Name: Toronto

Location: On the north shore of Lake Ontari, Canada

Language: English and French

Time Zone: GMT -5 (GMT -4 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).

International code: 001

Currency: 1 Canadian Dollar (CAD) = 100 cents. One dollar coins are also referred to as loonies and two dollar coins are referred to as toonies.

Electricity: 110 vots, 60hz - American style flat two-pin plugs.

When to go: The best time to travel to Toronto is during Autumn when temperatures are mild. In the summer months the city is alive with activities. The winter months can be bitterly cold.

Weather: Summer months are hot and humid and winter sees severe cold and snowfall. Summer is the sunniest time, but it does rain throughout the year. The average maximum temperature in January is 28°F (-2 °C), while the average maximum temperature in July is 80°F (27°C).

Entry: A valid passport and return tickets. No visa is required for UK nationals for stays up to six months.

Health: No vaccinations required.

Tips: Restaurants do not add a service charge and staff expect tips of around 15%. Hairdressers and taxi drivers expect the same. Bellhops and porter expect $1 per bag.

Airport: Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). www.gtaa.com
Tel: 001 (416) 247 7678 for terminals 1 and 2 and 001 (416) 776 5100 for terminal 3. The airport is located 16 miles (27km) northwest of downtown Toronto. There is a 24 hour courtesy shuttle bus that links the 3 terminlas. The Airport LIK train system operates a 24 hour free service between Terminals 1 and 3 as well as to the Reduced Rate Parking Lot. To get to the city: The 24-hour Airport Express bus picks up passengers from the Arrivals level of all terminals and services the downtown bus terminal and major downtown hotels.

OVERVIEW

Totonto is the biggest city in Canada and the fifth largest in North America. and is over 100 square kilometres in size. The main thoroughfare, Yonge Street, is also the longest in the world.

3 August 2008