Canadians want to travel in style

When it comes to holidays, many Canadians want to be pampered at a discount. In total, 20 percent of Canadians won't travel at all if they can't afford to stay in a nice hotel.

In a survey conducted on behalf of American Express Canada and Starwood Hotels & Resorts by Angus Reid Public Opinion 88 percent of Canadians said they look for ways to have a luxurious yet affordable trip. Most Canadians (82 percent ) feel that the hotel they stay in is an important factor impacting their enjoyment of a trip and over a third (39 percent ) said that excellent service makes a trip feel like luxury. While staying in first rate hotels is important almost all Canadians (96 percent ) put their budget as a major concern when it comes to the planning of a vacation. When it comes to location Canadians like Italy or Greece (42 percent) over Hawaii or the Maldives (32 percent). Action doesn't seem to be on many Canadians wish list with only 7 per cent opting to travel to New York or Las Vegas. "It's clear from the research, and from our experience, that Canadians have a strong affinity for luxury. They love the idea of being pampered, and that includes when they travel," said Ashleigh Dempster co-founders of The Society said in a press release obtained by Digital Journal. "What the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) Credit Card from American Express offers is the ability to earn points on everyday purchases you are already making. These points can then be redeemed through the Starwood Preferred Guest Program for fabulous experiences at some of the world's most luxurious properties." "And whether you use your points to redeem for an upgraded room, an extra night, a spa treatment or a fantastic dining experience, there's something decadent about receiving luxurious treatment from rewards earned on purchases you make everyday like groceries or your morning coffee," said Blakley. The survey also found that Canadians would travel more on points they get from credit cards if the points were easy to collect and redeem.