Author Topic: Banff and Jasper Master Thread (Read 181613 times)

Mutty · « **Reply #340 on:** July 18, 2016, 10:33:02 PM »

Quote from: Ysturmwind on July 18, 2016, 08:18:22 PM

Keep checking again and again. When I first looked there nothing available but eventually a room opened up and I grabbed it right away.

Thanks. I'll do that.

Mutty · « **Reply #341 on:** July 18, 2016, 10:33:29 PM »

Quote from: mordechain on July 18, 2016, 08:04:59 PM

I stayed at the Delta kananaskis village, a very nice place. It's now part of the Marriott chain, I p paid 150 a night last summer. Only down side is that it's a half hour from the Banff gate, but still in a beautiful area

Do they take marriot points? Free nights? What category is it?

mordechain · « **Reply #342 on:** July 18, 2016, 10:51:44 PM »

I just googled it. Category 7

elya · « **Reply #343 on:** July 20, 2016, 01:56:18 AM »

Quote from: Mutty on July 18, 2016, 07:44:08 PM

Wanted to go but the main good hotels, like Fairmont are booked solid. I want it to be a nice vacation so I wanted something like the Fairmont. I guess it's major season and we won't get anything decent. Probably have to plan way in advance. Oh well.

Theres a gorgeous hotel under 5 minutes away from the Fairmont Banff springs called The Rimrock, it dosent hold a candle to The Fairmont, but beautiful and affordable nonetheless. (rooms are actually significantly larger there)

JunkYardUnz · « **Reply #344 on:** July 20, 2016, 10:23:41 PM »

Quote from: elya on July 20, 2016, 01:56:18 AM

Theres a gorgeous hotel under 5 minutes away from the Fairmont Banff springs called The Rimrock, it dosent hold a candle to The Fairmont, but beautiful and affordable nonetheless. (rooms are actually significantly larger there)

When we went 2 years ago we stayed in Solara Resort in Canmor. It's around 30 min from the park entrance. They only have suites/apartments, it was really nice. We had our own kitchen, living room, porch... We booked it thru Amex Travel. I don't remember the exact deal, but I think I paid $300 a night and got $100 back per a night via a Amex offers.

Mutty · « **Reply #345 on:** July 25, 2016, 03:46:39 PM »

Nothing was available. I went through a travel agent and we ended up getting the Fairmont for the first two nights in Banff and the second two nights in Lake Louise. We are very excited about it. Going early Sunday morning mid August - flying from NY to Toronto and then to Banff so we can get there early. Now I have to read through the notes here and figure out about food and touring.
Anybody want to kick in any advice (a lot to read above), feel free.
We are two "young" grandparents, no children coming along.
Maybe Pomogranate or Chap A Nosh for food? Someone said you can pick up something in Calgary? Anyway, will start reading the thread. Thanks for the help so far.

Ysturmwind · « **Reply #346 on:** July 25, 2016, 04:12:39 PM »

Both Fairmonts are amazing hotels. We stayed in the Banff Springs, not the Lake Louise, but the LL one is also a great property. My one complaint with the BS Fairmont was that the rooms small. The hotel and the grounds were incredible, but we got a suite upgrade to a room thats smaller than most hotel rooms.

We brought food from Pomegranate and it was delicious. The BS staff was incredibly helpful with everything, they stored the food then heated and brought it up to our room when we called for it. Calgary has very little in terms of kosher food, there are a couple of small kosher sections in the supermarkets there but not much. If you want anything more substantial than pre-package deli/hummus you will have to bring it from NY.

We did the Johnston Canyon hike which was awesome, we did the hike up to the upper falls and it was a total of about 1.5-2 hours. Its an easy hikes thats more akin to a nature walk. If you have the time to drive up to Athabasca Glacier you definitely should. The drive is beautiful, we kept stopping the entire way there and back to take pictures and take in the scenery. The glacier itself very cool, you can drink the water right out of the streams melting on it. The bow river and falls are good to see, Lake Moraine has a number of great hikes for every kind of level, Lake Louise in beautiful. There are a ton of options of various things to do out there.

hr555 · « **Reply #347 on:** July 25, 2016, 05:58:27 PM »

Quote from: Mutty on July 25, 2016, 03:46:39 PM

Nothing was available. I went through a travel agent and we ended up getting the Fairmont for the first two nights in Banff and the second two nights in Lake Louise. We are very excited about it. Going early Sunday morning mid August - flying from NY to Toronto and then to Banff so we can get there early. Now I have to read through the notes here and figure out about food and touring.
Anybody want to kick in any advice (a lot to read above), feel free.
We are two "young" grandparents, no children coming along.
Maybe Pomogranate or Chap A Nosh for food? Someone said you can pick up something in Calgary? Anyway, will start reading the thread. Thanks for the help so far.

Do you enjoy multi-hour hiking?

yitzyul · « **Reply #348 on:** July 26, 2016, 10:44:54 PM »

After reading thru almost the whole thread I can't figure it out. Does it make sense to go to Banff for 2 days with kids? (youngest being 2).

mordechain · « **Reply #349 on:** July 26, 2016, 11:18:26 PM »

BKYW · « **Reply #350 on:** July 27, 2016, 10:56:21 AM »

Quote from: yitzyul on July 26, 2016, 10:44:54 PM

After reading thru almost the whole thread I can't figure it out. Does it make sense to go to Banff for 2 days with kids? (youngest being 2).

IMO depends how far you travel for it. And is travel included in these 2 days. But with 2 full days you can make a check on several activities. is it enough to get a feeling for the natural beauty ?

RabbiGoldenberg · « **Reply #351 on:** July 28, 2016, 12:39:18 PM »

Quote from: yitzyul on July 26, 2016, 10:44:54 PM

After reading thru almost the whole thread I can't figure it out. Does it make sense to go to Banff for 2 days with kids? (youngest being 2).

Whenever we take our kids to the mountains, we make sure to stop at enough playgrounds to make it worthwhile. You also have to factor in naps and whether or not they can sleep in the car. You can hold a two year old in a backpack carrier for short hikes.

Mutty · « **Reply #352 on:** July 28, 2016, 02:05:52 PM »

Quote from: hr555 on July 25, 2016, 05:58:27 PM

Do you enjoy multi-hour hiking?

Depends on the definition of multi. I just recently got relief for some leg problems I've had for a few years so I'm ready to try the hike, but maybe an hour or so would do it.

Mutty · « **Reply #353 on:** August 08, 2016, 11:49:04 AM »

Ok. So I'm preparing for our trip. Sooo looking forward. As far as the phone goes we have AT&T phones. They want x dollars for a month to give me some internet so I can get emails, texts, phone calls. Here's a question. If it's for another forum, please let me know. I can legally unlock my phones with AT&T. If I do, is there a card I can get for cheap in Canada (or in Flatbush) that will get me emails, phone, etc. If yes, how do I get phone calls to my ATT number?
Next.. the food situation!

BKYW · « **Reply #354 on:** August 08, 2016, 01:33:52 PM »

Quote from: Mutty on August 08, 2016, 11:49:04 AM

Ok. So I'm preparing for our trip. Sooo looking forward. As far as the phone goes we have AT&T phones. They want x dollars for a month to give me some internet so I can get emails, texts, phone calls. Here's a question. If it's for another forum, please let me know. I can legally unlock my phones with AT&T. If I do, is there a card I can get for cheap in Canada (or in Flatbush) that will get me emails, phone, etc. If yes, how do I get phone calls to my ATT number?
Next.. the food situation!

I had free wifi every night in every hotel I stayed in. Some may require you enroll in their free frequent guest program. I downloaded google offline maps

Mutty · « **Reply #355 on:** August 08, 2016, 05:24:54 PM »

Quote from: BKYW on August 08, 2016, 01:33:52 PM

I had free wifi every night in every hotel I stayed in. Some may require you enroll in their free frequent guest program. I downloaded google offline maps

Thanks. Staying in Fairmont and I am a member

Galitzyaner · « **Reply #356 on:** August 09, 2016, 02:24:18 PM »

My tentative itinerary - not sure which direction I'll start. I put some places in parenthesis - they are not must, but only if there's time.

Arrive in Calgary

(Drumheller: Dinosaur Trail)

(Grassi Lakes, Canmore)

(Banff Gondola)

Bow Lake

Lake Minnewanka

(Johnston Canyon hike)

Lake Louise

(ski area Gondola)

Moraine Lake

(Yoho National Park: Wapta Fall and Takakkaw Falls)

Icefields Parkway

Crowfoot Glacier

Peyto lake

(Mistaya Canyon)

Saskatchewan River Crossing
Weeping Wall

Athabasca Glacier,
Columbia Icefield Centre

Sunwapta falls

Athabasca Falls

Mount Edith Cavell with Angel Glacier

the Jasper Tramway

(maligne canyon)

(Mount Robson)

(West edmonton Mall)

Depart Edmonton airport

How long should this take without optional stops in parenthesis? How long with?
Not doing any long hikes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Mutty · « **Reply #357 on:** August 09, 2016, 04:16:57 PM »

All right! Thanks for showing your itinerary! A lot of google time needed but I'll check these out for our trip. We're iyh doing a Sunday-Thursday night.

aarony · « **Reply #358 on:** August 09, 2016, 07:18:13 PM »

Don't forget the gypsy app for your tour guides

Matovu · « **Reply #359 on:** August 09, 2016, 08:12:13 PM »

Quote from: Mutty on August 09, 2016, 04:16:57 PM

All right! Thanks for showing your itinerary! A lot of google time needed but I'll check these out for our trip. We're iyh doing a Sunday-Thursday night.

He seems to be going all the way up till Jasper. And leaving Edmonton

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Author Topic: Banff and Jasper Master Thread (Read 181613 times)