Canada Travel Tips

Canada is by size, the largest country in North America, second in the world overall (behind only Russia).  So what better way for our clients to spend their reverse mortgages Canada money than travelling all around this great country?  So we thought we’d outline some Canada travel tips.

Eminent worldwide for its immense, untouched scene, its mix of societies and multifaceted history, Canada is one of the world’s wealthiest nations and a noteworthy vacationer destination. Canada is land of vast distances and rich natural beauty. Economically and technologically,  and in numerous different ways Canada nearly takes after its neighbour toward the south, the United States, although there are significant differences between the two countries.

Tourism in Canada is one of the most prominent industries – for a very good reason, given the natural beauty of the country.

More the latest up to date information on Canada, make sure and check out the official travel Canada website.

Climate:

Trying to distil the climate of Canada into an easy-to-understand statement is impossible, given the vast area and diverse geography within the country. Overall, in most places, winters are harsh compared to much of the world, on par with northern Eurasia. The most populated region, southern Ontario, has a less severe climate, similar to the bordering regions of the midwestern and northeastern United States. Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, is just south of the Arctic Circle and remains very cold except for the months of July and August, when the July average maximum is only 12°C (54°F). On the other hand, the coastlines of British Columbia are very mild for their latitude, remaining above freezing for most of winter, yet they are not far away from some of the largest mountain glaciers found on the continent. Summers in the most populated parts of Canada are generally short and hot. Summer temperatures over 35°C (95°F) are not unusual in Southern Ontario, the southern Prairies and the southern Interior of B.C.

Canadian Regions:

Atlantic Provinces (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island)

Quebec

Ontario

Prairies (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan)

British Columbia

The North (Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon)

 

Language Spoken

English and French are the only two official languages in Canada. All communications and services provided from the federal government are available in both languages. Most Canadians are functionally monolingual, although some parts of the country have both English and French speakers. Over a quarter of Canadians are bilingual or multilingual. Many people in Montreal, Ottawa, and Quebec City are at least conversationally bilingual.

English is the dominant language in all provinces except Québec, where French is dominant and actively promoted as the main language. However, there are numerous francophone communities scattered around the country.

Canadian Cuisine

As noted at Canada travel, Canadian cuisine varies from region to region. Some specialties include maple syrup, Nanaimo bars (chocolate-topped no-bake squares with custard or vanilla butter filling and crumb base), butter tarts (tarts made with butter, sugar, and eggs), beaver tails (fried dough topped with icing sugar), fiddleheads (curled heads of young ferns), peameal bacon (a type of back bacon made from lean boneless pork loin, trimmed fine, wet cured, and rolled in cornmeal; eaten at breakfast with eggs or for lunch as a sandwich), and Halifax donairs (sliced beef meatloaf wrapped in pitas and garnished with onions, tomatoes, and a sweet condensed milk sauce).

 

Drinks

The drinking age in Canada varies from province to province. In Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec the age is 18, while in the rest of the provinces and territories it is 19. A peculiarity of many Canadian provinces is that liquor and beer can only be sold in licensed stores and this usually excludes supermarkets, corner stores, etc. In Ontario alcoholic beverages can only be sold in licensed restaurants and bars and “Liquor Control Board” (LCBO) stores that are run by the Province; although you can also buy wine in some supermarkets in a special area called the “Wine Rack”.Canadians are known for their love of beer, although wine and hard alcohol or spirits are also popular.

Like neighboring United States, some places in Canada are dry communities. Similarly, just like in the dry counties in the U.S., means that the sale of alcohol is either prohibited or restricted.

 

Hotels & Motels

Accommodations in Canada vary substantially in price depending on time and place. In most cities and many tourist areas, expect to pay upwards of $100 or more for a good hotel room. If inquiring always ask if taxes are included, because some offer it with taxes included, some not.

Hotels play an integral part of Canadian history, with some of the country’s most well known landmarks being hotels.

In rural areas, motels (short for “motor hotel”) are small, simple hotels where you might pay as little as $40-60 for a night’s accommodation (especially in the off season.) In many areas, a B&B (bed and breakfast) is a nice option. These are normally people’s homes with suites for guests. The price – anywhere from $45 a night to $140 a night – usually includes a breakfast of some kind in the morning.

 

Travelling

Wikitravel has the best guide to travelling across Canada – here is a quick summary:

By Car: Canada has a land border with only one country – the United States. See the “from the United States” subsection for more information on what to do when leaving the US.

You might also enter the country by road from the United States through one of many border crossing points. Obviously, the same rules will apply here, but if your case is not straightforward, expect to be delayed, as the officials here (especially in more rural areas) see fewer non-U.S. travelers than at the airports. Also expect delays during holiday periods, as border crossings can become clogged with traffic.

By Bus: Greyhound Canada serves many destinations in Canada, with connecting service to regional lines and U.S. Greyhound coaches. Be sure to inquire about discounts and travel packages that allow for frequent stops as you travel across Canada. Many routes connect major Canadian and American cities including Montreal – New York City and other big cities of Canada.

By Train: Travelling Via Rail is Canada’s national passenger rail service. Amtrak provides connecting rail service to Toronto from New York via Niagara Falls, Montreal from New York and Vancouver from Seattle via Bellingham. The train is an inexpensive way to get into Canada, with tickets starting from as low as US$43 return to Vancouver. There is also thruway service between Seattle and Vancouver.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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