The best city break for travellers looking to swap the USA for Canada
Canada, renowned for its breathtaking wild landscapes and world-class scenery, has long been a cherished destination for British holidaymakers seeking an unforgettable escape.
However, a confluence of geopolitical shifts and evolving travel preferences appears to be introducing the country to a new generation of visitors.
The nation has seen a significant surge in tourism, with the start of this year marking a 13 per cent increase in arrivals compared to the same period in 2024.
This newfound popularity, according to some observers, may be influenced by its neighbour across the border, potentially driven by travellers seeking an alternative to the United States following Donald Trump's return to office.
For most, Canada's enduring appeal lies in its natural good looks: the mountains, glaciers, forests and lakes found coast to coast.
Interestingly, though, it's not only the great outdoors that is now luring people across the pond. People are increasingly tempted by its cities and urban spaces, hotspots that are now benefiting from Canada's resurgence in popularity – and none more so than Toronto.
Located in the province of Ontario and home to around three million people, it's Canada's biggest city, and a new Virgin Atlantic service from London Heathrow has made it more accessible than ever before.
It's more than a decade since the airline last served Canada (flights to Vancouver were suspended in 2014).
So, what awaits? Unlike Montreal, its distinctly more European cousin found to the north-east in the neighbouring province of Quebec, Toronto is unashamedly North American in look and feel with long avenues lined with gleaming skyscrapers that could easily pass for Manhattan.
Elsewhere, there are five-star hotels and flavours from all over the world to enjoy, and all against a backdrop of the infinite waters of Lake Ontario. If that wasn't tempting enough, one of the world's greatest natural wonders, the mighty Niagara Falls, is within easy reach.
Here's how to make the most of your time in Canada's most exciting city…
Where to stay
With a firm focus on sustainability, the 1 Hotel is a recommended and ethical place to bed down while in Toronto, with stylish furniture made from reclaimed materials and a fleet of electric cars available for complimentary journeys of within a few miles of the property. It's a nice touch but not one you're likely to need given the hotel's central location. The iconic CN Tower, standing at 1,815feet, is just a stone's throw away.
The contemporary vibe – light woods and pale tones – is complimented by more than 3,000 plants, some of which are native to this part of Canada. But the best bit has to be the rooftop pool – the perfect spot to cool down while savouring the cityscape views. Doubles from £239; visit 1hotels.com/toronto.
Where to eat
Also offering spectacular views from up high on the 44th floor of the Bisha Hotel, located in the heart of the city's entertainment district, is KOST, a restaurant inspired by the flavours and feelings of California. Light and airy, it's a trendy spot for brunch all the way through to cocktails and late-night bites. Daytime diners can feast on braised beef tacos and Baja Caesar salad with agave bacon, while nocturnal nibblers are treated to seared Atlantic salmon or jerk white fish with a tropical salsa and carrot ginger puree. Visit kosttoronto.com.
A taste of Toronto
As one of the world's most diverse and multicultural cities, Toronto is blessed with a vibrant and intriguing food scene. The best way to experience it is on a tour of the St. Lawrence Market with the Culinary Adventure Company. Dating back more than 200 years and once named by National Geographic as the best food market in the world, this fabled spot is home to 120 vendors passionate about local produce, everything from artisan cheeses to seasonal berries and, of course, Toronto's much-loved Peameal bacon sandwich.Visit culinaryadventureco.com.
Island Life
A little exercise may be required after all those tasty and indulgent treats and a bike tour with Toronto Bicycle Tours offers the perfect way to burn off a few calories and also experience a real urban adventure. After pedalling past the landmarks of Downtown, it's time for a radical change of pace and to experience an altogether different side to the city – by catching the ferry for the short journey to the Toronto Islands, a quaint enclave of 15 interconnected islands that is the largest car-free community in North America. Dotted with charming cottages, the sleepy lanes reveal historic lighthouses, quiet beaches and epic views of the skyline across the water.Visit torontobicycletours.com.
Fall for Niagara
Located around 80 miles from Toronto on the other side of Lake Ontario and straddling the border with the United States, Niagara is a sight to behold. With the water flowing at its peak during the summer months, more than 3,000 tons of water somersault over the precipice every second with the largest and most famous of the three falls – the Horseshoe Falls – dominating the spectacle.
The most memorable way to experience it is from above. Scenic flights with Niagara Helicopters last around 12 minutes and follows the Niagara River and Lake Erie before sweeping over the falls which are decorated with rainbows emerging from the spray. Visit niagarahelicopters.com.
A little surprise
It may come up as a bit of a surprise that Canada produces wine – and it's not at all bad. Discover it for yourself with a visit to the Two Sisters Vineyard near Niagara. The guided Vine to Wine tour offers a glimpse into the site's 130 acres of picturesque grounds and production process that delivers world-class bottles of full-bodied reds and crisp and complex whites. Visit twosistersvineyards.com.
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Telegraph
29 minutes ago
- Telegraph
The world's least-visited countries – and why you should give them a chance
Many of the world's best-loved holiday spots are overcrowded – and their inhabitants have had enough. Last month, thousands of them took to the streets across Europe to protest against overtourism in a coordinated, Continent-wide effort. Further afield, some of the busiest spots have upped tourist taxes or limited visitor numbers in an attempt to stem the tide of tourists. There are, however, plenty of places in the world that remain mysteriously under-visited. And with unique endemic wildlife, fantastic local vintages or untrammelled mountains, they make for excellent holidays too. Below, we highlight six of the planet's least-trodden countries and hear from the experts about why they're worth travelling to. Moldova Widely said to be Europe's least visited country (just 67,000 foreigners visited through travel agencies in 2024, and that was a 55 per cent increase on 2023), Moldova mixes breakaway republics, empty countryside and Byzantine-era monuments with relics of its recent Communist past – all seemingly frozen in time. 'The fact that you can visit Transdniestr – a throwback to the Soviet Union – gives it a quirky feel that you won't find in countries on the well-trodden tourist trail,' says Jim O'Brien, director of the tour operator Native Eye. 'Add to this, miles and miles of underground wine cellars, ancient monasteries, and a diverse culture that includes both the Gagauz people and Romani communities, and the destination packs quite a punch for such a small place.' The lake-dotted, monument-littered capital Chișinău is said to be the greenest on the continent, near enough to the ancient cave monasteries of Old Orhei for a day trip. Beyond that, 'you'll be well away from the crowds of other parts of Europe, so you not only get to see a traditional part of the continent where customs have survived more than elsewhere, but it feels a little less contrived or staged for tourism,' says O'Brien. 'Get into the villages and you'll discover traditional hospitality, a wealth of homemade food and homemade wines and spirits – which definitely help in breaking down any cultural or language barriers.' How to do it Native Eye's week-long Moldova Explorer trip costs from £1,075pp, including excursions and accommodation but excluding international flights (01473 351565). Sao Tome and Príncipe Only around 12,000 visitors per year make it to this island nation off Africa's west coast, but many who do fall madly in love. 'It's one of the most unique, untouched destinations I've visited – organised tourism is still in its early stages, so it's a bit rough around the edges, but that's what makes it special,' says Marta Marinelli, a Senior Trip Designer at Much Better Adventures. 'When I first saw the two forest-covered islands rising from the Atlantic, it felt like landing in a real-life Garden of Eden, or Jurassic Park. There's a raw, off-the-radar charm – empty pristine beaches, rainforest hikes and authentic cultural encounters.' Though the islands are safe and welcoming, a lack of infrastructure means that independent trips can be hard. But join an organised tour and you can trek through the 30 per cent of the country that's been designated national parkland (the entire island of Príncipe is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve) searching out waterfalls, the toothy peak of Pico Cão Grande and the endemic species that have earned the nation the nickname ' the Galapagos of Africa '. 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There are no five-star resorts with WiFi connections or high-octane watersports on its 33 islands, just the chance to flit between them by prop plane, stay in waterside beach huts on deserted stretches of sand, or snorkel through coral reef busy with neon fish. On the atoll of Tarawa, there are the skeletons of long-lost planes too, relics of a fierce Second World War battle between the Japanese and Americans. Residents are 'really welcoming' to visitors, says Rhia Steele, Product and Sales Manager at the operator Undiscovered Destinations. 'On North Tarawa I stayed in an eco-lodge in an over-water buia (traditional hut). It was very basic, very simple and had shared facilities. Because everyone is trusting of each other, there are no locks or real doors on the buias and you walk to the edge of the island through the plantations, seeing the island's simple schools and shops along the way. For me it was a great experience – no internet and cut off from the outside world.' Soon though, these low-lying islands and their barely-seen attractions may be just a figment of the past: rising sea levels have brought regular floods and a gradual sinking that could make them uninhabitable by 2050. Staying around the atoll brings valuable money to help towards solutions for the future. The only problem is getting there. The islands are so remote that they're usually included as part of a tour of the wider area from the UK, which can mean a big outlay in terms of both time and money. How to do it Undiscovered Destinations has a 26-night Pacific Explorer trip that connects eight Pacific nations including Kiribati and costs from £19,355pp, including activities, local transport and some meals but excluding international flights (0191 296 2674). Guyana Costa Rica has become known as the wildlife capital of Central and South America and, after a brief hiatus post-pandemic, the most popular of its resorts are over-saturated once more. 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Timor Leste In densely visited destinations, seeking out truly local experiences can be difficult. That's certainly not the case in Timor Leste, a country that gained independence in 2002 but shares an island with Indonesia. Its half comes with a lively capital, treks up Mount Ramelau, some of the planet's most beautiful beaches, and the chance to snorkel the world's most biodiverse coral reefs, home to whale sharks, manta rays and around 1,200 species of fish. 'It holds incredible promise as a sustainable and culturally rich destination,' says Ravindra Singh Shekhawat, who is Intrepid Travel's General Manager for Indonesia. Timor Leste is also a place where homestays are taking off, meaning the chance to spend time with islanders in an authentic way. 'It's a great way to immerse yourself in the culture, eat delicious homemade meals and learn about the local way of life,' he adds. 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The Independent
an hour ago
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Can passengers skip the security check for a connecting flight?
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This is especially common in the US: the fact that you have cleared a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint in one city works at the next hub, too – for example, a recent flight I had from Kansas City to Atlanta and onward to London Heathrow. Ireland is one of many European countries that recognises the security standards of another nation. But note that if you fly on Ryanair to the Irish capital for a connecting flight, you will exit 'landside' and must go through security again before the next departure. And for US destinations, a secondary security check will be carried out before you enter the US departure area. In continental Europe, the acceptance that passengers have been screened at their airport of origin is widespread, particularly between European Union/Schengen area nations. That explains the mingling of arriving and departing passengers, though all airports reserve the right to require transferring passengers to clear an additional security check. Such a courtesy does not extend to international flights to and from the UK. Heathrow airport says: 'All connecting passengers must go through security again.' It adds: 'Any passenger flying from a UK airport must comply with UK security checks.' Q I read your article about plans by the European parliament to make it mandatory for airlines to allow passengers to take two pieces of hand luggage without paying extra. On a number of British Airways flights I have taken over the past year, the airline said that the cabin baggage of certain boarding groups must be placed in the hold. How could this new legislation affect that behaviour, if passed? Paul B A 'Bold' is how I would sum up the European parliament's plan to mandate a two-pieces-free allowance for all airlines across the EU; if passed, this would inevitably affect UK carriers as well. While some politicians have characterised the plan as protecting 'a basic human right', I think that is a term best applied to concepts such as education, freedom of speech and gender equality rather than the commercial terms applied by airlines to their customers. I believe that the proposal will ultimately be dropped because, at present, passengers have plenty of choice. On 'full-service' airlines such as British Airways and Lufthansa, you can bring two items: one chunky-sized trolley case and a smaller 'personal item' such as a modest backpack or laptop bag. Naturally, many passengers make the most of this option. As a result, airlines will often run out of available space in the overhead bins. Either they offer the chance to check in the larger piece free of charge (as Lufthansa did for my flight from Heathrow to Munich yesterday morning), or they will require some passengers to surrender the bag at the gate and pick it up from the carousel at the other end. They typically select the later boarding groups – who have paid less than other passengers – for this treatment. Were the parliament's plan to become law, such palaver would become standard on all airlines. British Airways and Lufthansa have longer 'turns' between flights – typically an hour – which means they can accommodate the extra time involved at the gate. Nothing would change. But for budget airlines, which allow as little as 25 minutes between arrival and departure, it would be more of an issue: their schedules would soon unravel. With low-cost carriers unable to maximise the time their planes, cabin crew and pilots spend flying, options would reduce and fares would rise. Which strikes me as a significant consumer detriment, though not the loss of a basic human right. Q We have booked a package holiday including flights, hotels and a cruise departing on 6 August. My husband has received a cancer diagnosis, which means he will be having surgery three weeks earlier, rendering him unable to travel. We actually wanted to change the dates. The cruise line said that if the travel company would talk to them, they could offer some flexibility. But the travel company insists we can't do anything except not turn up for the departure and lose all our money. Is this normal? I have since heard about other travel companies that would have handled this situation with more compassion. We are pursuing a claim with our insurance company but still stand to lose about £3,000. Is there anything else we could do? Name supplied A I am sorry to learn of the cancer diagnosis. I hope that the treatment proceeds well, with your husband making a full recovery. In such circumstances, the last thing you need is a travel firm sticking rigidly to its terms and conditions. Most companies, as you surmise, will be flexible and compassionate. But unfortunately, a firm may choose to make no allowance for such a stressful and concerning turn of events. This can mean that even when the provider of a service such as the cruise company is prepared to postpone a trip, it cannot force the intermediary to make that change. Your contract is strictly with the travel firm with whom you booked the trip. The obvious answer would be to cancel and claim on travel insurance. But if that still means taking a £3,000 hit, I imagine there are complications such as a very high 'excess' on cancellation claims. One other suggestion: that you see if you can transfer the holiday to someone else. Under the package travel regulations, the firm is required to allow you to do this with sufficient notice (typically a week) and a modest fee (about £50).
Times
2 hours ago
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Is it safe to travel to Tunisia right now? Latest travel advice
Safety fears have long subdued tourism in Tunisia. In 2015, a police bus was targeted by a terrorist; the incident triggered a state of emergency across the country that's been in place since. That same year, two further terror attacks saw 38 tourists killed at a beach resort near Sousse and 21 tourists killed at the Bardo Museum in Tunis. There have been more recent incidents, occurring every year between 2020 and 2023, although none of these have involved tourists. The UK Foreign Office considers most of Tunisia as safe to travel to, although there are regions around the country's borders with travel advisories in place. Following Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear sites on June 13, the Foreign Office warned that 'ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Iran could escalate quickly and pose security risks for the wider region'. This advice remains in place despite a ceasefire that has held since June 24. • Is it safe to travel to the Middle East right now? The UK Foreign Office currently advises against travelling to several regions in Tunisia, all of which are around its borders. It advises against all travel to: • the Chaambi Mountains National Park and the designated military operations zones of Mount Salloum, Mount Sammamma and Mount Mghila• the militarised zone south of the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba• within 20km of the Libyan border area north of Dhehiba• the town of Ben Guerdane and the immediate surrounding area It also advises against all but essential travel to: • within 75km of the Tunisia-Libya border, including Remada, El Borma and the town of Zarzis• areas north and west of the town of Ghardimaou in Jendouba Governorate, including El Feidja National Park• within 30km of the Tunisia-Algeria border in El Kef and Jendouba governorates, south of the town of Jendouba, including the archaeological site of Chemtou• Kasserine Governorate, including the town of Sbeitla• within 10km of the rest of the Tunisia-Algeria border south of Kasserine Governorate• within 10km of Mount Mghila• Mount Orbata If travelling to other parts of the country, there are still some safety considerations to bear in mind (more below).Tunisia is further away from Israel than destinations such as Sicily and Malta, and has not been affected by the conflicts between Israel and Hamas, Lebanon-based Hezbollah, or Iran. However, on June 13, 2025, amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the Foreign Office updated its guidance to state: 'Ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Iran could escalate quickly and pose security risks for the wider region. You should monitor local and international media for the latest information, be vigilant and follow the instructions of local authorities.' A ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Iran has now held since Tuesday, June 24, following 12 days of fighting that closed down airspace across the Middle East and disrupted flights and travel plans, but this has not changed the Foreign Office's travel advice. Tunisia has close ties with Palestine, with its president, Kais Saied, calling for support for the Palestinian people. Within Tunisia, there have been rallies in support of Palestine. The UK Foreign Office says: 'In response to the current situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, peaceful demonstrations have occurred in some Tunisian cities, including outside some western embassies.' However, it warns that protests may occur with 'little or no warning' and 'can sometimes become violent'. They have usually been concentrated around the capital, Tunis, and other major cities, typically near government buildings and outside Western embassies. To reduce your personal risk, the Foreign Office recommends avoiding demonstrations where possible (or moving away if they start to take place), obeying the instructions of the local authorities, monitoring the media, and following the advice of your hotel or tour operator. There have been safer periods in Tunisia's history. The country is in a state of emergency, which means an increased security presence, with checkpoints in place. This was imposed after a a suicide attack on a police bus in 2015, and has been extended multiple times. It was most recently extended until the end of 2025. The Foreign Office says that terrorists are 'very likely' to try to carry out attacks in Tunisia, and warns that there have been incidents in recent years, including several in 2023. The places particularly at risk of being targeted are crowded areas, government buildings, transport networks, businesses with western interests, religious sites, and areas where foreign nationals and tourists are known to gather. In addition to terrorism, there may be a potential threat of kidnapping, particularly near the borders and in more remote parts of the country. Travellers should also be vigilant for pickpocketing, bag-snatching and other petty theft. British citizens do not need a visa to enter Tunisia for tourism purposes for visits of up to 90 days. If you intend to stay for longer, you'll need to get a suitable visa. Your passport needs to be valid for the duration of your stay in Tunisia, but it doesn't need any additional validity beyond this. If you're a dual national of the UK and Tunisia, you should enter and leave the country on the same passport. When you enter Tunisia, you may be asked to share your contact details and travel information with the authorities, including evidence of your hotel reservation. If you cannot supply this, you may be denied entry or experience delays. The UK Foreign Office says that some British nationals of south Asian descent have also been delayed and questioned by immigration authorities. You can report this to the British Embassy on +216 71 108 700, but it cannot override border control decisions made by Tunisian authorities. In addition to the general safety concerns mentioned above, the Foreign Office says that reports 'of sexual harassment and sexual assault statistically increase in the summer months'. This has included in busy public places at night, and in quieter public parks and on beaches during the day. You should stay alert and use caution. • What can women do to stay safe while abroad? Homosexuality is a criminal offence in Tunisia and those who are prosecuted could face prison sentences. LGBT activism does exist in the country, and there is an underground community. • Safest countries for LGBT travellers• Is it safe to travel to Egypt right now?
