Amsterdam – October 14, 2026 -- Canadian travellers want vacations built around how they feel, who joins them and what they leave out, according to Booking.com's Travel Predictions for 2027. The forecast combines proprietary consumer research with input from the company's travel and technology experts, and it comes as Booking.com marks 30 years in business.
Travellers are trimming packages down to what they use
56% of respondents say a health or lifestyle change has influenced their destination or activities. 71% want packages that let them remove elements they won't use. Booking.com calls the trend "The All-Exclusive" and ties it to medications that reshape appetites and a growing sobriety culture.
Couples are booking trips to resolve conflict
39% of Canadian couples would take a trip to resolve a conflict. 67% say a vacation activity helps them have difficult conversations, and hiking together (33%) ranks among the most effective.
Budget is also shaping who gets invited. 41% have reconsidered who to invite over spending differences, and 27% have removed people from a group entirely. 65% of parents want to travel child-free.
Mood now outranks the map for 72% of travellers
72% would choose a destination based primarily on how they want to feel, and 66% would use a search tool that recommends destinations by mood. 76% of Gen Z would share wearable and phone data to personalize a trip, compared with 28% of boomers.
69% want a vacation that is completely out of character, and 29% want to surprise friends and family. 24% have skipped posting about a trip because it felt too ordinary.
Paranormal and physical challenges draw interest
59% are interested in experiences that confront the paranormal. 40% would seek to speak to someone on the "other side," and 41% are curious about experiences exploring death and the afterlife.
Among Canadians who have travelled alone, 51% say a shared physical challenge led to a lasting friendship. 44% would join a community of like-minded athletes while travelling.
AI could cover work so the last vacation day stays enjoyable
55% say the last day of vacation is less enjoyable because they're thinking about work. 51% are interested in AI covering their work, and 33% would let it manage emails and admin.
On long-haul flights, 88% would make the journey if they'd arrive rested. Top wishes are sleep-supportive menus or caffeine guidance (33%), jet-lag-reducing lighting (26%) and skincare kits (17%). 31% would choose a "no-children, quiet zone."
Paul Hennessy, Chief Marketing Officer at Booking.com, says travellers are challenging the conventions of how, why and with whom they travel. He adds that the company is combining AI with deeper personalization to tailor each step of a trip to individual intent and emotion.