Travel Guides to Canada

2016 Travel Guide to Canada

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TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA B efore travelling, it is useful to have some basic information on your destination. Provincial and territorial agencies can provide material covering every aspect of tourism in their region, allowing you to plan accordingly. We've compiled our own list of tips—consider this Canada 101, a primer to help you prep for your trip. ENTERING THE COUNTRY First impressions count, so the Canada Border Services Agency makes entering the country comparatively easy. Vacationing citizens of Britain and most EU or Commonwealth countries need only a valid passport. Visas aren't required; however, a return ticket and proof of suffi cient funds may be requested. American citizens travelling between the U.S. and Canada must produce a passport or other WHTI-compliant document, such as a NEXUS card ( www.cbp.gov/travel). If in doubt, consult Citizenship and Immigration Canada (www.cic.gc.ca). There are no limitations on what personal effects can be brought into Canada. Gifts must be valued at $60 or less each. Duty-free limits for adults are 1.5 l (53 imp. oz./51 U.S. oz.) of wine, 1.14 l (40 imp. oz./38.5 U.S. oz.) of spirits or 8.5 l (299 imp. oz./288 U.S. oz.) of beer or ale. Adults may also bring up to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 200 g (7 oz.) of tobacco. The use of fi rearms is strictly con- trolled, and the buying or selling of illicit drugs is severely dealt with. When travelling, prescription medications should be kept in original containers in case customs offi cials want to see them. In the interest of public health, restrictions are also placed on the importation of animals, plants and foods ( www.inspection.gc.ca). GETTING AROUND Flights operated by Air Canada (www. aircanada.ca) and carriers like WestJet (www.westjet.com) or Porter (www. fl yporter.com) link many Canadian cities. In some airports, a departure tax is levied on top of taxes included in your ticket price. The national train system, VIA Rail, offers cross-country service, with connec- tions to certain U.S. cities (www.viarail. ca). Inter-city bus service is also available in some areas through companies such as Greyhound (www.greyhound.ca). Civic buses provide public transit in many communities; Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal, more- over, have excellent subway and local rail systems. Taxi service has been a founda- tion in cities and municipalities for many years, however, upstart Uber is available in some major cities. For many travellers, though, driving is the preferred way to go. The cornerstone of the national road network is the Trans-Canada Highway, which stretches 8,030 km (4,990 mi.) from Victoria, B.C., to St. John's, Newfoundland, with ferries covering coastal waters at each end. Canadians drive on the right and follow rules similar to those in Britain and the U.S. At intersections you may turn right on a red light if the way is clear and unless posted otherwise (except on the Island of Montréal). Speed limits, stated in kilome- tres, vary but are usually around 100 to 110 km/h (62 to 68 mph) on highways and 50 to 60 km/h (31 to 37 mph) in urban areas. Radar detectors are illegal in most locales. Seat belts are compulsory, and children weighing less than 18 kg (40 lb.) must be in child restraint seats. Every province and territory, save for Nunavut, forbids using hand-held electronic devices TRAVELLERS' TIPS BY SUSAN MACCALLUMWHITCOMB roYaL ontario MUSeUM, toronto, on • CtC TRAVELLERS' TIPS

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