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Cheap Flights and Hotels in Canada travel information

   


We feel that there are very few countries in the world offer as many options to the world traveler as Canada. Whether you have a passion for skiing, sailing, museum-combing or indulging in exceptional cuisine, Canada has it all.

Western Canada is well-known for its stunningly beautiful countryside. Stroll through Vancouver's Stanley Park, overlooking the blue waters of English Bay or ski the slopes of world-famous Whistler-Blackcomb, surrounded by thousands of hectares of pristine forestland. For a cultural experience, you can take an Aboriginal nature hike to learn about Canada's First Nations' history and cuisine, while outdoorsmen can river-raft, hike or heli-ski the thousands of kilometres of Canada's backcountry, where the memories of gold prospectors and pioneers still flourish today.

By contrast, Eastern Canada mixes the flavor and charm of Europe with the bustle of trendy New York. Toronto boasts an irresistible array of ethnic restaurants, bakeries and shops to tempt the palate, while Charlottetown, Canada's birthplace, is located amidst the rolling fields and sandy Atlantic beaches of Prince Edward Island. Between the two, ancient Québec City is a world unto itself: the oldest standing citadel in North America and the heart of Québécois hospitality.

Of course, don't forget Northern Canada, where planes or all-terrain vehicles are sometimes the most common forms of transport and wildlife viewing is at its best.
  
 
Traveling within Canada


Air travel
Air Canada has recently introduced a low-cost airline called Tango that offers reduced flights from most Canadian provinces and Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa in Florida, USA, to a number of internal destinations. For further information about Tango services contact Tango by Air Canada, PO Box 64239, Thorncliffe Outlet, 5512 Fourth Street, NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2K 6JO (tel: (888) 858 8264 (toll free in Canada); fax: (866) 584 0380; website: www.flytango.com).
There are also around 75 airlines operating local services, the principal ones being: Air Nova (for eastern Canada); Air BC (for western Canada) and Air Alliance, Air Ontario and West-Jet (for central Canada).
Reductions are available for those aged 13-21, with substantial reductions for those under 12.

Departure tax: From C$5 to C$12, depending on the airport of departure and the destination.

Note: From 1 April 2002 there is a new Air Travellers Security Charge (ATSC) which helps to pay for the additional security following 11 September 2001. This charge will be levied on all passengers departing from any Canadian airport for domestic, national and international flights. The charge is currently C$24 per person for national and international departures and C$12 per person per flight for all domestic service to a maximum of C$24 per person per ticket.


Sea/River/Lake/Canal
Canada has many thousands of miles of navigable rivers and canals, a vast number of lakes and an extensive coastline. The whole country is well served by all manner of boats and ships, particularly the east and west coasts, where the ferries are fast, frequent and good value. The St Lawrence Seaway provides passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. For further details, see individual regional entries or contact the Visit Canada Centre (see Contact Addresses section).

Rail
VIA Rail Canada operates extensive services across Canada. The regional railways are Ontario Northland, Algoma Central, British Columbia Railway, Great Canadian Railtour Company, Québec North Shore & Labrador, Toronto Hamilton, Buffalo Railway, White Pass and Yukon Route. Children under two years of age not occupying a separate seat may travel free (one per adult) and children 2-11 years of age pay half fare. Persons over 60 years of age and students carrying an International Student Card (ISIC), will receive a ten to 50 per cent discount (depending on the type of ticket); student discount fares also apply to young people aged 12-17. VIA Rail operates a Western transcontinental service (the Canadian) between Toronto (Ontario) and Vancouver (British Columbia), running three times weekly east and west, transiting Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Jasper. Passengers are drawn to this route by the spectacular scenery of the three mountain ranges which are passed en route - the Rockies, the Selkirks and the Coastal. The route also features views of ancient glaciers, large lakes and waterfalls. All trains operating between Vancouver and Toronto include showers in sleeping cars. The transcontinental service can be accessed by regular services from the Atlantic provinces and from Québec City and Montréal. Rapid intercity services are available between Québec, Montréal, Halifax, Toronto, Windsor and Ottawa. On these journeys the fare price includes a meal, snacks and drinks. VIA Rail also operates an overnight Eastern transcontinental service between Montréal (Québec) and Halifax (Nova Scotia). Long-distance trains are extremely comfortable, with full restaurant services, air conditioning, spacious reclining seats, etc. The Rocky Mountaineer service (website: www.rockymountaineer.com) offers the opportunity to travel between Calgary, Banff, Jasper and Vancouver during daylight hours, enabling passengers to view the extraordinary passing scenery. Customers can purchase either a one-way or round-trip fare. A one-way trip takes two days and covers approximately 443km (275 miles) each day. Included in the price is a one-night stopover in Kamloops, bus transfer from train to Kamloops hotel, two continental breakfasts, two light lunches and complimentary beverages (coffee, tea, fruit juices and soft drinks). Alcoholic beverages, films and souvenirs are available on board at an additional cost. For visitors seeking a route into the Canadian wilderness, the Polar Bear Express (Toronto-North Bay-Cochrane-Moosonee) runs daily (except Friday) from late June to early September. Passengers are advised to make hotel reservations in Moosonee in advance. Particularly scenic routes include Sault Ste. Marie-Eton-Hearst (with superb views of the Montréal River and hundreds of lakes), Winnipeg-Hudson Bay-Churchill, Edmonton-Jasper-Prince George-Prince Rupert (with exceptional scenery between Burns Lake and Prince Rupert), North Vancouver-Squamish (a one-day 87km round-trip (54 miles) tour of the Howe Sound on a steam locomotive to the logging town of Squamish where there are many First Nation arts and crafts and the 374m (1000ft) Shannon Falls), Victoria-Courtenay (along sheer cliffs to Malahat Summit with good views of Vancouver Island) and Vancouver-Whistler-Lillooet-Prince George (along the fjord-like coast of Howe Sound, then the craggy cliffs and rushing white-water streams in the heavily forested Cheakamus Canyon to Alta Lake, then the snow-covered mountains looming over the verdant forests and farmlands of the Pemberton Valley, before the final descent into Fraser River Canyon). VIA Rail also offers tailor-made adventure rail trips (VIA Adventures) to far-flung destinations, some of which are inaccessible by road, offering drop-off and pick-up services and special facilities for carrying bulky items such as canoes and bicycles.

Discount Rail Passes
The Canrailpass must be purchased outside Canada and a valid passport presented at time of purchase; it allows unlimited journeys on the Canadian railway system for 12 days within a 30-day period and is only valid on VIA Rail trains. There is also a Student Canrailpass available to holders of International Student Cards (ISIC) and a Senior Canrailpass available to persons aged 60 and over. The Alaska Pass offers 8-, 12-, 15- and 22-day travel within Alaska and British Columbia, including travel on BC Ferries and Rail, Greyhound Canada, Alaska Ferry, Alaskan Express, Norline Coaches, White Pass & Yukon Railroad and Alaska Railroad.

For more information on rail itineraries, timetables, fares and special discounts, contact VIA Rail in Canada (tel: (416) 366 8411; website: www.viarail.ca); or the Visit Canada Centre (see Contact Addresses section).

Driving in Canada
The road network covers vast distances as the country is over 7600km (4800 miles) from west to east and 4800km (3000 miles) from north to south. The longest road is the Trans-Canada Highway, running west to east for 8000km (5000 miles). Petrol and oil are sold by the litre, and costs per litre should be obtained at time of travel. The Canadian Automobile Association (tel: (613) 247 0117; fax: (613) 247 0118; website: www.caa.ca) is affiliated to most European organisations, giving full use of facilities to members. Road signs are international.

Traffic regulations: Traffic drives on the right. Road speeds are in kilometres per hour and are: 100kph (60mph) on motorways, 80kph (55mph) on rural highways and 50kph (30mph) in cities. Distances are measured in kilometres. Many road signs throughout the country are bilingual (English and French). Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers. Radar detection devices are strictly prohibited in many states and may not be carried in automobiles. Studded tyres are illegal in Ontario, but are permitted without seasonal limitations in the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan and Yukon, and are allowed only in winter in other provinces

Bus & Coaches
One of the cheapest and most convenient ways of traveling the country apart from private motoring is by coach. Each region is well served by a large network of coach lines, the most extensive being the Greyhound Bus Company, which covers more than 193,000km (120,000 miles) of North America. Greyhound's Canada Pass ticket must be purchased outside of North America and entitles the holder to unlimited travel over periods of seven days, ten days, 15 days, 21 days, 30 days, 45 days and 60 days in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Yukon and as far east as Montréal. The Greyhound Canada Pass PLUS offers unlimited travel for seven days, ten days, 15 days, 21 days, 30 days, 45 days and 60 days throughout all of Canada, including the area east of Montréal to the Maritimes. The Greyhound Canada Pass includes all scheduled routes on Greyhound plus Greyhound Lines Inc: Montréal to New York and Vancouver to Seattle; Voyageur Colonial: Toronto to Montréal/Ottawa and North Bay to Montréal; Brewster Transportation: Banff to Jasper; Adirondack Trailways: New York to Buffalo to Toronto; Canada Coach Services: Toronto to Niagara Falls and Buffalo and Toronto to Detroit; Grey Goose Bus Lines: routes between Manitoba and Ontario; Laidlaw Coach Lines: services on Vancouver Island; Saskatchewan Transportation Co: Alaska to Saskatoon and VIA Rail: Toronto to Ottawa to Montréal. The Canada Pass PLUS includes all these previous routes plus Orleans Express: serving Montréal, Québec City and Rivière du Loup; Acadian Lines: Amherst to Truro and Halifax and SMT Lines: routes through New Brunswick. For further information contact Greyhound Canada (tel: (403) 265 9111 or (800) 661 8747 (toll free in USA and Canada); e-mail: info@greyhound.com; website: www.greyhound.ca). The Go Canada pass, which includes hostel accommodation, costs £396 for 15 days/nights and £588 for 30 days/nights. For further information contact Hostelling International Canada (tel: (613) 237 7884; fax: (613) 237 7868; e-mail: info@hostellingintl.ca; website: www.hihostels.ca).

Gray Line is another bus company that offers excursions to major Canadian resorts (website: www.grayline.ca). Canada also has regional bus services, the most important of which are:
Atlantic Canada: Acadian Lines, Terra Nova Transport, SMT Eastern and CN Roadcruiser. Central Canada: Canada Coach Lines, Voyageur and Voyageur Colonial, Grey Goose Bus Lines Limited, Saskatchewan Transportation and Orleans Express.
West Canada: Brewster Transport and Vancouver Island Coach Lines.
Other coach companies operating in Canada include: Gray Coach: Toronto to Niagara Falls and Buffalo; Arctic Frontier Carriers: Hay River to Yellowknife. Besides long-distance travel, all these companies operate a range of services, such as regional tours and escorted sightseeing for groups. RoutPass offers 14-, 15-, 16- and 20-day passes for travel in eastern Canada. Children are not charged if under five years old; half the adult fare is charged for children aged 5-11 years old. Persons aged over 65 are eligible for reductions on fares in some provinces. Contact individual operators for details.

Bus: Metropolitan city buses operate on a flat-fare system (standard fares, irrespective of distance travelled). Fares must be paid exactly, which means that drivers do not carry change or issue tickets. Transfers should be requested when boarding a bus. 		 
 
Climate & Clothing


Required clothing: March: Moderate temperatures. Winter clothing with some mediumweight clothing.
April: Milder days but the evenings are cool. Mediumweight clothing including a topcoat is recommended.
May: Warm days but cool at night. Mediumweight and summer clothing recommended. June: Warm, summer clothing with some mediumweight clothing for cool evenings. The weather in June is ideal for travel and all outdoor activities.
July/August: These are the warmest months of the year. Lightweight summer clothing is recommended.
September: Warm days and cool evenings. Light- to mediumweight clothing recommended. October: Cool, with the first frost in the air.
November: Cool to frosty. Medium- to heavyweight clothing is recommended. First signs of snow. Motorists should have cars prepared for winter and snow tyres are recommended. December/January/February: Winter temperatures. Winter clothing is necessary (eg overcoat, hat, boots and gloves). Heavy snowfall in most provinces.