£6000 holiday to the Canadian Rockies what would you do?
Discussion
We want to go to Canada year, specifically the Rockies. My wife is a Headteacher so we are tied to the summer holidays.
We have about £6000 to spend and have seen a few tours that fit the bill. Before we book, anyone got any advice, ideas, "must do's" "dont Do's"
I have had some brilliant advice off here in the past! thanks.
We have about £6000 to spend and have seen a few tours that fit the bill. Before we book, anyone got any advice, ideas, "must do's" "dont Do's"
I have had some brilliant advice off here in the past! thanks.
I used to live in Canada. Although I haven't done the train through the Rockies I understand it's better ending, rather then starting in Vancouver.
I also understand that just booking on the 'ordinary' VIA rail rather than a 'specialist' will be as good and almost certainly much cheaper.
I also understand that just booking on the 'ordinary' VIA rail rather than a 'specialist' will be as good and almost certainly much cheaper.
DO spend a day (or ideally two) on Vancouver Island. We did a day-trip there to go whale watching:-
- the whale-watching (Eagle Wing Tours - thoroughly recommend them, genuinely nice and passionate guys who went nearly an hour over the trip duration we were so busy chasing Orca) was fantastic - such a good trip, one of our highlights - saw seals, sea lions, mum-and-calf humpbacks and 15-20 orca. Plus they turned on the taps on the journey back and we got to feel what a real speedboat can do!
- BUT the trip itself was a little rushed - morning ferry out, last ferry back, meant we didn't get to see any of Victoria or the rest of the island. Victoria looked like a lovely place to spend a day...if we were planning again we'd book an overnight stay at least.
In the Rockies:-
- Cable car up Mt Edith Cavell is cool - depending on when you're there, you can probably have a snowball fight at the top. Walk to the summit from there requires PROPER clothes (I slipped over twice despite good walking shoes, with the resultant sore-and-wet arse!) and a moderate level of fitness (if you can do Snowdon or some of the Lake District peaks you'll be OK). Oh, and it's further than it looks - can't see it from the cable-car station.
- Emerald Lake is one of the less visited spots but IMHO one of the most beautiful. Plus you get to see the Burgess Shale.
- Try to stay in both Jasper and Banff towns - very different feel to each place, plus you can JUST ABOUT do most of the parks using the two places as bases - the Athabasca Icefield is too far from either, and Lake Louise is close-to-the-limit from Banff.
- Try to get out and about as much as possible - you can see lots of fantastic sights from the roadside, but it becomes so much more personal when you get out and go walking. But do take the warnings about bears seriously...
- Calgary just felt like another big city, but Vancouver had a nice feel to it, and a superb restaurant scene...
- the whale-watching (Eagle Wing Tours - thoroughly recommend them, genuinely nice and passionate guys who went nearly an hour over the trip duration we were so busy chasing Orca) was fantastic - such a good trip, one of our highlights - saw seals, sea lions, mum-and-calf humpbacks and 15-20 orca. Plus they turned on the taps on the journey back and we got to feel what a real speedboat can do!
- BUT the trip itself was a little rushed - morning ferry out, last ferry back, meant we didn't get to see any of Victoria or the rest of the island. Victoria looked like a lovely place to spend a day...if we were planning again we'd book an overnight stay at least.
In the Rockies:-
- Cable car up Mt Edith Cavell is cool - depending on when you're there, you can probably have a snowball fight at the top. Walk to the summit from there requires PROPER clothes (I slipped over twice despite good walking shoes, with the resultant sore-and-wet arse!) and a moderate level of fitness (if you can do Snowdon or some of the Lake District peaks you'll be OK). Oh, and it's further than it looks - can't see it from the cable-car station.
- Emerald Lake is one of the less visited spots but IMHO one of the most beautiful. Plus you get to see the Burgess Shale.
- Try to stay in both Jasper and Banff towns - very different feel to each place, plus you can JUST ABOUT do most of the parks using the two places as bases - the Athabasca Icefield is too far from either, and Lake Louise is close-to-the-limit from Banff.
- Try to get out and about as much as possible - you can see lots of fantastic sights from the roadside, but it becomes so much more personal when you get out and go walking. But do take the warnings about bears seriously...
- Calgary just felt like another big city, but Vancouver had a nice feel to it, and a superb restaurant scene...
Mr Dave said:
Go find a nice out of the way lake in the Rockies and sit and relax for a while and just take it all in its beautiful up in them thar hills.
Go to Banff and walk around, its lovely.
Totally agree, I stayed at the Fairmontt in Banff for a week (winter ski trip),the hotel is quite amazing in itself, stunning location, loads to do in both summer and winter - and the town is lovely too, lots of little independent shops, restaurants and bars. Go to Banff and walk around, its lovely.
Also stayed at the Fairmontt in Lake Louise, not quite as stunning as the mammoth gothic palace in Banff as lots of it is new and pretty concretey. But the scenery in that part of Canada is amazing.
I have family who live here: http://www.amherstisland.on.ca/ I haven't been but I see their pics and stories all the time and it looks amazing - I would love to visit.
buzzer said:
We want to go to Canada year, specifically the Rockies. My wife is a Headteacher so we are tied to the summer holidays.
We have about £6000 to spend and have seen a few tours that fit the bill. Before we book, anyone got any advice, ideas, "must do's" "dont Do's"
I have had some brilliant advice off here in the past! thanks.
If you would like I will send you the links (Pictures) from our last 5 trips and would be pleased to recommend places and things to do.We have about £6000 to spend and have seen a few tours that fit the bill. Before we book, anyone got any advice, ideas, "must do's" "dont Do's"
I have had some brilliant advice off here in the past! thanks.
There is a shed load to do that cost nothing exept time so your £6k will go a long way and you will have change.
Allanv said:
If you would like I will send you the links (Pictures) from our last 5 trips and would be pleased to recommend places and things to do.
There is a shed load to do that cost nothing exept time so your £6k will go a long way and you will have change.
Thanks Allanv, There is a shed load to do that cost nothing exept time so your £6k will go a long way and you will have change.
I would really appreciate that.
buzzer said:
Allanv said:
If you would like I will send you the links (Pictures) from our last 5 trips and would be pleased to recommend places and things to do.
There is a shed load to do that cost nothing exept time so your £6k will go a long way and you will have change.
Thanks Allanv, There is a shed load to do that cost nothing exept time so your £6k will go a long way and you will have change.
I would really appreciate that.
Email me from my profile and I will send you the links.
havoc said:
some really good stuff
^^^ This man knows what he's talking about!havoc said:
- Emerald Lake is one of the less visited spots but IMHO one of the most beautiful. Plus you get to see the Burgess Shale.
This is a must-see. I got married here last year and the place is a true hidden gem. (Picture below doesn't give the full effect of the colour of the lake due to cloud cover. It's not called Emerald Lake by chance!!).
havoc said:
- Try to stay in both Jasper and Banff towns - very different feel to each place, plus you can JUST ABOUT do most of the parks using the two places as bases - the Athabasca Icefield is too far from either, and Lake Louise is close-to-the-limit from Banff.
100% agree.In summary I believe Havoc has really made some excellent suggestions. I saw this thread and thought I'd add my 2 peneth (my wife is Canadian (Alberta) so guess where we go ever other year), but he's pretty much covered everything I would have added other than to say that if you're going to Banff, it's well worth making the journey to Canmore which is a lovely little town surrounded by the 3 sisters mountain range.
ghibbett said:
I got married here last year...
Not in September, was it??? When we were there there was either a wedding or reception setting-up, complete with string quartet practicing. We both thought "what a fantastic place to get married"...Our photos here, inc. a few of Emerald Lake:-
http://s101.photobucket.com/albums/m54/martin-w/Ho...
There was a good thread a couple of months ago http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
And I'm pretty sure there are many others - try a search on Banff and/or Calgary
And I'm pretty sure there are many others - try a search on Banff and/or Calgary
What I would do is completely irrelevantly make sure everyone I encounter is aware of the fact that Im having a decent year and have a lot of money to spend on a holiday.
I'd use sentences like "I'm not just going on a holiday to Canada, I'm going an a six grand holiday to Canada, know what I mean?" and then give them a knowing wink as if to say "I bet you wish you could spend £6k on a holiday.
I'd use sentences like "I'm not just going on a holiday to Canada, I'm going an a six grand holiday to Canada, know what I mean?" and then give them a knowing wink as if to say "I bet you wish you could spend £6k on a holiday.
ghibbett said:
Erm, yep! 10th September.
Not you then - we were there on the 25th. Still a little jealous, fantastic spot! 
BSR - sorry things aren't working out for you at the moment, but no need to take it out on others. In a lot of the holiday threads people ask about budget, so I've not read anything so cynical into the OP. And besides, is £6k such a lot of money for a long-haul holiday for 2-3 weeks, with the £ at current exchange rates???
blindswelledrat said:
What I would do is completely irrelevantly make sure everyone I encounter is aware of the fact that Im having a decent year and have a lot of money to spend on a holiday.
I'd use sentences like "I'm not just going on a holiday to Canada, I'm going an a six grand holiday to Canada, know what I mean?" and then give them a knowing wink as if to say "I bet you wish you could spend £6k on a holiday.
Oh dear...I'd use sentences like "I'm not just going on a holiday to Canada, I'm going an a six grand holiday to Canada, know what I mean?" and then give them a knowing wink as if to say "I bet you wish you could spend £6k on a holiday.
havoc said:
BSR - sorry things aren't working out for you at the moment, but no need to take it out on others. In a lot of the holiday threads people ask about budget, so I've not read anything so cynical into the OP. And besides, is £6k such a lot of money for a long-haul holiday for 2-3 weeks, with the £ at current exchange rates???
I don't like smilies.When you read my posts, imagine all of them have a
at the end of them and you'll read them in the spirit in which they are made.And yes, 6k is a lot of money to spend on a 2 week holiday for 2, but good for anyone who can!
blindswelledrat said:
I don't like smilies.
When you read my posts, imagine all of them have a at the end of them and you'll read them in the spirit in which they are made.
And yes, 6k is a lot of money to spend on a 2 week holiday for 2, but good for anyone who can!
glad you put that.. I was just about to reply... and it was not nice When you read my posts, imagine all of them have a
at the end of them and you'll read them in the spirit in which they are made.And yes, 6k is a lot of money to spend on a 2 week holiday for 2, but good for anyone who can!
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