Canada - how much spending money?

[igotdemons]

Long time lurker here preparing to go on her first holiday abroad so I was hoping to get some much needed advice from all you experienced travellers out there

DH and I just booked 2 weeks in Canada as we have both always wanted to go there but never did anything about it before now. We'll be going to Vancouver, Banff, Montreal, Quebec, Ottawa, Toronto and Niagara so really seeing as much of Canada as we can in such a short time in a such a massive country.

What I am wondering is - how much spending money we will need if we'll only need it for food for the 2 weeks, tipping and anything we'll want to buy over there (all travel etc. is included in the holiday cost)? We have budgeted for £4,000 but I think £2,000 would be enough or am I being naive?

I'll happily take any other tips for travelling to and in Canada you may have to offer, too

I would go higher than £2k as I expect there are quite a lot of activities/sight seeing type things that you will want to do - especially at Niagara - I'm not sure if you would need as much as £4K though....i would go for £3K

I know it is not what you asked, but Canada is a massive country and you have a lot of places on your itinerary. It sounds like you will be spending every second day in an airport. And it sounds exhausting. If you can cut down your trip to 3-4 places, you might enjoy it a lot more.
Food and drinks are expensive but you can use credit cards everywhere. 3k is probably enough. I agree that 4k sounds like a lot.

Thanks for your replies.

It will be a really hectic holiday with lots of travelling but it was the best way to see as much of Canada as possible. There isn't just one particular part we want to see so this is a way of seeing a little bit of it all and if there is a particular part we really like we can have a holiday there in the future if funds allow.

We have booked and paid for particular trips and activities (like helicopter trips over the Rockies and Niagara Falls) so it is literally just food, tipping and anything we might want to buy and bring back with us.

If you keep receipts you can claim back the GST I think it is called like VAT on stuff you buy

Deffo need to go to TIM HORTONS for doughnuts and TIMBITS (boxes of tiny doughnuts) IMHO deffo better than any doughnuts in this country

Their coffee is supposed to be good too but I don't drink coffee so don't have any experience of that

They are all over Canada

I had my first trip there this year and it's absolutely beautiful. I was staying get with a friend so didn't need much money so can't help there but you will love it, I'm sure. A truly wonderful place.

Have you booked MAID OF THE MIST too also go behind the falls into the caves

CN Tower revolving restaurant also the Toronto island gives great view of city

You can go cheap or expensive with food etc so easy to budget with loads of places to eat everywhere

Montreal and Quebec are very very French as in they really appreciate you trying to speak French

I lived and worked for 3 years just outside Toronto and went to Ottawa and Montreal for weekend breaks

Ottawa is quite small for a capital city but very interesting

Love Canada

Hi RT,

re your comment:-
"If you keep receipts you can claim back the GST I think it is called like VAT on stuff you buy"

The Canadian government unfortunately stopped that (lovely) scheme several years back. The visitor rebate program for GST/HST was replaced on April 1, 2007, with the Foreign Convention and Tour Incentive Program (FCTIP).

A non-resident visitor to Canada may be eligible to claim a GST/HST rebate on certain purchases related to conventions or for tour packages under the FCTIP. The FCTIP provides Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) rebates on certain property and services used during conventions held in Canada, and on the accommodation portion of tour packages for non-residents.

The Maid of the Mist boat ride is always worth doing but Niagara itself is very commercialised. You can stand on their glass floor at the top of the CN Tower.

I wouldn't spend a huge amount of time at Niagara - as above, a very commercialised honeymoon spot and once you've seen the falls and done the boat that's pretty much it! Like RTKangaMummy, I lived in Ontario (Toronto) for a while - just personal opinion but while I loved Montreal and Quebec, Ottawa just seemed pretty dull and I wouldn't spend much time there either (as above, just my opinion though and maybe I didn't see the best of it!). Like here, you can spend as much (or little) on food as you want to. As a Charity Fundraiser I had $0 a lot of the time and lived off street vendor vegetarian hot dogs (much nicer than they sound!).

Tim Horton coffee is rank.

Exchange rate is great atm so you will get a lot of dollar for your pounds.
Disagree with poster who said montreal is very very French. I grew up there and you can have a lovely holiday without having to speak french, especially in the downtown core and touristy areas.