Canada Travel Guide
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Canada
When is the best time to book flights to Canada?
The cheapest flights to Canada are available between May and June, although this depends somewhat on where you’re flying to. There are a lot of festivals and events in Toronto for example between June and October, so this will make it a lot more expensive to purchase your flight tickets. Do research into the country you want to fly to and figure out what, if any, festivals are on during the time you want to visit before your book your flights to Canada. If you can be flexible with your dates, you’ll have the best chance of finding deals on your flight tickets. You can also find cheap flights to Canada if you book at least 1 or 2 months in advance.
Which day is the cheapest to fly to Canada?
The cheapest flights to Canada are usually found when departing on a Wednesday. The departure day with the highest cost at present is Sunday.
Canada Travel Guide
With its stunning array of destinations – the Rocky Mountains and national parks in British Columbia to Niagara Falls in Ontario, the Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories to the Bay of Fundy in the Maritimes – and friendly, safe, and cosmopolitan cities, it’s no wonder that travelers from around the world search for cheap flights to Canada. And, with such natural wonders on the doorstep, it’s not surprising that so many Canadians choose to book domestic flights and vacation “at home”.There’s plenty to see and do. The festivals alone would provide a challenging itinerary. Spanning the country from West to East, Vancouver hosts the largest fireworks competition in the world, Calgary has the stampede, Toronto the International Film Festival, Quebec City the Winter Carnival, and Nova Scotia the Celtic Colours International Festival. For centuries this has been a country offering better opportunities and the different communities all live tolerantly together enhancing Canada in both tradition and cuisine.
Tourists booking airline tickets to Canada should pack their maps – the provinces can get confusing. Here’s a quick breakdown of the regions for travelers: Western Canada consists of British Columbia and three provinces: Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Eastern Canada consists of Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Northern Canada contains three territories: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. On your flight to Canada, you’ll learn that each of the provinces has slight independence from the national government, and each one boasts its own provincial symbol. When your flight to Canada arrives, you’ll be in one of the world’s wealthiest nations and North America’s largest country. Influenced by the French and British, depending on where specifically you book a trip to Canada, will depend on the type of food, culture, and attractions to experience. Regardless of where your Canada flight lands, a country full of character, culture, and opportunity awaits. Check out our information about traveling to Canada to make your stay in the great white north as enjoyable as possible.
What’s the weather like in Canada?
Canada is an enormous country and its climate ranges from long, cold winter nights in the Arctic Circle to the mild seasons of British Columbia. Both Montreal and Quebec City have warm summers that can become hot and humid. The cities’ winter season lasts from October to early May with cold and snow. You‘ll find the warmest summers in Toronto. The bitter winter cold has become part of the country’s culture. In Ottawa, you can enjoy the warm summer days, but head inside to escape the chilly nights that can drop into the low 30s. Snow starts to fall in October and temperatures can drop close to zero.
How long is the flight to Canada?
Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada serves multiple international and domestic airlines, with varying flight times depending on your exact location. If you’re traveling from the U.S., flights from New York and certain states in the Midwest are relatively shorter than flights from southern states, due to their proximity to Canada. Flights from New York to Canada are typically just over an hour, while flights from Minneapolis are approximately two hours. Flights from Los Angeles generally last about five hours, and flights from Miami are just under three hours.
Which airlines fly to Canada?
Finding a flight into Toronto should be no problem, as Toronto Pearson International Airport accommodates a wide variety of major U.S. and international carriers. U.S. carriers that fly into Toronto include American Airlines, Delta, Miami Air International, and United. International airlines outside of the U.S. served by Toronto Pearson include AeroMexico, Air France, British Airways, China Eastern, Fly Jamaica, and Air China.
What should you pack for a flight to Canada?
While you may think of Toronto, Canada as a cold, snowy city, locals bask in the four seasons, with warm spring months and summers that typically reach temperatures in the 80s. If you’re traveling to Toronto in the winter, temperatures can drop as low as 20 degrees with considerable wind chills, so make sure to pack warm clothing, snow boots, and winter outerwear. During the rest of the year including early fall, the average temperature ranges between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so you’ll want to pack light outerwear, T-shirts, and comfortable shorts or trousers. In general, the city is known for a casual attitude, so whatever clothes you feel most comfortable in should most likely fit in here.If you’re traveling into Canada from the U.S., it’s important to note that local shops may not carry the same brands of your favorite beauty products and toiletries, so you may also want to pack shampoo, soap, and mouthwash if you prefer a specific brand. You’ll also want to be prepared while in-flight, so it’s a good idea to pack a small pouch with travel-size items and first-aid supplies.
How to get around the city of Canada?
Canada’s major airports include Toronto Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Calgary International Airport, and Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. All offer a range of ground transportation options to get you into the city and to your accommodation. For those that want a private airport transfer that will drop you directly at your hotel door, then your best option is to take a metered taxi from the ranks outside the airport’s domestic and international terminals. Most offer fast and efficient rail systems that will whisk you directly from the airport to downtown stations, without having to negotiate the inner city traffic. There are also public bus routes which are often a cheaper, but a longer, option, offering a wider choice of stops throughout the city. Shuttle buses service many of the major hotels, offering a door-to-door service that is hassle-free, and most can be booked online prior to arrival. There are also a number of long-distance buses that depart directly from Canada’s airports to major tourist destinations in the surrounding area, preventing you from having to negotiate multiple forms of public transport.
Given the huge distances between cities, booking local Canada flights is a good option. CanJet serves 15 destinations in Canada and the U.S. including St. John’s, Halifax, Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. Air Canada Jazz, a regional airline, serves more than 70 destinations in Canada and the U.S.The train offers a good way to see the countryside, and VIA Rail Canada offers several packages for intrepid travelers. The one most often recommended however is the Canrailpass, which offers 12 days’ travel anywhere in Canada during a 30-day period. Renting a car can give you the freedom to follow your own itinerary. Car rental companies are represented at all the major airports. Travelers looking to drive around Canada should search for discounted car rental rates when booking flights to Canada.
What are some things to do in Canada?
Toronto is a vast, beautiful city with plenty of sights and sounds to partake in, from outdoor activities to museum tours and everything in-between. Labeled one of the “Seven Wonders of the Modern World,” the CN Tower in downtown Toronto is a popular attraction that offers visitors breathtaking views of the Toronto skyline from a height of 1,815 feet. The tower boasts four observation decks and a restaurant where you can dine and take in the views at the same time.If you’ve got some time during your trip to get back to nature, schedule a ferry ride to Centre Island. One of the three Toronto Islands, Centre Island offers gorgeous beaches and parks for picnics and recreation, as well as Centreville Amusement Park, where you’ll find a petting zoo, 30 different rides and even a boating lagoon where you can rent a paddleboat and take a leisurely cruise along the water.
For a fun-filled day of shopping in one of Toronto’s most historic areas, visit the Saint Lawrence Market in Old Town Toronto. Foodie experts have named the market one of the best in the world, due to its abundance of food vendors, including the Carousel Bakery, known for its peameal bacon sandwiches. The market is divided into three buildings, with the North Market and South Market offering food and produce, and St. Lawrence Hall offering a wide variety of retail items. Sample some tasty Canadian fare, pick up some fresh veggies, then enjoy a day of retail therapy all within a two-block radius.
Tips for Your Stay in Canada
• Although not well-known, Canada’s capital is a charming cosmopolitan city and possibly the most British of the Canadian cities. Downtown Ottawa has renovated Victorian houses serving as homes, restaurants, and shops. The architecture and historical significance of the Parliamentary buildings attract visitors, as does strolling along the Rideau Canal and watching boats go through its eight locks. Ottawa hotels offer something for any traveler’s budget, any time of the year.
• Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city known for its natural beauty and mild climate. As a year-round tourist destination, there’s always something to do: water and land sports and film, jazz, folk, and theater festivals. Vancouver also offers opera, ballet, symphony, and exciting nightlife.
• Parts of Canada are transformed into winter wonderlands by the snowy weather and several cities make the most of the big freeze including Quebec City(Winter Carnival and its ice hotel), Montreal (High Lights festival), and Ottawa (Winterlude, a winter carnival) to name just three.
• On Sundays, entire families do the Grouse Grindin Vancouver. An almost two-mile trail takes you up the face of Grouse Mountain, nearly 3,000 feet. If you are fit, it should take about 50 minutes. Hike up, but take the gondola down to protect your knees of course.
• Visitors to Montreal should take note of the “Sunday Tam-Tams” in Mount Royal. Tam-tams are a type of hand drum, and hundreds of Montrealers and visitors turn up on summer Sundays to play around the monument to Sir George-Etienne Cartier. Find your perfect Montreal hotel before you arrive in this little French city.
• As well as nearby Niagara Falls, Toronto claims the world’s tallest building. The CN Tower stands at 1,815 feet. Once at the top – by elevator naturally – there is plenty to do including walking on a glass floor, eating at the revolving restaurant, and enjoying the view.
• Bring your Stetson. The Calgary Stampede takes place in July and is the province’s most popular tourist attraction. It features a rodeo, chuckwagon races, concert, and amusement park.
• Canada’s British Columbia is a nature lover’s paradise, with captivating mountainous landscapes, endless hiking trails, and intriguing wildlife that make it one of our Kiwi bloggers picks as a “Top Destination for 2021”.
• Vancouver’s seven-story public library has an uncanny resemblance to Rome’s ancient Colosseum, and while the similarity was apparently not intentional, it still makes the list of our “12 Carbon Copies of World-Famous Landmarks”.
• Montreal is home to one of the world’s largest-scale underground cities, known as the RESO, which spans about 20 miles of tunnels beneath the downtown area and includes shops, restaurants, galleries, metro stops, and even hotels!
• From the Rocky Mountain scenery of Alberta to the indigenous cultures of Saskatchewan, Canada is home to 10 different provinces, each with its own unique tourist appeals.
• If you feel like you need to add a little more adrenalin to your next ski adventure, then head to Revelstoke Mountain Resort in British Columbia where heli-skiing on their half a million acres of pristine snow wilderness will make all your wildest ski dreams come true!
Finding Flights from Canada
If you’ve got another destination on your travel agenda after your visit to Toronto or need to book an outbound flight, Toronto Pearson International Airport is a busy hub that services a wide variety of U.S carriers and carriers outside of the U.S., so booking your ticket should be no problem at all. If you need transportation to the Toronto Pearson International Airport, there are several options available. Taxis and ride-sharing services such as Uber are readily available at most times with just a few minutes’ notice, but you may wish to pre-book your ride to ensure you get to the airport on time. Shared van shuttle services including GO Airport Shuttle and Aeroport Taxi are also available for reliable pick-up and drop-off from your lodging location or hotel. Once you arrive at the airport, the Terminal Link train takes passengers between terminals for easy access to your departure gate. For more information on Toronto Pearson International Airport, take a look at our convenient online guide.
How long is the flight to Canada from the USA?
The flight time to Canada from the United States will vary dramatically depending on whether you’re departing from a city in the north or the south. Since Canada shares a border with the US, it may take 30m or less to reach it, but it may also take several hours if you’re flying out of a southern city, such as Miami. For instance, it takes roughly 1h 42m to reach Toronto from Chicago. However, from Miami, the same trip takes 3h 13m.Most of the major airports in the US offer service to some of Canada’s most popular destinations. These include Atlanta Hartsfield Airport, Miami International, Chicago O’Hare, JFK, and LAX to name only a few. Some of the more popular destination cities in Canada for US travelers include Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Banff, Halifax, and more. However, remember that Canada is almost as large as the US, and some cities are thousands of miles apart, which will affect travel time.
Which cities offer direct flights to Canada from the USA?
Almost all major US cities offer direct flights to at least some parts of Canada. For instance, Tampa, Orlando, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and Washington D.C. all offer nonstop service to Toronto. Other cities in Canada with direct flights from the US include London, Winnipeg, and Calgary. However, you may want to consider a flight with at least one stopover, as this may be able to save you money on tickets, although it does add significantly to your travel time. For example, a direct flight from Miami International to Toronto Pearson might take 3h 10m, but one with a single stopover could take 6h 11m. A flight with two stopovers from Miami to Toronto might take 14h 9m.
Do I need a passport to fly to Canada from the USA?
You will need a passport or passport card to visit Canada from the US. It must be valid at the time of entry, but if you intend to go on to Europe from Canada, you’ll need at least 90 days of validity. You do not need a visa unless your visit will last longer than 180 days