Travel Information for International Guests
The following information has been put together to help make your holiday in Ontario run as smoothly as possible. Although Canada is known as the friendliest, most laid-back nation on earth, there are numerous ‘quirks’ to living in Canada and we want to make sure you don’t get caught out by some of our more obscure customs and regulations. We do recommend that you take the time to at least acquaint yourself with the Important Information Section before you travel to Canada as this may prevent any embarrassing moments – and even save you from a hefty fine! The remainder of the booklet is additional information we hope you find useful.
Important Information
Documents
· Your passport must have at least 6 months to run after your return flight.
· Visas are not required for British citizens.
· Medical or dental treatment can be expensive, so ensure that you have arranged adequate travel insurance.
· You must have a current driving licence for renting a car – the UK licence card is insufficient on its own; you will also need to present the paper portion of the licence.
On the Road
· Speed limits, unless otherwise posted – dual carriageways and motorways (100kmh or 62mph), on a two-lane highway (80kmh or 50mph) and in towns (50kmh or 30mph). Be very cautious in school zones and small towns, where posted speeds may be very slow.
· On-the-spot speeding fines are levied at the road side – fines are often posted on billboards on the highways and even minor roads.
· If you use the 407 ETR (Electronic Toll Route), a quicker route if you are heading east of Toronto, expect to be billed by your car rental company a month or so after you get home (£3.50 per use is the norm as rental agencies charge a hefty admin fee).
· If a school bus is stopped with its lights flashing, traffic in both directions must stop to allow children to cross the road in front of the bus, unless the road is dual carriageway with a central reservation (median).
· A 4-way or All-way junction often encountered in urban and rural areas, is where all vehicles must stop at the junction and the first to arrive at the junction is the first to move off – you need to be aware of your position in the queue so you don’t miss your turn. Although the concept is very simple, be careful.
· It is an offence to use any motorised vehicle (including boats and snowmobiles) whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
· Traffic must give way to buses and coaches merging from the right.
· Unless indicated to the contrary, you can turn right on a red light. You must give way to traffic approaching from the left.
Out and About
· It is an offence in Ontario to consume alcohol in a public place such as a park or public beach. No alcohol can be carried consumed any vessel that does not have permanent sleeping accommodation and toilet facilities. These regulations are strictly enforced particularly on the larger lakes
· It is also an offence to carry opened cases of beer or part-bottles of wine or spirits in your car – even in the boot (trunk)!
· No fires are to be lit outdoors if there are fire restrictions in place – the fine is a hefty $1,000 for doing so. Your cottage guide will have instructions on how to check the current fire risk status.
· Visitors to Canada who wish to fish must first obtain a licence. Information on where to get a fishing licence is in the cottage guide.
· The law requires one approved life jacket or PFD (Personal Floatation Device) per person to be on board any boat together with a bailer, torch, whistle and line. Boating without these safety items on board can result in a hefty fine.
At the Cottage
· Cottage septic systems are designed to cope with human waste and toilet tissue only. Sanitary products, nappies and Q tips WILL cause a blockage.
· Recycling garbage is mandatory in Canada. Follow the instructions in your cottage guide for disposal of garbage.
· Long-distance call charges that occur during your stay will be recovered from your security deposit. Use of credit or calling cards is encouraged.
· Please follow any ‘rules of the cottage’ closely, as they are there to ensure you have a problem free and enjoyable stay.
Let the Adventure Begin
The flight to Canada can be an adventure in its own right. If the weather is clear, you may get the opportunity to experience the stunning scenery of Greenland and there are often icebergs to be seen in the waters of the North Atlantic, between Greenland and Canada itself. As you make landfall over Canada, usually over the coast of Labrador or Newfoundland, you will be struck by the amazing clarity of the air and the excellent visibility. You will also begin to get a feel for the vast numbers of water features that make up the topography of Eastern Canada.
Arrival
Hopefully the arrival at Toronto International Airport will also give you a stunning view of the city of Toronto and the world-famous CN Tower on the shore of Lake Ontario. This is where the adventure really begins as you follow the signs to the Customs and Immigration area, a seemingly endless walk that makes you wonder if you should have booked an internal flight! But eventually, clutching your passport and declaration card (passengers of all nationalities must fill in one of these cards supplied by the airline), you arrive in a large room with numerous desks manned by immigration officers. One by one each passenger is processed - but do make sure you stay behind the red line until your turn comes - and then, after a brief bout of questioning, you will move on to reclaim your baggage.
Your landing card will be checked before you enter the baggage hall, and again as you leave, so keep it to hand. If you need to use a baggage trolley (cart) you will need a C$2 coin - there are change machines available for converting small denomination bills into C$2 coins. Then, once you have been reunited with your luggage, you pass out of the reclaim area, pass the customs desk and a customs officer, who will relieve you of your landing card, and out into the main arrivals area. The car hire desks are signposted.
Picking up your rental vehicle
The majority of hire vehicles will have automatic transmission and it is recommended that you familiarise yourself with the car's controls, switches etc, and adjust your seat and mirror positions. This is because about a minute after you drive off for the first time in Canada you meet Highway 409/401 and more than likely in rush hour - which is akin to the M25 on a bad day and on the wrong side of the road! That said, driving in Canada is generally very relaxed and once you are away from the centre of Toronto, you will be ready to engage cruise control and head off in the direction of your chosen piece of heaven.
Driving in Canada
As a general rule regarding speed limits; unless otherwise posted, on dual carriageways and motorways the limit is 100 km/hr (62mph), on a two-lane highway 80km/hr (50mph) and in towns 50km/hr (30mph). BE VERY CAUTIOUS IN SCHOOL ZONES AND SMALL TOWNS, WHERE POSTED SPEEDS MAY BE VERY SLOW.
If a School Bus is stopped with its lights flashing, traffic in both directions must stop to allow children to cross the road in front of the bus. You are also expected to stop and allow pedestrians to cross at Signed Pedestrian X-Walks.
Unless there are indications to the contrary, you may turn right on a red light once you have stopped and made certain there is no oncoming traffic. When turning left at traffic lights, a flashing green light or green arrow means that opposite direction traffic is stopped and you are cleared to cross over. A 4-Way Stop is something you may not have seen before, where all vehicles must stop at an intersection and the first to arrive is the first to leave - be careful!
You may be happy to know that there are no roundabouts in Canada, only underpasses, overpasses and many, many traffic signal lights.
Drivers under 25yrs of age will not be permitted to drive a hire-vehicle without paying additional premiums. Check with your rental car agency, if applicable.
Highway 401
Highway 401 deserves a mention, as you will likely be forced to travel on it sometime during your holiday. The 500 mile East-West motorway was originally intended to by-pass the City of Toronto but is now an integral part of the city's transit system. It is one of the busiest motorways in North America with sections around Toronto exceeding 20 lanes.
Basically the centre 6 Express lanes (3 in each direction) are for longer journeys and the other 14 or so Collector lanes are for shorter on-off type trips. You may exit directly from the Express lanes to the Airport and a few major intersections (like the 400 or 404) otherwise follow the signs and exit via the collector lanes always easing to the right so as not to miss your exit. Don't get too far right or you may be forced to exit prematurely. Try to avoid using this route in the vicinity of Toronto on weekdays before 9:30AM, between 3:00-7:00PM and on Sunday evenings. An alternative route to/from the Airport is via the 407 ETR (Electronic Toll Route), although not completed in its entirety, will avoid much of the potential congestion. If you use this road expect to be billed a month or so after you get home (£3.50 per use as the rental agency appear to charge a hefty admin fee). On motorways the exit numbers don't appear to make any sense; in fact they are the distances from the start of the motorway in km. So if you pass exit 521 and are looking to get off at exit 543 you have 22km to go.
Documents
Your passport must have at least 6 months to run after your return flight. Visas are not a requirement for British citizens; however, travellers of other nationalities should refer to the Canadian Consulate or their respective embassy to determine their current related visa requirements. All travellers to Canada must have a return or onward ticket. If you posses an onward travel ticket which involves travel to the United States, then it is very important that visa requirements for the USA are checked before leaving the UK.
Health
For travellers to Canada there are no specific immunisation requirements. Medical and health services in Canada are of a high standard and readily available. However, medical or dental treatment can be expensive, so we recommend that you have adequate health insurance. Also, if you are taking any form of medication, ensure you take an adequate supply and a copy of your prescription in case you need a repeat prescription during your stay. Should you need to see a physician call one from the phone book and if he cannot see you he will refer you to the nearest “walk-in" clinic or hospital emergency. For prompt emergency response most properties in Ontario have a blue and white number sign on the road adjacent to the property; just dial "911" giving the roadway and number and the nearest response vehicle will be dispatched.
Currency
There is little need to take a lot of traveller's cheques as there are cash points at almost all banks, supermarkets and Malls that are accessible 24-hours a day and accept most UK cash cards. Major credit cards (MasterCard, VISA, American Express, Diners Club, and En-Route) are universally accepted however small general stores and shops in remote areas may demand cash. It is handy to have some cash on arrival to unlock a baggage cart (C$2 coin required also known as a “Twonie” as opposed to a C$1 coin know as a “Loonie” – the Loon is a beautiful water bird and one of Canada’s national emblems and is depicted on the reverse of the C$1 coin). Exchange kiosks are available in the airport arrival area. Canadian dollar traveller's cheques are accepted in most large stores and restaurants. Banks generally open between 10am - 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am - 6pm on a Friday. Local Banks may take a while to exchange your £s as they will not have the rate readily available; don’t expect to be able to change C$ into £s except perhaps at the airport of departure.
Taxes and Rebates
There is a 5% General Sales Tax (GST is Nationwide) and an 8% Provincial Sales Tax (Ontario only other provinces vary around 5-8%) applied to almost every Canadian purchase. (i.e. you will actually have to pay C$3.39 for an advertised C$3.00 item) Taxes are included in the listed price of gasoline, liquor and beer. Some groceries and certain children's items may be exempt. You are eligible for a GST (5%) rebate when you leave Canada but the following restrictions apply - individual receipts must be greater than C$50.00 and the total must exceed C$200.00. You will also need to supply your boarding card, so make sure you keep this in a safe place.
Duty and Tax Free
Any visitor to Canada over the age of 19 is permitted to purchase tax and duty free alcoholic beverages and tobacco up to the following amounts –
· 1.14 litres(40 oz) liquor or wine and
· 200 cigarettes or 400 gms tobacco or 50 cigars
Duty and taxes will be charged on quantities exceeding these amounts.
Travel Hint - Duty-free is often cheaper on board the aeroplane but the selection may be limited. Canadian duty free prices are much cheaper than the British ones.
Alcohol
The minimum age in Ontario to purchase or import wine or beer is 19. Unlike the UK, beer, wines and spirits cannot be purchased from supermarkets and are only available from government licensed Beer and Liquor stores – The Beer Store and LCBO. These stores are widespread but are generally closed on Sundays and public holidays although in some locales extended opening times are becoming more common. Beer stores only sell domestic beers and foreign beers whilst wines, spirits and a limited selection of beer can be obtained at LCBOs. It is an offence in Ontario to consume alcohol in a public place such as a park or public beach so restrict consumption to private property or licensed establishments. Understandably it is an offence to use any motorised vehicle (including boats and snowmobiles) whilst under the influence of alcohol. Refusing to take a breathalyser or failing a breathalyser test (a reading greater than 80mg or 0.08% per 100ml of blood) will make you liable for conviction. It is also an offence to carry opened cases of beer or part-bottles of wine or spirits in your car - even in the boot (trunk)!
Smoking
Canada, like the UK, is rapidly becoming a smoke free environment so if in doubt ask if it is OK to light up. All our Cottages are designated as non-smoking inside the cottage; if you do smoke outdoors please do not leave butts all over the grounds. Children under the age of 16 are not permitted to buy cigarettes.
Climate and Weather
Summer is from Mid-June to the end of August with daytime temperatures ranging between 25-35° C with relatively high humidity levels and almost no wind (a good time to be by a lake). It can go for 2-3 weeks without any significant rain other than the odd shower. Shorts, sandals, T-shirts, sunscreen and a good sun hat are in order. Winter takes control from around the end of November to the end of March with temperatures around freezing and often dropping to - 20° C. Significant snow accumulations may not occur until after Christmas, but white Christmases are the norm in the Snow Belt areas. Spring can be variable, with warm spells and maybe even a late snowfall but are invariably wet with the melting snow. The fall is stunning with clear crisp days as the leaves change colour in preparation for winter. Late October and November can be a bit blustery with quite windy days. You will need warm jumpers and a windbreaker at this time.
Time Zone and Canadian Holidays
Ontario and Québec lie within the Eastern Time Zone (EST) and there is a minus 5-hour time change between the UK and Ontario. (i.e. 11 AM UK is 6 AM in Ontario). Unlike UK, daylight saving time changes are in March and November; for 2009 the dates are March 8 and November 1.