Going to Canada for the First Time
 

We are planning a trip to Victoria/Vancouver, soon. Wondering if there's anything special I should know about getting around/money, etc? I'll be doing most of the driving and don't like big surprises when renting a car.

You'll probably have better response on the Canada board.

However, Canada is not that different from the States. They drive on the right hand side of the road; they drink milk; they have the same chain hotels.

HOWEVER, they are proud to be Canadians; almost everything is labelled in French and English (what a great idea!); they are more "British" than UnitedStaters; and the area that you are visiting is among the most beautiful areas in the world.

What else would you like to know? Please be specific.

You need a passport to cross the border, preferably a valid US passport. BUT, if you don't have one, then you need to get a piece of paper from the US Passport Office - this passport business is becoming a royal headache.

You do not need a passport yet but the day is coming. You'll be fine for this year as long as you have a valid picture id (drivers lic) and proof of citizenship (birth cert). I live less then an hour from the Canadian border and the passport thing is a real pain. In a town just north of us they have a library that is in the US & Canada. Everyone is trying to figure that one out.

To clarify on the passport issue for 2007.

If you are flying into Canada, you will need either a passport or a receipt from a passport office that you have applied for a passport.

If you are driving into Canada, you need a photo ID and birth certificate.

With driving, it's much the same as the states. They do require daylight running lights, but your rental car will have that handled automatically.

The money exchange isn't that great right now - 93 cents to the US dollar - but it makes it easy to convert and know how much you're spending.

Vancouver is very pedestrian friendly, be aware and get ready to yield. Gorgeous city, you will love it. The museum in Victoria is worth it, their history exhibit about the area is so awesome, and just wandering around the streets is nice. My parents summer there. Flowers abound, art on display down by the harbor, just a quaint, lovely place, good vibes.

A few other basic things to know about travel to Canada:

-- gasoline is MUCH more expensive than in the US.
-- innumerable places take credit cards, which will give you best overall exchange rate for your money.
-- you can easily get Canadian money at ATMs, which would be the second best overall exchange rate. Check with your bank on fees for international transactions, and whether there's a bank in Canada from which you can withdraw money without a fee.
-- the worst exchange rate is to pay with US currency.

Our money is very pretty. :)
Colourful.

My DH and I are going to Canada this summer too...
What I need some help on is the cellphone issue.

I need to stay in touch with my Dad who is elderly while I am on travel. Usually no prob with Verizon however Verizon just informed me they will cahrge .67 a minute for any cell use in Canada.

any thoughts anyone?

yep, my cell worked great in Canada too....for a little more money....I only used it when I absolutely had to. I don't recall it being quite that much though (T-Mobile)

Suggestion on phone use while in Canada.

Pre-paid phone cards -- the ones where you dial an 800 number from a pay phone and then give a PIN -- would cost no more in Canada than they would in the US. With these, you'd be able to keep in touch several times a day, if needed.

I second Paul's suggestion. I've done both the cards and the cell and the cards were less expensive.

Just make sure your father has your cell number written down for emergencies. Perhaps give it to a neighbor also just in case. Then use the card to make your regular check in calls.

easytraveler
what do you mean when you say that Canadians are more "British" than UnitedStaters??As a Brit who has traveled to both countries I am curious??

1) afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria
2) Butchart Gardens
Have a great time!

Maybe easytraveler meant because It's "British" Columbia..red telephone booths , tea, rugby pubs, I found Victoria to be very British. We know alot of Brits who live there and in my parents building on the Inner Harbor, many former members of Parliament reside.

If nothing else, Canada IS a member of the Commonwealth. US hasn't been since 1776.

I think there's also the fact that Canada tends to use British spelling, etc.

I've also read a lot of articles that say that Victoria is extremely British in feel.

Victoria's the oddity in Canada - the only place that openly celebrates its English colonial past. Outside of downtown Victoria, the rest of Canada is as British as New York City.