Anyone driven the Canadian Rockies??

LondonDiva

Hi am driving the Rockies in a motorhome in a few weeks and beginning to get the jitters as have no real plans.:o

We're driving from Edmonton, exploring over 7 days & returning back to Edmonton. We hope to visit Jasper, the icefields, Lake Louise etc etc.

Any tips about camp sites, must sees, things to avoid, dos & don'ts would be really useful!

I thought we'd just take it as it comes :rolleyes: but have been told it's best to have some sort of plan especially when planning where to stay overnight.

thanks
Diva:):)

Ps
Anyone know anything about Canadian supermarkets in Nova Scotia & the Rockies?

Jem8472

I would love to do this! It sounds great fun.

I have no help for you apart from to try asking over at trip advisor in their forums. They are usually very helpful with anythign like this. Just find the right forum and I am sure there will be some locals to help

withabix

I would recommend buying a travel book. Well worth the money.

Look on Amazon - save loads on RRP.

We're off to Vancouver on 4th July and will be 'doing' the Clearwater-Jasper-Banff-Revelstoke stretch on 8th/9th/10th July.

We're doing a 2 week tour including staying with some relatives. We've hired an SUV through Alamo's BA partner website (www.alamocarba.com) which is by far the cheapest we've found over the years and are staying in hotels.

Hotel prices are a little eye-watering, particularly in Jasper/Banff, but it is peak Canadian 'driving season' when we go. We've booked all of ours already via the hotel booking engines, using Quidco where possible for cashback.

You may well find that popular RV parks are booked up when you get there - most are bookable on t'internet so may be worth doing it now.

Also, get a Canada National Parks Pass on eBay.co.uk for about £40. Quite a few available which run out in April 2009, being re-sold by this year's ski-holidayers. These cost £70 (annual pass) when you get there and save you the £10 daily charge which you will otherwise pay for entering ALL National Parks.

Re-sell it again when you get back for what you paid for it...

SoozyJ22

LondonDiva wrote: »

Ps
Anyone know anything about Canadian supermarkets in Nova Scotia & the Rockies?

I'm flying to Halifax on Tuesday so I'll let you know if I spot any supermarkets.

mitchg

I did do a similar trip but not by motorhome i used hotels i thought it would work out a better way to travel and have a decent nights sleep each night. I thought the cost of the motorhome against the cost of hotels wasnt such a bargain.
I flew into Calgary then after a few days of the Calgary stampede rodeo it was off to Banff, Lake Louise, the icefields,Jasper, Kamloops, Whistler, Victoria and then finally Vancouver.
Fabulous i really enjoyed the mountain areas, but watch out for the wildlife the bears are near the roads so dont walk out too far, and we had to brake hard so to miss hitting a dear too. for me Whistler was the highlite. Saw lots of camper homes doing the routes so you will soon be aware of places to go visit and stay etc and will truely enjoy your trip,shame is you only have 7 days you would be better to have 14 or so.
Banff go up the cable car to the top of the mountain view is awsome, Whistler again go up the cable car on a Saturday evening and take in the all u can eat bbq for $10can. White water rafting is a good day out it was our first time and had a great time. Lake Louise rent a canoe or rowing boat for a relaxing row on the lake. Banff book online or via telephone for a Sunday brunch at the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel world famous brunch this, and no chance of a turn up and eat sitting. This is based on i think the Balmoral castle and has all the highland piper welcome and stuff. Supermarkets can be found in Jasper and Banff.
The icefields are very high up and if you are with any breathing difficulties you will find the air thin and may struggle to make it but if you can you will enjoy and will see the damage being done by the warming and tourists the ice has receaded a long long way markers are on the side of the footpath to show its demise. Stop off and see the falls sorry i dont think i want to spell the name but its the melting of the icefields that create these scenic falls on the way from Jaser down before you get to the icefields.
If you are liking steaks this is the place to get some of the nicest tastiest steaks that you will ever come across and ribs too, umm yeh really good.
Under 18 are not alowed in bars even if wanting a soft drink restaurants no problems but not in bars. Some Canadians states its 19 but generally i think 18 to drink if under 25 carry id you will be asked for it.
A decent pair of walking shoes too is recommended of course. And a decent camera with lots of memory and batteries or good old fashiond style film to take shots of the breathtaking views you will see.

And enjoy

missyg_3

I did the Calgary - Edmonton - Rockies - Calgary loop a few years back in a motorcaravan in June.

I didn't book any campgrounds in advance (not sure it was even possible in the National Park sites when I went?), I just turned up in good time on the day and I was never turned away. At one (Jasper) I couldn't get a full hookup site until the second day I was there, but that wasn't a problem as they have communal facilities for doing a 'refresh'.

What do you need to know about the supermarkets? We stocked up in the city when we arrived and never had any problems topping up in Jasper, Lake Louise & Banff.

I personally loved the Hot Springs pools and cable car rides. My son loved the massive leisure pool and indoor amusement park in West Edmonton Mall.

I'd never driven a motor caravan before this trip, but after the first nerve wracking half hour it was absolutely fine

Hope you have a wonderful time.

LondonDiva

Thanks for all the info guys, keep advice etc coming!!! :D:D

We fly out on Sat and head to PEI from Halifax. I was asking about supermarkets as I'd heard that food shopping etc in PEI and in the Rockies was expensive - plus I actually don't have a clue!

anna42hmr

LondonDiva wrote: »

Hi am driving the Rockies in a motorhome in a few weeks and beginning to get the jitters as have no real plans.:o

We're driving from Edmonton, exploring over 7 days & returning back to Edmonton. We hope to visit Jasper, the icefields, Lake Louise etc etc.

Any tips about camp sites, must sees, things to avoid, dos & don'ts would be really useful!

I thought we'd just take it as it comes :rolleyes: but have been told it's best to have some sort of plan especially when planning where to stay overnight.

thanks
Diva:):)


Ps
Anyone know anything about Canadian supermarkets in Nova Scotia & the Rockies?

firstly make sure you go to the ice fields, and get their early as it is rammed with tourists (or was when i went last october) lake louise is beautiful, but dont bother buying any food from the fairmont hotel as its blinking extortionate (though it is well worth a look around the hotel its beautiful)

i would recommend you stay a day or two in banff national park if you can, there are pleanty of hotels, band bs etc and it is a lovely little town (my aunt has emigrated there, and i loved it when i visited, so pictureque, with the mountains all around as well as the rivers

and keep an eye out as you drive along the highway for the bears, as i was lucky enough to see a black bear the other side of the highway, and was a highlight of my trip (not to mention the wild racoons, elk, mountain goats, sheep, etc etc i saw)

the only thing i can recall about canadian supermarkets is they dont sell alcohol (i was searching for a bottle of wine for my aunt to go with the thankyou for having me gift, i ended up at 3 supermarkets before i realised they arent licenced!!)

withabix

Yes, no alcohol in supermarkets - only available in Liquor Stores. It is also government price controlled in most of Canada (minimum price is controlled), so there is no such thing as cheap beer, proper special offers or discounts!

spidyem_frued

shop where the locals go- corner shops are expensive- be prepared for the size of everything!!!!! most town will have there own local superstore. As for the wild life- don't feed them as we tend to get rather crabby bears when they don't get more food. They can get mean...oh yes mossy can be a real pest...I use a spray called 'off'...there is also roadside marketsa where they sell salady stuff, local produce..
for pancakes...yum try Dennys...
We love the lake and if it is nice chances are you will have the canadians out- which makes the campsites hard to access. Gorgeous... hope some of it helps ...spids...
Used to shop at West Edmonton mall....very large place....

LondonDiva

Thanks!

Am copying & pasting info at a furious rate!

We've had some bad scheduling mishaps and seem to have ended up planning everything to miss all the highlights.


At PEI we especially wanted to see the Anne musical and have just realised we will be on the other side of the continent by then & also wanted to have a lobster / church supper, but apparently we will be too early.



We will be in Halifax between 24-26 May and PEI 26-31 May.


Do they have a Walmart / Jewel in Canada as in the US? I'm asking as I was also wondering if the rumours that food shopping is expensive on PEI is true? We will be driving from Halifax to PEI on 26th via the bridge and would we be better off shopping along the way & if so where?

Does that mean I should resign myself to being teetotal the whole trip then?:o



Lots of slightly random questions I know!


Thanks MSE:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T