Hotels for appointments?

Good morning :)

I have an appointment to meet the surgeon at 9am, and I've got at least a 2 hour drive to Toronto from home.  I do not want to miss or be late for this appointment - so I am thinking going down to TO the night before is the way to go.  That said, anyone know if I can claim that expense if it's for an appointment, not surgery?  I'm unsure of what the guidelines are for those who travel a bit of distance.

Thanks in advance - Lisa

To claim hotel expenses for medical appointments you have to travel at least 80 kilometres one way. You can claim parking and meals as well. It takes a lot of deductions to mean much but all the small expenses do add up. 

Thank you!  It's 190kms one way so shouldn't be a problem.  cheers :)

You need receipts for hotel and parking and public transit if you use that but you don't need receipts for meals. It is a flat rate per meal. When you travel for surgery you can claim meal expenses for two since you need someone with you for medical reasons. There are lots of things you can claim that help to make it add up like even the portion your benefits may not cover on drugs or dental at glasses etc. check out cra website for eligible medical expenses I keep an excel sheet for the year and record as I go and then end of year it is quick to add up. They change the per km amount annually so you have to wait for that number and the meal allowance hasn't changed in a few years but I check every spring to see what it is before I file. 

Thank you!