When it comes to exploring this vast country, driving is highly recommended. Canada's efficient roadways and highways will connect you with major cities, towns, neighbourhoods and most points in between. With long, open roads and often spectacular scenery, travelling in Canada with a hire car can be an enjoyable part of your holiday.
Canada time difference can, at first, seem a little over-whelming as the huge country spans six different time zones:
Pacific Standard Time (PST): in British Columbia, Tungsten, and Yukon. The time difference here is GTM -8. When driving your cheap car hire in Vancouver, don't forget to turn the clock back 8 hours!
Mountain Standard Time (MST): in Alberta, some of British Columbia, most of the Northwest Territories, part of Nunavut and Lloydminster. The time difference here is GMT -7.
Central Standard Time (CST): In Manitoba, part of Nunavut, Northwestern Ontario and most of Saskatchewan. The time difference here is GTM -6.
Eastern Standard Time (EST): Part of Nunavut, Eastern Ontario, most of Quebec. The time difference here is GMT -5. For instance, when driving your cheap car hire in Toronto, this is the time zone you'll experience.
Atlantic Standard Time (AST): Most of Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, part of Quebec. The time difference is GTM -4.
Newfoundland Standard Time (NST): Part of Labrador and Newfoundland. The time difference here is GTM -3.
In most provinces of Canada, Daylight-Saving Time (DST) is observed.
The two official languages of Canada are English and French. About 60 per cent of the population speaks English and over 20 per cent speaks French. However, since Canada attracts the world's largest per capita immigration numbers, other languages including German, Italian, Punjabi and Chinese are also used in some areas.
Canada's electrical supply and outlets (sockets, wall plugs) are the same as those of the United States. The Canada electricity supply is 110 Volts and 60 Hertz (cycles per second). Plugs are of the flat two-pin type. European electrical appliances not fitted with dual-voltage capabilities will require a plug adaptor, which is best purchased before arrival in Canada.
While booking your cheap car hire in Canada is a great first step towards the holidays you always wanted, there are other practical things you should look into, such as exchange rates. The currency in Canada is the Canadian Dollar (CAD).
When planning your holiday with a car hire in Canada, be sure to have a look at the following websites to find out tourism office locations, places to visit and further information you may need before travelling. To know more, visit the official Canada Tourism travel site.
UK nationals do not require a Canada visa when holidaying for short periods of time, only a valid passport. Lone parents travelling with children should carry a letter of consent from the non-travelling parent, as immigration officers have the right to question children to establish if there are any child abduction concerns.
The British High Commission is located in Ottawa. For more information on UK Embassies in Canada, please visit the website provided.
Before you book your cheap car hire in Canada, it's probably worth taking a look at the above essential Canada travel information, which includes everything you need to know when planning your holiday, as well as all the arrangements you need to make before travelling.