Say it isn't so. The Canadian government is scrapping its Visitor Goods and Services Tax refund program. This could mean that my romantic getaways across the border, not to mention my coveted shopping trips to Montreal, may be in jeopardy -- aghast -- everything will now cost 6% more, not to mention the fact that the Canadian dollar has gained value against the U.S. dollar recently making it more expensive anyway.
And spare a thought for those iconic tax rebate cum duty free stores at U.S.-Canada border crossings -- you know, the ones that sell alcohol, cute stuffed moose toys and tacky T-shirts. The only reason we ever stopped was to get our cash back and now, without the incentive, that stuffed beaver dressed as a Mountie will remain on the display shelf indefinitely.
Seriously though, your hotel room will now cost 6% more, as will pretty much everything that you buy (except food; there was never a rebate on that). Of course Canadian industry professionals and tourism stakeholders are up in arms about the decision, so if anyone from the Canadian government happens to be reading this article, I implore you: reconsider. This change comes into affect in April 2007, so what better reason could there be to head north before the change and save yourself some dollars.
Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Quebec City Packages
Maximize your Canadian getaway with a trip from Maxxim Vacations (tel. 800/567-6666; www.maxximvacations.com). It offers self-drive, escorted bus tours, city breaks and sporting getaways throughout the country. Its 2006 season is almost over for many of its packages but it's already taking bookings for 2007 trips. For example, its seven or ten-day "Newfoundland Explorer Escorted Motor-Coach Tour" takes you from the northernmost tip of the island of Newfoundland to the most easterly point in North America. Visit coastal fishing communities and take boat tours to see whales, seabirds and the occasional iceberg. The package price includes airfare from your U.S. departure city to Deer Lake, and return airfare from St. John's; seven or ten nights' accommodations, all ground transportation (except airport transfers), a tour escort, select meals and entrance to various museums and historic sites. Highlights of the ten-day trip include a guided tour of St. John's, Gros Morne National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Signal Hill National Historic Park, Port Aux Choix National Historic Site, Strait of Belle Isle ferry to and from Labrador and a Viking Feast dinner theatre. Prices are as follows:
- From Atlanta, Boston or New York: 7 days $1,919; 10 days $2,559
- From Chicago: 7 days $1,959; 10 days $2,559
- From Los Angeles: 7 days $2,019; 10 days $2,659
- From Miami: 7 days $2,189; 10 days $2,829
Departure dates in 2007 are June 12 and 26, July 10 and 24, August 7 and 21 and September 4
and 18 (for the seven-day tour) and June 9 and 23, July 7 and 21, August 4 and 18 and September 1 and 15 (for the ten-day).
For a Quebec City break, try their four-night round-trip airfare and lodging package, which lets you choose between standard and deluxe accommodations. Departures are daily throughout the year and their 2006 prices start from $769 in a standard hotel (or $1,289 in a deluxe) from New York, Boston or Atlanta; $809 (or $1,319) from Chicago; $869 ($1,389) from Los Angeles or $969 ($1,479) from Miami
Book a seven-night "Quiet and Quaint Country Inns of Nova Scotia" self-drive tour before October 15, 2006 (for travel by October 31, 2006) and save $200 per couple of these prices: $1,199 from Atlanta, $1,289 from Chicago, $1,299 from New York or Miami or $1,369 from L.A. The trip includes round-trip airfare to Halifax, seven nights' accommodations at selected bed and breakfasts and country inns, seven-day midsize car rental with unlimited mileage (or should I say kilometers), a Halifax Gray Line city tour and admission to Grand-Pre National Historic Site.
Polar Bears and Rail Tours
If there is one Canadian tour I would love to take it is this one: Freshtrack's (tel. 800/667-4744; www.freshtracks.ca) "Polar Bear Tour" in Churchill, Manitoba. The six-day excursions depart from Winnipeg between October 11 and November 17, 2006 and are priced from $3,148 to $3,326 per person based on double occupancy -- a small price to pay to get up close and personal with these majestic kings of the ice. Churchill, Manitoba is known as the "Polar Bear Capital of the World." In October and early November, polar bears congregate at nearby Cape Churchill in large numbers, waiting for the ice to form on Hudson Bay. This tour gives participants the opportunity to see these mighty creatures from the comfort and safety of a specially-designed vehicle called the Tundra Buggy. The fully escorted group tour price includes a Churchill and area tour, Eskimo Museum, Parks Canada slide presentation, one-way air transportation between Winnipeg and Churchill, VIA Rail Sleeper service between Winnipeg and Churchill one-way, three nights' accommodations in Churchill and two nights in Winnipeg, local bus tours, the Tundra Buggy tour (two full days including lunch), Churchill transfers, a group farewell dinner and 3.5% PST (tax). Airfare to Winnipeg is not included.
Freshtracks also offers a series of specialized winter train trips through Canada. Its eight-day "Canadian Rockies Winter Rail Classic" package includes six nights' accommodations with choice of superior or deluxe category rooms (two-nights in Vancouver, one in Jasper, one in Lake Louise and two in Banff), one nights' accommodations aboard VIA Rail Canada's Canadian train in Silver and Blue Class with use of dome car and lounge seating, meals onboard the Canadian (dinner and breakfast), a Vancouver sightseeing tour, Johnstone Canyon ice walk, Banff Heritage Passport, private transfer from Vancouver hotel to the train station and motor-coach transfers from Jasper to Lake Louise, Lake Louise to Banff and Banff to Calgary Airport. In between all those destinations, there should be plenty of time for some outdoor activities and winter-time recreation (downhill and cross-country skiing, dog-sledding and sleigh rides) in some of North America's best ski resorts. This trip starts in Vancouver on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from December 10, 2006 to March 28, 2007. Prices are as follows:
- December 10 to 15, 2006: standard $1,322; deluxe $1,537
- Dec 17, 2006 to Jan 3, 2007: standard $1,525; deluxe $1,837
- January 5 to 24, 2007: standard $1,322; deluxe $1,554
- Jan 26 to Mar 28, 2007: standard $1,427; deluxe $1,716
Air Specials
If you are traveling in Canada in a more independent fashion, check out the daily deals on Air Canada's website (www.aircanada.com). By definition the deals change each day and are only available for purchase until midnight on a given calendar date. For example a recent search came up with one-way fares from several cities in Florida to Canadian gateways: Tampa to Toronto for $96; Tampa to Ottawa for $103. Travel is good until December 15, 2006.
Low-cost Canadian airline WestJet (tel. 888/937-8538; www.westjet.com) flies to Canada from nine mainland U.S. cities and two departure points in Hawaii. Unfortunately their airfare sales and specials tend toward providing the discounts to Canadians (based on Canadian departure cities only) but their regular fares are still very attractive. Sample one-way, pre-tax and fee airfares for flights during the month of November, 2006 include:
- Fort Lauderdale to Toronto $119
- Tampa to Winnipeg $141
- Los Angeles to Vancouver $149
- Phoenix to Montreal $189
- Honolulu to Calgary $229
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