Practical information about Fort Lauderdale

The pearl of south Florida's beach resorts, Fort Lauderdale is famous for wall-to-wall sunshine, raucous Spring Break parties, its artistic festivals, and its elegant beach-side promenade. Classy and lively in equal measure, it's a resort that satisfies young and old alike - although maybe not at the same time of year. Whether you're planning to party all night, take sedate rides on the city's gondola canals, shop all afternoon on Los Olas Boulevard, or get in touch with primal nature in the nearby Everglades, Fort Lauderdale offers endless attractions. And it's hugely popular with Canadian travellers as a result.

However, not everyone is familiar with the ins and outs of staying in this Floridian gem. And when emergencies arise, it's always good to know who to turn to. Check out the overview below on the things every traveller should know when travelling to Fort Lauderdale!

Essential Fort Lauderdale information for visitors

Emergency numbers: If you happen to need emergency assistance during your Florida break, knowing who to call is vital. As with all other US states, the number to use is 911. This applies for ambulance callouts, the police, and the fire service. So put it on the speed dial in your phone as soon as you touch down. If you need to speak to a Canadian government staffer, call 1-800-622-6232 - and you'll be put through to a call handler in seconds.

Government Office opening hours: There isn't a Canadian Consulate in Fort Lauderdale itself, but don't worry. If you need to consult a Canadian government official, there's an office in nearby Miami. To make an appointment, give the Consulate a call on 1-844-880-6519. The office is open from 8:30 am -12:00 pm between Monday and Friday, and appointments may be available on weekends in urgent cases.

Temperature: Fort Lauderdale is a seriously hot destination for most of the year, which is why we love it so much. The hottest months are between May and October, when average highs rarely drop below 30 degrees celsius. But even in January and February, temperatures will usually peak above 24 degrees. The resort receives 63 inches of rain per year, with June the rainiest month. So be aware of that when planning summer escapes. Even in sunny Florida, you may need an umbrella.

Currency: Fort Lauderdale uses the US dollar, which should pose very few problems for Canadian visitors. Just change a few Canadian dollars before travelling or use one of the many ATMs available in central Fort Lauderdale. Credit and debit cards from Canadian banks can also be used almost anywhere, as can smartphone based payment systems like Apple Pay. So shopping should be simple.

Local time: Fort Lauderdale operates on GMT-4, making it three hours ahead of Vancouver, the same time as Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal, and one hour behind Halifax and other east coast cities.

Communication: Most of the time, Canadian cellphone users will be able to use their existing plans and devices to make calls and surf the web in Fort Lauderdale. But it's worth checking with your network before travelling, as excessive roaming charges can apply in some cases, and it may be better to buy a short term pay as you go plan. For reference, the local calling code is +1.

Electricity: Conveniently, both Canada and the USA have the same voltage (120V), so there's no need to carry a transformer or any plug adapters when visiting Fort Lauderdale. A power bank could be handy though. That way, you can have a store of charge for your laptop or phone to use at the beach if your device runs down.

Language: The official language in the south Florida region is English, and almost all local terms will be familiar to Canadian visitors. So don't expect too many communication breakdowns. However, if you can speak a little Spanish, you may find a use for it in Miami, which has a huge Puerto Rican and Cuban population (and plenty of amazing Latin American restaurants).

Required travel documents: All you need to visit Fort Lauderdale is a valid Canadian passport and somewhere to stay. There's no need to arrange a tourist visa before flying with Budgetair, and there's also a need to purchase an ESTA. If you intend to work, you will need a current working visa, and proof of your position, but there won't be any paperwork for beach vacations
. Just walk straight on through.

Now you know all the basics, it's time to book your flights. BudgetAir will do the legwork so you don't have to. Browse flights and hotel deals with BudgetAir and book your trip to Fort Lauderdale today.