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Car Hire cost effective for solo traveller in Banff?

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Old Mar 18th, 2010, 05:03 AM
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Car Hire cost effective for solo traveller in Banff?

Does anyone have experience of hiring a car from Banff/Calgary for 4-6 days to travel around instead of what I call "cattle tours" to the touristy places? I will be in Banff ( from the Rocky Mountaineer on Sept 7th and leaving for Calgary airport Sept 13 flight to Toronto. What are the charges and CRW etc. Cannot find reasonable total costs ( not daily rates) from the UK.
Barbara in UK
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Old Mar 18th, 2010, 05:04 AM
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Forgot to add that I will be travelling solo
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Old Mar 18th, 2010, 08:54 AM
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We rent/hire a car every time we go to Calgary/Banff etc. Highly recommended and pretty much a must if you want to get around on your own schedule and interests.

Don't know why you're having trouble finding total costs. Most of the usual suspects have Canadian sites. For ex I typed in "Budget rentals in Calgary" and got a total for your dates of an economy car for C$205.02 including all taxes and fees. The same should work for Avis, Hertz, etc.
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Old Mar 18th, 2010, 09:07 AM
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You might start with your own UK travel agent, and see if there are any arrangements with Canadian rental car companies.

I've spent a lot of time in that part of Canada, often alone, driving rental cars (paid for, admittedly, by an employer or a client), and that is far and away the best wa to gt around, unless you enjoy the company of other trvellers on the tours.

BAK
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Old Mar 18th, 2010, 12:04 PM
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I agree with the other posters. I think you should rent a car. I think you will be really glad you did.
I quite often travel solo, and this is one area that I think a car is a really good idea.

I'm not sure about finding the best rates, but as dfr says, try googling and I'm sure you will find some good rates. Budget is a good one and also Enterprise.
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Old Mar 20th, 2010, 01:38 PM
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Rent a car. It is the best way to enjoy the mountains.

Go directly to budget.com, avis.com, hertz.com, etc..

expedia.ca will give you all in rates.

I don't know what you mean by not being to find good rates "from the UK"
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Old Mar 27th, 2010, 10:13 AM
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Thanks for the advice.
I have been caught out pebfore when booking a rental to find that CDW and excesses are taken at the point of collection.
As you say better to get a rental to get arpund and this is what I will do. I have seen the web sites but failed to believe them and that the total was the TOTAL. Fully aware that you need to present a credit card etc. Hopefully the total I get nwo will be what I pay.
Thanks.
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Old May 6th, 2010, 11:30 AM
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I always use expedia to book a car. It always gives you the total price with everything all in.
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Old May 6th, 2010, 11:34 AM
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Thank you MrShort1.
I will do that.
Barbara
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