mrkindallas

I am planning a gift trip for my parents - as close as possible as I can get to their "dream" trip of touring the Canadian Rockies by train and then taking an Alaska cruisetour. I have about $8,000 to spend...and while that seems like it should be plenty, I am finding that this trip can easily get more expensive than I planned...or have the funds for. With my dad having terminal cancer, but still being relatively healthy for travel, I really want to get them on this trip this year. I've already started with the some preliminary research, but I'm hoping for a little guidance and maybe some ideas I haven't come across. My parents are in their mid-fifties with extensive travel (mostly driving) within the US. They do love camping and don't turn away from smaller less expensive lodging options, but I also don't want them to have to deal with camping equipment...and it would be nice for them to get to experience a little luxury here and there - although it's obvious that the entire trip cannot be luxurious on this budget.

They will be flying from DFW. It seems that the best flight options would be DFW to Calgary and then Anchorage back to DFW (or maybe Fairbanks if the land portion of Alaska is done independently). This flight has ranged in price from $1,000-$1,600 as I've been monitoring it. They also need to get passports...and that is another $300ish of the budget without expedited processing. So that leaves $6,000-$6,500.

I have been to Lake Louise myself...and I flew into Calgary and rented a car. Being winter, I did not go beyond Lake Louise. However, my understanding is that during the summer, this should be a perfectly driveable trip (and the portion that I drove was very easy even in winter). And not only because the rail is expensive, but because I imagine that they would really enjoy more flexibility to stop and explore where they'd like, it seems to me that maybe a rental car here would be a better option than rail. Thoughts? I do know that lodging is expensive in this region, but perhaps there are some specific route and lodging recommendations that would be enjoyable yet help make this leg of the trip more affordable. However, my preliminary search on car rentals is coming up with something like $350/day. Seriously? In that case, a train package may be more affordable or at least comparable...Rocky Mountaineer or VIA Rail? Or any cheaper recommendations on car rental? I know that the cost is often higher for a one way trip, but I was not expecting that price tag!

How much time do you recommend that they have in Vancouver prior to boarding the cruise? Any recommendations on what to do and where to stay?

(I realize that Alaska is not part of Canada...and I can separate this portion into the Alsaka forum if needed, but I expect that many people responding may be able to help here as well...)
As for the Alaska cruisetour, it seems like Princess has the best options for both the cruise and land portions if they were to be booked together. If they were to be split up, I still prefer the cruise options provided by Princess. They want to cruise while the humpback whales are there...so I believe that places them in July - August. It seems pretty clear that they will probably need to choose an interior cabin for budgeting purposes. What recommendations do you have to offer for shore excursions keeping budget in mind?

Finally...for the land portion of Alaska...It seems that there may be a benefit to going with the packaged land tour offered by the cruise line, but I could just be thinking that because I haven't actually been to Alaska and don't have much frame of reference for this part of the world. If there is a significant difference in either experience or cost to do the land portion independently, I'd be interested in hearing what you have to say. If you recommend going independently, please give some specifics - route, means of transportation, maybe recommended lodging and number of nights.

I realize that I'm asking a lot...and I appreciate all input.

Thanks!
Michaela

mrkindallas

I failed to mention how much time they have. There's really no set amount of time, but they do both work and will be taking time away from work.I think that realistically, they could fly out on a Saturday (or perhaps Friday) and then need to fly back 2 weekends later...and could possibly get an extra day or two out of a third week. So...15-18 days max...I think the cruises generally depart Vancouver on Wednesdays...So that would be about 5 days for the DFW > Calgary > Vancouver portion (including travel). I think it is 6 days on the cruise. And then leaving 5-6 days in Alaska. Maybe with a little room for an extra day or two in either Canada or Alaska.

qwovadis

Did something like this a few years back.

actually flew into Seattle to save

carrentals.com rented a convertible did a round

robin over to Spokane Calgary Banff Jasper Lake Louise

back down through Penticton and Vancouver/Victoria.

then took my cruise cruisecritic.com

Princess had a great Denali Package.

spent under 5K per person...

In Vancouver spent a night at the Pan Pacific it was awesome

wonderful views of the harbor and cruise ships/port.

happy Planning,

mrkindallas

How many days did you have pre-cruise? Where did you overnight?

tomfuller

The Rocky Mountaineer is very expensive from Calgary to Vancouver. I used to ride the ViaRail "Canadian" before it got expensive. Fly from DFW to Edmonton Alberta. Take the "Canadian" from Edmonton to Jasper. Rent the car in Jasper to see Jasper, Maligne Canyon, Banff and Lake Louise.
Return the car to Jasper 3-5 days after getting off and take it to Vancouver.
The package deal from the cruise line will be better than anything you can put together on your own.
When I spend a night in Vancouver, I use one of 2 HI Hostels.

mrkindallas

I was just contemplating something very similar to this although my plan was getting the renatl car I Edmonton - I like the idea of taking the train to Jasper first instead. One thing I was curious about is whether the portion of the VIA train ride that is in the dark will be through a section of country that would be more preferable to see in the daylight. Or will the best section be passed through during the day?

tomfuller

The Canadian runs 3 days per week. The train leaves Edmonton at 7:37 AM I believe Tu, Th, Sat. It arrives at Jasper about 1 PM.
The train sits in Jasper until 2:30 PM. From 2:30 until sunset will be the best part of the train trip. Train arrives in the late morning in Vancouver. http://www.viarail.ca/en Coach travel would be OK for Edmonton to Jasper but spring for the sleeper from Jasper to Vancouver.
West of Kamloops, the trip would not be worth driving in a rental car.

mrkindallas

Thanks! That helps a lot. It sounds like perhaps:

1. Friday flight to Edmonton from DFW. Night in Edmonton (recommendations?).

2. Early Sat morning train to Jasper. They would have from about 1:00 pm Sunday through 2:00ish pm on Tuesday to explore the area. Recommendations on staying in one hotel as a base (maybe in Banff?) and doing a lot of round driving or would it be easier to move around each night?

3. Sunday - With car in Rockies

4. Monday - With car in Rockies

5. Tuesday morning free with car in Rockies. Return to Jasper with enough time to return car and board train. Afternoon train ride west. Overnight on train.

6. Wednesday - Early morning arrival in Vancouver. Recommend that they go straight to ship or spend morning doing something?

As for maybe needing to get laundry done at this point, do this on the cruise?

tomfuller

I remember doing laundry in a laundromat in Jasper.
There are 2 or 3 car rental places in Jasper. It's been a very long time since I was in Banff. I like staying in the HI Hostel about 3 mi. SW of Jasper but there are better more expensive places right in the town of Jasper. There is a good free ATM at the bank east of the train station. Brewster Tours has an office in the east side of the train station if they decide to take a bus tour instead of renting a car.

Scotia

I have never driven or taken the train from Edmonton to Jasper, so I am not sure what the scenery is like on that route. However, I am wondering if driving from Jasper down to Banff and <i>back again</i> is too much driving. The scenery along the Icefield Parkway between Banff and Jasper is spectacular but I am thinking the following:

Fly into Calgary, rent a car, drive leisurely to Banff, Lake Louise and onto Jasper, stopping along the way to visit sites that interest your parents. We rented a car from Avis at Calgary airport and dropped it at Jasper because they were the only car rental company at that time that had no drop-off charge. From Jasper take the VIA train at 230 to Vancouver. We found the staff and crew on VIA were helpful and friendly. Suggest your parents sit in the Dome car during the afternoon to enjoy the views and free champagne and appetizers!

tomfuller

Edmonton is near the western edge of the prarrie. Going west the train passes through many miles of rather level forest. By the time you get to Hinton, you start to see the mountains.
The coach passengers have access to a dome car but they don't serve champagne and appetizers. The dome is above the kitchen and dining room. The dining car is between the sleepers and the coach cars. I have seen some wildlife near the tracks between Hinton and Jasper.
From Jasper to Banff is 180 miles. Renting the car in Jasper the morning after arriving on the train would work too if they just wanted to walk around the town after dropping off the luggage at their lodging.
If flying to Calgary is cheaper, and there is no drop off fee, you could go with Scotia's plan with 1 night at Banff and 1-3 nights at Jasper.

mrkindallas

Thank you both...That gives me a couple of options to look into.

krp329

I'm sorry to hear your dad is not well, and hope that his health will stay stable for a long while!

If they want to do the VIA Rail option, I would suggest that they pick up a car in Jasper (there are four agencies in town - Avis, National, Budget & Hertz), overnight in Jasper after arriving on the train and do a bit of sightseeing if they feel up to it, then, the next day, drive to Banff and spend a night or two there. Then drive back to Jasper and spend a night or two before going on to Vancouver (in other words, more than just two nights between train trips).

The scenery as you approach Kamloops (in the dark) and beyond, through the Fraser Canyon, is really nice - quite varied - this is one downside to the VIA trip, that you miss this part in the dark, but as you've discovered, the alternative (the Rocky Mounaineer) is MUCH more expensive.

The Icefields Parkway between Jasper and Lake Louise is only 225 km, but there are so many scenic places to stop - lakes, waterfalls, look-outs - so they should plan to spend most of a day enjoying the drive (and pack a picnic, as services are few and expensive along the way). It's definitely worth driving more than once, as the views are different in each direction.

Private home accommodations in Jasper are one way to trim your budget a bit - these are suites or rooms within a resident's home, and are half the cost, or less, of a hotel stay. You can get "basic" for $60 - $80, average for "$80 - $100, and something quite nice (nicer & larger than a hotel room)for $125+. In summer, standard hotel rooms start at $200+, and there is also 11% tax on top of the quoted rate.

Alternatively, as suggested, depending on the drop fee, the option of flying to Calgary, driving to Jasper, and then getting on the train to Vancouver is a good one.

mrkindallas

I did find that Avis has quite reasonable rates for one-way between Calgary and Jasper with no drop off fee. Provided that this is still the case when they select their dates, then flying into Calgary and renting from Avis is looking like the best option for them to make the best of the time they have.

Most flights seem to go into Calgary fairly late, so they could stay the first night in Calgary and head off for Banff in the morning. Spend a day exploring the Banff area and then move on to Lake Louise at night to check-in somewhere for 2 nights. Spend the next day exploring the Lake Louise area and their 2nd night in Lake Louise. Then use the next day to drive the Icefields Parkway and overnight in Jasper. The next morning is free to spend in Jasper before the train leaves at 2:30.

This seems like the best option considering that the rental car is reasonably priced and it gives them a little more time to explore and less time driving/riding.

If there are specific recommendations on how they should spend their 1 day in Banff, 1 day in Lake Louise, 1 day on the Icefields Parkway, and 1/2 day in Jasper, I'd love to pass those along.

Thanks again everyone! You've helped solve one of my trip dilemmas!

Scotia

Don't forget to remind your parents of the National Park fee. Since you have been to the area yourself you are probably aware that you have to buy a pass to enter the Banff National Park. Please see this website http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/visit23.aspx for further information.
I must admit that my husband and I were surprised about this since we were staying at the Banff Springs and Jasper Park Lodge where the accommodation is not cheap. You have to drive through the Park to get to these hotels so the fee is unavoidable.

mrkindallas

Yes. Thanks for the reminder. That was shocking to me as well when I went.

LindainOhio

Ideas on what to do:
We got a great rate on the Sandman Calgary Airport Hotel--found it on www.kayak and booked through Skoosh

When your parents drive into Banff, they can walk around town, they can have lunch, stop at a grocery/beer/wine etc. and then stop at the Banff Springs Hotel. Drive Bow Parkway to Lake Louise. I love to drive immediately to Lake Louise, park with the thousands of visitors and walk around the lake. It's really lovely there first thing in the morning before the crowds arrive but I do love that view anytime. For dinner,we enjoyed the casual restaurant at the rear of the Post Hotel, the Outpost.

For their day in Lake Louise, drive up to Moraine Lake (very close) be sure to walk up to the top of the rockpile for a beautiful view--the one on the back of the Canadian $20? bill for many years.

If they want to drive, the drive out to Emerald lake is beautiful and it is a really nice place for lunch at Cilantros--get a piece fo bumbleberry pie. You can walk around and on your drive back stop at Takakkaw Falls.

There are many stops on the Icefields Parkway--hopefully they will have a clear day. Pick up a lunch at the deli in Lake Louise so that they can have a picnic--one of our favorite picnic spots in on the shore of Waterflowl Lake. Many stops--it is such a beautiful drive, it is really ridiculous how many times we stop--- but to name a few: Bow Summit and Peyto Lake, Columbia Icefields Center, Athabasca and Sunwapta Falls.

In Jasper, Maligne Canyon is a nice walk--we parked at the 4th or 5th bridge and walked to the visitors center. We also like to drive up Mt Edith Cavell and walk around Angel Glacier--you can see the glacier from the parking lot so it is not a long walk.

LindainOhio

Forgot to add, after walking Maligne Canyon in Jasper, continue out to Maligne Lake--this is where many visitors take the boat trip out to Spirit Island--we have never done this, but the lake is beautiful--another place we like to picnic. There is a deli in Jasper--the Bear Paw and another The Other Paw where you can pick up picnic supplies.

roothy123

I'm also considering a trip to the Rockies, so read this info with interest. It sounds like you've got a good idea of what would work best for you, but in case it helps further, here's what I've found:
Rocky Mountaineer DOES let you book just the train trip itself (with hotel in Kamloops and breakfast and dinner - just no hotel in Vancouver)- but yes, it's not cheap.

For anyone reading this, which might be more scenic - the Rocky Mtneer trip through Kamloops to Banff and Calgary, or the northern route up to Jasper?

I found a place in Jasper for $130 a night that looks decent - Hart House Bed and Breakfast. (Jasper is expensive, I see!) I found a web site that lists bed and breakfasts in addition to normal hotels - banfflakelouise.com

I don't know if you're adventuresome or not, but if so, I've had good luck with Priceline bids and Hotwire buys - though I suspect there aren't too many winning bids for the Rockies.

I also found that returning a rental car to a different location was a lot pricier than returning it to the place you rented it. Jasper seemed to be pricey compared to Banff - with or without a drop fee!

We took a Princess cruise to Alaska a few years ago on the Pacific Princess in early Sept. - loved it! It was the cruise that went from Vancouver to Anchorage, way up in glacier land. I definitely recommend it, and no, I would not try Alaska on my own.

In Vancouver, we stayed at the tall Blue Horizon Hotel - not cheap (currently quoting around $150 I think) but not horribly expensive, either. All rooms have large floor to ceiling windows (with drapes) on two sides (corner rooms), and views of the city - kind of unique, and very fun. It is located on Robson - good location, though not really, really close to the cruise ship dock, especially with luggage.

SO - happy planning, and if you other folks could advise as to most scenic trip, during the daytime, from Vancouver to Banff/Calgary, I'd appreciate it! I'm thinking of springing for the rail-only trip on the Rocky Mtneer, but now I can't decide which one to take! Both are 2 days and about the same cost, but one goes to Banff and on to Calgary, and the other to Jasper. I'm not that interested in seeing Calgary, but if car rental, flights, etc. are easier, I'd consider going there! I DO want to include Jasper to Banff in my travels, though - by car.

Jt_Barnett

While not in relation to Canadian Rockies and a dated post.. I am posting a Q's to MrKinDallas ... I found a previous post by you sir in regards to a P2P trip to Russia/Baltic States in the summer of 1993.. I was also on this trip and looking to reconnect with anyone from the trip.. Easiest to hit me back on FB if you have one facebook/jtbarnett45 .. Thanks!