Hello everybody, nice forum!

I hope someone will help us finally decide where to go for a 1 week vacation. I have read trip advisor and other, but still cannot decide, Vancouver or Calgary?.

We live close to Toronto and have never been in that part of the country yet; thought of going to Vancouver for an Alaskan cruise last week of August, but everything is sold out, anyway, we still want to go to that part of the country. From a tourist & budget perspective, which place has more to offer? Given Calgary has lower tax, I'm inclined to believe a holiday there would be cheaper. For 1 week, we cannot spend more than $2,500, flight inclusive.

Is Lake Louise all that people say it is? Fairmont Hotel there is advertising "pay for 4 stay for 7' package at $599 per person, which includes a $350 food credit for the week for both. Sounds like a great deal for a luxury hotel plus its location.

Thanks in advance for any input.

I'm relieved to see that paragraph about Lake Louise. I've been to Calgary and was baffled by the idea of a holiday there.

Lake louise is allright, nice view and all, but outside of ski season I've no idea what I would do there for a week? Id want to take in drumheller and the badlands, and Banff as well as the mountains/ parkway myself, and some of Calgary too. Having to come back to LL each night would be tiresome.

If I had to choose one or the other though I would probably check out Vancouver, but I would expect it to cost more...

Thanks for your thoughts iaink, I thought the same, that a week might be too long in that specific spot, maybe a couple of nights there would suffice if we end up going to Calgary.

db33, thanks for your response too, though I did not quite understand it.

I think dbd was saying in his own inimitable style that vacationing in Calgary itself would be much like vacationing in missisagua, or any one of hundreds of other similar mid size north american cities without enough compellingly unique things to attract you there...

Exactement!

I think you forgot to use the words 'ident-a-kit', and 'mind numbing sprawl' in order to better clarify dbd's comments.

As the others have insinuated, staying within the 'confines' of Calgary for a full week would (possibly) be a little too much.
However, if you were to head to our fair city you COULD check out Drumheller (yawn), The Blackfoot interprative centre (cue native bashing), Kananaskis, Banff\LL\Johnsons Canyon, Waterton, Sylvan Lake (woo hoo cue mass hysteria) all from Calgary as a base.

Just my input.

I've got to be honest - that will be tough - but depending on how good a bargain on the flights you get, potentially do-able.

Two days within Calgary itself is more than enough if it needs to be a flying visit. One day potentially, then head out the second afternoon westwards. Banff for a night or two, do a drive-by excursion to Lake Louise, no need to stay there (visit Moraine Lake for pretty pictures).

Then decide if you want more mountains and lakes in which case do as Butch suggested and do some walks or hikes or head further north towards Jasper (more mountains and lakes). I'm not complaining, I just love this landscape, but for some people, ie, my children, it just doesn't float their boat.

Day trips from Calgary could be Drumheller (dinosaurs and weird landscape), Waterton National Park (pretty and more walking, mountains and lakes - consider Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump en route), or drive around south west from Calgary and drive the Kananaskis roads or head towards Fernie-ish and stay overnight.

Personally, if I had a free week, I'd do Vancouver and Van Island. That might also be a bit rushed but I'd want the sea, after being in my chunk of land-locked Canada!

Look for cheap motel chains Have fun

if anyone is interested my next trip (11 nights) drive straight to SF stay 4 nights then, Fort Bragg CA, Bandon OR, Portland OR, Sandpoint OR and Home.

Wish me luck

Are you going golfing or is this a more of an alternative holiday?

Had you considered renting a motor-home and driving from Calgary to Vancouver? A nice weeks jaunt.

I dont Golf (much), I will be calling in at the emerald triangle (assuming thats what you allude to ), I have friends heading for SF the same weekend, there's the outdoor fest at GG Park, John Lee Hooker Jr is at Blues and Biscuits, Boy in Static is also Playing SF, the OH wants to see Portland (and the Cali\Oregon Coast).

Enough there for you.

Not for $2500 I suspect, by the time you pay the air fair, rental , and live with the horrendous gas mileage and over-mileage fees... (>100km a day!)

Way too much.

Its just that there are some great golf courses at Bandon Dunes. I lived in Oregon for 8 years before moving up here and played there whenever I had enough spendies.