Before visiting Canada we put together this information guide which should help you get a better idea about the country before visiting.

• Land Area: 9.975.000 km²
• Political System: Constitutional Monarchy with parliament
• Capital: Ottawa (314.000 inhabitants)
• Population Size: 30 million inhabitants
• Currency: Canadian Dollar
• Languages: English, French, and 53 other languages
• Religion: Mainly Catholic (43%) and Protestant (29%)
• Time Zones: UTC −3,5 bis −8

The citizens of most western countries do not need a visa to enter the country. By contrast, the citizens of countries like Portugal, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, some countries in eastern Europe, southern Africa, and most developing countries, require a visa. Visas for a stay of less than 6 months are free

The following is a brief overview on prices in Canada for food and lodging:

• Cheap restaurants: 5-10 US$
• Medium range restaurant: 10-25 US$
• Expensive restaurant: from 25 US$
• Cheap hotel: 12-25 US$
• Standard hotel: 25-40 US$
• High class hotel: 50-200 US$

The accommodation will no doubt constitute the bulk of your expenses. By contrast, restaurants prices are lower than in the other western countries. If you decide to stay in cheaper hotels and eat in cafes, the daily budget will be approximately US$ 40, without taking into account transportation.

If you need to change money, we advise going to agencies or offices specializing in international transactions, such as Thomas Cook. If you can't find any of these offices, we recommend you make the change at a bank. Canadian or American dollars, and American Express or Thomas Cook travelers checks are the most recommended. Credit cards are valid in most establishments, including Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

In Canada, the rate of products and services (GST) is applied to virtually all goods - products, services, transactions, in hotel rooms, newspapers... Aside from this fee, in most provinces there is a "provincial rate" which could increase the price by up to 15%. Always take this percentage in consideration.

Tipping is practically mandatory in Canada, so don't forget to add an extra 10-15 % to the total price. Usually tips are given to waiters, taxi drivers, hairdressers, hotel staff etc.