It’s a stressful time for Canadians. Goway has been operating in Canada for 55 years with a headquarters in Toronto, so the wellbeing of our Canadian travellers is top priority for us. We also want to ensure that Canadian travellers are equipped to explore the world on their own terms. Considering the trade war with the United States and uncertainty in global markets, we’re sharing some countries that are surprisingly affordable for Canadian travellers in 2025.
It’s never a good time to have the US dollar so much stronger than the Canadian, but luckily, the US is not the only destination where Canadians can travel. The following countries are destinations where the Canadian dollar goes a long way. They might not be budget destinations in the traditional sense—these aren’t quite Thailand—but they are destinations where the CA dollar has purchasing power, which will make your vacation more affordable, and allow you to do more on while travelling.
Australia
Australia might be an ocean away from Canadians, but once you actually get to Australia, the Canadian dollar goes far. The exchange rate sits around $1 CAD to $1.10 AUD, which means that you save on everything from hotel rooms to dining to souvenirs. Goway is the leading travel provider to Australia, with Aussie roots and an office in Sydney! You can trust us to put together bucket list vacations to Sydney, Melbourne, the Great Barrier Reef, and the outback.
Canada
Why not explore your own country? It is the second-largest country on the planet, after all, with stunning geographic diversity and some world-renowned natural wonders. The national parks, including Banff and Jasper, are always popular, but they only scratch the surface of Canada’s beauty. Go on a polar bear safari in Churchill, Manitoba or experience Maritime hospitality on a road trip through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. There’s an added bonus: $1 is worth $1. If you’re a Canadian traveller, why not explore Canada and see more of the country you call home?
Egypt
The Egyptian economy has sputtered over the past several years, leading to the inflation of the Egyptian pound. The Canadian dollar has benefited in the process, with a conversion rate of $1 CAD to around 35 EGP. This means that your dollar goes further when buying food and souvenirs while on an Egyptian vacation. Lots of local tour guides and drivers accept US dollars for tips, but the hotels are priced in local currency, which means you can save a lot when the CA dollar is strong against the Egyptian pound. So don’t wait to finally see the pyramids, cruise the Nile, and experience the wonders of this ancient land.
Indonesia
The Indonesian economy is experiencing a lot of investment, courtesy of a 300 million Euro infrastructure deal with the Netherlands. This has made Indonesia more affordable and promises more economic growth. To attract foreign investors and foreign visitors, Indonesia is devaluing the Indonesia Rupiah, which is advantageous for Canadian travellers. Currently, $1 CAD converts to about 11,300 IDR. This means that once you get to Bali, your dollar goes further, and you can enjoy more of the gorgeous rice paddies, beaches, and temples that attract people from around the world.
Japan
The Japanese economy has been relatively flat for decades. In the years since the pandemic, delayed inflation has hit the country, leading to the Japanese Yen sinking compared to western currencies. Right now, $1 CAD converts to about 103 JPY. Japan is not a budget country, but it has surprisingly affordable food and transit options, so the strong conversion rate will go a long way to making your trip to Japan more affordable. And there’s a lot to see once you get there, from the endless metropolitan wonders of Tokyo to the temples of Kyoto and beyond.
New Zealand
Like Australia, New Zealand is surprisingly affordable for travellers once they make the flight. Canadian travellers will experience a country with a high standard of living, but a surprisingly affordable range of services, from food and drink to local goods. The Canadian dollar is strong against the New Zealand dollar, converting $1 CAD to $1.22 NZD. This means that you can enjoy a bit more purchasing power whether you’re hitting up the cafes of Wellington, going on a wine tour through Marlborough, or touring filming locations from The Lord of the Rings.
South Africa
For whatever reason, South Africa remains remarkably economically consistent and stable. The costs of living here, and by extension, the costs for travellers, rarely see much fluctuation, making it a great place to visit when the markets are wobbly. The Canadian dollar also converts to around 13 ZAR, with helps with affordability. Luckily, it’s also something of a world in one country, with a shocking amount of cultural and geographic diversity within its borders. You can hit up the swank shopping on the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, hike Table Mountain, or spend your days in the Winelands, before you connect to some of the country’s dozens of safari game parks. For an affordable safari option, it doesn’t get much better than South Africa.
Tanzania
A bucket list safari to the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater can be expensive, but Tanzania is not an expensive country for Canadian travellers as a whole. Furthermore, new economic policies have caused local currency fluctuations, leading to the $1 CAD converting to around 1,790 TZS. You’ll especially notice affordability when going beyond the safari route, whether you’re going out to eat in Arusha or hitting up the coastal vibes in Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar.
Vietnam
Vietnam is rapidly progressing into one of the most popular countries in Southeast Asia. But its investment in infrastructure and tourism hasn’t led to an increase in cost, especially for Canadian travellers. In fact, it remains shockingly affordable, as the food and drink are some of the most affordable in the world. The Canadian dollar trades at around $1 CAD to 17,700 VND, which gives you more purchasing power when you explore Vietnam, from the limestone islands of Halong Bay to the markets of Hanoi to the coastal delights of Danang and Hoi An.
You might say that Aren was destined to become a globetrotter after his family took him to Germany two times before he was four. If that wasn’t enough, a term spent in Sweden as a young teenager and a trek across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand confirmed that destiny. An independent writer, director, and film critic, Aren has travelled across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. His favourite travel experience was visiting the major cities of Japan’s largest island, Honshu, but his love for food, drink, and film will take him anywhere that boasts great art and culture.
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