 Poster: A snowHead
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I am planning a trip to Canada Easter 2018 for 10 + days.
I want to base my self near Sunshine Village.
I am also thinking of diy for flights, accommodation, car hire.
There will be 8 of us taking our own boots and skis/board.
Looking for advice re diy route, hints tips and personal experience would be appreciated
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Check for flights now - Delta have just shaved £300 off our flights this weekend, I've been waiting for this drop to happen.
Banff is obviously the closest place to stay, most tourist too and prices to match. But if you aren't too bothered about that and don't mind something more low key, then look at accommodation in Canmore. Its 10 mins down the road to Banff, not much in time to get to the ski areas either, due to getting to the highway. You can then shop/eat in Banff easily too.
Vehicle wise 4x4 is good really, and you will need a park pass for it, so factor it in. Lift pass wise you should look at the Big3 pass to cover all areas.
You'll have a great time in a beautiful part of the world, enjoy.
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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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| clavboy wrote: |
| I am planning a trip to Canada Easter 2018 for 10 + days. |
The longer the better.
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| I want to base my self near Sunshine Village. |
The first question would be why, but leaving that aside it only really leaves Banff, which personally I didn't much care for. Everywhere else can be really quiet, including Canmore, so unless you want to be in bed by nine, you're likely stuffed.
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| I am also thinking of diy for flights, accommodation, car hire. |
If you're sticking to the big three a package might make more sense, financially, but has obvious other drawbacks. Flights are what they are, just wait for a deal that fits, accommodation might be tight over the main Easter weekend, so you'll probably have to pre-book peak nights well in advance. Car hire is opposite arrivals at YYC.
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| There will be 8 of us taking our own boots and skis/board. |
You'll struggle to get eight people in two 4x4s with all your kit ...... three is tight, so either hire three motors or two 2wd minivans if available, and make sure they have the 'right' tyres on. The main run to each of the three is via the TC, which is kept open at all costs, so only locally at either end, if it pukes, are you likely to have issues.
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| Looking for advice re diy route, hints tips and personal experience would be appreciated |
For ten days sticking to the big three a TO might make more sense to your wallet, venturing further afield then probably not.
AAJMO
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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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| Quote: |
make sure they have the 'right' tyres on
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I wouldn't think they'll have summer only ones in Canada, where summer for much of the country is only 2 month long. 
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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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I've skied in Banff over Easter a couple of times - other than the actual Easter weekend, it's never been busy.
I'd think twice about staying at Sunshine - there's literally just a hotel there. Also, staying at Sunshine will mean you can't easily get to Lake Louise, Norquay or Nakiska. Banff town's got loads of accommodation, bars and restaurants.
Unless you're desperate to drive, I wouldn't bother. There are a couple of transfer companies operate from Calgary airport, and offer a door to door service. Similarly, once in Banff there's a network of free, efficient ski buses that cover all the ski areas. They pick up from, or very close too all the hotels in Banff.
The Banff area's still my favourite place to ski - enjoy!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'm going to piggy bag on the thread looking at doing a split 10 night trip, 5 nights Banff and 5 in Lake Louise mid January, how easy is it to get from Lake Louise to Norquay and Sunshine should we decide on our second half to pop back. We aren't looking to self drive.
How late do the ski buses run?
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Thu 24-08-17 8:09; edited 2 times in total
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radar, Not sure on how late the buses run , but why are you moving half way ? Easy enough to ski any of them from Banff or Lake Louise if you wish. IIRC to get to Norquay you have to route through Banff.
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The think Norway might be a bit further than a quick bus ride. (Overactive autocorrect?)
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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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@Bones, there is a hotel in Lake Louise we would like to stay in, so figuring ski the first half at Sunshine and Norquay staying in Banff and then the second half Lake Louise, thought the split was about right and reduce the commute between areas.
@rogg, 
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I've only been to Banff a couple of times and stayed in LL. I much preferred the terrain at sunshine and split my time roughly 2/3 1/3 SSV to LL. The commute from Banff to LL was around 40 minutes and it really seemed to fly by. I don't know how long it is from LL village to the hill, but it still involves getting on the bus.
I found Norquay very small and very samey. I rode it for a morning and left.
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Thu 24-08-17 10:20; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@rogg, thank you, might do 6 nights Banff 4 in Lake Louise.
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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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@clavboy, Hi if your thinking of using a TO check if their prices change after 31 August as a lot of the Canadian resorts have discounts on accommodation if you book before then, we have used Ski Independence for our last three trips, there are others. We have also used a specialist travel agent Alpine Answers.
sorry to have hijacked your thread
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I found Canadian affair to be very good to deal with and good value too. They passed on discounts on lift pass deals where others did not. Well worth checking. (They were the agents for air transat who did the cheapest flying guys so their prices reflected, same hotel same dates 3-400 cheaper than crystal package deal)
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You know it makes sense.
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rogg, used Canadian Affair, and no complaints .......
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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If any of you have a Cosco discount card you can get big discounts on your lift passes at the Cosco near the airport in Calgary.
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Poster: A snowHead
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DrLawn .......
It can work, but it's mostly applicable to Canadian nationals, but hey if you wing it ........
Had a couple of cheap weeks in KH with this, but you might have to get creative.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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booked, went for 6 and 4 nights with Ski Independence to get the early booking discount on the accommodation and ski pass
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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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radar, Nice, just have to play the waiting game now 
No doubt you'll have a great time at both places, evening wise there are some lake based activities IIRC at LL.
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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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@radar, I would factor in a day to KH from LL. So do, 4 days SSv, 1 day norquay, 4 days LL 1 day KH
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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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@gryphea, thanks will keep that in mind
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