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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Canada, British Columbia Travel Advice

68 replies

LaCerbiatta · 10/07/2023 16:03

Planning a trip to Canada, probably BC next summer. We're 4, 2 dc who will be 14 and 18 at the time.

Thinking about flying to Calgary and then making our way to Vancouver with stops in the way. Thinking about 10-14 days. Probably renting a car although we'd love one of those scenic trains through the rockies as well!

Had a look at Trailfinders and the prices are a bit more than I was expecting: ~£2800 per person without flights, I'm guessing it works out cheaper if you organise everything? Although feels a bit overwhelming....

If you've been, how have you done it, via travel agency or just organised it wourself? And how much did it cost? Also any suggestions of places to go, places to stay, what to avoid, would be really welcome, thank you!

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orangeclubsarebest · 10/07/2023 19:30

We did it ourselves but on the cheap. No kids. Flew to Vancouver then took the ferry to VI. Stayed in Victoria for 4 days for a wedding then went back to Vancouver for 3 days. So it was a bit of a whistle stop but still brilliant.

BestIsWest · 10/07/2023 19:33

We did flight to Calgary, 5 nights in the Rockies (we based ourselves in Banff but did trips up the Icefield parkway). Flew Calgary to Victoria and spent 5 days on VI. Then ferry to Vancouver for 4 nights and flight back.
Wasn’t keen on Vancouver itself but I was knackered by then.

gogomoto · 10/07/2023 19:36

Should add I've done it several times as I lived in WA previously, did it once by car from U.K. (see previous post) and just booking another trip but on 2 wheels of the motorised variety, should be amazing

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 10/07/2023 19:56

Greetings from Canmore - only 30 mins from Banff and with cheaper hotels!

Just a tip - make sure, if you do travel via Calgary, that your trip doesn’t coincide with the Stampede as all of the hotels in the city will be full and prices will be hiked up.

Brewsters/Pursuit own most of the fun stuff - Banff Gondola, Icefields Skywalk etc and discounts can be had for booking more than one.

I see you have older kids, so fun stuff for them includes the Cave tour in Canmore, the Via Ferrata at Mt Norquay in Banff and the Skybridges, zip line etc at Golden in BC. There’s also tons of businesses offering white water rafting etc.

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 10/07/2023 19:57

20 minutes from Banff!

If driving or motor homing, you’ll also need a Parks Canada pass.

rookiemere · 10/07/2023 20:04

On the motorhome front, we priced it up and it was the same price - if not more expensive - than staying in the places I listed. Plus it's very popular so the best sites book up quickly so you would need to plan your route well in advance.

Overrunwithlego · 10/07/2023 20:09

THis is the place we stopped at the was half way between Whistler / Vancouver and jasper - about 4 hours from each. We stayed in a log cabin but there is a campground for motor homes.. https://alpinemeadowsresort.com/

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ReviewingTheSituation · 10/07/2023 20:27

We flew to Calgary. From there we went to Canmore (just outside Banff) and had a couple of nights there. Then on to Lake Louise for a couple of nights. We made our way back to Vancouver from there, with 2 x 1 night stops along the way - 1 in Kamloops, and I don't remember where else.
After that we had a few nights in Vancouver, then got the ferry to Victoria for a few nights.

This was all in 2003, and DH still says it was one of his favourite holidays (and we've been to some pretty lovely places in the last 20 years!)

It is a stunning part of the world. I would caution about travelling too far in the Rockies - it can take a long time to get from A to B, and there is a lot of spectacular scenery closeish to Calgary.

Whatever you do, you'll have a great time.

Overrunwithlego · 10/07/2023 20:35

LaCerbiatta · 10/07/2023 18:04

Taking notes to check later, thanks so much everyone!!

@rookiemere is the journey from Calgary to Vancouver really that bad? Was expecting it to be amazing with all the stops! Or do you mean it's soul destroying to do it in one go?

The drive between Vancouver and the Rockies is stunning but quite desolate. We drove Whistler to the Alpine Meadows resort and half way through 9about 2.5 hours) there was a small town called Lillooet. There was no other food stops / Gas stations on the route.

We were due to stay at one place but they told us in advance that there restaurant was closed. The next nearest place for dinner was an hours drive away. So its just vast and not particularly populated so you need to plan it!

PinkPondQueen · 10/07/2023 21:03

Some amazing advice here. Having been twice I only have this to add. Vancouver is ok as a gateway city only - there was a very obvious & horrific drug problem there. Whistler is pointless if you're going to the Rockies it does not compare to the sheer majesty of Banff.

Tofino was absolutely stunning & well worth the detour because we stayed here which really was beautiful plus the whale & bear watching was fantastic. It was a lot cheaper when we went back in 2008 😬

https://tofinovr.com/properties/eagle-view-house/

In Banff I can really recommend The Moose Inn - the heated rooftop pools were amazing and if funds allow a helicopter tour of the Rockies from Canmore was one of the best days of my life.

Eagle View House - Tofino Vacation Rentals

Eagle View House has stunning panoramic views stretching from Bedwell Glacier over Lemmins Inlet through the old growth forests of Meares Island, Clayoquot Sound and Tofino Harbour—you can see all the way to open ocean! The house was custom designed b...

https://tofinovr.com/properties/eagle-view-house

ProfessorLayton1 · 10/07/2023 21:20

You can fly from Calgary to Vancouver Island - Victoria, Nanaimo or Campbell river. By doing this you can avoid going to Vancouver if you don't want to visit the city and don't want to see Whistler.

MidtoLon · 10/07/2023 21:24

It’s several years since we did this trip but it is the standout trip of my life. We used Canadian Affair for flights and car hire but booked all accommodation independently
After flying into Calgary we hired a car and we stayed in Canmore (much cheaper than Banff) for 3 nights at a B&B called Ambleside Lodge run by Sue and Dave not sure if they are still there but it was amazing and would highly recommend. From there we did day trips to Banff Lake Louise Lake Minnewanka Mount Norquay Spiral Train tunnels. Travelled up the Icefields Parkway. So many amazing views and walked on glaciers on the way to Jasper.
In Jasper (stayed 2 nights) we stayed in a small room which just had tea coffee facilities and cereal for breakfast provided but lots of places to get food in Jasper. Maligne lake boat trip. Viewing Edith Cavell glacier Athabasca Falls. Could have done white water rafting/kayaking
Stayed at Wells Gray Ranch log cabins horse riding and wildlife viewing including bears (at a distance) Not sure this was really worth it but needed somewhere to stay between Jasper and Whistler
We went upmarket in Whistler and Vancouver and stayed at Pan Pacific Hotels as got a good deal if staying in both places
Caught ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Vancouver Island We stayed in Tofino at a small place similar to in Jasper and probably only suitable for a couple but if you google am sure you would find somewhere to accommodate children as well. Can do whale watching trips see enormous redwood trees and travel the Pacific coast but could cut this out of needed.
A real mixture of places as you can see
We dropped off the car at Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver and spent just one night there so just did a hop on hop off bus trip but stayed on it basically. We flew back from Vancouver after a cruise up the coast to Alaska
Hope this helps a bit
Enjoy your trip and ensure you see glaciers as not sure we will get the chance to go back but I have seen photos of how they have receded even in the years since we went

Bellesjp · 10/07/2023 21:28

Jealous!!

I would probably allow more like 3 weeks for Calgary to Vancouver. We had 10 days just Calgary up to jasper as so much to see, although depends if you want to head up there or straight down to Vancouver

We hired an RV and spent around 5k for the 2 of us incl flights, we hadn't factored in quite how much fuel we'd use though!

rookiemere · 10/07/2023 21:59

If you're going to fly in and out of Calgary and have max 2 weeks, I'd skip the Vancouver/Van Island bit and purely do the Rockies with a bit more time in each place. Jasper is a fair old drive - about 4 hrs from Calgary- but definitely worth spending some time there.

Tofino on Vancouver Island is one of my favourite places in the world, but it feels that if you have to get down there and back up it eats up too much travel time considering you'll probably be a bit jet lagged on your first couple of days.

Vanillazebra · 10/07/2023 22:06

Feel free to pm me if you want or need any info on the Island.

thenewera · 10/07/2023 22:13

We did a loop starting and ending in Vancouver. Including vancouver lsland, ( stayed in fab huts on the beach- went on boat trips), Whistler, ( zip lining), Tyax lodge, (amazing but miles from anywhere), Clearwater ( rafting), Lake Louise, jasper, kelowna and back to Vancouver. Lots of driving but was fine- we don't mind doing long distances.
I think we had about 2 and a half weeks in total. Was not cheap though. Booked it all ourselves.

TizerorFizz · 10/07/2023 22:29

I think some itineraries are too lengthy here with little downtime. Vancouver Island is 400 miles long. Just hopping over to Victoria is a massive waste of time. You need at least a week for VI alone. For just two weeks, I would just stay in the Rockies. Maybe add in Vancouver but driving, as opposed to enjoying, feels like a rushed holiday to me.

Staying longer in BC means you can look at Wells Gray, Waterton and Kootenay parks. Sometimes it’s nice to get away from the crowds. We like wilderness BC too.

I have met a number of people who did the train. Rocky Mountaineer. The “cheap”seats are not great as you cannot move around much, they said. The other class is better but very expensive. They didn’t seem hugely impressed giving how much they had spent. Better things to do with the money I think.

Vanillazebra · 10/07/2023 22:39

Just to put it in to perspective, driving from Calgary to Victoria is the equivalent of driving from London to Rome

BestIsWest · 10/07/2023 23:24

We stayed in the Parkside in Victoria recommended above. It was great.

medianewbie · 11/07/2023 00:53

Watching

HolidayHappy123 · 11/07/2023 02:58

Best holiday EVER! I'd focus on Vancouver, Whistler and Vancouver Island as tons to do in those places alone.

rookiemere · 11/07/2023 08:22

Oh this is giving me nostalgia. Might see if I can use our Amex flights for Vancouver. We just did Tofino and I'm sure I would enjoy the rest of the island.