Tips For Crossing The Canadian Border?????

We are planning a spur of the moment trip to Martin's Fantasy Island in Buffalo, NY and to Marineland in Ontario Canada.

I was hoping I could get some quick tips or do's and don't for easily getting into and out of Canada.

Will a drivers license (me) and photo ID (girlfriend)be enough to get into Canada?

How does Customs work when crossing back.

Were only going to being Canada a few hours for the park.

Any help would be super! Thanx!

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Knoebels visits in 2002. 6

Bring photo ID, passports are a good idea, and common sense and you should be fine.

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My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
Woodencoaster.com
The World of Thrills

I just went to Canada's Wonderland in Toronto a few weeks ago. Getting into Canada all that was asked was where I was going and no photo ID was needed. Getting back into the US however there were a few more questions and my lisence was all I needed to show. Oh, and by the wasy be careful when spending money by making sure you don't get ripped off on the currency exchange---hope I was of some help!

when i go from canada to the states with my buddys we just bring our drivers lisences.
he says citicenship,we say canadian, he says where you from, we say georgeton, he says where you goin, we say six flags darien lake, how long, just the day, he says goodbye.
we give him our identification sometime in that speal.
the way back same **** only they ask if you have anything and the questions are in the past tense.
its real easy getting over and back for the day
heres a tip, make sure you have a good piece of identification ie a drivers license. if you have that you'll have no troubles.

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1.Fire Dragon 2.Ice Dragon 3.Raptor 4.Batman Knight Flight 5.Kraken

when i went to canada a few weeks ago getting in was no problem, just answer truthfully "where are you going?" "Canadas wonderland amument park" in whatever town tis in, "for how long?" answer with however long your staying there. getting back in was no trouble either, they do do random searches of trunks and stuff but nothing to be afraid of. I find that passports work great so they know you really are a citizen. drivers licences are easy to come but these days.

When i go to Canda, they don't even check my id cause i live in new york state....their like my neighbors!

No matter what you do, don't ever say "I'm smuggling opium." They don't find that very funny at all.

Seriously, it's about the same as driving from PA to NY.

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"When I was growing up, we were taught something called manners. You'd understand that if you weren't such an idiot." - Jack Handey

A little tip, I heard from a friend who recently reutrned from Canada that the documents required to cross the border will be getting a bit more rigid. I mean the guideline was always a passport OR a drivers license OR an original birth certificate and photo ID.

According to this source it is soon to be passport or two ID's one of which must be drivers license. I forget wheter Sep1 or Oct 1 is to be the effective date.

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David Bowers
Mayor, Coasterville

Don't tell them that you have a gun either, they don't like that!

You should have no trouble

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The worst day at Cedar Point is better than the best day at work.

Ok lets see no guns, no drugs and I should be good to go. As long as I Have my PA drivers license with me. If they need more ID I'll have my Hershery and Dorney passes too. ;)

What do I do about exchanging money or can I just spend at will. What is the basic exchange rate? I did a currency converter for admission at Marineland. $30 Canadian dollars roughly exchanged for $20 US. Does that sound close or or is it way off?

You all have been helpful so far thanks for all the input! :)

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Visits to Knoebels in 2002: 6

Don't bring fruit or bombs, and all should be cool. Just remember that you should add some time for the crossing. Assume an extra 30 minutes to get through. It might be more or less, but that seems to be the average.

Bring your passport, birth certificate and drivers license for anyone and everyone travelling with you. It will be asked for. That is the experience I have had since Sep. 11th.
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www.tripowered.com

Go to a bank or authorized currency exchange that offers the same rates as banks do. Wait until you get into Canada, though, as banks here do not give a very good exchange rate. Alot of people make it sound like it's very easy to get across the border. It can be as long as your truthfull with what your intentions are in the country, your length of stay, and don't bring any "no-no's" with you ( ie: guns, drugs, more than a case of beer).

FYI, I cross the border at least once a month, and have been searched by customs three times out of the last five. It's a completely random, luck of the draw as to who gets searched. They make you pull into customs, ransack your car, and then run your I.D. through their computers, and then send you on your merry way. With nothing to hide, it's a pretty painless process.

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Enjoy yourself. These are the good old days you're going to miss in the years ahead.

Just say "Ay!" and you'll be fine!

*** This post was edited by mforcealldaway on 8/18/2002. ***

Then you'd sound like a pirate, not a Canadian. I think you mean "eh."

For future reference, when posting a question, one question mark will do.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"Let's stop saying 'don't quote me,' because if no one quotes you, you probably haven't said a thing worth saying." - Dogma, KMFDM

Getting into Canada shouldn't be a problem... it's getting back that could be a problem. Just remember this... do it at night. Run as fast as you can and whatever you do, don't ever look back!

You might want to think about running faster if you hear from a border patrol guard, "There's another one of those d*mn Canadians running across. Pick him off."

Coasterman Mike

Sometimes it's just easier to pay with plastic than worry about the currency exchange.

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The worst day at Cedar Point is better than the best day at work.

Living on the outskirts of detroit I cross into Canada quite frequently here. I also have made the trip through to New York several times.

Some things I have found out. (through personal experiance).

(1) If you are dressed like a hippie, you have a better chance at getting stopped at customs. (pulled over for further inspection). (I am not a hippie, quite a few friends are..)

(2) Most of the time a drivers liscence will do. However if you do get asked to "pull over" at customs, a passport or birth certificate speeds up the process at getting out of their soomer

(3) Do not ever joke with a customs official on either side of the border.

(4) when crossing through customs, it is best to have everyone awake in the car. I have been asked to wake people up by customs agents more then once. (Did they think they were dead?).

(5) refer to the customs agent as SIR or MAM.. it seams they let you through a little faster this way.

(6) have all cigarettes extinguished and out of site before entering the border crossing. having visible cigarettes often leads to annoyinh illegal drug questions (for teens and early twenty somethings at least).

(7) Do not lie to the customs agents. If you get caught in a lie, you are screwed. (or so I would assume)

(8) Never get caught in Canada without your identification. Sure, you may get in without it, but they may ask for it on the way out.

Well, this is all I can think of now. Except this warning... If for some reason customs agents decide to search you or you vehicle, you will be responsible for placing everything back where it was originally. Customs only does the unpacking. (rarely does this ever happen, do not give them a reason too!)

I recently made the treck into Canada to see Niagara Falls (no visit to Marine Land, though.) and I had my video camera out since I was filming everywhere we went on our trip. The US guys told us not to film as we crossed the bridge to Canada. I don't understand that part. On the way back, I just needed ID.

C-punk - regarding the exchange - most border crossings (and all three NY/Ontario ones, I believe) have currency exchange booths just over the bridge, in/around the duty free stores. They usually give a fair rate.

And the tip about plastic was pretty good as well - most major cards will give you the best exchange rate for the day of purchase.

Most important to remember when you're over here, we drive on the RIGHT ...

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Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.

I have been going to Canada pretty regularly since I was about 6 years old (hockey player), and we have rarely ever taken cash money into the country. The exchanges are always better with plastic, be it at the park itself or at the MAC machines up there.

And expect the customs agents to be rather pissy sometimes. I've been across 3 times since Sept. 11, the first time there was no difference, the second time, the guy didn't believe that my passport was me, didn't believe I went to college (even though I showed him my Pitt ID) and when I told him where I work, he'd never heard of the company so didn't believe me. It took me 15 minutes to get through the border and then I got glared at as I drove across the bridge. 3rd time, back to normal. So go figure, just hit the guys and gals that look friendly (although women are usually tougher on you than men)

And don't be taking this trip on Thursday!! :)

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