BEFORE: I had never visited Ontario or Quebec before, so I had no hands-on experience of either destination. My impression of Quebec was it would be very French and culturally rich. I thought there might be a language barrier and felt I needed to brush up on my French before visiting. I thought Ontario would be golf, golf and more golf, due to the vast number of resorts in the province. I was particularly looking forward to visiting Niagara Falls as I had been given many conflicting opinions on this ‘wonder of the world’.
AFTER: I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly everybody was in Quebec. Although French is their first language, as long as you attempt a ‘Bonjour’ or two, your efforts will be well rewarded. The province is a mixture of cosmopolitan city life and quiet rural beauty. I particularly loved Montreal and would have spent more time browsing in the underground shopping mall. Ontario was fantastic and Algonquin National Park particularly impressive. I achieved my ambition of whitewater rafting at Forrester Falls – absolutely exhilarating. Niagara Falls was more magnificent than I imagined – the Maid of the Mist boat trip is a must.
Deborah Smith, Canada 4U,Lowestoft
BEFORE: I had never been to Canada before, so my knowledge was very basic. Most of our clients visiting Canada are either seeing friends and relatives or on a fully inclusive coach tour. Although I can highly recommend the US, I’ve always thought of Canada as expensive, and that the east side didn’t have much to offer besides Niagara Falls. I thought all the scenery, sightseeing and whale watching was in the west. But Toronto has always appealed and Niagara Falls was top of my to visit list.
AFTER: Wow! I fell in love with east Canada. Montreal has fabulous shops and the best nightlife I have experienced. It’s very French, with overflowing street cafes and amazing dance bars. Quebec City is typically Canadian until you reach the centre and its bustling French quarter. The scenery is breathtaking. The people are friendly, and though French is their first language, they are eager to speak English. Ontario is a very exciting province. We finished with a boat trip around Niagara Falls – a terrific experience and great value at around £4. East Canada is a bargain. It’s safe, clean, and there’s loads to do.
Julie Sheldrick, Co-Op Travel, Ipswich
I didn’t know what to expect but I only really thought of Ontario/Quebec as offering city-break destinations like Toronto and Montreal, or as winter ski destinations. I imagined you would need to travel great distances to see everything, and the cities would be built like those in the US. When I saw my itinerary I was thrilled at all of the activities on offer: a helicopter ride over Niagara Falls; jetboating; canoeing; and scuba diving were just a few of the activities planned.
There’s definitely something for everyone. Only a couple of hours drive from cosmopolitan cities like Montreal and Toronto there are national parks larger than Wales. Everywhere is so clean and easy to get around. I thought the whole place was fantastic, from the exhilarating jetboating and whitewater rafting, to the scenic beauty of Algonquin National Park. For me, the highlight was an outdoor adventure day starting with scuba diving, followed by horse riding and kayaking. We finished the day round a campfire sitting and watching the sun set on some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen.
Claire Meadows, Lunn Poly, Borehamwood
BEFORE: I had sold tours to Canada before, but mainly to the west of the country. I didn’t know a great deal about Quebec and Ontario. I expected Quebec to be quite European. Ontario I expected to be centred on Toronto and Niagara. I’ve always thought of Canada as a winter destination for skiers and a summer destination for couples, or for customers wanting to go on coach tours. I had never given it the recognition it deserves for customers looking for an adventure holiday.
AFTER: From horse riding and kayaking in the country to clubbing in the cities, I never stopped to take a breath. There’s so much to do you really don’t stop. The national parks are so beautiful – you can hire canoes, then disappear into the wilderness to experience Canadian wildlife in its own natural habitat. The highlight for me was the stay in a log cabin – it really was going back to nature. If anyone is looking for a good-value action-packed holiday – Canada is the place to go. It’s only a 6hr flight away from the UK, and if you’ve got any sense of adventure and fancy going wild, it’s a must.
J0 Swarbrick, UNi travel, Lancaster and Morecambe college
BEFORE: I’ve not had much experience of Canada although I’ve booked many people over the years and my clients always say they had a brilliant time. I often book clients into a hotel like Le Chateau Fontenac in Quebec and Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, so I was pleased when I received the itinerary for this educational as we were staying at these very places. Although I had not been before, I felt I knew each city, having booked so many people there over the years, so I was looking forward to seeing it for myself.
AFTER: I was amazed at Montreal’s underground city where you can shop and travel from building to building without going outside. We were sampling Canada’s more mature market, so we took a trolley city tour; visited museums; had dinner on the Bateau Mouche cruise; and saw the Montreal Botanical Gardens. Quebec was also fantastic – it has excellent sightseeing tours and a river cruise – you can even visit an Indian Reserve. Ottawa, the seat of government, is a beautiful garden city, and we were spoiled once again at the Hotel Chateau Laurier.
Peter Bould, Departure Lounge Travel Agency, Great Yarmouth
BEFORE: After a half-day trip from the US some years ago, I had always wanted to return to Canada. I saw the advert for this fam trip in Travel Weekly and thought ‘Yes – this has my name written all over it!’ I was so pleased my husband and I both won the places. It’s a destination I have always sold with confidence – everybody I have sent there has had a great holiday.
AFTER: The Air Canada staff were fantastic and the service superb. We visited Montreal and Quebec first, then Ottawa, where we saw the fantastic Park Omega – a drive-through safari full of Canadian wildlife. Another highlight for me was the first-class rail journey from Ottawa to Toronto. I now have a much greater knowledge of Canada after seeing so much of it. I just loved Niagara Falls – the boat trip was a wonderful experience. Now I am home I am confident I can increase my bookings to this incredible country.
Norma Bould, Departure Lounge Travel Agency, Great Yarmouth