Although I had a summer of fun planned, necessary social distancing has dashed my travel plans for Summer 2020. With that being said, I believe there is a possibility of travelling within Canada this year, either within your province or hopefully within the country. If safe to do so, it’s a great time to support local Canadian business, especially those who are going to suffer from the lack of tourists. In fact, a report by Destination Canada in April suggested the Canadian tourism sector could see total tourism spending declined by about a third from 2019 levels and may result in the loss of over 250K jobs. 

As COVID-19 is a known risk, most insurance won’t cover claims while abroad. That being said, provinces are slowly opening to domestic travel. Hotels in British Columbia may soon open up and the federal government has starting funding programs to advertise local tourism which I believe may lead to the potential to travel domestically this summer. Many people in the Miles&Points game have been diligently building up their points for a holiday that hasn’t come, so I decided to map out socially distant Marriott Bonvoy redemptions in Canada this summer. 

Ontario 

Normally I wouldn’t suggest the Westin Trillium House Blue Mountain, but there seem to be a few deals floating around at this time. There are several late summer / early fall weekends that are pricing out at about $275 a night, which is a lot cheaper than normal at this hotel.  With hiking, a pool and the village nearby, social distancing shouldn’t be a problem at this hotel which is only a short drive from the city.

West of Toronto, there are options to get out of the city. Last year I stayed at the now Category 3, TownePlace Suites Belleville. I enjoyed the newly built hotel, but what really stands out is that it’s an affordable base for Prince Edward County. Although it used to be a category 2 hotel, summer nights are still priced at about $175 a night, which makes even the peak summer nights at 20K a night worth it. Further afield, the Delta Hotels Kingston Waterfront or Residence Inn Kingston Water's Edge may be a good option as Category 5 and 4 hotels respectively. Both located in downtown Kingston (which as of today has no active COVID-19 cases), they offer a great base to explore the Thousand Islands and Wolfe Island. 

The Residence Inn Gravenhurst Muskoka Wharf provides a reasonably priced all-suite stay in Ontario Cottage Country. For those of you who don’t have access to a celebrity’s cottage, this hotel on the shores of Lake Muskoka provides a points-based option. Less posh and more affordable than the JW Marriott in the area, one-bedroom suites that sleep a family of four go for about $350 all-in-a night. Most weeks in the summer have nights available for the standard rate of 35K Bonvoy points a night, a good alternative to a million-dollar cottage. For those of you looking for an even cheaper getaway, the Category 3 Fairfield Orillia Inn and Suites is open up this fall, providing a cheaper option in cottage country.  

For those of you in Ontario looking to go further afield, there are options available. Connected by a stunning stretch of Highway 17, the Trans-Canada highway, both Sault Ste Marie and Thunder Bay have Delta hotels available this summer as base camps to explore these northern Ontario cities. The Category 3 Delta Hotel Sault Ste Marie Waterfront is located “downtown” “Soo” has a pool and restaurant on site, although there is no lounge. Nights are mostly 15K bonvoy points a night, but summer weekend nights are currently less than $120 if booked through the Marriott website. The one year old, Category 3 Delta Hotel Thunder Bay provides stunning views of the Sleeping Giant. Although the hotel is new, it doesn’t have a lounge, but based on reviews, people with platinum status are treated to a good breakfast and upgrades. Based on current availability, there are some weekend nights available for Off Peak rates of 15K Bonvoy points a night, or alternatively, weekend rates are about $170 a night. 

As an extra special bonus, The Pearle Hotel and Spa is a new Autograph Collection hotel that is expected to open in September. I would expect this hotel to be a favourite with Torontonians looking to escape the city, as it’s less than an hour away. This hotel will be managed by the same company that manages the popular Elora Mill Hotel and Spa so I suspect that this hotel will be very popular with weddings (I’ve heard of people planning a points wedding before!).  It’s currently categorized as a Category 4 hotel but pricing isn’t available. That being said, I suspect nights will cost $200+, especially during summer weekends. 

Quebec

If you’re looking to leave Montreal or Quebec City, the Delta Hotels Saguenay Conference Centre may be a good base for families looking to explore the Lac-St-Jean area. Although 4.5 hours outside of Montreal, it provides a base to explore the outdoorsy region that has less COVID-19 cases then the Montreal area. Weekend nights are pricing at $350 for a weekend, although it might be a better deal to use Bonvoy points at this Category 3 hotel, where some summer nights are priced at the off-peak 15K a night!

Atlantic Provinces

As of now, the Atlantic Provinces are off limits to those coming from out of province although PEI will be letting in people who own properties on the island as of June 1st (Source). That being said, Tourism is an important industry that employs many on Canada’s east coast, so hopefully there is potential to travel there in the summer. 

New Brunswick is a frequently passed over province, but it has a lot to offer. Even more surprisingly, it has a few great Marriott redemptions. The historic Algonquin Hotel St Andrews By The Sea Autograph Collection is a Category 5 hotel in a beautiful border town located on the Bay of Fundy. I don’t expect New Brunswick to open their borders until at least August, but that’s still a fantastic time to visit. The hotel is pricing out points nights at 40K Bonvoy points a night, but weekend nights are approximately $225 a night, a much better deal.  If you’re stringing together another hotel on the road trip, the Delta Hotels St John is a waterfront hotel that gives you quick access to Fundy National Park. If you’re in the travel industry or a First Responders, MD and RN, the hotel is offering 40% off rates this summer. Even without the discount, nights are pricing as low as $130 a night this summer. 

Western Provinces 

The Western provinces have luckily been spared from the wrath of COVID-19, which may mean they open up to more domestic tourism this summer. That being said, don’t expect them to fully open up to travellers, (For example, BC Provincial Parks won’t take out of province reservations this summer) which may be an opportunity to explore your less busy province. 

Although not in the National Park, the Kananaskis Mountain Lodge Autograph Collection hotel looks like a great place to experience social distancing. Located about an hour outside of Calgary, the Lodge has a pretty famous nordic spa, but I don’t expect that to be fully open this summer. Needless to say, there are opportunities to go horseback riding, golf, or hike in the mountains, all perfect social distancing activities. After moving up to Category 6 during this year’s annual Bonvoy devaluation, paid rates are the way to go here, looking to be about $500 for two nights during the summer, and 20% more for weekend nights. 

The Delta Whister Village Suites is a good option for those looking to go biking or hike during the summer. Although I stayed this winter, the location in Whistler Village, the variety of outdoor activities, including alpine hiking and mountain biking allow for social distancing. As a category 6 hotel, points nights are at least 50K a night throughout the summer, with many nights offered at 60K. July paid rates are less than $250 a night for a 1-bedroom suite, a really good deal for those looking for some mountain activities. 

If you’re looking for something more remote, then consider the The Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa which is 35 minutes outside Victoria.  This Category 5 hotel is located on a 36 hole Nicklaus Design golf course and also features a spa, tennis courts and an expansive outdoor pool. Weekend rates are over $350 a night after taking into account the resort fee, so it makes sense to use points for this hotel instead. As a category 5, you can also use a certificate from your American Express Bonvoy card on a standard award night. 

The Point.

Although we don’t know when we will be able to travel, we do know that the Canadian travel industry will need your support to salvage some of the tourist season. When Canadians are able to travel within your province and the country, considering using your points and miles to explore your own backyard. 

Where in Canada do you want to explore?