Canadians are increasingly looking for lesser-known destinations, a study suggests.
According to Amex’s 2023 Global Travel Trends report, 63% of Canadians want to travel to a destination that is off the beaten path.
As well, 53% of Canadians said they planned to go on more trips this year compared to last, which is good news for travel advisors.
With that in mind, American Express came up with a 2024 Trending Destinations Off The Beaten Path list.
- Adelaide Hills, Australia for an Australian rural retreat (instead of popular destination: Blue Mountains, Australia)
- Bodrum, Turkey for bustling bazaars, fresh seafood, active nightlife, and beaches on the sparkling blue - Aegean (instead of popular destination: Istanbul, Turkey)
- Porto Cervo, Italy for celebrity glamour and mouth-watering cuisine (instead of popular destination: Amalfi Coast, Italy)
- San Miguel de Allende, Mexico for beautiful scenery and vibrant food and culture (instead of popular destination: Riviera Maya, Mexico
- Santa Fe, USA for a blend of American Southwest culture, history, and natural beauty (instead of popular destination: Sedona, Arizona)
- Seychelles for paradise, along with expansive biodiversity and multicultural vibrancy (instead of popular destination: Maldives)
- Udaipur, India for an uber-romantic city of lakes and palaces (instead of popular destination: Agra, India)
- Zermatt, Switzerland for picturesque skiing with a charming feel (instead of popular destination: Dolomites, Italy)
Open Jaw has a few suggestions for travellers to switch from well-known to less-obvious choices in popular destinations:
- Sonoma, California instead of Napa.
Sonoma is a little more casual, and the coastline around the town Jenner is beautiful and rugged. Napa wines are amazing, but it doesn’t border the Pacific Ocean.
- Manchester or Liverpool instead of London.
Both Liverpool and Manchester offer fine museums, great restaurants and vibrant neighbourhoods to explore. You'll also likely save on hotels.
- Eleuthera instead of Nassau, Bahamas.
It’s much quieter on Eleuthera, and there’s dramatic scenery ande several small hotels with nice beaches.
- Canmore instead of Banff.
Canmore doesn’t have the fancy hotels you’ll find in Banff, but there are nice hotels, stunning mountain views, great golf courses, and family-friendly condos. It’s also a good deal less expensive than its cousin next door.
- Ljubljana, Slovenia, rather than Salzburg, Austria.
The Slovenian town features a lovely river, boutique shopping, pastel-coloured buildings and a small castle on a hill. It reminds me of Salzburg, but without the crowds and the Mozart kitsch.
- The Azores over Ibiza.
The Azores are a remarkable set of islands that belong to Portugal. Skip Ibiza and visit the Azores for amazing hiking, great seafood and a relaxed vibe.
