Tips for Visitors

Bits of information that might be hard to find

Parking

• parking is free at most places except in the downtown core area
• a map showing public parking spaces in the downtown core area is at http://www.city.stratford.on.ca/site_stepstocityhall/parking_map.asp
• parking coin meters in the downtown area are $0.25 per hour but will be going up to $0.40 per hour starting June 1, 2005
• most parking tickets are $10 but will be going up by about $5 starting June 1, 2005 http://www.city.stratford.on.ca/site_stepstocityhall/parking_tickets.asp
• visitors can get a free day parking pass at the Tourism Office (47 Downie Street) or at the tourist information centre at the west end of the main park (a couple of blocks from the downtown core area) http://www.city.stratford.on.ca/site_stepstocityhall/parking_permits.asp

Taxes

• provincial sales tax (PST) is 8% and applies to almost everything
• federal sales tax (GST) is 7% and applies to almost everything
• out of country visitors can get their GST back on accomodations and items being taken out-of-country by saving receipts and submitting them with a rebate form from here http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/gf/gst176/gst176-03e.pdf (some conditions apply)

Beer, Wine, and Spirits

Beer, wine, and spirits retail sales are only available in Ontario at licensed stores. Drinking in public is illegal in Ontario and you could be fined and have the drink confiscated (it is rumoured that if you're quietly sharing a bottle of wine in the park you won't get hassled.)
Drinking and driving is not tolerated.
Many (maybe even most) of the restaurants in Stratford are licensed to serve beer, wine, and spirits. One or two have recently offered the ability to bring in your own wine, but I don't think many people pursue this option.

• The Liquor Store (run by provincial government) carries a good selection of ports, whiskies, brandies, scotches, etc. , prices at different stores don't fluctuate much but they do have sales and promos http://www.lcbo.com for more info including pricing and availability. They will accept orders but I think you have to pay first. Their store is on Wellington Street about a block from the City Hall
• The Beer Store (run by three of the largest brewers) http://www.thebeerstore.ca usually has a sale running on one brand or other. Pricing will be the same in all Beer Stores in Ontario. There is one of these in the east end by Zellers and one in the west end by Giant Tiger. Note the politeness and good manners of the crowds of people quietly standing in line Friday night before a long weekend .. nobody wants to be refused service
• The Wine Stores - there is one of these in the Sobeys grocery store in the south and and one in the Zehrs grocery store in the east end. Pricing is similar to that at the Liquor Store. They only sell wine.

Cigars

Cigars (including cuban cigars) are available in Stratford and are especially popular with American visitors. If you enjoy an occasional cigar, consider buying one and going for a stroll by the river in the main park a couple of blocks from downtown .. a VERY enjoyable way to spend your time on a nice day.
Eventually there might be some useful info here: Stratford Cigar Club
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