While many people get excited about picking their next vacation destination, it’s easy to get stuck in the seemingly never-ending cycle of looking for the best place, and the best deal, but not committing to the booking. If that sounds like a pattern you’ve experienced, you’re not alone, Skyscanner found.
Research conducted by Skyscanner in November 2024, with a survey of 1,000 Canadian adults, found that 86 per cent of respondents get “vacation paralysis,” with 95 per cent saying it has to do with cost. Skyscanner also found the 65 per cent of Canadians indicated they’ve spent more time trying to book a vacation than “major life decisions,” including deciding where to live.
In fact, neurology doctor and neuroscientist Dr. Faye Begeti, also known as “The Brain Doctor,” coined the term “wanderlost.”
“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,” a statement from Dr. Begeti reads. “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.'”
Sunset on the old town of Torino (Turin) Piedmont, Italy (Getty Images)
But Skyscanner is trying to help Canadians as they kick off their 2025 vacation search, identifying 10 top searches and the best value destinations for the year, including calculating the average cost of flights.
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Fort Myers, Florida — $246.50
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St. John’s, Newfoundland — $263.50
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Turin, Italy — $289
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Boston, Massachusetts — $333.40
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Montreal, Quebec — $368.90
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Montego Bay, Jamaica — $533.80
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Berlin, Germany — $547.40
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San Jose, Costa Rica — $576.30
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Ponta Delgada, Portugal — $630.70
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Madrid, Spain — $676.60
Portas da Cidade, the city symbol of Ponta Delgada in Sao Miguel Island in Azores, Portugal (Getty Images)
In partnership with Skyscanner, Dr. Begeti highlighted five tips to help prevent that “wanderlost,” or “vacation paralysis.”
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Narrow down your options so you don’t “overwhelm your brain.”
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Prioritize your decisions, starting with the bigger travel elements like flights and hotels when your “mental energy” is at its highest, helping to avoid falling into “good enough” vacation decision.
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Choose a vacation that “aligns with your mental state.” For example, if you feel under-stimulated, look at city destinations or adventure travel options.
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Bookmark any dream destinations in a list that you can revisit when booking your next vacation. Dr. Begeti stressed that the anticipation of a vacation can feel “as exciting as the trip itself,” so use that enthusiasm to your advantage.
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Break free of patterns and the same routine for travel.
Tips for finding the cheapest flights
If flight costs are getting you down, there are a few things Canadian travellers can do to ensure they’re getting the best deal possible for their next vacation, both on the Skyscanner platform specifically and when looking for flights more generally.
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Beat the crowds: For flights that are filling up fast, you’ll want to make sure you’re looking at the monthly view on travel search sites like Skyscanner to see the best possible option available for flight dates.
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Set up alerts: Prices are always changing, so if you’re hoping to travel to a specific destination, or on specific dates, set up a price alert so you can be quick if a deal comes up. Skyscanner specifically has a price alerts system for any cost changes.
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Consider “Everywhere”: If you’re hoping for a new adventure, or a little rest and relaxation, but you don’t have a specific destination in mind, the “Everywhere” search on Skyscanner may be your new best friend to discover the most affordable vacation destination possible.
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Flexible dates: There may be certain times where you need to travel for specific dates, but the best deals are really revealed when you open yourself up to some flexibility. Even changing your travel dates by a day, or a week, can result in significant savings.