 Poster: A snowHead
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I am looking at going out to Canada for 2 weeks over Christmas & New Year for 2014 / 2015. It is a special birthday for Hubby during those 2 weeks, which is why we are looking at then (coupled with both girls will be in school by then).
I have never been there so I am after recommendations - ours girls will be 5 & 8 then. I was planning on going completely DIY. Any recommendation for flights (as in which carriers are most affordable) and when do they release their flights?
Thanks for all help.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 7-08-13 10:33; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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When I've flown to US or CAN independantly, I've flown with Continental or Air Canada, but thats not been for a while now. Know others have recommended Canadian Affair (www.canadianaffair.com) as a good reference point.
As for where to go, what about flying to Vancouver, stay there for a day or two. Its a nice city and you could go out whale watching. I've not been there myself, but Silver Star Mountain Resort may be a good option as its known for being very family friendly. Its about a 300 mile drive from Vancouver but you could arrange a transfer if you didn't want to drive it yourself. Or there is always Whistler which is only about 2 hr drive away.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Richard_Sideways, thanks very much, great suggestions.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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NickyJ, For a special trip, I'd say do try to find the budget to go heli or cat skiing!  The resort skiing is really not much different to europe (comes down to luck with the conditions), but the back-country opportunities are what it's all about, imho. Heli is obviously the best, but weather dependant. Cat is almost as good, splits the difference price-wise, and is more reliable.
I would suggest a few quality days of heli or cat, mixed in with a couple of resort days and a few touristy recovery days (plenty else to see as you've never been) would make a more memorable experience for not much more cost than 2 weeks solid resort skiing.
Have a great time - jealous! 
Oh, just realised it's probably a family trip, so back-country may not work out. So a few family resorts and touristy stuff then, as Richard suggested.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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NickyJ, +1 for looking at Canadian Affair for starters, their flights with Air Transat I think are hard to beat on price. We've flown recently on Air Canada too and were very happy with them. With kids I'd go for the Vancouver - Whistler option + another resort, maybe Sun Peaks, if you want a multi-centre holiday. Another +1 for some time in Vancouver. I've only skied Whistler but done two big summer tours of BC and Alberta so if you decide to drive east I'm good for overnight stop recommendations.
Also I think you should edit your thread title to include 'Canada' to get more responses 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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sheps got a good idea about the heli/cat skiing. Most CAN resorts have some kind of heli or cat operator. Heli isn't cheap, expect to pay C$800 per person per day or more, catting is probably half that. We promised to go cat skiing when we went to Fernie, but we never got to go there what with the Jnrs coming along. Few years time when they're older and can enjoy the trip.
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Thanks all, I really appreciate the input, and thread title updated
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Richard_Sideways,
Cat skiing isn't quite that expensive ~$450 per day top with Big Red Cats I think. Not sure what powder mountain cats (near whistler) charge?
Wouldn't bother doinga Whistler + aywhere else, as anywhere else is a fairly decent (but not necessarily decent conditions) drive away
Winter isn't the best time to visit Vancouver, though you can go and watch the hockey at least since they will probably be playing this year.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Though it's great - I wouldn't do Whistler with young kids that time of year - dual or even 3 mountain Silver Star, Sun Peaks and Big White would be possible though - main question is whether do you take an internal flight to Kelowna etc from Calgary or Vancouver or drive from Vancouver.
Flights released 365 days out usually.
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| fatbob wrote: |
Though it's great - I wouldn't do Whistler with young kids that time of year - dual or even 3 mountain Silver Star, Sun Peaks and Big White would be possible though - main question is whether do you take an internal flight to Kelowna etc from Calgary or Vancouver or drive from Vancouver.
Flights released 365 days out usually. |
Fly - unless you really like the idea of driving the Coquihalla in the winter
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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stuarth, It's ace - one of the quietest motorways I've ever been on (was in a blizzard mind) 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Hmm blizzard driving doesn't sound like much fun (especially with the our girls in the car). This is just the sort of I need. Thanks all
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They do try to keep the road open, we have driven it a few times if you do drive the Coquihalla drive it in daylight in a 4x4 and check the road conditions before you set off and take snacks,
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