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Canada Travel – What to Know

Currency

The Canadian currency is called “Canadian Dollar” (or $CAD). To find the current exchange rate between the Canadian Dollar and your home currency visit the Bank of Canada website.

Most hotels and restaurants in Canada also accept US Dollars. You can exchange money at banks and currency exchange facilities which can be found in every airport and Canadian city. Banks are usually open from 9:00 a.m. until 4p.m. on weekdays, and until 6p.m. on Fridays. Some larger banks are also open on Saturdays.

All major credit cards such as VISA, MasterCard and American Express are accepted in Canada. To access cash while traveling in Canada you can use an ATM (automated teller machine) which accepts most international bank card systems (Interact, Maestro, Plus and Cirrus). ATMs are located in airports, banks, larger stores and restaurants, and other locations.

Passports & Visas

International visitors to Canada must carry a valid passport, and, if required a visa. Citizens from Germany, United Kingdom, France, Japan, Korea, Australia and others do not require a visa when entering Canada. To find out more about which countries require a visa to enter Canada, visit www.cic.gc.ca or the Canadian Embassy or Consulate in your home country at www.international.gc.ca.

Travel Health Insurance

Before entering Canada, review your health plan to confirm if its coverage extends to travel outside your home country. If you are not covered, Destination 48North Travel can provide you with the contact information of certified insurance companies.

Emergency Services

In case of an emergency, you can reach police, ambulance, and fire services by dialing '911' on any telephone. You can also be connected directly to police, ambulance or fire by dialing '0' and speaking to the operator.

The Canadian health system provides an excellent standard of care. If you require medical care and it is not an emergency, you can go to any walk-in clinic to consult a doctor without scheduling an appointment. Doctor’s visits at walk-in clinics are charged on a per visit basis and usually range between CAD $50 to $150 per visit depending on the medical condition. In the case of an emergency, almost every hospital offers 24-hour emergency care. Hospital care for non-residents of Canada is calculated based on the medical condition or charged on a per-day basis. Hospital charges vary throughout the country and usually range from $1,000 to $2,000 per day.

Most cities have 24-hour pharmacies or pharmacies within major supermarkets. If you require any prescription medication during your visit, remember to bring your doctor’s prescription and the original medication container indicating the type of drug you require.

Tipping

Tips are not automatically included on restaurant bills in Canada. Some restaurants however, will charge a mandatory service fee for large groups. Generally, tipping should be between 15-20% of the total bill. Concierges, hotel and airport staff are usually tipped CAD$2 per carried item.

Voltage & Measurement System

In Canada, as in the US, all electrical devices operate on 110 Volts (60Hz). A universal adapter is required for electrical devices from overseas.

Although imperial units are used in the US, Canada uses the metric system (i.e., metres, kilometres, litres).

Time zones

Canada has 6 times zones:

  • Pacific Standard Times: MEZ - 9
  • Mountain Standard Time: MEZ - 8
  • Central Standard Time: MEZ - 7
  • Eastern Standard Time: MEZ - 6
  • Atlantic Standard Time: MEZ - 5
  • Newfoundland Standard Time: MEZ - 4.5

Public Holidays

  • January 1: New Year's Day
  • 3rd Monday of February: Alberta Family Day
  • April 10: Good Friday (varies year to year)
  • April 13: Easter Monday (varies year to year)
  • May 18: Victoria Day (varies year to year)
  • July 1: Canada Day (July 2 if July 1 falls on a Sunday)
  • 1st Monday of August: British Columbia Day and Heritage Day in Alberta
  • 1st Monday of September: Labour Day
  • 2nd Monday of October: Thanksgiving Day
  • November 11: Remembrance Day
  • December 25: Christmas Day
  • December 26: Boxing Day

All government offices, banks, post offices, schools and smaller stores are usually closed on public holidays.

Taxes

A federal “Good and Service Tax” (GST) of 5% is applied to most goods and services which are sold in Canada. In all provinces with the exception of Alberta, an additional “Provincial Sales Tax” (PST) between 5 to 8% is charged on top of GST. “Harmonized Sales Tax” (HST) of 13% in lieu of GST and PST is applied in the provinces Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador and New Brunswick.