Thankyou for your helpful comments, we will be driving from Vancouver to Whistler on April 21st overnight Whistler, next night Kamloops, 23 and 24 Lake Louise, 25th Jasper,26th Edmonton and last night Calgary, before flying out early next morning.Comments please re accommadation in those places, is it best to book, or just take "pot luck" and pull in at Hotel/Motel as we travel. If you suggest booking, any suggestions at where, and also do you have any email addresses. Thanks again Val from Aussie.

Val, I still don't understand your route.
Are you going to Whistler overnight and then back through Vancouver to Kamloops?

Whistler is not on the way to Kamloops from Vancouver.

Unless for some reason you are planning to go the northern route through Lilloet... but I wouldn't recommend that. Since the weather at that time of year is unpredictable, if it were me I'd want the fastest, most populated and most direct route between stops.

Granted I haven't travelled all the way to Kamloops on that route but have gone from Whistler to Lilloet and I found the road quite isolated. Hopefully others more familiar with the route will chime in.

It's possible that you'll get snow and maybe even icy road conditions through the mountains in April. While the coast will likely be balmy, that's considered very early spring for northern BC, and all of Alberta (the leaves won't even be out on the trees there).

There won't be too many people travelling at that time of year so you will probably be fine without reservations in most of the places you're stopping. The exception might be Whistler, and if you provide info as to your budget for that night you'll get some ideas.

I just re-read one of your other posts about accomodation in the mountains. It looks as if you have changed the direction of your trip from Calgary-Edmonton-Vancouver to Vancouver-Edmonton-Calgary. Perhaps to accomodate Whistler?

I recommend that you consider treating Whistler as a separate, side trip from Vancouver. I also suggest you check out perimeterbus.com - the sched for late April 2005 isn't yet posted, but in all likelihood the bus will pick you up at your hotel (Rosedale) around 8:45 am, get you to Whistler 2 hours later, and drop you off at the hotel either that evening, or even the next day if you wanted to stay overnight in Whistler.

Hi Taggie, Thanks for the reply, we have had to change our flight plan, now having to fly into Vancouver first, so have reversed our plan, I have had a lot of help from Judy in Calgary, and thought this is the way to do it?? Maybe I have got it wrong ?

Hi Val - that makes sense about the change in direction - it doesn't change at all what you'll be seeing. Everything looks fine and makes good sense to me - except for the Whistler part. I just do not think of Whistler as being on the way to Kamloops from Vancouver. I don't like that route through Lilloet, but I hope someone else will weigh in and give you more than one opinion to chew on!

I also wanted to make sure you realize what sort of driving conditions you MIGHT have to deal with. There will definitely be snow in the mountains at that time of year - maybe not on the roads, but there easily could be. Certainly a change from Oz.
Overall, you've planned out the stops well, without too, too much driving in each day.

But please give a bit of thought to doing Whistler as a side bus trip. It might even save you some money, depending on the overnight situation.
And again with the hotels, Whistler (if you do stay there) and Lake Louise, possibly Jasper, would be the spots I'd reserve. Kamloops is full of "motor hotel" places. Not much to see there but it is a popular stopping over point.

this past june i drove from whistler to lilliot (on my way to clear water but there is a turn off for kamloops too). i was amazed at the beauty. i thought it was a beautiful drive. it is very isolated so have gas. i wish there had been more places to pull over to enjoy the views. i'd definitly go that route. it may not be as fast but heck, your on vacation. i think scenary is worth an extra hour. i don't have a calendar when easter long weekend is. definitly have things reserved if it happens to be around those dates.
i think we already recommended hotels for edmonton.
in calgary, i've heard that the delta at the airport is good. handy if you have an early flight.