Essential Things You Should Do Before Travelling to Canada
Dreams of travelling to the US might be common, but smart people know that Canada is really the place to be. Often regarded as being a little closer to the UK in its culture and attitudes, Canada still has plenty of unique things to offer. From its incredible wilderness to its fascinating history and indigenous cultures, Canada has something for everyone. You might visit for winter sports, camping and other outdoor activities, city visits, or many other reasons. Whatever you like to do, Canada can provide it for you, from British Columbia to Newfoundland.
If you're planning a trip to Canada, you'll want to do a few things before you go. Being prepared for your trip will definitely pay off, helping you focus on enjoying yourself when you arrive.
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Check Visa Requirements
You don't want to go anywhere abroad without checking the visa requirements for your destination. While you can visit many places, often for up to 90 days at a time, without a visa, there are often rules you need to follow. When it comes to visiting Canada as a tourist, you will need either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). UK citizens will generally need an eTA for short visits for tourism purposes, which can be up to six months. But you will need to check visa options if you're planning to travel for work or other reasons. For instance, if you are intending to visit Canada for participation in sporting events, then you'll need to take out a P visa in Calgary, AB or whichever exact city it is you're travelling to. Be sure to do your research, and don't forget to check you have enough time left on your passport too (at least six months).
Think About How to Stay Connected with Home
We can all get homesick sometimes, so maintaining a connection with home is comforting, even if you're only gone for a short while. It also helps you stay safe, ensuring people back home are aware of where you are and what you're doing. There are different ways you can keep a connection with home. One of them is making sure you stay in contact with friends and family through different channels, like social media, texting, and phone calls. Another way is to keep up with things like the news back home or even the latest TV. You can find out how to watch BBC iPlayer in Canada so you can keep up with your favourite soaps, dramas, quiz shows, or whatever else you like watching. As well as ensuring you don't miss out, you'll also be able to chat to people back home about what you're watching.
Plan for the Weather
If there's one thing you'll want to be prepared for in Canada, it's the weather, especially in winter. Canada is a big country, so you'll want to check the climate and weather based on where exactly you're planning to visit and what time of year you'll be going. If you're visiting in the winter, you definitely need to be prepared. You could be dealing with temperatures that are well into the minuses. For example, the average temperature for Toronto in January is -3℃, while it's 5℃ in London. So you should pack appropriately, taking not just the right clothes but also suitable shoes.
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Take Out Insurance
Travel insurance is always important when you're travelling, but it can matter even more if you're leaving Europe. You're farther away from home, so it will be more costly if you ever need to leave before you planned to. Medical costs are also a concern because there are no special arrangements for British visitors. You may be left paying an expensive bill without appropriate insurance to cover the costs. Travel insurance can cover expenses such as cancelled flights, missing luggage and other unexpected problems too. It doesn't have to be expensive, so it's worth taking out insurance before you leave.
Brush Up on How to Stay Safe
There are some safety rules you should follow whenever you travel, but there can be some things specific to certain destinations or activities too. If you're travelling to Canada, you might need to think about staying safe in the wilderness or perhaps how to stay safe on the roads, especially in winter. Whether you're going on a city break or planning to explore the outdoors, spend some time understanding how to keep yourself safe. Are there any survival skills you need? Are there any areas you should avoid? These are important things to consider if you want to avoid any trouble.
Tick these things off your list before you travel to Canada if you want your trip to be organised and as fun as possible.