HOW TO ENSURE A WARM RECEPTION ON YOUR CANADIAN ROAD TRIP*

Friday 19 May 2017

North America is much bigger than just the USA, Canada might be one of the best countries in the world for a road trip. The views range from the quiet beauty of the Quebec country roads to the jaw-dropping mountains of British Columbia. The stops range from the diverse metropolis that is Toronto to the gorgeous, quaint Goderich. But there’s plenty that can go wrong on any road trip. Once you’re sure you’ve got the car organized and plenty of warm clothes packed, what do you need to be concerned with?

canadian roadtrip

Budget well in advance.

You might not be aware, but Canada isn’t exactly the cheapest place in the world. If you plan on using your phone, make sure you get a travel sim card rather than paying the exorbitant roaming costs you might otherwise get. If you plan on stopping in Toronto or Montreal, then you need to beef up the budget considerably as both rank amongst the most expensive cities in the world. It’s good to prepare in advance for costs like car breakdown by joining a driver’s club like the CAA, too. After all, that Canadian weather can wreak havoc on a car from time to time.

Account for the size of the place.

Not only is it not cheap, but it’s not small. Road trips in Canada need to be planned to the letter because otherwise, it’s easy to end up on a stretch of road with nothing to see for miles and miles and miles. There are plenty of road trip planning sites that can help you find the stops for each day, however. More importantly, you don’t want to be stuck on a route that only offers something interesting once in a blue moon.

Respect the law.

If you’re flying over, you have to make sure that you keep your ID and travel documents handy at all times. A too-common mistake is trying to travel without getting your travel visa. You can apply for an ETA for Canada here if you’re not eligible to just get in on a passport like an American citizen is. It pays to brush up on some of the laws that might get you stopped on the side of the road, too. For instance, did you know it’s illegal to intentionally frighten an animal off the road? You have to wait for that moose to cross or risk getting a fine.

Don’t be that kind of tourist.

If you want to enjoy the famous warmth of Canadian people, then it’s a good idea to not make a total fool of yourself and brush up on your cultural etiquette. Know the differences between the peoples of the regions, for one. In Quebec, you can expect to see a strong French identity. Meanwhile, the people of Ontario tend to be a bit more conservative. It’s a diverse place, but getting your expectations for the region wrong can show you up as quite the tourist. Avoid the stereotypes at all costs. At best, you risk offending who you’re talking to. At worst, you’re making a stereotype about people from an entirely different province.

The country is beautiful and the people are friendly. So, long as you don’t make any of the mistakes mentioned above, there’s nothing stopping you from have a fantastic time on your Canadian road trip.

*This is a collaboration post, all advertorial posts on Tea With Gi are carefully reviewed to fit in with the theme and current content of the blog.

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