Why Canadians Are Travelling Locally More Often
Canadian travelers are changing the way they plan their vacations. While international travel will always have its appeal, more Canadians are choosing to explore closer to home — taking road trips, booking weekend getaways, visiting small towns, staying at local resorts, and discovering experiences within their own province or elsewhere in Canada.
For hotels, motels, inns, resorts, and vacation rentals, this shift creates a meaningful opportunity. Local travelers may be staying closer to home, but they still expect comfort, convenience, cleanliness, and a memorable guest experience.
The Rising Cost of International Travel
One of the biggest reasons Canadians are travelling locally more often is cost. Flights, hotels, meals, insurance, baggage fees, currency exchange, and transportation can make international trips expensive very quickly.
For many families, couples, and retirees, a Canadian getaway feels more manageable. A long weekend in the mountains, a few nights at a lakeside cabin, a coastal road trip, or a stay in a charming historic town can offer the feeling of a vacation without the stress and expense of leaving the country.
Statistics Canada reported that Canadian-resident trips abroad were down 16.7% in 2025 compared with the previous year, while domestic travel spending saw strong growth through the summer travel season.
More Canadians Are Discovering What’s Close to Home
Canada is a country with an incredible range of travel experiences. From the Rockies to the Maritimes, from wine country to cottage country, from historic downtowns to remote wilderness retreats, Canadians are realizing they do not always need to cross a border to enjoy something special.
Domestic travel is no longer just a backup plan. For many people, it has become the preferred choice. Travelers are looking for authentic local experiences, regional food, scenic drives, boutique accommodations, outdoor activities, and places that feel personal rather than overly commercial.
Statistics Canada noted that in the second quarter of 2025, Canadian residents took 90.6 million trips that included a domestic visit, up 10.9% from the same quarter the year before.
Convenience Matters More Than Ever
Travelling internationally often comes with more planning: passports, airports, customs, delays, exchange rates, roaming charges, health insurance, and changing entry requirements.
Local travel is simpler. Canadians can often pack the car, travel on their own schedule, and avoid the complications that come with larger international trips. This makes local travel especially attractive for families, older travellers, pet owners, and people looking for shorter, more frequent breaks.
Instead of one major vacation per year, many Canadians are choosing several smaller getaways throughout the year.
Weekend and Short-Stay Travel Is Growing
Local travel often means shorter stays. Guests may book two or three nights instead of one or two weeks. They may plan a spontaneous weekend trip, attend a family event, take a golf getaway, visit a spa, explore a nearby town, or book a last-minute vacation rental.
This is good news for Canadian accommodation providers. Shorter stays can help fill rooms during shoulder seasons, weekends, holidays, and regional events.
However, shorter stays also mean first impressions matter even more. Guests quickly notice whether a property feels clean, thoughtful, and well-prepared.
Local Travelers Still Expect a Quality Guest Experience
Just because guests are staying close to home does not mean their expectations are lower. In fact, local travelers often compare their stay to past hotel, resort, Airbnb, and international travel experiences.
The small details can make a big difference:
Clean, attractive guest rooms
Comfortable bedding
Well-stocked bathrooms
Quality toiletries
Fresh towels
Simple check-in
Local recommendations
A feeling that the host or property owner cares
For hotels and vacation rentals, amenities are part of the guest experience. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, soap, vanity kits, toothbrushes, slippers, and makeup remover wipes all help create a more complete and welcoming stay.
When guests feel looked after, they are more likely to leave positive reviews, recommend the property, and return again.
A Great Opportunity for Canadian Hotels and Vacation Rentals
The rise in local travel is especially important for independent hotels, motels, resorts, inns, cabins, B&Bs, and vacation rental owners. These properties are often perfectly positioned for the type of travel Canadians are now seeking: personal, regional, comfortable, and easy to access.
A guest may not be travelling far, but they still want the experience to feel like a getaway.
That means property owners should think beyond simply providing a place to sleep. The goal is to create a stay that feels relaxing, clean, convenient, and memorable.
How Properties Can Appeal to Local Canadian Travelers
Accommodation providers can make the most of this trend by focusing on a few key areas:
Highlight nearby attractions, restaurants, trails, lakes, shops, and experiences.
Promote weekend getaway packages or seasonal stays.
Make rooms feel fresh, clean, and thoughtfully stocked.
Offer guest amenities that feel professional and reliable.
Use Canadian-friendly messaging such as “perfect for a local getaway” or “explore more of Canada.”
Encourage reviews from Canadian guests who enjoyed discovering the area.
Local travelers are often repeat travelers. A guest who enjoys a weekend stay may come back next season, bring family, or recommend the property to friends.
Local Travel Is More Than a Trend
Canadians are not simply staying local because they have to. Many are choosing local travel because it feels easier, more affordable, more flexible, and more meaningful.
For the hospitality industry, this is an important reminder: great guest experiences do not depend on how far someone has travelled. They depend on how a guest feels when they arrive.
A clean room, thoughtful amenities, a comfortable bathroom setup, and a welcoming atmosphere can turn a simple local stay into a memorable escape.
As more Canadians explore their own backyard, hotels and vacation rentals have a valuable opportunity to stand out — not by being the biggest property, but by being prepared, thoughtful, and guest-focused.
At Branded Amenities, we help Canadian hotels, motels, resorts, inns, and vacation rental owners create a more professional guest experience with quality guest room toiletries and hospitality supplies shipped across Canada.