COUNTRY

Canada

CONTINENT

North America

LANGUAGE

English & French

CURRENCY

Canadian Dollar

BEST TIME TO VISIT

May to September

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION

Pacific Central Station. Vancouver

NEAREST AIRPORT

Vancouver International Airport(YVR)

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

911

INTERNET ACCESS

It’s easy to find internet access. Libraries and community agencies in practically every town provide free wi-fi and computers for public use. The only downsides are that usage time is limited (usually 30 minutes), and some facilities have erratic hours.

Internet cafes are limited to the main tourist areas; access generally starts around $2 per hour.

Wi-fi is widely available. Most lodgings have it (in-room, with good speed), as do many restaurants, bars and Tim Hortons coffee shops.

For a list of wi-fi hot spots around Canada, visit Wi-Fi Free Spot (www.wififreespot.com).

VISA

Visitors from certain countries require a visa to enter Canada. Those who are exempt require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA; $7), with the exception of Americans. This must be applied for prior to traveling and can be completed online. It usually takes minutes but can take days. See www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta-start.asp.

More Information

Currently, visas are not required for citizens of 46 countries – including most EU members, Australia and New Zealand – for visits of up to six months.

To find out if you need an eTA or are required to apply for a formal visa, go to www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp.

Visitor visas – aka Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs) – can now be applied for online at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visa.asp. Single-entry TRVs ($100) are usually valid for a maximum stay of six months from the date of your arrival in Canada.

A separate visa is required for all nationalities if you plan to study or work in Canada.

Visa extensions ($100) need to be filed with the CIC Visitor Case Processing Centre in Alberta at least one month before your current visa expires.

Visiting the USA

Admission requirements are subject to rapid change. The US State Department (www.travel.state.gov) has the latest information; you can also check with a US consulate in your home country.

Under the US visa-waiver program, visas are not required for citizens of 38 countries – including most EU members, Australia and New Zealand – for visits of up to 90 days (no extensions allowed), as long as you can present a machine-readable passport and are approved under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (www.cbp.gov/esta). Note that you must register at least 72 hours before arrival with an e-passport, and there’s a $14 fee for processing and authorization.

Canadians do not need visas to enter the USA, though they do need a passport or document approved by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (www.getyouhome.gov). Citizens of all other countries need to apply for a US visa in their home country before arriving in Canada.

All foreign visitors (except Canadians) must pay a US$6 processing fee when entering at land borders. Note that you don’t need a Canadian multiple-entry TRV for repeated entries into Canada from the USA, unless you have visited a third country.

HOTEL

British Columbia is well served with accommodation options. You’ll find the best array of hotels (especially of the chain and boutique varieties) in bigger communities, and a variety of motels, B&Bs and hostels as you travel around the province. The region is a camping hotspot, but be sure to book far ahead in popular areas, especially during peak summer periods.

Few Options:

Free Spirit Spheres

Wickaninnish Inn

Shades of Jade Inn & Spa

Skwachays Lodge

Old Courthouse Inn

St Regis Hotel

COST OF LIVING

From a visitor’s perspective British Columbia can be on the pricey side, at least as long as the Canadian dollar is in the same neighborhood as the US dollar. Hotels and hostels, especially those with good locations, are not exactly cheap. There are plenty of free things to do, but many of the main attractions are surprisingly expensive, so choose wisely.

The hotels generally have their high season running from May through September, right along with the pleasant weather. It’s sometimes possible to get good deals on weekends during this period, but generally you’ll need to come from January through March to find the lowest rates.

It is one of the finest restaurant towns in North America, and fortunately the competition helps keep bargains available, even in some of the more exotic fare. Drink specials are not hard to find around happy hour, so those who plan ahead can keep costs low while having a great time.