canada

[SHALOM]

Off to Canada soon for 17 days. Does anyone know roughly how much money we will need for food which is not included in the cost of our tour, for 4 people, (me, hubby, daughter 21, & son 18)? Also would it be cheaper to use payphones than mobiles to ring our elderly parents back home, we are on a pay as you go virgin tariff. Thanks for responding to my previous question re Canada.

[pega]

I went to Canada a few years ago and was lovely and plenty of nice places to eat and very reasonable, I only had
a few meals out in the day as I had full board, but there was a wide range to choose from, have a great time I'd love to go again

[LindyLouLou]

Hi
Im on Voda pay as you talk and it was very expensive to use my phone to phone home. I used hotel phones and it was much cheaper.
Also dont forget that if you receive a call (or text) on your mobile that will also cost you.
I spent 5 days in Calgary and 4 in Ottawa and had a fabbo time - people are really friendly.
Sorry cant really remember prices that well. I vaguely remember it being cheaper than here (UK) but not loads
Take care x

[scoobydooby]

I made friends with some Canadians in Florida early this year and we compared Floridian prices with British and Canadian to work out how better or worse off we were living in our respective home countries. It turns out that Canadian prices are pretty much the same as here. Fuel, Alcohol, Cigs etc. are only marginally cheaper (by pence). Eating out (for a family of four), or a takeaway seemed to be about the same also. I think it turned out we were slightly better off in the UK as they have to have private health insurance (unless employers provide it), whereas we have the NHS. Take a fair amount of spending money and make use of the duty free shop at the airport! Have a great time.

[maxximus]

as your pound is worth 2 canadian dollars you will be paying half price for everything, my relatives from britain where here recently and couldn't believe it. i don't know where scooby doo lives but when i was in britain last, not long ago, i couldn't believe how much more it cost me to go out. i think you will find it much cheaper than your used to. cheers eh!

[JoolsTwo]

It is much cheaper to ring from a pay phone. You can buy a card which will give you cheaper rates too. Also if your phone is not Triband it won't work in Canada and if you are 'pay as you go' that may not allow you to call from abroad. You would need to ask your network provider about that. My husband is - Pay as you go- on o2 and has a triband phone. But that did not work for calls in Canada, but he could text. So you should check. We found meals to be very slightly cheaper than the UK and much bigger portions and you get free refills of coffee and coke in most places. They can't make tea over there though, best we found was Starbucks, most everything else is about the same as UK except petrol, which is roughly one third cheaper.

It is a lovely country for a holiday - Where are you going? We have been back about 2 weeks from BC - absolutely beautiful. Hope you have a wonderful holiday. Jools

[SHALOM]

Jools, we are off to the rockies. vancouver and wilderness lodge, on an organised tour.

[JoolsTwo]

The Rockies are stuning - we drove through there about 3 years ago in April , so still covered in snow. We stop in Jasper, Sun Peaks then on to Vancouver. I have been told they are still beautiful in summer. Our daughter lives in Vancouver so have been over about 3 times now and there are still loads of things we haven't had time to do. We just got back from an 8 week trip including a 2 week road trip to San Fransico and 10 days on the way back home to Toronto, Niagra and New York. Try and go to the Capilano suspension bridge and Grouse Mountain in Vancouver. There is so much to do there.

I am sure you will have a fantastic time. I can't wait for our next trip. Jools