[danikyvor]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

Hmm. Last summer my firm quietly cancelled a conference/convention in Vancouver and ended up with it in San Diego - our direct budget was US$1.5m and that was money that could've gone into Vancouver. There was a bunch of political stuff going on at the time and the past PM...who was he? ....wasn't scoring points.

I've heard no such concerns around the office this year and I expect we'll be in Vancouver although I'm personally lobbying like hell for Victoria so I can stay at the house on Oak Bay.

Overall, I'd say the factors affecting US tourism into Canada right now are:

60% related to fuel costs - a lot of travel in the USA is down for the same reason.

38% related to the exchange rate - sorry, but we love the thrill we get when we buy something in Canada and hand over a US$20 and get CDN$25 back in change. That's just too cool to explain. It also offsets the GST (none of us really bother with the silly rebate forms) that we pay.

Now it is actually a tad more expensive to go to Canada than to just stay home.

2% of the issue is lingering ill-will from years of Bush bashing. That'll go away as folks realize there's been a change of management and your government officials are no longer calling our President a moron.

I know some here will get in a dither over this, but I would like to point out that all those "eeeeeevil" Republican capitialists down here are the ones who control the finances of the corporations who fund a chunk of US tourism into Canada.

So I can appreciate the advice to tone it down, but by this summer that'll be old news and the nasty ol' conservatives will be back to leaving their dollars in Canada again. It'll blow over soon enough, no worries.

Sorry Bart, I saw Victoria and I squeed. I love it there and hope to move there once my husband is ready to move back to Canada with me

Say hello to Milestones and Munro's books! What am I saying, I 'm going home for three weeks this summer and Victoria's on the list...for a week!

[Yank-in-NY]

I've had a couple of bad experiences at customs. Custom officials always have that "look" as if your sole purpose is to bring death and destruction to the country. Of course custom officials are a breed of their own throughout the world, like taxi drivers

[IkeaMan]

Yank-in-NY Yank-in-NY:

I've had a couple of bad experiences at customs. Custom officials always have that "look" as if your sole purpose is to bring death and destruction to the country. Of course custom officials are a breed of their own throughout the world, like taxi drivers

Don't feel bad, we as Canadians, have our problems with customs when trying to cross the border into the US! Haven't come across too many that are friendly either.

[BartSimpson]

dimoreien dimoreien:

Say hello to Milestones and Munro's books! What am I saying, I 'm going home for three weeks this summer and Victoria's on the list...for a week!

I will also say hello to the cigar shop and Murchie's before heading for tea at the James Bay Tearoom. (Although the Blethering in Oak Bay is much nicer!)

[Tricks]

The only time I am an ass to americans, is when they are an ass to me/Canada/something they know nothing about first. BUT that goes for everyone, not just Americans

[Yank-in-NY]

IkeaMan IkeaMan:

Don't feel bad, we as Canadians, have our problems with customs when trying to cross the border into the US! Haven't come across too many that are friendly either.

Bah, I have no qualms about it. Our custom officers are just as rude. Of course it helps when I am being interviewed by a fine lady, makes me want to put on my arrogant American face on and get frisked

[IkeaMan]

Yank-in-NY Yank-in-NY:

IkeaMan IkeaMan:

Don't feel bad, we as Canadians, have our problems with customs when trying to cross the border into the US! Haven't come across too many that are friendly either.

Bah, I have no qualms about it. Our custom officers are just as rude. Of course it helps when I am being interviewed by a fine lady, makes me want to put on my arrogant American face on and get frisked

I've never been frisked by a female customs officer, but it would be fun. I respect the females more than I do the males when driving through, because they're not as cocky! All you have to do is just answer their questions and you're on your way.

[YankGreat]

IkeaMan IkeaMan:

Yank-in-NY Yank-in-NY:

IkeaMan IkeaMan:

Don't feel bad, we as Canadians, have our problems with customs when trying to cross the border into the US! Haven't come across too many that are friendly either.

Bah, I have no qualms about it. Our custom officers are just as rude. Of course it helps when I am being interviewed by a fine lady, makes me want to put on my arrogant American face on and get frisked

I've never been frisked by a female customs officer, but it would be fun. I respect the females more than I do the males when driving through, because they're not as cocky! All you have to do is just answer their questions and you're on your way.

I see I see.

[gstang23]

Found customs was easy as long as you tell the truth

I actually had an easier time with customs leaving Canada, then the US customs heading up there. I was one of those "Random spot checks" down here, but in Toronto it was very cordial. They asked if I had anything to declare, I said nope. When they asked if I had anything, even alcohol I joked "All alcohol purchased was consumed" with a smile. Got a smile back, and was off to my gate.

[PluggyRug]

Had a funny experience in November 2001, just after the 9/11 terrorist attack.

Annual trip to Myrtle Beach, going through customs into the US was no hassle.

One week later returning. Just after crossing the American line but before we got to the Canadian border we were stopped by armed US customs/border guards/CIA or something. All dressed in black, no badges, insignia, or identification.

They politely asked to look in the vehicle (Sable Wagon). I opened up the tailgate and one of the guys did a cursory once over. Then we got chatting, the poor guys were bored, cold, hungry, etc and we needed a break, so
one of our guys crossed the border into Canada and returned with 8 Tim Hortons coffee's and 16 doughnuts.

We chatted for about 30 mins, seem like they were looking for 4 Canadians driving a white Mercury Sable suspected of having something to do with the 9/11 terror attack.

Must have been the Tim Hortens that saved the day.