Canada is a renowned place that has always been home to warm, polite and cooperative people. Visiting this beautiful country will be a treat and one of the most rewarding experiences in your life.
Although you may have a faint idea of the places you want to visit in Canada, you must know a few things about the nation. Hence, in this blog, we will discuss a few travel tips which will enable you to enjoy your stay in Canada.
8 Travel Tips to Know Before Travelling to Canada
Here, we will discuss the top 8 tricks that can make your trip around Canada relaxed:
1. Canada is a Big Country
While this probably will not surprise you, Canada is a big country with 10 provinces and three territories. You can spend a couple of weeks exploring the country and getting mesmerised by its picturesque landscapes. Hence, if you are time-constrained, you may want to choose specific portions of the country to really explore.
On the West Coast, you can base yourself in Vancouver, close to the beautiful Rocky Mountains. On the East Coast, cities such as Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa also provide great options.
2. Check the Canada Visa Requirements
As different countries have different visa requirements, you must understand your visit purpose to apply for the correct visa type. Some require a visa on arrival, while others may require an extensive list of documents to be granted a visa. Hence, you must apply for the Canadian visa under your intended purpose, as it will assist you in ensuring that the visa is granted effortlessly.
In addition, it is important to ensure that your application is completed with accurate and valid information. You must also submit the proper documents, as failure to do these may result in rejection.
3. Get Yourself a Travel Insurance
Although travel insurance is not mandatory for Indians when visiting, it is crucial to buy one to protect the trip. When planning an international trip to Canada, you must consider that things may not go according to your plan. You may experience unwanted financial losses in terms of loss of baggage, theft, flight cancellation, cancellation of accommodation bookings, or emergency medical expenses.
Hence, getting travel insurance for Canada during your trip planning is a good idea that can help you avoid such situations.
4. Prepare According to the Weather
The Canadian weather may be the first thing that comes to mind when you plan a trip to this country. Nevertheless, it is not always freezing year-round, and some parts of Canada face severe hot summers.
If you plan to visit the upper parts of Canada, such as Nunavut, ensure that you take as many warm clothes as possible. The temperature in this region remains relatively rigid, with cold, long winters and heavy snowfalls. However, to experience milder temperatures, visit the West Coast of British Columbia, where the temperature averages 22°C.
5. Plan Your Budget Accordingly
Planning and allocating your budget is an integral part of your vacation plan. You can either visit Canada on a tight budget or a high budget. Hence, you must plan your Canada trip according to your budget, as it will benefit you to the fullest in your vacation. For instance, if you have a high budget, you can experience snowboarding, skiing, and snowshoeing like nowhere else in Canada.
On the other hand, if you are working on a tight budget, you must look for affordable options for food and accommodation instead. In addition, you must get buy travel insurance from an insurance company at an affordable rate and include it in your budget.
6. Go for Long Drives in Canada
If your travel budget does not permit a limited alternative for your trip to Canada, you can rent a car and drive from one destination to the next. The natural landscape of Canada is stunning, and if you take the road trip approach to travel, you will be mesmerised by the landscape all around you on your trip.
However, with such natural beauty, bad road conditions or extreme weather can cause hazardous conditions when driving during the winter. Hence, you can keep an emergency kit in your car to enjoy the mesmerising scenery without worries.
7. Keep Yourself Alert
No matter where you intend to travel, every country contains safe and risky areas. If you do not know about those areas, you could easily find yourself in big trouble and looking to forget your trip as soon as possible. For instance, you must be careful when visiting Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg, as there can be unsafe neighbourhoods in these cities, which may not be safe for everyone.
Moreover, theft, pickpocketing, and mugging are quite common in big Canadian cities. Nevertheless, you can receive financial coverage for such losses if you have travel insurance so you can enjoy your vacation.
8. Adapt Yourself to Tipping Culture
Tipping is common in Canadian culture, with tipped workers, such as wait staff, bartenders, delivery staff, etc., getting accustomed to receiving tips for their services. It is expected to tip around 15% of the bill amount, and tips can be as high as 20% for exceptional service in a restaurant or bar.
In certain establishments, if you are visiting as a group, staff will include the tip already, and it will be included in the bill. Hence, you can check with your server or oversight about the bill to prevent you from being charged a double tip for the service.
Final Words
Therefore, understanding the travel tips before travelling to Canada will help you prepare and plan your trip to get the most experience possible. With the help of this guide, you can familiarise yourself with Canadian culture and enjoy preparing for the local climate. Moreover, you can understand the benefit of getting travel insurance beforehand to secure your trip.