Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
country ski you can
snowshoe,
a traditional form of winter transportation that is making a
comeback.
Sleigh rides
are offered in Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper.
Winter travel brings its own set of potential hazards, such as hypothermia, avalanches,
frostbite, and sunburn. Necessary precautions should be taken. All park information cen-
ters can provide information on hazards and advise on current weather conditions.
Following is a summary of the types of accommodations you can expect to find throughout
the Canadian Rockies. Individual properties are detailed in each travel chapter, along with
prices and contact information. Nearly all accommodations now have toll-free numbers
and websites, through which you can find out more information about each property and
make bookings.
Accommodation Taxes
Except for campgrounds and bed-and-breakfasts with fewer than four guest rooms, accom-
modations collect tax on behalf of various levels of government. In British Columbia, an
8 percent provincial hotel room tax is administered, while in Alberta, a 4 percent Tourism
Levy is added. Banff also has a 2 percent Tourism Improvement Fee. These taxes are in
addition to the Canada-wide 5 percent goods and services tax. As a general rule, quoted
rates don't include any of these taxes.
Hotels and motels throughout the Canadian Rockies range from substandard road motels
to sublime resorts such as the famous Fairmont Banff Springs. Bookings throughout the
mountains, but especially in Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper, should be made as far in ad-
vance as possible. Finding inexpensive lodging in the mountain national parks is difficult
in summer. By late afternoon, the only rooms left will be in the more expensive categories,
and by nightfall all of these will go.
Hotel rooms in Banff begin around $160; those in Jasper and Waterton Lakes are a little
less. Accommodation prices are slashed by as much as 50 percent outside summer. Always
ask for the best rate available and check local tourist literature for discount coupons. All
rates quoted in this handbook are for the cheapest category of rooms during the most ex-
pensive time period (summer).
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