Canada Travel Tips

Social Conventions
Handshaking predominates as the normal mode of greeting. Close friends often exchange kisses on the cheeks, particularly in French areas. Codes of practice for visiting homes are the same as in other Western countries: flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine are common gifts for hosts and dress is generally informal and practical according to climate. It is common for black tie and other required dress to be indicated on invitations. Exclusive clubs and restaurants often require more formal dress. Smoking has been banned in most public areas. Most restaurants, theaters and cinemas, if they permit smoking, have large ‘no smoking’ areas.

International Travel:

Getting There by Air
The principal national airline is Air Canada (AC) (website: www.aircanada.ca).

Departure Tax
An Airport Improvement Fee (AIF) applies at all major airports, the cost is per person and is added to the price of the air ticket. Vancouver charges C$5 for flights within British Columbia and Yukon and C$15 for all other flights. Calgary’s AIF is C$15. Toronto has a departure tax of C$8 for connecting flights and C$15 for all others. Ottawa and Montréal levy an AIF of C$15.

Note
An Air Travelers Security Charge (ATSC) helps to pay for the additional security following 11 September 2001. This charge is levied on all passengers departing from any Canadian airport for domestic, national and international flights. The charge is currently C$17 per person for national and international departures and C$5-17 per person per flight for all domestic services.

Main Airports
Canada has 13 international airports. All have full banking and catering facilities, duty-free shops and car hire. Airport-to-city bus and taxi services and, in some cases, rail links, are available.

Calgary (YYC) (website: www.calgaryairport.com) is 20km (12.5 miles) from the city (journey time – 45 minutes).

Montréal (YUL) (Dorval) (website: www.admtl.com) is 25km (16 miles) from the city (journey time – 25 minutes).
 
Ottawa (YOW) (Macdonald-Cartier) (website: www.ottawa-airport.ca) is 15km (8 miles) from the city (journey time – 20 to 45 minutes).

Toronto (YYZ) (Lester B Pearson) (website: www.gtaa.com) is 27km (17 miles) from the city (journey time – 30 minutes).
 
Vancouver (YVR) (website: www.yvr.ca) is 13km (8 miles) from the city (journey time – 20 to 45 minutes).

Getting There by Water
Main ports: Canada has many ports which are all served by international shipping lines.
Montréal (website: www.port-montreal.com) is the only port for passenger liners from Europe.
Toronto’s port (website: www.torontoport.com) is on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, (website: www.portofhalifax.ca), St John, New Brunswick (website: www.sjpa.com) and St John’s, Newfoundland (website: www.sjport.com) are the principal ports on the Atlantic Ocean.
The port of Vancouver (website: www.vancouverport.com) is on the west coast.

Getting There by Rail
The Canadian rail system connects to the USA at several points. Major routes are: New York–Montréal, New York–Buffalo–Niagara Falls–Toronto, Chicago–Sarnia–London–Toronto, Cleveland–Buffalo–Niagara Falls–Toronto and Detroit–Windsor–Toronto.



Rail Passes
VIA Rail Canada, the country’s main rail operator, issues a discount pass for rail travel within Canada and the USA: The North American Rail Pass (available to anyone) is valid for 30 days and allows 12 days unlimited travel within that 30-day period on VIA trains in Canada and practically any Amtrak train in the USA, with direct access to over 900 Canadian and US cities and towns. For details of ticket prices and reservations, contact VIA Rail in Canada (tel: 1 888 842 7245; website: www.viarail.ca) or their UK representative 1st Rail (tel: 0845 644 3552/3; website: www.1strail.com).

Getting There by Road
The only road access to Canada is through the southern border with the USA or from the west through Alaska. Apart from private motoring, the most popular way of traveling by road is by bus. The biggest coach company in the world is the Greyhound Bus Company (see Getting Around) and this is one of the most common routes to Canada from the USA. There are many crossing points from the USA to Canada, but some of the most common are: New York to Montréal/Ottawa; Detroit to Toronto/Hamilton; Minneapolis to Winnipeg; Seattle to Vancouver/Edmonton/Calgary.

Overview
The following goods may be imported into Canada by non-residents without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes and 50 cigars or cigarillos and 200g of loose tobacco and 200 tobacco sticks per person over 18 years of age; 1.5l bottle of wine or 1.14l bottle of liquor or 24 bottles or cans (355ml) of beer or ale per person over 18 years of age if entering Alberta, Manitoba and Québec, and over 19 years if entering British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon; gifts to the value of C$60 per gift (excluding advertising matter, tobacco or alcoholic beverages).

The import of firearms, explosives, endangered species of animals and plants, animal products, meat, dairy, food and plant material is subject to certain restrictions and formalities. The import of soft shell turtles from any country and articles from Haiti made of animal skins (eg drums) is prohibited. The plant Qhat (Kat), although legal in the UK and various other locations, is illegal in Canada. Enquire at the Canadian High Commission or Embassy for further details.

There are three different forms of sales tax throughout Canada, these are added onto the price of goods at the till. A Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 6 per cent is added on to the sale of all goods and services (in Québec, GST is known as TPS). A Provincial Sales Tax (PST) is payable on most items purchased in shops, on food in dining establishments and, in some cases, on hotel and motel rooms in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec and Prince Edward Island. The level of PST will vary from province to province. A Harmonised Sales Tax (HST) of 14 per cent has replaced GST and PST in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Visitors may reclaim GST or HST on accommodation and any goods purchased and taken out of the country. The goods must be available for inspection on leaving the country. The total amount on each receipt for eligible exported goods must be at least C$50 and the total purchase amount (before taxes) must be at least C$200. However, GST is not reclaimable on food, drink, tobacco or any form of transport. To claim a rebate, a form must be completed, with all original receipts and aircraft boarding pass attached, and posted to the address on the form. Forms are available in hotels and tourist offices. In Québec, the provincial sales tax can be reclaimed at the same time as GST on the GST form (see Shopping in the Entertainment section for further information on provincial sales tax). GST forms should be sent to Visitor Rebate Program, Summerside Tax Center, Canada Revenue Agency, 275 Pope Rd, Suite 104, Summerside, Prince Edward Island, C1N 6C6 Canada. Or a form can be downloaded from the website: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.

Note: The government has proposed to drop the GST visitors’ rebate program from 1 April 2007.

For cameras, radios, personal computers etc, a deposit may be requested at the port of entry; this will be refunded to the owner upon submission of proof of export.

Canada Customs require nationals to declare whether they intend to visit a farm within 14 days. UK nationals were subject to particular questioning, following the Foot and Mouth epidemic in 2001.

Internal Travel:

Getting Around By Air
Air Canada has a low-cost airline called Tango that offers reduced flights from most Canadian provinces and Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa in Florida, USA to a number of internal destinations. For further information about Tango services contact Air Canada, PO Box 64239, Thorncliffe Outlet, 5512 Fourth Street, NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2K 6JO (tel: (800) 315 1390 (toll-free in Canada); website: www.flytango.com).
There are also around 75 airlines operating local services, the principal ones being: Air Nova (for eastern Canada) (website: www.airnova.ca), Air Alliance, Air Ontario and WestJet (website: www.westjet.com) (for central Canada). Reductions are available for those aged 13 to 21, with substantial reductions for those under 12.

Note
An Air Travelers Security Charge (ATSC) was introduced in 2002, which helps to pay for the additional security following 11 September 2001. This charge is levied on all passengers departing from any Canadian airport for domestic, national and international flights. The charge is currently C$17 per person for national and international departures and C$5 per person per flight for all domestic services to a maximum of C$17 per person per ticket.

Getting Around by Water
Canada has many thousands of miles of navigable rivers and canals, a vast number of lakes and an extensive coastline. The whole country is well served by all manner of boats and ships, particularly the east and west coasts, where the ferries are fast, frequent and good value. The St Lawrence Seaway provides passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. For further details, see individual regional entries or contact the Visit Canada Center (see Top Things To See & Do).

Getting Around by Rail
VIA Rail Canada operates extensive services across Canada. The regional railways are Algoma Central, British Columbia Railway, Great Canadian Railtour Company, Ontario Northland, Québec North Shore & Labrador, Toronto Hamilton & Buffalo Railway and White Pass & Yukon Route. Children under two years of age not occupying a separate seat may travel free (one per adult) and children two to 11 years of age pay half fare. Persons over 60 years of age and students carrying an International Student Card (ISIC), will receive a 10 to 50 per cent discount (depending on the type of ticket); student discount fares also apply to young people aged 12 to 17.
VIA Rail operates a Western transcontinental service (the Canadian) between Toronto (Ontario) and Vancouver (British Columbia), running three times weekly east and west, transiting Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Jasper. Passengers are drawn to this route by the spectacular scenery of the three mountain ranges which are passed en route – the Rockies, the Selkirks and the Coastal. The route also features views of ancient glaciers, large lakes and waterfalls. The journey takes three days and all trains operating on this route include showers in the sleeping cars. The transcontinental service can be accessed by regular services from the Atlantic provinces and from Québec City and Montréal. Rapid intercity services are available between Québec, Montréal, Halifax, Toronto, Windsor and Ottawa. On these journeys, the fare price includes a meal, snacks and drinks. VIA Rail also operates an overnight Eastern transcontinental service (the Ocean) between Montréal (Québec) and Halifax (Nova Scotia). Long-distance trains are extremely comfortable, with full restaurant services, air conditioning and spacious reclining seats.
The Rocky Mountaineer service (website: www.rockymountaineer.com) runs from April to October and offers the opportunity to travel between Calgary, Banff, Jasper and Vancouver during daylight hours, enabling passengers to view the extraordinary passing scenery. Customers can purchase either a one-way or round-trip fare. A one-way trip takes two days and covers approximately 442km (275 miles) each day. Included in the price is a one-night stopover in Kamloops, bus transfer from train to Kamloops hotel, two continental breakfasts, two light lunches and complimentary beverages (coffee, tea, fruit juices and soft drinks). Alcoholic beverages, films and souvenirs are available on board at an additional cost.
For visitors seeking a route into the Canadian wilderness, the Polar Bear Express (www.polarbearexpress.ca), Toronto–North Bay–Cochrane– Moosonee, runs daily (except Monday) from late June to early September. Passengers are advised to make hotel reservations in Moosonee in advance. Particularly scenic routes include Sault Ste. Marie–Eton–Hearst (with superb views of the Montréal River and hundreds of lakes), Winnipeg–Hudson Bay–Churchill, Jasper–Prince George–Prince Rupert (with exceptional scenery between Burns Lake and Prince Rupert), Victoria–Courtenay (along sheer cliffs to Malahat Summit with good views of Vancouver Island) and Vancouver–Whistler (along the fjord-like coast of Howe Sound, then the craggy cliffs and rushing white-water streams in the heavily forested Cheakamus Canyon to Alta Lake) (website: www.whistlermountaineer.com).
VIA Rail also offers tailor-made adventure rail trips (VIA Adventures) to far-flung destinations, some of which are inaccessible by road, offering drop-off and pick-up services and special facilities for carrying bulky items such as canoes and bicycles.

Note


Discount Rail Passes


The Canrailpass must be purchased outside Canada and a valid passport presented at time of purchase; it allows unlimited journeys on the Canadian railway system (except for the Bras d’Or tourist train) for 12 days (up to three extra days can be added to the pass at any time) within a 30-day period, and is only valid on VIA Rail trains. There is also a Student Canrailpass available to holders of International Student Cards (ISIC) and a Senior Canrailpass available to persons aged 60 and over. There is a reduced fare for children. The Alaska Pass (website: www.alaskapass.com) offers eight-, 12-, 15- and 21-day travel within Alaska and British Columbia, including travel on Alaska Ferry, Alaska Railroad, Holland America Motorcoaches and White Pass & Yukon Railroad.
For more information on rail itineraries, timetables, fares and special discounts, contact VIA Rail in Canada (tel: (416) 366 8411; website: www.viarail.ca); or the Visit Canada Center (see Top Things To See & Do).

Getting Around by Road
The Canadian road network covers vast distances as the country is over 7600km (4800 miles) from west to east and 4800km (3000 miles) from north to south. The longest road is the Trans-Canada Highway (website: www.transcanadahighway.com), running west to east for 8000km (5000 miles) from Victoria, British Columbia to St John’s, Newfoundland. On country roads, visitors should be mindful of wild animals that may be roaming, such as deer or moose. Petrol and oil are sold by the liter, and costs per liter should be obtained at time of travel. The Canadian Automobile Association (tel: (613) 247 0117; website: www.caa.ca) is affiliated to most European organizations, giving full use of facilities to members. Road signs are international. Right turns on red lights are not permitted in some parts of Québec. Traffic drives on the right. Road speeds (per hour) and distances are in kilometers, and speeds are: 100kph (60mph) on motorways, 80kph (55mph) on rural highways and 50kph (30mph) in cities. Many road signs throughout the country are bilingual (English and French). Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers. Radar detection devices are strictly prohibited in many states and may not be carried in automobiles. Studded tires are illegal in Ontario, but are permitted, without seasonal limitations, in the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan and Yukon, and are allowed only in winter in other provinces. Many provinces require drivers to keep headlights on during the day. International Driving Permits are recommended - car hire companies may want to see one as well as a passport and air tickets.
Note: The official date on which winter begins, for this and other purposes, will vary from province to province.

Note


Coach


One of the cheapest and most convenient ways of traveling the country apart from private motoring is by coach. Each region is well served by a large network of coach lines, the most extensive being the Greyhound Bus Company, which covers more than 193,000km (120,000 miles) of North America. Greyhound’s International Discovery Pass system offers a variety of options to travelers from outside Canada and the USA. The ticket must be purchased outside of North America and entitles the holder to unlimited travel in the region specified on the pass. The International Canada Pass offers travel over periods of seven, 10, 15, 21, 30, 45 and 60 days in Canada. The International North America CanAm Pass offers travel over periods of 15, 21, 30, 45 and 60 days in Canada and the USA. The International Eastern CanAm Pass offers 10 or 21 days in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the eastern coast of the USA. The International West Coast CanAm pass offers 10 or 21 days travel in British Columbia, Whitehorse, Yukon, Alberta and the western coast of the USA. The Greyhound Discovery Passes include all scheduled routes on Greyhound plus Greyhound Lines Inc: Montréal to New York and Vancouver to Seattle; Voyageur Colonial: Toronto to Montréal/Ottawa and North Bay to Montréal; Brewster Transportation: Banff to Jasper; Adirondack Trailways: New York to Buffalo to Toronto; Canada Coach Services: Toronto to Niagara Falls and Buffalo and Toronto to Detroit; Grey Goose Bus Lines: routes between Manitoba and Ontario; Laidlaw Coach Lines: services on Vancouver Island; Saskatchewan Transportation Co: Alaska to Saskatoon; and VIA Rail: Toronto to Ottawa to Montréal. For further information, contact Greyhound Canada (tel: (403) 265 9111 or (800) 661 8747 (toll-free in USA and Canada); website: www.greyhound.ca).
Gray Line is another bus company that offers excursions to major Canadian resorts (website: www.grayline.ca).
Canada also has regional bus services, the most important of which are:
Atlantic Canada: Acadian Lines, CN Roadcruiser, SMT Eastern and Terra Nova Transport.
Central Canada: Canada Coach Lines, Grey Goose Bus Lines Limited, Orleans Express, Saskatchewan Transportation, Voyageur and Voyageur Colonial.
West Canada: Brewster Transport and Vancouver Island Coach Lines.
Other coach companies operating in Canada include: Gray Coach: Toronto to Niagara Falls and Buffalo; Arctic Frontier Carriers: Hay River to Yellowknife. Discounts are available for children under 16, persons over 62 years and students.
The Moose Travel Network (website: www.moosetravelnetwork.com) offers a ’jump on, jump off’ service for backpackers and independent travelers.
Besides long-distance travel, all these companies operate a range of services, such as regional tours and escorted sightseeing for groups. RoutPass (www.routpass.com) runs between May and December. It offers 14-, 15-, 16- and 20-day passes for unlimited bus travel in Ontario and Québec. Children are not charged if under five years old; half the adult fare is charged for children aged five to 11 years old. Contact individual operators for details.



Bus


Metropolitan buses operate on a flat-fare system (standard fares, irrespective of distance traveled). Fares must be paid exactly, which means that drivers do not carry change or issue tickets. Transfers should be requested when boarding a bus.



Car Hire


Available in all cities and from airports to full license holders over 21 years of age. For some rental companies drivers may need to be at least 25 years old. Major companies from which cars can be booked in the UK for use in Canada are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, Holiday Autos, Pelican Car Hire and Thrifty.



Documentation


It is advised to apply for an International Driving Permit. Visitors may drive on their national driving licenses for up to three months in all provinces, with the following exceptions: Yukon – one month; Prince Edward Island – four months; British Columbia, New Brunswick and Québec – six months.

Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate travel times from Ottawa (in hours and minutes) to other major cities/towns in Canada.

	Air	Road	Rail
Toronto	1.00	5.00	4.00
Montréal	0.30	2.00	2.00
Winnipeg	2.30	32.00	32.00
Vancouver	5.00	62.00	75.00

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