Jasper/Banff holiday help
Mar 25th, 2017, 01:27 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jasper/Banff holiday help
Hi guys
We are doing a 3 week holiday in July. We have decided the general loop we are going to do. We are looking at spending a week in the Jasper/Banff/Lake Louise area. the problem we are running into is what should we do accommodation wise. We realise that hotels are going to be pricey and nearly booked out at this time. Unfortunately July is our only available time to make this trip so even though it is high tourist season we are going to suck it up.
We arent huge campers. I have looked at the option of using equipped campsites. Taking into mind we arent big campers, and not from Canada, my question for you is, should we consider this? Also if we do, any tips on what to cook/eat for lunch and dinner? also how safe would our property be in these kind of areas?
If you have any tips or ideas or other options for accommodation please let me know. Would also love tips/ideas for hikes to go on and places to see while in the area, especially places that arent necessarily popular. We do love discovering hidden gems!
Huge thanks guys!!
We are doing a 3 week holiday in July. We have decided the general loop we are going to do. We are looking at spending a week in the Jasper/Banff/Lake Louise area. the problem we are running into is what should we do accommodation wise. We realise that hotels are going to be pricey and nearly booked out at this time. Unfortunately July is our only available time to make this trip so even though it is high tourist season we are going to suck it up.
We arent huge campers. I have looked at the option of using equipped campsites. Taking into mind we arent big campers, and not from Canada, my question for you is, should we consider this? Also if we do, any tips on what to cook/eat for lunch and dinner? also how safe would our property be in these kind of areas?
If you have any tips or ideas or other options for accommodation please let me know. Would also love tips/ideas for hikes to go on and places to see while in the area, especially places that arent necessarily popular. We do love discovering hidden gems!
Huge thanks guys!!
Mar 26th, 2017, 04:42 PM
#2
If you are from the U.S. you'll find Canadian national parks quite different from those in the U.S.
In Canada there are routinely tourist towns with many hotel/motel choices available. So it may be possible to find lodging even at this late date.
In Canada there are routinely tourist towns with many hotel/motel choices available. So it may be possible to find lodging even at this late date.
Mar 27th, 2017, 11:58 AM
#3
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Unfortunately, that's not true with regards to the Canadian Rockies - and parks in BC.
In the Canadian Rockies, there are only a few townsites with accommodation. And this summer, with record crowds expected, accommodation has been snapped up very quickly.
Weekends and holiday (June 29-Aug 2, Aug 4-7) may be very, very difficult at this stage, especially in Jasper.
There are semi-equipped campsites, but reservations have been open since January and even the equipped campsites still require you to bring sleeping bags/pillows and cooking equipment. Stuff can be rented, but it that adds to your budget (equipped campsites are pricey). You would need to have a stove for cooking -- many campsites have a fire ring or pit, but it's not the easiest or fastest way to cook (plus there is additional nightly fee for having a fire & you most likely would need an axe/hatchet to chop kindling).
Expect that hotels will run $250-300 per night for a basic double. Hostels can be up to $150 for a private room.
Jasper will be the hardest for accommodation because it's small and has no real alternatives. I'd start by booking 3-4 nights there -- hotels or Private Home Accommodations (Jasper version of B&Bs, albeit usually not with breakfast) - www.stayinjasper.
Then look in Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise before and after your Jasper dates. You'll want two chances to drive the Icefields Parkway. The exact order of things depends on what else you are doing in your bigger loop. I would suggest Waterton National Park as well as stops in places like Revelstoke. But book ASAP - all will be very busy.
In the Canadian Rockies, there are only a few townsites with accommodation. And this summer, with record crowds expected, accommodation has been snapped up very quickly.
Weekends and holiday (June 29-Aug 2, Aug 4-7) may be very, very difficult at this stage, especially in Jasper.
There are semi-equipped campsites, but reservations have been open since January and even the equipped campsites still require you to bring sleeping bags/pillows and cooking equipment. Stuff can be rented, but it that adds to your budget (equipped campsites are pricey). You would need to have a stove for cooking -- many campsites have a fire ring or pit, but it's not the easiest or fastest way to cook (plus there is additional nightly fee for having a fire & you most likely would need an axe/hatchet to chop kindling).
Expect that hotels will run $250-300 per night for a basic double. Hostels can be up to $150 for a private room.
Jasper will be the hardest for accommodation because it's small and has no real alternatives. I'd start by booking 3-4 nights there -- hotels or Private Home Accommodations (Jasper version of B&Bs, albeit usually not with breakfast) - www.stayinjasper.
Then look in Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise before and after your Jasper dates. You'll want two chances to drive the Icefields Parkway. The exact order of things depends on what else you are doing in your bigger loop. I would suggest Waterton National Park as well as stops in places like Revelstoke. But book ASAP - all will be very busy.
Mar 28th, 2017, 10:37 AM
#5
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Banff has a variety of accommodation options, but it's one of two townsites in all of Banff National Park -- one of which has only about 6 hotels. Jasper is the only townsite in all of Jasper National Park; there are, I believe, only two hotels in the park that are not in or right by the townsite. Field is the only townsite in Yoho NP and has one hotel and a handful of B&Bs. Glacier NP has no hotels at all. Not sure about Revelstoke -- the town itself is outside the NP, but I think the resort/resort hotel is in the park. So it's not like the parks are full of towns with hotels.
Banff certainly has plenty of hotels, but they are booking very quickly for this summer. Availability is quite limited at many, sold out for some -- many of those hotels are heavily booked by the big bus tour companies. Rooms which are available longer tend to be more expensive and/or less desirable.
As I said, get accommodation booked now. You may be able to find rooms in Banff that become available as the bus/tour companies finalize their tour companies, and snap up PHA rooms in Jasper as owners finalize their summer plans.
Banff certainly has plenty of hotels, but they are booking very quickly for this summer. Availability is quite limited at many, sold out for some -- many of those hotels are heavily booked by the big bus tour companies. Rooms which are available longer tend to be more expensive and/or less desirable.
As I said, get accommodation booked now. You may be able to find rooms in Banff that become available as the bus/tour companies finalize their tour companies, and snap up PHA rooms in Jasper as owners finalize their summer plans.
Mar 28th, 2017, 02:21 PM
#6
So as I wrote, compared to U.S. national parks, the towns of Banff and Jasper have many lodging choices.
It doesn't mean they don't all get booked up or that they'll be inexpensive, but there are many.
Also, the Canadian dollar is quite weak compared to that of the U.S. so that makes the cost more affordable.
It doesn't mean they don't all get booked up or that they'll be inexpensive, but there are many.
Also, the Canadian dollar is quite weak compared to that of the U.S. so that makes the cost more affordable.
Mar 29th, 2017, 07:17 PM
#7
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I traveled to Banff/Jasper last year during first week of July and started planning and obtaining lodging end of May/first part of June. I do have to say, I got pretty nervous. I must have emailed about 50 or 60 folks and most were booked up, but I ended up finding some great places to stay and was happy.
I did not care for Banff as much as Jasper/activities. We rented a car and drove/explored. Jasper was much more laid back and less touristy. I thought I had posted a trip report, but it doesn't look like I did and I do plan on it.
We flew into Calgary and rented a car (off airport, much cheaper). We stayed 1 night in Lake Louise (Paradise Lodge and Bungalows), 3 nights in Jasper (homestay Astoria Chalet), 2 nights in Banff (homestay Big Horn B&B) and 2 nights in Calgary at Acclaim airport (went to the Calgary Stampede). I believe the Paradise Lodge was the most expensive we stayed at. I would recommend starting with the homestays and plan on sending lots of emails.
I did not care for Banff as much as Jasper/activities. We rented a car and drove/explored. Jasper was much more laid back and less touristy. I thought I had posted a trip report, but it doesn't look like I did and I do plan on it.
We flew into Calgary and rented a car (off airport, much cheaper). We stayed 1 night in Lake Louise (Paradise Lodge and Bungalows), 3 nights in Jasper (homestay Astoria Chalet), 2 nights in Banff (homestay Big Horn B&B) and 2 nights in Calgary at Acclaim airport (went to the Calgary Stampede). I believe the Paradise Lodge was the most expensive we stayed at. I would recommend starting with the homestays and plan on sending lots of emails.
