Nova Scotia Vacations: What Travel Professionals Need to Know

Recent research suggests that U.S. travelers want to stay close to home this summer. There are multiple factors at play: geopolitical tensions, a weakening U.S. dollar, and affordability concerns. Increasingly, tour operators are embracing North American destinations to serve this growing demand.

Nova Scotia is an excellent alternative to a European vacation, particularly for Ireland and other Celtic destinations. The location is ideal for those who want to travel internationally but are concerned about long flights, safety, or even just overtourism. The U.S. dollar stretches further in Canada than in Europe as well.

“I always say we’re on sale,” said Richard Arnold, President, Atlantic Tours & Travel. “Because our pricing would be similar to New England… so if you’re going to New England you might as well come here and save 35%.”

In terms of experiences, Nova Scotia offers similar natural and cultural attractions as Ireland and Scotland, such as craggy cliffs overlooking the ocean, lush, rolling golf courses, and a vibrant Celtic music scene. The province’s name is “New Scotland” in Latin, and the province is known for its dedication to preserving Gaelic history and culture. While it’s not a substitution by any means—and Nova Scotia has more than enough to stand alone as a bucket list destination—the similarities are undeniable.

“What I love about Nova Scotia in our region is that many of our experiences authentic. You know, they’re not created just for tourism,” explained Arnold.

Tourism Nova Scotia invited Travel Market Report to experience the province firsthand. Over a week, TMR enjoyed a self-drive tour of the province, from Lunenburg to the Cabot Trail.

Are Americans Welcome In Nova Scotia Right Now?

The ongoing tension between Canada and the U.S. is obvious. Ever since Trump threatened to impose tariffs on the country as a negotiation strategy, there have been headlines after headlines about Canadians boycotting U.S. goods and avoiding travel south of the border.

Given the media coverage, it would be natural for a U.S. traveler to worry that they might not be welcomed in Canada. However, Nova Scotians aren’t holding politics against visitors. TMR encountered many American tourists during out trip, and not once did we detect a hint of animosity.

Peter Johnson, manager of market development at Tourism Nova Scotia, told TMR that the province has, and will continue to, market itself as an international tourism destination for the U.S..

“Nova Scotia is known for our friendliness, our welcomingness, and although there’s hesitation on
some part for Canadians to visit the U.S. at this time, I don’t think that’s going to impact our welcoming nature, just because someone’s coming from the U.S.,” said Johnson.

Self-Drive, Coach Tour, or Private Driver?

Many of the global tour operators offer guided land tours in Nova Scotia: Intrepid Travel has Eastern Canada packages, including a seven-day small group tour focusing on Nova Scotia; Globus has a nine-day tour that explores most of the province’s highlights (including Cape Breton); and Collette offers an 11-day Maritimes journey that starts and ends in Halifax.

Travel advisors can work with more locally focused tour operators too, like Atlantic Tours, Cabot Discovery Tours, or—for more high-end clients—Entrée Destinations. These Nova Scotia itineraries range from traditional guided land coach tours to elevated private-driver experiences.

Nova Scotia is best explored with some mode of transportation. Misty MacDonald, president of Cabot Discovery Tours, told TMR that international travelers often mistakenly assume they can see everything while using Halifax as a hub. The reality is, Cape Breton Island is more than a four-hour drive from Halifax, and driving the Cabot Trail loop itself is a full-day experience.

“If they’re not doing a package tour… they [need to] either rent a car or know what they need for transportation,” explained MacDonald. “A lot of people land in Halifax and feel like they can do everything. They don’t have a sense of the distance.”

Ultimately, the clients’ expectations and preferences will determine if self-drive, classic coach, or private driver is the best choice to explore Nova Scotia. TMR drove in a rented car, which allowed us to pace the trip to our liking and afforded additional privacy. Nova Scotia is very pleasant to drive: there are many scenic views and little picturesque communities, and the roads are easy to navigate.

Most clients will likely want a private driver or coach tour, however, so they don’t have the responsibility of driving and navigating. This is especially true of the Cabot Trail, which is best viewed as a passenger, not a driver.

When working with travel advisors, MacDonald said Cabot Discovery Tours often creates custom itineraries for as few as three to four individuals, providing a driver who acts as a private guide. The company has multiple vehicles to accommodate a range of group sizes, including a shuttle to seat 10 to 12. Larger groups can be split across two vehicles.

Arnold told TMR that Atlantic Tours’ classic itineraries are also available as self-drive, but with added flexibility.

“If you’re doing a self-drive, you should be doing it exactly the same as you would an escort. It will just take out things that don’t make sense in an independent program, so we’ve removed dinners. We don’t want to force you to be at a hotel at a certain time,” explained Arnold.

Hotels & Resorts in Nova Scotia

While there are plenty of hotels in major urban center like Halifax and Sydney, the province has limited luxury accommodations.

“We don’t have a lot of 5-star accommodations. With that said, even my most picky clients still love the experience because that’s part of the charm,” said Arnold. “I’m proud to say we’re a 5-star destination as far as the attractions and what you’re going to see in experience.”

Halifax

For more budget-conscious travelers who want to stay somewhere a little bit different, The Moxy in Halifax presents excellent value. Moxy Downtown Halifax is a playful hotel geared towards Gen-Z and Millennials; with a bar for a check-in desk, a hidden room to discover, and regular live music, this is a unique property that promises fun and whimsy.

For more conservative travelers wanting a waterfront property, the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel and Prince George Hotel are both highly regarded and are within walking distance of the main harbor attractions.

Marc Telio, a Travel + Leisure A-List advisor and the founder of boutique tour operator Entrée Destinations, recommended Halifax’s The Muir for luxury hotel stays.

“Built by a local developer, it is simply one of the nicest properties in the country,” said Telio. “Exceptional location in downtown Halifax in the Queen’s Marque District, it welcomes the community through a sequence of shared spaces, outdoor art, local shops, and it was very intentionally developed to create this open space. Also, the details in design are evident everywhere… As one who loves hotels, this is a must-see and a big hit with our guests.”

Sydney

TMR stayed at The Simon Hotel in Sydney. This fresh popularity is a local favorite for good reason: the waterfront property balances a contemporary hotel experience with a distinctly East Coast vibe, and offers a variety of room categories, from the standard two double-bed room to a deluxe harborview suite.

Another popular hotel in this area is the Hampton Inn by Hilton Sydney. Although it’s not located as close to the harbor as The Simon Hotel, guests staying in northwest-facing rooms may still have a view. This hotel has more of a ski resort vibe than The Simon’s contemporary coastal decor, and is a great option for families with young kids because of its popular pool (which The Simon Hotel does not have).

Resorts and Wilderness Lodges

TMR stayed at and visited several resorts during our trip to Nova Scotia. Our favorite was Glenora Inn & Distillery, which is near Cape Breton Island. We toured all the buildings and found the rooms in each were comfortable, clean, and in good repair. The grounds were spectacular, and with a gentle river running through the property and a beaver sighting, the whole experience felt right out of a storybook. As an added bonus, the distillery tour is included with overnight bookings, and because Glenora avoids working with coach tours, the tour group sizes are always small. Be warned: this property operates seasonally, so it can’t be booked in the winter months.

Inverary Resort is also located near the Cabot Trail (in Baddeck) and offers a slightly more upscale experience. Try to book your client in the main building: those rooms are the most recently renovated, and the location is better for those interested in the live music performances.

For guests interested in seeing the historic attractions south of Halifax, Oak Island Resort & Conference center is an excellent choice. The property was recently renovated, and is conveniently located an hour away from Peggy’s Cove, about 30 minutes away from Lunenburg, and roughly 15 minutes from charming villages like Mahone Bay and Chester.

Marc Telio recommended Trout Point Lodge for an immersive, nature-filled experience. Describing the property as a “beautiful wilderness lodge,” he stressed the unique charm found at this property:

“It is in the heart of the Tobeatic Wilderness Area in the UNESCO Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve. The spacious rooms and suites are beautiful, many of them with wood-burning fireplaces and generously appointed with handmade furniture, cozy rugs and antique pieces. The activities are different than those found in traditional wilderness lodges, and they truly cause one to slow down to enjoy the surroundings. Outdoor picnics, kayaking on the local rivers, yoga, stargazing and forest bathing are part of the experience.”

When to Travel: Nova Scotia’s Peak Season

The main travel season in Nova Scotia runs from May to October, with many tourist offerings outside of Halifax only operating seasonally. Predictably, the summer is a busy time for tourism, starting in late June and peaking in July.

Cabot Discovery Tour’s peak season is the fall, particularly September and October. MacDonald attributes this to the Celtic Colours International Music Festival, travelers coming to see the trees’ autumn foliage, and the increased cruise traffic.

MacDonald said her most popular itinerary among travel advisors is the four-day Celtic Colours package. The company offers two sets of four-day tours, splitting the fest into two halves. The Celtic Colours festival often sells out; however, Cabot Discovery Tours gets allocated a set number of tickets each year, allowing its guests to secure their attendance before tickets go on sale to the general public. MacDonald told TMR that she’s already had inquiries for the 2026 festival, and typically sells out by March.

Nova Scotia’s tourism season is technically year-round according to Johnson, who highlighted “non-traditional winter experiences” in the province. This includes events like the Lobster Crawl Festival, which happens every year in February on the South Shore, and the Evergreen Festival, held in December.

“It’s sort of a European-style Christmas market,” he explained. “It’s a really nice atmosphere in December.”

Because Nova Scotia’s winters are relatively mild, it’s also a great location for a winter beachside getaway, said Johnson: “A secluded escape for the winter, you know… a nice cabin or a resort by the water. And those hot tubs are always popular options in the wintertime.”

“We’re doing more and more to promote offseason travel [to Nova Scotia], particularly from a domestic perspective in the local regional market—particularly in Halifax and regions of the province where there’s product available throughout the winter,” explained Johnson.

“It’s finding those products to promote that aren’t necessarily what people think of as a traditional winter experience: sometimes it’s just, you know, those lovely secluded beachside accommodations that have the hot tub outside… or celebrating things like our lobster fishery in Nova Scotia with the Lobster Crawl Festival, which happens every year in February on the South Shore—things like that.”