Planning your very first trip to Canada can feel like staring at a giant map and realizing you’ve only just scratched the surface of what the country has to offer. Do you start with the Rockies? Maybe the buzzing city life of Toronto? Or perhaps the French-inspired charm of Montreal? The sheer size of Canada is almost intimidating—after all, it’s the second-largest country in the world. But with the right tools, like Expedia, you can break the trip down into manageable steps and actually enjoy the planning process instead of drowning in endless travel tabs.
If you’re mapping out your Canadian adventure for 2025, you’ll need to think about more than just flights and hotels. There’s weather to contend with (and trust me, January in Winnipeg is not the same as July in Vancouver), visa requirements to sort out, and of course, deciding which of Canada’s endless options will make the cut. Expedia can act like your virtual travel buddy—it won’t remind you to pack mittens, but it will help you piece together flights, stays, and even activities in a way that feels less overwhelming.
Let’s break it down step by step, and I’ll share some insights, occasional warnings, and a few tips that you probably won’t find in the glossy brochures.
Step 1: Figuring Out When to Go
Choosing the right time of year may be the most important decision you make about your Canadian trip. It’s easy to imagine Canada as a land of snow and ice, but that’s only part of the story. Summers in Toronto can feel muggy and humid, while fall in Quebec can make you feel like you’ve walked straight into a painting.
Expedia’s flight search can give you a clear picture of what your budget looks like depending on your travel month. For instance, a quick search for Toronto flights in July 2025 shows prices soaring (no pun intended) thanks to the summer tourist rush, while September tends to be noticeably cheaper. The shoulder seasons—spring and fall—are often where the sweet spot lies: decent weather, fewer crowds, and more wallet-friendly prices.
That being said, if you’re chasing Canada’s famous winter sports, you’ll want to brave December through February. Just make sure your suitcase includes more than one pair of thermal socks.
Step 2: Booking Flights Without Losing Your Mind
Booking international flights can be the most intimidating part, but Expedia makes it surprisingly digestible. Instead of bouncing between 15 different airline sites, you can filter by price, time, layovers, and even airlines you trust (because, let’s be honest, not all airlines treat you equally).
For first-timers, here’s a tip: don’t just look at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) as your only gateway. Canada’s a huge country, and depending on your itinerary, flying directly into Vancouver, Calgary, or even Montreal might save you hours of backtracking.
Expedia also lets you play around with “multi-city” options. Imagine you want to start in Vancouver, make your way east, and finish in Toronto—rather than paying for a separate one-way flight at the end, you can book it all together. It looks intimidating at first but usually comes out cheaper than piecing it together.
One caveat? Expedia’s cheapest fare options sometimes come with strict rules: no changes, no refunds, and occasionally, awkwardly long layovers. It’s tempting to click on the lowest number you see, but ask yourself—do you really want an 18-hour layover in Minneapolis in January?
Step 3: Choosing Where to Stay
Here’s where things get interesting. Canada’s accommodation scene runs the gamut: sleek downtown hotels, cozy Airbnbs, rustic cabins by the lake, and even those iconic Fairmont hotels that look like castles (but charge castle prices). Expedia allows you to filter by style, budget, and even vibe—are you after a boutique hotel in Old Montreal or a ski-in lodge in Whistler?
When I booked my first trip to Canada, I made the rookie mistake of staying way outside downtown Toronto to save money. The problem? My daily “savings” vanished into subway fares and lost time. Lesson learned: sometimes paying a little more for location is worth every penny, especially in big cities.
Expedia’s “bundle deals” can also shave off a decent chunk if you book your hotel and flight together. That said, the bundles aren’t always magical—occasionally, you’ll find that booking separately gives you more flexibility or access to smaller, quirky hotels that don’t always appear in package deals.
Step 4: Sorting Out Transportation Once You’re There
Let’s be honest: Canada is massive. What looks like a “short drive” on Google Maps may actually turn out to be a seven-hour road trip. If you’re sticking to one city, public transport and rideshares might do the trick. But if you want to hop between provinces or explore the Canadian Rockies, a rental car is almost non-negotiable.
Expedia allows you to book car rentals along with your flights and hotels, which can simplify things. You can even filter for things like “unlimited mileage,” which is a lifesaver when you realize your drive from Calgary to Banff and back already eats up a few hundred kilometers.
Here’s something many travelers overlook: Canadian gas prices aren’t outrageous compared to Europe, but parking in big cities is. A downtown Toronto hotel may charge you $40 a night just to leave your car there. That’s when it might make sense to rent a car only for the part of your trip outside major cities.
Step 5: Activities and Experiences—Beyond Just Checking Boxes
Expedia doesn’t just stop at hotels and flights; their activities tab is worth a browse. Want to book a guided tour of Niagara Falls? Or maybe a whale-watching cruise in Vancouver? You can lock it all in before you even leave home.
Personally, I like leaving a little wiggle room for spontaneous discoveries. On one trip, I stumbled upon a small-town farmer’s market in Nova Scotia that turned out to be more memorable than any guided tour. Pre-booking guarantees you don’t miss the big highlights, but don’t fill every hour of your schedule—Canada rewards wanderers.
That being said, some activities (like tickets for CN Tower in Toronto or the Banff Gondola) can sell out during peak season. Expedia often bundles entry tickets with discounts, which saves both money and the headache of long lines.
Step 6: Travel Documents, Insurance, and Other Practicalities
Here’s the not-so-fun part of travel planning: paperwork. Depending on where you’re coming from, you may need either a Canadian tourist visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Expedia doesn’t handle this directly, but they often link to resources during the booking process.
Travel insurance is another box you shouldn’t skip. Canada’s healthcare system is fantastic—for Canadians. For visitors, a broken ankle on a hiking trail could translate into a bill that makes your flight ticket look like pocket change. Expedia lets you add travel insurance to your booking, and while the upsell might feel annoying, it’s worth at least considering.
Step 7: Budgeting Like a Realist
Let’s talk money. Canada is not a bargain-basement destination, and pretending otherwise can leave you frustrated. A mid-range dinner for two in Toronto will likely run you $60–$80 before drinks. Add in activities, transportation, and those sneaky coffee stops at Tim Hortons (which add up quicker than you think), and your budget can balloon.
Expedia helps by letting you sort accommodations and flights by price, but the real budgeting trick is factoring in the daily costs beyond what Expedia shows you. A $100 hotel room sounds great until you realize it’s a 45-minute train ride from downtown, and you’ll be spending $20 a day just getting around.
If you’re traveling on a tight budget, consider student-friendly or off-peak deals. Visiting Canada in May or October can slash costs without sacrificing too much in terms of weather or experiences.
Step 8: Packing for Canada’s Quirky Weather
Packing for Canada is not as simple as tossing a few T-shirts and jeans into a suitcase. The weather can swing wildly—not just by season, but by region. Vancouver in March might be drizzly but mild, while Edmonton at the same time feels like you’ve stepped into a deep freeze.
Expedia’s destination guides often include average temperatures and packing tips, which can save you from arriving in Montreal in January with nothing but sneakers and a thin jacket. The smart move is layering—think breathable shirts, a solid waterproof jacket, and shoes you can actually walk in.
Step 9: Embracing the Journey
At some point, planning stops being fun and starts feeling like work. That’s normal. The sheer number of decisions—flights, hotels, visas, activities—can get overwhelming. But using a platform like Expedia helps centralize everything, making it less like juggling flaming torches and more like assembling Lego pieces.
Your first trip to Canada doesn’t have to cover everything. Don’t try to squeeze in Toronto, Vancouver, Banff, Montreal, and Halifax in two weeks—you’ll spend more time in airports than actually exploring. Pick a theme instead: maybe “West Coast nature,” or “East Coast culture,” or “the big cities tour.” Expedia lets you shape your trip in line with your focus.
Final Thoughts
Planning your first trip to Canada with Expedia in 2025 doesn’t need to be overwhelming, even if it feels that way at the start. Between flight options, bundled hotel deals, and activity bookings, it simplifies a process that could otherwise spiral into chaos. But remember: technology can only get you so far. The magic of travel lies in those unscripted moments—the chance encounters, the detours, the small discoveries that don’t show up on Expedia’s filters.
Canada is likely to surprise you in ways you can’t book ahead. And that’s the beauty of it. Use Expedia as your launchpad, but leave room for Canada to do what it does best—welcome you with wide-open spaces, diverse cultures, and the occasional moose sighting on the side of the road.