Air Canada Vacations

Before you leave Canada

Entry requirements

A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Switzerland. The passport should be valid for at least the expected duration of stay in the country. For all other nationalities, consult your consulate or tourist board for details. You can also visit www.voyage.gc.ca for up-to-date information.

Baggage

Please refer to aircanada.com for baggage information.

Airport check-in

It is recommended that you present yourself at the airport counter of the airline indicated on your voucher 3 hours prior to departure. Air Canada or Air Canada Vacations representatives will be available starting at 5 a.m.

Your departure from destination

Hotel checkout

Hotel check out times may vary depending on the property but generally you must vacate the room by 12 p.m. (noon).

Duty-free shopping

After an absence of 7 days or more, Canadian residents are permitted to return with a maximum of CAD$750 of merchandise per trip without paying duty. Each time you leave Canada for at least 48 hours, you are eligible to declare up to CAD$400 of merchandise. A written declaration may be requested. Each adult is allowed 1.1 litres (40 oz.) of liquor, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or cigarillos, 200 tobacco sticks and 200 grams (7 oz.) of manufactured tobacco. To calculate the number of days absent, do not count the day you left Canada but include the day you return. If you include cigarettes, tobacco sticks and loose tobacco in your personal exemption allowance, only a partial exemption will apply. You will have to pay a minimum duty on these products unless they are marked “Canada-Duty paid”. Canadian made products sold at duty-free shops will be marked this way.

During your stay

City highlights 

Today, Basel is the most successful economic region in Switzerland. The business backbone is made up of corporations in the pharmaceutical, chemical, mobility and finance industries.
The city is rightly referred to as the cultural capital of Switzerland. Not only is this evident as you stroll downtown, but also in the variety of museums containing an inspiring and outstanding array of artifacts.

Basel enjoys the warmest climate in Switzerland, and has the least fog and rain. The central European continental climate gives the city an average daytime temperature of about 9° C in spring, 17° C in summer, 10° C in autumn and 1°C in winter.

Getting around
Basel is situated in the heart of Europe, at the border triangle where Germany, France and Switzerland meet.

Public transportation
The tri-national region and the city of Basel have a dense public transport network, which is noted for its punctuality, short waiting times and modern vehicles.

The comprehensive system has over 384 stops, and carries guests to their destination quickly and comfortably by tram and bus—even over the border into Germany and France.

Mobility ticket
Each guest staying in Basel receives a free Mobility Ticket when checking in. This allows free use of public transport in the city of Basel and its environs (zones 10, 11 and EuroAirport) for the entire duration of the stay (max. 30 days).

On the day of arrival, the reservation confirmation from the hotel guarantees a free transfer by public transport from the station or the EuroAirport to the hotel.

Train
Basel is an important transport hub, and offers outstanding transport connections to the whole of Europe from its three train stations; the Swiss SBB train station, the French SNCF station and the German Badischer station are all in the immediate vicinity of the city centre.

Shopping
If you like to explore a city with a shopping bag in hand, there is plenty to keep you occupied: luxury brands like Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Rolex; shoes, fashion, books and specialties; small boutiques, old antique shops and chic department stores.

The easiest place to start is on the Freie Strasse shopping street, which has more than 150 retailers.

Dining & nightlife
Basel whets your appetite in the most varied and delightful ways. Thanks to the city’s unique location, its cuisine is both excellent and eclectic. Basel also offers the full nightlife experience: visits to cozy bars, wild parties or clubbing until dawn.

Basel has no end of specialties: Mehlsuppe (brown flour soup) and Zwiebelwähe (onion tart) are traditionally served at Fasnacht (carnival) celebrations. All year there are sweet honey-and almond scented Läckerli, and for the New Year there is Hypokras, a herbal wine. But what makes Basel truly special is the extent to which it embraces and expands foreign gastronomic traditions.

Sightseeing
The Cathedral
With its red sandstone walls, multicoloured roof tiles and twin towers, the Cathedral is a dominant feature of the city. The crypt, the choir, the tomb of Erasmus of Rotterdam, the Galluspforte and the two cloisters are a testimony to the eventful history of its construction over a period of several centuries.

Basel’s Old Town
Travel through time as you explore Basel on foot. Basel’s Old Town remains as untouched and beautiful as any other in Europe.

In few other cities you will find buildings dating back to the 15th century, contrasting with and yet complementing the modern works of internationally renowned architects. Celebrity architects such as Richard Meier, Frank O. Gehry and Zaha Hadid have all left their mark here.

Marktplatz & City Hall
Every day except Sunday, fresh vegetables, fruit and flowers are on sale in the Marktplatz  (market place). The Marktplatz is dominated by the City Hall (Rathaus), the seat of the government of the Canton of Basel-City, which at the same time functions as the city council.
Particularly worth seeing are the Council Chambers, the atmospheric Inner Courtyard, the romantic arcades and the imposing tower.

Airport check-in
Procedures are the same as for departure from Canada.

Customer care
For inquiries relating to extension of stay or change or hotel changes, please e-mail us at: prevoyageclientele@vacv.com We are at your service seven days a week; from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Monday to Friday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.