Baggage rules can vary widely from one carrier to the next.  If you are planning a trip that involves multiple airlines, it is important to be aware of the luggage restrictions of each one before you embark on your journey. This is especially true if your trip is not ticketed all the way through to the end, but involves separate airline tickets for different parts of your itinerary.  

Finding out at the counter mid-trip, that your bag is overweight according to that airline's rules, can be VERY costly.

Click here for a handy baggage calculator that covers a number of different airlines.  

The wise traveller knows his limits...this is true for baggage restrictions too.  Check your airline's rules regarding baggage!

Call Home

Click here to access the Canada Direct Site for the full story.

EMBASSIES & CONSULATES

EMBASSIES & CONSULATES AROUND THE WORLD

Need to find an embassy or consulate?  Click here to access the Canadian Government site with easily searchable information  on all of them and plenty of other really great information for travellers.

HEALTH & SAFETY

HEALTH INFO FOR YOUR TRAVEL SAFETY

Before you travel, especially if you are an adventure seeker, or plan to visit some exotic locals, it is a good idea to check with your doctor regarding any health considerations that your trip might entail.

Here are also some great websites that can help to answer your questions.  Just click on the highlighted words below to access them.

This Government of Canada site contains excellent information on a broad range of health and safety concerns.

The Public Health Agency of Canada, has a really excellent searchable page that lets you look at the health requirements for vaccinations, food and water concerns in the country you are visiting and tells you about any infectious or potentially hazardous health conditions you may want to know about. 

The Canadian Travel Health Clinics page has all kinds of great advice and will tell you where to find the nearest Travel Health Clinic to where you live in Ontario.

411 Vaccines has more information regarding vaccinations and general travel health.

Web MD gives you 25 ways to STAY HEALTHY while you are travelling.

PACKING TIPS

HELPFUL HINTS

To access these useful sites, please click on the highlighted text.

1. If you are a "Checklist" kind of traveller, here's a great one to help with all those details you want to keep note of. 
2. To see all of the official rules regarding what you can take on board, what can go into your suitcase, and what needs to stay home, CATSA is terrific.
3. 10 RULES of Intelligent Packing, brought to you by the people that go to all kinds of places...National Geographic's The Good Traveller.
4. Packing for Kids?  This one can help.

PETS

FIDO LIKES TO FLY

If you are thinking of bringing a pet home to Canada, click here to see what Canada Customs has to say.  They cover everything from cats and dogs to spiders!

If you are taking your pet out of the country, there are also some things to know.  This covers the documentation you need, and much more.

For some tips for travelling with your pet, have a look at this CTV News Article from February 2012.

Each airline has it's own set of rules regarding the transport of animals.  Both Air Canadaand West Jetwill transfer many kinds of animals.  

SECURITY TIPS

WHAT TO EXPECT AT SECURITY

Airport security screenings are for your protection. While they have become much more stringent and onerous sine 9/11, knowing what to expect can make the experience easier.  

Click here to see a video showing how to speed through Security lineups at the airport.

Wondering about how long it will take to get through Security?  Click here for wait times at Canadian airports. Don't let your flight leave without you while you are stuck in an endless security line.

SURVIVING LONG FLIGHTS

LONG FLIGHTS, LONG NIGHTS

Long flights can pose significant problems and discomfort.  For some ideas on how to survive them, click here.

TRAVEL ADVISORIES

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

No matter where in the world you plan to go, this site will keep you informed of the political situation, the history, culture, safety concerns you should bear in mind while visiting, and whether there are any recent incidents that might preclude a visit or require special precautions.

For Country Travel Advice and Advisories, click here.

TRAVELLING WITH KIDS

TIPS, HELPFUL INFO & ADVICE

Travelling with Kids?  We can definitely help you with the planning phase of your trip.

First a few general rules of thumb to help maintain your sanity and have fun when travelling with kids:

1. Keep your plans simple. Complicated trips with many activities tend to wear everyone down quickly, sapping good humour and energy.
2. If at all possible stick to direct non-stop flights. The less time needed to get from point A to point B the better. Transferring between terminals or flights in mid-itinerary, can be a headache you don’t need with both bags and children to look after.  
3. Always plan to leave extra time no matter what part of your trip you are considering. The last thing you want to do is have to make a mad dash to catch your flight with the little ones in tow.  That’s not a great way to start (or end) a fun family adventure.

In addition, below we offer some websites that we really liked.  They’re packed with lots of good information on a variety of “child travel” issues.  Just click on the highlighted words to view.

1. This Canadian Government Site offers information on a broad range of family related travel topics including clear advice regarding the Letter of Consent single parents need when travelling with their children,  information on international adoption,  and giving birth abroad.
2. Check this one for helpful tips on how to pack for kids…it even includes some coupons.
3. The well-known UK paper, The Guardian posted their “50 Top Tips for Travelling with Kids”, a few years ago now.  They’re still worth a look.
4. Toronto’s, Globe and Mail, published an article last year entitled, “The Unexpected Joys and Wonders of Travelling with Kids”.  Have a read for some interesting insights, experiences, and a great antidote for all the angst that some may feel about undertaking a more exotic trip with a youngster or two.
5. For more angst antidote, this one lays it out as, “10 tips to prevent the kids from ruining your holiday!”
6. Depending upon the airline you will travel with, there may also be special rules and/or advice you should be aware of:

• Air Canada
• Westjet
• Air Transat

VISAS - Need one?

WHERE CAN I GET ONE?

The first step in making travel arrangments is to, check and ensure that your passport is valid and is up-to-date.  Most countries now need your passport to be valid for at least six (6) months beyond the date of your expected return to Canada.

Depending upon which citizenship you hold, and which country's passport you plan to travel on, your chosen destination may require you to purchase a visa in order to grant you entrance. Be sure to tell us about your citizenship situation so that we can advise you correctly.  

If you live in Ottawa, it can be a relatively simple matter to visit the embassy of the country you plan to visit and apply there for the required visa. Sometimes this can be somewhat time-consuming or daunting prospect.  If you need help with visa applications, CIBTVisas is a reliable and trustworthy source of assistance.  

VOLTAGE – Plug it in

CAN I PLUG IT IN?

If you are wondering about what the electrical current is in the countries on your travel itinerary, this is a great site to check.  Click here to search for your destination and find out the wattage, the type of converter you might need, where to check for the wattage and voltage information on your appliance, and all kinds of information to help you decide about whether it is good to take with you on your travels.

WORLD CLOCK – What time is it there?

WHAT TIME IS IT AT DESTINATION?

It can be confusing to figure out exactly what time it will be at your chosen destination.  Flight itineraries and air tickets are always written in the time of the country wherever your flight is, and not from your home country.

This site allows you to find out what time it is now in most major cities on the planet.  Check it out!  (just click on the highlighted words above.)

WEATHER AROUND THE GLOBE

WHAT IS THE WEATHER WHERE YOU ARE GOING?

Need to know about weather trends where your travel plans are taking you?

Check out this very informative site.

Just enter your destination and travel dates to gather all kinds of interesting weather data.

WORLD CURRENCY EXCHANGE – Bank of Canada

WHAT IS THE EXCHANGE RATE WHERE I AM GOING?

Whenever we travel to a foreign country, it becomes important to understand how much our money will be worth.  This Bank of Canada site allows you to review currency exchange rates anywhere in the world.  Further, you can even look back over a period of the last ten years to see what the rates were...just in case you missed filing that travel expense claim!