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General Info about Vancouver, Canada |
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Currency
The currency used in Canada is the Canadian dollar. At the moment it is worth around US$0.60 which is good news for anyone travelling across the border from the States into Canada. The reason for this is that although changing American money gives you almost fifty per cent more Canadian dollars, the price of most goods in Canada is the same as in the US, in other words a book which costs US$10 in the States will also cost ten Canadian dollars. The only catch with this is that sales taxes are extremely high. There are no dollar bills, the lowest note is five dollars, so dollars and two dollars come in brass coins.
Language
English is Vancouver’s official language.
Climate
Vancouver enjoys a moderate climate which means winter is mild and wet and summer is never unbearably hot. July and August are the hottest and driest months to visit but there is absolutely no guarantee that it won’t rain at this time of year too. December and January are generally the coldest months and the only ones with significant snowfall. Nevertheless, there is never that much snow in the city itself.
Time Zone
Vancouver operates on Pacific time which is eight hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. Daylight saving time applies between April and October.
Opening Hours
Shops in Vancouver generally open between 10.00am and 6.00pm from Monday to Saturday but many are now open on Sundays too, particularly the bigger department stores and those aimed directly at tourists. Banks are open from 10.00am until 5.00pm from Monday to Thursday and from 10.00am until 6.00pm on Fridays. Many of the bigger banks are also open until lunch-time on Saturday.
Electricity
The electrical current used in Vancouver is the same as that in the US, 110 to 115 volts.
Tax
Since 1991, there has been a 7% tax (GST) on virtually all goods and services in Canada. In certain shops and hotels this tax is included in the stated price, others add it on separately. The good news for visitors is that you can eventually claim back this tax once it is over $C7 and you file the claim within a year of purchase. To do this, you need to submit your receipts with an application form which you can get in some of the larger hotels and duty free shops or by calling 613 991 33 46 from outside Canada or 800 66 VISIT if you are still in the country. Once you have the necessary information in order you can make claims for under C$500 at designated duty free shops in international airports, or you can post them to Revenue Canada Customs and Excise, Visitors Rebate Programme, Ottawa, ON K1A 1J5.
Visa Requirements
Visa requirements for visitors to Canada have become stricter in recent years. All people entering the country must have proof of citizenship. For US citizens and permanent US residents, a passport is not required but it is the easiest way to prove cititizenship. IF you do not have a passport you will need to carry other proofs including a social security card, a birth certificate with a photo ID or a certificate of citizenship.
For most European residents and citizens of certain other countries including Korea and Japan, you do not need a visa but you must have a passport. Entry visas are required, however, for citizens of more than 130 countries so it is worth checking this out with the Canadian consulate in your home country. They will be able to tell you if you require a visa or not and if you do, it is also here that it must be applied for and received.
Tourist Office
You will find tourist information in the Chamber of Commerce which is located in Suite 400 of the World Trade Centre at 999 Canada Place. Supernatural British Columbia Tourism also provide information and you will find their kiosks at the airport and in Eatons’s department store. Finally, you can also go to the Vancouver Travel Information Centre in the Waterfront Centre at 200 Burrard Street. All offices are open daily between 8.00am and 6.00pm.
Currency Exchange
Most tourist haunts in the city will take US dollars, but you will probably only get an exchange rate of about twenty five percent. For the best exchange rate you are recommended to change your money into Canadian currency at a bank.
Travellers’ cheques are also widely accepted. Several agencies sell them and refund you if the cheques are lost or stolen so remember to hold on to your receipts.
ATM cards which are part of the Cirrus or Plus network can be used in machines which contain the relevant sign. This service is particularly useful not only because it means you do not have to carry large sums of cash around, but the ATMs often offer exchange rates up to 5% better than the exchange rate of banks and other financial institutions. You will, however, pay a minimum charge each time you withdraw cash.
Finally, if you have a credit card, it is useful to know that all the major cards including Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted and can be used to withdraw cash from ATMs if you have the pin number.
Telephones
To call Vancouver from abroad you first dial 00, followed by 1, the local area code and the local number but it is worth noting that there are two different local area codes for the city. To call the lower mainland which includes Greater Vancouver and Whistler you need to dial 604 and for Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the interior of the province the area code is 250. If you wish to call abroad from Vancouver you need to dial 001, followed by the international calling code for your particular country and then the local number.
When using public telephones in Canada, a calling card is your most convenient and cheapest option. If you do use coins be aware that for long distance and international calls, you will be surprised at how quickly they are used up.
To make calls within the country, prepaid calling cards again are the best method. Phone rates are highest in the morning but they do get lower in the evening and at the weekend. To make the cheapest calls, however, you need to wait until Sunday or late at night, as these times offer the best rates.
Post Office
Vancouver’s main post office is located at 349 West Georgia Street and is open between 8.00am and 5.30pm from Monday to Friday. You will also find mailboxes or postal outlets in most souvenir shops and drugstores and these are recognisable by their red and white Canadian Post emblem.
Tipping
Tips or service charges in Canada are not usually added to restaurant bills and salary levels in many are based on the assumption that their staff will receive a large part of their income from tips.
The amount depends on the quality of the service but the usual tip is an average of fifteen percent and a minimum of ten. This also applies to hairdressers and taxi drivers. Porters, bellhops and similar staff at hotels, airports and railway stations are usually paid one dollar per item of luggage carried.
Public Holidays
It is worth noting what the public holidays are before you travel to a country as the majority of businesses, banks and shops usually shut for the day. In Canada they take place on January 1st, Good Friday, May 21st, July 1st, September 3rd, October 8th, November 11th and December 25th. It is a good idea to check the particular region too as certain towns and areas also shut down during special events.
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