One last summer getaway? Here’s when Canadians can fly for less

With Labour Day falling as late as possible on the calendar this year, Canadians are getting an extra week to squeeze in one final summer getaway.

According to travel search engine KAYAK, interest in travel is up during the week leading into Labour Day, with increases in searches for flights, hotels and rental cars beginning Saturday, Aug. 29.

For those staying closer to home, there’s some good news for road-trippers. Domestic rental car rates are down 33 per cent year-over-year, translating to average savings of about $36 per day.

International travel is also gaining popularity, with searches for international flights up six per cent, hotels up nine per cent and rental cars up 13 per cent.

For travellers looking to save on airfare, Saturday, Sept. 5 is expected to be the cheapest day to fly over the Labour Day weekend. Domestic travellers could save 19 per cent compared with flying on the Thursday before the long weekend, while international travellers could save 18 per cent.

Friday, Sept. 4, meanwhile, is expected to be the busiest travel day for both domestic and international flights.

Closer to home, Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary are the three most popular domestic destinations for Labour Day weekend travel, with average airfares of $385, $391 and $357, respectively.

And for those looking for a last-minute escape, several destinations are still averaging less than $500 for airfare. Calgary tops the list at $357, followed by New York at $382, Vancouver at $385, Toronto at $391 and Los Angeles at $413.

So, if you’re hoping to make the most of summer before the fall routine begins, there may still be time to plan one last trip.