Tips for that trip south this winter
The loonie’s value may affect how often we travel south but the U.S. remains a popular snowbird destination, with Florida being the main attraction.
About 3.5 million Canadians head to the Sunshine State annually, according to Florida tourism data, and about 40 per cent drive down in cars, recreational vehicles or on motorcycles.
Motorists see sights along the way, shop, take all the stuff they want and have a vehicle to get around while there. Cheaper than paying for airfare and car rental, you do, however, require more time because it takes a couple of days to drive there and back.
Here is some of the planning and preparation it takes to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey. Documents/paperwork Have documents handy and organized before arrival at a border crossing.
You will be asked how long you plan to visit, where you live, your citizenship and where you’ll be staying and may be asked for documentation, such as accommodation bookings and addresses.
Canadians are exempt from the requirement that passports or NEXUS cards don’t expire until six months after exiting the U.S., but that doesn’t include people of other nationalities travelling with us.
Kids 15 and under don’t need passports, but birth or citizen certificates are needed and if one of their young friends comes along a consent letter stating the child has permission to travel from parents or guardians is required.
Driver’s licences, plate stickers, vehicle registration and insurance paperwork must be up-to-date, as should handicap parking permits.
Pets, including service animals, brought into the U.S. must be healthy and shown to be vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days before entering the United States and animal health certificatesmay be required for entry into some states.
Listing valuable items, such as camera equipment, electronics, computers, devices and their serial numbers on a U.S. Customs and Border Protection form might be time-consuming but it will prove you didn’t buy them in the states to smuggle it into Canada on your return trip. Trip/route preparation: Navigate by GPS and/or physical maps but decide ahead of time whether to get to your destination direct along a particular U.S. Interstate or wander off the main path, taking time getting there.
Membership in an auto club such as the Canadian Automobile Association, affiliated with its U.S. counterpart the AAA, will provide you with route maps, roadside assistance — whether for a tow or fuel when running out of gas — and get you discounts on some hotels and motels.
Florida is about a 20-hour drive from Southern Ontario, via I-90, I-79 and I-77 coming from Niagara Falls or I-75 from Detroit.
Motorists from eastern Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes have the I-95 route. Some road warriors do it in one run, stopping for gas, food, roadside rest facilities and to change drivers, but most stop for at least one overnight rest.
With two hotel, motel, or campground stays you won’t arrive so dog tired and dazed that it’ll take a day or two to recover.
Figure out how far you want to drive before a rest. You can book accommodation ahead, or wing it by stopping at places that catch your fancy. But in peak season you may not find available vacancies in popular areas, especially if you want pet-friendly lodging.
Pack an overnight bag with clothes and toiletries you’ll need until you get to where you’re going rather than searching through luggage.
Get your car serviced, tires checked and make sure to have plenty of windshield washer fluid before hitting the road. Have U.S. cash handy for highway tolls.
Invest in an emergency roadside safety kit. Ranging from $30 to $300 at places such as Canadian Tire, Costco, Wal-Mart and home improvement centres, they can contain emergency reflectors and lighting, tools, telescopic shovel, booster cables, air compressor, tow straps, tire gauge, gloves, first aid items and more, depending on how complete a kit you want.
Periodically check weather forecasts on your planned route the week leading up to the trip to get a sense of the climate and driving conditions. Keep in mind there will be less big truck traffic on weekends compared with week days. The drive Taking your own snacks and beverages rather than stopping to buy along the way will save time and money, but it’s a good idea to know what foods you are allowed to bring and the amount of alcoholic beverages. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection service’s website is a good place to check.
A 20-hour drive can get boring, so consider the entertainment you and your passengers would like, especially kids. They can get antsy on a long haul. Having music, digital or physical books, magazines, colouring books and toys can be handy. Have a cooler that’s convenient to access for water or snacks on the go.
Mind speed limits: Getting caught in a radar trap can be time consuming, costly and you may have to pay fines in U.S. funds in the jurisdiction.
Some states have agreements with Canadian provinces, so traffic violations with demerit points will affect your insurance rate.
Fuel is cheaper, as little as 70 cents (Canadian) a litre. Find prices on the road ahead by logging onto GasBuddy.com. Be prepared to pay upfront in cash or credit card before filling up in the U.S. It’s more commonplace than it is here.
Know what you can and can’t bring back into Canada. hstancu@thestar.ca