If you are a smoker visiting Canada, at least in British Columbia, prepare to give your lungs a rest. Smoking is outlawed in all public places - restaurants, cafes, even bars and nightclubs. You can smoke in the street - if you can bear the disgusted reactions of passers-by. Some hotels offer 'smoking' bedrooms, but many ban smoking. One place I stayed in forbade smoking even on the balcony - disobey and pay 'substantial cleaning costs'.

If you buy fags in Canada, the pack is covered with a picture of a baby and the warning: 'Smoking hurts babies.' You smoking child-hater, you.

The upside is, if you do don coat, hat, gloves and brave the Arctic temperatures outside pubs and clubs, you get to meet lots of Canadians who give the lowdown on wherever you are.

But if you've recently quit, stay away. The rebel in you won't be able to resist lighting up.