HELPFUL TIPS IF YOU GO

• Save money by renting a car with a stick shift. It’s also more fun to drive. Include a navigation system and make sure it is in English if you are not bilingual. Reverse gear might be in a different spot than in North American cars.

• Have money ready for road tolls. GPS will provide the fastest route, but it is often on major highways. Travelling smaller roads avoids tolls and takes you through interesting smaller communities.

• Don’t speed. You won’t see many police cars on highways because surveillance is often done by camera. Speed limits reach 130 km/h on major highways, but there’s little forgiveness for straying over the limit.

• Most wartime cemeteries have guest books. Sign them. Leave a message. Read what others have written. There are compelling stories. We found remarks close to home too, written by a family from Guelph.

• Dress warmly and wear walking shoes for cave and tunnel tours. It’s wet, slippery and damp down there. Flip flops and heels are not smart choices.

• Adjust your dining schedule to local customs. Some restaurants close between 5 and 7 p.m.

• Service centres on major highways don’t have the same amenities we enjoy at home. For example, many do not have washrooms. Plus, the centres are few and far between. Makes you wish for an On Route.