Spring is in the air and so are Canadians
Spring is in the air and so are Canadian travellers.
It seems the cold, dark months have been with us for forever. Everywhere I go I hear people talking about heading to warmer climates or I see their vacation photos from some sunny paradise posted on their Facebook page.
If you haven't gotten away yet, don't worry. There may be hope yet. A new survey reveals that at least 79 per cent of Canadians are planning on hitting the sunnier trails this season.
Doug Porter, Chief Economist, BMO Capital Markets notes, "Even with the moderate decline in the Canadian dollar in recent weeks, the currency remains historically strong. We continue to expect the loonie to trade just below parity through the spring travel season."
Travellers expect to spend an average of $2.431 on their spring trips this year, while those planning longer get-aways anticipate spending about $6,490, according to the survey conducted by Pollara for BMO Bank of Montreal.
By province, it appears those from British Columbia (88 per cent) and Alberta (86 per cent) are the most likely to travel; while those in Quebec (69 per cent) are the least likely.
To offset costs, the survey found that the majority of people spend a fair amount of time shopping for deals while others take advantage of their travel rewards or their own vacation properties.
Some other interesting facts in the survey are those from British Columbia and Ontario plan ton spending the most on their spring get-aways. Travellers in the Prairies and the Maritimes are most likely to visit another province, while those in Quebec are least likely to travel within Canada and opt for European countries.
By Donna Donaldson, MSN Money
Are you planning on getting away this spring? What is your ideal get-away?
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