Pierce Ford
Canada is a lot of fun to visit since it has it all: busy cities, mountains, beach getaways, winter wonderlands, and everything in between. To travel safely and enjoy yourself in Canada in 2022 and 2023, there are a few things to know before you go, just as there are anywhere.
- Make Sure You’re Weather-Ready
It’s not always frigid in Canada, despite what some people may think, and there are scorching summers throughout much of the nation. Seriously, in July and August, a large portion of south and central Canada experiences temperatures higher than 30°C (86°F).
The best time to travel, however, will largely depend on the weather since Canada has seven separate climatic zones with wildly divergent average temperatures.
- Verify the entry and visa requirements.
Travelers to Canada, aside from US citizens, must get an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or a visa before leaving. A passport and proof of COVID-19 vaccine are also requirements for entry for all adults.
Check with your local government to find out the requirements as your native country will obviously determine the specific documents you’ll need to visit Canada. Once you are aware of this, visit the website of the Government of Canada to apply for an ETA or visa.
- Plan ahead of time for lodging.
The “hostel vibe” that fits the backpacker lifestyle so well can only be found in a few locations, despite the fact that cheap hotels, Airbnbs, cabins, camping, and couch surfing are all available.
A few hostels are located in particular in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, and Alberta’s National Parks.
Apart from that, I advise you to reserve your lodging in advance in order to get the greatest deal. Booking.com is a good place to start your search because it typically has the widest range of hotels available for most Canadian destinations.
You’ll be competing with local Canadians looking for the best accommodations, especially during times when travel is prohibited (including campsites, which have booked up months in advance in recent years).
- Purchase Canadian travel insurance.
Travel insurance to Canada is a requirement no matter where you are coming from. Yes, Canada is praised for having a top-notch healthcare system throughout the world, but this is only true for Canadians. In other words, if you don’t have insurance, a trip to the hospital in Canada may set you back a lot of money.
Although Nate (the site’s creator) has written a comprehensive guide to Canada travel insurance to assist you in selecting the best coverage for your needs, I personally recommend World Nomads for travel insurance.
Remember that if you want to engage in “risky” activities like scuba diving—which is legal in Canada—or skiing, the majority of policies will need you to carry additional insurance.
- Make sure to be familiar of the Transportation means.
In relation to Canadian airlines, I would advise thoroughly researching how to get to your particular destination before you travel.
The greatest option for travelling long distances in Canada is still by airline, but every city and region also has a unique transportation system (train, bus, metro, etc.) that is independent from all others.
Not to mention, some cities don’t even have accessible transit networks, leaving local buses and renting a car as your only choices.
Nevertheless, Discover Cars makes hiring a car in Canada simple. Taxis are also readily available in all major cities, and Uber is present in many cities.
