A new study from KAYAK finds that Cartagena, Colombia is the top trending destinations for travel-loving Canadians. But traditional spots such as Phuket, Aruba and Maui also are in the top ten.

Data from KAYAK’s 2018 Travel Forecast found that Canadian searches for Cartagena, a beautiful colonial city in Colombia, are up 58 per cent versus last year.

Air Canada started direct flights from Toronto to Cartagena last year as part of its international expansion.
KAYAK said Canadian searches for Casablanca were up 51 per cent, while searches for Phuket, Thailand were up 50 per cent.

Other large increases in searches were noted for Osaka, Japan (49 per cent), Bali (46 per cent), The Maldives (44 per cent), Jacksonville (38 per cent), Faro, Portugal (38 per cent) and Aruba (37 per cent).

Searches for Kahului, Maui, where the island’s main airport is located, were up 36 per cent versus last year.
I wrote about great Maui drives on TravelPulse Canada’s site earlier this week. It’s one of the top destinations for Canadians, especially folks from British Columbia and Alberta.

"Flying within Canada can cost travelers a small fortune. Perhaps because of this, we see less Canadians travel domestically, looking instead to destinations where they can maximize their time off while getting the best bang for their buck," said David Solomito, VP NA brand marketing, KAYAK. "The Maldives, for example, is a destination Canadians should keep on their radar for 2018. Not only did it take the #6 spot on this year's top trending list, but flight prices are down 31% for the first half of 2018 making it easier and more affordable to explore than previous years."

The KAYAK study also looked at affordability and found that budget-conscious travellers looking to stay in Canada should consider Edmonton, Kelowna and trendy Saskatoon, all of which are seeing flight prices drop by at least 30 per cent compared to last year.

The report also said median airfares in Canada are at their lowest in April, likely as kids are in school and it’s not yet summer break or any other major holiday time.

On the U.S. side, KAYAK found price drops of nine per cent or more for trips to Boston, Palm Springs, Chicago, Tampa, Denver and Dallas. Boston flight prices were down 19 per cent, while Dallas prices were down 16 per cent and Palm Springs prices down 15 per cent.

Heading out on an international trip? KAYAK says you should avoid July, when prices are at their highest; often upwards of $1,000. February, they said, is a much better option, with the median flight from Canada weighing in at less than $670.

February isn’t the ideal time to visit, say, Western Europe in terms of weather. But you’ll pay less for flights and hotels, and the cities won’t be so packed with tourists. And, hey, it’s not like we Canadians go to Paris or London to work on our tans.