Air Canada Vacations

Before you leave Canada

Entry requirements

It is your sole responsibility to ensure that you - and any child travelling with you - have all the travel documents necessary to enter or transit through each country on your itinerary. Please ensure you verify the requirements for each country as the required documents for the outbound portion of your travel may differ from those required on the return.

Please refer to Air Canada for complete information on travel requirements and regulations.

Baggage

Please refer to Air Canada for up-to-date baggage allowances.

Airport check-in

Please present yourself at the airport counter or self-service kiosks of the airline indicated on your e-ticket. Web check-in and mobile check-in are also available.
Please refer to Air Canada for recommended check-in times and more details.

Your arrival at destination

Transportation from Heathrow to Central London

Heathrow Airport is very well served by public transport such as subways, trains, buses and coaches. Car rentals and taxi service are also available.
Refer to the Heathrow Airport website for more information.

By underground

The Piccadilly line connects Heathrow Airport to Central London and operates every five minutes from approximately 5 a.m. - 11:45 p.m. (5:50 a.m. - 10:50 p.m. Sundays). Travel time to Piccadilly Circus is about 50 minutes. Fares vary but are about £5.

By train

There are two trains from Heathrow to Central London.
The Heathrow Express operates from Heathrow to London Paddington. The journey is 15 minutes and the train runs every 15 minutes.
The Heathrow Connect also goes to Paddington Station but has a few stops along the way and a travel time of 25 minutes.

By coach

National Express Coach offers frequent services throughout the day with journey times of between 45 and 85 minutes to Central London. Services from Heathrow start at 5:30 a.m. and run until 9:30 p.m.

By bus

Between midnight and 5:30 a.m., the N9 night bus runs every 30 minutes to Central London (Trafalgar Square). Journey time is about 65 minutes.

By taxi

Taxis are available outside each terminal. The cost to central London is £45 - £70 and the journey is about an hour.

By rental car

You can easily add a car rental to your booking with Air Canada Vacations. For convenience, you can pick it up at the airport or in Central London.

Hotel check-in

Upon arrival at your hotel, please identify yourself at the front desk with your Air Canada Vacations voucher. You will then be assigned your accommodation. Passport must be presented upon check in.

Hotel check-in times may vary depending on the hotel but is generally 3 p.m.

During your stay

If you need help or assistance with your vacation, please contact Air Canada Vacations Customer Care.

Shopping

With an estimated 30,000 retail outlets, London offers tremendous variety and choice to the shopper, and has a flair for presentation that makes for a highly entertaining shopping experience. Shops generally open Mon. - Sat. 9 a.m. - 5:30/6 p.m.; Sun.10 a.m. - 5 p.m.   Many shops have late hours on Thursdays. Some shops close on Sundays.

Tipping

Most hotel and restaurant bills include a service charge. Make sure you check the bill to avoid tipping twice. Where a service charge is not included in a restaurant, or for a taxi driver, tour guide or other service provider, it is customary to leave a tip of 10%-15% of the bill.

Water

The standard of water cleanliness is very high, and in general kitchen water supplies, tap water in restaurants and ice cubes are safe. You can find bottled water in most shops and supermarkets.

Electricity

The standard electrical voltage in the UK is 220V, 50HZ. A square three-pronged adapter plug and/or electric converter for appliances is required.

Currency

The official currency used in the UK is the Great British Pound (GBP).

Banking

Banks are generally open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 9:30 to noon on Saturdays. Closed on Sundays. There are several major chains and branches of all banks and their ATMs can be found widely throughout the city. ATMs can be found in all towns and cities, inside and outside banks, at airports, train stations and many supermarkets.

Long distance calls

Telephone calls from your hotel to Canada can be very expensive and service charges are high.

Prepaid calling cards are readily available.

To call Canada dial 001 and then the number.

Language

The official language is English.

Time zone

No UTC/GMT offset

Emergencies

You can ask for a doctor or a dentist through your hotel. Keep all your receipts.
Visitors who become ill while in London are eligible for free treatment in Accident and Emergency departments at NHS hospitals.

Getting around

Sightseeing

Air Canada Vacations offers a huge selection of day tours and activities in London that you can easily add to your shopping cart when you book. Enjoy the Original London Sightseeing Tour: Hop-on Hop-off; the London Pass; and river cruises on the Thames.

Rental car

Air Canada Vacations offers convenient short-term and long-term car rentals throughout Europe.

Local transportation

The city is divided up into six concentric circles or "zones", with zone 1 being the centre. Depending on the duration of your stay, the cheapest (and most convenient) option is to purchase a daily, three-day or weekly travel card that gives you unlimited access to the underground and buses as well as local overland trains in the city. All tickets must be bought in advance from your departure station.

The underground

The underground (or tube) runs for up to 20 hours a day (times vary according to location), every day and serves all parts of central London; it is one of the easiest ways to travel. Tickets can be purchased from ticket machines and ticket offices at all stations.

Buses

Buses are a great way to travel around the city, ideal for informal sightseeing. There are over 17,000 bus stops all across London so you are never far from a bus route.

Trains

London's overland train network complements the system of buses and tubes, as well as forming the easiest way to access national and international destinations from the heart of the city. All main stations are connected to the underground network.

Taxis

An orange light on black cabs indicates that they are available for hire but you often have to queue at ranks, particularly at major stations or tourist hotspots. Minicabs - licensed vehicles operated by private taxi firms - are often cheaper than black cabs. You should call and order one rather than pick them up from the street. Ask your hotel to book your cab for you or to recommend a local firm.

Your departure

Hotel checkout

Hotel checkout times may vary depending on the property, but generally you must vacate the room by noon.

Duty-free exemptions

Please refer to the Canada Border Services Agency for up-to-date information on personal exemptions.

Airport check-in

Please present yourself at the airport counter or self-service kiosks of the airline indicated on your e-ticket. Web check-in and mobile check-in are also available.
Please refer to Air Canada for recommended check-in times and more details.

Customer care

For any inquiries regarding your travel plans, please contact Air Canada Vacations Customer Care.