Stressed, overspent, and stuck: Why Canadians can’t pull the trigger on vacation plans

Do you suffer from vacation decision paralysis? According to a recent survey from BMO, where 55% of Canadians altered their vacation plans due to rising costs, and 32% even compromised their long-term savings to afford a trip. Meanwhile, 59% opted for domestic travel to save money, and the average planned summer travel spend reached $3,825 per household.

This pattern of postponing travel decisions due to financial stress appears to impact Canadians throughout 2025. In a January 2025 survey by Skyscanner, 47% of respondents said they began planning and booking their vacations in January — yet 86% admit they overthink the process, delaying decisions and often missing deals. This vacation decision paralysis is most often driven by concerns around cost, with 95% saying price is a major factor, and a full 65% needing one to six months to finalize their plans.

“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 explained in a Skyscanner 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'."

To help, here are five quick fix tips to help you get on with vacation analysis and pull the trigger to book that much needed time off.

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.

Vacation planning smarter and faster with 5 quick fix tips

1. Set a firm decision deadline, eg. two months before travel.
2. Use fare trackers like Google Flights and Hopper.
3. Prioritize refundable accommodation to ease commitment fears.
4. Plan domestic first — road trips or cottage getaways can cost up to 30% less than comparable U.S. or European trips.
5. Recognize the psychological toll: Planning a vacation should refresh, not drain. Choose types of travel that match your mental state — relaxing nature trips if you're burnt out, or culture/adventure for overstimulated travellers.

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Tap into loyalty points and rewards to stretch your travel budget

One of the smartest ways to take the stress out of travel planning — and cut down on costs — is to leverage your credit card loyalty and rewards programs. With travel prices on the rise, using points for flights, hotels, or car rentals can make your dream vacation more affordable — and in some cases, free.

Use travel rewards and companion fares to your advantage

If you hold a travel credit card, you may already be earning points or miles for everyday spending. These can often be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, or vacation packages.

For example:

• The RBC British Airways Visa Infinite offers 10% off British Airways flights, plus if you spend $30,000 or more in a year you get one annual companion voucher or 50% off a solo ticket.
• Aeroplan credit cards let you redeem points for Air Canada flights and dozens of partner airlines. Aeroplan also offers stopover perks and family sharing plans to pool points and save more.
• WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard users can claim a companion voucher every year — allowing a second passenger to fly for a flat fee (starting at $119 CAD plus taxes and fees), which can cut the cost of a family trip in half.

Travel Hack: Book during airline or credit card travel promotions. Many cards offer seasonal bonuses or point redemptions that stretch further during low seasons or fare sales.

Save on accommodations, too

Don’t forget that points aren’t just for flights. Many travel reward credit cards partner with hotel chains or booking platforms, letting you redeem points for nights at brands like Marriott, Hilton, or Best Western. If your card earns flexible points (like American Express Membership Rewards), you can often transfer them to multiple airline or hotel partners — giving you even more booking power.

Before you book

• Compare point redemption value: Some points are worth more when redeemed through the credit card’s own portal (like Amex Travel or Scotia Rewards).
• Watch for blackout dates or minimum redemption rules.
• Check for added travel insurance benefits, such as trip cancellation or lost baggage coverage, which can save you money on add-ons.

Looking for a new credit card? Find the best rates and rewards with our comprehensive credit card comparison tool

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.