Checklist for Travelers to Canada

One way to get to know a person is to travel with him or her. People’s true personality tends to emerge when they are dealing with stress. They also reveal their maturity, sense of responsibility, and other positive qualities’ or lack there of when faced with situations with which they are not familiar. However, that does not necessarily mean that you should seek out stressful travel situations in order to discover your travel companion’s true personality. It therefore pays to anticipate difficulties when traveling with others and to be ready for them.

If you are traveling to Canada, the first priority is to be sure to carry your travel documents. If you are from the United States, you need to have a valid passport, permanent residence card or nexus card (US citizens and permanent residents are allowed to enter Canada without a visa). If you come from a country that is not included on Canada’s visa-exempt list, then you should have your travel documents and visas ready. Border officers and airport customs will check these documents before they grant you entry into the country or even allow you to board an airplane flying to Canada.

Those who are traveling on temporary resident visas should also bring their visitors to Canada insurance documents in case border officers ask to see it. To be safe, you should also bring photocopies of all of your travel and identification documents.

Of course, a traveler’s checklist should include appropriate clothing. The type of clothes you need to bring to Canada will depend upon the time of year that you will be there, and the place where you will be staying.

If you are in Canada for the summer, you can bring your usual summer clothes: t-shirts, shorts, jeans, and other light clothing. You should also bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats for UV protection. Summers in Canada can get very hot, just as it can get very cold during the winter. If your visit occurs during this season, do not forget to bring your warmest jackets, boots, and long underwear. You should also bring wind breakers, gloves, scarves, mufflers, and hats. The cold winds can get very strong during winter, especially if you are headed to the prairies – Manitoba, Saskatchewan and northern Alberta. Actually, anywhere in the North will be cold.

Canada has plenty of outdoor adventure attractions, so there is a chance that you will go hiking or exploring the outdoors. You should definitely bring a pair of sturdy hiking boots, or at least walking shoes. Even if you do not plan to go hiking or trekking, walking through snowy streets still requires a pair of boots. Be sure not to forget warm socks as well!

There are also cities in Canada, in northern Ontario, Quebec and the Acadian regions of the Maritimes, where Canadian French is widely spoken. The people of Quebec, for instance, often prefer not to speak English even if they can understand it. So do not forget to bring a French phrasebook with you.

Finally, you should have a widely-accepted credit card in your wallet at all times. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted in most stores, hotels, restaurants, and other commercial establishments.

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Travel Insurance Canada: Canadians Traveling within their own Country

With the economy in the rough shape it is in nowadays, it can be relatively expensive for Canadians to take a trip to their favorite state in the U.S and even more costly to fly oversees for a getaway in Europe, Asia or to other overseas destinations. Canadian citizens should think about planning a trip to another province or territory because Canada has so much to offer in terms of great vacation areas.

Why Travel Within Canada?

The Canadian government encourages tourism, whether it be for fellow Canadians, Americans, Europeans, etc. There are many appealing areas to visit in Canada that can realize your needs for an exciting relaxing or culturally interesting vacation. Every province in Canada has something to offer and it is recommended that every Canadian try and visit as many as possible, even if it takes multiple trips! Whether you want to go whale watching in British Columbia, see the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains in Alberta, lie on the beautiful sandy beaches in New Brunswick, take in the stunning shoreline scenery of Nova Scotia, hike on many of the fantastic trails in Ontario, or see the gorgeous icebergs in Newfoundland, there is always something enjoyable to do in every province and territory.

When is the Best Time to Travel?

Obviously, anyone can travel to other areas in Canada at any time of the year. However, the weather will determine whether or not you will be able to partake in certain activities. Traveling in the summer is usually the more common time to travel if you are looking to hike, see sight, and do many other outdoor activities. Canadian winters in most places are usually cold and come with plenty of snow. When winter arrives, cities such as Toronto, Quebec City, Montreal and Winnipeg host big winter carnivals and are the popular areas to go if you are planning on skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing or doing other winter activities. In the end, the best time to travel depends on what activities you enjoy the most.

How Should I Travel?

If traveling by air, many airlines such as Air Canada, Quantas, and Northwest offer significant discounts and deals if you book your flight well in advance. Talking to a travel agent is recommended, as he or she should be able to give you advice and answer all the questions you may have regarding your trip. You can also talk to friends and family who have traveled throughout Canada to see how they traveled, what they enjoyed the most and how much it cost them. If you are not traveling by air, you have many other options. Traveling by train, bus, or car are the other most common ways to travel. Via Rail and Greyhound are the most popular ways to travel by train and bus as they may offer various package deals and discounts. For more information, you can check the website of the company or talk to a travel agent. Keep in mind that traveling by bus or car is a good way to see all of the many sights that Canada has to offer. Other popular trips include traveling by bike, motorbike or motor home, which allow even more time to visit the small towns and campgrounds along the way.

Canadian Travel Insurance and Other Necessities

Before taking a trip to another province or territory, you should take care of a few things. Canadian travel insurance is important to have if you are leaving your home province. Travel insurance in Canada is crucial because if you become ill or have an accident outside of your home province, your provincial health plan may not cover all of the medical bills. Additional travel insurance can cover unexpected expenses such as if you require immediate medical attention, if your possessions get stolen or damaged, if you experience a flight or travel accident, etc. Without Canadian travel insurance, you may be required to pay unforeseen medical expenses and you would not have coverage for lost, stolen or damaged luggage, flight delays or cancellations. Anyone planning a trip outside of his or her home province or territory should obtain travel insurance so that they are covered anywhere and everywhere they travel.

You are also advised to have your passport and birth certificate with you in your travels. If you have a family, make sure they have all of the proper identification and information as well. Other than that, doing the proper research and properly planning out your trip well in advance will go a long way to ensuring a successful journey.
Canadians should visit as much of Canada as possible in their lifetime. There are so many incredible things to do and unbelievable sights to see that it is almost impossible to see them all! After traveling all or most of Canada, not only will you learn a lot about your home country, you will also be able to tell people how great it is and recommend the best places for them to visit.

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Traveling To Canada?

Bordering the United States, the largest percentage of Canadian tourists are Americans.

Among its main tourist attractions are the Spring Festivals in the Nova Scotia and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. There is also the Ottawa Festival of Spring and the Calgary Exhibition. Travelers to Canada will also enjoy the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival in Ontario.

The city of Toronto also plays host to the Canadian component of the Niagara Falls, which is often called the Horseshoe Falls because of its horseshoe shaped cradle where the water falls. Another great sight in Toronto that travelers to Canada should not dare miss is the Georgian Bay, a picturesque water scape with its row of pine-filled islands. The largest and best known of Ontario’s more than 200 provincial parks is the Algonquin Park. Other tourist spots that Canada’s travelers should take special note of are the Quetico Provincial Park, the Lake Superior, the Polar Bear Park in Hudson Bay and the Kakabeka Falls.

Travelers to Canada will also not be disappointed when they see the snow-capped mountain Mount Begbie, which can be found in one of Canada’s main provinces, the British Columbia. Located in the Mount Revel stoke National Park, it retains its lovely evergreen forests. The province of British Columbia offers travelers in Canada the best in hiking, fishing and canoeing opportunities in the world.

Quebec, whose name was derived from the Algonquian term which means “a place where the river narrows”, promises travelers to Canada a mix of the old and the new.

Travelers can visit the French-style hotel Chateau Frontenac, which is located in the Old Quebec district and the Tadoussac, where whales congregate near the mouth of the Saguenay fjord. Travelers to Canada can also enjoy a little bit of fishing experience in the little fishing villages in New Brunswick and in Concepcion Bay, one of Canada’s many coastal inlets. The island of Newfoundland also affords travelers in Canada the best in music entertainment. It also boasts the country’s finest landscapes with its flat-topped peaks and glacier-gouged lakes, which can be found in the Gros Morne National Park.

The waters of Lake Louise, which can be found in the Banff National Park, is the main attraction in the province of Alberta. A lake of glacial waters, Lake Louise reflects on its surface the surrounding Rocky Mountains and forests, making it a great sight to behold.

Wedged with Alaska and British Columbia is the Yukon Territory famed for its mining industry. In fact, one of its bustling towns during the gold rush period, Dawson, is now a tourist attraction. Travelers in Canada just love the Gaslight Folies variety show, a recreation of the entertainment during that period in history. They are performed at its Palace Grand Theater. Southwest of Yukon Territory is the Quill Creek, which flows from the Saint Elias Mountains that contains the highest peaks in Canada as well as the waters that flows in Yukon’s extensive natural water system composed of creeks, lakes and rivers. The Kluane National Park and reserve is one place that travelers in Canada’s Yukon province should not dare miss. Found in the Kluane Ranges and Saint Elias Mountains, the park offers a sight of Canada’s highest peak, Mount Logan as well as a number of glaciers and ice fields.

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