Gorgeous mountain backdrops, crystal clean lakes and air fresher than anything you’ve ever breathed before. These are three things you can surely expect on your visit to Canada, one of our planet’s most scenic countries. The unspoiled beauty of Canada’s wilderness has been the playground for adventurers and vacationers alike for generations. It’s exactly the kind of natural majesty that continually has visitors returning north of the border.
But, if this is your first trip to Canada, then there are some important things of which you should be aware. In an effort for your visit to be as exciting and fun as possible, here are some tips for planning your Canada vacation.
- Passport & Visa Application
Start the passport & Visa application process early.
International visitors to Canada must carry a valid passport and, if required, a visa. Visit the Citizenship and Immigration website for a complete listing of countries whose citizens require visas to enter Canada. All visitors should contact their Canadian consulate or embassy to learn what documents are required.
- Insurance
Having travel insurance can give you that extra peace of mind when travelling away from home that you are covered if your luggage was to get lost or stolen or if you were to fall ill. Travel insurance doesn’t need to be expensive but lost luggage and medical bills certainly can be.
Medical and dental care here is costly, and the government recommends that visitors be adequately insured during their stay in the country.
Insurance usually covers medical expenses, financial or any other losses incurred while traveling. Travel insurance is arranged at the booking of a trip to cover exactly the duration of that trip. Travel policies offer the following coverage:
- Student travel
- Business travel
- Leisure travel
- Adventure travel
- Cruise travel
- International travel
Irrespective of the nature of uncertainties, a suitable coverage fulfilling the requirements can offer the coverage needed while away from home. It may save spending a fortune in any tragic unforeseen incident.
- Vaccination
No special immunizations or vaccinations are required to visit Canada.
- Measurement Calculator
Canada uses different measuring systems and for visitors who are unaware, it can be problematic. For example, if you’re driving here, the speed limit is designated in kilometers per hour. These are little differences, but ones that could have an impact on your visit.
- Weather Conditions
It experiences all the four seasons. The months from October to May are the coldest and you should pack accordingly. Canada’s coastal regions tend to receive plenty of rainfall and in the prairie lands, you should expect some stronger than normal winds.
- Time Difference
It is important to be able to work out the time difference to know how long a journey will take and also to co-ordinate with the people back home.
- Language
The language here is a mix of English and French, but you can usually get by with English in most of the tourist spots. If you head into more rural areas, it could help if you know a little French, or at least have a French-American dictionary handy.
- Currency
Canada commerce runs on the Canadian dollar, which is similar to the U.S. dollar, but visitors are usually better off converting their currency while they are here. This can be done in most major cities at a local currency exchange or at a nearby bank.
Planning for any vacation, whether it’s within or out of the country, is critical. Use the wealth of information available on the Internet to gain a good idea. Everything from the best hotels to famous attractions can be found online.