Tips on a Cheap and Fun Holiday in Canada

By Maria R.

My name is Maria. I am from Poland. I have been in Canada since 2006. I like travel; that means Canada is like a paradise for me. My husband, Pawel, and I already travel a lot from coast to coast in Canada. Based on our experience, I think I have a couple of useful tips which I would like to share with others. First, you have to choose the kind of transport you like. We travel by car, canoe, bicycle or RV.

Tips:

1. Hiking:

Wherever you are, you can go outside your home and walk for a couple days and enjoy the beautiful country in which we are living.

Hiking, which is completely free of charge, is good for the environment and for your body.

2. Cycling:

Bicycling doesn't cost you anything:

a) Fuel is free when we travel from city to city in the Niagara Region. Our expenses were on food, which we prepare at home anyway.

b) Travelling off-season allows you to enjoy fewer crowds and more quiet.

3. Canoeing:

a) If you want, you can buy a used canoe from Kijiji for 1/10 the cost of a new one.

b) Canoeing saves on gas because you use your muscles.

c) You don't have to stay in provincial parks or national parks because Northern Ontario offers you 1,000 lakes free of charge. Camping there is also free because nobody is there to collect a fee.

d) If you are lucky, you can catch some tasty fish for dinner.

4. Driving:

a) You have to choose a cheap car, either a diesel or a small car.

b) You can sleep in your car to save on hotels, or you can sleep in a tent at a campground.

c) You can share the gas money with friends if you car pool.

d) In provincial parks you can share a campsite with friends with 2 or 3 cars, and you can prepare your own food instead of eating out.

5. RVing:

Recreational vehicles are like homes on wheels:

a) First, you save on gas because you can share an RV with up to 8 persons.

b) Another thing is you sleep comfortably inside, so you save on hotel.

c) You save on restaurants because you have a full kitchen.

d) You can park at truck stops, where you don't have to pay anything for the parking.

e) You can be a member of Passport America, where you pay only 50% at many campgrounds in Canada, U.S.A and Mexico.

f) RVs are very kid-friendly, where they feel like home and you can bring along a lot of their favourite toys, games, etc.

The best tip: You only need a willingness to do this and have fun!