Rockies & Canada
We are planning on being in Vancouver begining of May 2008. Have only 5 or 6 nights available prior to a Alaskan cruise.
Would like to go to the Rockies but we plan to catch the train from Vancouver to Toronto after the cruise. This leaves at 5pm will we see much of the scenery that evening. OR should we pay for the Rockie Mountainer train 2 nights and then stay a few days at either Banff/Jasper or not sure!!!
On the cruise we are going for 14 nights 7 up and same return. We will be stopping in the same ports each way. Any sugestions for booking tours for these day trips. We love our wildlife and want to see as much as possible where ever we go.
All sugestions will be greatly appreciated. We are retired Ausies but don't like to waste our pennies.
Thanking one and all
Mystic
The train that leaves at 5 pm will not allow you to see anything at all of the Rockies never mind much of anywhere else. In early May it will probably be dark about 7pm.
On the cruise ship the light will be up longer - the farther north you go, but early May is still spring for us. Summer begins with the offical "longest day" on June 21st (I think. June twenty-something anyway :)
The Rocky Mountaineer would be a much better bet as that train is geared towards ensuring tourists see scenery. I believe it is MUCH more expensive though.
If I were you ....I would rent a car in Vancouver and drive yourself across to Calgary. That will give you plenty of opportunity to see not just the Rockies, but the Okanagan, the Icefields Parkway (a road that travel right through the glaciers of the Rockies see here for an article and some pics on the Icefields Parkway and everything else. Instead of just flying through on the train you can get out and really look around. In early May the little motels in the small towns will be dirt cheap - you will really enjoy meandering through small town Canada.
Whenever we have Aussies come to visit we take them on a 5-day "tour" of the Rockies that includes driving Vancouver to Jasper(north end of Rockies) then down the Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise, over to Banff then back to Vancouver through the fruit orchards of the Okanagan. So it is very doable. And would be much cheaper than taking the Rocky Mountaineer. In your case you could leave the rental car in Calgary and pick up the regular passenger train - or fly or whatever.
There won't be any snow to worry about on the roads in May but it will be cool. Aussies often make the mistake of booking their trips to Canada in the low seasons - assuming it can't be THAT cold ...becuase nowhere in Australia is. But May is still cool and wet and the sun goes down quite early.
Do NOT book the Rocky Mountainer. It is a rip off for anyone able to drive themselves.
If you only have 5 or 6 nights available before your cruise that would mean you would have to do whatever you do within that time period. Assuming 3 nights and 2 days is enough for you in Vancouver that doesn't leave much for anything else. Perhaps you need to re-assess your expectations of what you have time for other than your cruise. With only 5-6 nights it might make more sense to see Vancouver and perhaps hop over to Vancouver island for a couple of days before returning for your cruise.
What you haven't said is if you have any time to spare between leaving Vancouver and getting to Toronto. That would be the time to look at seeing the Rockies. Get off in Calgary and rent a car for a few days to visit Banff and Jasper.
During September this year my wife and I did a road trip from Vancouver to Banff (taking a route thorugh the southern part of BC) then up the Icefields Parkway to Jasper. We returned to Victoria via Wells Gray and the Sea to Sky highway. That took us a total of 10 days. With only 5 days at your disposal, I would either remain closer to Vancouver, or fly to Banff/Calgary and back. If you were to choose the former, then I would suggest that you drive to Osoyoos, then through the Okanagan to Kelowna and round to Kamloops. Return to Vancouver along one of THE most incredibly scenic stretches in BC - between Lillooet and Pemberton. Make sure you drive it in the morning with the sun behind you in order to get the most stupendous views (we unfortunately did that drive in the PM looking into the sun).
As an alternative (or in addition) to the road trip suggested above, I would spend more time around Vancouver and Victoria and spend a few days on Vancouver Island (Blanchart Gardens, Chamainus, Ucluelet, ....)
Why not break your train journey in Calgary, rent a car there and drive up to Jasper and back, getting back on the next train in Calgary. That would probably be more expensive than a ticket straight through to Toronto, but it would give you the opportunity of seeing the Canadian Rockies.
Enjoy - it is a lovely country.
Hi Folks thanks for the replies. I think we will bit the bullet and hire a car.
Ok a few more questions.
Hiring from Vancouver any suggestions of reliable and good price hire companys.
Is it difficult to drive in Vancouver or at least to get out on the open roads.
If going towards the Rockies any better area to pick up a car from.
We have a Australian GPS Tom Tom. Is it possible to buy a card for this does anyone know or have one for sale.
Cheers
Mystic
I did not do much driving in the city itself, but as long as one stays on the right hand side of the road it is really no sweat. It is easy enough to find your way onto Highways 1 / 99 and then you are already on the open road. There are many road works on the way up the Sea-to-Sky (99) as the roads are being upgraded for the 2010 Olympics to be held in Vancouver and Whistler. But even that does not pose much of a problem. If you come face to face with an electronic speed-timing device that shows you that you are way over the limit, don't panic, just slow down - in Canada they have the decency to warn you without fining you. (I must add that I nearly rolled the car the first time I saw one of them.)
I borrowed a car, so cannot comment on the hire companies, but I would imagine that you would want to start and finish in Vancouver anyway, so why look elsewhere - except possibly Calgary - but then you would have to get there and back.
Our African Tom-Toms don't need cards - we use the palms of our hands to beat out messages.
Some of the major car rental companies rent cars with GPS. All of them will give you a map at the desk with directions marked on it to get you wherever you want to go. I use GPS but wouldn't bother renting a car with one. You can probably buy a program for your Tom Tom if you want one badly enough.
Have you booked the cruise yet ?
I'm another Aussie going there in May 2008, and have been told you see lots of wildlife on the following cruise :
Prince William Sound
I am a retired aussie who has just returned from Canada. Do you know about the viarail seniors companion fare where two travel for the price of one. It iwll make your train journey much cheaper so PM me if you are interested. The Rocky Mountaineer is a spectacular train journey in particular the bit just before banff but it is very expensive. I was fortunate to do it before it was privatised years ago so think about it. Which cruiseline are you using and which ports. In general many of the cruise tours are very expensive and there are usually cheaper ways to do it yourself.
Thanks for your help. Sorry I have been away.
Our cruise was booked ages ago with the Holland Ships. We are going for 7 nights up and same return.
We arrive on the 2nd September and cruise leaves 11th. and returns 25th, when we will book the train, with the Seniors pass. Thought we would use the sleepers but not the bedroom (to expensive) so we met people. No fun being shut up in a room for 3 days.
Cheers
Mystic
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