With March Break fast approaching families are furiously making last-minute plans to get away and enjoy a little time off. It is both a popular and ideal time to either travel within Canada or outside the country, but travel doesn’t come without stress. Planning can be a nightmare, the actual travel portion of the trip can be extremely stressful with kids, and you want to be sure you’ve got the latest tips and advice at your fingertips.
With that said, here are five tips for a stress-free March Break whether travelling within Canada or leaving the country.
Do You Have Your Travel Documents in Order?
While you don’t need travel documents to travel from province to province, if you have plans to leave the country you’ll need to have the correct documents. This often includes a passport, which should be up-to-date and kept in a safe and secure location while travelling. Ideally, you should carry it close to your body and on you so that it can’t be stolen.
Planning to Cross the Land Borders - Be Prepared for Wait Times
With many border crossings between Canada and the US, road trips are often a popular choice for families. However, because of this land border crossings can have extremely long line-ups, especially at popular crossing points. You can use the Government of Canada website to check the current border wait times, allowing you to be better prepared for your journey.
Know the Most Affordable and Direct Routes in Canada
For those who plan on staying within Canada, it pays to do your research and make sure you know the fastest and most direct way to reach your destination, as well as the most cost-effective. An online tool like From To Travel can help you plan your route as it covers the top 100 destinations from Canada detailing the length of the route by car, truck, bike or foot. It takes all the stress out of route planning highlighting the fastest and cheapest options.
Book Accommodations in Advance
Because March Break is often the busiest time of year for popular tourist destinations, you want to be sure you book accommodations in advance. Waiting until you arrive and then hoping to find a vacancy is a recipe for disaster. Booking in advance can also help you get the best rate available.
Patience Will Take You Far
The final tip is to practice patience, as it will take you far. There will be lots of other families with the same idea as you, which means attractions, sites, activities and routes will be more crowded than normal. Try not to overfill your itinerary and expect things to take a little longer than when visiting in non-peak times.
With the right travel tips, some patience, and planning, you can ensure that March Break is fun and memorable for the whole family. The crowds are just part of the experience and part of the fun.
Photo source: https://pixabay.com/photos/niagara-canada-usa-waterfalls-1459676/