Crossing the border

[Anderson]

Other than the obvious (needing a passport), any rules I should know about crossing the border on a train as far as odds and ends go? I'm asking this because I've never actually done a border crossing, and Amtrak's site doesn't offer any help other than discussing documentation requirements.

 

[the_traveler]

No. Just have your passport or passport card, be honest and declare anything you purchased in (I assume) Canada. And don't bring any food/drinks across the border.

 

[CHamilton]

In addition to the_traveler's comments, here are a couple of other things to remember.

1. If you make a reservation online, you will be asked to provide your passport or enhanced driver's license number during the reservation process.
2. Canada is very strict about firearms, and will not allow guns (and, I believe, Mace and such) to be brought across the border.
3. The Canadian border agents will ask you why you're visiting. Anything other than "vacation" or "tourism" (business, work, student) requires a visa that must be obtained in advance.
4. Don't bother getting currency in advance. Just hit an ATM when you get to your destination -- you'll get a better exchange rate with an ATM than with "bureaux de change". The trains to Vancouver take credit cards, plus American and Canadian currency (not coins). I believe that's true on the east coast as well, although the Maple Leaf has VIA personnel, and I haven't been on it recently. Don't forget that in Canada, $1 and $2 are coins, not bills -- the "looney" and "twoney" respectively.
5. Some fast food places in Canada only take MasterCard, not Visa, if their sign says "PayPass."
6. Some credit card issuers ask you to let them know you are traveling in advance, so they aren't surprised by transactions from Moose Jaw.
7. Make sure to sign up for a Canadian cell phone roaming plan before you leave. That way, the prices are just ridiculous, not outrageous. Sprint lets you sign up for such a plan for only the days you'll actually be in Canada. Call their international roaming department at 1-888-226-7212 (option 2).

The Canadian border people are generally nicer to Americans than the Americans are coming back, but it's generally easier to cross the border on a train than in a car or on a bus.

Enjoy!

 

[jis]

In addition to the_traveler's comments, here are a couple of other things to remember.

• The Canadian border agents will ask you why you're visiting. Anything other than "vacation" or "tourism" (business, work, student) requires a visa that must be obtained in advance.

Actually, not all business trips require a visa. I have visited Canada many times to attend company internal meetings for a week or more in our Toronto office without needing a visa. Also attending professional conferences and standards meetings does not require a visa, another thing I have done dozens of times.

Basically as long as you do not earn any money in Canada from Canadian sources and your business is temporary with a Canadian outfit no visa is required, as far as I can tell.

 

[Tracktwentynine]

Make sure to sign up for a Canadian cell phone roaming plan before you leave. That way, the prices are just ridiculous, not outrageous. Sprint lets you sign up for such a plan for only the days you'll actually be in Canada. Call their international roaming department at 1-888-226-7212 (option 2).

Verizon also allows this. I did it on a recent (Amtrak) trip to Montreal. I only did phone, not data, but my hotel had WiFi, so I could check my email on my phone there. As far as I can tell, Amtrak turns off the onboard WiFi in Canada, so you can't use Amtrak Connect north of the border.