Game, including rabbit, caribou, and bison, which have been served in aboriginal homes for centuries, are now considered gourmet dishes at cosmopolitan restaurants. A tradition of French haute cuisine is evident in most of the country’s major cities, particularly in top hotels. However, as Canada is a nation of immigrants, ethnic restaurants are common everywhere.

German, Greek, Chinese, Thai, Indian, Ukrainian, African, and Italian cuisines, along with other international favorites, provide a wide range of choice at a price to suit every budget.

Regional specialties can be sampled in their place of origin, but most of the larger towns will also offer a choice of the country’s best local produce, and in some areas this includes Canadian wines and beers.

Types of Restaurants

Eating out in Canada is surprisingly easy on the pocket, particularly compared to European and American prices. This makes a trip to a top restaurant to sample international cuisine (often made with local produce) very worthwhile. Eating places are extremely varied, with the tearoom, bistro, brasserie, and theater café competing with the more usual café, restaurant, and fast food outlet. Many pubs also serve excellent bar food, at reasonable prices.

More unusual, but no less worthwhile, is the uniquely Canadian dining experience of the delicious lobster supper.

Held throughout the summer on Prince Edward Island, these lively gatherings usually take place in church grounds on wooden tables surrounded by local fishermen. Equally unique, though by no means public, are Inuit dinners.

Traveling through the Arctic north may result in an invitation to join an Inuit family for the evening meal. Traditional dishes might include sun dried caribou sweetened with berry sauces or smoked and dried local fish. These family dinners are usually alcohol free and very lively.

There is no government sponsored hotel grading system in Canada, but the voluntary program “Canada Select” is usually very accurate.

Each establishment is rated by numbers of stars. It is worth bearing in mind, however, that a 4-star hotel in a large city such as Toronto, for example, might not have the same level of facilities as one with the same rating in a small upscale resort with a château hotel.

The Canadian Automobile Association also operates an assessment system, mostly for hotels and motels along main highways, and these, while also non-official, are largely recognized as consistent and accurate. Air-conditioning comes as standard in most of the country during summer, except in national park lodges and cooler coastal and northern regions. Central heating country-wide is efficient. Cable TV, radio, irons and ironing boards, and coffee-making facilities are standard. Private bathrooms are usual, but you will need to specify a bathtub or shower – also remember to ask for double or twin beds when booking a double room.

Prices

With such a wide range of accommodations, prices vary hugely. In a major town, the top hotel’s presidential suite may command a daily rate in excess of Can$1,000, while a hiker’s hostel will provide a dormitory bed for under

Can$25. Budget hotels and B-and-Bs charge Can$50–75 a night per person. Some prices rise in high season, but rates are discounted in low season.

Reservations

Advance reservations are always recommended in the main cities, where festivals, conventions, meetings, and major sports and musical events are held year-round. Provincial tourist offices or airlines will assist in suggesting and arranging bookings.

Luxury Hotels

Although Canada has few five-star hotels, the major cities boast some truly world class establishments. The railroad age of the late 19th century ushered in château style hotels, which are unique Canadian architectural features.

Nowadays, most of the castle hotels, including the Château Frontenac, are owned and operated by Fairmont Hotels.

Luxury chains are well represented: the Four Seasons, the Hilton, the Radisson, the Sheraton, and Westin chains operate in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver.

Chain Hotels

Canada offers numerous franchise and chain hotels and motels. Reliable and comfortable, if occasionally a little bland, chains vary in style and price from grand resort areas to the less expensive but equally well-known Best Western, Comfort, and Super 8.

Popular with families and business travelers, many of the properties have offices for use, including fax, e-mail, and telegraph equipment. Children’s facilities are usually good.

Disabled Travelers

Canada’s building laws require all new and renovated public buildings to provide wheelchair facilities with ramps, wide doors, and straight access to rooms. However, as many rural hotels date from the 19th century, facilities should always be checked in advance.

Children

Traveling with children is relatively easy. Nearly every property will supply a cot or junior-sized bed in a parents’ room. Major hotels offer babysitting services. A lone parent traveling with children may need written consent from the other parent under anti abduction regulations.

If you are visiting any new location, especially one in a foreign country, a travel guide is an invaluable tool for planning your travel itinerary before the trip. A travel guide is also helpful once you’ve made it to your destination, which is Canada in our case. A good travel guide will contain information on local attractions such as museums. A Canadian travel guide will also let you know what the good restaurants are, where you can lay your head at night as well as the hot spots for shopping. Invest in a quality travel guide on Canada, and your planning will go a lot smoother. Another good tip is to make sure you know the weather at the location you will spending time in. Try to get a good idea of what the high and low temperatures will be so you can pack clothing accordingly. Some spots in Canada will be more humid while your mountain ranges are going to be cool, if not downright cold, most of year.

To make your trip go smoothly from the beginning, be sure to investigate what paperwork you are going to need to cross the border in to Canada and be sure that you bring it. With the new, stricter laws on crossing borders you will have to have some sort of proof of identity in order to enter the Country. It isn’t a big deal, unless you try to get in without the proper paperwork. Because these laws are changing constantly, be sure to check the Canadian government website to know what you are going to need.

Do a little research and be sure that you understand the money that you will be using in Canada. They use the Canadian dollar, though some of your cities that border the USA will accept American money. It would be a good idea to carry money in the form of traveler’s checks in Canadian dollars. These will be accepted anywhere and will carry the same security as traveler’s checks in American dollars. To avoid offending your servers when you are in a Canadian restaurant, be sure you know the unspoken gratuity expectation.  If you are in a restaurant, you should tip 12% to 15% if the service was good. Tour guides as well as the bus drivers, are going to expect some tipping as well. $1 or $2 dollars will be fine. Follow these simple tips and your Canadian vacation will be one to remember.

First time travelers however will require a good Canadian travel guide that would perfectly guide them through their journey in Canada.  It will give you the rare insight into your places of staying, shopping, eating, as well as driving. In addition Canada offers you great night life and also activities that are interesting and memorable experience for not only you but the whole family.

One of the major considerations in your travel to Canada should be the weather.  Maritime province have humid climate.  Western region on the other hand is somewhat drier in comparison.  And in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the climate could be real freezing in winter though it is temperate in summer. Quite a good deal of variations can be experienced in the mountain areas of Canada.

You may not overlook the new restrictions imposed on border crossing.  Documents require constant changes in Canada.  Hence please check these requirements before taking up Canadian travels. The information is available on the Canadian and US official websites.

Canada uses the Canadian dollar and also accepts the American dollar. The best exchange rates can be obtained in the Canadian Chartered Banks – whereas not every place of business will give you the most current exchage rate. It is also a bit of a learning curve when considering Provincial sales tax systems in Canada.  While there is no such tax in Alberta, Northwest Areas, Yukon, and Nunavut, 5% tax in Saskatchewan and 13% at New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. On top of the Provincial sales tax, there is also GST tax on goods and services.

It’s an interesting concept actually. If you are a frequent traveller, or just come across a fabulous travel package you want to share, you post about it on the site like you would any social media site. Other site users decide if the deal is hot or not. The site claims it is ok to shamelessly plug your own travel deal site on it by offering your own travel deals – as long as you stay on topic and don’t spam the site. The posts appear to be monitored regularly, I couldn’t find any spammy looking posts so far.

I also couldn’t find many Canadian travel deals listed – the site seems to be too new for many to have been posted yet.  Searching by category, I found no listings. But by using the search feature on the site, I typed “Canada” and found some relevant listings.  I’d like to see an RSS feed per country or travel type in the future! Easier to keep track of potential offers I’d be interested in.

This offer by Air Canada caught my eye – Worldwide Fare Sale Starting at $95 one way from Air Canada. It expires tomorrow, May 21, 2009. But you can book for any time until December 2009. Hurry on over to the Air Canada site for that!

All in all, I think the site is very useful for finding the best travel deals. Don’t let the current economy get you down, you really can find a fabulous deal for this year’s family vacation!