Traveling to Canada during the pandemic — what’s it like?
I traveled to Canada in August to cover its reopening to vaccinated Americans. The reopening was uneventful — I was let in without issue, and the border crossing almost seemed too normal after being closed for over a year.
But what was Canada like on the ground? I visited Canada's two largest cities — Toronto and Montreal — to find out for myself.
I spent limited time in each city but made an effort to see what was open and closed. This will vary by province and city, but you can use my experience as a guide for Ontario and Quebec. Let's take a closer look.
What it's like in Toronto and Montreal
The good news is that there are very few restrictions in Ontario and Quebec, at least at the time of writing this article. Most things are open as usual, and it felt very similar to when I visited both cities in late 2019.
Restaurants are open — but get a reservation
Indoor and outdoor dining is fully open in both Ontario and Quebec. In my experience, this includes everything from coffee shops to bars to fast food to fine dining. I ate at a handful of restaurants and drank a beer at a brewery, and I found the experience to be nearly the same as when I was in Canada last.
That said, you'll want to get a reservation if you have your heart set on a particular restaurant.
Even on a Monday night, restaurants in Toronto were busy. Montreal wasn't much different with crowds in both the tourist center of Old Montreal and the hipster mecca of Mile End. Thankfully, most restaurants in both cities use OpenTable for reservations, so it's relatively easy to secure a spot.
Coffee shops weren't quite as crowded, but like pre-pandemic times, you'll find remote workers seated with their laptops for hours on end.
As you'd expect, many restaurants are taking social distancing precautions seriously by limiting tables and adding plexiglass dividers between tables — but not all. A poutine shop I visited in Montreal was open with seemingly zero restrictions, but all the staff members were masked up.
Lastly, some restaurants and bars require proof of vaccination for entry. Keep a digital copy of your vaccine card or the card itself with you at all times, just in case you need it. I didn't have to provide my vaccine card or a negative test at hotels.
You may also be asked to fill out a contact tracing form at dining establishments.
Oh, and yes, the poutine in Montreal is still delicious.
Related: A beginner's guide to visiting Montreal
Museums and other cultural sights
Many museums and other cultural sights — such as zoos, botanical gardens and planetariums — are open for business in Toronto and Montreal. Many of these opened for the first time since the start of the pandemic in July, so give yourself some extra time in case they're still working out the kinks.
Public transit is business as usual
Public transit is running as normal in Montreal and Toronto. In Toronto, I rode the UP Express train from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to downtown without issue. The only major change was that the train was running every 30 minutes instead of every 15 minutes.
In Montreal, I took the Metro a handful of times to get around the city. It was just like I remembered from when I visited in 2019. The trains were fast, and there was very little wait time for the next train. Just know that trains get busy during rush hour, so plan accordingly if you want to avoid the crowds.
Getting an Uber in both cities was easy enough, but like here in the U.S., there's an ongoing driver shortage. This means more expensive rides no matter where you're going. If you can, book your rides in advance to lock in a better price and ensure you actually get a ride.
Related: Unsung Heroes: An Uber driver talks how to get the VIP treatment and be a better traveler in 2021
Airports are busy
As I mentioned in the reopening guide, the customs line in Toronto was no joke. The customs area was filled with Americans traveling to Canada, and Canadian travelers returning home from other trips. The line took a while, but I eventually made my way out to the equally crowded airport.
I also flew from Toronto (YYZ) to Montreal (YUL) later in the trip and was surprised at how busy both airports were. Like Americans, many Canadians seem to be mostly taking domestic trips right now. As a result, my flight from YYZ to YUL was almost completely full.
The moral of the story is to give yourself extra time when traveling. Arrive early for your flights, especially if they're domestic. And if you have dinner plans the night you arrive, take the earlier flight just in case the line takes longer to clear.
Related: 5 small Canadian cities you can use points and miles to visit in 2021
This could change with the delta variant
As you're probably well aware, what's open and closed in Canada could change as the delta COVID-19 variant continues to spread. Despite having a high vaccination rate, Canada is experiencing a surge in positive coronavirus cases right now.
As a result of this spread, the U.S. Embassy has upgraded Canada to a Level 3 travel advisory which urges U.S. citizens to "reconsider travel" due to the coronavirus pandemic. Take this into consideration as you plan your trip to the Great White North — if you're uncomfortable visiting now, a trip later down the road might make more sense.
While I hope things stay open in Canada, there's a chance that we may see Canadian provinces change their existing regulations in response. Keep a close eye on the news for the province and city you plan on visiting to get up-to-date information on restrictions.
Related: Long delays, but surprisingly anticlimactic: What it was like to enter Canada by car
Bottom line
If you're vaccinated and comfortable with traveling abroad, I highly recommend a trip to Canada. Many of its largest cities are reopening for tourism, so we can once again visit their delicious restaurants, amazing cultural sights and everything else the country has to offer.
Planning a trip? Make sure to check out our full points guide to Canada — here, you'll find tips for booking flights and hotels with your points.
Feature photo by Andrew Kunesh / The Points Guy.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.