edit Canada Travel Guide

• Canada's Great Lakes are some of the largest and most beautiful in the world. The alpine towns sprinkled along the Rockies on the Alberta side are an unspoiled mountain playground where each season has its own unique beauty and selection of activities.
• Half way between Toronto and Niagara Falls is "The City of Waterfalls" - namely Hamilton. To date 81 waterfalls and cascades have been found within the city boundaries making it possibly the city with the most number of waterfalls in the world for its size of a half million people. Many of these waterfalls can be reached by hiking the Bruce Trail through Hamilton.
  
• Skiing or Snowboarding. With so much of the country covered by snow and mountains theres plenty of places to shred a bit of snow. Of those Whistler is probably the most popular. There you will find one of the largest resorts in the world and the home to the 2008 winter olympics.
• CN Tower At 553 m (1815 ft) the worlds tallest free standing structure (including the worlds highest observation deck) is just one of many cool things to check out in Toronto.

Visa Requirements

Although the citizens of many countries are exempt (see below) you may need a Temporary Resident Visa to enter the country. If you plan to visit the United States and do not travel outside the borders of the US, you can use your single entry visa to re-enter as long as the visa has not passed its expiry date. Working while in the country is forbidden without a work permit, although Canada does have several temporary work permits for youth from specific countries. If you have a recent criminal conviction (within 5 years) you are inadmissible to Canada. This includes drinking, dangerous, and reckless driving convictions. If you have a conviction over 5 years old then you can apply for 'rehabilitation' approval in advance. The government of Canada maintains a quite informative website for non-Canadians wishing to travel to Canada: http://canadainternational.gc.ca

Citizens of following countries do not need visa for visit Canada :

Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States.

From the United States

Keep your visa documents when leaving the United States.

If you are not a US citizen holding a visa for the US (including the green "waiver" visas people from Western countries get at US borders), you will have both a visa stamp in your passport and a loose immigration document (I-94 or I-94W card) that the US customs officer puts in your passport. When entering Canada from the US (either by land or by plane): if you intend to come back to the US after your stay, do not try to hand the I-94 or I-94W immigration document back to the border officers (they normally don't ask for it). You can enter the US multiple times during the time allocated to your visa (for Western tourists, normally 90 days), but you need to have the immigration document as well to validate the visa. If you come back from the US without that document, you will not only have to apply again for a new visa, but you will also be asked severe questions by US immigration. So keep the immigration document with you until you leave North America for the last time in your trip.

By plane

You are likely to arrive to Canada by air, most likely into Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver (the 3 largest cities, from East to West). But other airports in Canada also have international (mostly from the US) flights as well, particularly (from east to west), Halifax, Moncton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, and Victoria.

Air Canada is the country's only national air carrier, covering the entire country and international destinations. WestJet is a carrier based in Western Canada that is continually expanding their service eastwards. There are a few discount domestic companies, which offer flights to all major cities, with connections to smaller ones.

By car

Although less likely, you might also enter the country by road from the United States through one of the (literally) hundreds of 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 international travellers than at the airports. Also expect delays during holiday periods, as border crossings can become clogged with traffic.

Drivers of American cars will need a certificate confirming that they carry enough public liability insurance (generally $200,000) to meet the requirements of all Canadian provinces and territories. Since many US states permit limits below this threshold, American visitors bringing their own automobiles should check with their automobile insurers and obtain the required certificate.

When driving within Montreal or Toronto keep in mind that these cities are densely populated and parking can be difficult to find and/or expensive. Both cities provide extensive public transit, so it is easy to park in a central location, or at your hotel or lodging, and still travel throughout the metropolitan areas.

By boat

By train

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 a very inexpensive way to get into Canada, with tickets starting from as low as $43 (U.S.) return to Vancouver. There is also thruway service between Seattle and Vancouver.

Be wary though. Not many private citizens in Canada take the train as a regular means of transportation. Most citizens simply drive to where they want to go if the distance is short (which in Canada can still mean hundreds of kilometres!), or fly if the distance is long.

One cannot mention the history of Canada, without reference to its indigenous peoples. Their history began thousands of years before the first European settlers. Throughout Canada you can learn about the cultures of these people and their contribution to Canada. Regrettably, the people that came to settle what became Canada did not appreciate much of the aboriginal culture and traditions. When you visit some of the indigenous historic sites, you will realize how developed and organized these societies were, long before the arrival of Europeans.

As a contrast, Canada's history since European colonization has been relatively short, (the Dominion of Canada was only actually founded in 1867) it has certainly been eventful. Canadians are fascinated by their past and this is reflected in the many historical sites throughout the country. In Central and Eastern Canada, the history entails the early struggles of the first European settlers, and of how the two major cultural groups of the time (British and French) interacted to build a great nation together. In today's highly charged political arena, with on-going talk of Québec independence, this earlier relationship is too often forgotten. The history of Central and Eastern Canada is also very much tied in with the American Revolution, when thousands of people loyal to the British crown crossed the border and settled in these areas in order to remain under British rule. The struggle with the United States continued until after the war of 1812, when an attempted invasion of Canada by the Americans was repulsed.

Canada adopted the Statute of Westminster in December 1931, giving it full legislative autonomy within the British Empire. The country emerged as an independent nation within the Commonwealth after the Second World War, and the last legislative link with the U.K. was ended with the patriation of the Canadian constitution in 1982. Queen Elizabeth II remains Canada's head of state, represented by the Governor General.

In Canada, the history of the land has been influenced by people adapting to the forces of nature in a particular region. In Atlantic Canada, the ocean has played a very significant role in the history and culture of the area. In Western Canada, much of the history of this region revolves around the building of the railway westwards. While building the trans-Canada railroad brought progress and development to, and even helped create many communities, a lot of sacrifice and challenges were necessary for the railway to be completed. The history of Western Canada is also synonymous with the growth and development of the Hudson Bay Company. The fur trade was responsible for the discovery and later habitation of many places. Similarly, the North West Mounted Police (now part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) helped form and develop the west. This police force was the forerunner of the legendary Mounties. Throughout the country, it is interesting to see how the laws and even the mores of earlier times have shaped today's society.

Economy

As an affluent high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system pattern of production and high living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. Canada started the 1990s in recession and real rates of growth have averaged only 1.1% so far this decade. Because of slower growth Canada still faces high unemployment — especially in Quebec and the Maritime Provinces — and a large public sector debt. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force and modern capital plant, however, Canada will enjoy better economic prospects in the future.

Banking

Currency

The country's currency is called the Canadian dollar (symbol: $ proper abbreviation is CAD), commonly referred to simply as a "dollar". One dollar ($) consists of 100 cents (¢). In the 1970s, the Canadian dollar was worth more than 1 US dollar, but slipped to be worth approximately USD$0.66 by the mid-1990s. In 2007 it again is worth more than the US dollar almost $1.05 of a dollar on november 1st 2007

Canadian coins are of 1¢ (penny), 5¢ (nickel), 10¢ (dime), 25¢ (quarter), 50¢ (50-cent piece; rarely seen/never used), $1 (loonie) and $2 (toonie). (The penny, nickel, dime, and quarter match their U.S. counterparts in size, shape, and colour, but not in metallic composition.) Canadian notes come in $5 (blue), $10 (purple), $20 (green), $50 (red)and $100 (brown) denominations. The $1,000 (pinkish) bill has not been issued since 2000 as part of the fight against money laundering and organized crime, and although it is still legal tender, banks have been taking them out of circulation.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are widely accepted, with Visa and MasterCard being accepted in most places, American Express somewhat less frequently and Diner's Club only in the more upscale restaurants and hotels. Generally, using a credit card also gets you a better exchange rate since your bank will convert the currency automatically and usually at a good rate; the merchant does not have to worry about it.

Tax

When purchasing goods in Canada do be aware that the prices displayed are usually without tax; taxes will be added on top of this displayed price. Exceptions are gasoline; the amount you pay is as it appears on the pump, parking fees, liquor bought from liquor stores, and medical services such as eye exams or dentistry.

A Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 6% is applied to most items with the exception of "groceries" and the exceptions listed above. It also applies to most non-medical services, such as haircuts and dry cleaning. You will be required to pay GST on food purchased in a restaurant. Most provinces charge an additional Provincial Sales Tax. Travelers used to be able to get a rebatte on the GST, but as of April 1, 2007, this is no longer the case.

Tipping

Shopping

Costs

Trying to distill the climate of Canada into an easy to understand statement is impossible, given the vast area that this country occupies. The southernmost point of mainland southern Ontario, Point Pelee, and the nearby islands in Lake Erie at a very similar latitude to northern California, and has a climate similar to the eastern US. Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, is just south of the Arctic Circle and remains very cold for most of the year.

However, as most of the Canadian population resides within a couple of hours drive of the southern border shared with the United States, a visitor to these areas will probably not have to endure the weather that accompanies a trip to the northern territories. In fact, summers can be hot in parts of Canada. Summer temperatures over 38°C (100°F) are not unusual in extreme Southern Ontario and the southern Interior of British Columbia. Toronto's climate is only slightly cooler than many cities in the northeastern United States, and summers in the southern parts of Ontario and Quebec are often hot and humid. In the BC Interior, Alberta and Saskatchewan, the humidity is often low during the summer, even during hot weather.

The climate in Canada also depends in large part on how close to the coast you travel. Many inland cities, especially those in the Prairies, experience extreme changes in weather. Winnipeg, Manitoba (also colloquially known as 'Winterpeg') has hot summers, where it can easily exceed 35 degrees Celsius (95°F), yet experiences very cold winters where -40 degrees Celsius (-40°F) is not uncommon. The hottest temperatures in Canadian recorded history have been in southern Saskatchewan - as hot as 45 degrees Celsius (113 F). Conversely, coastal cities in British Columbia and the Atlantic Provinces are generally milder year-round and do not usually get very much snow, although the Atlantic Provinces can get hit by serious blizzards and lengthy cold snaps in winter. The coastal areas of British Columbia have the mildest climate anywhere in Canada. It is mild enough for even some species of palms to grow in Vancouver and Victoria. Both of these West Coast cities are temperate and get very little snow, and seldom experience temperatures below 0 or above 27 degrees Celsius (32-80°F).

Apart from having usually milder temperatures year-round than the interior areas of Canada, coastal areas can have very high rainfall. Areas such as coastal British Columbia get some of the highest rainfall in Canada, but it can be very dry in the southern BC Interior due to the Coast Mountains acting as a rain shadow. The wind can be a big factor in the Canadian Prairies because there are wide open areas not unlike those in the Midwest states of the US, and makes for unpleasant windchills during cold weather in the winter. The average temperature is typically colder in Canada than in the US and Western Europe as a whole, so bring your jacket if visiting between October and May, and early and later than this if visiting areas further north. The rest of the year, in most of the country, daytime highs are generally above 15°C (60°F).

Canadian culture has historically been heavily influenced by British and French cultures and traditions. In more modern times, Canadian culture became greatly influenced by American culture, due to the proximity and the migration of people, ideas, and capital. Amidst this, Canadian culture has developed unique characteristics making it an interesting place. In many respects, a more robust and distinct Canadian culture has developed in recent years.

Holidays and Celebrations

Language

English and French are the two official languages in Canada. All communications and services coming from the federal government are available in both languages. Many 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. Most people in Montreal are bilingual.

English is the dominant language in all regions except Québec, where French is dominant and actively promoted as the main language; New Brunswick, Canada's only officially bilingual province; and the Ottawa region. There are francophone communities around the country, though.

Atlantic Canada is reported to have the greatest variety of regional accents in English-speaking North America. This is largely a result of the isolated nature of the fishing communities dotting the Atlantic coastline prior to the advent of modern telecommunications and transportation. A visitor to the Atlantic provinces may have some difficulty understanding strong local accents rich in maritime slang and idiom, particularly in rural areas. From Ontario west, the accent of English Canadians is more or less the same from one region to another and is akin to that spoken by those in northern US border states.

English-speaking Canadians are generally not required to take French after their first year of highschool, and thus, many citizens outside of Quebec do not speak the language unless closely related to someone who does, or have chosen to continue French studies out of personal or professional interest. Education in many other languages is available, such as Spanish, German, Japanese, etc. However, these are rarely taken and most immigrants are required to learn English as opposed to being able to get by speaking in their native tongue.

In Quebec, one can usually get by with English in the major tourist destinations, but some knowledge of French is useful off the beaten path, and almost essential in many rural areas. It may also be useful to know at least a few basic French phrases in the larger cities, where some attempt by travellers to communicate in French is often appreciated. The French spoken in Quebec and Acadian regions differs in accent and vocabulary from European French. Some Franco-Europeans have difficulty understanding Canadian French.

There are also dozens of aboriginal languages spoken by many Canadians of aboriginal descent. In Nunavut more than half the population speaks Inuktitut, the traditional language of the Inuit.

English Canadians may be mystified if you ask where you can get Canadian food. Although you will find some regional specialties, especially at the Eastern and Western edges of the country, in English Canada there isn't much food known as "Canadian" except for nanaimo bars (chocolate-topped no-bake squares with custard or vanilla butter filling and crumb base), buttertarts (tarts made with butter, sugar and eggs), beaver tails (fried dough topped with icing sugar), fiddleheads (curled heads of young ferns), and a few other examples. They are an important, if somewhat humble, part of the Canadian culinary landscape. In other respects, English Canadian cuisine is very similar to that of the northern United States. Canadians may be unaware that they even have national dishes, especially in the more urbanized areas, such as Toronto, and if you ask for a beaver tail or fiddlehead, you may receive nothing but a strange look or a polite giggle. That being said, there is a rising trend among Canadian chefs and restauranteurs to offer locally-produced ingredients, and most major cities have bistros which specialize in local cuisine. This can even include game meat dishes such as caribou, venison, moose, grouse or wild turkey prepared in a variety of European styles.

French-Canadian cuisine is distinctive and includes such specialties as tourtière (meat pie), cipaille (meat and vegetable pie), cretons (mince of pork drippings), ragoût de pattes (pigs' feet stew), plorine (pork pie), oreilles de Christ (fried larding bacon), poutine (French fries with cheese and gravy), croquignoles (home-made doughnuts cooked in shortening), tarte à la farlouche (pie made of raisins, flour and molasses), tarte au sucre (sugar pie), and numerous cheeses and maple syrup products. Staples include baked beans, peas and ham. French-Canadian cuisine also incorporates elements of the cuisines of English-speaking North America, and, unsurprisingly, France.

One peculiar tradition that you may notice in nearly every small town is the Chinese-Canadian restaurant. A lot of the reason for this is the role Chinese immigration played historically in the early settlement of Canada, particularly in the building of the railroad. These establishments sell the usual Chinese cuisine marketed towards North American Fast Food customers. In Toronto and Vancouver, two large centres of Chinese immigration, one can find authentic Chinese cuisine that rivals that of Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Montreal is well known for its Central and Eastern European Jewish specialties, including local varieties of bagels and smoked meat. In the prairie provinces you can find great Ukrainian food, such as perogies, due to large amounts of Ukrainian immigrants.

If you are more adventurous, in the larger cities especially, you will find a great variety of ethnic tastes from all over Europe, Asia and elsewhere. You can find just about any taste and style of food in Canada, from a 20oz. T-Bone with all the trimmings to Japanese sushi (indeed, much of the salmon used in sushi in Japan comes from Canada). Consult local travel brochures upon arrival. They can be found at almost any hotel and are free at any provincial or municipal tourist information centre.

Americans will find many of their types of cuisine and brands with subtle differences, and many products unique to Canada, such as brands of chocolate bars.

Etiquette

Drinks

Beer

Canadian mass-market beers (e.g., Molson's, Labatt's) are generally a pale gold lager, with an alcohol of 5% to 6%. This alcohol level may be higher than popular beers in the US or Great Britain, so it pays to be careful if you're a visitor. Like most mass-market beers, they are not very distinctive, but the beer lover need not despair. In recent years, there's been a major increase in the number and the quality of beers from micro-breweries. Although many of these beers are only available near where they are produced, it behooves you to ask at mid-scale to top-end bars for some of the local choices: they will be fresh, often non-pasteurized, and have a much wider range of styles and flavors than you would expect by looking at the mass-market product lines. Many major cities have one or more brew pubs, which brew and serve their own beers, often with a full kitchen backing the bar. These spots offer a great chance to sample different beers and to enjoy food selected to complement the beers.

Spirits

Canada is famous in other countries for its distinctive rye whisky, a beverage too common locally to be much appreciated by Canadians. In addition to the plentiful selection of inexpensive blended ryes, you may find it worth exploring the premium blended and unblended ryes available at most liquor stores. One of the most-recognized unblended ryes is Alberta Premium, which has been recognized as the "Canadian Whiskey of the Year" by famed whiskey writer Jim Murray.

Canada also makes a small number of distinctive liqueurs. One of the most well-known, and a fine beverage for winter drinking, is Yukon Jack, a whiskey-based liqueur with citrus overtones. It's the northern equivalent of the USA's Southern Comfort, which has a similar flavor but is based on corn whiskey (bourbon) rather than rye.

Drinking Age

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 (a holdover from Prohibition) is that liquor and beer can only be sold in licensed stores and this usually excludes supermarkets. In Ontario alcoholic beverages can only be sold in licensed restaurants and bars and "Liquor Control Board" stores that are run by the Province. Supermarkets in other Provinces generally have their own liquor store nearby. Québec has the least restrictions on the sale of alcohol.

Nonalcoholic Beverages

You can find most nonalcoholic beverages you would find in any other country. Carbonated beverages (referred to as "pop", "soda" and "soft drinks" in different regions) are very popular. Clean, safe drinking water is available from the tap in all cities and towns across Canada. Bottled water is widely sold, but it is no better in quality than tap water, so you'll save a lot of money by buying a reusable water bottle and filling it up from the tap.

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.

In rural areas, motels (for "motor hotel") are small, simple hotels where you might pay as little as $40 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.

Other options include cottage rentals on the lakes and in the countryside and apartment rentals in the cities. Prices compare to hotels and motels and this type of lodging provides some comfort of home while you are traveling.

Youth hostels are a good choice, offering lodging in shared dorms or private rooms for $15 - $40 per night. Most hostels in Canada meet very high standards.

Finally, there is a huge number of campgrounds in Canada. These range from privately owned R.V. parks to the publicly operated campgrounds in national and provincial parks, and are almost always well-kept and generally very beautiful.

Canada is generally a good place to work in and with unemployment rates hovering at historic lows, there is no shortage of jobs in Canada. The minimum wage varies by province, from $7/hour in New Brunswick and Alberta to $8.50/hour in Nunavut. One should be aware that factory and manufacturing work is becoming more scarce every year and are highly sought, most factories require a highschool education. Minimum wage jobs are becoming more common every year, though there is still a fair amount of good construction jobs to be had.

There is currently a massive labour shortage in Alberta and the British Columbia Interior, mostly fueled by oilfield activity throughout the province. As a result, most businesses are hiring on a constant base - but note that with the labour shortage comes a housing shortage, so expect high rent costs to be coupled with high salaries. You'll find many people from economically depressed areas of the country working in Alberta temporarily, or moving permanently for work, especially in rural areas.

Hiring practices are similar to those in the US.

The communication infrastructure of Canada is what you would expect for an industrialized country.

Phones

The international country code for Canada is 1. Area codes and local phone numbers are basically the same as used in the United States. (Three-digit area code, seven-digit local phone number). Many cities only require a seven-digit local phone number to place a call, but some larger cities (such as Vancouver and Ottawa) require the three-digit area code.

Cell phones are widely used, but due to Canada's large size and relatively sparse population, some rural areas have only analogue service, or no service at all. Bell Mobility and Telus operate national CDMA networks and some regional providers operate in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Atlantic Canada; Rogers Wireless operates the only GSM network, albeit under two brand names of Roger Wireless and Fido (the second GSM network operator, Microcell, was acquired by Rogers in 2004 and forms the base of the current Fido brand). GSM in North America operates on the 850MHz/1900MHz frequency bands, in contrast to the rest of the GSM world which use 900MHz/1800MHz. Travellers planning to bring their GSM phones with them might do well to check that their handset supports the appropriate frequencies. Wireless Internet access via GSM is prohibitively expensive.

Internet

There are many ways to access the Internet, including a number of terminals at most public libraries. WiFi access is common in cities. Most large and medium-sized towns will have internet and gaming cafes. Users can expect to pay $1-3$ CDN per hour for internet access as such establishments.

Mail

The Canadian delivery times can be hit or miss (as quick as the next day in the same city to two weeks across country), however the Post's domestic rates and service are more competitive than its American counterpart's. Unfortunately, international parcel postal services can be costly. Postal offices are usually marked by the red and white Canada Post markings. Some drug stores, such as the Shopper's Drug Mart chain, Jean Coutu, Uniprix, etc., feature smaller outlets with full service. Such outlets are often open later and on weekends, as opposed to the the standard Mon-Fri 9:00-5:00 hours of the post offices.

Crime

Safety in Canada is not usually a problem, and some basic common sense will go a long way. Even in the largest cities, violent crime is not a serious problem, and very few people are ever armed. Firearm-related violence is on the rise in southern Ontario, however, but this needn't worry the average traveller, as it is generally confined to particular neighbourhoods and is rarely a random crime. If you are unfortunate enough to get your purse or wallet snatched, the local police will do whatever they can to help. Often, important identification is retrieved after thefts of this sort. Visitors to large cities should be aware that parked cars are sometimes targeted for opportunistic smash-and-grab thefts, so try to avoid leaving any possessions in open view. Due to the high incidence of such crimes, motorists in Montreal and some other jurisdictions can be fined for leaving their car doors unlocked or for leaving valuables in view. Auto theft in Montreal, including theft of motor homes and recreational vehicles, may occur in patrolled and overtly secure parking lots and decks. Bike theft can be a common nuisance in metropolitan areas.

Emergency

Health

You are unlikely to face health problems here that you wouldn't face in any other western industrialized country. Furthermore, the health care system is very effective and widely accessible. In the past two summers, Canadians in some provinces (Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta) have faced a few cases of West Nile virus, an occasionally fatal infection transmitted by mosquitoes. Also, in spring 2003, an outbreak of SARS scared some visitors into changing their plans, but since only visitors to hospitals in Toronto were ever at serious risk, the fear was greatly overblown.

Gays and lesbians

Homosexual displays of affection are unlikely to cause upset or offence in larger cities or metropolitan areas, though the occasional outburst is not unheard of. Areas outside of larger cities (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, etc.) tend be more conservative in matters of social issues, so discretion may be required. Winnipeg is known to be particularly gay-friendly, having elected North America's first openly gay mayor. Many larger cities cater directly to homosexual tourists in terms of lodging and services, and will openly advertise as such. In Canada same-sex marriage is legal across the country.

Illicit drugs and prostitution

Smoking

Be aware that many Canadian provinces (including Ontario, Manitoba, and Quebec) have banned smoking in all public buildings, including restaurants and bars, and that ban extends to even outdoor patios covered by umbrellas or awnings. These laws are particularly strongly enforced around health care facilities and require smokers to stay a minimum distance from the buildings. Many Canadians have developed a dislike for smoke indoors and will not hesitate to remind tourists of the regulations. Obversely you may get a rude response if you attempt to do the same thing, the non-smoking laws are widely accepted and enforced but are also disliked intensely and ridiculed by a portion of Canadians. Note however that most hotels still have smoking rooms available, but there are fewer available than in the past.

Canada is large - the second largest country in the world after Russia. This means that you will need several days to appreciate even a part of the country. An interesting fact to put the distance in perspective: St. Johns, Newfoundland is geographically closer to London, England than it is to Vancouver.

By plane

The best way to get around the country is by air. Air Canada is the main national carrier, and has by far the largest network and most frequent schedules. For travel between major centres, no frills carrier WestJet offers competitive fares. In general, airports are poorly connected to public transportation and railway transportation; expect to leave airports by road on a rental car, taxi or a privately operated bus.

By train

More than 100 years ago construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway opened access to the majestic Canadian Rocky Mountains and the West. However, the dimension of Canada, as the second largest country in the world, paired with its low population numbers doesn’t sustain the necessary infrastructure investments to compare to rail service in places like Western Europe.

The current rail service is served though Via Rail, and although its a very safe and comfortable option, it also can be more expensive and inconvenient compared to other types of transport. The corridor between Windsor and Quebec City is a bit of an exception to this generalization.

On the otherhand, if you have the time, and want to enjoy a different route through Canada's natural beauty, the approximately three-day train ride between Toronto and Vancouver passes through the splendour of the prairies and the Rocky Mountains, with domed observation cars to allow passengers to take in the magnificent views.

By car

Of course, many people choose to rent a car. Although somewhat expensive if you are travelling alone, this can be an economically reasonable alternative if you are sharing the costs with others. However, beware of the high surcharges associated with dropping off the car at a different location than where it was picked up. In Montreal and Toronto, public transit is a strongly recommended alternative to driving.

By bus

You can also travel between most cities in Canada, small and large, by bus. Greyhound Canada provides much of the service, with smaller operators covering local routes. For some popular tourist routes, guided bus tours are also available.

By thumb

Canada is a great place for hitchhiking, and is still quite common among younger travellers strapped for cash, or seeking adventure. Its most common in the far western provinces, where there are generally more travellers. As anywhere in the world, use your common sense when taking a ride.