Are you preparing for a trip to the land of maple syrup and snow? Well, Canada is an incredible travel destination, and it’s a huge country. Before you visit, you should plan and research to avoid travel mishaps such as misjudging distances and planning to do much within a short visit. Knowing the travel requirements, transportation, and climate is also very important and research the accommodation prices on Toronto hotels before you leave.
Additionally, Canada, though friendly and adjacent to the US, is a totally different country that has its own currency, laws, and guarded border. Here are essential tips and good plans to help you to prepare for your trip to Canada.
1. Get the Electronic Travel Authorization, ETA, in advance
This new requirement is mandatory for visa-free nationals excluding Americans since 2016, November. The online visa process is actually simple and easy. You can only get your approval via email within minutes, but some requests take a number of days to process in case they ask you to submit your supporting documents. For this reason, it is wise to get an eTA travel authorization before booking your flight.
To complete the application form, you will require a valid passport, an active email address, and a credit or debit card. You will fill in a few personal details and basic questions, and pay a small non-refundable fee as well. Keep in mind that the eTA form is only in French and English.
Some of the important reminders include:
- You only apply as well as pay for one individual at a time.
- Ensure that you print the receipt right away because you will not receive a copy or print it later.
- They will communicate to you via email only.
- Your information cannot be saved and the time to complete your form is limited. Even so, you can extend the session by clicking the ‘Continue Session’ button.
- An ETA is valid for five years.
Apart from the eTA Canada visa, you need to be in good health, and appear to be willing and ready to leave the country when your planned trip is over. You also need to have enough money and no criminal record. If there is an issue, you can visit your home embassy situated in Canada to seek help. For instance, French travelers can visit or contact the embassy of France in Canada.
2. Accommodation
Some tourist spots and major cities have hostels that are quite pricey. This means that accommodation can eat up your budget. However, you can use Couchsurfing. This website allows tourists to connect with Canadians willing to accommodate them in their spare couch or bedroom for free.
Couchsurfing is beneficial as you will stay with the locals who can give more insight and tips than a traveler guidebook. Join the website for free.
3. Adapt your suitcase to the weather
You should bring a warm toque (woolen hat), a scarf, and gloves to prevent your face from numb extremities. This is because even in the summer, the temperature dips during the night in the mountains, and there can be lots of thunderstorms on the prairies. In the winter, the country gets cold, but the weather is moderate on the mild coast of BC.
Do not forget your travel insurance as well. This is because you can become ill or hurt yourself and it will cost you much. Travel insurance will get you covered.
4. Choose your destinations and decide when to go
Canadian cities are extremely cool. Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Montreal, and other main cities have lots of great food, culture, and plenty of great outdoor activities. Even so, getting out of the Canadian cities and visiting the enormous Canadian wilderness will give you true happiness and joy.
The land mass of the country is big and most of it is unpopulated and wild; the population is under 36 million. There are fabulous and huge areas of unspoiled wilderness and pristine waiting for exploration. You can decide to hike through coastal rainforests by canoeing or Vancouver Island through Ontario’s lake. Simply put, Canada’s outdoor activities are the best or ultimate playgrounds.
Outdoor sports such as hiking, bird watching, canoeing, fishing, camping, snowboarding, or skiing will be in your element. If this sounds like a great idea to you, remember to get all the safety briefings before heading out. There will help you to avoid frostbite, bears, or getting lost.
