CANADA SOLO TRAVEL GUIDE

WELCOME TO THE CANADA!

The official language is English, although French is the official language of Québec.

The culture is European-influenced – mostly by the English and French – and its indigenous people. Canada is considered progress and diverse, as it provides nationalized health care and a great education and national park system.

Canada legalized marijuana and same-sex marriage; has strict gun laws and outlawed capital punishment; and, it accepts many immigrants – all to promote a just society under a national constitution. 

Oh, and when they travel they are not afraid to display their Canadian flag on their luggage or bags (probably so others don’t mistake them for Americans).

Being such a large country under a multi-cultural identity, Canadians enjoy diverse set of activities, such as watching and playing a lot of hockey, hiking, skiing, fishing, rodeo, sailing, football, ice skating, whale watching, gambling, producing great comedy, music and film, making and drinking beer and wine, and enjoying fine dining or eating weird things like cheese curds on top of fries and gravy – just to name a few.

The Canadian dollar (CAD or C$) – exchange rates are usually favorable for U.S. citizens. Check throughout your travel planning phase on any exchange rate changes.

Traveling in a new country is easier when you know the country’s tipping etiquette in advance as each country has its own rules.  That said, country rules and norms can shift, so here is an international tipping resource for over 70 countries to use as a general guideline that I have found is constantly updated. 

What’s not on there is how to tip a concierge, beauty salons or spas, travel or tour guides, etc.  For these extras, it is acceptable to tip 10% at minimum. Remember, tipping is for good service only.

Additionally, you should always tip in the local currency (if tipping in cash), and do not be offended if your tip is refused as it may not be the norm. I feel it’s always better to offer a tip for good service than not, unless I know it will be considered offensive, like in Japan.

It’s a complete bummer to spend time and money on the holiday of a lifetime only to show up at a key attraction, or try to access travel or banking resources, only to find them closed due to a national or local holiday.

Therefore, a key activity to do in your early Canada travel planning stage is to know the national and local holidays in Canada.

From the U.S., you will need a valid passport valid at time of entry with a passport expiration date greater than 3 months from your return to the U.S if you are transiting in route to Europe from Canada. A Canada travel visa is not required for U.S. citizens if your stay is less than 6 months. The U.S. State Department always has their link up to date with pertinent information when traveling to Canada. It is advised to always check there during your planning stage and again before you leave.

If you are not from the U.S., please check your government’s website.

There are normally no vaccinations required for Canada. The U.S. State Department provides up-to-date required vaccination information to visit Canada. It is advised to always check for any Canada travel restrictions and required vaccinations during your planning stage and again before you leave.

If you are not from the U.S., please check your government’s website.

Want to use your 110 V electronics while traveling in Canada? Canada’s voltage is 120V, and the standard frequency is 60 Hz and use both Type A and Type B adapters, like the U.S. Therefore, U.S. electronics (hair dryer, clippers, curling iron, etc.) should not require a voltage converter in Canada.

Remember, most smart phones, tablets and laptops don’t require a converter, but double-check your device(s) before you leave home.

Although you don’t have to bring an adapter, check your electronics – if you have one requiring a 3-prong outlet you may want to bring a Type B adapter just in case.

If you are going to another country in addition to your trip to Canada, you can check this international travel adapter guide to make sure you’re prepared.

Having a virtual private network (VPN) service and portable WiFi is always a good idea to not just stay connected, but stay connected securely in your hotel and all public spaces, like airports, train stations, and restaurants.

Use my solo travel guides, itineraries, travel tips, day trip ideas, and recommended things to do in these top Canadian destinations, all from my travel in Canada, to plan your best Canada solo travel.

The more I travel in Canada, the more that gets added to this Canada Travel Guide. Keep checking back.

I recently visited Vancouver in 2022. Until I write about it, here are my recommended things to do in Vancouver I enjoyed.

It has been many years since I was in the following Canadian destinations. If revisit these destinations in Canada, this will be updated. Until then, here are my recommended things to do in each Canada destination (from what I’ve already enjoyed or would do when I revisit).

It’s important to book the top three travel necessities early: flights, accommodations and ground transportation.

No Canada guide would be complete without the booking tools below. These, along with fun Canada things to do and ecotourism ideas, will allow you to realize your solo trip to Canada.

With the ever-growing demand for airline tickets to Canada, flights book quicker these days. Find cheap flights to Canada now.

Second in importance to buying airline tickets to Canada is finding the best place to stay in Canada for your Canada solo travel. Develop your Canada travel itinerary now and find the best Canada travel accommodations to knock one more travel planning item off your solo travel list.

Canada has all forms of transportation, including Carpoolworld, Uber, Lyft, and other possible regional ridesharing services and apps (research in advance if they are in your destination area).

Of course, you can easily get a taxi or find a rental a car in Canada if it better suits your Canada travel itinerary.

Canada also has regional buses, one major passenger train system, VIA Rail, and a luxury passenger train, Royal Canadian Pacific.

Here are some of the top things to do in Canada to book for your solo Canada trip.