Going to Canada...

MattDWebb

Hi everyone,

In a couple of weeks time I am moving to Toronto to work for 6 months (from the UK), but I haven't been further than France before and not for more than 2 weeks! There are a couple of things which I know next to nothing about and I'm hoping there may be someone who may know a thing or two about my it:

Firstly, my mobile phone is past its best so I really need to get a new one anyway but it has been 6 years is since I bought a phone (I told you it was past its best! ) and I have never needed to use one abroad, so I'm a bit stumped.

What's the best idea for me here? I'll be looking for the cheapest and simplest pay as you go type phone that will it work in Canada (but with good battery life!). Can I get one here or should I wait and get one there? I will want it to work in the UK when I get back! I'll mainly be using it for texting to organise meeting people and as a point of contact if people need to ring me. Essentially I don't want to buy two phones when I can get just one!

Secondly (and not so much to do with saving money so feel free to ignore this bit!) does anyone know what the deal with Electronics/mains power is in Canada? I really need to be able to use my laptop while I'm there - can I just buy a converter and plug it in or will I need to buy a new power supply?

Jem8472

I would say getting a triband phone would work in Canada. I think you can buy a sim card out there that will better than using a uk sim card. I think the phone would have to be unlocked before you use another sim card.

I would say try posting on trip advisor in the Toronto forum. They have local people that post on there. Be able to help with lots of questions you might have.

As for the laptop you should just be able to look on the black box inbetween the plug and laptop and that should tell you what power it will take going in. I think most things now work between 110v-240v Just need a travel adaptor (or a few depending how many thing you might want to use at the same time)

maz123_2

Hello,
You'll be fine i'm sure and if your going through work everyone will be trying to help you settle in.
I'm flying to toronto in a couple of weeks for a holiday (Niagra Falls etc) so if you want to meet up give us a PM
Enjoy the adventure!!!:rotfl:

angel

You can find out about just about everything to do with moving to and living in Canada at the British Expats site. The people on there are amazing, so helpful and they seem to know everything! It's helped me no-end with moving there.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=56

Jem8472

I would love to live in Toronto, lovelly city. But I wouold love to live in Niagara on the lake. Thats at a great little town.
Maz123 you really have to make sure you go to Niagara on the lake if you get a chance!
http://www.notl.org/siteengine/activepage.asp?bhcp=1

MattDWebb

Jem8472 wrote: »

I would say getting a triband phone would work in Canada. I think you can buy a sim card out there that will better than using a uk sim card. I think the phone would have to be unlocked before you use another sim card.

I would say try posting on trip advisor in the Toronto forum. They have local people that post on there. Be able to help with lots of questions you might have.

As for the laptop you should just be able to look on the black box inbetween the plug and laptop and that should tell you what power it will take going in. I think most things now work between 110v-240v Just need a travel adaptor (or a few depending how many thing you might want to use at the same time)

Thanks! Any Tri-band phones you would recommend? I'd be going for minimum cost possible! I'm very unknowledgeable when it comes to phones, but today I heard about sim-free phones, would one of those make it easier?

maz123 wrote: »

Hello,
You'll be fine i'm sure and if your going through work everyone will be trying to help you settle in.
I'm flying to toronto in a couple of weeks for a holiday (Niagra Falls etc) so if you want to meet up give us a PM
Enjoy the adventure!!!:rotfl:

I hope it all goes to plan! I'm not strictly going through work unfortunately - as I'm sure that make things much easier! I'm going on a temporary working visa with BUNAC until October when I go back to Uni - the plan is to work in an area related to my MSc but that's 100% guaranteed. Either way I will get a chance to live & work in Canada which I'm really looking forward to! If I've managed to settle down and sort stuff out in time then it could be cool to meet up! If I've got internet access I'll check the forum and send you a PM if I get the chance.:beer:

angel wrote: »

You can find out about just about everything to do with moving to and living in Canada at the British Expats site. The people on there are amazing, so helpful and they seem to know everything! It's helped me no-end with moving there.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=56

Cool! That's a really helpful site, I'll post my questions on there too. Thanks!:T

Jem8472

No phones I would really recommed depends what you like. I like samsungs but a lot of people say that Nokia is the easiest to use (never had one)

But yes a sim free phone would be good because then you can just buy a PAYG sim out there (I think)