Cheap flights to Canada

Peak season

Canada’s peak tourist season stretches over the warm summer months from June through to August when domestic travellers are on their annual vacation. Hotel prices peak during this period, city sights are packed with visitors, and the hiking trails throughout the country’s national parks are incredibly busy. There are also plenty of festivals taking place, such as the famous Montreal Jazz Festival, so if you plan to travel during this period, be sure to book your accommodation well in advance to get the best deals.

Off season

Outside of North American school holidays, the spring, autumn and winter months are generally considered the “off” season in Canada and you can get some great flight and accommodation deals if you opt to travel during these periods. Spring sees the national parks ignited in blossoming flowers, autumn brings with it the changing of foliage, and in winter snowfall blankets the landscape a glorious white. January and February are generally the coldest months, with temperatures in the north of Canada dropping to well below freezing point, so if you are visiting during this time, come prepared with lots of layers!

How long is the flight to Canada?

Flights from Auckland to Canada – 13 hours 10 minutes.

Flights from Christchurch to Canada – 15 hours 45 minutes.

Flights from Wellington to Canada – 15 hours 40 minutes.

Flights from Queenstown to Canada – 18 hours 55 minutes.

Which airlines operate flights to Canada?

Canada’s major airports include Toronto Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Calgary International Airport and Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. All offer a range of ground transportation options to get you into the city and to your accommodation.

Most offer fast and efficient rail systems that will whisk you directly from the airport to downtown stations, without having to negotiate the inner city traffic. There are also public bus routes which are often a cheaper, but longer, option, offering a wider choice of stops throughout the city.

Shuttle buses service many of the major hotels, offering a door-to-door service that is hassle-free, and most can be booked online prior to arrival. There are also a number of long-distance buses that depart directly from Canada’s airports to major tourist destinations in the surrounding area, preventing you from having to negotiate multiple forms of public transport.

For those that want a private airport transfer that will drop you directly at your hotel door, then your best option is to take a metered taxi from the ranks outside the airport’s domestic and international terminals.

What is good to know if travelling to Canada?

• Canada’s British Columbia is a nature lover’s paradise, with captivating mountainous landscapes, endless hiking trails and an intriguing wildlife that make it one of our Kiwi blogger picks as a “Top Destination for 2015”.
• Vancouver’s seven-story public library has an uncanny resemblance to Rome’s ancient Colosseum, and while the similarity was apparently not intentional, it still makes the list of our “12 Carbon Copies of World-Famous Landmarks”.
• Montreal is home to one of the world’s largest-scale underground cities, known as the RESO, which spans 32km of tunnels beneath the downtown area and includes shops, restaurants, galleries, metro stops and even hotels!
• From the Rocky Mountain scenery of Alberta to the indigenous cultures of Saskatchewan, Canada is home to 10 different provinces, each with their own unique tourist appeals.
• If you feel like you need to add a little more adrenalin to your next ski adventure, then head to Revelstoke Mountain Resort in British Columbia where heli-skiing on their half a million acres of pristine snow wilderness will make all your wildest ski dreams come true!