Victoria Day long weekend: Travel destinations Canadians are booking and the best day to save on a trip

We’ve all seen the massive lineups at Canadian airports as travellers run towards any vacation opportunities and with the Victoria Day long weekend coming up (observed on May 23, 2022), Expedia data shows that travel is certainly top of mind for Canadians.

When it comes to where Canadians are travelling for the long weekend, it’s a real mix of destinations, from cities to more rural destinations. Data from Expedia shows that U.S. travel continues to ramp up, while domestic trips are still incredibly popular.

According to Expedia, if you’ve waited until the last minute to book a vacation, keep in mind that domestic flight prices usually start to increase 35 days before departure, while prices for international flights start to increase 28 days before departure. The “sweet spot” to book a domestic flight is between 28 and 49 days in advance, while international flights should be booked three to four months in advance for the lowest prices.

The ideal day to book a flight is Sunday, instead of Friday, which can save travellers around 15 per cent for domestic flights and 10 per cent for international flights. Starting your trip on a Friday can save you around 25 per cent for domestic travel, compared to starting your trip on a Monday, or a Saturday for international flights can save about 10 per cent, compared to starting your trip on a Tuesday.

Based on hotel searches on Expedia.ca, these are the top May 24 long weekend destinations:

Looking at data from Vrbo, these are the top May 24 long weekend destinations:

Niagara Falls Fireworks (Brad Moore/Form & Affect/Image provided by Niagara Parks Tourism)

Niagara Falls

The first piece of good news if you’re travelling to Niagara Falls this weekend is GO Train service resumes on May 21, to and from Toronto’s Union Station, on Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays. Packages are also available with the Niagara Falls WEGO hop-on, hop-off bus line that stops at Niagara Parks sites starting at Table Rock Centre.

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If you’re planning to visit Niagara for the long weekend, Niagara Parks sites and attractions will be open for the season including heritage sites like Old Fort Erie and McFarland House, culinary experiences like Queen Victoria Place Restaurant and Riverview Tim Hortons, and Grand View Restaurant and Patio, and park attractions like Journey Behind the Falls, Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse and Niagara Parks Power Station.

A great pick for popular Sunday brunch is Queenston Heights Restaurant, located on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment and just 10 minutes away from the Falls.

The Falls Fireworks Series will start on May 20, with 144 multi-coloured water and light displays every evening, beginning at 10:00 p.m.

Don’t forget to book your Niagara Falls Adventure Pass to get the best access to the most popular attractions, including Journey Behind the Falls, walk beside white water rapids at White Water Walk, and experience the lush plant collections amidst the free flying butterflies at the Butterfly Conservatory.

Historic cobblestone streets with shops and restaurants in Old Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Montreal

Spring travel to Montreal is the perfect time to bike along Mount Royal Park and hit the patios, including the beautiful terraces at the Sofitel’s Renoir restaurant or the Hotel Williams Gray, the very popular Terrasses Bonsecours, or just grab an iced coffee and sit outside Café Olimpico. Definitely don’t leave Montreal without checking out the Atwater Market as well and picking up some bagels (we like Fairmount Bagel but we’ll let you decide between Fairmount and St-Viateur Bagel).

If you’ll be in the city for the long week, get tickets to the cabaret circus show Cirque Éloize’s Celeste at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth.

According to Expedia.ca, some of the best rated hotels in Montreal are The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal (if you’re looking for luxury), Le Petit Hotel in Old Montreal and Hotel Le Germain Montreal.

“Golf course in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada.”

Whistler

If there’s one thing that Canadian travel patterns have shown for months now is that Whistler is a very popular, must-see destination for Canadians.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has launched a new golf campaign across North America, which includes Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Chateau Whistler Golf Club offers a par 72, 18-hole Audubon-certified course and Whistler Golf Resort Vacation package includes 20 per cent off accommodations and one round of 18-holes per person, per night.

There are so many different outdoor adventures you can have in Whistler, including the Ancient Cedars hike through 900-year-old trees, a whitewater jet boating adventure, or take off on a variety of biking trails.

Mauricie national park in summer

Laurentians

Summer in the Laurentians region of Quebec is just one of those iconic Canadians experiences.

Explore Le P’tit Train du Nord linear park, a 234-km cycle path built over an old railway line, and Parc national d’Oka.

The region is also home to the Chemin du Terroir tourist route that takes you through more than 226 kilometres of country backroad.

Lake Louise at sunrise, calm water and light on the mountain tops. Banff, Alberta, Canadian Rockies, Canada

Banff

Explore one of Canada’s most beautiful landscapes hiking, biking or paddling in Banff.

Take some time to paddle across Vermilion Lakes, Johnson Lake, Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewanka near the Banff town area.

You can also see the Banff Park Museum, a log cabin constructed in 1903, which makes it the oldest museum of natural history in western Canada.

If you’re looking for the ultimate rest and relaxation, the Banff Upper Hot Springs is where you have to go. There is also the Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Banff Springs and The Grotto Spa at the Banff Royal Canadian Lodge.