Do I need a passport to enter Canada? If you are a citizen or
permanent resident of the U.S. you don’t need a passport or visa. It is
advisable to carry evidence of citizenship i.e. Certificate of birth,
certificate of naturalization, certificate of citizenship or state
birth certificate. (Providing only a drivers license or social security
card is not considered valid proof of citizenship). A driver’s license
may be combined with any of the above to establish identity. It is
imperative that you have photo identification. Permanent residents of
the U.S. who are not citizens should carry a resident alien card. You
must have a valid passport if you are visiting Canada from another
country other than the United States. Visitors coming from certain
countries will be required to present a visitor visa. It must be
obtained at a visa office outside Canada. To know if you require a visa
to enter Canada, contact the nearest Canadian Diplomatic Mission.
TRAVEL
ADVISORY
A note to all US Citizens traveling to Canada. As of December 1, 2006 a
Passport will be required for all travel to Canada.
For additional
information
visit the official government site. http://www.cic.gc.ca/
US Customs Announces New Procedures Governing Inclusion of Digital
Photos in Passports The U.S. Customs & Border
Protection Service announced today new procedures to govern the Oct.
26, 2005, deadline for the inclusion of digital photographs in
passports of travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries. The
requirement applies to all passports issued on or after Oct. 26, 2005,
and not to any issued before that date. However, passports from VWP
countries issued prior to Oct. 26 must be machine-readable.
It appears that Italy, Austria
and France will not be able to comply with the digital photo
requirement by the deadline, and, therefore, travelers from those
countries with post-October 26 passports will, for the near future,
need visas to gain admission to the United States.
However, in limited cases,
individuals may receive a "parole" that permits them to enter the
United States with a non-compliant passport. Such paroles are at the
discretion of the CBP officer at the entry-point and no one should
count on receiving a parole. Each parolee will have to pay a $65 fee.
To be compliant with the
digital photo requirement, the traveler's photo must be "printed into
the page" of the passport rather than a separate document affixed to
the passport page.
What are the requirements for general visitors entering into Canada? Visitors to Canada must
satisfy an immigration officer that: • they
intend to return to their home country and will not try to stay in
Canada; • they are
in good health (some visitors may be asked to undergo a medical
examination at their own expense); • they do
not have a criminal record or are a security risk; • They have
sufficient funds to cover travel costs and support themselves in Canada. If any of these criteria are
not met, you may be denied admission to Canada.
Can I bring my pets into Canada? Dogs and cats accompanying
their owners from the U.S must have current (within 36 months) rabies
vaccination certificates. It is advisable that you carry a health
certificate and medical records with you. An exception is made for
puppies/kittens that are younger than 3 months old but appear in good
health. Seeing Eye dogs are allowed into Canada without restriction. Can I bring alcohol or tobacco
products into Canada? Visitors to Canada may bring
certain goods as personal baggage, duty- and tax-free, provided all
such items are declared to Customs on arrival and are not subject to
restriction. Personal baggage may include up to 1.5 liters (52 oz.) of
wine OR 1.14 liters (40 oz.) of liqueur OR 24 bottles/cans of beer or
ale (355 ml each; 8.5 liters total). The legal age in most provinces,
including Nova Scotia, is 19 years. Visitors to Canada who are 18
years old and older can import, free of duties and taxes, 200
cigarettes, 50 cigars, 200 grams of manufactured tobacco or 200 tobacco
sticks.
Visitors can import, free of
duties and taxes, gifts for residents of Canada (excluding alcohol or
tobacco products), to a maximum value of $60.00 (Canadian) per gift. See more on Canada Customs
regulations. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/
Money Matters
Will I be able to pay my expenses in US dollars? Most hotels, stores,
restaurants will accept US$, but they will give you a lower rate than
banks or airports. Large hotels will usually give you a rate that
approaches those at the bank.
Will I have any problem exchanging my money for Canadian currency? Although U.S. money is usually
accepted at stores in Canada, you will be better off exchanging it for
Canadian dollars at a financial institution. Financial institutions
offer the daily exchange rate. Some currency exchangers are reluctant
to exchange coinage, or will exchange it only at par value.
Will I have any problem exchanging my money for Canadian currency? Although U.S. money is usually
accepted at stores in Canada, you will be better off exchanging it for
Canadian dollars at a financial institution. Financial institutions
offer the daily exchange rate. Some currency exchangers are reluctant
to exchange coinage, or will exchange it only at par value.
Will my ATM card (automated teller machine card) work in Canada? Check with your bank branch
and see what they say about your ATM card and about any special
conditions any of your accounts may have. Most of the major Canadian
banks and trust companies are on the Plus or Cirrus networks. You get
Canadian dollars and generally the exchange rate is good. Your bank may
make a service charge of $2 for each withdrawal. When you make a
withdrawal, funds will come out in the form of Canadian currency.
If I can prove that I am an American citizen, do I still
have to pay taxes? Yes. Most goods and services
you buy in Canada are subject to Goods and Services Tax and Harmonized
Sales Tax (GST/HST). You are eligible for a tax refund if: you are not
a resident of Canada, you purchased eligible goods and accommodations,
you paid GST on these purchases, you have validated original receipts,
each eligible receipt for eligible goods shows a minimum purchase
amount (before taxes) of CAN$50; and your purchase amounts (before
taxes) total at least CAN$200. Mail your original receipts along with
your refund form to: Revenue Canada Customs, Excise and Taxation
Visitor rebate Program Ottawa, ON K1A 1J5. You can get the complete
information and application forms at border-crossing points, most
duty-free stores, most tourist information centers, and online at the
Canada Revenue Agency web site. You may be able to get your GST back on
the spot in cash at a duty-free store as you leave the country (but not
if you leave at an airport).
What credit cards are accepted in Canada? Visa and MasterCard are
generally accepted everywhere (restaurants, hotels, stores, etc). While
American Express is widely accepted you may find that many restaurants,
stores and cafes will not accept it. Any charge to a credit card will
reflect the currency exchange rate of the day of the purchase and will
appear on your monthly statement as such.
Transportation
Is my driver's license valid in Canada? American driver’s licenses are
valid for varying periods of time. The international Driving permit is
also valid, but must be accompanied at all times by the visitor’s state
or national license. Every car must carry evidence of its registration
(vehicle permit). If you don't own the vehicle, carry a letter from the
owner or a copy of the vehicle rental contract.
What are the differences between speeds given in Kilometers and those
in miles? Canadian speed limits are
posted on road signs in kilometers (1.6km = 1 mile). Highway speed
limits are usually between 80km/h – 100 km/h or 50mph to 65mph. On city
streets, speed limits are typically 50km/h or 30-35 mph. To convert
miles to kilometers multiply the number of miles by 1.6. To convert
kilometers to miles multiply the number of kilometers by 0.6.
Where is the U.S. Consulate in Canada? Because Canada is so large,
most of the provinces have their own U.S. Consulate. To find the
consulate nearest you call 1-800-529-4410. The US Consulate in Nova
Scotia is located in Suite 910 Cogswell Tower, Scotia Sq. Halifax, Nova
Scotia Canada B3J 3K1 Telephone: (902) 429-2480 Fax (902) 423-6861 or
visit www.immigration.com
Group Tour FAQ’S
Will the tour director speak English? Yes, we operate English
speaking tours; other languages are available on request for many of
our tours.
Do you accept travelers who need special assistance? Any disability requiring
special attention should be reported by you at the time the reservation
is made. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the special
needs of disabled tour participants, but are not responsible in the
event that we are unable to do so, nor are we responsible for any
denial of services by carriers, hotels, restaurants, or other
independent suppliers. We regret that we cannot provide individual
assistance to a tour member for walking, dining, and getting on and off
motor coaches and other transportation vehicles, or other personal
needs. A qualified companion must accompany travelers who need such
assistance.
How old does a child have to be to travel on a group tour? On some of the tours an adult
must accompany travelers who are less than 18 years old on the tour
departure date; the child receives a discount on the land tour price.
We have many tours that are available to families and there children
with no age restriction.
On our independent vacations,
there is no minimum age requirement. Land arrangements for infants
under two are free of charge, providing parents pay directly to the
hotels for food, crib, etc. Infants sometimes fly free of charge if
they do not occupy a seat, while some airlines charge 10%. An airline
ticket is always required for the child. Please arrange for this ticket
directly with the airline.
Is Smoking Allowed? All motor coaches are
smoke-free, most Hotel rooms in North America are now non-smoking and
smoking rooms are on request only.
Are prices based on double occupancy? Prices are per person, based
on two persons sharing a room. Single room supplements and triple room
reductions are listed where available.
How big can my suitcase be? Porterage for one suitcase on
tour is included in the tour price. Due to limited coach capacity, we
strongly recommend that this single bag should have dimensions not
exceeding 30"x18"x10" and weight not exceeding 60 lbs. (27 kg).
I'm leaving in 4 weeks, when will I get my travel documents? Travel documents, including
any air tickets, Travel Insurance Plan, tour itinerary, hotel lists,
Tips for Touring and helpful hints and other information are sent three
to four weeks prior to tour departure.
Are tips for the tour director included in the tour price? Airport taxes and fees; tips
to your tour director, tour drivers, and local guides; laundry,
beverages and food not on the regular table d'hte menu (these extra
items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel or restaurant);
optional excursions; porterage at North American airports; all other
items of a personal nature are not included in the tour price.
What is the Travel Insurance Plan? The Travel Insurance Plan and
emergency assistance is strongly recommended and will protect you if
trip cancellation for tour arrangements and airfare accrue, trip
interruption, delayed arrival and missed connection coverage, upgrade
protection, subsistence allowance, accidental death and dismemberment,
accidental medical expenses and dental, baggage coverage and baggage
delay. Please ask your travel consultant for more information.
How can my family contact me while I am traveling? In your travel documents you
will receive a hotel list. This list will have an address and a
telephone number for each hotel you will be staying on each day.
Can I purchase optional excursions in advance? Your tour director will go
through the optional excursions available for purchase during the
welcome meeting. You may choose and purchase any optional excursions
for your tour then.
Why is it so important that I provide names exactly as they appear on
our passports? Due to increased travel
security around the world, it is now more important than ever that the
passenger's airline ticket match the full title, first name, middle
name / initial and last name exactly as it reads on his or her
passport. It is best to provide that information at the time of booking
so the air we confirm is not in jeopardy of being lost. Should any
letter need to be changed or rearranged anywhere in the passenger’s
name, the air will be cancelled and re-requested "from scratch." Please
note that the booking will be revised to land-only or subject to
increased cost if the original air is not available to rebook. There is
no guarantee we will be able to confirm the original air schedule or
any flights at all.
Vacation Planning Service FAQ’S
Our "Vacation Planning
Service" takes the worry out of your trip. We take care of all the
details based on our extensive knowledge of this area. We can organize
a full itinerary including any activities you outline. Then we need a
few extra details and we can design your program for you. The summer
months are a busy time so we would recommend that you book early.
Our Vacation Service Includes: • Expert
trip consulting based on your specific requirements. •
Accommodations, Car and other reservations to match your requests and
the lowest possible rates. •
Comprehensive maps and guides. • Tax refund
information for out of country clients. • Suggested
itinerary with sightseeing and dining recommendations. • Our
HOTLINE while you are traveling. • Itemized
information, with confirmation numbers and cancellation policies (no
surprises or hidden charges).
