Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games

People travelling out to Vancouver should bear in mind the following tips for a safe and enjoyable stay:

Where and when?

• 12-21 March Paralympic Games, Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia

Passports and visas

• we recommend that you have a minimum of 6 months left on your passport when you travel
• visas are not generally required for British citizens visiting Canada for short periods but other categories of British Nationals should check requirements and status of travel in Canada - Citizenship and Immigration provides information on entry requirements

Staying safe

• ensure you have adequate travel/medical insurance before you go. Otherwise it could cost you a lot of money if something goes wrong
• register with us on our online registration system LOCATE so that we can contact you in an emergency

Local transport

• public transport is accessible to all and the quickest, most reliable way to go
  
• for up to date travel and transport information, visit the Vancouver 2010 website - familiarise yourself before you go as there will be a series of restrictions and road closures during the games

Alcohol & smoking regulations

• drinking on the streets, in public is not allowed
• the legal drinking age in British Columbia is 19
• smoking is not permitted in restaurants, malls, public transport or in any public spaces. Smoking is also prohibited within six metres (20 feet) of an entryway, open-air window or air intake of a building

Taxation

There are three levels of taxation that affect visitors to Vancouver

• provincial sales tax (PST) for goods and services - 7 percent (not applied ot food, children's clothing, and other certainties)
• federal goods and services tax (GST) - 5 percent
• accomodation and liquor tax - 10 percent

Note: there are a number of exemptions and complexities to the way these taxes are applied.
In Vancouver a maximum of 16.5 percent will be added to your hotel bill as part of the Hotel tax.

• hotel tax -10 percent
• goods and services tax - 5 percent

Note: the majority of hotels in downtown Vancouver also charge a 1.5 percent Destination Marketing fee.

Further information

For more information on the games, visit the official website
Our travel advice has more information on Canada

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