Canada

The sheer size and sweep of Canada's vast, unspoil landscape is hard to express.

It is a huge country and offers a great range of holiday options from escorted touring to motorhomes, self-drives to wildlife viewing, lodges to city breaks, rail holidays to cruises; you name it and you can probably do it in Canada.

Known worldwide for its mounted police, the ‘Mounties’, Canada offers something for travellers looking for the ultimate wilderness experience, superb skiing or laidback urban living.

We can provide reservations on flights, accommodation and holidays to Canada. Give us a call for a quote.

On this page you will also find some helpful travel information on all the major places in Canada.

Get a quote on flights and holidays to Canada with Hessle Travel.

General Information

Western Canada is where holiday visitors come to sample the famously laidback outdoor lifestyle of Vancouver, before moving inland to experience the Canadian Rockies by the famous double-decker train, or ski in Whistler. Further on the Banff and Jasper National Parks beckon visitors with their sweeping glaciers.

The French province of Quebec in the west has some of the best skiing in the world and charming city Quebec. Toronto is regularly touted as among the best cities in the world to live. Historians should pay a visit to St. John's, Newfoundland off the east coast, North America's oldest city. It's best to visit in summer, when temperatures are warm and pleasant enough to enjoy Canada's amazing outdoors. Winters are amongst the coldest in the world in many areas, apart from the Pacific coast around Vancouver.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Capital City: Ottawa

Major Cities: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton.

Population: 34.72 million

Area: 6,198,886 miles | 9,976,140 kilometres

Languages: English, French

Electricity: 110V AC 60Hz

Enjoying a visit to Canada certainly guarantees two things: great value for money and a warm welcome. It offers a delightful and varied combination of things to do, from a visit to one of its famous National Parks or to view its magnificent Mountain Ranges, or a browse through a huge exciting Shopping Centre or an amazing Museum.

Visit an Old Fishing Village or hear the many Echoes from the Wild with Humpback Whales, Polar Bears and Moose, plus the tremendous variety of other bird and wild life.

Canada is an immense land of diverse landscapes, it has something for everyone. Away from bustling cities and picturesque towns, you'll find panoramic lakes, majestic mountains, wide open prairies and, of course the Niagara Falls.

Useful Information

MONEY
Currency: (CAD) Canadian Dollar (CAD 1 = 100 Cents)

SOCIAL
Tipping: Around 15% in restaurants and for taxis.

Hints: Business in the English speaking provinces is conducted in English, in the French speaking ones in French. Smoking in public places is now illegal in some parts, including bars. On social occasions, e.g. invitation to restaurants or clubs, punctuality is appreciated. Dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated.

The minimum drinking age is as follows: Alberta, Manitoba & Quebec (18 years), British Colombia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, Yukon Territory, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Nova Scotia (19 years).

Clothing: Canadian Prairies; light clothes with layers in summer. Winter thermals.

Eastern Canada; layered clothing in the summer months, thermals for winter, rainwear at any time

Northern Canada; layered clothing for summer including fleeces and waterproofs. Thermals for winter.

Southern Canada; lights clothes with layered wear for summer, thermals for winter, rainwear at any time.

Western Canada; lighter clothes with warmer wear for summer. Reasonably warm clothes for winters in costal area, thermals for visiting inland or mountain areas. Rainwear especially during winter.

Weather

Canada's climate can generally be divided into five main areas:

Canadian Prairies; run from the Rocky Mountains to western shores of Lake Superior & southern parts of Alberta, Manitoba & Saskatchewan. Summers here are short, warm & showery. Winters are cold with freezing winds but not much snow. Calgary & Edmonton are slightly warmer during winter than Winnipeg.

Eastern Canada; including Newfoundland, Labrador Coast, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island & Nova Scotia, has changeable summers & cold winters, conditions can change suddenly from day to day, rain & cloud never far away throughout the year. Summers are generally bright, although sea fogs are common. Winter months have snow & only a few hours of sunshine a day.

Northern Canada; including northern British Colombia, Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan & Yukon. This area is essentially uninhabitable due to its extreme winter weather. The land is snow covered for most of the year, with a very short summer period which is changeable & accompanied by cold winds which can bring sudden frost & snow.

Southern Canada; including Ontario & Quebec which border the Great Lakes. Summers here are the sunniest & warmest in Canada, however summer storms can bring unsettled, wet & cold conditions. Winters are harsh, the lakes freeze from Dec-Mar but surprisingly there may also be mild spells even in the middle of winter.

Western Canada; including southern British Columbia, western Alberta & Canadian Rockies, is a mountainous region with a Pacific Ocean coastline. Coastal areas have warm, sunny summers & mild winters, albeit considerably wet, foggy & changeable. Coastal mountains are particularly wet, much rain falls as snow. Inland areas tend to be protected from the worst weather & are generally drier, although this is offset by freezing temperatures during winter

What to Wear

For Spring, Summer and Autumn touring, casual and lightweight clothing that can be worn in layers. Comfortable walking shoes are a must and a collapsible umbrella, sunglasses and a hat are useful.
Evening can be chilly in the mountains and a good sweater and gloves are often worthwhile.

Canadian Prairies; light clothes with layers in summer. Winter thermals.

Eastern Canada; layered clothing in the summer months, thermals for winter, rainwear at any time

Northern Canada; layered clothing for summer including fleeces and waterproofs. Thermals for winter.

Southern Canada; lights clothes with layered wear for summer, thermals for winter, rainwear at any time.

Western Canada; lighter clothes with warmer wear for summer. Reasonably warm clothes for winters in costal area, thermals for visiting inland or mountain areas. Rainwear especially during winter.

Time Zones
There are six time zones across Canada.
From west to east they are:

Pacific (Vancouver), Mountain (Calgary), Central (Winnipeg), Eastern (Toronto), Atlantic (Halifax), Newfoundland (St. John's).

Electricity
Electricity is supplied at an alternating current of 110 volts. Plugs in Canada are either two flat, parallel prongs, or one cylindrical and two flat parallel prongs.

Mail
International mail can take up to two weeks for delivery from Canada.

Credit Cards
Most major credit cards are accepted across the country - Visa, MasterCard, American Express principally.

Currency
The best exchange rate is to be found at any of the Canadian chartered banks. We recommend carrying Canadian dollar travellers cheques; they are accepted as currency at most hotels, stores and restaurants.

Canada - Travel Options

Hessle Travel offer cheap flights to Canada, we also offer car hire, hotels and holidays.  Airport parking and Airport hotels can be booked online also for peace of mind before you travel.

If you require any more information regarding flights and holidays to Canada please contact us.

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