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Next season; Canada...but how to see as much as poss!

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Post subject: Next season; Canada...but how to see as much as poss!

Posted: Apr 24, 2008 - 06:19 PM

Joined: Feb 03, 2006
Posts: 16

Status: Offline

Hello!

We have just completed our first season in Bansko (Bulgaria), and already its time to think about the next season!
Me and me partner would love to go to Canada, and have read all of the relevent threads with great interest. There are so many options and to be honest were struggling to decide what to do! Here is the dilema...after 3months in Bansko we realised that 2months is probably the right amount of time to be in the snow for us. I would like to do some kind of road trip so I get to see as many places as poss over the time, and have looked at some of the options like moose tours etc, they look good.
I wondered if anyone has just done this without going through a tour company, and hiring a car. I guess we'd like to spend a week in Whistler, then Banff, Fernie etc, and others...just taking in as much as poss. How easy would it be to arrange accomodation as we travel? We will be on a budget (as are most of us!) so need the cheap options. I would love to hear from anyone who has done something similar or has any suggestions to add!

Many thanks! Smile

lez_s

Post subject: RE: Next season; Canada...but how to see as much as poss!

Posted: Apr 24, 2008 - 06:31 PM

Joined: Oct 11, 2004
Posts: 6470
Location: Nottingham - 2nd worst place to live in the UK
Status: Offline

i went on a trip with moose tours about 6 years ago, but in the summer and loved it. the diver know his stuff, but no idea what it will be like in the winter as most of the stuff you would stop and see would be under snow.

one thing about doing a trip like that is buying a lift pass at each place and depending how long you stay that cost a lot more then staying in one place and getting a cheap option season pass e.g. mid week pass

you could look at someone like seasonaires and book time at their places across canada.

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Post subject: RE: Next season; Canada...but how to see as much as poss!

Posted: Apr 25, 2008 - 09:25 PM

Joined: Aug 21, 2006
Posts: 114

Status: Offline

Obviously hostels are cheap. Don't forget Revelstoke. Well worth a look. Great terrain. Loads of snow.

Seems like other people thinks it's ok too ; )
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/northamerica/canada/west/748829/Revelstoke-Mountain-the-world's-best-skiing.html

A mate of mine picked up a great bargain at a car auction in Calgary which has kept us mobile for the season. I've seen adverts on notice boards in town for cars a little a $1000.
A few of my friends are going to travel around this summer in it. Stick a matress in the back. Bring a tent and portable bbq. That's for the summer though.

Parks Canada in Banff has a tourist info office. We've popped in there and got some good advice on things to do other than riding.
Dog sledding, ice climbing, canyon walks, ridge walks, ice fishing.......etc etc That's often just a case of pickup a road map and go find it yourself.
I've seen a few people been taken on a guided tour of Johnston's Canyon. No idea why you would need to pay someone for that.
Often on the highway there are signs for local attractions and walks. They're often worth a look.

As for accomodation it depends when and where you are. Weekends in Banff are generally busy with the Calgary invasion. Quite often we've just winged it in places and stayed in a cheap motel. I'd say pickup a cheap pay and go phone. Ring up a few days in advance of where you plan to go and then at least you have a backup place to stay.

Out of the places worth a look that I know of I'd say -

Revelstoke
Fernie
Castle Mountain
Red Mountain
Kicking Horse
Sunshine is good when it dumps. Short runs though.

The way I would approach it would be to keep an close eye on the snow reports -
http://www.snow-forecast.com/

Follow the powder. I've been to some resorts when it's dumped and known people to go a week later and they've found it rubbish because of bad conditions.
Get to know people who work at the resorts if you can. I know I can get discounts on lift passes for friends and family. So that can save a bit.

If I think of anything else I'll let you know.

Roberto

ace_mcgraw

Post subject: RE: Next season; Canada...but how to see as much as poss!

Posted: Apr 25, 2008 - 10:48 PM

Joined: Feb 20, 2007
Posts: 2376
Location: That snowboarding hotbed, Norfolk
Status: Offline

Greetings

I was in Canada back in 06, and we pretty much did what you're thinking of. I was based in WHistler, had a month there, then basically decided to get on the road. We hired a car from www.rentawreck.ca from the downtown Vancouver place, but I've heard they may have closed that one down. Basically they hired out a car that was about 4 or 5 years old, for a lot cheaper than most of the big ones. Can't remember how much it cost, but between two of us it wasn't that much.

I nearly bought a car when I was in WHistler - there were always quite a few old Jap things (Civics, Tercels etc) for under $1000, and I'm sure there'd be more for cheaper in other towns.

Lift passes are gonna be the most expensive bit. They're always at their most expensive when bought for short periods. If your gonna be anywhere for more than about 30 days, it may be worth just buying a season pass!

As for accom, it's really pretty easy to sort out accom on your way round. Theres always loads of motels everywhere, and hostels in most places near to the mountains. We did our trip in Feb, and we were able to just turn up just about everywhere and find a place, staying mostly in hostels. We stayed mostly in SameSun hostels which were pretty cool, with places in most resorts ( http://www.samesun.com/ ) They were pretty laid back places, and everyone always seemed super friendly - a lot friendlier than the HI places, although they're normally pretty nice as well. Also I think samesun were being used by the moose tour, at least we were stalking a bunch of people round the country who were on a moose tour!

The driving in Canada was mostly pretty easy, but just bare in mind the weather. We were dead lucky on our trip cos we never saw any really bad weather, but even so, a lot of the roads we were on had only just opened after having the snow cleared.

Anyways the places / resorts I visited included Kelowna / Big White / Nelson / Whitewater / Fernie / Calgary / Banff and basically everywhere was pretty cool.

Any questions dude, just ask! It'll be a blast whatever happens!

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Post subject: RE: Next season; Canada...but how to see as much as poss!

Posted: Apr 30, 2008 - 03:16 PM

Joined: Jul 02, 2007
Posts: 23

You could have a peek at the NONSTOP Rockies Tour for a great trip around the Rockies, it starts in Fernie and heads to Red Mountain, off to Whitewater and then on to Kicking Horse not before stopping off at the natural hot springs in Radium.

It lasts 2 weeks but it might give you a good idea of where you want to go and spend the rest of your time. Check out: http://www.nonstopski.com/improvement-courses/rockies-tour/ for more info...

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