CALGARY - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 490

is on the lower level, where passengers are greeted by White Hat volunteers who are
dressed in traditional Western attire and answer visitors' questions about the airport, trans-
portation, and the city. Across from the baggage carousels are an information desk and
a bank of interactive computer terminals linked to hotels and other tourist services. The
desks for all major rental-car outlets are across the road.
A cab to downtown runs approximately $45, or take the Calgary Transit bus (403/
262-1000, www.calgarytransit.com ) to downtown for $8 one-way. This service runs every
30 minutes 5am-midnight daily.
Air Canada, WestJet, and several U.S. airlines fly into Calgary; click through the links
on the airport website for details.
Bus
The Greyhound bus depot (850 16th St. SW, 403/265-9111 or 800/661-8747,
www.greyhound.ca ) is two blocks away from the C-train stop ($2.75 into town), or you
can cross the overhead pedestrian bridge at the terminal's southern entrance and catch a
transit bus (same price). To walk the entire distance to town would take 20 minutes. A cab
from the bus depot to downtown runs $15, to HI-Calgary City Centre $20. The depot is
cavernous. It has a restaurant, an ATM, information boards, and lockers large enough to
hold backpacks ($3). Greyhound buses connect Calgary daily with Edmonton (3.5 hours),
Banff (2 hours), Vancouver (15 hours), and all other points within the province. No seat
reservations are taken. Just turn up, buy your ticket, and hop aboard. If you buy your ticket
seven days in advance, discounts apply. If you plan to travel extensively by bus, the Dis-
covery Pass is a good deal.
From their offices near the Calgary Tower, Red Arrow (205 9th Ave. SE, 403/
531-0350, www.redarrow.ca ) shuttles passengers between Calgary and downtown Edmon-
ton, with some services continuing to Fort McMurray in northern Alberta.
GETTING AROUND
Like major cities around the world, locals complain about the road system, but in reality,
driving is relatively uncomplicated, especially as new sections of the long-awaited ring
road are completed, including a section in the northwest that makes traveling between Ban-
ff and the Calgary International Airport a lot quicker.