kecoco

Would like opinions of the following trip in September.

2 night Calgary
2 nights Banff
2 nights Lake Louise
2 night Jasper
Rocky Mountaineer to Vancouver from Jasper with overnight in Kamploops
2 nights Whistler
3 nights Vancouver

kgsneds

Welcome!

It seems like a very pleasant plan, though a few comments...

I assume you will be renting a car before and after the train. The Rocky Mountaineer is quite expensive and goes pretty quickly across the Rockies (in a few hours). You actually get to see more of the mountains by driving, and have a lot more flexibility. Plus the one way car rentals could very expensive unless you can find a company like Canadian Affair that will waive the fee (but only for certain routes).

I'd do some research on the train & rental costs - it might work out better to drive to Vancouver. It won't take any longer and allow you to see a lot more. Or consider the regular train from Jasper to Vancouver - ViaRail runs that route for a lot less.

If you don't have something specific planned for Calgary, I'd be inclined to head right into the mountains. Calgary is fine, but there's nothing unique to make it stand out from any other similar sized city. Instead, I'd do a night or two in Banff/LL, then Jasper, the drive back down the Icefields Parkway and do a night in Banff or Lake Louise. The IP is one of the most amazing drives anywhere, and if the weather is bad on your way to Jasper, you want another chance to experience the sites.

Then drive to Vancouver via Revelstoke. There are a number of places you can spend a night or two along the way (if you take back a night from Calgary, you can do two nights).

Again, Whistler is nice, but unless you are there specifically for the outdoor stuff, it can easily be done as a day trip on the way to Vancouver or from Vancouver. After the Rockies, it will likely not seem that special and you can catch a lot of the pretty views on the drive to and from. I'd be inclined to spend that time between the Rockies and Vancouver or in Vancouver.

kecoco

Thank you for your recommendations. Would you recommend we go to Vancouver Island for 2 or 3 nights and skip Whistler? We have been to Whistler before so Vancouver Island seems an option and is so where would you recommend staying.

ltt

are you taking the rocky mountaineer from jasper to vancouver or is it going to whister? assume you know that renting a car in calgary and dropping it off in jasper, there will be a significant drop off fee.
based on your original plan, unless you are getting in late to calgary, i wouldn't stay in the city. i'd consider 3 nights in banff, one in lake louise (although staying in banff is fine too) then that might allow you an extra night in jasper. whether you go to whistler or the island is a personal choice. personally, after spending time in the rockies, whistler wouldn't be high on my list. i love the ferry ride from vancouver to victoria. but with only 3 days, you'd basically only be able to visit the victoria area.

kecoco

thank you. We really don't have any time limitations so we could spend more time on Vancouver Island. If we did this where would you recommend we stay. We have been to Victoria so might want to stay on the west coast or further north.

kgsneds

I'm not much help with Vancouver Island, but I would go for more nights there rather than Whistler. But, especially if you've been to VI before, don't take nights away from the Rockies.

ltt

if you can add on days, then that's awesome. i'd skip whistler. take the ferry over to the island. pick up your rental car. plan on 3 nights in tofino, two in parksville or campbell river. if you could arrange your return flight out of victoria, that would save you returning to the mainland.

Southam

After all the time you will have spent in the mountains, Whistler seems redundant. Why not sit on a nice flat beach along Vancouver's English Bay for a day?