Tag: Canada

7 things you should know about Canada before traveling

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Canada is a country which offers you pristine beauty and unexplored places. With the increasing awareness of its pristine beauty, more and more travelers are planning a trip to Canada each year. While Canada is generally warm and friendly with tourists but there are a few things which you need to remember before you plan your Canadian trip. We will today share with you seven things which you should know about Canada before traveling to this beautiful country.

1. Large Geographical area:

Canada is the second-largest country on the globe. That is why; the geographical area of Canada is pretty huge. Moreover, if you want to explore the pristine beauty, you must head over to the countryside. It will require you to travel long distances. That is why, when preparing to explore the beauty of Canada, you have to keep the distances in mind before planning your trip. You can also focus on a single geographical region rather than traveling the length and breadth of the country. Some of the areas that you can plan to explore are:
  • Rocky Mountains
  • West Coast
  • Maritimes
When you focus on a single region, you can cover that in a short span. Moreover, the amount of traveling required will be minimal as well. As a result, exploring Canada will be comparatively easy for you.

2. It’s Cold:

The weather in Canada is often harsh. The temperatures can drop to -20 or -30 in the Prairies. The coasts, however, are moderate in temperature. You have to avoid the winter season as far as possible when traveling to Canada. It will ensure that you can avoid harsh temperatures. However, summers can bring problems of its own. There can be thunderstorms and temperature dips at night. That is why it is always better to carry quite a few layers when heading to Canada. It will ensure that you can handle the temperature in a much better way. Generally speaking, you have to stay prepared for freezing temperatures.

3. Do not delay the ETA:

ETA is the acronym for Electronic Travel Authorization. It is the easiest way to explore Canada. It is mandatory for people from all nationalities to get it before heading to Canada. Only Americans are the sole exception. In most cases, you would need this document before you board your flight to Canada. The requirements for eTA Canada are not very elaborate. You will need:

  • Passport
  • Email address
  • Credit card

You will have to answer a small questionnaire and share some personal information to apply for it. The fee is relatively smaller at just $ 7. You need to keep in mind that you have to get this document before heading to Canada. You should not delay procuring this document. Under normal circumstances, you might get it within a few minutes of applying for it. However, it is better to complete this procedure in advance rather than keeping it for the last minute.

4. Want to stay for free? Use Couchsurfing:

The accommodation options are costly in Canada. Whether looking for resorts or hotels or any other type of accommodation, you will have to spend a significant amount of money. The food and beverage options are even more expensive. Hostels and B&Bs might be present in some major cities and tourist centers, but you will not find them in the countryside. That is why it is better to opt for Couch surfing.

Couchsurfing involves staying in an extra bedroom if you’re willing to help the host with a particular task or provide them some company. There are dedicated sites for Couchsurfing which will connect you with the hosts. Couchsurfing is entirely free, which means that you will not have to worry about spending a significant amount of money. Also, since you will be staying with the locals, you can efficiently utilize their knowledge of the surroundings to explore Canada better. That is why; you should never ignore Couchsurfing when heading over to Canada.

5. Do not forget Tim Hortons:

It is always advisable to know about good food chain prominently present in the country to which you’re traveling. In the case of Canada, it is Tim Hortons. You will find it in any city you visit. They are present in smaller towns as well. You can quickly get things like:

  • Donuts
  • Sandwiches
  • Coffee and more

Also, it is affordable, which means that you will not have to shell out a significant amount of money to get a snack.

6. Spend on a travel Insurance policy:

Health care in Canada for tourists is costly. That is why; you must have a travel insurance policy. It will mean that you can access quality health care. Even smaller problems in Canada can cost you hundreds of dollars for consultations. If the procedure is elaborate, it can cost you thousands of dollars.

When you have a travel insurance policy, it is all covered. In case of any unfortunate incident, you can get quality health care. You have to ensure, however, that you read the fine print of your travel insurance policy. Only once you do so, it is easy to understand what is covered and what is not. It is better to choose a policy which covers adventure sports and other such activities so that you get complete coverage. Irrespective of the premiums, you should get travel insurance for yourself when traveling to Canada.

7. Explore the countryside:

While cities in Canada like Toronto, Montréal, Winnipeg, and many more are beautiful in their sense, but if you want to explore Canada, you have to head over to the countryside. You can meet locals and explore their culture. Moreover, you can explore the pristine wilderness of Canada as well. Canada is sparsely populated but has a big landmass, and that is why there are plenty of places to explore. If you are a nature-lover, it is one of the best countries to visit.

Also, it is the ultimate playground, as well. There are plenty of outdoor sports which you can indulge in like:

  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Camping
  • Paddleboarding
  • Bird watching
  • And much more

There is no shortage of physical activities which you can take part in. Moreover, during the physical activities and sports, you can interact with the locals as well, which will help you explore Canada in a much better way. So, when visiting Canada, do make sure that you explore the outdoors.

Canada is a magnificent country. With the help of our travel guide above, you can prepare in advance for your Canadian trip. It will ensure that you have a glitch-free trip when you can enjoy to the fullest. It is time to explore the natural beauty of this beautiful country.

A Wine Lover’s Guide To Earth’s Best Wine Regions

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If you fancy yourself a bit of a wine connoisseur you may enjoy the tradition of vineyard tours and wine tasting. But where should you definitely go to experience the best that planet earth has to offer? With so many countries that offer their own takes on wine and winemaking, it can be daunting to choose the perfect place to head to if you’re a wine lover. That’s why this short guide to the world’s best wines will help you narrow down your next wine tasting destination.

Argentina

It’s no secret that the wines that come from Argentina are some of the world’s best. Add to that the fact that Argentina is an absolute delight to travel to and around and you’re onto a winner on all accounts. Between delicious Argentinian steak, the snow capped peaks of the Andes and the delectable wines, it’s easy to see why Argentina is the things dreams are made of. Take a week or two to stop at various ranches to experience the real Argentine life, wrangling and branding cattle and sipping wine with the backdrop of beautiful Patagonia in your sights.

Georgia

You might be thinking ‘Georgia the state?’ but you’d be wrong. This central West Asian country is nestled between Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia and is home to such amazing climates throughout that it is ideal for growing all manner of fruits and vegetables – including grape varieties for winemaking. It’s been studied and shown that Georgian winemaking tradition goes back almost eight thousand years, making it one of the oldest and first winemaking regions in the world. That said, the Georgians really know what they’re doing when it comes to wine. Try it with kachapuri, a rich pizza-like dish laden with cheese.

Canada

Believe it or not, Canada is a huge wine producer, they just rarely export it, keeping it all within their borders for themselves, and for good reason. Produced in both British Columbia and Ontario mainly, the wines come in a variety of flavours and strengths. Such popular brands including Painted Rock, Cave Spring Cellars and Foxtrot, Canadian wines can usually be found throughout the country and are paired beautifully with local cuisines such as seared Elk steaks, regional lobster or buffalo. If you’re in the mood for something truly unique, have a taste of Canada’s famous Ice Wine – a wine produced by leaving the grapes on the vine until after the first frosts to produce a sweet, almost syrup like wine that is used almost exclusively for dessert.

South Africa

If you want to see the best Africa has to offer without diving into a totally different culture altogether by going to the likes of Tanzania, Kenya or Uganda, consider heading to South Africa – a perfect blend of Africa-meets-West. The western corner of the country around Cape Town is the best for sampling the wines on offer but they can be found most other places around the country as well. If heading out on safari take a bottle or two with you to enjoy after a day of watching the best of Africa’s wildlife go by in the likes of Kruger National Park, or head to your favourite Cape Town wine bar to toast a successful climb up Table Mountain. South Africa in their springtime is a great time to go, when the wildflowers are in full swing and you can find yourself lost in flower fields for ages. A perfect South African red wine would go down a treat on a picnic amongst the blooms.

So if you’re in the mood for a delicious glass or three of some of the world’s best vino, check out wines from one of the aforementioned locations. With wines steeped in history or challenging tradition, you will find the perfect flavours waiting for you in a bottle of one of these great options.

5 Benefits of Booking a Niagara Falls Hotel Package

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Are you interested in visiting Niagara Falls in the near future? Will this be your first time to the area? Are you hoping to have the time of your life?

It doesn’t matter if you are visiting alone or with your family. It doesn’t matter if you are visiting for business or pleasure. There should only be one thing on your mind: having an enjoyable experience.

As you begin to research your trip, you’ll find that there are many hotels vying for your business. Some of them have even hired a marketing agency to give them the best possible chance to connect with their target audience.

The way you book your trip is your decision, but don’t overlook the many benefits of looking for Niagara Falls hotel packages online on a site like Expedia. Need more convincing? Here are 5 benefits of booking a hotel package for your next trip to Niagara Falls.

1. Easy to Find Online

There used to be a time when booking a Niagara Falls hotel package meant calling a travel agency, hearing about all your options, and attempting to make a decision without access to a lot of information.

Thanks to the internet, you no longer have to go down that path. You can now find a variety of Niagara Falls hotel packages online, ensuring that you’re in position to compare all your options.

2. Lower Price

You should always look to save money when taking a trip. Even if money is no object, nothing changes the fact that there are steps you can take to save a few dollars here and there.

When you book a Niagara Falls hotel package, everything is included in your price, but when you separately book different aspects of your trip, this isn’t the case. Subsequently, your costs can quickly rise.

3. Plenty of Options

Many people shy away from hotel packages because they don’t think they’ll have access to the best deals. You don’t want to get into this frame of mind. You can find plenty of options, as long as you search the internet with an open mind.

For example, there are travel packages for people on a budget. There are also travel packages for those traveling with children.

As long as you know what you want, you can find an option that suits your needs.

4. Customization

It goes without saying, that you’ll come across several Niagara Falls hotel packages. At first, you may not like what you see. However, remember this: most packages allow you to customize the details of your trip.

So, if you’re traveling with your children who enjoy webtoon comics, you can take this into consideration when comparing hotels. Maybe you’re traveling to Niagara Falls on your honeymoon. Once again, you can customize the trip to match the wants and needs of you and your partner.

5. Less Stress

There is never a good time to stress yourself out. This is particularly true when taking a trip. After all, this is supposed to be an enjoyable experience.

If you get stuck booking everything one piece at a time – such as your hotel, flights, and rental car – the stress of lining everything up can begin to bog you down.

With a Niagara Falls hotel package, you don’t have to worry about this. Once you choose your package, you know that everything you need will be waiting for you. Talk about a great way to reduce stress!

Read Online Reviews

As a final point of advice, it always makes sense to read online reviews before booking a hotel package. Sites like Oyster are dedicated to reviewing hotels, so take advantage of the time they’ve already spent! This will provide a clear view of what others think of the hotel, thus giving you an idea of what to do next.

You don’t have to believe everything you read, but you can pick up plenty of solid information by reading online reviews. You might as well take full advantage.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it. These are just a few of the many benefits of a Niagara Falls hotel package.

If you want to visit the area in the future, this is one of the better ways to get all the necessary details in order.

Do you have any experience traveling to Niagara Falls? Did you ever book a hotel package? What were the pros and cons of doing so? Share your experience and advice in the comment section below.

How to Plan Your Dream Trip to Canada

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So many people around the world want to visit Canada. The country combines pristine natural beauty and livable cities with amazing and friendly locals. You can spend your time exploring some of the cities or get down and dirty with nature. It’s also easy to get into the Arctic Circle in the northern parts of the country. More people are taking a trip to Canada and this article describes some tips on how to plan your dream trip this year.

How to Get to Canada:

It all depends on your destination and where you’re coming from. All major cities have regular flights to and from the United States and Europe and the domestic airports are also well connected in this vast country. If you look in the right place, it’s quite easy to find a cheap flight to Canada.

What Makes Canada Awesome:

In short, Canada is awesome because it has so many different things to do all throughout the year. You can enjoy the natural beauty and see Niagara Falls or visit one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The country also holds regular music festivals in the warmer months. When the temperature starts to drop, everything becomes a winter wonderland. And then you have the chance to take part in winter sports and try new experiences, such as dog sledding. Other reasons are that the food is great, the country and cities feel safe to walk around, and people are very open-minded. And on top of this, Canada also has a prominent wine industry that the visitors love to sample.

The Best Cities to Visit in Canada:

The main cities that tourists want to visit in Canada are Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver. This section takes a look at some of the highlights in each of these destinations

Quebec is a favorite for many travelers who want to experience a little bit of French culture without flying all the way to France. The city is full of cobblestoned streets and cathedrals with the sights and smells that you would expect over in its trans-Atlantic sister. Quebec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has a lot of history and culture to keep all visitors entertained.

Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. You can find little enclaves of different nationalities in and around the city, which gives you access to any type of food you crave. The major attractions are the large underground mall and the CN Tower. It’s also a perfect place to eat in one of the high-end restaurants or sip cocktails on rooftop bars.

Tourists visit Vancouver to experience the outdoors. You can find lots of parks and nature reserves around the city as well as beautiful coastlines. If you head out a short distance away from the city center, you’re surrounded by nature that’s perfect to get off the grid for a few days whilst camping.

The Takeaway Message:

Canada is a great country with a diverse range of landscapes and activities at any time of the year. You can experience one of the major cities or get out into nature. Whatever you want to do, Canada has something to suit your interests.