With prospective travelers everywhere cutting back on, or delaying, their vacation plans, British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley is feeling the pinch. The CBC reported this week that summer bookings are way down for travel to B.C.’s wine country.

But if you’ve been considering an Okanagan visit, this spring is a great time to go.

Not only does the region host a popular spring wine festival — this year, it runs from April 30 through May 9 — but with fewer tourists on the road, hotels may be more willing to cut you a deal.

The British Columbia Wine Institute’s website has scads of useful tips for planning a wine-tasting trip through the Okanagan. Tourism BC is also a good starting point for information about Okanagan travel.

And if you’re thinking about a more permanent visit to the Okanagan, either to relocate or to buy a vacation home, get information about the region’s real estate market from the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board or the South Okanagan Real Estate Board.

Photo ©Carolyn B. Heller