[pallo]

Hello

I will be coming to Calgary for holiday towards the end of December. I would really like to visit banff and i have started checking out 1 day tours. Can everyone please give me as much advice as possible in regard to which one is the best? I would also love to do activities like snow walking and dog sleeting

Also what about Calgary, is there much to visit?

[Jimby]

You should try sliding on snow instead of walking, much more fun. There is always lots to do in Calgary depending on what you are interested in.
Have a great time!

[jeffwhit]

Dog Sledding? I don't know about that. In Banff if you have a day I'd go to Lake Louise, up the Sulfur Mountain Gondola, and to the hot springs. I don't know what else one does in a day. If you ski, then go skiing at Sunshine or Lake Louise, or cross country at the Canmore Nordic Centre (where the Olympic x-country was.)

[Bigtime]

I second the trip up the Sulfur mountain gondola when you are in Banff, if you get a nice clear winter day the view will be incredible!

For your time in Calgary here as some ideas that pop into my head:

-Go up the Calgary Tower, best view of everything happening in our downtown core and Beltline community.

-Canada Olympic Park (where the ski jumps and bobsled and luge tracks are), I think you can take rides down the bobsled track. I've been meaning to do that myself one of these days.

-Try and get tickets to a Calgary Flames hockey game. Or at the very least go down to 17th avenue aka: The Red Mile the night of a game to take in all the fun and hit up one of the many bars/pubs/lounges along that stretch of road.

[Rusty van Reddick]

pallo, if you want dining reccos (in both Calgary and Banff/Lake Louise/Canmore- Canmore in particular has a shocking wealth of restos for what is a pretty small, but gorgeous, town) you might check my blog or check out the western Canada forum at www.chowhound.com, which was a very active Calgary contingent.

[Innersoul1]

pallo, if you want dining reccos (in both Calgary and Banff/Lake Louise/Canmore- Canmore in particular has a shocking wealth of restos for what is a pretty small, but gorgeous, town) you might check my blog or check out the western Canada forum at www.chowhound.com, which was a very active Calgary contingent.

Furry's Blog is located at the bottom of his post, hyperlinked through his signature!

You will feel right at home in Banff and Lake Lousie. There are a lot of Aussies who work there. Some great reccos have been made above. Lake Louise is breathtaking as is the Gondola ride at Sulphur Mountain on a clear day.

If you want to try cross country skiing the Canmore Nordic centre is a great spot as is COP if you are just learning to x country ski, downhill ski, or snowboard.

[ScottFromCalgary]

I've gone dog sledding through some group at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis a few years ago. It was entertaining I guess, although my advice would be to try and avoid being the person closest to the dogs in the sleigh, as that person has to stare directly at a bunch of Husky assholes and occasionally get covered in shit.

[pallo]

thanks for the responses guys. I am also going to Yellowknife after i go to Calgary so i will probably find -40 when i get there. Regarding the clothing, where could i buy them ? can i rent them at the airport?

Regarding Banff i might take the tour from calgary which goes for 9 hours

Also i noticed there is such a shocking lack of budget accomodation in Calgary, why is that? There is only the HI hostel which i heard is not in a nice safe area, is that true?

[SubwayRev]

There is only the HI hostel which i heard is not in a nice safe area, is that true?

There aren't any unsafe areas in Calgary...there is more seedy, but nothing is really "unsafe."

I don't know where this hostel is, but I'd feel fine walking around any part of the city. Canada isn't like the States, and you won't run into any problems.

[Jimby]

The hostel is located in the East Village so one would be prudent to beware, but it isn't exactly downtown Detroit either.
I don't think you can rent winter clothes so your best bet to buy new is Mountain Equipment Co-op on 10 Ave at 8 St SW (you have to become a member for $5).
There are of course thrift stores if you have the time to search for what you need.
It is possible you could get away without winter wear in Calgary if we are experiencing a chinook when you are visiting, but not in Yellowknife!

[DAVEinEDMONTON]

thanks for the responses guys. I am also going to Yellowknife after i go to Calgary so i will probably find -40 when i get there. Regarding the clothing, where could i buy them ? can i rent them at the airport?

Regarding Banff i might take the tour from calgary which goes for 9 hours

Also i noticed there is such a shocking lack of budget accomodation in Calgary, why is that? There is only the HI hostel which i heard is not in a nice safe area, is that true?

Sounds like you are travelling budget so I think I can help you.

I have stayed at the HI hostel in Calgary. The area is not the best but I would not consider it unsafe. It is in the east part of downtown Calgary.

I do not think that you could rent clothes at the airport or anywhere. However, there are used clothing stores called Value Villages. You can look up the locations on the internet. You should be able to find anything you need if you are considering buying some winter clothes to toss when you are done. There is a Value Village about 5 k south from the airport. Check Calgary transit. You may be able to take a bus to that location from the airport. You can also take a bus from the airport to the LRT which would take you to downtown. You should be able to map out the HI hostel location from the LRT when downtown. There may also be other used clothing places close to the hostel. I would ask when you get there if you end up needing anything.

I personally would not take just a 1 day tour. I would prebook a greyhound ticket to Banff and stay overnight at a hostel and stay there for a day or two. The Banff hostel cost is around $35 to $40 CDN a night. The cheaper cost would be if you have a membership. The trip is about 1 hour 40 minutes and there are lots of busses all during the day. Check www.greyhound.ca for schedules. Costs around $55 CDN return during Christmas season...less if not at peak season and booked two weeks in advance. Lots of things to check out in Banff. Skiing, snow boarding, the townsite itself, hot springs, Banff Springs Hotel etc. etc. The bus station in Calgary is in the west end of downtown and would be about a 2 to 3 k walk from the HI hostel.

You could also do the circuit and travel west to Banff, from there north to Jasper, then east to Edmonton and then back south to Calgary and split up your stay. All those locations have HI hostels. Banff and Jasper are the two main mountain parks. Banff is more developed and commercial and Jasper is more laid back.

Not sure why there is no real budget hotels in Calgary. There is not that many in Edmonton either. There may be some but they would be fairly scary and you would be better off at the HI Hostel.

Been to Melbourne and loved it. Missed my flight to Sydney and had to fly to Melbourne instead for an extra day or two until I managed to get back on my flight schedule back to Sydney and stayed at a leather bar with a B & B upstairs. Twas very interesting to say the least...but that is another story...

I hope that helps. Have a great trip.

[pallo]

^^^^^ thanks

are the hot springs open in winter or is it too cold to do that? mmmm i might be prolonging my stay in calgary-banff by a few more days, i need to check with my travel agency as my itinerary is done. maybe i ll take one night away from budapest and one from istanbul .....

do some buses go from banff straight to calgary airport?
and are they fairly punctual and reliable?

[DAVEinEDMONTON]

^^^^^ thanks

are the hot springs open in winter or is it too cold to do that? mmmm i might be prolonging my stay in calgary-banff by a few more days, i need to check with my travel agency as my itinerary is done. maybe i ll take one night away from budapest and one from istanbul .....

do some buses go from banff straight to calgary airport?
and are they fairly punctual and reliable?

Hot springs should be open all year long...not 100% sure.

Greyhound busses would go to the bus terminal and you can work your way to the airport on public transit or pre-order a ride on the Airport Shutttle Service from the bus terminal to the airport. Cost is around $15. If you call for the shuttle when you get to the bus terminal it can take 1.5 hours before it arrives.

[jeffwhit]

Hot Springs are definitely open year round. I find them kind of pointless unless it's the middle of winter myself.

[pallo]

Damn! I just found out that Brewster Sightseeing Excursions company only has banff tours from calgary until october. :sly: do you people know any other comprehensive one day tour from calgary to banff which includes a ride to the gondola thing?

[DAVEinEDMONTON]

Damn! I just found out that Brewster Sightseeing Excursions company only has banff tours from calgary until october. :sly: do you people know any other comprehensive one day tour from calgary to banff which includes a ride to the gondola thing?

If you are intent on going only for one day to Banff I would also consider renting a car. A weekday rental for a compact car can be as little as $40 per day with unlimited kilometers plus gas plus optional insurance. You could rent from a downtown location and have the car all day and return it the next morning. You may also be able to return it to the airport. Renting a car gives you the flexibility to do what you like in Banff. On the down side, learning to drive on the right side of the road in winter conditions may not be the smartest thing...

[Grendel]

If you do the gondola, I would advise against eating at the top. The cafeteria food is overpriced and frankly terrible. There's all sorts of good food to be had in Banff; anything your heart desires, and all of it better than the shite they serve at the summit of Sulphur Mountain.

By the way, if the weather is nice, I would recommend taking in the Calgary Zoo while you're here. The gorilla and elephant each had babies; The new Africa exhibit as a whole is terrific.

As a former car rental agent, I have the following advice if you elect to rent a car:

1. Get on the internet and arrange a car before you arrive. If you arrive without a reservation, the car rental agents will soak you for as much as twice or even three times the rate you could have had with an advance reservation. You can search all the major companies' prices at once on sites like travelocity.ca.

2. Try and find out whether you have any rental car collision coverage before you leave. Call your credit card company, your own insurance company, or a travel agent. Any of these sources can save you around $32/day for additional fees.

[Rusty van Reddick]

I wonder how much winter driving experience- on the right side of the road no less- our Aussie poster has had.

[Innersoul1]

Oi, Pallo! You sound like a pretty experienced traveller! I would totally ditch the arranged tour for Banff. Everything is REALLY close in that town and most of the major areas are serviced by the local busses.

http://www.banff.ca/locals-residents/public-transit-buses/roam.htm

Also , I understand that Banff Taxi provides tours. Make sure that you call to arrange your pick-up time and an experienced drive will show you around.

Check our the Town of Banff tourism page:

http://www.banff.ca/visiting-banff.htm

Also the "Top Ten things to see and do in Banff"

1 Ride the Banff Gondola: take the Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain to gain spectacular 360 degree views. Follow the walkways and check out the historic Cosmic Ray Station.
2 Soak in the Upper Hot Springs: relax in the famous therapeutic spring waters of the Upper Hot Springs. This is the perfect way to end a day in the mountains.
3 Enjoy the Cave and Basin: discover the hot springs cave and learn about the railway workers who made this amazing discovery.
4 Hike Tunnel Mountain: you don’t have to venture far from town to experience breathtaking views. The trip up Tunnel gives you a bird’s eye view of the Townsite, Vermilion lakes, and the Bow River. Check out our trail guide for more details.
5 Visit Lake Louise & Moraine Lake: no trip to Banff is complete without a visit to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Rent a canoe at either lake to enjoy the water and views from a different vantage point.
6 Drive the Icefields Parkway: drive one of Canada’s most scenic byways. Every turn takes your breath away. There are great spots to stop as well, including Peyto Lake, Bridal Veil Falls and world famous Bow Lake to name a few.
7 Visit the Bow Falls: check out the waterfalls that Marilyn Monroe went over in the classic movie River of No Return.
8 Tour the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel: stroll the grand halls and majestic lobby of the “Castle in the Mountains,” Banff’s first hotel and a designated national historic site.
9 Visit the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies: learn about the history and culture of the Canadian Rockies through natural history, human history and art.
10 Revel in the world-class scenery: while walking, hiking, biking, canoeing, skiing and skating around Banff.

[Myke]

If you do the gondola, I would advise against eating at the top. The cafeteria food is overpriced and frankly terrible. There's all sorts of good food to be had in Banff; anything your heart desires, and all of it better than the shite they serve at the summit of Sulphur Mountain.

By the way, if the weather is nice, I would recommend taking in the Calgary Zoo while you're here. The gorilla and elephant each had babies; The new Africa exhibit as a whole is terrific.

As a former car rental agent, I have the following advice if you elect to rent a car:

1. Get on the internet and arrange a car before you arrive. If you arrive without a reservation, the car rental agents will soak you for as much as twice or even three times the rate you could have had with an advance reservation. You can search all the major companies' prices at once on sites like travelocity.ca.

2. Try and find out whether you have any rental car collision coverage before you leave. Call your credit card company, your own insurance company, or a travel agent. Any of these sources can save you around $32/day for additional fees.
Zoolights will be on aswell

[pallo]

I wonder how much winter driving experience- on the right side of the road no less- our Aussie poster has had.

i don't drive. i don't have a license :haha:

[Rusty van Reddick]

i don't drive. i don't have a license :haha:

Then renting a car is out, eh?

[Doug]

The Auberge Chez Nous is a better choice for a hostel in Calgary:
http://www.hostelz.com/hostel/28034-Auberge-Chez-Nous

The hostels in the Banff and Lake Louise townsites are very nice, but virtually impossible to find availability.

[Bigtime]

The Auberge Chez Nous is a better choice for a hostel in Calgary:
http://www.hostelz.com/hostel/28034-Auberge-Chez-Nous

I thought this hostel shut down because of The Bow project? Or is that another hostel I am thinking of?

[Doug]

^It is right next door to the Bow and still looked to open over the summer, but I could be wrong.

[mersar]

^It is right next door to the Bow and still looked to open over the summer, but I could be wrong.

That one did close mid-summer IIRC, the only hostel left in the city is the one over in the east village.

[Jasper and one o nin]

You should really do the loop. Calgary - Banff - jasper - Edmonton - Calgary. Although, in December, the Highway between Banff and Jasper may close due to weather. But if you can, it is arguablly (sp) the most fantastic scenic drives in the world

[Rusty van Reddick]

You should really do the loop. Calgary - Banff - jasper - Edmonton - Calgary. Although, in December, the Highway between Banff and Jasper may close due to weather. But if you can, it is arguablly (sp) the most fantastic scenic drives in the world

Did you not read above that OP doesn't drive?

[Jasper and one o nin]

nope... probably shooda huh?

[Great Dane]

Speaking of Banff. It's getting way too touristy for my tastes. As it is the only reasons I go to Banff are for the hikes. Jasper is so much better in the regard that it's largely still a quaint little town that is trying to do the exact opposite of Banff.

I love both places and anywhere in the Canadian Rockies.. Jasper just caters to me more.