Things to Know Before Traveling to Canada | Canada 2023

Hello everybody! If you are watching this video, it means you are thinking about traveling to Canada in the near future. With bustling cities and wondrous national parks, why wouldn't anyone want to take in everything this country has to offer? Canada might share a border with the USA, but in many ways, Canada is very different from its neighbor. So, before planning a trip to Canada, there are a few things you should know which we will cover in this video. Watch this video to the end, and you will learn all the most important information for your trip to Canada. I promise! And before we start, please subscribe to the channel and give it a thumbs up. This really motivates us to create useful content for you. Let's go! In fact, Canada is the second-largest country in the world, right after Russia. So, when you do go to Canada, don't expect to be able to cover most of the country in just a few weeks. Canada is huge, and traveling from one city to the next means traveling long distances. If you only have a limited amount of time, you are better off choosing one or two provinces of Canada and focusing on all the things there to see there. Also, keep in mind that Canadian cities are very spread out, so when you are booking a hotel or other accommodation that seems to be close to the main sites or a bus or train station, double-check the distances. And yes, a hotel in one of the suburbs might be much cheaper, but keep in mind that those suburbs often feel like a separate city with their own shopping malls, parks, supermarkets, etc. Commuting from a suburb to the main sites can be a pain. And no, you definitely won't be able to walk everywhere like you might have gotten used to in many European cities. Just to highlight how big Canada really is, think about it, the country spans 6 time zones. Canada is made up of 10 provinces and 3 territories, and if you want to see a good chunk of it during your trip, I would recommend renting a car, but in general, a car will get you the furthest. Fun fact, Canada has the largest coastline in the world. The most important packing tip for Canada, bring layers. One of the important things to know before going to Canada is that even if you are visiting Canada in summer, it can get chilly at night in the mountains, and the weather just varies a lot from place to place. The British Columbia coast, which is on Canada's west coast, has milder temperatures in winter, but if you are anywhere else in Canada in winter, expect it to get cold. Very cold. Bring a warm woolen hat, Canadians call it a toque, thick gloves, and a scarf to wrap around your face. The lowest recorded temperature in Canada was minus 81.4 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 63 degrees Celsius in 1947. Fun fact, in Newfoundland, the Atlantic Ocean sometimes freezes, and people play hockey on it. A majority of Canadians speak English as their first language, but French, Canada's second official language, is the mother tongue of about 20% of the Canadian population, and with Canada being such a multicultural society, you will find different levels of proficiency in those languages, many different accents, and numerous other languages spoken. French is the dominant language in the province of Quebec, but the Québécois Wang and slang is a world away from the Parisian French you may have learned in school. Tipping in Canada is similar to tipping in the USA. When you are receiving services from waiters, hairdressers, cab drivers, hotel employees, and others, you are expected to give a tip. Although tipping isn't mandatory, in most cases a tip in the range of 15% to 20% is the standard. Canada adds a federal sales tax to all goods and services, and on top of that most provinces also have their own tax. This means that, depending on where you are in Canada, your bill could come with up to about 15% tax on goods and services. Canada's tax system is a little bit different, so when you buy something in a store, the price you see on the label is not the final price, but also expect these taxes to be added to your restaurant bills, hotel bills, etc. Just like the Americans, Canadians love their promotions, sales, and special offers, therefore always compare prices before you buy. For example, gas prices can vary significantly from station to station, and they change almost daily. Note, there once was a tax refund program for visitors. This program, however, was dropped in 2007, so the taxes you pay while you're in Canada stay in Canada. Canadians have a reputation for being polite. They generally behave very well in public, and anything considered disruptive or offensive is frowned upon. Cutting in line, making a scene, catcalling, loitering, littering, being drunk in public, just don't do it anywhere, but definitely not in Canada. Canadians are known for their tolerance and are very non-confrontational. To some, they might come across as somewhat reserved, and they will say sorry even if there is absolutely no need to apologize for anything. Similar to the USA, Canada is a consumer society, and that does mean that the customer is normally king. Most stores open seven days a week and close late at night. Restaurants cater to every possible diet, and waiters tend to be friendly and attentive. There are toll-free numbers to talk to customer service representatives, and whatever service you need will usually work just fine. Especially when you drive to Canada from the USA, it's good to know that speed limits are different in Canada. So before you start driving, check what the local speed limits are. Like in most countries, mobile phones must be used hands-free when driving, and in Canada it is also illegal to smoke in a car if you are with a minor. Driving conditions can get extremely hazardous in winter. Make sure you have a charged mobile phone, and if you do, an emergency kit when you head out in snowy weather. And if your car isn't ready for winter driving, consider renting a car that is better equipped. Fun fact, Canada has fewer people in its entire country than Tokyo has in its metropolitan area. Canada might be well known for its excellent healthcare system, but that's only for Canadians. If you get injured while visiting Canada and don't have adequate health insurance, you can be presented with huge medical bills. So before you travel to Canada, make sure you have travel insurance that covers any medical expenses in Canada. Depending on the province, the legal drinking age in Canada is either 18 or 19. The drinking age also applies to buying liquor and beer, which in most parts of Canada is at specially designated liquor and beer stores, not in grocery or convenience stores. Because the legal drinking age in Canada is lower than in the USA, you will find a lot of young Americans just across the border. Unless you are a U.S. citizen, you will normally need either a visa or an electronic travel authorization, ETA, to enter Canada. What you need depends on what passport you hold, so make sure to check this long before your travel date. The ETA is mandatory for all visa-free nationals, except Americans. You will need to get this before you board your flight to Canada. Getting your ETA is a simple online process, though which takes only a few minutes to complete. And if you're traveling to Canada from the U.S. by land, check the Canada-U.S. border crossing requirements. Hopefully you won't need this, but it's definitely one of the things to know before going to Canada. The phone number for contacting emergency services, including the police, medical services, and firefighters in Canada is 911. Unlike neighboring USA, Canadians use the metric system. Well, in theory. In practice, it's a bit of a mix. Distance and speed you will see posted in kilometers. But if you ask a Canadian how tall he is, he'll answer in feet and inches. And his weight, if he'll tell you, will be in pounds. For the weather, Canadians use Celsius, but when it comes to baking, they tend to switch to Fahrenheit. And if you are driving and need to stop for gas, keep in mind that the prices are per litre, not per gallon. Tim Hortons is an institution in Canada, and you simply can't miss it. That is, because it's everywhere. Nearly every town in Canada, no matter how small, has a Tim Hortons. It's a coffee, sandwich, and donut shop chain named after a hockey player. If you are looking for a cheap coffee or a snack, go to your nearest Timmy's and skip the Starbucks. Canadians either love or hate Tim Hortons, but as a traveler, stop there at least once to form your own opinion. Yes, Canada has cool, modern, and popular cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. With lots of culture, good food, and plenty of things to do, they make for good destinations. But Canada's true beauty is outside of its cities, because of Canada's size and relatively small population. Most of the country is wild and unspoiled. Fun fact, Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world's lakes combined. There are huge areas of pristine, unspoiled wilderness waiting to be explored when you go to Canada. Whether it is tramping across a glacier in the Rocky Mountains, hiking through coastal rainforests on Vancouver Island, or canoeing through Ontario's lakes, Canada's great outdoors can be missed. If you love outdoor sports such as hiking, camping, canoeing, skiing, fishing, bird watching, etc., you will be in your element in Canada. I hope you enjoyed this video. If so, don't forget to give it a thumbs up. This motivates us to continue creating interesting and useful content. And don't forget to subscribe to the channel so you don't miss useful videos about other places on our beautiful planet. Have a nice trip!