Canada

[Ad Lib]

Advice:

Want to visit Canada, probably Toronto or Montreal. When is the best time of year for cheap flights, what's the cheapest airport to go from, and what would others recommend as far as places to go, things to do and places to stay are concerned?

[MONKMAN]

One of my best mates lives in Toronto, it's a brilliant city. I've been in the summer and winter, would thoroughly recommend going either time. I love the climate there, 30 degrees in August, -10 in December/January.

I flew Glasgow to Toronto International via Heathrow on BA, but you can get direct flights from Glasgow or Edinburgh.

My mate lives in in The Beaches, literally a 5 minute walk from his flat to shore of Lake Ontario. Plenty of Restaurants and bars just off the beach.

There's also the Islands, a chain of small islands just off the Harbour. Worth hiring a bike and cycling about for half a day. Not really recommended in the winter as it's seriously cold.

There's the Rogers Centre, CN tower and all the other tourist traps. All your major sports are represented in the city; Raptors (Basketball), Maple Leafs (Hockey), Toronto FC (football), Blue Jays (Baseball), Argonaughts (American football).

The distillery district is also worth a visit. Loads of bars, restaurants and micro-breweries built inside the remnants of the old distilleries.

Niagra falls is directly across the other side of lake Ontario. We hired a car, I'm sure it's only 40 odd miles from Toronto. The falls themselves are impressive, but the town itself is a shit hole. Behind the viewing platform is a strip of casinos, styled on a mini vegas. If you hire a car then you have to visit Niagara on the lake, possibly the most picturesque town I've ever seen.

[Bonksy+HisChristianParade]

Lived in both for a bit. Toronto's OK, I much preferred Montreal. Toronto probably has more things to do for tourists though. If you're in Montreal, Quebec City's also worth a visit.

Your topic's brought back some great memories from Montreal though: Tam-Tams, Igloofest, Osheaga, St Laurent, New City Gas, beautiful historic architecture in the Old town etc etc. The view over the city from the top of Mont Royal park (iirc) is pretty special.

Air Transat and Westjet are probably your cheapest airlines.

Go to Vancouver though, it's an amazing city.

Edited February 21, 2016 by Bonksy+HisChristianParade

[doulikefish]

Advice:

Want to visit Canada, probably Toronto or Montreal. When is the best time of year for cheap flights, what's the cheapest airport to go from, and what would others recommend as far as places to go, things to do and places to stay are concerned?

Why not do a bit of both?Train service between them is good and not expensive when booked in advance

2 cracking cities

[Mon_The_Fife]

I loved St Johns in Newfoundland, the weather can be a bit extreme though. If I hadn't settled in New Zealand I would have probably gone there.

I didn't do Montreal but Toronto was nice. I do miss Tim Horton's. Like has been said Niagara Falls it's spectacular but the town itself is on a par with Blackpool. A day drip is highly recommended though.

[doulikefish]

Montreal the people are wanks, especially the french side of it. Toronto is not to bad. i worked in a place called Barrie juts not to far from there and that was fine. Highlight of my time in toronto itself was probably the Zoo.

Niagra falls is something else though, the maid of mist i think its called, go on that.

Ive been lucky enough to go on a train through part of the rocky mountains. An incredible experience like no other

Always got on well with the locals in montreal and the rocky mountaineer between calgary and vancouver is breathtaking

[Mon_The_Fife]

Always got on well with the locals in montreal and the rocky mountaineer between calgary and vancouver is breathtaking

I got the train from Winnipeg and was pretty lucky and landed a job down the Ice Field Parkway around 30 miles south of Jasper. Incredible place, the drive from Jasper to Banff is breathtaking. Plenty wildlife to see too.

[mungo]

Toronto's OK,

This ^ . Toronto is just like any other major city except its full of Canadians.

Montreal the people are wanks, especially the french side of it.

This ^ Montreal is just like any other major city except is full French wanks.

the drive from Jasper to Banff is breathtaking. Plenty wildlife to see too.

Go to Vancouver though, it's an amazing city.

Ive been lucky enough to go on a train through part of the rocky mountains. An incredible experience like no other

Get yourself to British Columbia if you want to experience, and see something which I would consider represents Canada more accurately. Breathtaking scenery , a distinct culture and atmosphere and incredible wildlife to see.

I traveled and worked my way from Vancouver to Quebec city and then all the way back again about ten years ago. Vancouver was a terrific city and it also had bit of an edge to it downtown that I liked. British Columbia as a whole is well worth visiting but I would recommend that you get yourself into the countryside to truly appreciate it. Ontario and Quebec provinces were a bit "meh". Avoid Saskatchewan , Manitoba which are barren lands.

Edited February 23, 2016 by mungo

[Fudge]

Next summer I'm going Toronto - - > Niagara - - > Ottawa - - > Montreal - - > Quebec - - > fly to Calgary - - > Jasper - - > Banff - - > Whistler - - > Victoria - - > Vancouver

[Virtual Insanity]

Going to Canada and not going to British Columbia is madness. Vancouver as a city is ok (similar to Toronto) but as mungo says, anywhere you go from the city, the scenery is breathtaking.

[RiG]

Next summer I'm going Toronto - - > Niagara - - > Ottawa - - > Montreal - - > Quebec - - > fly to Calgary - - > Jasper - - > Banff - - > Whistler - - > Victoria - - > Vancouver

I hate you

[Richey Edwards]

I went to Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Kamloops, Whistler and Vancouver in 2014 and it was a wonderful experience, definitely my favourite holiday of all time. Breathtaking scenery.

[craigkillie]

I've been to Toronto and Vancouver - both great cities, but I definitely preferred the latter. The scenery is amazing, and it had a bit less of a "big city" feel due to the layout of the place. However, it's probably an unfair comparison given that Toronto was a work trip (on my own), and Vancouver was my honeymoon. Never been to Montreal, but it's definitely on my list for the future.

I would definitely recommend a trip to the ice hockey in whichever city you end up in. It's pretty pricey, but the atmosphere is unique, and the sport itself is pretty easy to follow and appreciate for a football fan.

[S7C]

All the Canadian teams are terrible right now. Tickets on the likes of StubHub etc are the cheapest they've ever been.

[Mon_The_Fife]

I went to a Cannucks game as well as an OHL Kingston Frontiacs (sp), both top quality games.

The OHL is a hell of a lot cheaper than the NHL but worth checking out, some great players on show.

[stawner upper]

I went to a Cannucks game as well as an OHL Kingston Frontiacs (sp), both top quality games.

The OHL is a hell of a lot cheaper than the NHL but worth checking out, some great players on show.

I went to watch Red Deer Rebels v Medicine Hat, think it was CAD $17 good value, was very good, if I remember the crowd was about 4K and the 50/50 draw was up about $20k, within a minute there was a helluva scrap going on, good atmosphere

[Stu]

Me and my brother are toying with going to Toronto in October. Is it worth it? Main worry is there might not be enough to keep us occupied for a week!

[MONKMAN]

Me and my brother are toying with going to Toronto in October. Is it worth it? Main worry is there might not be enough to keep us occupied for a week!

Plenty to do in Toronto for a week. Visits to Niagara Falls and the islands could take up a few days. Plenty of stuff sport wise to keep you occupied, Maple-leafs (NHL), Raptors (NBA), Toronto FC (MLS), Argonauts (CFL) should all be playing in October. Then there's the CN Tower, Rogers centre, ice hockey hall of fame etc.... A day could easily disappear wandering about the bars in the distillery district or taking up brewery tours.

One of my favourite cities.

If you think a week would be too much then why not go somewhere else for a few days. You're only 45 minute flight from NY or Boston.

[welshbairn]

Get yourself to British Columbia if you want to experience, and see something which I would consider represents Canada more accurately. Breathtaking scenery , a distinct culture and atmosphere and incredible wildlife to see.

I traveled and worked my way from Vancouver to Quebec city and then all the way back again about ten years ago. Vancouver was a terrific city and it also had bit of an edge to it downtown that I liked. British Columbia as a whole is well worth visiting but I would recommend that you get yourself into the countryside to truly appreciate it. Ontario and Quebec provinces were a bit "meh". Avoid Saskatchewan , Manitoba which are barren lands.

I seriously considered settling in BC till a n HR woman grassed me into Immigration for working illegally. She suspected me because I'd been going around canning factories every day inventing different names, asking for work. It worked fine in Smithers where I got a job driving a dumper truck without a driving licence in a sawmill and called myself Kenneth Farlow-Burgundy, but it was different in Prince Rupert. The sawmill had gone on their annual strike which linked to their summer holidays. I'd returned to the canning factory the day after I'd first asked for work, and they said they had a job, what was my name again? Couldn't remember for the life of me what name I'd given, so pretended I had suddenly got a headache and came up with something similar, first name Emmanuel which I thought was a boy's name despite seeing the films. Anyway, worked for a week driving a forklift very occasionally for 16 hour days at a huge pay rate for the time, cashed the cheque and was dragged out in handcuffs the next day. One night in the local jail, flown down to Vancouver still in handcuffs, a night in a big city jail and a friendly judge with relatives in Auchtermuchty the next morning. Gave me an extension on my run out tourist visa but with an unconditional departure notice, rather than straight deportation. Managed to get my Kenneth Farlow-Burgundy cheque cashed and nipped down to Seattle for a flight home.

[Stu]

On 27/07/2016 at 11:14, MONKMAN said:

 

Plenty to do in Toronto for a week. Visits to Niagara Falls and the islands could take up a few days. Plenty of stuff sport wise to keep you occupied, Maple-leafs (NHL), Raptors (NBA), Toronto FC (MLS), Argonauts (CFL) should all be playing in October. Then there's the CN Tower, Rogers centre, ice hockey hall of fame etc.... A day could easily disappear wandering about the bars in the distillery district or taking up brewery tours.

One of my favourite cities.

If you think a week would be too much then why not go somewhere else for a few days. You're only 45 minute flight from NY or Boston.

 

Have booked for a week in October. Only sport that seems to be on is the Argonauts so might go to that - it's on the Canadian equivalent of Thanksgiving Day so should be fun. Niagara Falls is a definite as is the CN Tower, will head to the islands as well.

Messaged a relative who lives in Canada and used to stay in Toronto for some tips. He replied and I've added him as a Facebook friend - first thing he's going to see is Blame Canada from South Park