- Three in 10 Canadians have plans to take a holiday this summer, while 54% do not have plans, and 15% are undecided.
- 63% will be sticking to local day trips for their holiday and 25% are planning to visit another province.
- 10% say they're making plans to go to the United States.
But what are these adventurous travellers planning to do?
Wanderlust is back with a vengeance for many Canadians. A survey from Leger Marketing in May 2021 found that more than three in 10 Canadians (31%) have plans to not let another summer slip away without a vacation.
Fifty-four percent of those surveyed said they had no plans to embark on a holiday this summer, while 15% were not clear on what their plans would be.
What’s on the vacation itinerary?
For those planning a vacation, the destinations for most travellers are reasonably local, according to the survey results:
- 63% are sticking to day trips
- 50% are looking for a few days away but within their home province
- 25% plan to look beyond their province – but within Canada – for a getaway
- 10% plan to visit the U.S.
- 10% plan to get on a plane and travel to an international destination
Tips for travel within your home province
If you’re gearing up for a road trip this summer – whether it’s a day trip or a weekend getaway, be sure to plan for the drive:
- No matter where you're travelling, your car insurance coverage will follow you should something go wrong. Just make sure you have your driver’s licence, insurance documents, ownership, and registration handy.
- Take your car in for a tune-up. Minimize the chance you’ll get caught at the side of the road and have your mechanic give your vehicle a good once over.
- Be patient. You will likely encounter traffic along the way. Don’t drive aggressively and avoid speeding and tailgating. Leave a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you, and always signal before changing lanes or making a turn.
- Don’t drive distracted, tired, or impaired.
Tips for travelling beyond your province but within Canada
Travelling beyond your home province is going to be more complicated than just jumping in the car.
Even though no federal travel requirements say you should avoid travel within Canada, many provinces and territories have rules and restrictions. For example, at the time of publication, the border between Ontario and Quebec is still closed, and visiting Nova Scotia is only allowed for essential reasons (and leisure isn’t one of them).
All of this is fluid, of course, and bound to change as more people get vaccinated and the number of cases drops. To keep tabs on what’s happening elsewhere in Canada, visit the federal government’s provincial and territorial restrictions summary (which conveniently links to each province’s relevant information).
Travel insurance for your travels in Canada
If the decision is made to travel to another province, don’t rely solely on your provincial health care coverage should you fall ill or be injured.
While it is true, you will be covered for emergency hospital and physician services; you’ll likely find there are costs related to your emergency that you’ll have to pay (e.g. ambulance services, prescription drugs, semi-private room). These costs would be covered with a travel insurance policy, plus more. Costs for emergency dental treatment, expenses incurred by a travelling companion while you’re hospitalized, and even fees for having a phone or television in your hospital room may also be included in a travel policy.
Plus, you can get coverage for trip cancellation, interruption, or delay, and loss of luggage. If you’re concerned about COVID-19 and what it might do to your travel plans, look for policies that specifically include this nasty virus as part of its coverage.
Options will vary. Review your policy wording to know what you’re getting.
Setting your sights beyond Canada’s borders
For the few who plan to leave the country, travel insurance should be packed right alongside your passport. There are travel insurance policies available that include coverage for everything you’d typically want, plus COVID-19 insurance. However, not all policies feature this add on, so make sure you purchase a policy that does. You'll also want to make sure you're clear on when and how coverage kicks in because every policy is a little bit different.
