Canadian Rockies: What to do. What to see.
Discussion
Right. This year I will be FORTY! Or, in other words, a sad old bastard...juxtaposed with this is my tenth wedding anniversary. These events occur within a couple of days of one another. In June.
To celebrate big things the Mrs and I have established a tradition of having a "big trip" - her 40th was a roadtrip around the South Island of New Zealand. We rented a "sports" car (Z3) and loved it.
So now its my turn. And I'm thinking - Canadian Rockies. Probably fly in to Calgary...go to Banff..etc
What's unmissable?
Where should we stay?
What car should I hire? - must be convertible, prefer sporty, shouldn't cost the earth, though...
All suggestions welcome!
To celebrate big things the Mrs and I have established a tradition of having a "big trip" - her 40th was a roadtrip around the South Island of New Zealand. We rented a "sports" car (Z3) and loved it.
So now its my turn. And I'm thinking - Canadian Rockies. Probably fly in to Calgary...go to Banff..etc
What's unmissable?
Where should we stay?
What car should I hire? - must be convertible, prefer sporty, shouldn't cost the earth, though...
All suggestions welcome!
I've stayed in Banff, but in the winter for the snowboarding, so can't comment on summer activities.
Hear that it's amazing in the area, being a national park.
Can recommend the Mount Royal hotel: 3.5 stars nice central location.
Opposite the Mount Royal is a great Sushi bar. Tiny, but great food and so cheap.
Just out of town there's a more luxurious hotel. It looks like the hotel in the Shining!
Hear that it's amazing in the area, being a national park.
Can recommend the Mount Royal hotel: 3.5 stars nice central location.
Opposite the Mount Royal is a great Sushi bar. Tiny, but great food and so cheap.
Just out of town there's a more luxurious hotel. It looks like the hotel in the Shining!
We did this a few years ago. So, based on that:
Fly to Calgary
Drive quickly away from calgary as soon as you can.
Banff is good. Banff Springs Hotel if you're posh, we stayed at teh Ptarmigan Inn, which was perfectly decent.
Icefields Parkway is unmissable (unless it's foggy).
Wells Grey National park is well worth a visit. Just as nice as the other parks but not as crowded.
If you do Vancouver, you're best off doing it last so you can ditch the hire car.
Don't stay at the Crowne Plaza if you do go to Vancouver.
Fly to Calgary
Drive quickly away from calgary as soon as you can.
Banff is good. Banff Springs Hotel if you're posh, we stayed at teh Ptarmigan Inn, which was perfectly decent.
Icefields Parkway is unmissable (unless it's foggy).
Wells Grey National park is well worth a visit. Just as nice as the other parks but not as crowded.
If you do Vancouver, you're best off doing it last so you can ditch the hire car.
Don't stay at the Crowne Plaza if you do go to Vancouver.
Done The Rockis loads of times - I love it.
Banff Springs Hotel in Banff - fantastic. Ask for a room in the main hotel complex.
Chateau Lake Louise at Lake Louise - ask for a room overlooking the lake - magnificent. Make sure you walk "The trail of 7 glaciers" - mind blowing.
Then you MUST drive from Lake Louse to Jasper - it's the best road in the world. Half way down visit the Ice Fields Parkway and be driven up a glacier. (Dress warm).
There's only one really decent hotel in Jasper - and I'm damned if I can remember what it's it. But it's a golf club as well as a hoptel - and there's only one golf club in the town.
Then, drive from Jasper to Vancouver and stay at the Pan Pacific Hotel on the harbour. Ask for a room with a harbour view.
You must then visit Whistler (2 hour drive), as well as do all the Vancouver sites.
Banff Springs Hotel in Banff - fantastic. Ask for a room in the main hotel complex.
Chateau Lake Louise at Lake Louise - ask for a room overlooking the lake - magnificent. Make sure you walk "The trail of 7 glaciers" - mind blowing.
Then you MUST drive from Lake Louse to Jasper - it's the best road in the world. Half way down visit the Ice Fields Parkway and be driven up a glacier. (Dress warm).
There's only one really decent hotel in Jasper - and I'm damned if I can remember what it's it. But it's a golf club as well as a hoptel - and there's only one golf club in the town.
Then, drive from Jasper to Vancouver and stay at the Pan Pacific Hotel on the harbour. Ask for a room with a harbour view.
You must then visit Whistler (2 hour drive), as well as do all the Vancouver sites.
D_Mike said:
Vancouver is must - its a great city.
but get a recent guidebook. Avoid East Hastings like the plague (or you just might get it)... easy to stroll into from Gastown if you're not paying attention. Also if you don't want to travel vast distances by car and would rather admire the views perhaps try this www.viarail.ca/trains/en_trai_roch.html
>> Edited by S Works on Sunday 27th February 21:20
I've been that way a few times. I agree with all the comments about Banff - I've stayed in the Ptarmigan (fine), but would have stayed in the Banff Springs if I had the money. I've you don't fancy driving, you could try the Rocky Mountaineer train. I've never been on it, but I have heard good things about it.
I recommend the Wedgewood Hotel in Vancouver. Probably the best hotel I've ever stayed in, and the restaurant there is also top notch.
I've also stayed in the Fairmont on Vancouver airport, which also very good. Handy if you have an early flight the next day.
Vancouver is generally OK as cities go, but I agree avoid areas like East Hastings. I've driven through it to visit relatives in Burnaby, and it is a bit choice!
>> Edited by dragonfly74uk on Sunday 27th February 21:28
>> Edited by dragonfly74uk on Sunday 27th February 21:28
I recommend the Wedgewood Hotel in Vancouver. Probably the best hotel I've ever stayed in, and the restaurant there is also top notch.
I've also stayed in the Fairmont on Vancouver airport, which also very good. Handy if you have an early flight the next day.
Vancouver is generally OK as cities go, but I agree avoid areas like East Hastings. I've driven through it to visit relatives in Burnaby, and it is a bit choice!
>> Edited by dragonfly74uk on Sunday 27th February 21:28
>> Edited by dragonfly74uk on Sunday 27th February 21:28
Moving to Vancouver in 3 weeks 
WOOOHOOO!
Seriously, been to Vancouver 8 times last year, so manaaged to get past the tourist phase. If you want suggestions in Vancouver, email me off line, their is lots to do. The road (Sea to the Sky Highway) from Vancouver to Whistler, as mentioned is stunning. Done that trip 3 or 4 times now
Also, have a look at www.canadianaffair.com for flights which are much cheaper than BA or Air Canada.
Last thing, dont fly Air Canada, all my trips have been with them and while they are getting better, they have crap entertainment which often doesnt work
Any q's - email me off line. You'll love it
WOOOHOOO! Seriously, been to Vancouver 8 times last year, so manaaged to get past the tourist phase. If you want suggestions in Vancouver, email me off line, their is lots to do. The road (Sea to the Sky Highway) from Vancouver to Whistler, as mentioned is stunning. Done that trip 3 or 4 times now
Also, have a look at www.canadianaffair.com for flights which are much cheaper than BA or Air Canada.
Last thing, dont fly Air Canada, all my trips have been with them and while they are getting better, they have crap entertainment which often doesnt work
Any q's - email me off line. You'll love it
Most has been said, but you'll find that in Jasper you can get B+Bs easily if you use various Tourist Board offices ON TIME! (B+Bs in Canada can be as expensive as hotels)
Otherwise Jasper is just a railway stop.. don't forget to book your hotel at Lake Louise early enough, as this is the only place you'll have problems getting a bed.
Don't bother with Edmonton, apart from the worlds biggets Mall it's not worth the time.....
Don't forget you'll have to pay an EXIT fee when flyng out from various airports in western canada, they'll surprise you AFTER customs etc and it must be CASH!!! They won't take cards as too many people have protested at this rip-off and refused to pay it on their cards later. It's NOT always included in the tickets!!!!!!
Buy a month or years pass for ALL the parks, it's much cheaper in the long run, especially as during the tourist season they DO check and that can be raaather expensive!
Driving North from Banff to Jasper try to take the old road (wherever it is stil driveable) as much as you can, the new one is full of jabbering japs and their coaches, the old road, twistier and more scenic......
We also stayed one night at a (hotel)petrol station with cabins north of Lake Louise before you get on the icefields parkway, where one of the interstates come from the east and join the Icefield Parkway (can't remember the name). Little cabins, warm and cosy, inexpensive and HUGE meals at the petrol station including buffallo steaks and an excellent okanagan wine!
When in Calgary don't miss the collection of old buildings they've put together to make an old town, south of the centre, also has a colection of canadian steam engines (monsters compared with ours)
Take a swing over the passes (snake?) to Revelstoke and also to the various hot water spas along the west side of the Rockies.
If you're driving to Vancouver, I recommend the southern route, better scenery, better roads without many Mounties, no problems about rooms etc
DO NOT miss the Okanagan valley if you're into wine, you'll be pleasantly surprised, and it can be HOT!!!
Apart from the highest part of the season youÄll probably be able to get away from all traffic fairly easily, just beware of public holiday weekends (US and CDN ones), these are the ones you'll have to book due to huge influx of weekenders....
and the most of all, ENJOY IT!!!
Otherwise Jasper is just a railway stop.. don't forget to book your hotel at Lake Louise early enough, as this is the only place you'll have problems getting a bed.
Don't bother with Edmonton, apart from the worlds biggets Mall it's not worth the time.....
Don't forget you'll have to pay an EXIT fee when flyng out from various airports in western canada, they'll surprise you AFTER customs etc and it must be CASH!!! They won't take cards as too many people have protested at this rip-off and refused to pay it on their cards later. It's NOT always included in the tickets!!!!!!
Buy a month or years pass for ALL the parks, it's much cheaper in the long run, especially as during the tourist season they DO check and that can be raaather expensive!
Driving North from Banff to Jasper try to take the old road (wherever it is stil driveable) as much as you can, the new one is full of jabbering japs and their coaches, the old road, twistier and more scenic......
We also stayed one night at a (hotel)petrol station with cabins north of Lake Louise before you get on the icefields parkway, where one of the interstates come from the east and join the Icefield Parkway (can't remember the name). Little cabins, warm and cosy, inexpensive and HUGE meals at the petrol station including buffallo steaks and an excellent okanagan wine!
When in Calgary don't miss the collection of old buildings they've put together to make an old town, south of the centre, also has a colection of canadian steam engines (monsters compared with ours)
Take a swing over the passes (snake?) to Revelstoke and also to the various hot water spas along the west side of the Rockies.
If you're driving to Vancouver, I recommend the southern route, better scenery, better roads without many Mounties, no problems about rooms etc
DO NOT miss the Okanagan valley if you're into wine, you'll be pleasantly surprised, and it can be HOT!!!
Apart from the highest part of the season youÄll probably be able to get away from all traffic fairly easily, just beware of public holiday weekends (US and CDN ones), these are the ones you'll have to book due to huge influx of weekenders....
and the most of all, ENJOY IT!!!
Im heading to Canada this summer. So I will find this advice useful, thanks! Found out about a place to hire a dodge viper, £150 for 24hours. We were definitly going to do that, but because I am 21 and used to driving on the 'wrong' side of the road they said no. Offered us a boxster or z4, but Id rather save the money.
Raify said:
If you're going in and out of Calgary, don't worry about exit taxes, it must be a British colombia thing only.
Calgary (in Alberta) has no tax.
I believe Calgary puts it on the ticket, Edmonton doesnt and you have to pay..... 2003 that was...may have changed... airport improvement charge they called it....
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