CHICAGO TO TORONTO

European1978 · November 26th, 2011, 04:03 AM

Hi everyone.

I will be in Chicago for a few days next year and I was thinking to visit Toronto as well. Is there an easy/cheap way to travel from Chicago to Toronto by train/bus via Detroit or is Buffalo the only possibility?
Also do you know if I need a special visa if I travel from US to Canada and back to the US being a EU citizen ? (probably I should ask this in the US forum)
Thanks in advance!

Innsertnamehere · November 26th, 2011, 05:26 AM

there should not be a visa.. not sure about that though. going through buffalo would be pointless. it would add like 10 hours to the ride.. sort of like going to Amsterdam from Paris but going through Cologne instead of Brussels.. pointless, unless you want to see buffalo more than Detroit!

good luck getting a train. even if there is a way, it would probably involve multiple tranfers. you would probablytake a Amtrak traon to detroit, have to get off there, somehow cross the river to Windsor, and then take a CN train from there.

no idea on buses though, you might be able to get a greyhound bus somehow.

Kensingtonian · November 26th, 2011, 06:11 AM

You can take a Greyhound from Chicago to Toronto through Detroit. It's a looooong trip... I've done it before. You can also take the much cheaper Megabus from Chicago to Detroit, but then you would have to switch to the Greyhound to get to Toronto. Not sure if you'd save much money over just taking the Greyhound the whole way.

As for the visa, I really doubt you'll need one if you're an EU citizen. Visas are generally for people from poor countries because they might not want to leave.

monkeyronin · November 26th, 2011, 06:36 AM

Instead of taking a bus or train, you might want to consider Porter Airlines, you should be able to find flights for somewhere in the range of ~$130.

Taking Greyhound is a little cheaper, probably around $70-80 but its also an 800 km trip. Don't even bother with a train because it will require a transfer (Amtrak to Detroit and then Via Rail to Toronto) and therefore take even longer the bus and be more expensive than flying.

monkeyronin · November 26th, 2011, 06:43 AM

Also, if you have a Spanish (?) passport, you won't need a visa to enter Canada.

***Taller, Better*** · November 26th, 2011, 08:57 AM

If you decide on a bus, get the ticket at least a full 7 days before it would depart Chicago; enquire of the bus company if it is even cheaper if you get it earlier than that.

Elnerico · November 26th, 2011, 09:49 AM

Porter Chicago to Toronto $130 CAD round trip (random january date "firm" purchase category) 50 Minute flight time each way.

Greyhound Chicago to Toronto $140 CAD round trip (same random january date "14 days advance purchase") 12hr to destination and 14hr return trip.

Even if you can get bus for half the price, I personally would rather not spend an extra 24 hrs of my life on a bus. Also you can get to fly into billy bishop and see the Toronto skyline with porter.

***Taller, Better*** · November 26th, 2011, 07:40 PM

How much is the Porter ticket with tax? It would absolutely be a nicer way to go.

Elnerico · November 26th, 2011, 08:54 PM

Oh guess I read it wrong, the price is $130 each way so $260 + tax = $376.91 CAD

Bus is still going to be about the same as I quoted previously. So a tough choice on a budget but I still prefer flying.

European1978 · November 26th, 2011, 11:46 PM

Thank you so much everyone for all the info!
We are two and we both hold EU passports (one Italy one Netherlands)

Kroum · November 27th, 2011, 06:10 AM

You should absolutely fly Porter from Chicago to Toronto. Train / bus are really bad choices.

There is a 20% off promotion currently underway at Porter, use promo code GIFT20 (but you gotta book by Nov. 29th). That should help you stay within budget.

Btw. no visas necessary for IT and NL passports. Enjoy your time here and don't forget to pack some very warm jackets.

Innsertnamehere · November 27th, 2011, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kroum

You should absolutely fly Porter from Chicago to Toronto. Train / bus are really bad choices.

There is a 20% off promotion currently underway at Porter, use promo code GIFT20 (but you gotta book by Nov. 29th). That should help you stay within budget.

Btw. no visas necessary for IT and NL passports. Enjoy your time here and don't forget to pack some very warm jackets.

did he ever mention what time of year he will be visiting? don't worry about jackets from may - start of september.

European1978 · November 27th, 2011, 06:26 AM

Thanks.
I will be there in May

European1978 · November 27th, 2011, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kroum

You should absolutely fly Porter from Chicago to Toronto. Train / bus are really bad choices.

There is a 20% off promotion currently underway at Porter, use promo code GIFT20 (but you gotta book by Nov. 29th). That should help you stay within budget.

Btw. no visas necessary for IT and NL passports. Enjoy your time here and don't forget to pack some very warm jackets.

Thanks! Are you from Sofia? I was in Sofia last March, really nice city center with yellow paved streets. I did really enjoy and people have been very kind!

Kroum · November 27th, 2011, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

did he ever mention what time of year he will be visiting? don't worry about jackets from may - start of september.

Oops, my bad! Although you could still use a light jacket for some cooler summer nights.

Quote:

Originally Posted by European1978

Thanks! Are you from Sofia? I was in Sofia last March, really nice city center with yellow paved streets. I did really enjoy and people have been very kind!

Yep, I'm originally from Sofia! Glad you enjoyed my hometown, although frankly there are nicer places and cities in Bulgaria. You should explore more when you get the chance. Veliko Tarnovo and Plovdiv are amazing, and so are numerous smaller towns and villages in the mountains.

Back on topic, feel free to resuscitate this thread closer to your travel dates and I/we will be glad to post some more recent Porter promo codes. They have discount codes pretty much all the time. It's totally worth flying them just for the awesome experience of landing in downtown Toronto: the view is unique and simply amazing. Provided there's no fog, of course.

European1978 · November 27th, 2011, 06:44 AM

Thanks mate, really appreciated!

AndrewJM3D · November 27th, 2011, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

there should not be a visa.. not sure about that though. going through buffalo would be pointless. it would add like 10 hours to the ride.. sort of like going to Amsterdam from Paris but going through Cologne instead of Brussels.. pointless, unless you want to see buffalo more than Detroit!

Actually it would only ad 2 to 2.5hrs to the trip, he could also see Niagara if he went that way.

European1978 · November 27th, 2011, 08:57 PM

Thanks, yes I was considering that too. - I could do it on the way back to NYC as I am flying to Barcelona from there.

November 26th, 2011, 04:03 AM	#1
European1978 EUROPEAN UNION Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Berlin [] Zürich [] New York [] Bremen [] Barcelona[x] Milan[April] 東京 [12getsu Posts: 1,185 Likes (Received): 2	CHICAGO TO TORONTO Hi everyone. I will be in Chicago for a few days next year and I was thinking to visit Toronto as well. Is there an easy/cheap way to travel from Chicago to Toronto by train/bus via Detroit or is Buffalo the only possibility? Also do you know if I need a special visa if I travel from US to Canada and back to the US being a EU citizen ? (probably I should ask this in the US forum) Thanks in advance! __________________ 私は日本語を話しますI SPEAK ENGLISH, ICH SPRECHE DEUTSCH, HABLO ESPAñOL, JE PARLE FRANCAIS, PARLO ITALIANO, IK SPREEK NEDERLANDS MY BOOK MY BLOG

November 26th, 2011, 08:57 AM	#6
*Taller, Better* Administrator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 52,742 Likes (Received): 276	If you decide on a bus, get the ticket at least a full 7 days before it would depart Chicago; enquire of the bus company if it is even cheaper if you get it earlier than that. __________________ Please visit my photoblog! Montréal \| Mexico \| Niagara-on-the-Lake \| Brazil \| Hamilton aka "The Hammer"! "Fine words butter no parsnips"-17th Century proverb.

November 26th, 2011, 09:49 AM	#7
Elnerico Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vancouver, Tdot Posts: 747	Porter Chicago to Toronto $130 CAD round trip (random january date "firm" purchase category) 50 Minute flight time each way. Greyhound Chicago to Toronto $140 CAD round trip (same random january date "14 days advance purchase") 12hr to destination and 14hr return trip. Even if you can get bus for half the price, I personally would rather not spend an extra 24 hrs of my life on a bus. Also you can get to fly into billy bishop and see the Toronto skyline with porter. Last edited by Elnerico; November 26th, 2011 at 08:55 PM.

November 26th, 2011, 07:40 PM	#8
*Taller, Better* Administrator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 52,742 Likes (Received): 276	How much is the Porter ticket with tax? It would absolutely be a nicer way to go. __________________ Please visit my photoblog! Montréal \| Mexico \| Niagara-on-the-Lake \| Brazil \| Hamilton aka "The Hammer"! "Fine words butter no parsnips"-17th Century proverb.

November 26th, 2011, 11:46 PM	#10
European1978 EUROPEAN UNION Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Berlin [] Zürich [] New York [] Bremen [] Barcelona[x] Milan[April] 東京 [12getsu Posts: 1,185 Likes (Received): 2	Thank you so much everyone for all the info! We are two and we both hold EU passports (one Italy one Netherlands) __________________ 私は日本語を話しますI SPEAK ENGLISH, ICH SPRECHE DEUTSCH, HABLO ESPAñOL, JE PARLE FRANCAIS, PARLO ITALIANO, IK SPREEK NEDERLANDS MY BOOK MY BLOG

November 26th, 2011, 05:26 AM	#2
Innsertnamehere insertoronto Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,938 Likes (Received): 16	there should not be a visa.. not sure about that though. going through buffalo would be pointless. it would add like 10 hours to the ride.. sort of like going to Amsterdam from Paris but going through Cologne instead of Brussels.. pointless, unless you want to see buffalo more than Detroit! good luck getting a train. even if there is a way, it would probably involve multiple tranfers. you would probablytake a Amtrak traon to detroit, have to get off there, somehow cross the river to Windsor, and then take a CN train from there. no idea on buses though, you might be able to get a greyhound bus somehow.

November 26th, 2011, 06:11 AM	#3
Kensingtonian Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,156 Likes (Received): 1	You can take a Greyhound from Chicago to Toronto through Detroit. It's a looooong trip... I've done it before. You can also take the much cheaper Megabus from Chicago to Detroit, but then you would have to switch to the Greyhound to get to Toronto. Not sure if you'd save much money over just taking the Greyhound the whole way. As for the visa, I really doubt you'll need one if you're an EU citizen. Visas are generally for people from poor countries because they might not want to leave.

November 26th, 2011, 06:36 AM	#4
monkeyronin Mơמkƹ͛ƴ∆ґơɲiɲ Join Date: May 2006 Location: London Posts: 4,458 Likes (Received): 44	Instead of taking a bus or train, you might want to consider Porter Airlines, you should be able to find flights for somewhere in the range of ~$130. Taking Greyhound is a little cheaper, probably around $70-80 but its also an 800 km trip. Don't even bother with a train because it will require a transfer (Amtrak to Detroit and then Via Rail to Toronto) and therefore take even longer the bus and be more expensive than flying.

November 26th, 2011, 06:43 AM	#5
monkeyronin Mơמkƹ͛ƴ∆ґơɲiɲ Join Date: May 2006 Location: London Posts: 4,458 Likes (Received): 44	Also, if you have a Spanish (?) passport, you won't need a visa to enter Canada.

November 26th, 2011, 08:54 PM	#9
Elnerico Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vancouver, Tdot Posts: 747	Oh guess I read it wrong, the price is $130 each way so $260 + tax = $376.91 CAD Bus is still going to be about the same as I quoted previously. So a tough choice on a budget but I still prefer flying.

November 27th, 2011, 06:10 AM	#11
Kroum Regseietred Uesr Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sofia / Toronto Posts: 1,025 Likes (Received): 0	You should absolutely fly Porter from Chicago to Toronto. Train / bus are really bad choices. There is a 20% off promotion currently underway at Porter, use promo code GIFT20 (but you gotta book by Nov. 29th). That should help you stay within budget. Btw. no visas necessary for IT and NL passports. Enjoy your time here and don't forget to pack some very warm jackets. __________________ I ♥ BG

November 27th, 2011, 06:26 AM	#13
European1978 EUROPEAN UNION Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Berlin [] Zürich [] New York [] Bremen [] Barcelona[x] Milan[April] 東京 [12getsu Posts: 1,185 Likes (Received): 2	Thanks. I will be there in May __________________ 私は日本語を話しますI SPEAK ENGLISH, ICH SPRECHE DEUTSCH, HABLO ESPAñOL, JE PARLE FRANCAIS, PARLO ITALIANO, IK SPREEK NEDERLANDS MY BOOK MY BLOG

November 27th, 2011, 06:44 AM	#16
European1978 EUROPEAN UNION Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Berlin [] Zürich [] New York [] Bremen [] Barcelona[x] Milan[April] 東京 [12getsu Posts: 1,185 Likes (Received): 2	Thanks mate, really appreciated! __________________ 私は日本語を話しますI SPEAK ENGLISH, ICH SPRECHE DEUTSCH, HABLO ESPAñOL, JE PARLE FRANCAIS, PARLO ITALIANO, IK SPREEK NEDERLANDS MY BOOK MY BLOG

November 27th, 2011, 08:57 PM	#18
European1978 EUROPEAN UNION Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Berlin [] Zürich [] New York [] Bremen [] Barcelona[x] Milan[April] 東京 [12getsu Posts: 1,185 Likes (Received): 2	Thanks, yes I was considering that too. - I could do it on the way back to NYC as I am flying to Barcelona from there. __________________ 私は日本語を話しますI SPEAK ENGLISH, ICH SPRECHE DEUTSCH, HABLO ESPAñOL, JE PARLE FRANCAIS, PARLO ITALIANO, IK SPREEK NEDERLANDS MY BOOK MY BLOG

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