My wife and I are spending 2 weeks (9/12-9/26) going from YNP,GNP,Calgary,Banff,LL, and Jasper. Flying into Jackson, pickup rental car and head toward YNP. Spend at least 1 night around YNP, want to spend 4 nites total around YNP, maybe 3 at end of trip. AAA has routed us up west side thru Butte and return east side thru Helena. Will have 12 days to spend, and would like suggestions on number of nites to spend in Banff,LL area, Jasper, etc, reasonable places to eat($10/20). Currently planning to see Icefields, GNP, GTSR,Running Eagle Falls, Lakes Moraine, Louise, Maligne, Peyto, and Meninewanka, take Banff Gondola ride, and visit 1 or 2 Hot Springs. We are not making reservations except for 1st night around YNP. Questions: 1. Will it be a problem finding reasonable places to stay ($160 max)? 2. Should we get Annual Park Permit? 3. Should we consider B&B? We are 72, reasonable good health, love scenic views, short easy hikes(2 mile round trip). Thanks in advance.

We just came back from some of that general area. Going without reservations shouldn't be a problem in Sept (more of a challenge in early August when we did it, but still possible with some flexibility).

Glacier was pretty smoked up from the forest fires when we were there, even up to Waterton Lakes in Canada; you will probably want to adapt as you go on that one, as weather and winds change.

Jasper has lots of reasonable B&Bs; you can look at www.stayinjasper.com for a list. There was supposed to be a big influx of pipeline workers coming in shortly after we left, though, which may have some impact. Hotels are somewhat pricey in both Banff and Jasper.

Around Banff, I think that if I wasn't willing to spend the $$$ for Banff Springs Hotel or Chateau Lake Louise, I'd be inclined to go for B&Bs in Canmore, a very pretty town a few miles east of Banff. Banff town itself was a bit too much hotel blocks and souvenir shops for my taste, and LL town is just a few hotels.

I'd get the park permit mostly for the convenience, less hassles at the various gates; the price is probably a wash.

Thanks Curmudgeon. We probably will use B&B's in these areas also. Did you run into any good and reasonable places to eat? Also, my wife is diabetic and sometimes we split a meal or buy a meal and order an appetizer. Is this a problem?

In Jasper, check out Pine bungallows just outside of town proper, right on the athabaska river, kitchenette, fireplaces etc.

http://www.pinebungalows.com

in your price range and your morning coffee will be just wonderful sitting on the bench by the river... elk were movng thru when i was there..

I also stayed at castle mountain (inbetween banff and lake louise...)

http://www.decorehotels.com/castleMountain

Thanks Justme22, I will research.

I can recommend the Elk and Oarsman pub in downtown Banff, moderately priced and good food, upstairs over one of the stores.

A couple of more points for the Jasper/Banff area. We stayed at Amanda's Guesthouse in Jasper, and Mountain Peaks in Canmore; I would recommend both of them. They are simple B&Bs, but very nice.

For a moderate priced meal at the Banff Springs hotel, you can get light meals in the Rundle lounge, and still have a nice view and atmosphere; the 3-tier appetizer plate was a meal for two of us.