Some interesting things to know before you travel to Canada

When traveling in Canada, there are many things to remember to ensure you have the best and safest vacation possible. For example, it’s important to know which areas to avoid, emergency numbers, and how to be prepared for all weather conditions. Here are some travel tips for visiting Canada, which might just save your life.

Know what to wear

Temperatures and climates differ across Canada, so it’s important to do research before traveling. For example, a visit to Vancouver in winter will be very different than winter in Winnipeg. Winter weather essentials, no matter where you go, include good-quality snow boots, woolen accessories, and a waterproof jacket.

Protect yourself against petty crime

Petty crime is, unfortunately, rife in most large cities around the world. Many thieves target tourist attractions and hotels, as they believe vacationers are easy targets. Handy tips include leaving your passport in the hotel safe and carrying a photocopy with you. It’s also helpful to try and keep luggage out of sight in cars and not to leave any valuables behind, even in a locked vehicle.

Prepare for weather conditions

Canada is known for its intense winter weather conditions, so it’s important to keep a constant eye on the country’s rapidly changing weather. The Weather Network is a good website to track conditions. In winter, be prepared for road closures due to avalanches and snowstorms. If driving in winter, ensure your rental vehicle is equipped with snow tires.

Get Your ETA Visa in Advance

ETA stands for Electronic Travel Authorization and it is a new entry requirement for visitors to Canada. It is now mandatory for all visa-free nationals except Americans since November of 2016.

Depending on where you are from, you might need an ETA before you board your flight to Canada. Getting your ETA Canada visa is a simple online process which takes only a few minutes to complete. You will need a credit card, a passport and an email address and you will need to answer a few basic questions and enter your personal information. You will also need to pay a small fee of $7.

In most cases, you will have your ETA granted within a few minutes of applying. Once it is approved, your ETA will be valid for five years or whenever your passport expires. It is important that when you travel to Canada, you travel with the same passport that you used to apply for the ETA.

Get Out Into the Great Outdoors

Yes, Canadian cities are cool. Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Winnipeg, Halifax and all of the other main centres in Canada have lots of culture, great food and plenty of things to do. However, the true joy of visiting Canada is getting out of the city and into the vast Canadian wilderness.

Canada has a population of just under 36 million, but a land mass nearly as big as the entirety of Europe. This means that most of Canada is wild and unpopulated. There are huge areas of pristine, unspoiled wilderness waiting to explore. Whether it is tramping across a glacier in the Rocky Mountains, hiking through coastal rainforests on Vancouver island or canoeing through Ontario’s lakes – Canada’s great outdoors is the ultimate playground.

If you love hiking, canoeing, camping, fishing, bird watching and other outdoor sports you will be in your element here. If you are a winter sports enthusiast, the skiing and snowboarding is world famous and truly superb. (Just remember to get a safety briefing from the locals before you head out – so that you are aware of how to avoid bears, frostbite, getting lost and other dangers.)

Transport

Canada’s major cities have different public transport options. In Vancouver, the SkyTrain is the world’s longest fully automated driverless system, whereas Toronto uses a subway, bus, and streetcar public transport network. When traveling in rural areas, it’s safest to rent a car, as it may be difficult to get from point A to point B otherwise. Taxis and Ubers are also available in urban areas.