What To Expect When Crossing The Border By Land
/Yesterday I spoke about the type of ID needed to cross the border or how much money can be spent shopping before duty charges kick in or your alcohol allowance coming back to Canada. Well today we will talk about what you can expect to happen upon arriving to the USA/Canada border crossing.
USA Border
Going into the USA is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be as long as you have your proper documents in order and no legal issues at home in Canada like a criminal record or behind in child support payments.
Once we arrive, everyone must exit the bus with their passport and personal belongings. Hats (or head gear of any kind), sunglasses and ear phones must be removed. Your cell phone is either left on the bus or you put it on airplane mode so it doesn’t go off while getting processed. Only speak when spoken to and do not offer any information. The reason is if you accidentally say something that peaks the interest of the border agent, more questions can follow and with more questions comes the possibility of being denied entry. No citrus fruits or raw meat can cross. (there are exceptions to this rule, but for the purposes of this blog let’s keep this simple)
You must know where you are going and if it is an overnight trip then you must have the address to where you will be staying. Also if you are carrying a passport that is not Canadian or United States then you may need a temporary visa to enter the USA called an I94. This is a form that gets filled out about where you are from and where you are going. It will cost $6 USD to process and will be good for 3 months after which you must return to customs and immigration upon leaving the USA unless you think you will be returning before the expiry date. This allows the U.S. government to confirm that you have left the country.
Canadian Border
Returning to Canada can be a toss up as to whether it will be easy or hard (at least for the driver). Meaning the bus could get searched having all the luggage removed from inside and underneath luggage bins. If this type of inspection happens, it could be 2-3 hours before we can be on our way especially if there are buses in line in front of us. Now this is not a common occurrence for most groups and usually happens when someone runs their mouth and says the wrong thing. With every word that comes out of your mouth is just one word closer to holding up the entire group.
Other situations that could take time is random searches which involves waiting for them to get a sniffer dog from another border to check for drugs being smuggled in or when you arrived at the border it is 15 mins from shift change so they will not process you until the next group of officers arrive as they don’t want to take the chance of running over their time as they can’t leave until the bus is processed. We have had agents not want to clear a bus that they had us waiting 30 mins for the next group of officers to arrive.
So no matter which border you cross at, the best course of action is to stick to the truth. The moment you start lying to save yourself a few dollars it is all downhill from there. If you are caught you pay duty along with additional fines for lying which quickly makes your purchase not worth it and time wasted at the border waiting. The other thing you can do to keep things smooth at either border is to keep your mouth shut and only speak when spoken to. Border agents don’t like doing more than they have to and when you open your mouth you just open yourself up to scrutiny and if they have to work more as a result then they will go through every last thing that you own.
If you like these tips then be sure to sign up to my mailing list for updates on the new blog postings and upcoming trips.
3 commonly asked questions about crossing the border
/I get asked a lot about what is to be expected heading into the United States on a bus trip from Toronto and back. People mostly want to know what kind of ID is needed, how much money can I spend shopping and how much alcohol am I aloud to bring back. So let’s get right to it…
What type of ID do I need to cross the border?
Easy answer is a valid passport, enhanced drivers licence and a Nexxus card are also accepted. For the purpose of this question we are going to stick with only a passport as your guaranteed way of crossing as long as everything else checks out. Shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the twin towers, the border tightened up security so all passengers must disembark from the bus and have their passports scanned. They also randomly check luggage, bring a sniffer dog and run baggage through scanners but not always.
How much money can I spend shopping?
24+ hrs - $200
48+ hrs - $400
7 days+ - $750
Everything you buy is included in your above totals except for money spent on food, drink, lodging and recreational activities. Your final total needs to be converted into Canadian dollars when declaring your amount to the border agent.
How much alcohol can I bring back?
One liter bottle of alcohol OR one 750 ml bottle of wine OR one case of beer AND one carton of cigarettes. You have to be of drinking age to claim alcohol, going into the United States 21 years old and coming back to Canada 19 years old. Now going into the United States you can take as much alcohol as you please. Just make sure when coming home that you are only bringing back your allowed amount. Now you can certainly bring back more if you like, just be prepared to pay duty but no worries as the duty still has the bottle cheaper than the Liquor Store.
Hopefully these tips helped to clear up some of your common questions. These tips also apply to cars, trucks and basically any vehicle arriving to the border by land. If you liked this post then be sure to sign up for our mailing list to receive alerts about future blog posts and upcoming trips.
All information provided in this post is based on my over 20 yrs experience as a bus driver, however, please contact your respective border agencies for up to date and factual information.
Tour Operator Topdeck changes return policy, applies it retrospectively and then promptly denies all refunds
/As a tour operator myself, I sympathize with Topdeck going from being liquid to cash strapped in a matter of weeks. This seems to be the story of businesses across the world and unfortunately most may not survive. Having said that this does not give Topdeck the right to rewrite their refund policy AND then promptly refuse to refund trips that they previously communicated to customers as approved. Now what Topdeck is offering in it’s place is a full credit plus an additional $100 that expires December 2021.
After cancelling her trip because of the Covid-19 outbreak a New Zealand lady was told by Topdeck via email that she would receive a 100% refund. A few weeks later she received another email telling her she would only be receiving her refund in the form of a travel voucher plus an additional $100 that expires December 2021. Topdeck did say that they are flexible with the expiry date. A complaint has since been filed with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). A review was also left on the Topdeck facebook page expressing her concerns that has been promptly removed.
ACCC has said that giving refunds in the form of vouchers is allowed and normal practice amongst tour operators, however applying a policy change retrospectively is not. Now while all this is happening, the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) posted an advice via their website for tour operators to issue vouchers instead of cash refunds. The reason is so operators can remain liquid throughout the travel supply chain during this pandemic.
There seems to be a lot of confusing information that is coming out of different camps, but I guess that is to be expected when you are navigating a pandemic. That doesn’t give any business the right to change a policy and then apply it retroactively in their favour over the customer. If anything the customer should benefit on any changes made retroactively not the business. This is what our federal government is for, isn’t it enough that the people will be paying for these bailouts to begin with via their tax dollars but to punish them again and get help from the government is almost criminal.
I think Topdeck is going to get crucified in the media, especially since one of their main competitors Contiki has changed their policy the same way except they will not apply it retroactively. The smart thing to do would be to ask each client individually if they would like to take a travel voucher plus 10% towards a future trip in lieu of cash. I guess we will see what develops over the next few months. Let’s hope that Topdeck changes their position under all the media attention and does the right thing.
Be sure to sign up to our mailing list to receive notice about future blog posts or kept up to date about upcoming bus trips…Sign Up Today!
10 Things You Didn’t Know About TallPat Tours
/You travel with us, you have seen our ads and you also know that we have been around for decades. Knowing all that info, do you really know who we are. Well this is your chance to get a small peek behind the window of TallPat Tours. This is just a little bit of insight into where we came from and how we came about.
The name TallPat was created after my Mom who’s name is Patricia
The first half of the name was added because there were 2 Patricia’s doing the same thing, however my Mom is 6” tall…hence the name “TallPat Tours”
TallPat Tours started because my mom is addicted to shopping and finding deals, so she started doing bus trips for her and her friends
I take after my mom as I am 6”5’ tall
I played ice hockey when I was 14…played goaltender
I played peewee football and quarterbacked the Agincourt Rams to a championship played at Exhibition Stadium (The old CNE grounds for you torontonians)
I never played competitive basketball
I once drove on the opposite side of the highway in a motor coach on our way to Florida during a blizzard and had to be escorted to the correct side by a police officer
I watch the Y&R daily…yes the soap opera!
My zodiac sign is Cancer
Just a small list into who we are and how we came about, as you can see we are a tall family. I didn’t mention my father in this post but he is also tall standing in at 6”4’. Height in this family is not an issue except for my sister who is a paltry 5”6’ tall…lol…we have different fathers and hers was of average height. So I hope you were surprised by some of the answers on the list and going forward you have a new appreciation for who we are here at TallPat Tours.
Stay safe out there and if you want to be part of our mailing list to receive emails about future trips then feel free to sign up to our list above and to the right.
A recap of the past 7 days posts
/If you were binge watching Netflix, battling friends or foe online or taking in some extra beauty sleep. You may have missed my first 7 blog posts ever! So here is your chance to catch up on any posts that you have missed and you may just witness some writing improvement along the way, but don’t hold your breath…;-)
My 1st post ever was about where I was and what I was doing during the breaking news of the corona virus outbreak. Follow our adventure both leaving and returning to the country, it was quite the ride.
Click here to read the post
My 2nd post is about how to stay on task during the pandemic. It can be so easy to lose time being lazy and doing nothing productive. These are just a few tips for keeping a little work ethic going while you work at home.
Click here to read the post.
My 3rd post is just some tips about how to save money to be able to travel. This post is for those who think they cannot travel because of money constraints, have a read as you never know what idea could be sparked as a result.
Click Here to read the post.
My 4th post contains tips for enjoying a weekend in New York City. It is a fast paced city with plenty of opportunities good and bad. Have a quick read if you want to avoid some of the pit falls of one of the most exciting cities in the world.
Click here to read the post.
My 5th post is about exercise ideas you can do at home during the pandemic. These tips will help to keep your mind and body in tune with each other while we are cooped up indoors all day long.
Click Here to read the post.
My 6th post is my top 3 Movies and TV shows of all time. What is your top 3?
Click here to read the post.
My 7th post is filled with tips on how to survive a long bus trip. There are some great tips that people overlook, so have a look and see what tips you can benefit from. Pssst…they work for long car rides too!
Click here to read the post.
So if you missed any of the past 7 postings then be sure to catch up here and if you would like to be added to our mailing list to be informed when our services start up again then be sure to sign up to our mailing list in the column above and to the right.
My Top 3 Movies/TV Shows Of All-Time
/The Covid-19 pandemic has us binge watching TV Shows and Movies for a while now. So I figured I would put out my list of Movies and TV Shows that I see as my top 3. This was an impossible list to try and come up with because 3 is certainly not enough, but it leaves room for some interesting answers as you trim down your answers. So with out further delay, here are my top 3 favourites.
#3
Movie - Training Day with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke
I loved this movie from the jump with it’s focus on dirty cops, life in the hood of LA, bumping music you can feel in your chest and of course the back stab. Most of all for me seeing Denzel play that role and make me believe him is why I loved this movie so much.
#3
TV Show - Ozark with Jason Bateman and Laura Linney
I stumbled onto this show because as a motor coach driver I actually had to drive through the Ozark’s on a quilting trip…lol…yes, a quilting trip. Anyways, after coming home I saw the show on Netflix and figured I would give it a shot and oh boy am I glad I did. Can I just say that Marty and Wendy Byrde are the perfect couple! This show has ups and downs, shocking moments, sad moments, heart felt moments and a lot of ruthlessness to go around. This show is worth taking a look at.
#2
Movie - The Usual Suspects with Kevin Spacey and Gabriel Byrne
This was a star studded movie that according to Wikipedia was shot on a 6 million dollar budget back in 1995. I loved the way the movie was told in the past tense and narrated quite well. The shock for me was the ending as I didn’t see that one coming and that is why it is number 2 on my list.
#2
TV Show - Breaking Bad with Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul
This show had an amazing 5 year run and it was one of those shows that ended the way it was supposed to. (not like “LOST”…the ending still irks me to this day) I think I have a soft spot for criminals as I watch this list take shape…lol
#1
Movie - Pulp Fiction with Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta
This star studded movie directed by Quentin Tarantino is by far hands down my favourite movie of all time! This was the first movie that took I think it was 3-4 separate story lines, maintaining that separation until a little past half way through and then started weaving all the story lines together. It was unbelievable to watch at the time as I was saying to myself what does each story have to do with the other as the movie was playing. Then you start getting that uh huh moment as the movie starts to come to a close. This is a must watch movie if you have never seen it!
#1
TV Show - The Walking Dead/Fear The Walking Dead
If at the very least you haven’t heard of The Walking Dead, then you truly are living under a rock! This show along with it’s spin off counter part (Fear TWD) that aired when TWD was in production (off season) was perfect timing for us diehard TWD fans. It basically meant we could be watching zombie TV all year long. I initially fought watching this show (TWD) as I hate blood and gore (now I watch UFC and TWD…go figure), but after TWD took North America by storm. I mean talk shows, radio stations, athletes, co-workers, dammit I finally gave in to the peer pressure about a year later and never looked back. I luuuuuuvvvvvvvvv this show, probably in part because so many main characters get killed off that it pisses me off that I have to watch more…lol…so if you haven’t noticed, I recommend this show. Watch out for the new spin off “World Beyond”!
This is my list of favourites but to be honest there are so many other shows out there that could have made the list like “Making A Murderer”, Silver Linings Playbook, Alias, Life Of Pi and the list goes on.
What is your favourite Movie/TV Show of all-time? Let me know in the comments below.
5 tips for staying productive while working at home…
/During our current world pandemic with the introduction of the Corona virus in our human and now recently animal population. We have been forced into work at home businesses for some and others who find themselves with more time than they expected and are trying to learn something new. The issue we are facing is most of us are not used to this new way of life and are struggling to keep ourselves on task and find we are falling behind with what we need or should get done each day. So my tips for staying productive are as follows.
Have A Plan…
I think the most important tip for working at home is to have a plan of action. I know this sounds simple but how many times have you set out to complete a project and then got distracted and ended up in a totally different area. Happens all the time to me (I actually got side tracked for 2 hours while writing this post because I didn’t plan my day and forgot about 2 webinars that I signed up for) so I adopted an idea that I discovered while doing some research online. It was the use of a whiteboard, now I have included a picture of mine so you can see what I mean. All you need is the whiteboard, A black Sharpie marker, an erasable black marker and post it notes. We are going old school here as no technology is required for this one. So basically you separate the board as follows. 1st column which will take up most of the space is your ‘options’ section. This area is for projects that you want/need to tackle, so fill it up. 2nd column is your ‘ready’ section, which can fit 6 post it’s that are moved from your options area as items you are ‘ready’ to start working on. 3rd column is broken up into 2 sections with ‘The Pen’ and ‘Today’. ‘Today’ is at the bottom of the column and for 1 post it at a time. If for some reason you cannot complete the task because you are waiting on some information, then you can move that project to ‘The Pen’ and start a new project while you wait on info for your previous one. Finally our 4th and final column which is ‘Done’ and that is for completed jobs. The feeling of watching your ‘options’ column empty out and your ‘done’ column filling up is quite satisfying.
Exercise & Nutrition
I believe this point most people overlook and it can be an important one. I know when I am working at home I tend to get lost in my work and sometimes lose hours before I realize it. Working from home you have a mindset of comfort and everything is at your finger tips and easily accessible. This can put you in a state of ease and knock you out of your regular routine of eating properly and getting your daily exercise. Even if that exercise is just you walking into your building at work or heading to the cafeteria for a drink. The point is you are moving and in some cases getting some fresh air which can do wonders for your performance and focus. So taking a 15 min break and going for a walk (so long as you practice physical distancing) can do wonders for how you focus when you return. Also we tend to forget to eat when home and out of our regular routines, so be sure to make time for meals and snacks. The best way for me because sometimes i get so buried in my work that I set alarms for myself so maybe after an hour I will take a 15 min break or so on. Do what works for you and you will be more focused and productive.
Location Is Key…
If you find yourself struggling to maintain good work ethic while at home, why not try to set up a home office if possible. This office can have as much or as little as you like. The main takeaway is if focus is an issue then maybe you need to act as if you are going to work and have an area (if possible) where you can be hidden away from distractions. Pick a spot where you normally do not go so you are a bit uncomfortable. If you can, have a desk and chair set up for you to work at. The goal here is to try to make it like you are walking into work as much as possible to get you on the right track.
Social Interaction
This next point I thought of based on the responses of stay at home mom’s that I have heard over the years. The biggest pain point for them was having no adult interaction/conversation. When you are home day after day and your only conversation is on a child level with some brief adult interaction mostly created by deliveries or errands you run, it can get quite boring which leads to you feeling uninspired. The same goes for people who work at home but don’t take time out of their day (doesn’t have to be everyday) when they may be feeling down to talk to a friend. When you go to work you interact with different people all day long which keeps your mind stimulated. However at home you are dealing with the same people all day every day which can make a little social interaction a welcome distraction and quite refreshing. Try it the next time you are feeling out of sorts.
Define Your Working Hours…
This last tip is pretty important if you are working with a team, but also if you want to remain productive while working at home. If you work with a team having the same hours everyday will allow your team members to count on you during the times you have established. This way there is no guessing as to when you will be available and the work will flow better amongst colleagues when a defined schedule is followed. If you are on your own then having defined times will help to keep you on task and also be available during working hours for clients or vendors to get in contact with you.