Canadian Rockies Blog

The summer seems to have flown by this year.

It’s September 30 2010 and less than 2 weeks ago, the ski resorts in the Canadian Rockies received 20cm of fresh snow and we experienced way below average temperatures. The Canada Ski Blog posted some photos of this September snow. This last week, we have experienced above average temperatures (in the 20s°C) with sunny skies giving us another opportunity to take advantage of the many summer activities in the Canadian Rockies. This is typical of the Canadian Rockies as we are in the mountains at higher elevations.

Just check out the colours in the recent pictures taken in the Canadian Rockies. This is what we love about the autumn.

The Rocky Mountaineer train departing tomorrow from Vancouver, October 1st 2010, is the company’s largest departure in their history, and will set a record for largest passenger rail train in North American history – a total of 1331 guests! This is one of the last Rocky Mountaineer train departures for 2010, but we already have 2011 packages in place with early-bird savings of up to $1,400 per couple.

50%OFF Panorama Lodging early-bird deal ended today but we have many early-bird deals for the 2010-2011 winter season, some of which are soon to expire. We are seeing some of the best ski accommodation deals in Banff this year with free nights accommodation and free ski deals for stays of 7 or more nights.

The early-birds will definitely be getting the best deals on ski packages and summer packages.

We hope you had a great summer and we thank you for reading our blog. We always love to hear from our readers so please feel free to post any relevant comments you may have.  Wishing you safe and happy travels.

Posted in 2010, 2011, 50% off, accommodation, autumn, banff, banff national park, Canada, canadian rockies, canmore, deal, discount, early-bird-discount, fall, ha-ling peak, heavy snowfall, holiday, holiday-package, holidays, information, october, package, packages, panorama, panorama-mountain-village, photo, photos, promotion, rail, rocky-mountain-holidays, rocky-mountaineer, rocky-mountaineer-holiday, ski, ski banff, ski holidays, ski holidays canada, ski-holiday, snow, snowfall, special, summer, summer-2010, train, update, western-canada, winter | No Comments »

We are not even into August 2010 yet and the rates have been released for all Rocky Mountaineer Train and Cruise Holiday packages for 2011. They have kept most of the packages the same as 2010 but have added an Alaska cruise from Seattle onboard Holland America’s ms Oosterdam to seven of their existing popular 2010 train holiday packages. Alaska cruises from Vancouver for 2011 are still onboard the Holland America’s ms Zuiderdam, which, in our opinion, has to be one of, if not, the best cruise ship sailing up to Alaska from Vancouver, Canada.

Below are the new 2011 Rocky Mountaineer train holiday packages with the Seattle cruise add-on. The links are to PDF documents on RockyMountainHolidays.com.

Rocky Mountaineer with Cruise to Alaska from Seattle

• Classic Rail Circle with Cruise from Seattle – 16 nights / 17 days
• Canadian Rockies Getaway with Cruise from Seattle – 16 nights / 17 days
• Canadian Rockies Circle with Cruise from Seattle – 17 nights / 18 days
• Classic Journey through the Clouds, Vancouver to Jasper with Cruise from Seattle – 11 nights / 12 days
• Western Explorer with Cruise from Seattle – 15 nights / 16 days
• Canadian Rockies at Leisure with Cruise from Seattle – 17 nights / 18 days
• Journey through the Clouds Discovery Drive with Cruise from Seattle – 15 nights / 16 days

New Rocky Mountaineer Holiday Products for 2011

• Explore Victoria and Seattle – 2 nights / 3 days
• Golden Circle via Whistler with Cruise – 17 nights / 18 days

There have not been any major changes to the 2010 Rocky Mountaineer packages for 2011. Any changes are “tweaks” to already very popular and exciting train holiday packages.

Changes to Existing 2010 Products for 2011

• All tours that overnight in Vancouver now include admission to the Vancouver Lookout
• All tours that overnight in Calgary now include admission to the Calgary Tower
• RedLeaf Service pre- or post-cruise tour packages now utilize Ocean- View Staterooms (Category D).
• GoldLeaf Service pre- or post-cruise tour packages continue to use Deluxe Verandah Ocean-View Staterooms (Category VC).
• Classic Rail Circle now has an additional pre-night in Vancouver plus a six hour sightseeing tour of Vancouver’s spectacular North Shore.
• Grand Rail Circle now has an additional pre-night in Vancouver plus a six hour sightseeing tour of Vancouver’s spectacular North Shore
• Canadian Rockies Highlights now has an additional pre-night in Vancouver plus a six hour sightseeing tour of Vancouver’s spectacular North Shore.
• Canadian Rockies Highlights – 5 nights is also available; this is the same as the 2010 Canadian Rockies Highlights.
• Canadian Rockies Circle is now 9 nights in duration instead of 12 nights.
• The westbound itineraries of Trans-Canada Rail Adventure, Canada’s Coast to Coast by Rail, and the post-tour cruise options of these packages now include 2 nights in Jasper plus a Jasper highlights motorcoach tour, but only one night in Lake Louise.
• City Stop add-on products are able to be sold independently, with rail-only, or in conjunction with any Rocky Mountaineer packages. Please note that transportation to/from the station or airport is not included in any City Stop packages.
• Taxi transfers to/from cruise terminals in Vancouver are no longer included.
• Travel documentation will advise of estimated taxi transfer rates, and limousine transfers available for purchase.

Discontinued 2010 Rocky Mountaineer Holiday Products

• The Exclusive Attraction Pass will no longer be offered, and has been removed from all 2011 packages
• 2010 Classic Rail Holiday – Whistler to Jasper (3 nights / 4 days) Holiday has been replaced by Canadian Rockies and Whistler which is 4 nights / 5 days (includes a night in Vancouver and the Whistler Sea to Sky Climb).
• 2010 Canadian Rockies and Vancouver has been discontinued.

New for 2011 – Child and Youth Rates

New for 2011, Rocky Mountaineer holiday packages now include rates for youths (ages 12-18) and children (ages 2-11) when travelling with at least one single adult guest.

The published child and youth prices will apply for a maximum of 1 child or youth sharing with 1 adult. Parties of 1 adult and 2 or more children/youths will have to be booked with a minimum of 2 adults. It is not possible to book a single room with more than 2 persons sharing.

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These are all the changes to the Rocky Mountaineer Holiday packages for 2011. Rocky Mountaineer package information which include cruises up to Alaska from Vancouver or Seattle can be all found at RockyMountainHolidays.com. You can view all the latest Rocky Mountaineer early-bird deals there too.

Tags: Alaska, alaska cruise, banff train, calgary train, changes, cruise, Holland America, jasper train, Oosterdam, train holidays, vancouver train, Zuiderdam
Posted in 2010, 2011, available, calgary, Canada, canadian rockies, change, download-brochure, early-bird-discount, early-booking, fairmont-package, holiday, holiday-package, holidays, hotel, information, itinerary, jasper, package, packages, preparation, prices, rail, rates, resource, rocky-mountain, rocky-mountain-holidays, rocky-mountaineer, rocky-mountaineer-holiday, schedule, seattle, summer, summer vacations, summer-holiday, tourism, tours, train, travel, vacation, vancouver, vancouver-whistler-train, western-canada, whistler, whistler-mountaineer | No Comments »

Tags: canada day, canada day parade, canmore parade, july 1 2010
Posted in 2010, alberta, calgary-stampede, Canada, canadian rockies, canmore, July, photo, photos, summer, summer-2010, western-canada | No Comments »

Every year on July 1st, Canada’s birthday is celebrated across the country. Canada will be 143 years old on Thursday so make sure you get out and celebrate with us!

The Town of Canmore organizes the Canmore Canada Day Parade. The parade starts at Main St. (8th street) and Railway Avenue at NOON.

***Railway Avenue will be closed from 10am – 2pm on July 1st for the parade and access to the downtown core will be restricted ***

To download full details on the Canada Day celebrations in Canmore, click on the image below for the downloadable PDF version:

Canada Day 2010 – Canmore parade route map:

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CANADA DAY:
The Canmore Canada Day Committee is in need of help – They need people to help out with set up and tear down at Centennial Park.
- Wed, June 30 at 10am – 4 people required to pick up equipment from the Canada Day Storage and transport to Centennial Park.
- Wed, June 30,  Noon to 4 – 10 people to do set up
- Thursday, July 1 at 5:30 – 12 people required for tear down and four to take equipment back to storage.

If you or anyone you know is able to help, please contact Chris Bartolomie (Town of Canmore, Supervisor, Arts & Culture and Canmore Canada Day Committee Town Liaison) at specialevents@canmore.ca

Source: Town of Canmore

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Heading to Banff?

Check out what they have going this year: Canada Day in Banff

Tags: canada day, canmore parade map
Posted in 2010, Canada, canadian rockies, canmore, information, itinerary, July, schedule, summer, things-to-do | No Comments »

Book a Rocky Mountaineer rail tour package of 3 nights or more on GoldLeaf Service or 5 nights or more on RedLeaf Service between June 7 and August 31, 2010 and receive a FREE additional night at a Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver. Some conditions apply.

Book by August 31, 2010 to take advantage of this special offer!

Download the packages below or visit Rocky Mountain Holidays.

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Circle Tour Holiday Packages (Start and finish in Vancouver):

• Classic Rail Circle | 7 nights / 8 days
• Classic Rail Circle with Cruise | 14 nights / 15 days
• Canadian Rockies Getaway | 8 nights / 9 days
• Canadian Rockies Getaway with Cruise | 17 nights / 18 days
• Grand Rail Circle | 10 nights / 11 days
• Grand Rail Circle with Cruise | 16 nights / 17 days
• Golden Circle via Whistler | 10 nights / 11 days
• Canadian Rockies Circle | 12 nights / 13 days

One-Way Tour Holiday Packages (Can be taken in either direction):

• Classic Rail Holiday – Vancouver to Banff | 3 nights / 4 days
• Classic Rail Holiday – Vancouver to Banff with Cruise | 11 nights / 12 days
• Classic Rail Holiday – Vancouver to Jasper | 3 nights / 4 days
• Classic Rail Holiday – Vancouver to Jasper with Cruise | 12 nights / 13 days
• Classic Rail Holiday – Vancouver to Calgary | 3 nights / 4 days
• Classic Rail Holiday – Vancouver to Calgary with Cruise | 11 nights / 12 days
• Classic Rail Holiday – Whistler to Jasper | 3 nights / 4 days
• Canadian Rockies and Whistler | 4 nights / 5 days
• Canadian Rockies and Whistler with Cruise | 11 nights / 12 days
• Canadian Rockies Excursion | 4 nights / 5 days
• Canadian Rockies Excursion with Cruise | 12 nights / 13 days
• Canadian Rockies Highlights | 5 nights / 6 days
• Canadian Rockies Highlights with Cruise | 13 nights / 14 days
• Canadian Rockies and Vancouver | 6 nights / 7 days
• Canadian Rockies and Vancouver with Cruise | 15 nights / 16 days
• Canadian Rockies Adventures | 7 nights / 8 days
• Canadian Rockies Adventures with Cruise | 15 nights / 16 days
• Western Explorer | 7 nights / 8 days
• Western Explorer with Cruise | 16 nights / 17 days
• Northern Explorer | 8 nights / 9 days
• Northern Explorer with Cruise | 15 nights / 16 days
• Canadian Rockies at Leisure | 9 nights / 10 days
• Canadian Rockies at Leisure with Cruise | 18 nights / 19 days
• Northern Rockies at Leisure | 10 nights / 11 days
• Northern Rockies at Leisure with Cruise | 17 nights / 18 days

Trans-Canada Rail Tour Holiday Packages (Can be taken in either direction):

• Trans-Canada Rail Adventure | 11 nights / 12 days or 12 nights / 13 days
• Trans-Canada Rail Adventure with Cruise | 19 nights / 20 days
• Canada’s Coast to Coast by Rail | 15 nights / 16 days or 16 nights / 17 days
• Coast to Coast by Rail with Cruise | 23 nights / 24 days

Rail and Self-Drive Holiday Packages (Can be taken in either direction):

• Banff the Beautiful | 5 nights / 6 days
• Banff the Beautiful with Cruise | 13 nights / 14 days
• First Passage to the West Discovery Drive | 7 nights / 8 days
• First Passage to the West with Cruise | 15 nights / 16 days
• Journey through the Clouds Discovery Drive | 7 nights / 8 days
• Journey through the Clouds Discovery Drive with Cruise | 16 nights / 17 days
• Rainforest to Gold Rush Discovery Drive | 8 nights / 9 days
• Rainforest to Gold Rush Discovery Drive with Cruise | 15 nights / 16 days

City Stop Add-Ons (To be added to any of our packages or purchased separately):

• Explore Vancouver | 1 night / 2 days
• Explore Victoria from Vancouver | 2 nights / 3 days
• Explore Whistler from Vancouver | 2 nights / 3 days
• Whales and Bears of Tofino | 3 nights / 4 days

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Alternatively you can call 0800-567-7542 (freephone) from the U.K. or 1-888-747-6259 (freephone) from within North America.

Tags: fairmont
Posted in 2010, accommodation, august, Canada, canadian rockies, deal, discount, discounted-package, fairmont-package, free, holiday, holiday-package, holidays, information, itinerary, July, last minute, luxury, package, packages, prices, promotion, rail, rates, rocky-mountain-holidays, rocky-mountaineer, rocky-mountaineer-holiday, Sale, schedule, special, summer, summer vacations, summer-2010, summer-holiday, tourism, tours, train, travel, vacation, vancouver, vancouver-whistler-train, western-canada, YVR | No Comments »

Posted in 2010, accommodation, advice, alberta, banff, banff national park, calgary, Canada, canadian rockies, holiday, holiday-package, holidays, hotel, information, jasper, lake louise, package, packages, preparation, rail, resource, rocky-mountain-holidays, rocky-mountaineer, rocky-mountaineer-holiday, schedule, self-drive, summer, summer vacations, summer-2010, summer-holiday, things-to-do, tips, tourism, tours, train, travel, vacation, vancouver, vancouver-whistler-train, victoria, western-canada, whistler | No Comments »

With the introduction of the new Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in British Columbia, Rocky Mountaineer Holiday packages will increase by up to 7%.

For those of you who are planning to book your holiday in Canada, or are about to book your holiday, be sure to read the following as you could save up to 7%. If you book and pay in full by the end of this month (April 2010), then you will only have to pay the standard Federal goods and services tax (GST) of 5%.

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IMPORTANT ADVISORY – CHANGE IN CANADIAN SALES TAXES

The Province of British Columbia, Canada, has tabled legislation to introduce a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on goods and services, effective July 1, 2010. This tax will merge federal (GST) and provincial taxes (PST) into one single amount, the HST and will, unfortunately, increase the cost of your Rocky Mountaineer® Holiday by up to 7%.

The HST applies to all Rocky Mountaineer bookings with travel dates beginning in Canada after July 1, 2010.

Below summarises three options for consideration in the implementation of HST:

1. Bookings received prior to May 1, 2010 with a payment due date by April 30, 2010

Transitional rules allow bookings made prior to May 1, 2010 to be taxed under the old GST rules if the payment is due and paid for by April 30, 2010.

2. Bookings made after April 30th, for travel before July 1, 2010

Transitional rules allow bookings made prior as of May 1, 2010, for travel before July 1, 2010 to be taxed under the old GST rules.

3. Tax rate increases for bookings made after April 30th, for travel after July 1, 2010

The changes required to comply with the new HST will result in tax increases to an effective rate of 8% – 11% for Rocky Mountaineer bookings. Please note the following exceptions: Whistler Sea to Sky bookings all have a 12% tax rate, bookings with a cruise or VIA Rail component will have a tax rate determined by the originating province of the trip.

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Please visit RockyMountainHolidays.com for more Rocky Mountaineer Tax Information.

Posted in 2010, accommodation, adjustment, advice, April, Canada, canadian rockies, change, early-bird-discount, early-booking, holiday, holiday-package, holidays, hotel, information, package, packages, prevention, rocky-mountain, rocky-mountain-holidays, rocky-mountaineer, rocky-mountaineer-holiday, sea to sky, summer-2010, tips, train, update, vacation, vancouver, vancouver-whistler-train, victoria, warning, western-canada, whistler, whistler-mountaineer | No Comments »

The Canmore weather is set to be great for this event – see you there!

Source: Town of Canmore

Posted in 2010, April, Canada, canadian rockies, canmore, celebrities, famous, information, itinerary, local, olympians, olympics, schedule, spring, things-to-do, western-canada | No Comments »

On Saturday April 10 2010 there were some loud explosions in Canmore in the Canadian Rockies which rattled most of the residents’ windows: they were bombing the east end of Rundle Mountain in Canmore to trigger controlled avalanches. Rundle Mountain is about 25km long and stretches all the way to Banff from Canmore.

Take a closer look and you can see the helicopter drop the explosives.

The explosives then trigger an avalanche down Mount Rundle’s east end.

It took some time for the dust and debris to clear.

Did anyone else here the bombing of Mount Rundle in Canmore on Saturday? I am curious how far away the explosions could be heard. If you did, post a comment below!

Posted in 2010, April, avalanche, banff, Canada, canadian rockies, canmore, helicopter, land slide, photo, photos, preparation, prevention, rock slide, snow, spring | 2 Comments »

Last one of the season!

Friday April 16 2010 :
Lake Louise Torchlight Dinner and Ski – The Ultimate Après Ski Party

This is the final Torchlight Dinner and Ski event for the 09/10 winter ski season at Lake Louise!

This party is the ultimate way for your group to wrap up a wonderful day on the slopes, or the perfect escape to the mountains after a work week.

Rates: Adult $49, Child $28.

Group rates (>15) and transportation to Banff or Lake Louise available.

Contact rocky-peak Ski Holidays to book!

Tags: torchlight dinner
Posted in 2010, alberta, apres, April, banff, canadian rockies, events, lake louise, mountain, music, prices, rates, ski, ski resort, spring, spring skiing, tours | 1 Comment »