Why Canadians Are Looking Beyond the US for Their Next Vacation?
Canadians Are Looking Beyond the US, but why? Between tariffs, politics, patriotism and changing attitudes, the way we think about travelling south is starting to shift.
TRAVEL
Push.S
9/10/20265 min read
I was heading to a house party and needed to pick up a bottle of wine as a gift. I had a particular American wine in mind, so I went looking for it.
And looking.
And looking.
Finally, I gave up and asked the cashier if they had stopped carrying it. He told me they didn’t have it anymore because of the tariff war.
That was my first little “Oh, so we’re actually doing this now?” moment.
It made me realize that Canadians have started taking all of this a little more personally. First, there was the talk of Canada becoming the 51st US state. Then, more recently, the whole “Lake America” situation on Google Maps in the US.
At this point, the anger is practically in the air.
But instead of just joining the outrage, I decided to put my Canadian feelings aside and do a little research. And it turns out Canadians are not just complaining about the US. Many are also starting to look elsewhere when planning their next vacation.
Maybe it’s the tariffs. Maybe it’s the political tension. Maybe it’s patriotism kicking in, with Canadians thinking, “If we’re being told we’re not really wanted, why should we spend our vacation money there?” Or maybe people simply want to spend their money somewhere that feels a little more welcoming.
And this isn't just something I noticed while hunting for a bottle of wine. Statistics Canada data shows that Canadian trips to the US dropped 10.6% year over year in the first quarter of 2026, while trips to overseas countries increased 6.2%. Mexico was the most visited overseas destination, followed by the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.
The US Used to Be the Easy Vacation Choice
When I was first considering moving abroad, Canada wasn't the only option on my list. Australia, the UK and New Zealand were all in the running. But Canada eventually topped the list, and one of the reasons was something I didn't really think much about at the time: the US basically came with it as a complimentary extra. 😂
I knew that living in Canada meant I could easily hop across the border, visit my cousins and explore a completely different country without having to fly halfway around the world. And I actually did it. Multiple times.
The US was close, convenient and easy. A quick trip to Seattle, a longer vacation somewhere else, or just visiting family. It was almost like having another country sitting next door waiting to be explored.
And for Canadians, that convenience has always been a big part of the appeal. Flights are everywhere, the dollar is familiar enough, and there is no shortage of places to visit. New York for a long weekend, California for some sun, Seattle for a quick escape. You could almost pick a destination without really thinking about it.
But lately, that automatic “let’s just go to the US” feeling seems to be changing.
So Why Are Canadians Rethinking It?
I don't think anyone in Canada woke up one morning and decided they suddenly hated the US. For years, we’ve crossed the border for shopping, road trips, concerts, vacations and to visit family. It was just normal.
But lately, things feel a little different. The politics, the tariffs, the constant back-and-forth between the two countries and the whole conversation around Canada being the 51st state have definitely changed the mood. Add a little Canadian patriotism to the mix, and suddenly that easy weekend trip across the border doesn't feel quite as appealing as it used to.
And maybe that's because vacations aren't just about picking a place on a map anymore. When you're spending your hard-earned money on flights, hotels, food and everything else that comes with a trip, you probably want to feel good about where you're spending it.
So if there are other places that are just as exciting, just as beautiful and maybe even a little more welcoming, why not take a look?
Maybe Canadians aren't saying “never the US again.”
Maybe we're just saying “let's see what else is out there.”
Maybe Convenience Has Made Us Lazy Travellers
For years, convenience has done a lot of the decision-making for us. When a place is close, familiar and easy to get to, it becomes the default. We don't always choose it because it's the most exciting option. Sometimes, we choose it because we already know how the trip works.
You know the airport. You know the roads. You know where to stay, where to eat and what to expect. There’s comfort in that.
But maybe this shift is forcing Canadians to become a little more curious. Instead of automatically booking the same familiar destinations, we might finally look at the places we’ve been saving, the countries we’ve been talking about visiting, or even the parts of Canada we keep saying we’ll explore “one day.”
A change in travel habits doesn't necessarily mean giving up the places we already love. It might simply mean making room for a few new favourites.
Travel Choices Are Becoming a Little More Personal
There's also something interesting happening when people choose where to spend their vacation money.
It's not always just about finding the cheapest flight or the shortest route anymore. Sometimes, you actually stop and think about where you want your money to go.
If you're spending thousands of dollars on a vacation, you want more than a nice hotel and a good view. You want to enjoy the whole experience.
You don't want to spend your vacation thinking, Why did I come here again? 😂
Of course, not everyone is going to make their travel decisions based on politics. Some people will continue visiting the US because they have family there, love a particular city or simply don't see a reason to change their plans. And that's completely fair.
But for others, this might be the moment they stop treating travel as a routine and start treating it as a choice.
Maybe It's About Standing With Canada
There's another side to this that I think is hard to ignore: patriotism.
For some Canadians, where they spend their money has started to feel a little more personal. If Canada is going through a difficult moment, they feel that standing with their country means supporting Canadian businesses, travelling within Canada and, when possible, choosing not to spend their vacation dollars somewhere that doesn't feel supportive of Canada.
It's not necessarily about hating the US or refusing to ever cross the border again. It's more about feeling like, "If we're going to stand together as Canadians, maybe this is one small way I can do my part."
And honestly, there's something very Canadian about that. We might complain about our weather, our taxes and the price of everything under the sun 😂 — but when it comes down to it, many Canadians still have a strong sense of pride in their country.
For some, that pride is now showing up in their travel choices too.