Toronto: MGF Savvy Travel Tips

So you’ve planned how to get there and where to stay. But when you get there – wow, who knew there was all those “little things” to consider. Enter our Savvy Travel Tips. Here we give you a few tips that may have been missteps during our travels or would have made life a little easier if we only knew!

Research Materials: We hit the bookstore a mere two hours after booking the arrangements. As far as researching a new destination goes, Lenny and I always do the “separate but equal” thing. By this we mean that we do our own separate research and then come to the table to create a suitable itinerary. I know, I know…planning kills that bohemian spirit of just going out and experiencing things. But let’s face it – people get lazy. If most people left everything to chance, they would have spent $1300 to sit around a hotel room avoiding the experience the city has to offer!

We’re big Fodor’s fans, so it’s no surprise that when we hit the check-out line at the bookstore, we had both purchased a different Fodor’s guide a piece. Lenny went the traditional route with the Fodor’s Toronto 2007 ($16.95, U.S.), published in February of this year. If you’ve never used Fodor’s or are a first time traveler, I highly recommend them as your encyclopedic guide. Fodor’s does a great job breaking down the neighborhoods and sights into bite sized pieces to help make the most of your time. I reached for Fodor’s Toronto’s 25 Best 2006 ($11.95, U.S.). Having never been to Toronto, I wanted to know right away what was worth seeing. And best of all, it had a foldout map. This allowed us to see where our hotel was and plan from there.

That foldout map was well and good during planning, but it proved to be our downfall during the trip. Sadly, it wasn’t until Day 3 we finally picked up a Toronto Pop-Up Map by Compass Maps. These little guys are the best! They’re pocket-sized and have a laminated cover. The easy pop-up and fold-up design takes the hassle away from walking and navigating at the same time. And at $6.95 CAD, a steal!

Travel Documentation: Both of us were in possession of our passports prior to our trip, so documentation was not a problem. But the question this year seems to be: To Passport or not to passport? If you have the time to apply and receive it, DO IT. The government has been going back and forth so often due to delays, the rules of the game change frequent. As of this original posting, U.S. citizens are not required to have a passport to re-enter the U.S. However, you do need to meet the old minimum requirements to show proof of citizenship. This all changes in January 2008. But since things change so quickly, check with the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs before making any decisions.

Cold Hard…Loonies: The official currency in Canada is the Canadian Dollar (CAD). With exception of the $1 (“loonies”) and $2 (“toonies”) CAD coins, the terminology/numeric value is pretty much the same (nickel, dimes, etc.). In the past, the U.S. had enjoyed a great exchange rate. When I spent 3 weeks in Canada on business back in 2001, I hardly made a dent in my expense report with an almost 2 to 1 ratio! In 2007, the exchange rate is now about even. As always, check the exchange rate at least 3-days from departure to avoid any surprises.


You Think We Have it Bad: We are so spoiled! Here in the U.S., we pay a singular sales tax on purchased goods. In Canada, they hit you TWICE. First, you have a 7% Goods and Services Tax (GST). On top of that, you have the provincial sales tax. In this case, Ontario charges an additional 8% for Provincial Sales Tax. It does make a simple lunch for two look a bit daunting, but thankfully Toronto’s retail prices aren’t considered astronomical to begin with.

Paper or Plastic: Since Canada and U.S. have such an even exchange rate, both currencies are accepted throughout the city. So don’t feel so bad if all you can pull out is a Washington versus a Loonie. Debit and credit cards are widely accepted (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express), but T.O. is not as familiar with the concept of “cash back” through debit transactions. Ask before you run the transaction!

If you do want cash – don’t go to the exchange houses. No exchange rate in the world will compensate for the additional fees they’ll charge you. Luckily, there are ATMs available. But, as we discovered on our first day in the city, just because it’s an ATM doesn’t mean it’s going to take your card. Pay attention to the logos on the back of your ATM card (i.e. Interlink, Plus, STAR). If you can’t match one of those to the ATM you’re staring at…you’re not going to liberate cash from it willingly. Your best bet is to find an ACTUAL bank ATM. We became very familiar with the RBC machine at the border of Chinatown! Not sure if you’re dealing with an above board bank? Familiarize yourself with their biggest names before taking off for the Great White North.

Also bear in mind that your bank will charge you a conversion transaction fee for converting your payment from CAD to USD when it clears your account. Check with your bank for details on how they charge this rate. In my case, I was charged an additional .16 to .96 per transaction.

Driving: Good news – the rules are generally the same. Right turns on reds are permitted, seat belts are required, and Canadians jay-walk as much as Americans do. Signage is prevalent and easy to see on the expressways. On our way to Niagara, we discovered that Ontario driver’s suffer from two plagues: Tailgating and Unexpected Lane Changes. These are such big problems that there are advertisements on their electronic marquees along the expressways. Follow at a safer than normal difference. And remember: It’s metric…so, when you’re screaming “I’m going 120, damn it!” you’re really only going about 70 MPH.

Drive It or Hoof It: As I said previously – we are not usually car renting travelers. And taxis are either strictly to and from the airport, or a splurge. We usually rely on public transportation or our own two feet on vacation. But if you’re planning on traveling outside downtown Toronto, it’s probably best to look into rental. As for the rest of the city – we have been told that the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is quite efficient and widespread. We thought we were going to make frequent use of it, but the itinerary we chose were all walkable distances. Despite the size of it’s metro area, Toronto is truly a great walking city and if you can take advantage of that (and have a good pair of walking shoes), you’ll be glad you decided to hoof it.

Next Post: Time for the fun! MGF Travel reviews Toronto area attractions, restaurants, shopping, and hotel.