Travel Tips

Purchase Travel Insurance (Even When Travelling Within Canada)

Travel insurance is always recommended and TICO-registered travel agencies are required to advise you of the availability of trip cancellation insurance and out-of-province health insurance at the time of the booking.

Purchase medical insurance
- Make sure you have adequate coverage for the country you'll be visiting
- For more information and tips see the Travel Health Insurance Association's (THIA) Canadian Traveller Insurance Guide
Purchase trip cancellation insurance
- You may not expect to cancel your vacation plans but the unexpected can happen and cancellation charges from airlines, cruise lines, hotels, and tour companies can amount to as much as 100%
- For more information read the TICO blog: Need To Cancel Your Trip? Why Trip Cancellation Insurance Is Important
Consider purchasing travel insurance even when traveling within Canada
- Not all medical expenses are covered by OHIP
- Ambulance costs are not covered
- Other medical expenses may not be covered including: prescription drugs, dental emergencies and emergency room services or in-patient services.
- For more information, read the TICO blog: Do I Need Travel Insurance When Travelling Within Canada?

Take A Few Extra Precautions When Booking Travel Online

Are you thinking of purchasing travel online? For that added peace of mind and to make sure you’re making an informed decision, here are a few tips:

Know who you are dealing with. Ontario travel retailers are required to display their address, phone number, and TICO registration number
Know where your credit card payment is going. Some websites are only “search engines” or booking agents for other providers
Make sure that you review the terms and conditions, particularly those that relate to cancellation, changes to bookings and refundability. Know what the travel agent or tour operator’s responsibilities are
Keep a paper copy of your transactions, correspondence, and confirmations
Double check which currency the prices are quoted in
For additional online travel tips, read the tico blog: Booking Travel Online? 9 Tips To Ensure Nothing Goes Wrong

Booking a flight yourself? For your travel protection consider some of these additional tips:

Know what kind of flight you are booking. Is it a direct flight? Is it a connecting flight?
Be sure to know which airline you’re booked with. Some flights can be code-sharing and mix-ups do happen
Make sure all information entered is correct. Booking errors can easily occur.
If you made a booking error, read our blog: Oops I Made An Online Booking Error, Now What Do I Do?
Avoid missing your flight. Here are 5 tips to check-in on time
Airlines can still deny boarding due to overbooking. Here are 3 tips to avoid overbooked flights

Do Your Research & Ask The Right Questions

Part of the fun in a vacation lies in making plans, so get involved! If you’re not familiar with a particular destination, the internet can be a great resource for information. Check to see if the TICO registered travel agency has information online about your particular destination to help you make the right decision. Keep in mind that different standards of living and practices may exist outside of Canada. Ask your friends and your travel agent about vacation spots they could recommend and if they were satisfied with the trip. First-hand references will provide the best suggestions but only you know what you really want out of your holiday time.

Ask if there are any additional fees and charges.
Ask if they have any useful information about your destination. For example:
- Has the hotel facility been inspected recently?
- What kind of tours, sports or activities are available?
Research the hotel before you book. There’s no international standard for hotel ratings
Find the right travel agent for you. Here are 6 tips to find the best travel agent

Know the Terms and Conditions of your Booking

Before you confirm your travel services online or confirm with your travel agent in person, make sure you read and/or understand the terms and conditions of the travel services being purchased. Your travel agent is required to disclose the terms and conditions with you at the time of booking. Make sure that you review the terms and conditions, particularly those that relate to cancellation, changes to bookings and refundability.

Travel with the Right Travel Documentation

Ontario travel agents are required to disclose all the travel documentation requirements for each person travelling. Make photocopies of your documents and leave a copy behind with a family or friend in case of emergency. Make sure to check your passports and any other travel documentation to ensure they have not expired. To avoid disappointment, don’t wait until the last minute to apply for your travel documentation. You will need:

Tickets
Itineraries
Passports
Insurance policy
Identification
Credit cards
In some cases, international health certificates and list of vaccines
Read more on our blog: 3 Travel Tips To Always Travel With The Proper Documents

Keep all Travel Booking Receipts

Your Ontario travel agency is required to provide you with a receipt/invoice for all payment transactions, especially when paying in cash. When you are purchasing travel services online, it is recommended that you keep a paper copy of all transactions, correspondence, confirmations, and anything else related to your online booking. This should also include the description of your hotel and the services and amenities. This is proof of your booking. The receipt/invoice must outline details of the travel services that you have purchased. Always keep all original documents including receipts, invoices, returned cheques, credit card slips, and credit card statements in case you need to refer back to them.

Know Baggage Rules & What to Pack

Ask your travel agent or your airline what, if any, security requirements there are for carry-on and checked baggage. For example, there may be prohibited items such as gels and liquids. Also, consider that there may be baggage restrictions that limit the number of bags that you are permitted. Weight restrictions also may apply. These limitations vary from airline to airline. To avoid disappointment or any additional fees, be sure to contact the airline, your travel agent, or visit the air carrier’s website to review the luggage policy. Read below for more luggage tips:

Clearly label all baggage with your name, home address, and contact information
Place an identification tag inside the baggage in case the outside tag is torn off
Lock bags with travel locks
Put a colourful ribbon or other identifying marks on your bags so they are easily recognizable
Carry valuables in your hand luggage; jewelry, money, medications, important documents, etc.
Avoid paying unnecessary baggage fees. Here are 6 tips to avoid getting dinged by airline baggage fees
Was your luggage lost or damaged? Here are 3 tips to receive compensation for damaged luggage