Right now, SkyTeam member airline Air France is offering reasonable non-stop flights from Paris to Vancouver in their light fare. Prices start at €305 but do not include checked luggage. If you need checked luggage, the price will increase by €120 per roundtrip. There are availabilites until March, 2021.
We expect further shakeups in the airline industry over the following months. Some services might be cancelled, aircraft changed or downgraded. The schedule we describe may very well change.
Search & Book
According to the fare rules, this deal is available until December 31, 2020. Almost unbelievable! The minimum stay requirement is a night from Saturday to Sunday. The inbound flight has to commence no later than 3 months after the outbound flight. Travel times are restricted, flights are only permitted between the following dates:
Outbound:
- November 3 to December 16, 2020
- December 31, 2020 to April 1, 2021
Inbound:
- November 12 to December 25, 2020
- January 11 to April 9, 2021
You can find your preferred travel dates with Google Flights (instructions). Prices are the cheapest with Air France directly, therefore we would highly recommend booking with them.
Mileage
The tickets will be issued in booking class V. At most, you can earn 25% of the distance flown with several frequent flyer programs. Here is the exact mileage accrual for the different programs:
Hotels
Hotels in North America can be a very pricey affair. Don’t hesitate to compare hotel reviews, prices and location to get the best deal. We would recommend using our preferred booking platform for that:
Also check out our hotel voucher and coupons:
Information & Tips for Canada
The North American country of Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of surface area. In Canada, English and French are the official languages. Tourists visit Canada because of its many natural attractions and large cities, and the flight prices vary between the east and west coasts. Flights to the east coast e.g. to Toronto or Montreal regularly cost less than 400€. For flights to the west coast, e.g. to Vancouver or Calgary, prices are closer to 400€ – 600€. Other destinations are mostly only reachable with an additional domestic flight. Just like in the USA, most airlines now only offer cheap fares that do not include checked baggage. For checked baggage you should budget an additional 50€ per direction.
Best Time to Travel
Canada is a huge country with many varying climate conditions, but it is safe to say that the winters (November to March) are very cold and snowy in most regions. Summers are relatively mild and partly rainy.
Immigration & Visa Requirements
Most EU citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 6 months. However, an electronic travel waiver (eTA) must be applied for, similar to the ESTA required for entry into the USA. This costs CA$7 (~€5) and is valid for up to 5 years.
Currency
Canada’s national currency is the Canadian Dollar (CAD). One euro is approximately CA$1.47. Many credit cards may charge a foreign currency fee of up to 2% to pay in CAD.
Transfer from Canada to the USA
Canada is located north of the USA and is the only other country apart from Mexico that shares a border with it (2 borders, actually: Alaska borders Canada in the southeast!) At many airports in Canada US immigration is already done before departure, so you arrive in the USA as a “domestic” passenger in the domestic terminal which can potentially save you lots of time since you do not have to stand in line at customs upon arriving. By land the same entry formalities take place as at the airport or by train at the station in Canada. Most EU citizens don’t need a visa and can instead make use of the digital ESTA procedure.
Finding the Best eSIM Plan
We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as Airalo and Maya Mobile. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for Canada 🇨🇦 Compared
→ All Dealz for Canada
Information & Tips for Vancouver
Vancouver is the largest metropolitan region in western Canada and a comparatively young city that has got a lot to offer! Stanley Park and Coal Harbour attract many visitors every year and Vancouver is also a great starting point if you want to explore the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Best Time to Visit
Vancouver has one of the mildest climates of any major Canadian city. The winters (December to February) are very rainy, snow is – untypical for Canada – rare. The best weather for tourism is from late July to mid October, when the days are comparatively warm and dry.
From the Airport to the City Center
The SkyTrain will take you to the city centre in about 25 minutes. A ride costs about 6€ (airport -> city) or 2,60€ (city -> airport). With a taxi you need just about half an hour at prices from 17€ to 20€.
Tip: Take a Seaplane Tour!
In many regions of Canada the seaplane is a common means of transport. Vancouver has its own seaplane terminal right at the Olympic Cauldron in the city centre. A short sightseeing flight (duration 20 minutes, of that approx. 10 minutes in flight) over Vancouver can be had for 95 Canadian dollars (approx. 62€). For 129 CAD (approx. 84€) there are longer flights with 20 minutes of air time which go all the way up to the North Shore Mountains. In addition, daily trips are offered e.g. to Victoria on Vancouver Island or one can also take part in the famous Mail Run. The largest seaplane operator at the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre (IATA code: CXH) is Harbour Air. In addition, Seair Seaplanes also offers cheap sightseeing- and scheduled flights. Kenmore Air even flies between Vancouver and Seattle.
→ All Dealz for Vancouver
Source: Fly4Free – Thank you!
Cover Picture: ©Jareya - stock.adobe.com