I am planning on leaving Victoria on Oct.4 th to pick up a rental car at Vancouver Airport and then drive to Calgary with 3-4 day stay in Banff. Through expedia.ca I got a compact car from National Car Rental for $287.14 total for 1 week no mileage charge (good rate). Best way I can find from Victoria to Vancouver Airport is either Ferry Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen & then Pacific Coachlne from Tsawwassen to airort( $10.50 ea. Ferry fare plus $17.00 ea bus fare)There are 2 of us travelling. The other was $39.00 ea on Pacific Coachline from Victoria to Vancouver Airport.In the first setup my daughter would drive us to Swartz Bay Ferry.I can't seem to get a rental car from Victoria to Calgary at a reasonable price. National wants $386.00 plus $0.75 /kilometer totals over $1000.00.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Warren Sheridan

In the past I have found what you have found. The drop fee is high.
You can fly it on Air Canada cheaper.
It will take you all day and then some to make the drive. By the time you pay for the gas for a 600 mile drive (guesstimate) and your drop fee, the flight is probably just about as cheap.

right now, a one way ticket is about $400 C to fly. (one person)

FYI If you check the Westjet website you can get a fare of $97 plus tax on Oct 4 Victoria to Calgary. That beats Air Canada by a few dollars!!! We always use Westjet.

I should have mentioned we are driving because we want the scenic trip and 2 people on the Tour Bus or Train is almost $1000.00 ( approx.$450.00 each )
We are taking 2 full days to see as much as we can so our cost will be $287.00 total for the car plus gas and 1 night in a motel plus meals.Also we enjoy doing our own driving and stop when we want to. Sorry I didn't mention that.
Warren

You can fly to Calgary, rent a car, drive to the Rockies, even go all the way to Revelstoke through Glacier and Mt. Revelstoke NP's and see the same scenery just about.

I have not take the train trip, but I had rather be on top of Rogers Pass than down in some hole trying to look up at it.

The view of the Columbia Gorge from the Trans Canada is spectacular. The view from Rogers pass of the towering Selkirks is awesome. The views from the Icefields Parkway are world class.

I just don't think the train route enables you to get the same views that you can get from the highway from the crest of numerous passes.

One drawback is that rental car prices out of Calgary right now are very high.
I went with Enterprise, and I took a peek at their current prices and they are higher than what I am paying by a big margin.

I am glad to know about West Jet!!
That is a HUGE price difference.

I am glad I introduced you to Westjet. The great thing about them is there is no penalty for one way fares and their rates are excellent. They started off with just a few routes and have gradually expanded. Their service is great as well. Just recently we had to book a flight for my daughter from San Franciso to Calgary to attend a funeral. Westjet was 1/3 the price of the other airlines.

We took a limo from the Vancouver airport to the ferry terminal. Cost was around $65 - two sharing. It was more convenient than trying to take a bus! The driver also took VISA. Sorry I don't know the company but you can probably arrange for a pickup.

As for the car drop-off, I seem to recall for us to do it the price was considerable - $650 I believe. Not sure if there are any companies that allow you to drop without a penalty. You may want to check about snow that time of year in the mountains? Not sure about the weather but driving can be hazardous even in rainy weather, can't imagine snow?

Don't worry about snow that time of year it is beautiful then.