evelyntrav

Is it possible to rent a car in Wyoming and drop it off at the airport in Jasper or Vancouver? I will call the rental car companies, but wondered if anyone at this site has experience doing this.<BR><BR>We are at the very early stages of planning a trip and are considering flying to the Grand Tetons, driving to Yellowstone, Glacier, Banff, Jasper and then either flying home, or taking train to Vancouver and flying to US from Vancouver.

GaryA

It's possible but I think very expensive. American cars are configured to English measurements, (i.e. miles), while Canadian cars use Metric, (Kilometres), and for that reason among others can not actually be used by the companies in Canada for rental . Consequently they have to deliver the car back to the states and therein lies the expense.- probably more than the expense of flying from Wyoming to Alberta, (if that's possible).<BR><BR>Even in the states drop off charges can be onerous. When I was in Las Vegas last year I thought I would rent a car to drive from there to Phoenix. The drop off fee was $400. America west one way air fare was $198 all in and so the two of us saved $2 by flying!

evelyntrav

Gary, the flying option was a good idea, however, I checked the air rates from Kalispell to Calgary and was really shocked. One way involves 3-4 stops for almost $400 USD/pp and with one stop almost $500. I have to rethink this entire plan. Looks like two separate trips to me. Too bad.<BR><BR>Thank you for your response.

BAK

I investigated receontly regarding the other way; rent in Toronto and drop off in Buffalo.<BR><BR>I talked with two companies. Hertz said it was easy and inexpensive. National said they would not do it.<BR><BR>So there you go. Try several companies.<BR><BR>And I don't think there's a big enough airport in Jasper to meet your needs, if you want to fly from there. You'd have to drive to either Edmonton or Calgary. I gather you might be thinking of taking the train from Jasper, though, which would work if the rental company was agreeable to receiving a car in that small community.<BR><BR>About air fares; you might find a reasonable fare by booking from your home to Calgary, with a stop on the way, instead of flying to Wyoming, and then booking a seperate trip from Wyoming to Calgary. Airline ticket policies are weird, but i once flew from Chicago to Minot to Regina for not much more than Chicago - Regina more directly.<BR><BR>BAK

Lynette

The closest major airport to Jasper is in Edmonton, AB. About 2 hours or so to the east.<BR>Here is a suggestion you might consider. Keep the car and drive to Vancouver instead of the train, and then drive it back into the US and drop it off in maybe Bellingham or Seattle and fly home from there.<BR>Bellingham is only 45 minutes from Vancouver and Seattle is about 2 hours. Your drop charge may be less that way. Check out with the car rental companies to be sure though

JimTCalgary

If can not rent a car one way between Montana and Alberta check out Airport Shuttle Express of Calgary. They offer year-round charter van service between Calgary/Banff and most locations in Montana. Their "cheapest" location is East Glacier MT where Avis and Dollar has rentals. Their site also lists an "overland" route which can get you across the border during the summer months. For details see: http://airportshuttleexpress.com/waterton.htm

tomfuller

Rent wherever in the US go across the Going to the Sun highway in Glacier and through Calgary and Banff to Jasper. Return the car at the Whitefish Amtrak station and take the Empire Builder to Seattle. Drop off fees are bad enough without trying to test the limits of two countries.
Either rent a car in Seattle or take the morning Amtrak train to Vancouver. Return to Seattle to fly home.
Jim probably has the best idea. You need a car for Jasper. You need a car for Glacier. You need a car for Yellowstone. They do not have to be the same car. Amtrak from Whitefish to Seattle to Vancouver is cheaper than Jasper to Vancouver on ViaRail.

NorthwestMale

People, the price of GAS has risen SO HIGH during the EIGHT YEARS since this thread began, that most can no longer contemplate getting from point A to point B.


EIGHT YEARS !!!