Luxury Vacation Spots Beyond the US for Canadians
The US has long been a luxury vacation destination for travellers worldwide, but especially for Canadians seeking an engaging experience that’s not halfway across the globe. The US is an enormous country and has always offered a wide array of destinations for Canadian travellers. While the country remains as naturally beautiful and varied as ever, many Canadian travellers are choosing to put their time and money elsewhere in 2025. If you’re a Canadian traveller looking for somewhere exciting, welcoming, and special to take a little time for yourself this year, these are some of the finest options worldwide.
Luxury Travel Trends 2025
While each traveller has their own criteria for choosing a luxury vacation spot, travel trends change year to year and play a significant role in influencing booking decisions. The top luxury travel trends for 2025 include:
Solo travel. The bliss of making all your plans to suit you and you alone — book a charter plane on a whim, if you like, or spend months planning the perfect escape.
Cool experiences — and we mean literally. Travel to icy, far-off destinations is in full swing and shows no signs of slowing down.
A focus on food. Culinary travel is taking an enormous share of the luxury travel market by storm. Experiencing the cuisine of a new culture is certainly something worth travelling for.
Expert guidance. Travel bloggers and vloggers are seeing a bigger-than-ever surge in followers who seek their recommendations before booking.
Rest and relaxation over exhilaration. Adventure travel will always have its place, but in 2025, more luxury travellers are choosing to slow down while abroad.
Luxurious Travel Destinations Frequented by Canadians in 2025
1. Lisbon, Portugal
Best Luxury Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon
Lisbon is a riot of colour, texture, tastes, and experiences like nowhere else on Earth. It’s a captivating city that bowls new arrivals over with the sheer energy and happiness exuding from every person and every street. It’s the perfect place to forget your day-to-day life for a little while and live entirely in the moment. Here, history and culture await at every turn; the exquisitely opulent Ajuda National Palace is a must for history and design enthusiasts, and the city’s famous trams offer a local’s point of view as they zip through the streets. A day trip to the gorgeous seaside town of Cascais provides the perfect excuse to spend a warm afternoon on sandy beaches, and some of the most divine wines in all of Portugal await in the nearby region of Azeitão. Lisbon is a particularly wonderful choice for those seeking warm, welcoming people, a stunning climate, beautiful coastal scenery, and a relaxed yet vibrant pace of life.
2. Tokyo, Japan
Best Luxury Stay: Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park
Tokyo starkly contrasts with Lisbon in that this is a true metropolis — its speed, bustle, gleaming modernity, and sleek precision make it an exhilarating place to spend time. Thankfully, Tokyo is tempered by Japan’s deep and rich history: dark timbers, verdant green spaces, and traditional textiles are woven throughout the city, adding something unique and special that makes Tokyo so much more than just another urban landscape. Modernity and ancient tradition clash in a delightful cacophony of extraordinary and simple sights and experiences. The luxury shopping in this city is nothing short of royally excellent, especially in Ginza. The dedication to service at every hotel, restaurant, and spa is unmatched; more than 600 Michelin-starred restaurants are scattered across the city; onsens and thermal springs offer hours of genuine relaxation; and the Imperial Palace leads visitors through Japan’s illustrious past with a real taste of its historical culture.
3. Reykjavik, Iceland
Best Luxury Stay: Highland Base
Known as the land of ice and fire, Iceland is the birthplace of legends spanning thousands of years. While Reykjavik is a genuine city, Iceland’s countryside remains untouched by excessive development and is easily accessible on day trips. Visitors come here to experience the remoteness and harsh, unique beauty of the far north. The Blue Lagoon is one of the biggest draws for travellers from around the world — this glowing, otherworldly geothermal spring showcases the country’s unique skies and landscapes at their most spectacular. Take a frosty snowmobile ride out to Langjökull Glacier to truly appreciate the scale and majesty of the surrounding landscape, or explore the unchanged natural beauty of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula with its jagged green mountains and dramatic coastlines.
The Best Taste in Travel
Canadian travellers who love luxury are spending more and more time in these stunning destinations — and it’s not hard to see why. Elevate your luxury travel experience in 2025 and discover what the wider world has to offer.
