria (#18)Collingwood (#19)Tofino -Ucluelet (#20)
With COVID-19, it's important to stay safe and up to date on the latest travel guidance and restrictions. Find out what to expect, how to find flexible travel and other information on the Expedia COVID-19 travel guide.
1 Best day of the week to book recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through early October, for both 2019 and 2020, sourced from ARC's global airline sales database.
2 Best day of the week to travel recommendation based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through early October, for both 2019 and 2020, sourced from ARC's global airline sales database. Departure date determined by the first date of travel in an itinerary.
3 Data based on interest or demand on Expedia.ca during
4 Trending destinations are some of the markets seeing the best growth year-over-year, based on lodging demand on Expedia.ca between
5 Top searched destinations based on lodging interest on Expedia.ca between
About
An industry leader in air travel intelligence and omnichannel retailing, ARC provides platforms, tools and insights that help the global travel community connect, grow and thrive. ARC enables the diverse retailing strategies of its customers by providing flexible settlement solutions, innovative technology and access to the world's most comprehensive air transaction dataset. In 2019, ARC managed more than
About Expedia
Expedia is one of the world's largest full-service travel sites, helping millions of travellers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia aims to provide the latest technology and widest selection of top vacation destinations, affordable airfare, hotel deals, car rentals, destination weddings, cruise deals and in-destination activities, attractions, services and travel apps.
© 2020
Source: Brand Expedia.
SOURCE Expedia.ca
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