2 Week November Holiday in Canada

TheGame7

A friend and I have decided to visit Canada for two weeks in November.

Some of the cities we have considered are Toronto, Ontario, Montreal, Edmunton, Calgary and Vancouver. We have also thought about including New York City in the trip.

I understand that there are a number of natural sights worth seeing too!

With Canada being freezing cold in November and no doubt snow covered, is this one of beauties which makes the sights more special or does it spoil it?

With Canada being so big, I don't know where to start with planning this trip. I have looked at flights, and if I was flying between London and Toronto in November I could fly for as little as £375. However, when looking at single flights from London to a destination in Canada and then a return flight to London from a different destination in Canada or even New York the prices are considerably more.

So have any of you been to Canada and able to offer some suggestions and advice?

Bananabelly

I live in Vancouver. It is unlikely it will be snowing here in November, but it will be wet and miserable. Other parts will have snow. Keep in mind that most tourist attractions start closing or reducing hours from October onwards, so you may not get to see much.
Toronto would probably still have some interesting things to see, Montreal would have the museums but not much else (it is much better in summer). I wouldn't bother with Calgary and Edmonton at all. You won't get to see many 'natural' sights such as the Rockies as the roads and parks etc will start closing, plus they are prettier when the snow is less. eg most of the Rockies still have lots of snow/glaciers in summer, everything is just covered in winter. There is also the risk of avalanches. Vancouver weather is milder but it will be wet.
You are really not going to see Canada at it's best unless you want to go skiing.
In terms of flights, you could get a normal flight in/out of one city and internal flights either with www.aircanada.com or www.westjet.com.
PS Don't know of a city called Ontrio - maybe you mean Ontario, which is a province?

ailuro2

If you're going as a tourist then November is not the best time, even the simplest of things will be closed, Niagara will be frozen, I can't imagine the cable up Sulphur mountain will be open except for skiers.

Both sides of Canada are beautiful, and are very well set up for visiting tourists in summer, and also for winter sports, but if it's scenery and wildlife you want to see then November isn't really so good.

(We have been to East and Western Canada, both times in summer, so maybe I'm biased. It is a beautiful place, Whistler is still our favourite place we have been to, the people are great and it's very welcoming to tourism without being too in your face)

flutterbyuk25

I'm going to Montreal in Dec and I have been to Toronto 3 times (although always in summer!). Both cities have underground passage ways linking all the downtown areas (shops/restaurants/offices/subway) so that you do not have to go out into the snowy streets to get to places. Toronto is a fab city in the summer but my friend who lives there says it can be bleak in winter.

NYC on the other hand is magical in Nov/Dec - been twice at that time of year.

x

TheGame7

I visited a few travel agents today and they weren't very helpful in providing information about any of the destinations whatsoever.

I have decided that I will start in Toronto (with a trip to Niagara Falls in between or at the end) and end in New York City.

As for in between, I am trying to decide one or two from Montreal, Quebec, Boston, Philadelphia or Washington. I am open to idea/suggestions.

Also, would it be better to avoid Thanksgiving or be there during it? Are there college holidays around this period?

Dave_Z

I lived in Calgary and then Banff a few years back during the winter. I certainly wouldn't waste good time or money on Calgary. It's very generic. I can barely remember anything worthwhile about my time there. Banff, on the other hand, is one of the most stunningly beautiful places i have ever been. You may get bored if you don't ski at that time of year, but it is very picturesque and i discovered some fantastic views during some exploring.

Check out WestJet for internal flights if you need any. They're a bit like a Canadian Easyjet, but they do make the whole experience very enjoyable (such as boarding flights by colour of peoples tops, etc).

Bananabelly

TheGame7 wrote: »

I visited a few travel agents today and they weren't very helpful in providing information about any of the destinations whatsoever.

I have decided that I will start in Toronto (with a trip to Niagara Falls in between or at the end) and end in New York City.

As for in between, I am trying to decide one or two from Montreal, Quebec, Boston, Philadelphia or Washington. I am open to idea/suggestions.

Also, would it be better to avoid Thanksgiving or be there during it? Are there college holidays around this period?

Montreal and Quebec will be almost shut during November, QC especially. It is a lovely place but I wouldn't bother at that time of year. Boston is more kind of on the way to NY, a fair bit of stuff there closes down after October but you should be able to do the Liberty trail museums etc so it might be worth a day or two. Philly you can do as a day trip from NY. TBH I would spend any extra time you have in NYC, it is an amazing place with never a dull moment. Haven't been to Washington but I understand the Smithsonian museums etc would be open so you might like that for a few days.

Thanksgiving in Canada is in October (second weekend) so you will miss that. Obviously it is end Nov in the US, the Friday after is called 'Black Friday' because travelling is so terrible, so if you can avoid travelling then it would be ideal. I don't think there is any college holidays then, they go straight through until Christmas apart from Thanksgiving (in Canada at least, I think US is the same).

TheGame7

Thanks for the information. I have put together a preliminary itinerary:

Tues 02-Nov-2010
London [LGW] to Toronto [YYZ]
Flight £206.71

Thurs 04-Nov-2010
Toronto to Niagara; Niagara to Toronto
$28.55 (Coach)

Sun 7-Nov-2010
Toronto to Montreal
$77.97 (Rail)

Thurs 11-Nov-2010
Montreal to Newark, New York (EWR)
£134.30

Tues 16-Nov-2010
New York (JFK) to London (LHR)
£217.30

N.B. by going on Tuesday 2nd rather than later in the week we get weekends (Fri/Sat) in Toronto and New York.

Any comments much appreciated. Also, is it worth spending one of the days in NYC day tripping to Philadelphia?

Bananabelly

You have a lot of time in Toronto and Montreal (which, as I said, will have limited options. I have no idea how you will fill four days in November in Montreal) and only four days in NY? You could easily fill a couple of weeks there. If that's all the time you have in NY I wouldn't bother going to Philly. However I would recommend you do Toronto for 3 days (one day for Niagara), Montreal (if you must) for a maximum of 2 days and the rest of the time in NYC.

blindman

Bananabelly wrote: »

You have a lot of time in Toronto and Montreal (which, as I said, will have limited options. I have no idea how you will fill four days in November in Montreal) and only four days in NY? You could easily fill a couple of weeks there. If that's all the time you have in NY I wouldn't bother going to Philly. However I would recommend you do Toronto for 3 days (one day for Niagara), Montreal (if you must) for a maximum of 2 days and the rest of the time in NYC.

I agree with Bananbelly (thank heavens there's not an Avatar:D)

Toronto 3 days (inc one day for Niagra)

Montreal (Personally I'd do Boston) 2 days

Washington (Must do) 3 days

New York the rest.

Philly is a posssible (long) day trip from New York and has the liberty bell and associate square. Easy train travel or coach (IIRC)

Hope you're going to use Priceline

TheGame7

Thanks for the replies. I think it is fair to say that my flights into Toronto and out of New York are decided upon. However, I am flexible on the in between.

I have taken on board what you have said about Montreal and if I was to reduce my time there, I could bring forward an internal flight to Philadelphia/New York and then spend more time in New York City. However, if I wanted to do Boston, would I need another internal flight from there to New York?