We have friends who are attending a conference in Calgary and are being lodged at The Palliser Hotel. We want to join them in Calgary for a few days, and spend some time seeing the city and the surrounds. But, oh my gosh, the rates at the Palliser knocked me out! (It looks like $300CAD -$500CAD per night is the going rate at Palliser for that time of year.)

We like deluxe accommodations as much as the next person, but I guess there is a point at which I have to wonder if paying so much will rob some of the enjoyment?

Okay, so here is my question in two parts:

1) is the Palliser worth it?
2) is there a nice alternate hotel very close by? Something around $200 CAD per night...??

Thanks.

>>>1) is the Palliser worth it?<<<

The Palliser is a lovely hotel, the "grand old dame" of Calgary, so to speak. However, I don't do 300 CAD - 500 CAD per night hotels, so the Palliser's charms are kind of academic as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps you can take a peak at your friends' room and see what they got for their money?

If you want to be close to them, you could stay at the Marriott, which is directly across the street. Many Fodorites have stayed there. A colleague of my husband from Boston stays there whenever he comes to Calgary.

Another hotel in the Marriott's price range is the Delta Bow Valley. However, while it's still in the downtown core, it's not really close to the Palliser.

>>>We want to join them in Calgary for a few days, and spend some time seeing the city and the surrounds.<<<

Maybe I've misunderstood you, but I think you'd be crazy to base yourself in Calgary for a few days (unless you had a specific reason for coming here, like the conference that is bringing your friends to the city).

Calgary itself is good for a day, in my opinion. Beyond that, you can go on a day trip from here to the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology in Drumheller, to the east of Calgary. You can go on another day trip to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre to the south of Calgary.

But the Rocky Mountains to the west are the real draw. Although they can be visited as a day trip from Calgary, it's really more ideal to base yourself in the mountains themselves. Depending on how much time you have, an ideal trip to the Canadian Rockies would involve two bases. One base would be in Lake Louise, Banff or Canmore, and would be used for seeing the sights in Banff and Yoho National Parks. The other base would be Jasper. The Icefields Parkway, the portion of Hwy #93 that connects Lake Louise and Jasper, has particularly good scenery.

Hope that helps.

Judy, thank you for such a prompt reply! I'll take a look at the Marriott as you suggest.

Now as to the rest of the trip. We definitely want to see Banff and Lake Louise and spend a night or two in that area. We fly our own plane, so we will have to research potential landing spots in/near these park areas. If we do that, we'll need a pick-up from the landing spot, perhaps a car rental company. Or, I suppose we could rent a car in Calgary and drive out to Banff (though seeing it from the air might be too much to resist). I will do more research based on your suggestions.

I saw elsewhere that hotel rates in the Rockies are fairly high compared to other areas, so I'm still getting used to the rates! Thanks again!

Hello Carla,

You're welcome.

There is a landing strip just outside of Banff townsite. It's next to the TransCanada Highway (Hwy #1), and you see it when you're heading towards Lake Louise , just after the turn off to Banff townsite. I've never thought about its distance from Banff townsite, but I guess it's a couple of miles.

There are car rental companies in Banff townsite. Again, because I've never had to think about it, I don't know how you could get from Banff "Airport" (really just a landing strip) to Banff townsite. Banff has cabs, and I suppose you could arrange for one of them to pick you up, or perhaps the car rental company would agree to meet you.

As far as Jasper is concerned, I've never noticed an airstrip nearby. An Internet search suggests the nearest airport is in Hinton, 48 miles away.

As far as hotels are concerned, one of the great favourites amongst Fodorites is Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff. I personally like Lady Macdonald Country Inn in Canmore. In the Lake Louise area a couple of perennial favourites are Baker Creek Chalets and Paradise Lodge and Bungalows.

When it comes to accommodations in the mountains, look out for the small print. Some properties have 48-hour, 72-hour, or 7-day cancellation policies. I've even seen a 14-day cancellation policy. In July and August, some of them also have 2- or 3-night minimum stays.

Hope that helps.

There is a Hyatt just a block further from the Marriott, two blocks from the Palliser.

Carla,

for any US/Canada city it's worth considering Priceline and Hotwire. The Marriott (~US$60+fees) and Hyatt (~US$80+fees) come up but aren't the only hotels you may end up with.

One further option is www.canadianhotelexperts.com . I have no experience with them so far but they seem reputable - part of a larger group

[oops - hit "post by accident. To continue...]

Carla,

for any US/Canada city it's worth considering Priceline and Hotwire. The Marriott (~US$60+fees) and Hyatt (~US$80+fees) come up but aren't the only hotels you may end up with.

One further option is www.canadianhotelexperts.com . I have no experience with them so far but they seem reputable - part of a larger group (www.digcanada.com). They are a little like Hotwire - rates displayed with hotel "opaque" but they give you a shortlist.

What's intriguing in your case is that the 4* shortlist for downtown Calgary has only one hotel on it (as they're starting-up?) - the Hyatt. Accordingly they are clearly offering the Hyatt for your date for CAD129 (CAD153 all in). Seems like a steal, under half the Hyatt.com rate.

Because they're a little unknown, I'd print out the two screens before you confirm - if you did get a different hotel that didn't suit you can insist on a refund, through your credit card company if it comes to that (I really doubt it will).