It's contagious! The majority of Canadians have the travel bug according to
the TD First Class Adventures Poll

- What kind of traveller are you? Take the TD First Class Visa Travel Quiz -

TORONTO, May 10 /CNW/ - Looking to get out of town? You aren't alone. The majority of Canadians (84%) are planning to travel this summer. According to the TD First Class Adventures Poll, 66% will travel within Canada followed by 33% who will travel to the United States. Ten per cent of people plan to travel to Europe and another 7% are heading to Mexico or the Caribbean.

"It's clear Canadians are avid travellers. Our research shows that over the past year, more than 70% of Canadians have travelled two or more times for pleasure," says Stacie Pearson, Associate Vice President, TD Canada Trust Credit Cards. "With all these trips, travel costs can really add up. Still, only one in five Canadians save and use travel rewards. More Canadians could be harnessing the power of travel rewards in their travel planning."

Canadian travel planning habits

Forty-six per cent of Canadians research all aspects of their trip prior to booking and 25% book their vacation at least three months in advance.

"When you take the time to plan and research your trip, don't forget to also research your credit card - it could save you a lot of money. Some cards give you the freedom to redeem points for any travel booked with any travel agency or travel provider. The TD First Class Visa Infinite Card covers all your travel costs, not just airfare and accommodations. Any travel you can charge, you can redeem with your TD travel points," says Pearson. "While a dream vacation might not be possible every year, the right credit card can allow you to stretch your travel dollars further."

Canadian travel preferences

Whether it's hiking Machu Picchu or relaxing at a luxury resort, Canadians differ radically in their travel preferences. One quarter prefer a well-organized trip such as a bus tour or cruise, 23% like active travel such as hiking or scuba diving and 24% prefer to travel with a credit card and no set plans.

"It's important to understand what you are looking for in a trip and ensure you get the most out of your vacation. I hope people take our travel quiz to find out whether they are a 'thrill seeker' or a 'culturite' - your personality and the activities you enjoy are good indicators of the type of trip that is right for you," says Pearson, a self declared Zen master traveller.

For 27% of Canadians, their dream vacation consists of a cultural experience - great cities, fine art and beautiful hotels, while for another 28% it's a luxury beach vacation with the family.

What kind of travel is right for you? Take the TD First Class Visa Travel Quiz below to determine what type of traveller you are.

    
    1.  What are you most likely to be doing on a Saturday night?
        a. Rock climbing
        b. Hitting up the hip new bar in town
        c. Taking a long walk in a nearby park
        d. Unwinding with a few magazines and a bubble bath
        e. Hosting a dinner at your home featuring a five-course pairing menu

    2.  It's your birthday and your best friend just surprised you with a
        trip to Las Vegas. You look into the following before you leave:
        a. Helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam
        b. The hottest nightclubs, restaurants and tickets in town. Then tap
           into your social network to secure access
        c. A 20K trail you and your friend can hike one day
        d. The hotel's spa, the pool and, of course...the shopping
        e. Reservations at the newest celebrity chef five star restaurant

    3.  A typical weekend at home consists of the following:
        a. Mountain biking on the local trails
        b. Shopping at local boutiques and having coffee with friends
        c. A long walk around town
        d. Packing a picnic and your favourite book for a day in a nearby
           park
        e. Perusing local farmers markets in search of a unique ingredient

    4.  When packing for a vacation you:
        a. Only include what can fit in your backpack
        b. Bring an extra large bag - you need to save room for your
           purchases
        c. Start considering what you will need weeks in advance and pack
           accordingly
        d. Pack your most comfortable clothing, hiking boots and a hat
        e. Always bring several extra outfits. You never know what you'll
           need

    5.  Your friends/family would describe you as:
        a. The fearless risk taker who is always willing to try something new
        b. The person 'in the know' who is always up to date on culture
           happenings and places to go
        c. The outdoorsy one who enjoys being active
        d. The carefree type who is always willing to go along for the ride
        e. The connoisseur

    6.  If you had a bad day, what would cheer you up the most?
        a. A high intensity spin class
        b. Partaking in some retail therapy
        c. A leisurely walk in the park
        d. A relaxing bubble bath
        e. Indulging in a glass of wine and your favourite dessert

    7.  You have a little bit of time to kill so you:
        a. Book a skydiving lesson for the weekend
        b. Go for a bike ride around your neighbourhood
        c. Get lost in a good book
        d. Take a nap
        e. Peruse a nearby art gallery

    8.  How would you describe your ideal vacation?
        a. I like active travel - hiking, snorkelling, scuba diving, cycling,
           you name it
        b. High end resorts/hotels, duty-free shopping, a spa and fine dining
           - that is my kind of travel
        c. I'm happiest when heading off on vacation with a credit card , a
           knapsack and no set plans
        d. I prefer organized trips where I do not need to make many
           decisions, like bus tours, all-inclusive resort packages or
           cruises
        e. It's all about the food and wine - I travel where the good food is
    

Mostly A's - Thrill Seeker:

You are like 17% of Canadians whose dream vacation is an adventure in paradise. Some people see vacation as a time to relax and recharge the batteries - but you don't run on batteries you run on adrenaline! You pack your day-to-day life with exciting activities and see your vacation as a chance to push it to the limit in exotic locales. Whether it is zip-lining through the rainforest, heli-skiing or swimming with sharks, your travel experiences are a chance to take your thrill seeking to new heights!

Ideal travel destinations include: Peru, Belize, Rocky Mountains

Mostly B's - Culturite:

You are like 27% of Canadians whose dream vacation is a cultural experience - great food, fine art and beautiful hotels. One thing you do not need on vacation is a guidebook. In fact, when your friends need to know what is hot and happening, you usually are the guide! You know where to find the best latte, where to find the top design shops and how to get on the list at most exclusive clubs. You see your vacation as a chance to sample what other cities have to offer and discover their hidden gems.

Ideal travel destinations include: New York City, Tuscany, San Francisco

Mostly C's - Nature Lover:

Getting back to nature doesn't mean you have to rough it! Like 11% of Canadians, your dream vacation is heading on a safari with all the comforts of a five star hotel. You love exploring the great outdoors - in as many countries and on as many continents as possible. When you're travelling, you want to enjoy the landscape. Spending a night under the stars in a sleeping bag beats a hotel any day - and if it's a down sleeping bag in five star tent hotel - then that is even better!

Ideal travel destinations include: A safari in South Africa, Australian Outback, The Cabot Trail

Mostly D's - Zen Master:

You are like 28% of Canadians who dream of a luxurious beach vacation. Your motto: it's easier to go with the flow than to fight it. On vacation you take your "Zen" to a new level. Some people plan every detail of their vacation before departure - but you'd rather just let it happen. If there are activities planned you'll play along but you're just as happy to sunbathe all day. You see vacation as a time to kick back and enjoy the ride.

Ideal travel destinations include: a cruise through the South Pacific, all-inclusive beach vacations in Mexico

Mostly E's - Epicurean:

You are like 8% of Canadians whose dream vacation is a fabulous wine tour. You think you've perfected your soufflé at culinary classes and your wine pairings at sommelier school, but how do your skills stack up against the masters'? Boy, would you love to find out! Your dream vacation is all about the food and the wine. While some plan a vacation by studying guidebooks, you spend weeks salivating over restaurant ratings.

Ideal travel destinations include: Napa Valley, The Okanagan, The Greek Islands

About the TD First Class Adventures Contest

To help make people's dream trips come to life, TD First Class Visa is hosting a contest for the chance to win one of five first class trips including: Epicurean Encounters in Tuscany; an Exotic Family Excursion in Belize; an African Adventure in Capetown; a Polynesian Paradise in Bora Bora and California Connoisseurs, a trip through the Napa Valley. Each trip is worth over $40,000! To enter and learn more about the TD First Class Adventures Contest visit www.tdcanadatrust.com/firstclassadventures.

About the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card

The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card allows cardholders to do more and pay for any travel with their rewards points - whether for hotel reservations, resort vacations, car rentals, train tickets, cruises, even airport parking and taxes. Any travel you charge to your card can be paid for with your TD Points. Unlike other travel rewards plans, you don't have to plan or book months in advance to use your TD Points. Because there are no advance booking requirements or seat restrictions of any kind, you can use your points any time, even during peak periods and seat sales. With the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card you have the flexibility to book your holiday on your card through any travel agency, website or airline and then use your TD Points to cover all or part of the cost of that travel. With the TD First Class Travel Card, redeeming points is simple and easy to understand. For every $1.00 in purchases made using the card, cardholders earn three (3) TD Points and as long as you have a minimum 10,000 TD Points they can be redeemed towards any type of travel, any time to anywhere. New accounts will receive 20,000 Bonus TD Points upon approval that you can use right away.

About the TD First Class Adventures Poll

A total of 1002 online interviews with English and French speaking adult Canadians who have travelled in the past 12 months were conducted with Angus Reid Forum panelists between April 9 - 20, 2010.

About TD Bank Financial Group

The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Financial Group. TD Bank Financial Group is the sixth largest bank in North America by branches and serves more than 18 million customers in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in key financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada Trust and TD Insurance; Wealth Management, including TD Waterhouse and an investment in TD Ameritrade; U.S. Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD Bank Financial Group also ranks among the world's leading online financial services firms, with more than 6 million online customers. TD Bank Financial Group had CDN$567 billion in assets on January 31, 2010. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.

For further information: Christine Newlands, Carolyn Abbass, [email protected], [email protected], [phone]; Tashlin Hirani, TD Bank Financial Group, [email protected], [phone]