In a variety of ways, to a variety of places, these travel companies north of the border are often smarter, richer, more committed to authenticity-and cheaper than their American counterparts
When does a dollar only cost about 65¢? When you buy Canadian. If it were called the Canadian franc or peso, the contrast in value would be obvious. But make no mistake-if you're American, there's an enormous, and favorable, difference between the two dollars. At current exchange rates, buying tours and services priced in Canadian funds often means slashing the costs by about one-third, simply by converting your currency. And that's just the first good reason to look north of the U.S. border for prime value in travel. Canadian travel companies often surpass American ones in other, unexpected ways, and the first is in quality. Forget bare-bones air/hotel packages. Canadians are a worldly people, so the travel norm comes with heaps of extras, from local sightseeing to meals. Canadians typically get more time off than we do, so they are able to settle into the lifestyle of a new region. "While Americans tend to spend one week in Hawaii at a hotel," says Steven Kaufman, president of Vacation.com Canada, "Canadians tend to go for two weeks and stay in condominium apartments"-a budget-stretching alternative.
Perhaps as a legacy of old Commonwealth ties, curious Canadians who are willing to "go local" have grown tour companies that offer profound, good-value learning vacations that contrast with the mass-produced motor coach tours conducted in glass-enclosed bubbles. They stress the authenticity of their packages. For the true traveler who wants to merge into a foreign culture, small Canadian tour operators offer deals on guided and independent "we'll-take-care-of-the-details" programs, for authentic, exotic experiences involving immersion in local life.
Naturally, tour operators also support a massive selection of direct flights to "all-inclusive" resorts, including locations not accessible through American companies, such as the popular yet forbidden travel fruit that is Cuba (more about that later). At prices suited to the diminished Canadian dollar, dealing with a Canadian tour operator for a range of tropical locations could be your most economical and time-saving option. Considering the savings often mount into the hundreds of dollars, many Americans (particularly those who reside in the North) may find it worthwhile to drive across the border or spend around US$250 round-trip to a major Canadian gateway (Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver). Just watch out for early morning departures, or you'll have to pay for a night's lodging in Canada en route. Of the many airlines serving Canada, including all of the major U.S. carriers, Air Canada has the most frequent sales to major Canadian cities; check the U.S. section of www.aircanada.com for specials.
So which Canadian tour operators trump those Stateside, and how do they do it? Some of these companies will let you pay in Canadian funds, and others also quote prices in American dollars. Some companies price in both currencies; if paying in greenbacks gets you the most advantageous deal, we'll tell you so:
AUTHENTIC CULTURE-SHARING G Adventures (800/465-5600, www.gadventures.com) is solid value for those who want to dig deep into the culture of a new foreign destination. Its very small guided groups (average: nine people) are reasonably priced and provide rare access to local life. G Adventures, with clients in every age bracket, operates its own "take-the-people-to-the-people" adventures in Central and South America and sells similar tours to 100 countries. Groups are usually limited to 12 people and get remarkably close to the culture and people of their destinations; trips to Peru and Ecuador even place tourists in private homes where they interact with real locals-something few budget American companies dare to do with their clients. Such cultural integration is standard with Canadian companies like G Adventures Sample prices: A guided 22-day Mayan Adventure, visiting Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, costs CAD$2,195 (US$1,432)-that's US$65 per day, airfare extra, no single supplement; budget a little more each day for food. Departing from the resort strip of Cancœn (so you don't have to fly to Canada to participate), this guided tour travels by public bus, van, and boat and stays in simple hotels (some nights in multishare rooms), exploring many of the regions' most famous archaeological ruins. The tour finishes at Playa del Carmen (90 minutes from Cancun's airport) with a few days for a beach break. With G Adventures, you get the best deal if you pay in U.S. dollars instead of converting to Canadian funds.