Travel Tips
Customs and Immigration
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is a new U.S. law that requires all travellers to present a valid passport or other appropriate secure document when entering or re-entering the United States. Click here for more information.
Visitors from all other countries must possess a passport or a travel visa and should contact the nearest
Canadian Consulate or Embassy for more information.
Banking and Currency
Traveller's cheques and credit cards are accepted at most commercial establishments, banks and currency exchange offices. Banking hours are generally 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday; some banks are open Saturdays. Most automated teller machines (ATMs) accept one or more of the following networks: Interac, Cirrus or Plus. They are found at banks and in most retail areas.
Taxes
Alberta is the only province in Canada with no Provincial Sales Tax (PST). However, it has a four per cent tourism levy on hotel rooms and a five per cent, Canada-wide, Goods & Services Tax (GST). Non-residents of Canada can claim GST rebates on short-term accommodations and most purchases to be taken out of the country. Keep your receipts if you wish to apply for a GST rebate. Simply pick up a copy of Tax Refund Application for Visitors at any Customs office when you fly into Alberta, or at most Tourism Information Centres, duty-free shops, and some hotels. For further information, please visit the
Canada Revenue Agency website or within Canada call 1-800-66-VISIT; outside Canada, call (902) 432-5608.
Health and Travel Insurance
Alberta's health-care plan does not cover out-of-province visitors. Clarify your coverage with your personal insurance carrier before entering Alberta as you may wish to obtain additional health insurance before coming to Alberta. Contact your local travel agent for further details.
Highway Travel
Alberta is accessible from the east and west by two officially designated Trans-Canada routes. Hwy 1 crosses Alberta in the South and the Trans-Canada Yellowhead Hwy (Hwy 16) crosses Central Alberta. Northbound travel is provided on Hwy 2, the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, or you may want to take the scenic route through the mountain parks on the spectacular Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93).
Metric Conversion
Canada uses the metric system. All highway and traffic indicators are in km and km/h, gas is sold by the litre, temperature is measured in Celsius, and the electrical current is 110 volts.
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1 kilometre = 0.62 miles
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100 km/h = 62 m.p.h.
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3.8 litres = 1 gallon
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Temperature 25°C = 77°F
Tipping
The average tip in Canada is 15 per cent. However, depending on the level and the nature of the service, tipping may range from 10 per cent to more than 20 per cent. Tips are generally given for good service by food and beverage servers in bars and restaurants, taxi drivers, tour guides and hotel bellman.
U.S. Ports of Entry
International visitors driving to Canada can use any of the following ports of entry:
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Aden, Alberta/Whitlash, Montana
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Carway, Alberta/Peigan, Montana
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Del Bonita, Alberta/Del Bonita, Montana
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Wild Horse, Alberta/Wild Horse, Montana
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Coutts, Alberta/Sweetgrass, Montana
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Chief Mountain, Alberta/Chief Mountain, Montana
