Style & Culture |

Bon Voyage

Wanna see something new, but don't own Fort Knox? Don't worry - I see an international adventure in your future.

By Pattie Barry

Posted on Monday, February 27th, 2006, 12:00 am

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It’s one week before spring break, and you know you don’t want to spend our two weeks academia-free on mom and dad’s couch. At the same time, you’re operating on a work-study budget and can’t dish out for the cruise to Cancun. In the meantime, you’re eyeing Boston or Portland as a potential day-trip destination, but haven’t you been there 500 gazillion times already?

Don’t worry. I see an international road trip in your future.

I’m sick of New England

Despite the fact that we Mainers are painfully close to the Canadian border, I find that many students only consider going south when it’s time for a vacation. While Boston might be the largest metropolis within a six-hour radius, it certainly isn’t the only place to go. There are many Canadian cities which are not only closer but offer way more in both culture and price.

Maybe you’ve lived in New England all your life; maybe you’ve only been here since you started at UMaine. Even though we Mainers pride ourselves in our unique attitude, you have to admit it can be pretty homogeneous up here. We all root for the same Boston sports teams, we all drink at Irish pubs and we all shop at Wal-Mart.

In less than three hours, you can go somewhere that has a completely separate linguistic and political climate. Not to mention, there’s more stuff to do.

It’s all about the money

Taking a trip to Canada might not be as cheap as it was five years ago, but your dollar definitely goes further there than it does down south. At the current exchange rate, every American dollar gets an extra 15 cents on the Canadian dollar. Make sure that you exchange your cash at the bank, because you get a better deal there than you do through a credit card or an exchange service. Also, it’s best to exchange in the largest amount you think you will use, because most exchange services charge a flat rate as opposed to a percentage.

There are some services, though, that cost a bit more in Canada. The taxes on gasoline, tobacco and alcohol can seem staggering to the U.S. citizen. A pack of cigarettes is about $10 CAD, and a fifth moderate-range liquor costs about $15 CAD. Don’t try to save any money by buying these products before you enter the country, however – they’ll make you pay taxes at customs, on top of the taxes you already paid in the States.

Canadians pay roughly 150 percent of the price that Americans pay for gasoline. It’s in liters, so even though they might pay about $1 CAD per unit, it is actually much more expensive than our $2.50 per gallon.

Make sure you fill your gas tank several miles before you cross the border – the closer you get the U.S. side of the border, the more expensive the gasoline is. If you have a gasoline-efficient car and fuel up before you cross, you can probably get away with never filling up in Canada when traveling to Quebec or St. John.

But don’t let the taxes get you down – the taxes you pay on lodging can be completely refunded to you on your return trip home, assuming that you fill out the proper paperwork and spend at least $200 CAD staying in the hotel. And, even if you don’t spend that much on this trip, you can file for a return at the end of the calendar year with the total costs of other stays.

Crossing the border

So are you sold? The hardest part of your journey will be crossing the border – and for the rest of this year, you don’t need a passport to do it.

Make sure you bring with you your drivers’ license, or another state or government-issued photo identification card. The Canadian Embassy recommends that you also bring proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

If you have a criminal record, including some misdemeanors like operating under the influence, there are restrictions as to whether or not you can enter the country. Also, if you aren’t an American citizen, there may be other requirements to cross at the border. In either case, make sure to call that specific border crossing and check first. Nothing feels worse then getting psyched up to go on a trip, driving 2 hours, and then getting rejected at the border.

Try to avoid bringing alcohol, tobacco or firearms, because there are special requirements and taxes bringing certain items into the country. And – obviously – don’t bring anything illegal.

French vs. fish

So you know you want to go. You’ve got everything ready. Now, the ultimate question: Where?

You can head west, to the province of Quebec – pronounced KAY-BEC by the natives – or you can drive east to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. West, you get the trendy French-European bars and clubs; go east and you’ll feel the salty spray of great shopping and seafood restaurants. Quebec City and St. John are both relatively close, but offer dramatically different venues for both shopping and entertainment.

Of course, if you don’t speak French you’ll have a much easier time in the Maritime Provinces. However, as most people who have visited our north-westerly neighbors will tell you, a large of the Quebecois speak English, especially in the food service and tourism industries. Montreal in particular has two English-speaking universities, McGill and Concordia. If you’re patient, you should have no problem with your ninth-grade French.

So grab that road map and get off mom and dad’s couch. And, don’t forget the best reason to go to Canada: tasty, tasty poutine.