Top tips from Canada

I was lucky enough to attend the Elite Canada Specialist event last week at the Belfry Hotel & Spa. It was an invite only event for the top Canada agents in the UK. 

During the afternoon, I had dedicated time with each partner who shared the latest updates & tons of useful information & lots of time to ask questions. In attendance were representatives from British Columbia, Tourism Sun Peaks, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Air Canada, Air Transat, WestJet, Via Rail, Rocky Mountaineer, Cruise America / Canada & Destination Canada. Cruise Canada / America had brought along one of their RV's so we could take a look around. 

The event continued with drinks, dinner & an impromptu quiz as well as a prize draw. I was delighted to win the top prize of a fabulous holiday to Ottawa & Quebec. Rest assured, I'll be sharing my own experiences of thse fantastic cities when the time comes. 

This month, I'm sharing my top tips & learnings from the event. 

1 Getting there (to Canada not the event!)

Air Canada have just launched their Edinburgh to Montreal route which will be flying 3 times a week in the summer months.

The quickest direct flights are with Westjet into St Johns in Newfoundland in less than 6 hrs from London Gatwick. Halifax is a little further with flights less than 7 hrs available with Air Canada or Westjet. Air Canada, Westjet & Air Transat between them offer a range of direct flights from Gatwick, Heathrow, Glasgow, Manchester or Dublin to Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver or Calgary. Some routes are seasonal, we'll be happy to advise on the most direct route for you including non-Canadian airlines. 

2 New Rocky Mountaineer route for 6 weeks only during the World Cup

With the anticipated increase of visitors for the World Cup in 2026 to Vancouver, the Rocky Mountaineer have amended their routes for a 6 week duration. Instead of operating Vancouver to Jasper (or reverse) & Vancouver to Banff (or reverse), for this limited period, you can travel Jasper to Kamloops & then return to Banff (or the reverse). If you don't want to drive, this opens up a unique very limited opportunity for a fab circular route in / out of Calgary. Exciting! 

Read more about the Rocky Mountaineer here.

3 Toronto & Niagara Falls to take less time

Currently your options are drive yourself, take a tour or take the bus / train all of which take upwards of 1hr 45mins to get there. The long awaited hovercraft across Lake Ontario is rumoured to be coming in 2026. The journey between Toronto & Port Weller will take just 30 mins with shuttle buses provided to go on to Niagara on the Lake & the iconic Niagara Falls. We've been watching this space for a couple of years but hopefully the delays are behind us. 

4 Try skiing in Sun Peaks

Many skiers head for Whistler or Banff in the winter months but Sun Peaks should not be overlooked. Its the second largest ski area in Canada with 144 runs catering to different abilities across three peaks - Tod Mountain, Sundance Mountain & Mount Morrisey. All three peaks can be accessed from the ski through village & ski in /out is an option here. From Vancouver, its around 5 hrs or take a connecting flight to Kamloops (only 45 mins away). For the first time, they'll be insulating & protecting an area of snow at the end of the season potentially allowing next season to start earlier. 

Complete the enquiry form to plan your adventure to Canada.

5 Got kids who love dinosaurs? Alberta is the place to be   

Alberta has more than its fair share of dinosaur finds (60 to 70 different species) including the Albertosaurus (I haven't made it up!). Drumheller is known as the 'Dinosaur Capital of the World' & is home to the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology where you can see many of the finds.  Approx. 2.5 hrs drive away is the Dinosaur Provincial Park. The latter offers private tours to see the latest dig sites. You can see stakes in the ground marking previous finds & there is a covered find left where they found it -  an absolute must for dinosaur lovers!

6 Alberta has the lowest sales tax across all of Canada.

There is no provincial tax on top of the national tax in Alberta which is why its lower. If you love shopping, we recommend ending your trip in Alberta & save your shopping until then & pay less for your souvenirs. 

7 Looking for a more budget friendly alternative to the Rockies, Saskatchewan is the answer 

I'm going to start by holding my hands up & admitting I thought the scenery here was just vast plains. I'm pleased to say I was wrong on this occasion, there are of course vast plains but there are also sand dunes, beautiful lakes & wildlife - elk, moose, deer & even bear. A round trip from Calgary can include the Rockies, Alberta & Saskatchewan offering a more budget friendly option. If a ranch stay is on your must do list this is a great place to do it, we can help you find the right one for you whether you are a rider or not.   

 8 Considering an RV for your Canada holiday?

An RV is a great flexible way to explore Canada & Cruise Canada is one of our key suppliers. If you want a fixed bed, the C25 (which is the one we saw at the event) is the smallest RV that has it. The larger C30 is the same width & height (albeit longer) so is pretty similar to drive as the C25. I usually recommend going for a bigger RV than you need as its going to be your home from home for a while. If you are travelling as a 2 or a 3, opt for the C25.If you are travelling in a group of 4, I recommend the larger C30. 

Read more about the pros & cons of hiring a RV here.

I had such a great time updating my Canada knowledge - such an exciting destination with so much to offer. In this article, I've covered some of the top tips & information I've learnt but there is so much more from all of the partners who were there. 

If you (or someone you know) are planning a visit to Canada, enquire today. I can't wait to help create your amazing Canada holiday.