australians travelling over in sept/oct
Jan 8th, 2001, 05:12 AM
#1
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australians travelling over in sept/oct
Hi
I hope someone can help me. My two girlfriends and I are travelling over in Canada starting from vancouver on to Toronto and the surrounding areas or vice versa. We would like any suggestions as to how to go about travelling from one destination to the next the cheapest possible way as we will be backpacking. We can fly into toronto and then fly to vancouver as part of our RTW trip but I feel that by doing that we miss out on the fantastic sites in between. Is there maybe a bus system over there that allows you to hop on and off as you please or would it be best to hire a car. If someone can get back to me on some possible ideas of how to go about this and even some prices it would be greatly appreciated and we are open to all suggestions.
Thankyou
Jaclyn
I hope someone can help me. My two girlfriends and I are travelling over in Canada starting from vancouver on to Toronto and the surrounding areas or vice versa. We would like any suggestions as to how to go about travelling from one destination to the next the cheapest possible way as we will be backpacking. We can fly into toronto and then fly to vancouver as part of our RTW trip but I feel that by doing that we miss out on the fantastic sites in between. Is there maybe a bus system over there that allows you to hop on and off as you please or would it be best to hire a car. If someone can get back to me on some possible ideas of how to go about this and even some prices it would be greatly appreciated and we are open to all suggestions.
Thankyou
Jaclyn
Jan 8th, 2001, 05:24 AM
#2
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Jaclyn.......you might consider going by train. Check out www.viarail.ca for Canrail Passes.....also, if you are a student, there are discounts.
Jan 8th, 2001, 06:51 AM
#3
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Jaclyn.....forgot to mention that bus travel can be arranged at www.greyhound.ca/index.asp. I know they are doing some work on the site, but there is an International Canada Pass available. Your trip in September or October should be just in time for the discount season. If you know where you want to visit in advance, you can just arrange for stop-overs. Schools re-open in early September and the summer travelling season is over. So there should not be a problem getting from one place to another. Hope this helps.
Jan 8th, 2001, 10:46 PM
#4
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Jaclyn
Just a point to note if you decide to travel by train and that is if you book and pay more than 7 days in advance, you receive a substantial discount. Check out the Viarail site provided by Elizabeth to see where the train stops. Also, I've been told that the trip is more spectacular one way than the other (I think because through certain beautiful parts the train travels at night and you miss the scenery). Perhaps a Canadian can help out here.
When I did my first trip to Canada and the States in 1994, my girlfriend ant I flew in Vancouver, caught a bus to Banff and then to Calgary and flew from there to Toronto. It depends on how much time you have whether you bus/train or fly. Have you also thought about going to Montreal/Quebec and Ottawa? Just know that you have absolutely the best time as Canadians are incredibly friendly, wonderful people. Have a wonderful time.
Anne in Perth, Australia
Just a point to note if you decide to travel by train and that is if you book and pay more than 7 days in advance, you receive a substantial discount. Check out the Viarail site provided by Elizabeth to see where the train stops. Also, I've been told that the trip is more spectacular one way than the other (I think because through certain beautiful parts the train travels at night and you miss the scenery). Perhaps a Canadian can help out here.
When I did my first trip to Canada and the States in 1994, my girlfriend ant I flew in Vancouver, caught a bus to Banff and then to Calgary and flew from there to Toronto. It depends on how much time you have whether you bus/train or fly. Have you also thought about going to Montreal/Quebec and Ottawa? Just know that you have absolutely the best time as Canadians are incredibly friendly, wonderful people. Have a wonderful time.
Anne in Perth, Australia
Jan 10th, 2001, 01:00 PM
#5
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It's a big country.
With all due respect to the people in most of Canada, if your time is limited, concentrate on two (fairly big) areas.
I'd be tempted to fly to Toronto, see this city, and then rent a car and drive in a circle, from Toronto toKingston, Montreal, Quebec City, back to Montreal, then Ottawa, and then back to Toronto.
Fly to Vancouver (or to Calgary if your tickets permit) and rent another car. Assuming Vancouver: spend a few days in the city, and then take the ferry (drivingthe car) to Vancouver Island. Depending on your interests, if youliek the outdoors, go to Pacific Rim National Park; otherwise 9or in addition) go to Victoria, and then back to Vancouver. From here, drive east through the mountains, staying close to the US border, to Alberta and then up to Calgary. This takes you though the Rocky Mountains and, in Alberta, cowboy country. From Vancouver, time permitting, drive east three hours and turn around. This will show you all you need to see of the flat Canadian wheat-growing prairie. Go north to Drumheller if you care at all about dinosaurs, and then back to Calgary. Through Calgary to Banff,up to lake Louuise, and, if time permits, drive up the highway to the Columbia Icefileds. Then back to Vancouver, using a different set of roads than when you came from Vancouver to Calgary.
You'll have missed Atlantic Canada, but otherwise seen our best scenary, experienced the Frenchness of parts of Canada, seen cowboys and mountains and big cities and animals and the majesty of nature.
If time permits, a trip to Seattle is interesting too. Allow two days to go down from Vancouver, look around, and come back again.
BAK
With all due respect to the people in most of Canada, if your time is limited, concentrate on two (fairly big) areas.
I'd be tempted to fly to Toronto, see this city, and then rent a car and drive in a circle, from Toronto toKingston, Montreal, Quebec City, back to Montreal, then Ottawa, and then back to Toronto.
Fly to Vancouver (or to Calgary if your tickets permit) and rent another car. Assuming Vancouver: spend a few days in the city, and then take the ferry (drivingthe car) to Vancouver Island. Depending on your interests, if youliek the outdoors, go to Pacific Rim National Park; otherwise 9or in addition) go to Victoria, and then back to Vancouver. From here, drive east through the mountains, staying close to the US border, to Alberta and then up to Calgary. This takes you though the Rocky Mountains and, in Alberta, cowboy country. From Vancouver, time permitting, drive east three hours and turn around. This will show you all you need to see of the flat Canadian wheat-growing prairie. Go north to Drumheller if you care at all about dinosaurs, and then back to Calgary. Through Calgary to Banff,up to lake Louuise, and, if time permits, drive up the highway to the Columbia Icefileds. Then back to Vancouver, using a different set of roads than when you came from Vancouver to Calgary.
You'll have missed Atlantic Canada, but otherwise seen our best scenary, experienced the Frenchness of parts of Canada, seen cowboys and mountains and big cities and animals and the majesty of nature.
If time permits, a trip to Seattle is interesting too. Allow two days to go down from Vancouver, look around, and come back again.
BAK
Jan 10th, 2001, 01:00 PM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
It's a big country.
With all due respect to the people in most of Canada, if your time is limited, concentrate on two (fairly big) areas.
I'd be tempted to fly to Toronto, see this city, and then rent a car and drive in a circle, from Toronto toKingston, Montreal, Quebec City, back to Montreal, then Ottawa, and then back to Toronto.
Fly to Vancouver (or to Calgary if your tickets permit) and rent another car. Assuming Vancouver: spend a few days in the city, and then take the ferry (drivingthe car) to Vancouver Island. Depending on your interests, if youliek the outdoors, go to Pacific Rim National Park; otherwise 9or in addition) go to Victoria, and then back to Vancouver. From here, drive east through the mountains, staying close to the US border, to Alberta and then up to Calgary. This takes you though the Rocky Mountains and, in Alberta, cowboy country. From Vancouver, time permitting, drive east three hours and turn around. This will show you all you need to see of the flat Canadian wheat-growing prairie. Go north to Drumheller if you care at all about dinosaurs, and then back to Calgary. Through Calgary to Banff,up to lake Louuise, and, if time permits, drive up the highway to the Columbia Icefileds. Then back to Vancouver, using a different set of roads than when you came from Vancouver to Calgary.
You'll have missed Atlantic Canada, but otherwise seen our best scenary, experienced the Frenchness of parts of Canada, seen cowboys and mountains and big cities and animals and the majesty of nature.
If time permits, a trip to Seattle is interesting too. Allow two days to go down from Vancouver, look around, and come back again.
BAK
With all due respect to the people in most of Canada, if your time is limited, concentrate on two (fairly big) areas.
I'd be tempted to fly to Toronto, see this city, and then rent a car and drive in a circle, from Toronto toKingston, Montreal, Quebec City, back to Montreal, then Ottawa, and then back to Toronto.
Fly to Vancouver (or to Calgary if your tickets permit) and rent another car. Assuming Vancouver: spend a few days in the city, and then take the ferry (drivingthe car) to Vancouver Island. Depending on your interests, if youliek the outdoors, go to Pacific Rim National Park; otherwise 9or in addition) go to Victoria, and then back to Vancouver. From here, drive east through the mountains, staying close to the US border, to Alberta and then up to Calgary. This takes you though the Rocky Mountains and, in Alberta, cowboy country. From Vancouver, time permitting, drive east three hours and turn around. This will show you all you need to see of the flat Canadian wheat-growing prairie. Go north to Drumheller if you care at all about dinosaurs, and then back to Calgary. Through Calgary to Banff,up to lake Louuise, and, if time permits, drive up the highway to the Columbia Icefileds. Then back to Vancouver, using a different set of roads than when you came from Vancouver to Calgary.
You'll have missed Atlantic Canada, but otherwise seen our best scenary, experienced the Frenchness of parts of Canada, seen cowboys and mountains and big cities and animals and the majesty of nature.
If time permits, a trip to Seattle is interesting too. Allow two days to go down from Vancouver, look around, and come back again.
BAK
Jan 14th, 2001, 08:08 AM
#10
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We live in Southern Alberta and never go to Banff or Jasper - Although they are beautiful, they are indeed expensive. It depends on whether or not you want to spend the money. We much prefer the Crowsnest Pass area of the Rockies and the drive from Calgary to that area (through what is called the Gap) on Hwy. 22. However, as you live in Australia, you are not familiar with driving on the right side of the road and that may present a problem. Traffic can be heavy and fast in the Calgary area. Try not to miss the Tyrell Museum in Drumheller - it is world renowned. All of the Rockies are breathtaking but we love the Gap.
