Ottawa Is Not Canada's Most Popular Destination For Canada Day

With Canada’s big 150th anniversary celebration just around the corner, many Canadians are finalizing their long-weekend vacation plans. However, according to the popular travel website Kayak, the most popular destination is not the most obvious choice. Instead of Ottawa, most last minute Kayak customers have been choosing to travel to either Toronto or Vancouver. 

“While Ottawa is the nation’s capital, Toronto and Vancouver are often considered Canada’s unofficial capitals and are also much bigger cities, offering more options for accommodation,” said David Solomito, vice president of North America brand marketing at Kayak. “Toronto and Vancouver’s airports are also larger and may offer more flight route options and cheaper prices.”

Solomito went on to say that car rental searches were up, and that some may be opting to drive elsewhere once they land in Toronto or Vancouver. Summer searches for car rentals saw an increase of 51% on the site over the last year, with an increase of 12% for Canada Day specifically. 

Similarly, hotel accommodations also saw a rise in price, roughly 21% over last year, which means finding a room for the long weekend could set you back an average of $190 per night. 

Solmoito did note that the biggest spike in hotel prices was seen in P.E.I, with a jump of 34% over last Canada Day. 

“P.E.I. hosted the inaugural Confederation meeting and is also known as the ‘Cradle of Confederation,’ so this will be a key destination, especially for history buffs,” Solomito explains. “The island’s pastoral landscape is also a huge draw for visitors with everything from rolling hills to long beaches and coves. Fans of the Canadian classic Anne of Green Gables are sure to be making the trip to P.E.I. for July 1.”