Canada trip - advice please ?

Silvera

I'm considering heading to Canada in mid to late October for 5-10 days.

Currently considering heading to Toronto, then taking in Niagra Falls and whatever sites are easy to travel to in that area.

Question(s) -

- Has anybody here been to Toronto ?
- Nice city ? ....Much to see/do there ?
- Weather in October ?
- Other sites within day trip distance from Toronto (or even overnight distance)?
- Recommend any particular travel agent/company to book with ?
...or should I consider an escorted tour ?


My budget is up to c.€1000.
(I've seen flights advertised for €249, and a 6 day escorted tour from €589 (thou tour is based on two sharing ......whereas I travelling solo )

All tips / advice re Canada welcome.

(I previously considered heading to France or some european country for my hols, but they just don't appeal to me at the moment the way Canada does .........maybe that's because I didn't get to see Canada (as hoped!) on my Oz/NZ/Cook Island/L.A. trip last year )

Cheers,
Silvera.

secret_squirrel

Just a suggestion but you can get some fantastic early season skiing in Banff if thats your thing - Calgary is nearest airport.

Also Vancouver (other coast from where you want) is a brilliant city.

Try looking for a long haul budget airline called zoom that had some excellent deals via the uk.

Silvera

Thanks for the advice.

However, skiing is not 'my cup of tea'. I tried it in New Zealand last year and didn't like it :eek:

Anybody else here been to Canada ?

michaelanthony

I went to Toronto. It was a boring and a bit clinical. The CN tower is good but that's about it. Montreal is much more interesting with REALLY good restaurants and nightclubs and shopping. Those french know how to live. I went to Ottawa but that was bit crap. The parliament buildings were nice but that's all. I'd like to have gone to Quebec cos I everyone I met said that it was nice but I didn't have the time.

por

michaelanthony wrote:

I went to Toronto. It was a boring and a bit clinical. The CN tower is good but that's about it. Montreal is much more interesting with REALLY good restaurants and nightclubs and shopping. Those french know how to live. I went to Ottawa but that was bit crap. The parliament buildings were nice but that's all. I'd like to have gone to Quebec cos I everyone I met said that it was nice but I didn't have the time.

Have to agree that Montreal is a great city, if i was going to Canada that would be my 1st stop, would not even bother with Toronto.
If you like the country side that time of year in North American is awash with the colour of the changing seasons.

I'd also recommend Halifax, Nova Scotia, a great small city, about the size of Galway with lots of history.
It has a very 'celtic' fell to it due to a large number of Scots settlers.
The costal drives in Nova Scotia are brilliant also, and that time of year they will be even better with the falling leaves.

Oh and the waether is great that time of year getting a little cooler after summertime but very dry.

solice

michaelanthony wrote:

I went to Toronto. It was a boring and a bit clinical. The CN tower is good but that's about it. Montreal is much more interesting with REALLY good restaurants and nightclubs and shopping. Those french know how to live. I went to Ottawa but that was bit crap. The parliament buildings were nice but that's all. I'd like to have gone to Quebec cos I everyone I met said that it was nice but I didn't have the time.

Ditto.
Toronto is dull dull dull! There is absolutely nothing to do there. The CN tower and the skydome are its only tourist attractions and they aint exactly rocking the kasba. Niagra falls are ok....you can of get sick looking at them after a while. Its one of those things that you imagine will be great to see one day adn then you see it and you kind of wonder what all the whipe was about.

Is Montreal not the capital of Quebec?

Roddy23

Would have to agree witht the above views. Stayed in Toronto for about 3 months, 2 years ago. I loved the place but that was becasue I was away with mates, and it was my first proper time away from Ireland.
Just to compare, when we were in Toronto it wasa bit dull, but then we went to Montreal for a week, and the place was hopping.
If yer only going for a short while I'd recommend Montreal.
As it is much more of a party city.
If ye want to see the Niagara Falls, then Toronto is the place to go.
If ye do decide to go to toronto I'd recommend that ye take a trip to one of the Bluejays games, just so ye camn say ye seen one of the baseball games.

por

solice wrote:

Is Montreal not the capital of Quebec?

It might be but there is also a city called Quebec City further north that is supposed to be more French that Montreal.
I have not been there but people have told me that it is samller than Montreal, not a lively but more romantic, and more French.

secret_squirrel

por wrote:

more French.

And thats a good thing?

Silvera

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

I like the countryside - and would love to do some travelling in the Canadian countryside !

Thing is though, I'm not keen on hiring a car ...... but would there be an alternative way to see a lot of countryside in c.7-10 days without hiring my own 'wheels'?

por

Silvera wrote:

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

I like the countryside - and would love to do some travelling in the Canadian countryside !

Thing is though, I'm not keen on hiring a car ...... but would there be an alternative way to see a lot of countryside in c.7-10 days without hiring my own 'wheels'?

Try the railway http://www.viarail.ca

yeraulone

I lived in Toronto for the past year and couldn't wait to get out of the place. Very dull and boring.

definitely try and head for Vancouver or Montreal.