Canadian Snowbird Association - Travel Tips for Canadians

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THE CSA TRAVELLERS' CHECKLIST
Travel Tips for Canadians
TRAVEL

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

General Documents

	Assist border and security officials by providing current and complete documentation. Recent events have resulted in an international tightening of border restrictions and an increase in security precautions.
	Carry a copy of your power of attorney and validate it (if it has not been validated recently) with an attorney in your destination state.
	Carry proof of any immunization forms for you and your pet.
	Photocopy two sets of all your documents, including the complete contents of your wallet or purse.
		Leave one set of photocopies in your Canadian home with a friend or relative.
		Pack the other set in a different place (e.g. luggage) than where you carry the originals.

Residency Documents

Arrange for a new passport in advance of departing if your passport is due to expire within 6 months of your planned return date.

Carry your...

		Canadian passport or Canadian citizenship card if you are a Canadian citizen.
		Canadian Permanent Resident Card (also known as a PR Card or Maple Leaf card) if you are a permanent resident.
		Birth certificate.
		Provincial health insurance card.
	Consult the CSA Travellers' Information Guide or log on to your computer and visit the CSA website to determine if you require an entry visa or further documentation for the destination of your choice.
	Do not attempt to use only a driver's licence to cross borders; a driver's licence does not prove citizenship.
	Ensure your travel documents are up-to-date for your entire trip.
	Place your documents in order and have them ready before your arrival at the border.

Long-Term Travel Documents

Prove to border officials that you have the means to support yourself during your stay by carrying copies of your:

	Canadian credit card statements.
	Canadian tax return assessment notice.
	Recent Canadian bank statement.
	Recent investment account statement.

Prove to border officials that you are planning to return to Canada by carrying copies of your:

	Canadian house deed or lease agreement.
	Canadian property tax or rental receipts.
	Closer Connection Exception Statement for Aliens (IRS Form 8840)
	Pre-booked, return ticket if travelling by air.
	Telephone and other utility bills.
	Travel insurance policy showing a termination date.

Customs Preparation

	Check with customs to determine what documentation and/or duty and taxes may be required before deciding to transport large quantities of household items.
	Check with the Canadian/U.S. border service as well as the CSA before planning any bulk purchasing of food items to take south to ensure items will not be confiscated when crossing the border. In 2004, a general ban existed on Canadian beef products, which included Canadian manufactured pet food that contained beef or beef by-products.
	Review your vehicle from the perspective of a potential border inspector before your arrival at the border or inspection checkpoint. Out of the ordinary (though innocent) items can promote extra questioning.
	Take off your sunglasses at the border and maintain eye contact with officials – never mirror the attitude of an inspector who is having a bad day.

TRAVEL FINANCES

Cash

	Carry a small amount of local currency to use for incidental expenses such as tipping and taxis.
	Carry travellers' cheques that are widely recognized and/or an ATM card.
	Check what form of currency is generally accepted in the country you are visiting.

Credit Cards

	Call your credit card company and inform it of the travel period and countries you will visit.
	Check the expiry date of your credit card(s) prior to departing.
	Confirm hotel charges before calling when using a hotel telephone – many hotels have higher telephone charges than cellular phones.
	Confirm that you can pay for accommodations, meals and incidental expenses with your credit cards when making hotel reservations.
	Confirm that your ATM bank card will work in the automatic teller machines (ATMs) and checkout counters of your destination.

Valuables

	Call your insurance company and inquire as to the respective coverage limits of valuables. Some policies contain limitations and restrictions for loss or damage away from your premises.
	Declare the valuables that you carry (e.g. camera, video recorder, etc.) at a Canada Customs office to prove that your items were obtained in Canada. A customs' officer will complete the Identification of Articles for Temporary Exportation (small green wallet) card that records a brief description, make, model and serial number of the item.
	Rent a safety deposit box at your destination for valuables that you may carry.

TRAVEL PREPARATIONS

Destination Preparations

	Arrange to hook up your destination home telephone and electricity prior to leaving. It is nice to have these things done when you arrive.
	Check – if you have a cellular phone – to see if your cellular phone works out-of-country.
	Check – if you have a cellular phone – to see if your 9-1-1 number will work (by checking with your cellular provider and not by dialing 9-1-1).
	Purchase pre-paid calling cards in case of emergency or inconvenience.

TRAVEL BY SURFACE

Itinerary Preparations

	Check in regularly with someone to advise where you are and where you are planning to travel for the next segment of your trip.
	Create a detailed travel itinerary and leave a copy with a friend or relative.
	Inform yourself of international travel topics by calling the CSA for a free copy of the Canadian consular service publications Bon Voyage But... (travelling internationally) or the separate USA Bound (a smaller publication specific to travelling in the U.S.). Copies are also available free-of-charge at local Canadian Passport Offices.
	Plan to stop and stretch periodically in safe areas to re-establish circulation when driving for long periods.

Safety & Security Preparations

	Do not leave valuables or money in a hotel room when you are absent.
	Do not leave valuables or money in your car.
	Do not stop overnight in unguarded rest areas.
	Join a roadside assistance club – such as the CSA Auto Club – to provide assistance in the event of a breakdown or problem while en route.
	Keep your vehicle locked if you break down. Should someone approach your car, lower the window enough to speak, and ask them to call for assistance – but remain in your vehicle.
	Park near hotel doors or under parking lights or lamps.

Packing Your Vehicle

	Pack your vehicle so that packages and containers will not be seen when you park at night – place items in the trunk or cover them with a blanket.
	Pack your vehicle with blankets, warm clothes, and a lightweight shovel if travelling during cold weather.

Preparing Your Vehicle

	Consider the purchase of a cigarette lighter adapter if you intend to travel with a cellular phone.
	Prepare your vehicle for the road: get a tune-up, change your oil and oil filter, check your fan belts, spark plugs, all fluid levels, tire wear and tire pressure, etc. – do not forget the spare tire!
	Purchase gasoline from reputable major service stations only – every year there are reports of "dirty gasoline" sold from disreputable garages.
	Renew your driver's licence and licence plate validation sticker if they are likely to expire while you are still away.
	Watch your fuel gauge and keep your tank at least half full while en route to your final destination.

Vehicle Insurance Preparations

	Advise your insurance broker if you are taking your vehicle outside Canada for more than 30 days – this is important to maintain coverage under some policies.
	Check with your insurance broker and/or credit card company to determine whether supplementary insurance charges on rental vehicles can be declined.
	Consider increasing your automobile liability limits to $2,000,000 or more, as claims, especially in the United States, can be very high.
	Purchase special insurance coverage if entering Mexico – such insurance is readily available at most border crossing points.

TRAVEL BY AIR

Booking Your Trip

	Check with the airline or your travel agent as to specific rules as well as approved pet carriers/containers if planning to travel with your pet.
	Check with the airline or your travel agent as to when you should be at the airport.
	Confirm in-flight meals (if any) and request special meals if you have dietary concerns. Many airlines now provide only a limited quantity of meals/snacks for cash sale on board. It may be necessary to purchase your meal and snacks in an airport food court prior to boarding or alternatively to bring something from home. Remember only plastic cutlery is allowed through airport security checkpoints.
	Pre-book specific seats when possible, especially aisle seats or bulkhead seats for maximum legroom – airline personnel and travel agents can advise you as to which seats are the most desirable on your plane.

Prior to Boarding

	Be aware that assistive devices for walking are now taken away by airline staff and stored for the duration of the flight – this procedure includes canes.
	Carry government-issued photo identification with you to the airport, even if travelling within Canada – you will not be allowed to fly without it.
		By 2006, it is proposed that you will need a passport to travel to the U.S. as well as overseas.
	Check the lists of banned carry-on baggage and/or checked luggage items by logging on to your computer and visiting the following websites: For travel from/within Canada: Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) www.catsa.gc.ca For travel from/within the United States: U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) www.tsa.gov Verify that an item you may be allowed to take on a carrier leaving Canada will not be subsequently confiscated when you board a carrier at a foreign airport to return to Canada.
	Consider purchasing luggage padlocks that are TSA accepted and recognized. These locks can be opened by authorized airport security screening personnel (if they have to check inside your luggage) without damaging your lock or luggage.
	Do not pack in your carry-on baggage or check luggage flammable or toxic materials, such as lighters or lighter fluid, fireworks, paint, aerosol cans or bleach.
	Do not pack in your carry-on baggage or checked luggage improperly labelled bottles such as homemade wine without a label.
	Do not pack items in your carry-on baggage with sharp edges, such as knives, scissors, shears, nail clippers, straight edge or open blade razors, box or paper cutters, ice picks, knitting needles or glass objects.

Upon Boarding

	Carry recreational material such as a deck of playing cards, a book, newspaper or crossword puzzle to ease the monotony of a long trip.
	Carry small snacks, bottled water, and candy or gum – candy or gum may alleviate any symptoms caused by changes in air pressure during take-off and landing.
	Carry your medication and eyewear in your carry-on baggage to avoid loss or delay, and consider carrying a toothbrush and a change of socks and underwear.
	Carry your own set of headphones to avoid routine charges in watching movies, and ensure that your headphones have an adapter to make the proper connection to fit the armrest.
	Open air vents above and/or beside your seats upon boarding to circulate air.
	Request two pillows or take them from the overhead racks before sitting, and place them on the armrests of your seat to ease the pressure on your hands and arms.
	Stretch periodically to re-establish circulation when flying for long periods, and rotate and stretch your ankles while you are seated.

TRAVEL BY SEA

Booking Your Trip

	Ask your travel provider about the rating of your ship, the size of the cabin, and comparisons to other ships – many people are unaware that cruise ships are rated for their amenities and comfort in the same manner as hotels.
	Book your cabin in advance if permitted by the cruise line – avoid cabins next to elevators, entertainment lounges, and outside decks, as all can be noisy areas at night. Cabins on the lower decks at mid-ship are best for minimizing any rocking motion of the ship in rough seas.
	Book your meal times and shore excursions in advance if permitted by the cruise line – this may save you time and inconvenience while on board.
	Discuss any disability needs with your travel agent prior to booking, including the use of a scooter, wheelchair or other walking aid. The layout of a standard cabin, including the width of the doors, may not be suitable for you.
	Request a free cabin upgrade – you will be given priority over those who did not make the request.
	Request that your cruise line plan your air travel arrangements to your point of departure – ensuring travel continuity and easing luggage transfers between airports and docks.

Prior to Boarding

	Carry a passport – international ports of call require documentation.
	Check the lists of banned carry-on baggage and/or checked luggage items by logging on to your computer and visiting the official website for the cruise line with which you are sailing. If you must fly from your home to the city from which the ship is sailing, also check the applicable list of banned items for air travel at the following websites: For travel from/within Canada: Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) www.catsa.gc.ca For travel from/within the United States: U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) www.tsa.gov Verify that an item you may be allowed to take on a carrier leaving Canada will not be subsequently confiscated when you board a carrier at a foreign airport to return to Canada.
	Consider purchasing luggage padlocks that are TSA accepted and recognized. These locks can be opened by authorized security screening personal (if they have to check inside your luggage) without damaging your lock or luggage.
	Prepare for possible sea sickness by purchasing over-the-counter medication, anti-motion medication, pressure wrist bands and/or slow release medicated patches that can be placed behind your ears.
	Remember that the limit on weight, size and number of pieces of luggage are different for cruise ships to those of airlines. If you must fly between your home and the port from which the ship is sailing, ensure your luggage meets the requirements of both the airline as well as the vessel.

Upon Boarding

	Ask the crew members for suggestions on shopping and shore excursions – crew members have been on most shore excursions and know the best locations for shopping and sightseeing.
	Visit the dining room as soon as possible to reserve your seating arrangement – often a small tip to the maître d'hôtel will result in an excellent window seat.

...AND LASTLY...

	Join the Canadian Snowbird Association.
	Renew your membership with the Canadian Snowbird Association.

HAPPY AND SAFE TRAVELLING!

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