Flying to Ottawa and back: best way?

[yanpa]

I need to visit the capital of Canuckistan in May and would like to sponge off your collective wisdom. More specifically, as my experience of flying across the Pacific is limited, are there any airlines/routes to prefer/avoid? I am told it is the done thing to fly into Montreal, also I have vague hopes of stopping in New York for a day or two as it's somewhere I've always wanted to visit. Any advice gratefully accepted.

[Russell]

Avoid Air Koryo.

[canman]

If money is no object, then fly Air Canada. They are much more expensive than the others, but they are very good, and the alcohol is free! If you are on a budget, then Delta will get you there and back with a stop in Detroit. I know a lot of people dislike Delta, but, since Ottawa is home, they do have some of the best connections. The biggest problem with flying ANA, is that they fly directly to JFK, but then you have to change to either Laguardia, or even worse Liberty Airport in Newark, so I would avoid ANA. Other than that, the rest are all the same.
On a side note how long will you be staying, and where? The weather has been quite cool in central Ontario this spring, so you might want to bring something a little warm. If you have a chance head down to the byward market, as it is a nice place to stroll around and get a flavor of the city.

[yanpa]

If money is no object, then fly Air Canada. They are much more expensive than the others, but they are very good, and the alcohol is free! If you are on a budget, then Delta will get you there and back with a stop in Detroit. I know a lot of people dislike Delta, but, since Ottawa is home, they do have some of the best connections. The biggest problem with flying ANA, is that they fly directly to JFK, but then you have to change to either Laguardia, or even worse Liberty Airport in Newark, so I would avoid ANA. Other than that, the rest are all the same.

Thanks, I will bear that in mind.

On a side note how long will you be staying, and where? The weather has been quite cool in central Ontario this spring, so you might want to bring something a little warm. If you have a chance head down to the byward market, as it is a nice place to stroll around and get a flavor of the city.

About 5 days in central Ottawa in the last half of May. I presume the ice on the canal/river will have melted by then so I won't need to pack skates?

[matsuki]

Avoid ANA no matter where you're flying...

Not sure if there are any routes there but for price, newer planes, service, and cute attendants, Singapore can't be beat.

[james]

I typically fly Air Canada. I used to do Osaka - Vancouver - Ottawa, but they nixed the Osaka flight several years ago so now I fly Narita - Calgary - Ottawa, or Narita - Toronto - Ottawa. You could also do Narita - Vancouver, Ottawa, but I prefer Calgary for purely personal reasons. I'll send you a pm with details for a travel agent I deal with if you like.

As for things to do in Ottawa at that time of year, I definitely concur with Canman re checking out Byward Market. It's not big, but it's a nice market and there are often buskers out performing. If you're an NHL fan, you might also be able to catch a hockey game as it seems the Sens - despite their recent efforts not to - have clinched a playoff spot. Games are held at ScotiaBank Place, which is in the west end of the city. Give yourself lots of time to get there if you decide to do this.

If you're into museums, the Canadian Museum of Nature is decent, as is the National Gallery of Canada, which is within easy walking distance of the Byward Market. While in the Byward Market, try a Beaver Tail. You'll also be right by Parliament Hill.

People like to bitch about the buses, but I've found them to be quite reliable and certainly a good alternative to the overpriced and dirty taxis (especially compared to Japan), depending on where you're going.

If you were to be going later in the year, there was a good chance I'd have been back and could've shown you around a bit.

So just out of curiosity, what's bringing you to Ottawa?

[yanpa]

I'll send you a pm with details for a travel agent I deal with if you like.

Thanks, that would be cool.

So just out of curiosity, what's bringing you to Ottawa?

A conference.

[Mike Oxlong]

Avoid any US connections like the plague if you don't carry a US passport. Immigration & customs are not Ceej-friendly...

[yanpa]

Avoid ANA no matter where you're flying...

Any reason? I've never had any problems with them before, including on the Tokyo-LA leg of my one and only trans-Pacific flight.

Not sure if there are any routes there but for price, newer planes, service, and cute attendants, Singapore can't be beat.

Seconded.

[matsuki]

Avoid ANA no matter where you're flying...

Any reason? I've never had any problems with them before, including on the Tokyo-LA leg of my one and only trans-Pacific flight.

Not sure if there are any routes there but for price, newer planes, service, and cute attendants, Singapore can't be beat.

Seconded.

I'd probably break the forum with the list I have of ANA complaints...let's just say they they serve vanilla ice cream and Singapore serves Ben and Jerry's Chocolate brownie. That's reason enough

[Samurai_Jerk]

Avoid any US connections like the plague if you don't carry a US passport. Immigration & customs are not Ceej-friendly...

Kind of tough if he also wants to go to NY. And trust me, having a US passport doesn't make them any friendlier.

[yanpa]

Avoid any US connections like the plague if you don't carry a US passport. Immigration & customs are not Ceej-friendly...

Kind of tough if he also wants to go to NY. And trust me, having a US passport doesn't make them any friendlier.

NY is a bonus if it makes sense flying that way.

My one and only experience of US immigration (2011, LA) wasn't so bad.

[Mike Oxlong]

Kind of tough if he also wants to go to NY. And trust me, having a US passport doesn't make them any friendlier.

Previous trips back to Canuckistan via the US have been less than pleasant at the point of transfer.

[matsuki]

Relatively speaking, I've only had one weird experience with the US security/immigration/etc (and it was who I was travelling with, not me) so I can't really complain...but I don't think security/immigration/etc in country is pleasant.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Relatively speaking, I've only had one weird experience with the US security/immigration/etc (and it was who I was travelling with, not me) so I can't really complain...but I don't think security/immigration/etc in country is pleasant.

Things have gotten better in the US in recent years. They used to be so fucking rude.

[canman]

But Chokenen, you are a US citizen, so you shouldn't get hassled as much as those of us who don't carry a US passport, but fly through the good old USA. I must admit Detroit has gotten better, but the first few years after 9/11, they were downright pricks. I stopped flying through there it was so bad.

[matsuki]

But Chokenen, you are a US citizen, so you shouldn't get hassled as much as those of us who don't carry a US passport, but fly through the good old USA. I must admit Detroit has gotten better, but the first few years after 9/11, they were downright pricks. I stopped flying through there it was so bad.

I usually have lemurs in tow...the only difference I ever see is "Welcome to America" as opposed to "Welcome home"

[Samurai_Jerk]

But Chokenen, you are a US citizen, so you shouldn't get hassled as much as those of us who don't carry a US passport, but fly through the good old USA. I must admit Detroit has gotten better, but the first few years after 9/11, they were downright pricks. I stopped flying through there it was so bad.

I usually have lemurs in tow...the only difference I ever see is "Welcome to America" as opposed to "Welcome home"

Why the fuck would you take some piece of ass home with you?

[matsuki]

But Chokenen, you are a US citizen, so you shouldn't get hassled as much as those of us who don't carry a US passport, but fly through the good old USA. I must admit Detroit has gotten better, but the first few years after 9/11, they were downright pricks. I stopped flying through there it was so bad.

I usually have lemurs in tow...the only difference I ever see is "Welcome to America" as opposed to "Welcome home"

Why the fuck would you take some piece of ass home with you?

Happy fun time in America!

But seriously, only the ones worth keeping around come back with me

[Samurai_Jerk]

But Chokenen, you are a US citizen, so you shouldn't get hassled as much as those of us who don't carry a US passport, but fly through the good old USA. I must admit Detroit has gotten better, but the first few years after 9/11, they were downright pricks. I stopped flying through there it was so bad.

I usually have lemurs in tow...the only difference I ever see is "Welcome to America" as opposed to "Welcome home"

Why the fuck would you take some piece of ass home with you?

Happy fun time in America!

But seriously, only the ones worth keeping around come back with me

And how many of them are you still with?

[FG Lurker]

And how many of them are you still with?

Well, he does still seem to be connected to that crazy one...

[yanpa]

If money is no object, then fly Air Canada.

I have indeed ended up with Air Canada

Heading to the airport now...

[yanpa]

Well this sucks. Canada, or at least Ottawa, appears to be one of those places with a restrictive attitude as to when and where alcohol is solved. One cannot evidently just pop out to the nearest convenience store.

[Russell]

The first signs of culture shock...

[wagyl]

Well this sucks. Canada, or at least Ottawa, appears to be one of those places with a restrictive attitude as to when and where alcohol is solved. One cannot evidently just pop out to the nearest convenience store.

I understand there is Scandinavian level tight control throughout Ontario, and in other provinces. It is all designed so that you are sober when you decide to get that maple leaf tattoo.
(As an aside, it also means that if the provincial liquor retail organisation does not stock your favourite brand, you need to travel a long way to find it. A friend in Montreal travels to New York to get his favourite brand of champers.)

[Coligny]

Well this sucks. Canada, or at least Ottawa, appears to be one of those places with a restrictive attitude as to when and where alcohol is solved. One cannot evidently just pop out to the nearest convenience store.

Ain't сука got no recipe for antifreeze based moonshine ?

[matsuki]

She never came...stateside

Ottawa can't be a happy place to be right now. The senators are being destroyed:eek:

[yanpa]

The first signs of culture shock...

Wait until I tell you about all the big scary foreigners

[yanpa]

Well this sucks. Canada, or at least Ottawa, appears to be one of those places with a restrictive attitude as to when and where alcohol is solved. One cannot evidently just pop out to the nearest convenience store.

I understand there is Scandinavian level tight control throughout Ontario, and in other provinces. It is all designed so that you are sober when you decide to get that maple leaf tattoo.

From 1927-1962 the LCBO licensed drinkers the same way that driving is licensed by the province today. People who wanted to drink had to fill in application forms and were issued individually numbered (5 digits) liquor permits.

(As an aside, it also means that if the provincial liquor retail organisation does not stock your favourite brand, you need to travel a long way to find it. A friend in Montreal travels to New York to get his favourite brand of champers.)

Damn, there goes my idea of [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Société_des_alcools_du_Québec]sneaking over the nearby border[/url].

[canman]

Young man, get thy self across yonder border, to the fine province of Quebec. Where you can find all sorts of alcoholic beverages in depaneurs(convenience stores), to quench thy thirst!