AOMlover From France, joined Jul 2001, 1297 posts, RR: 12 Posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1458 times:
Hi all !
I'm going to Toronto with some friends for two months and a half as from May 2006 for an academic exchange. Courses end on July 15th, then we have two weeks during which we planned to visit Canada.
Well Canada is pretty huge, and we have a pretty tight budget... In addition, air travel seems to be very expensive over there.
I know there are many Canadians on this forum, so here are my questions:
-Except Toronto, Ottawa and the Niagara falls (which we'll get to visit during our stay in Toronto), which other places in Canada are worth seeing ?
I guess there are lots of them, so please help me !
-What is the cheapest way for a student to travel around Canada ? (transportation, accomodatio...)
-If you have any other tip, don't hesitate !
Thanks in advance
edit: we also planned to travel down to the USA (New York for example) but one of us would need a visa to enter the USA so we dropped that idea.
YOWza From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 4781 posts, RR: 17 Reply 2, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1447 times:
Montreal is only 1.5 hrs by car from Ottawa and it is amazing.
Great clubs and bars, great food, great strip clubs, great architecture in the old city and of course lots of hot women. Well worth a visit.
A319XFW From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1441 times:
I would recommend the Rockies for sure. Then Vancouver and Montreal.
Have you looked at flights with Westjet and Air Canada? Sometimes they have special offers..
Quoting AOMlover (Thread starter): edit: we also planned to travel down to the USA (New York for example) but one of us would need a visa to enter the USA so we dropped that idea.
Can't you get a Visa Waver Form (if they are still done)? You can just get them at the border...
YYZAeroEng From Canada, joined Jun 2005, 165 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1426 times:
Where in Toronto are you going to be studying while you're here?
As for places to visit, it's well worth you time to vist Montreal. There is a lot to see in the city, and its nightlife is fantastic.
For travel get yourself an ISIC card. It gets you discounts on VIA Rail. Additionally check out a place called Travel Cuts, they specialize in travel for students, often they'll be the cheapest place to arrange for tavel and accomodations.
Kerberos From Canada, joined Apr 2004, 119 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 1396 times:
After two months you will definitely want to get out of TO. The Canadian Rockies (Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise) cant be beat, Montreal as mentioned is a great city, I love it there. You're not missing much by skipping Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta (Except for the Alberta side of the Rockies) and coming straight to Vancouver, and Vancouver Island. Actually, going to Calgary AB, renting a car and driving to Vancouver is a great way to see some awesome scenery. Its an easy two day drive - one day if you don't dawdle along the way.
I haven't been east of Montreal, so I cant comment on that much, but I hear Quebec City is nice - lots of history - and the trip out to Halifax, St. Johns and the Maritimes is definitely worth it.
This is your captain speaking. I’ve turned off the no-smokin’ sign. Hell, if the plane is smokin' why can't you?
Lnglive1011yyz From Canada, joined Oct 2003, 1588 posts, RR: 17 Reply 10, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1391 times:
Quoting AOMlover (Thread starter): Except Toronto, Ottawa and the Niagara falls (which we'll get to visit during our stay in Toronto), which other places in Canada are worth seeing ?
I guess there are lots of them, so please help me !
you *have* to come out to YYZ for a weekend with the YYZ Spotters! You cannot miss that.. you'll have tons of fun!
*Yes, there is more to Canada, but unfrotuantely I've only ever been to Ottawa and Montreal HAHA*
Tranceport From Canada, joined Jul 2003, 282 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1384 times:
Vancouver is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and with good reason. The climate is mild, the city sits right on the Pacific Ocean and is also built into the foot of the beautiful coast mountains. Downtown is safe and compact. Stanley Park, the third largest city park in North America, is a lush rain forest that juts into the ocean with a several kilometre SeaWall that runs around the edge. The lifestyle is laid back and people are super friendly. There's a lot to see and do here, so you definitely don't want to miss it. In fact, the entire province is a rugged wilderness full of snow covered peaks, desert and endless forests and coastline waiting to be discovered. You can't come to Canada and miss British Columbia, the real gem of Canada.
P.S. YVR offers some great areas for spotting with a nice variety of Asian, European and North American carriers.
Jean Leloup From Canada, joined Apr 2001, 2106 posts, RR: 23 Reply 12, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1375 times:
Quoting Kerberos (Reply 9): You're not missing much by skipping Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta
!!!
Dude, come on. For my buck, the prairies are the most beautiful part of Canada (although I've not yet been to Newfoundland). That said, there are not a lot of 'tourist' spots. So if you need to keep 'busy' then most of the prairies are not top spots to be, but if you want to take in natural beauty and canadian life, the prairie provinces (all three of them equally i would say, though they are all a little different from each other) can't be beat.
That's why I recommended the train, by the way. You'd get to hit Vancouver and Jasper, but also see the prairies.
PerthGloryFan From Australia, joined Oct 2000, 751 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1358 times:
Hmm, tips when travelling in Canada; well it's been 6 years but here goes:
Never, ever buy a "coffee" from a Timmy Hortons!!
London, Ontario is pretty dull, but man,the largest squirrels you'll ever see roam the streets! Lock up your cats and small dogs.
In Toronto a Kajama schooner cruise on Lake Ontario is very pleasant, though I think the city airport on the island is now closed isn't it?
Also views from the CN Tower are spectacular.
And after dark Jarvis St is the place to pick up ....
(Spent a couple of very entertaining evenings watching the "action" from the porch of our B&B).
But if the colours of the rainbow are more to your liking then head a block or two to the west of Jarvis.
Many Canadians end sentences with "eh" when speaking (like north Queenslanders in Australia) which is quaint.
Oh, and if you survive the mutant squirrels of London make sure you watch out for the street beggars in Toronto. When we were there in 2000 they would abuse you and follow you down the street if you didn't give them any money. The only sour note of what is really great city to visit. Hopefully the social and economic side of things has improved over the last few years.
CurtisMan From Canada, joined Jun 2005, 996 posts, RR: 52 Reply 15, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 1324 times:
Well you are fortunate to be coming to one of the best countries on earth when it comes to beauty. Sure I live here and am biased but I have travelled to many parts of the world and Canada definitely is the most beautiful!
As mentioned - Montreal is fantastique! Newfoundland would be an amazing cultural experience - the people are extremely friendly and have a great accent and joy for life. And if you go there be sure to do some kayaking in the fjords. Head for the Rocky Mountains - visit Banff, Lake Louise and continue on to Vancouver.
The train is amazing and you can get discounts. Flights can be had for discounts too but this is the second largest country on earth so distances are very far - we really do measure distance in hours to drive.
I live in Alberta so if you have any questions about the Rockies or Calgary or Edmonton (largest shopping centre in the world) feel free to contact me. I was born and raised in Montreal so may be able to help out there too.
Yhmfan From Canada, joined Feb 2004, 607 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 1314 times:
Hamilton is only an hour away by car from Toronto. It is the home of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. As an aviation fan, you can't miss that. It is right next to YHM.
C172Akula From Canada, joined Mar 2001, 979 posts, RR: 5 Reply 18, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days ago) and read 1307 times:
Quoting Nordair (Reply 16): Quoting Kerberos (Reply 9):
you're not missing much by skipping Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta
We don't much miss you either. Try to stay where you are so you don't pollute the rest of Canada with your presence.
I'm going to second that opinion. There is plenty to see and do in those 3 Provinces.
You'll probably just miss the Calgary Stampede, its last day is on the 16th of July. Even though it has all the old stereotypes of us being a bunch of western hicks and cowboys the entire city is one big party during it. So perhaps you should book a flight to leave on the 15th and party on the last day of Stampede!
TuffGong From Canada, joined Jan 2006, 472 posts, RR: 4 Reply 20, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 1289 times:
Quoting C172Akula (Reply 18): Even though it has all the old stereotypes of us being a bunch of western hicks and cowboys the entire city is one big party during it.
Havent been myself but i know more than enough people that have gone to the stampede that are the furthest thing from being country fans and loved it. All I ever hear is how crazy it is, but apparently it doesnt compare to the Merrit Mountain Music Festival which made the Maxim top 10 places to get laid
Even when the Stampede isnt on Calgary is an awesome place to go if ya want to get down and party hard.
AOMlover From France, joined Jul 2001, 1297 posts, RR: 12 Reply 21, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 1260 times:
Hi guys, thanks for your useful replies !
I'll be studying at the Schulich School of Business, York University.
We'll definitely go to Montreal. It seems it's quite cheap to go there from Toronto, and it's a city we don't want to miss.
About Vancouver, I'd absolutely want to go there too. Taking the "Canadien" train is surely an unforgettable experience, especially for us Europeans, but unfortunately it is quite expensive. So is the bus to Vancouver...I really gotta earn some $$$ !
Lnglive1011yyz, I'd be glad to join you for some great moments of spotting ! I'll contact you when I'm at Toronto.
Jean Leloup From Canada, joined Apr 2001, 2106 posts, RR: 23 Reply 22, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1244 times:
Quoting AOMlover (Reply 21): Taking the "Canadien" train is surely an unforgettable experience, especially for us Europeans, but unfortunately it is quite expensive.
Student one-way fare from Toronto to Vancouver is only $506, all-in. That's what, 350 Euros?
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