Vacation Mode: How Canadians Plan, Spend, and Splurge on Travelling

At home, a budget is a budget. On vacation, the extra dinner, upgraded hotel, show tickets, spa treatment, or casino night can feel like part of the experience. Travel does not just change where people are. It changes how they spend, unwind, and play.

So, what does “vacation mode” actually look like for Canadians?

We analyzed recent travel data, consumer surveys, tourism research, and vacation spending trends to see where Canadians are going, how much they plan to spend, and why the summer getaway often comes with a bigger bill than expected.

8 Key findings

1. Travel remains a priority. A 2026 BDC survey found that nine in 10 Canadians plan to travel, and most expect to travel as much or more than last year. [BDC]

2. Domestic travel is leading the way. Among Canadians planning to travel in 2026, 92% expect to take at least one trip within Canada. [BDC]

3. Vacation spending is set to climb. Allianz and Ipsos project Canadian vacation spending will reach $47.6 billion in 2026, a 22% increase from the previous year. [Ipsos]

4. The average vacation budget is rising. The average Canadian household expects to spend $4,169 on vacation in 2026, while Canadians travelling abroad are allocating $6,354 per trip on average. [Ipsos]

5. Canadians are making trade-offs to afford trips. More than eight in 10 households say they are making compromises to prioritize travel, such as choosing more affordable accommodations, travelling off-peak or being flexible with dates. [BDC]

6. The need for a getaway is real. Among Canadians intending to travel in 2026, 81% said they desperately need a vacation. [Ipsos]

7. Summer is still vacation season. Statistics Canada found that July and August were the most popular months for vacations across many Canadian tourism regions. [Statistics Canada]

8. Travel can feel meaningful, not just enjoyable. Tourism research suggests positive emotions from a trip can support well-being through autonomy and connection. [University of Guelph]

Canadians are still prioritizing travel plans

Canadians are not walking away from travel. They are adjusting how they do it.

According to the 2026 BDC Tourism Outlook, nine in 10 Canadians plan to travel, with most expecting to travel as much or more than they did the year before. About half had already booked at least one leisure trip with an overnight stay. [BDC]

That does not mean travellers are ignoring cost. In fact, the same research found that 81% of households are adjusting their budgets to prioritize travel. Some are booking more affordable accommodations. Others are travelling during off-peak periods, staying flexible with dates or choosing destinations closer to home. [BDC]

That trade-off mindset is important. It suggests Canadians are making travel a priority, and it is worth planning around.

In other words, the trip is still happening. The itinerary may just be more strategic.

Domestic trips are having a moment

If 2026 has a travel theme for Canadians, it may be this: closer to home, but still worth the getaway.

According to BDC, 92% of Canadian travellers expect to take at least one trip within Canada in 2026. The top motivations are not just practical. Travellers cited exploring Canada’s diverse regions, visiting friends or family, supporting Canadian businesses and the economy, lower costs compared with international travel and easier logistics. [BDC]

That gives domestic travel a strong emotional and economic pull.

Statistics Canada’s tourism data show why the summer season matters so much. July and August were the most popular months for vacations in many Canadian regions, from Halifax Metro and Québec to Cape Breton Island, Charlottetown, Muskoka, the Canadian Rockies, and Vancouver Island. [Statistics Canada]

Some destinations are built for summer rituals: beaches, trails, seafood, national parks, festivals, cottages, wine country, and road trips. Others offer a practical way to get away without the exchange rate risk, longer flights, or the added uncertainty of international travel.

Canadian travellers are choosing Canada because it offers the kind of trip they already want: accessible, scenic, familiar and easy to build around family, food, nature and downtime.

The vacation budget is only a starting point

Allianz and Ipsos project that total Canadian vacation spending will reach $47.6 billion in 2026, a 22% increase from the previous year. The average Canadian household expects to spend $4,169 on vacation, while Canadians travelling abroad allocate $6,354 per trip. [Ipsos]

Canadians are still eager to travel, but they are also feeling the pressure of higher costs. Close to one-third of Canadians said they are not confident they will travel in 2026, with 63% citing the high cost of travel and 36% pointing to economic uncertainty. [Ipsos]

Even among those planning to travel, budgets are shifting. Nearly half say they will adjust their plans because of the weak Canadian dollar, while 31% are planning fewer trips and 17% are choosing more affordable destinations. [Ipsos]

That does not mean Canadians are giving up on vacation. It means they are being more selective about where they go, how they book, and what they prioritize once they arrive.

The budget matters. But once the trip begins, the experience often wins.

The travel splurge

Once the essentials are covered, the real vacation spending begins.

Transportation and accommodations may get travellers to the destination, but dining, entertainment, attractions, nightlife, and activities often define the trip. That is where people shift from simply paying for travel to investing in the feeling of being away.

Statistics Canada’s regional spending data show how much travel is built around these experience-based purchases. In Atlantic Canada, visitors spent $60.2 million more on food and beverages in the second quarter than a year earlier. In Saskatchewan, spending on recreation and entertainment rose by $5.1 million, even as overall expenditures declined. [Statistics Canada]

These are the purchases that make a trip feel different from everyday life:

• The waterfront dinner

• The local show

• The winery visit

• The spa treatment

• The guided tour

• The night out

• The casino or entertainment district stop

• The activity that was not in the original budget

That last-minute add-on is often where the vacation mindset shows up most clearly. Travellers may save on flights or accommodations so they can say yes once they arrive.

Travel as an escape

Travel is an emotional decision, not only an economic one. Among Canadians intending to travel in 2026, 81% said they desperately need a vacation. Younger travellers appear to feel that need even more strongly, with Canadians aged 18 to 54 more likely to say they are desperate for a getaway. [Ipsos]

A vacation is rarely just about changing location. It is about changing pace.

Tourism research helps explain why travel can feel so meaningful. A University of Guelph thesis on travel and happiness found that positive emotions from a trip can contribute to psychological well-being through autonomy and relatedness. In simpler terms, travel can feel good not only because it is enjoyable, but because it gives people freedom, connection, and stories to bring home. [University of Guelph]

For some travellers, that means rest. For others, it means novelty, indulgence, or adventure. A trip can be a reward after a long stretch of work, a reset after stress, or a way to reconnect with people who matter.

That emotional context also changes spending behaviour. Purchases that might seem excessive at home can feel reasonable on vacation because they are tied to relaxation, celebration, and memory-making.

In everyday life, a splurge may feel unnecessary. On vacation, it can feel like the point.

Vacation mode changes how Canadians play

The same mindset that makes travellers more open to dining out, booking excursions, or upgrading their stay can also shape how they spend on entertainment.

Casinos, nightlife, live shows, sporting events, resort activities, and other entertainment experiences all fit into the broader category of vacation play. They are recreational and social, often tied to doing something outside the usual routine.

That does not mean one activity defines the trip. It means vacation creates more room for experiences people might not prioritize at home.

For a traveller in vacation mode, a casino visit may sit alongside dinner, drinks, a concert, or a day at the spa. It is part of the larger psychology of the getaway: people are more willing to try, spend, and participate when the experience feels temporary, social, and memorable.

What Canadian travel habits say about us

Canadians are not simply travelling more. They are travelling with intent.

They are choosing domestic destinations that feel accessible and meaningful. They are adjusting budgets rather than abandoning trips. They are making trade-offs before they leave so they can enjoy themselves once they arrive.

That is the heart of vacation mode.

It is not only about where Canadians go. It is about the version of themselves they give permission to become while travelling: more spontaneous, more indulgent, more open to entertainment, and more willing to pay for experiences that feel worth remembering.

The summer trip may start with a budget. But for many Canadians, the real value is in the moments that make them forget about it for a while.

Methodology

This analysis draws on publicly available research, surveys, tourism data, and industry reports about Canadian travel, vacation spending, domestic tourism, and travel-related well-being. Sources include Statistics Canada, BDC, CTV News, Global Affairs Canada, TICO, Ipsos, Allianz Global Assistance Canada, and tourism research from the University of Guelph.

Research author

Jackpot City Casino, a licensed operator, offers a wide range of interactive digital casino games designed for adult players seeking online entertainment. They enhance users' experience and promote responsible gaming through education. As part of its commitment to understanding the Canadian audiences it serves, Jackpot City conducted this research to explore how travel habits, budgeting, and leisure priorities are evolving, insights that help inform more relevant, responsible entertainment experiences across the country.