Sightseeing Toronto – Canada’s largest and most multi- cultural city is home to the CN Tower, one of the world’s tallest; Hockey Hall of Fame; Casa Loma Castle; Bata Shoe Museum; the Art Gallery of Ontario; the Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Science Centre; the Entertainment District; Harbourfront Centre; Downtown Yonge, the historic Distillery District and the Niagara Falls, a two-hour drive away.
Montreal – A distinctively French flavour envelopes this charming city on St Lawrence River. The Jardin Botanique (Botanical Garden); the Biodome de Montreal; the Insectarium de Montreal (Insect Museum); the Musee des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts); Pointe-a-Calliere (Museum of Archaeology and History) and ‘Underground City’, a 29-kilometre long, climate-controlled maze of 2000 shops.
Vancouver – Venue of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Vancouver is often listed as one of the world’s 10 best cities. While it offers unmatched opportunities for exploring the outdoors, Vancouver is also intensely urban. The city’s attractions include the Museum of Anthropology; the Vancouver Art Gallery; the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, the Grouse Mountain Resort; the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden; the Nitobe Japanese Garden; Granville Island and Stanley Park – a 988-acre rainforest.
Banff and Jasper National Parks – Established in the province of Alberta in 1885 and covering 6,641 square kilometres, Banff is Canada’s oldest national park. Also in Alberta, located north of Banff, is Jasper National Park, occupying an area of 10,878 square kilometres, it is Canada’s largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Both parks offer spectacular scenery, wildlife and bird-watching and outdoor activities that include hiking, fishing, rafting, kayaking and camping.
Accommodation
Centrally located hotels in Toronto.
Family activities
Various picnic spots, aquariums, museums and major amusement parks such as Paramount Canada’s Wonderland; Ontario Place; Centreville Amusement Park; Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto and Marine Land at Niagara falls.
Shopping
Literally hundreds of shopping malls and retail shops allow you to shop for designer labels or just go bargain shopping. You can find anything you might need at Eaton Centre, one of the world’s largest shopping malls located in Toronto. In addition, fine examples of Canadian handicrafts are available, such as art, woodcarvings, pottery, cottons and native artefacts.
Entertainment
Restaurants, coffee shops, fast food outlets, discothéques, nightclubs, bars, jazz clubs and casinos.
Sports and leisure
Hockey is Canada’s most popular spectator sport and one of its most widely played recreational sports. Ice hockey is played nationwide during winter and lacrosse played likewise during summer. Despite Canadian winters, a variety of warm-weather sports are played indoors as well.
Theatre festivals, art festivals, music festivals and events, food and wine festivals, heritage festivals and sport events and attractions.
Visas:
Visas are not required for nationals of the following countries for a period of up to six months: Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, United Kingdom (except holders of passports endorsed ‘British Subjects’ and ‘British Protected Persons’), Botswana, Brunei, EU except, Estonia, French Overseas Possessions and Territories, Greenland, Guernsey, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Iceland, Japan, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland and Slovakia, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Switzerland and Vatican City. Nationals of all other countries require a visa.
Health requirements:
No special vaccinations are required although it is advised to check with your family doctor to see if booster shots are recommended. Sunburn is common even in winter and we recommend you protect yourself by covering up or wearing a good sunscreen lotion. In winter, sunglasses with UV protection should be worn to prevent injury to eyes caused by strong sun reflecting off snow.
A particular danger on cold, windy days is frostbite. Take special care to keep your fingers, toes, nose and ears protected with gloves, socks, boots and a hat.
During the summer in many parts of Canada, insects such as mosquitoes and black flies may be a problem. The best defences are clothing that covers your skin and insect repellents.
Travel insurance:
Adequate holiday and travel insurance is vital. Emirates Holidays offers a comprehensive insurance package to enable you and your family to travel with peace of mind. Please contact your nearest Emirates Holidays office or your travel agent for details of our HolidayGuard Travel Insurance cover.
Currency:
The Canadian Dollar (CAD) divided into 100 cents.
Notes in denominations of
CAD 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5.
Coins in denominations of
CAD 2 and 1 and 50, 25,
10, 5 and 1 cent.
Approximate exchange rates:
AED 1 = CAD0.27
EUR 1 = CAD1.50
USD 1 = CAD1.02
Please check the rate of exchange prior to travel.
Banking hours - 0930 to 1600 hours, Monday to Friday (with extended hours including weekends at some locations).
Most banks have automatic teller machines (ATMs), which can be accessed 24-hours a day using major international bank or credit cards. Credit cards and travellers’ cheques are widely accepted.
Clothing:
Summers can be hot and humid, so it is advisable to wear clothing made of natural fibres. In winter it is essential to have warm clothing that leaves as little skin exposed as possible. Rainwear is recommended throughout the year.
Airport information:
Toronto - Toronto Pearson International Airport is located 29 kilometres west of the city. The airport telephone number is 0416 776 3000.
Customs:
Provided that they are for their own use, visitors may bring most goods into Canada, including clothing, camping and sports equipment, cameras, tape recorders and personal computers. All goods must be declared on arrival and border services officers may conduct examinations to verify declarations. Goods declared on arrival and exported on departure are not subject to duty or taxes.
Duty free allowance for persons 19 years and over: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or cigarillos or 200 grams of manufactured tobacco or 200 tobacco sticks; 1.14 litres of spirits or 1.5 litres of wine per person; or 24 x 355 millilitre cans or bottles (maximum of 8.5 litres) of beer or ale. Each visitor may also bring gifts worth up to CAD 60 duty free.
Driving licence:
Driving is on the right-hand side of the road and the rules are generally similar to that in the USA. An International Driving Permit is required along with your local driving licence from your country of residence. Minimum age for driving in Ontario is 16 years.
Emergency telephone numbers:
Ambulance, fire and police: 911 in most urban areas; otherwise dial 0 and ask for operator assistance.
Hours of work:
Business: 0900 to 1730 hours, Monday - Friday.
Shopping: 0900 to 1800 hours, Monday - Saturday (Some stores stay open later on Friday nights and many malls, plazas and department stores are open until 2100 hours every day. Many convenience stores are open 24-hours).
Public Holidays (fixed)
1st January - New Year’s Day
Friday before Easter Sunday - Good Friday
1st July - Canada Day
25th December - Christmas Day
26th December - Boxing Day
Public holidays (moveable):
Easter Sunday
Time zones:
Canada spans six time zones from east to west -
• Newfoundland Standard Time: GMT - 3 1/2 hours.
• Atlantic Standard Time:
GMT - 4 hours.
• Eastern Standard Time:
GMT - 5 hours.
• Central Standard Time:
GMT - 6 hours.
• Mountain Standard Time:
GMT - 7 hours.
• Pacific Standard Time:
GMT - 8 hours.
Toronto lies in the Eastern Standard Time zone.
Daylight saving time takes effect throughout the country (except for Saskatchewan and the extreme north-east of British Columbia), with clocks going forward one hour on the first Sunday in April and back one hour on the last Saturday of October.
Language:
English and French are the two official languages of Canada. All road signs appear in both languages. Ontario is in Anglophone Canada, so those who do not speak French should experience no difficulty.
Smoking:
Smoking is prohibited in enclosed workplaces and public places.
Tipping:
Normal tipping amounts to between 10 per cent and 15 per cent of the bill and is generally expected by taxi drivers, bar and waiting staff, hairdressers and hotel staff. Some restaurants include a service charge in the bill, in which case no gratuity needs to be added.
Electricity:
Canada, like the USA, operates a 110-volt, 60-cycle supply. 2-pin US-style plugs are the norm, although there are occasional three-pronged varieties. Most sockets will accommodate both types.
Safety tips:
Whilst Canada is by any standards a safe country, you should remain security conscious and take the usual precautions. In particular, avoid unlit streets at night, be alert to unattended baggage in public places and be cautious around demonstrations or gatherings.
It is advisable to use a money belt or a secure inside pocket to carry cash and cards. Do not carry all your cards with you - leave at least one in the hotel safe or another secure place, along with valuables, spare cash, passports and tickets. If staying in a hotel, do not leave your door open or unlocked.