With exception of Russia. Canada is geographically the largest country in the globe. The length of its border with the U.S. is a bit off of 8900 KM, making this border the longest between two countries. To visit Canada, European and Australian nationality are required to have a valid passport.
USEFUL INFORMATION FOR TRAVEL TO CANADA
With exception of Russia. Canada is geographically the largest country in the globe. The length of its border with the U.S. is a bit off of 8900 KM, making this border the longest between two countries. To visit Canada, European and Australian nationality are required to have a valid passport.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
For European and Australian nationality is required a valid passport.
In addition to the passport, the state of Canada has implemented the electronic visa (ETA – Electronic Travel Authorization) which is required to all tourists wishing to visit the country for leisure and business.
This is part of an admission procedure already used by several other countries, including the US
General information:
Canada has followed the footsteps of the United States and Australia by introducing its system to simplify entry into the country through the ‘Electronic Travel Authorization’ or ETA.
The introduction of this system has arrived in 2015, and is one of the nation’s efforts to limit the entry of illegal immigration.
WHAT’S the Electronic Travel Authorization
ETA, as the name suggests, is a document which confirms the right to enter Canada.
However, instead of getting that authorization through the process of ordinary visa, you can simply visit on the ‘Citizenship and Immigration Canada website’ (CIC), and obtain your authorization to enter the country, via the same web platform, in a few hours, sometimes days.
The individual then must print a copy of the ETA and take it in addition to the related documents required for embarkation to travel to Canada.
TRAVEL ABROAD OF MINORS
Si fa presente che la normativa sui viaggi all’estero dei minori varia in funzione delle disposizioni nazionali dei singoli Paesi.
Anche i minori devono avere un passaporto la cui validità temporale è differenziata in base all’età .
Si consiglia pertanto di assumere informazioni aggiornate presso la Questura nonché presso le Ambasciate o i Consolati del Paese..
HEALTH CARE
No vaccinations are required. The quality of medical services is excellent. For foreigners, health care is paid by the patient.
Given the very high costs of health services (also the only ER) it is suggested to subscribe, at the time of booking, supplementary insurance policy that provides coverage for medical expenses.
CUSTOM
Cameras, radio, sports equipment, trailers, boats are exempt from duty;
if you have rented a car in the United States and plan to enter Canada by land, make sure you have the corresponding rental agreement.
There are limits on the import of tobacco and alcohol.
For all pets you must have veterinary certificate attesting that the animal is not suffering from infectious diseases.
The import or export of currency is permitted up to a maximum of CAD (canadian dollars) of 10,000 and, within that limit, you do not have to declare anything.
LANGUAGE
In Canada there are two official languages, extended by the will of the government throughout the country.
However, English is the first language spoken in almost all the provinces of the center and west, while French is predominant in Quebec and is also widely spoken in some areas of the Atlantic provinces.
TIME ZONE
The time slots that exist in Canada are six and, from east to west, take the following names:
- Newfoundland Time, includes the Newfoundland (-3.5 hours compared england / greenwich)
- Atlantic Time, includes The Maritime Provinces, Labrador, Baffin Island and the Island of Anticosti (-4 hours)
- Eastern Time, includes Quebec, much of Baffin Island and Ontario east of 90 degrees longitude (-5 hours)
- Central Time, includes the Ontario west of 90 degrees longitude, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the eastern half of the Keewatin District of the Northwest Territories (-6 hours)
- Mountain Time, includes the rest of Saskatchewan, Alberta, the northeastern part of British Columbia and part of the Northwest Territories to northern Saskatchewan and Alberta (-7 hours)
- Pacific Time, includes the rest of British Columbia and the Yukon (-8 hours).
In Canada, not all provinces adopt daylight saving time (in force from the last Sunday of April to the last Sunday of October), in fact much of the province of Saskatchewan, the City of Lloydminster (the border between Alberta and Saskatchewan) the city of Thunder Bay and the County of Essex, Ontario and the city of Gaspé in Quebec always follow standard time.
WEATHER
- In summer the average temperature is around 20ºC although there are exceptions;
- in the prairies and in Ontario the low temperature can be considerably higher than the standard, while in the north of the 15ºC day reach winter levels during the night.
- In winter the Atlantic provinces, Quebec and southern Ontario have temperatures ranging between -5° and -20° C;
- within the Yukon and Northwest Territories, it is not uncommon to find temperatures as low as -40ºC,
- while the northern coast heated by warm Pacific currents is difficult to reach temperatures below 0ºC.
CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE RULES
The currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD) divided into 100 cents.
There are in circulation banknotes of different color and cut by 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 dollars and coins of 1, 5, 10, and 25 cents, and by a dollar.
In Canada, credit cards are the most widely used and comfortable means of payment and are accepted virtually everywhere.
The currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD) divided into 100 cents.
There are in circulation banknotes of different color and cut by 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 dollars and coins of 1, 5, 10, and 25 cents, and by a dollar.
In Canada, credit cards are the most widely used means of payment and comfortable and are accepted virtually everywhere.
L ‘”imprint” of the credit card will be required at check-in to the hotel as guarantee of the extra expenses (minibar, telephone, room service, etc.) as well when renting cars and camper / motor home.
TIPS
Although not mandatory, the tip is good practice in restaurants, cafes, hotels and
- should be equal if not greater than 15%.
- It is also of use to leave the 10% -15% tip on the fare to the taxi drivers,
- 1 CAD per bag to porters,
- 2 CAD per person, per day, for each guide and each accompanying person,
- 1 CAD per person, per day for the bus drivers during the tour
- and 1 CAD the doorman to call a taxi.
TELEPHONE
- Cellular Network: GSM (North American rate), TDMA, ANALOGIC, International Satellite. However it is recommendable to check with your service provider the areas he covers.
- For international calls, we recommend the use of prepaid phone cards. Available either at home or on-site.
The international calling cards have the advantage of allowing communication with an automatic reply in their own language. - When connected at a WI-FI Smart Phone can for sure make the difference in calling or communicating with the country of origin.
- You can call your country also directly from the hotel room (overseas call), just type a number (usually 8 or 9) to get an outside line, after which dial 011 followed by the international prefix (33 for France for example) and that of the city required, all followed by the desired phone number.
- If you call through the a hotel operator, you should consider an increase of at least 2% of the amount due.
- From public phones you can call with coins from 25 cents, but only for domestic calls.
- In the case of long distance calls dial 1 followed from the queues (three digits) and from the user’s subscriber number.
TAXES
At any advertised price (shops, restaurant menus, rental cars, etc.) remember to add Governmental and local taxes fees, which may vary from province to province (GST).
EMERGENCY
Police, firefighters and ambulances can be alerted by dialing 112.
ELECTRICITY
The voltage is AC power at 110 Volts, 60 Hertz.
You need a standard reducer to obtain two flat plates that can be found even in your country of origin and at the stores of the major international airports or at electronics stores.
TRANSPORTATION
In addition to the aircraft, the best way to travel in Canada is definitely by car. It allows maximum autonomy and flexibility especially outside cities. The rental of an RV does the same.
In the city instead, in addition to public services (metro, buses), a good alternative are cabs. Compared to Europe they offers very reasonable prices.
FUEL
The petrol to be used for cars and campers, is ‘UNLEADED’ although there are two other types of commercially available gasoline: the normal (regular) and super (highest). The price of gas varies depending on the province.
HOTELS
Canada Hotel’s Standards are among the best Worldwide, offering international renowed chains brand as well as local boutique hotels.
Here below we report you some of the feedbacks received from visitors like you:
What you liked:
- The courtesy of the receptionist;
- Availability of the personal to accommodate any of your desire, including complimentary in-room coffee;
- the scrupulous cleanliness everywhere;
- the panoramic view of some locations;
- the great breakfasts, including some others that we bought at the time;
- Werther the Parking is free or paid, it is still always available and comfortable to use.
What you do NOT liked?
- Carpet is almost in every hotel.
- A Deposit to guarantee the stay is asked everywhere. Sometime the amount required is pretty high.
In general, your opinion on the hotel facilities in Canada has a positive sign almost always.
HOTEL ROOMS
They are generally composed of a Queen size bed.
Triple or quadruple rooms (arrangements with three or four beds) in Canada do not exist. So for triple or quadruple room is meant the use of the room based on the existing bed or beds.
Locally, at check-in, it is possible to request the addition of a third bed “rollaway bed” for an additional fee that varies according to the hotel category.
FAMILY PLAN
The family plan is the possibility that some hotels give to free accommodate children in parents’ room (or with two paying adults), using the bed (the beds) already in place.
In this case the price of the room remains the same regardless of the number of people who live there up to a maximum of four (two adults and two children).
The maximum age accepted to be able to apply the rate to children and teens is specified in the price table of every hotel.