According to the latest Skyscanner survey, 86% of Canadians admit to overthinking their vacation planning. With half of Canadian travelers beginning to plan and book their 2025 vacations in January, overthinking the when, where and how much they will spend their hard earned money is putting pressure on them to make a decision.
“Planning a vacation can feel overwhelming, especially when each decision — whether it’s choosing a destination or booking flights, hotels and activities — requires significant mental effort,” neuroscientist Dr. Faye Begeti said in a statement.
“We can then end up in a state of fatigue where, instead of feeling inspired by the idea of travel, the usual excitement of ‘wanderlust’ turns into a state of ‘wanderlost’."
Almost all travelers (95%) cited cost as a major factor in that decision paralysis.
Vacation destination consternation
Deciding how much to spend is clearly a frought decision, with 65% of Canadians saying it takes them between one and six months to finalize their trips.
In fact, such weight is given to travel decisions that Canadians admit to spending more time planning a vacation (65%) than they do making a major life decision, such as choosing where to live (56%).
But the idea of travel doesn’t have to stop you in your tracks. There are plenty of great places to consider visiting that will give you the vacation you’re looking for without a hefty price tag.
Skyscanner assembled the top 10 affordable destinations for Canadians to fly under $700 to help give you some ideas of where your money goes further: Fort Myers, Fla.; St. John’s; Turin; Boston; Montreal; Montego Bay; Berlin; Ponta Delgada, Portugal; and Madrid. The Fort Myers flight averages $246.50, while the Madrid flight averages $676.60.
Stress-free travel planning
Dr. Begeti has five tips for Canadians seeking to plan vacations, stress-free. It starts with combatting decision fatigue, by narrowing down key destinations early.
From there, tackle the big decisions — like selecting flights or accommodation — when your mental energy is highest. For less important choices, adopt a "good enough" approach. If a choice meets your criteria, select it and move on to avoid overthinking it. You know where you want to go and stay, so the big stuff is done!
Choose a vacation that aligns with your mental state. If you’re feeling mentally overloaded, for example, opt for a nature-focused retreat to reduce sensory input and recharge. If you’re under-stimulated, consider a city break or an adventure vacation for a burst of novelty and excitement.
Bookmark your dream destinations in a saved list and revisit them as you refine your plans, making the planning a less stressful and more exciting experience.
Finally, try a little break from routine by stepping out of your comfort zone when planning your vacation and exploring unexpected destinations; this can lead to more memorable experiences.
Survey methodology
The survey consisted of independent research through polling 1,000 Canadian adults. For the flights, Skyscanner analyzed millions of flight bookings and calculated the median return economy seat price for all departure cities within the market. The analysis covers all departure and return dates in 2025, based on data available as of November 2024, including both direct and connecting flights.
This article The majority of Canadians are overthinking their vacation decisions originally appeared on Money.ca
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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