'Snowbirds are planning': Canadians snatching up rentals for vacation homes in these popular U.S. states
While staying in hotels are more traditional accommodations for travel, renting a vacation home is becoming increasingly popular, particularly for Canadians travelling to the U.S.
According to information provided to Yahoo Canada on searches from the vacation rental booking platform Vrbo, Canadian travellers have accounted for over half of the international searches in the past month for vacation homes in the U.S.
“This tells us the snowbirds are planning,” a statement from Expedia Group, which Vrbo is under, reads. “This indicates there is interest and excitement for future travel to warm weather destinations to escape the cooler Canadian months – something that travellers have missed out on in the last two years.”
Based on Canadian insights from Vrbo, the top vacation home destinations, based on demand, are:
Arizona
Florida
Southern California
Hawaii
Arizona
The desert state of Arizona has historically been very popular for Canadian travellers who want to get away from the cold Canadian winter.
Phoenix and Scottsdale are particularly popular destinations for Canadians looking for vacation rentals.
Arizona is also a great destination choice for a road trip, which lends itself to Canadian travellers looking to drive to their U.S. winter getaway, in addition to attractions like Grand Canyon National Park, great golf courses, hiking trails, or keep it a bit more relaxed with a tour of iconic architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West.
Florida
Another known U.S. attraction for Canadians is Florida, from more bustling cities like Miami to other destinations like Ft. Lauderdale, Kissimmee, Fort Myers and Daytona Beach. Ultimately, Canadians are just looking for that warm weather and the Florida sunshine.
Another option for Canadians who love Florida is The Palm Beaches in South Florida, which is home to The Match Course at PGA National Resort at Palm Beach Gardens, you can see the new Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru exhibit at Boca Raton Museum of Art and the Loggerhead Marinelife Center at Juno Beach, one of the world’s most densely nested sea turtle beaches.
Southern California
There’s nothing like sunny California, with Canadians specifically interested in vacation rentals in Los Angeles and San Diego recently.
When you think of Los Angeles most people will think of Hollywood, so take a tour of Warner Bros. Studio, get a glimpse of the Hollywood Sign or keep things a little spooky with a walk through the Hollywood Forever cemetery to remember the stars who are no longer with us. Of course, don’t forget to do a little shopping while you’re in LA.
If San Diego is more your speed, try your hand at water activities like surfing, paddle boarding, sailing, snorkeling or blue whale watching. If you’re looking for some history, head to Old Town State Park, known as the birthplace of California.
You can always hit the road and experience San Diego's 59-mile scenic drive with panoramic views of the coastline and surrounding areas.
Hawaii
The Hawaiian islands have also been a popular choice for Canadian travellers recently and for those looking to book a vacation rental home, you can really immerse yourself in the local Hawaiian culture.
There are a lot of outdoor adventure options with beautiful beaches that cater to both adrenaline junkies and the more relaxed travellers alike, including deep sea fishing, mountain tubing, whale watching and surfing.
Taste the local cuisine, specifically fresh fish, fruits and vegetables, and there are a lot of tips available on how to experience Hawaii in a sustainable way, being sensitive to Hawaii’s fragile ecosystem.
Take a farm tour to learn about the farm-to-table processes for local cuisine, or head to the Hawaii Wildlife Center's Hoopulauma Science and Discovery Center to learn about efforts to rehabilitate native bird species.
