Even though the dollar has seen better days, don’t let that fool you – travel is still affordable. If you’ve been craving a vacation but you’re still keeping an eye on your bank balance, getting away doesn’t have to be a pipe dream this year. Several low-cost carriers are introducing new routes from Canada that make it easier to pack up and go for less. Here are eight new low-cost routes from Canada to consider the next time you get the urge to scratch that travel itch.
WestJet to London, England
Whether you’re interested in history, art, culture, shopping, theatre or nightlife, you can’t beat London, England as a destination that has it all – and it just got easier to visit. Starting May 6 of this year, WestJet will be offering non-stop flights to London so you can check out must-see attractions like the Tower of London, Tate Modern, The London Eye, Oxford Street and Westminster Abbey. Flights will be available year-round from Toronto and Calgary to London Gatwick, and you can expect to see seasonal non-stop flights from Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg and St. John’s, Newfoundland.
WestJet to Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Starting June 15, WestJet will be operating five flights a week from Toronto to Nashville so if you’ve been thinking about taking a trip to “Music City” this might just be the summer to do it. Music lovers can enjoy shows seven days a week, 365 days of the year. While numerous big names grace the various iconic stages in Nashville, the city also hosts tons of free live music. Before you go, download Nashville’s free live music app to plan your no-cost listening adventure.
WestJet to San Diego, California
California’s second largest city is an eclectic vacation option and one that should definitely have a spot on your travel radar. In addition to more than 100 kilometres of coastline, the sunny city is made up of a series of diverse neighbourhoods, all offering their own reasons to stay, eat, play and explore. If you’re intrigued passengers flying out of Vancouver can look forward to WestJet flights to San Diego being offered three times a week starting in June.
Air Transat to Curacao
We hear an awful lot about Caribbean destinations such as Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Aruba, but one that often gets overlooked is the Dutch island of Curacao – and Air Transat started offering flights to the island from Toronto on December 20, 2015. Head to Curacao for the many pristine beaches, a downtown area that is a UNESCO World Heritage city (one of only a few in the Caribbean), great diving and snorkelling, charming Dutch colonial architecture and lots more. Flights operate on Sundays through to April 3, 2016.
Air Transat to Zagreb, Croatia
Croatia has been a hot ticket destination for a while with no signs of letting up in terms of interest from potential travellers. While many visitors to Croatia focus mainly on the coast, Zagreb has a lot to offer in it its own right. Croatia’s capital was made for leisurely strolling and café-hopping. The city is also home to many museums, galleries and theatres to check out. Air Transat will also be adding flights to Zagreb to their roster. Flights will operate on Tuesdays as of June 15, 2016 direct from Toronto and via a connecting flight from Montreal.
WOW Air to Reykjavik, Iceland
Anyone interested in seeing Iceland’s many attractions can do so via flights offered by WOW Air. The low-cost carrier will offer service via Reykjavik out of Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport beginning on May 12, 2016, and out of Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson airport on May 20, 2016. Reykjavik, though a small city, is jam-packed with things to see and do. There’s a thriving live music scene, a downtown area filled with museums, galleries, cafes and bars and proximity to some awe-inspiring natural attractions like glaciers and hot springs.
Air Canada Rouge to Casablanca, Morocco
If you’ve ever been curious about Morocco, Air Canada Rouge will soon be launching its four-times-weekly Montreal to Casablanca service on June 3 (pending necessary government approvals). Flights will operate Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Casablanca can be your gateway to the rest of fascinating Morocco, but the city has its own worthwhile offerings in the form of art galleries, a burgeoning fashion scene, nightlife, café culture and history.
Air Canada Rouge to Glasgow, Scotland
Air Canada Rouge will also be adding a route to Scotland’s largest city. Starting on June 13 the airline will offer three-times-weekly service from Toronto to Glasgow on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Glasgow was recently named one of the top 20 ‘Best of the World’ destinations for 2016 by “National Geographic Traveler” and it has a lot to offer. Glasgow is known for its impressive architecture, art scene, live music (it’s a UNESCO City of Music), shopping, nightlife and dining.
Bonus
Keep an eye out for New Leaf Airlines who hopes to offer a more affordable way to see Canada. The low-cost carrier is currently waiting for a review of its licensing requirements by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), but plans to offer ultra-low cost fares on flights into seven Canadian cities. New Leaf announced January 6 they would start flying from Halifax, Hamilton, Saskatoon, Kelowna, Regina, Winnipeg and Abbotsford.
Featured image: istockphoto.com/vdvtut
