Toronto
Toronto is the Canadian metropolis well-known for its harbor on lake Ontario where the temperatures are chilly but not as cold as the rest of North America gets at some points. This great city has a whole lot of culture to be explored and experienced, and opportunity as well. So many reasons to travel here including the TIFF, CN Tower, Toronto Caribbean Carnival, China Town to tuck into delicious East Asian fare, stylish shopping on Kensington and Bellevue. You gotta love The Six! Toronto's nightlife is vibrant, with a wide range of bars, clubs, and music venues offering live music, dancing, and entertainment. Visitors can enjoy a night out in the lively districts of Queen West or the Entertainment District.
Tipping.
Restaurants and bars- A gratuity of between 15% and 20% of the bill before tax, depending on the level of service.
Taxi- Tipping your taxi driver is customary. Most tip 10%, but you can tip 15% if the service is exceptional.
Hotels- Tip the porter a gratuity of between 1$ and 2$ per bag depending on its weight. You can tip the housekeeper between 2$ and 3$ per day (5$ in high end establishments).
Lingo in Toronto.
There’s no place like “The Six”! Torontonians have a distinct, swagger, attitude and way of speaking, and interestingly the slang keeps evolving. So you can’t expect 2018 slang to work the same way in 2021. Don’t let the hip hop references throw you off. Here’s a guide to keep you in-the-know, just in case!
General lingo.
Cuzo = A term of affection like “bro” or “my dude”
Mans = I, we , me, us, them (From Jamaican patois and London - homegrown Toronto meaning)
Fam = Family
Yute = Youth
Nize It = Be quiet / shut up!
Wagwan= What’s going on?
What you saying tonight? = What are doing tonight?
Thanks, it's vintage = Shut up
Toronah = What locals call Toronto
Eating out/ shopping lingo.
Two-Four = Going to buy beer from the store (““I am going to get a 2-4 of Canadian at the Beer Store, do you want anything?”)
Lime = It’s not the fruit. A lime is a get together with friends, family, coworkers or strangers at either your house, their house, the beach, by the river or on a street corner. Sometimes at work
Timmies = The super popular Tim Horton’s coffee shop
Double-double = Coffee with two creams and two sugars
Scoop me = Give me a ride
Get your flirt on!
Were you born on the Bluenose? Because baby, you're a dime.
I wish I was Tim Horton's coffee, so I could get close to your lips
Ting = Casual relationship (From Jamaican patois - homegrown Toronto meaning)
Checking = Dating but not official (not boyfriend/girlfriend) (Example: Dude 1: "Yo is that gyal ur wifey?" / Dude 2: "Nah b we just checking")
Chop = The art of trying to get a girl or guy to go out with you; often involves an attempt to obtain one's digits
Dealing = A state beyond "checking" but still not official; both individuals like each other and there is potential for a relationship
Dime piece = An extremely attractive girl; a 10/10
Sweeterman = A cute and sweet guy; a pretty boy that all the ladies swoon over
Transport from Toronto Pearson International Airport.
There are 4 ways to get from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Downtown Toronto - by train, bus, taxi or airport shuttle.
Train.
The Union Pearson Express train is one of the easiest, fastest and cost-effective ways of getting to Union Station in downtown Toronto from Toronto Pearson International Airport. Since the train takes a direct route, it takes around 25 minutes to reach Downtown Toronto. You can buy a one-way ticket using the UP Express app or at the airport customer service counters at Terminals 1 or 3.
Bus/coach.
If you choose to take the bus, the 900 Airport Express bus is your best bet. It does have a longer journey of 75 minutes with an extra transfer to Kipling Station’s Subway Line 2. However, if you would like the lowest rates on airport transfer then this would be the best option for you. Get your ticket when you board or from the TTC or GO Transit ticket machines at the airport.
Private shuttle.
If the other options aren’t going to cut it, chances are you’re looking for an option that’s more you - maybe maximum privacy, luxurious comfort and flexibility. There are many shuttle services to choose from like Aeroport taxi. They aim to keep things as easy as possible for you to explore the city guided by a professional local chauffeur for a more personal and unique service. There’s sedans, stretch limos, minivans and more.
Taxi.
Taxi rates are decided based on the zones that you’re traveling to or traveling from but you can expect to pay around 50$ to 60$ Canadian dollars for locations in Downtown Toronto and around 75$ for stops east of Downtown. All in all, it would take you around 30 minutes to reach Downtown from Toronto Airport. Luckily there is no shortage of taxis at the stand in front of the airport exit. Go to Canada Taxi Fare Calculator for a rough estimate of prices.
Best time to travel.
The best times to visit would be late April through May and September through October.
