Get me to CANADA (on the cheap)!

[sphenequeen]

Hey All,

Can any of you suggest or point me to any great deals so that I can take a LOOOOOOOOONG overdue vacation (with my husband) to Canada this spring? We are thinking Vancouver...

We would be flying out of LAX or even Orange County airport. March - May? Any recommendations as to the best time of year to go?

Thanks for your help!

SQ

 

[Blackpaw]

Hey sphenequeen, i would fly to Calgary over Vancouver and visit the Rockies! the rockies are beautiful in the spring, you get great sunny days with snow still on the mountains. And the tax is lower in Alberta than in BC so i found it generally a bit cheaper...

Vancouver is a nice city but not a spectacular city (Its not New York, Paris, London you know what i mean?). If you preferred to stay in BC i would be hopping straight over to Victoria Island for natural beauty (what Canada's all aboot!!)...

 

[hlmr]

I think Vancouver is a beautiful city to visit!!!

I would go in late April/May. You can get a return flight with taxes included out of LAX to Vancouver for $300. Check out Air Canada or WestJet for fares and have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[anitabee]

Hey sphenequeen, i would fly to Calgary over Vancouver and visit the Rockies! the rockies are beautiful in the spring, you get great sunny days with snow still on the mountains. And the tax is lower in Alberta than in BC so i found it generally a bit cheaper...

Vancouver is a nice city but not a spectacular city (Its not New York, Paris, London you know what i mean?). If you preferred to stay in BC i would be hopping straight over to Victoria Island for natural beauty (what Canada's all aboot!!)...

i live in vancouver and have been to calgary so am i biased?...

you betcha!

i'd much rather be a tourist in vancouver than calgary any day and here are my reasons:
1. vancouver has both the ocean AND mountains. the mountains ring the northern part of the area and those are some awesome mountains.
2. you can take the ferry over to the island (that is, vancouver island where victoria is) anytime you want - make a day-trip out of it. the ferry ride, in itself, is a true joy! maybe you'll see some whales, etc. victoria is an astoundingly beautiful, cool, interesting, and hip city. LOVE IT!
3. if you go to calgary, you're kinda in the middle of nowhere! the nearest city is edmonton (= 3-4 hours away?)
4. it can be freakin' cold in the spring in calgary unless you luck out with a chinook. brrrr.
5. if you're into it, you can cross the border and check out seattle! (if there's no traffic...) it's a 2.5 hours drive. not so bad AND you get to go through some beautiful mountainous patches.
6. interesting food, particularly any type of asian food. vancouver is renown for its good and cheap sushi!
7. robson street (A TIFFANY'S IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!!)
8. cartier store (at least i think it's still there)

back to your question

DO NOT COME HERE IN MARCH!! unless you love grey, rainy, dismal weather! come as close to the summer as you can. the summers here are quite nice. little humidity and generally sunny

am i defensive about my city?! ha! i guess

 

[sphenequeen]

Hmmm... maybe I need to rethink the timing of my trip? Perhaps an early summer vacation?

I still think Vancouver is the way to go, plus I hear that the flights from the US are fairly reasonable.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I live in Calgary, but love Vancouver; albeit I can never find it very cheap! Victoria lovely to visit--flowers and Spring on the coast is devine. The Okanangan is also a wonderful summer vacay!

cheers--Sharon

 

[Blackpaw]

I didnt suggest the OP visit Calgary, just fly in there! Calgary is not a tourist city at all (unless you're into cowboy stuff), but i wouldnt say Vancouver is either. Its a nice city, pretty cosmopolitan, but its just a city like many others. If you're taking the time to visit Canada i would want to see the best it has to offer, so after a couple of days in Vancouver id at least try to go to Victoria, see some whales, bears etc.

And i second the idea to move it to summer if you can - the rocky mountains, Vancouver, Victoria are all stunning in the summer - plus the bears are out then!

 

[ilovethiswebsite]

Some of my favorite places in Canada:

BC - Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast... The Rockies are gorgeous too!!!!
QC - Quebec City and Montreal are lovely places to visit. The Laurentians are also very nice.
ON - Niagara on the lake region and Muskoka.
East Coast - P.E.I and Newfoundland are absolutely breathtaking!

If I had to pick, I would say BC or East Coast.

 

[sphenequeen]

Perhaps I need to rephrase my question:

How can I GETto Canada on the cheap (we are thinking Vancouver). Suggested travel websites that have worked for PSers in the pas, etc. I appreciate your preferences as to where to go once I am there, but I need to get there!

Thanks in advance!

 

[hlmr]

Not sure if you read my previous post, but $300 for a direct flight from LAX to Vancouver and return is cheap. You can book directly at aircanada.com.

 

[sphenequeen]

hlmr -

I admit, I must have missed your last post. I am going to search the site tonight with my husband. Thanks for the tip! This trip is long overdue and will celebrate MANY things. I appreciate all of the replies.

 

[fleur-de-lis]

If you're hoping for super excellent awesome deal (and enjoy being behind the wheel of a car as well), you can sometimes take advantage of special airfare deals on Virgin America from LAX to Seattle for as low as $59 each way. It's about a 2 hour drive to the border from there, but it's fairly scenic.

 

[stci]

Quebec is the best place! Why don't you come and see my family?

My house is "petite" but representative of Quebec style. Come on for few days!

P.S. You will have to learn french cause my english is disaster...

 

[sphenequeen]

My husband really wants us to go to Quebec - he has been there once and REALLY loved it. I have no objection, just thought it would be more expensive than Vancouver considering we are west coasters.

Thanks for the invite!