Email: info@doublediamondholidays.com
Toll Free in North America: 1-877-851-0903 and Local: 250-851-0903
Double Diamond Holidays Canada is a division of HBB Holidays By Barb Inc.
   
Double Diamond Adventure Travel and Eco-tours Canada

From coast to coast, this vast country offers world-class adventures, great outdoor experiences, and entertaining activities. Visitors are sure to find whatever they seek. Nature lovers can take in the diverse plant and animal life that resides in the 38 national, over 1 000 provincial and nearly 50 territorial parks. Outdoor enthusiasts can participate in any number of sports such as skiing, fishing, hiking, white water rafting and cycling, among others. History buffs can explore 836 national historic sites, as well as forts and museums that bring the past to life. And culture seekers can enjoy the cuisine, arts and traditions that give Canada its unique character.

 While some might consider tourism a seasonal industry limited primarily to the warmer climes of spring, summer and fall, in Canada this is a year-round business. When the snow blankets much of the landscape, it's time to play at one of our many winter getaways. Ski the Canadian wilderness in Wells Gray Park and the Chilcotin; experience a great dog-sledding adventure; ski spectacular Rocky Mountains and Whistler/Blackcomb; try heli-skiing; or stay at a resort with great winter activities.

 With its pristine wilderness, cosmopolitan cities, friendly people, diverse cultures, seasonal variations and geographic wonders, it's easy to understand why Canada is among the world's top ten tourist destinations.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: You must be in good health, law-abiding and have enough money to support yourself and your dependents during your stay.

For US Citizens: When entering from the United States, U.S. citizens must show either a US passport or proof of US citizenship and photo ID. US citizens entering Canada from a third country must have a valid passport. A visa is not required for US citizens for a stay up to 180 days. Anyone with a criminal record (including a DWI charge) should contact the Canadian Embassy or nearest Canadian consulate before travel. For further information on entry requirements, travelers may contact the Embassy of Canada at 501 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001, telephone (202) 682-1740, or the Canadian consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, San Juan or Seattle.

Visitors other than from the US: In most cases, you will need a valid passport, proof of identity or other travel documents. You must have a visitor's visa to travel to Canada if you are a citizen of one of a number of countries. Find out if you will need a visa before leaving home. As soon as you have decided to visit Canada, call or visit the nearest Canadian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate to find out exactly what documents you will need, and how long it will take to receive them. There are more than 100 Canadian Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates and Missions throughout the world. You must get any visa or authorization you need before you leave for Canada.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Good medical care is widely available. The Canadian health care system is run on a provincial basis (e.g. the Province of British Columbia has its own hospital insurance plan as does each of the other provinces and territories) and is funded by Canadian taxpayer money. Tourists and temporary visitors do not qualify for this health care plan and should have their own insurance to cover any medical expenses. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties. Contact us to find out more about available Medical Insurance.

Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page.

CURRENCY: Money in Canada is in dollars and cents, as in the United States. Paper money starts at $5 and up, with $1 and $2 coins, sometimes called "Loonies" and "Toonies," respective ly, as well as pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.
Currency exchange rates constantly change, so there will likely be a difference in value between your country's currency and the Canadian dollar. Although US money is usually accepted at stores in Canada, you'll be better off exchanging it for Canadian dollars at a financial institution. Sometimes the rate at a store is not the best one. Financial institutions offer the daily exchange rate. Some currency exchangers are reluctant to exchange coinage, or will exchange it only at par value. When exchanging money, ask for bills in denominations no higher than $20 denominations. (Higher denominations are sometimes more difficult to cash.)
The best place to pick up some Canadian currency in Canada is at a bank machine (ATM), if you have an ATM account. Your bank may add a service charge, but you will almost always do better on this transaction than by exchanging cash or travelers cheques. You should 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. Some banks offer a special card for easy transacting. Don't wait till the last minute to check this out. Remember, you'll receive your withdrawal in Canadian equivalent funds.

The next best place is at a teller's wicket in a bank. The exchange will be up to the minute and fair. Just about any bank branch will exchange US cash or travelers cheques. For other currencies, you may need to go to a central branch or a large bank. Banks generally are open from 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. to around 3 p.m. or 4 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and to between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. A few banks have Saturday hours. No banks are open on Sunday. Major cities will likely have foreign exchange dealers, but you can't always count on some currencies being immediately accessible. But the rates and the service charges vary, so you might want to shop around.

Most stores accept VISA and MasterCard. Others variously accept the major credit cards such as Discovery, American Express, Diners Club, etc. 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.

Third, most Canadian financial institutions locate their ATMs in a variety of places, such as malls, airports, train stations, gas stations and even some corner stores. But remember, ATMs located away from a financial institutions charge a higher service charge, which is often in addition to your bank's charge.
You can look up ATM locations online for MasterCard and Cirrus ATMs, VISA and Plus ATMs.

TIPPING: Tips, or service charges, are not usually added to a bill in Canada, unless there is a large group at some restaurants. In general, people tip about 15% of the total amount of a bill (before taxes - in some restaurants, you could end up paying a 17% liquor tax, 7% GST and a 3% luxury tax) to waiters, waitresses, barbers, hairdressers and taxi drivers. Bellhops and porters at hotels, airports and railway stations are generally tipped $1 per piece of luggage.

WEATHER: Basically the summer in Canada is warm to hot from May to October, while residents of Vancouver Island can play golf 12 months of the year. Ski season runs from December until the end of May. The spectacular colours of the fall season are best viewed in late September or early October.

Canada's four seasons, each distinctly different, add to this country's appeal. In autumn, the crisp air invites you outdoors to enjoy the brilliant colours of fall foliage. In winter, the landscape is blanketed by glistening white snow. Learn to ski on nearby ski hills or ice skate along frozen rivers. Spring arrives as early as February on the West Coast, bringing with it the scent of lilacs, daffodils and hyacinths. And in the summer, Canada is gloriously warm and inviting.

THE GST is a goods and services tax that's charged to variety of purchases. What's important for a visitor to know is that for many of these expenditures, non-Canadian visitors qualify for a refund of the GST charged. Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia charge a provincial sales tax on purchases of most goods, as well as GST. Depending on the province where you purchase the goods, this tax can be up to 10%. There is no refund on a "provincial" sales tax. The form for applying a GST refund is available in some malls and border stores or from the Canadian government. For information on the GST rebate, visit http://www.canadasalestaxrefunds.com. Remember to keep all your sales receipts.

USING THE PHONE
Local calls throughout Canada vary from 25 cents to 35 cents at a pay phone. Many pay phones accept telephone cards and credit cards. For Operator assistance, dial 0; emergency 911; directory assistance is 411. For long distance directory assistance, call 1 + the area code, if you know it, + 555-1212. Directory assistance is free from a pay phone.

TRANSPORTATION:
Airlines: Cities and towns all across the country are linked by Canada's two major airlines, Air Canada and Canadian Airlines International, as well as charter airlines and regional carriers.
Buses: Greyhound Bus travels through Canada, more or less to and from Montreal, Quebec, in the east, all the way to Port Hardy, at the north tip of Vancouver Island in the west.
Trains: National passenger rail service is operated by Via Rail. Despite cutbacks, it is still possible to go all the way from Vancouver to Halifax by train. The Toronto-Vancouver train runs three times a week. In southern Ontario and Quebec, trains run several times a day between major centres.
BC Rail: Departing from North Vancouver, it travels to Squamish, Whistler (ski resort), Lillooet, Prince George (and intermediate points. In summer a fun trip aboard a steam train runs from North Vancouver to Squamish.)
Rocky Mountaineer Railtours: Departing from Vancouver, has various trips through the Rocky Mountains to Calgary. Not a regular train, it offers excursions -"The world's most spectacular train ride."
Driving: Driving in Canada is about the easiest way of getting around. Roads are well maintained. Most distances and speeds are posted in kilometers per hour. US driver's licenses are valid in Canada. Other visitors to Canada are recommended to have an International Driver's License. Proof of auto insurance is required. US auto insurance is accepted as long as an individual is a tourist in Canada. Unless otherwise posted, the maximum speed limit in Canada is 50km/hr in cities and 80km/hr on highways. On rural highways, the posted speed limit may be 100km/hr (approximately 60 miles/hr). Seat belt use is mandatory for all passengers, and child car seats must be used for children under 40 pounds. Some provinces require drivers to keep their headlights on during the day. Motorcycles cannot share a lane, and safety helmets for drivers and passengers are mandatory. Quebec prohibits turning right at a red light. Dialing 911 can reach most emergency assistance in Canada.
Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a serious offence. Penalties are heavy, and any prior conviction (no matter how long ago or how minor the infraction) is grounds for exclusion from Canada. A waiver of exclusion may be obtained from Canadian consulates in the United States, but it requires several weeks to process. It is illegal to take automobile radar detectors into Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, the Yukon or the Northwest Territories. Police may confiscate radar detectors, whether in use or not, and may impose substantial fines.
Email: info@doublediamondholidays.com
Toll Free in North America: 1-877-851-0903 and Local: 250-851-0903
Double Diamond Holidays Canada is a division of HBB Holidays By Barb Inc.

Double Diamond Holidays Canada © 2002-