Canadian Mountain Holidays

As soon as you know you’re coming to Canada from another country (even if you’re a Canadian citizen!), start getting your documentation in order. It can take months to renew a passport or other form of i.d., so the earlier you start preparing, the better!

Anyone coming from outside Canada will need to provide travel documentation at the port of entry to Canada.

These days, the best thing is to have a passport that’s valid at least six months after your return home. Everyone in your party should have his/her own passport - even the children!

Citizens of some countries will need a visa to enter Canada … be sure to check with your nearest Canadian embassy or consulate.

Driving in Canada isn’t a problem … if you’ve got all the right paperwork. Canada allows residents of many countries to use their home driver’s licences in Canada. However, people from other countries will have to present an International Driving Permit. Again, check with your nearest Canadian embassy or consulate.

Always leave copies of every type of documentation with someone at home, who you can contact quickly in the case of emergency. Having a full set of copies in your checked baggage is also a good idea.

Bring certified copies of your medical prescriptions along with any medication that you’re taking. Do not remove the medication from the container that was provided by your pharmacist. Never carry prescription medication that bears another person’s name.

One more thing about medicines: Don’t bring more than you’ll conceivably need for the duration of your trip! If your journey gets extended for whatever reason, you’ll have your presciption with you, as well as a sample of your medication, so you’ll be able to secure additional supplies if you need them.

Its a good idea to check with customs authorities from both countries (the country you’re leaving, and Canada) to make sure that you’ll be permitted to carry that medication with you when you travel. Medications that are allowed in one country may be outlawed in another!

No matter how sure you are that you’ll travel (and it is most likely that you will travel!), there’s no telling what might crop up to spoil your plans!

The obvious would be falling gravely ill or getting seriously injured before you even leave home. Or there could be a death in the family, or a change in your job status.

And then there are the things that happen during your trip over which no-one has control, like flight delays due to breakdown or weather, causing your trip to be interrupted or your itinerary re-routed. Extra expenses add up quickly in these situations - transfers, hotels, meals.

Then there’s luggage delay or loss … if you want to get any enjoyment out of your holiday despite such a frustrating situation, you’re going to be buying clothes, toiletries, even sports equipment!

The biggie, however, is medical insurance … whether its a bad case of Montezuma’s Revenge, or a major yard sale on the ski slopes requiring an emergency room visit, you don’t want to be messing around trying to prove that you can pay for medical assistance when you’re indisposed!

Please don’t skip travel insurance when you’re planning your trip! It really isn’t that expensive and is worth every penny for your own peace of mind!

Your credit card company may have special deals for cardholders, or your home-owner’s policy may have an add-on option that you can take advantage of. Your local travel agent is also able to sell travel insurance policies. Make sure you at least get these items covered:

Outright cancellation prior to departure for any reason.

Partial cancellation - eg: you change your mind about visiting a particular area due to security concerns - to include coverage for all service fees that travel agents and other service-providers may charge for making adjustments to your itinerary.

Service interruption - in case your airline goes bankrupt or your hotel burns down before you arrive.

Loss or delay of luggage.

Full service medical coverage - to cover everything from emergency ambulance service through regular doctor/dentist visits to full hospitalization/diagnostic/surgery - including upgrade for “dangerous sports” if you’re going to be skiing or skydiving, for example.

What To Bring

Packing for a trip is always challenging, especially if you haven’t traveled much in the past! Most often, people take way more than they need. Of course, your access to laundry facilities does dictate how much you take, so bear that in mind! If your accommodation unit has a washer/dryer of its own, or your hotel or lodge has a guest-use laundry room, you can really reduce the amount of clothing you need to pack!

For the Canadian mountain resorts like Whistler, Sun Peaks and Panorama, its good to remember that life in the hills is very casual … there are no restaurants that require gentlemen to wear jackets and ties, or ladies to wear cocktail gowns! That’s not to say that can’t dress up for dinner … just that things are pretty laid-back! That being said, there are some higher-end establishments that don’t permit jeans, boardshorts, and such-like, so if that’s the type of restaurant you’ll be visiting, be sure to pack accordingly!

The weather can change quickly in the mountains … to experience four seasons in one day is not uncommon!

So take rain gear along with your shorts, tee shirts and sandals in summer, together with some warmer top layers, and a pair of closed shoes.

In winter you’re assured of chilly weather, so keep that in mind when you’re packing - bring your waterproof padded outerwear, long underwear, warm socks, gloves (both the woolly/fleece type and sports type). The trick to keeping comfortable in winter is layering!

There are plenty of shops in the resorts if you find you’ve forgotten something that you can’t live without … but be prepared to pay premium prices!

Luggage

These days, it is imperative to contact the airline to check the current rules regarding carry-on baggage - not only does the size and number of items vary from airline to airline, but many airports severely restrict the volume of liquids/gels (perfume, moisturizer, toothpaste, etc) that you can take into the cabin with you.

The amount of luggage you can take with you depends on how far you’re going. Mostly, if you’re flying across a major ocean (Atlantic or Pacific) between major continents, eg: North America and Europe, you’re permitted to check two suitcases. The size and weight of those bags varies from airline to airline.

You absolutely must check baggage regulations before planning your packing - otherwise you could end up repacking in the airport building or, worse, being forced to discard items altogether!

With regard to luggage, choose wisely. There are some really cheap options out there that may do the job, but they may not be strong enough to withstand the rigours of modern airline baggage handling!

Make sure that your name and all your contact details are available inside your luggage. I prefer not to use baggage tags that go on the outside of suitcases because anyone and everyone will have access to your contact details - on the other hand, other experienced travelers will tell you that external labels are absolutely necessary! Its all down to personal preference, I suppose.

Identifying your luggage as it comes off the ‘plane onto the carousel in the arrivals hall can be tricky … cases often look very similar! You could use bright paint on your suitcase, or tie on small but bright pieces of string or wool.

If you’re not 100% sure that the suitcase you’re picking up is yours, make sure that your key or combination opens the bag before leaving the arrivals hall … you don’t want to travel hundreds of miles from the airport to the mountain resort, only to find that you’ve taken the wrong case!

Let’s face it … if someone wants to get into your luggage between the time that you drop it off at check-in and when you pick it up at the other end, they’re going to get in! But don’t make it easy … buy luggage with built-in combination locks, or attach a small lock to the zipper-tags, holding them together. Even one-use “zap straps” will do the job - just bring a supply along to replace the ones you have to cut off!

If the thief is determined, he will get into your bag - but at least some sort of locking mechanism is a deterrent!

Upon landing at your destination, if you have the time in the arrivals hall, its a good idea to open your checked luggage to make sure that everything is there.

And don’t be shy to approach airline staff with your suspicions if you think Sticky Fingers have been inside your bags!

Yes, the Canadian Government’s GST (currently 6%) refund program has been scaled back.

This decision was apparently taken because it cost too much to manage the system, and because too few people of those eligible were taking advantage of the refund available.

The GST that you paid on items purchased in Canada to take back home (ie: out of Canada) is no longer refundable.

However, as a visitor from outside Canada to Whistler, Sun Peaks, Panorama or Vancouver, the General Sales Tax paid on short-term accommodation (hotel/resort/etc) can still be reclaimed.

Please visit the Canadian Government website for more detailed information about the GST rebate program.

Just how do you choose which mountain resort to visit?! Its so confusing, they all sound so good!

That’s where Compass Tours comes in! With our experience in Whistler, Sun Peaks and Panorama, its just a matter of asking a few questions so that we can make a recommendation!

The types of things you need to consider before deciding which destination best suits your needs, are:

Where are you located? Which resort is easiest to access? What type of transportation are you planning on using?

Have you been to any of these resorts before? If so, what did you like about it? What about the resort didn’t appeal to you as much?

Who’s going on the trip - is it a group of adults, or a family with small kids, a family with teenagers, or a corporate party?

What do you want out of your holiday? Do you need a peaceful, quiet time? Or would you like to be out partying in dance clubs every night?

How active are you? Do you want to be up and at it, every day, from daybreak to dusk, and then some?! Or are you looking forward to sleeping late every day, taking gentle strolls around the village followed by some fine wine and first-class dining?

In later blogs, we plan on posting separate articles on each destination with a view to giving you a better idea which will suit you best! In the meantime, feel free to contact us if you need help right away!

Welcome to our blog!

Our passion for the mountains, particularly those of beautiful British Columbia, Canada, leads us to share our enthusiasm for the Canadian mountain resorts of Whistler, Sun Peaks and Panorama!

We also include the spectacular city of Vancouver, one of the most liveable cities in the world, and host of the 2010 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games!

Compass Tours specializes in creating reasonably-priced custom packages to these destinations, without compromising service!

This blog is dedicated to the spread of accurate information - anything to do with travel in the mountains and visiting these resorts, as well as general travel tips!

We hope that you’ll share your experiences with us, and that you feel free to comment or ask questions! You don’t have to have booked with us to participate!

Speak to you soon!