Trip to Canda: need some help - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

BluesFan67 · 12-22-2006, 06:37 PM

Hey Flames fans. A buddy and I are lifelong Blues fans and for some time we've wanted to make the western canadian swing and follow the Blues to Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton. Are dates have finally worked out and we want to make the trip in March when the Blues hit CGY on the 12th, VAN on 15th and EDM on the 17th.

My question is what would be the best/cheapest/most convenient way to go about this from a travel standpoint? We want to fly in to Calgary from STL on the 11th and that's about as far as we've got. Are their cheap trains to take from Calgary to Vancouver and then Vancouver to Edmonton? How long are those rides? Would it just be easier to fly from city to city? What hotels would you recommend that are close to the Saddledome? That's the kind of stuff I'm looking to find out. I appreciate any help/advice you can give us. Thanks a lot!

octothorp · 12-22-2006, 06:40 PM

No cheap trains in Canada... a real tragedy, since it's a great way to see the country. Once you get to Canada, take Westjet flights, which are cheap and high quality.

calf · 12-22-2006, 06:43 PM

re: trains - there are none between the cities. Best bet is to fly WestJet. Not entirely sure on the cost of the flight...I would think it would be slightly less than $200CDN.

Hotels close to the 'dome - it depends on your price range. The nicest are either the Hyatt Downtown or the Sheraton Eau Claire - both are downtown and are close to the c-train line (only a couple of stops between them and the 'dome...$2.25/trip)...I think there's a Holiday Inn in the area & some other chains but those won't be quite as nice...someone who's stayed there might be able to give you better advice

Enjoy the trip!

STeeLy · 12-22-2006, 06:53 PM

There are trains, but they are nowhere close to being cheap. After doing a quick check, there is no way you would make it to the game on time in Edmonton if u took the train there from Vancouver (23 hours). You are better off flying and a lot cheaper to fly as well.

ken0042 · 12-22-2006, 06:54 PM

You can take the train from Edmonton to Vancouver, but the cheapest fare is about the same as flying Westjet. www.viarail.ca

RougeUnderoos · 12-22-2006, 07:03 PM

Hoo boy Edmonton on St.Patrick's Day. Bring a shillelagh because you might need it.

The hotels Calf mentioned might have the added bonus of being the same hotel the Blues are staying in.

Yikes those train fares are expensive. Take the plane and look out the window. You'll see Canada in fast forward. The Rockies look pretty cool from up there.

BluesFan67 · 12-22-2006, 07:12 PM

Thanks guys. So if you had to guess how much would the flights via Westjet from Calgary to Vancouver and then Vancouver to Edmonton cost combined in American dollars?

RougeUnderoos · 12-22-2006, 07:21 PM

check westjet.com. I did and it was 152 to Vancouver, 172 from Van to Edmonton. There are taxes and such not included.

I'd guess probably 350 Yank dineros when all is said and done.

SpitFire40 · 12-22-2006, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluesFan67

Thanks guys. So if you had to guess how much would the flights via Westjet from Calgary to Vancouver and then Vancouver to Edmonton cost combined in American dollars?

My guess: $400

Jayems · 12-22-2006, 07:27 PM

Calgary to Vancouver 13 mar = $190.45 CAD
Van to Edmonton 16 mar - $222.25

= $412.70 CAD

= $358.80 USD

Sparks · 12-22-2006, 07:32 PM

It looks like it will cost you about $50 more to fly, but you'll spend less time travelling. The Rockies would look fantastic by train, but I'm not sure if you have enough time in your schedule for it.

Since airfarces change practically daily, your best bet is to go to:

www.westjet.ca.

If you need a currency converter, I use www.xe.com. It looks like $1 CDN = $0.86 USD right now.

OilersBaby · 12-22-2006, 07:34 PM

are greyhound busses cheaper?..those flights are insanely expensive! calgary to van and then to edm is almost 400 USA? Man, Canada needs southwest. Darn it, I was hoping to follow the oilers around, but its goin to be wayyy too pricey

BluesFan67 · 12-22-2006, 07:44 PM

Well that's more expensive than I thought considering we would still have to add in the flights from the States to Canada and then the 2 flights while we're in Canada and then Canada back home.

OK. So we can't take the viarail from Calgary to Vancouver? So you guys would recommend the Westjet for both flights from CGY to Van and Van to EDM? That would be our best bet? Thanks for the help.

Sparks · 12-22-2006, 07:49 PM

...Or you could skip Edmonton.

BluesFan67 · 12-22-2006, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparks

...Or you could skip Edmonton.

Ha. True. But I've got a thing for older arenas and the Saddledome and Rexall are two venues that I've wanted to go to for a long time. I'd hate to skip any of the games, but Vancouver might be the odd man (city) out.

chockfullofgoodness · 12-22-2006, 07:57 PM

West Jet would be the way to go. It's pretty no-frill flying but none of the flights will be much longer than about 55 minutes.

WesternCanadaKing · 12-22-2006, 08:05 PM

You'll have to factor in the tickets to the games as well (which can be really pricey for decent seats). And you'll have to buy them early because they sell out quick (for Calgary at least, I dunno about Van or Edm)

Resolute 14 · 12-22-2006, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluesFan67

Ha. True. But I've got a thing for older arenas and the Saddledome and Rexall are two venues that I've wanted to go to for a long time. I'd hate to skip any of the games, but Vancouver might be the odd man (city) out.

That wouldnt necessaraly be a bad thing.

If you wanted to catch a third hockey game anyway, Calgary and Red Deer have a WHL home-and-home series on March 13 (@Calgary) and 14 (@Red Deer). The Hitmen and Rebels typically have had one of the best rivalries in the WHL.

Catch the Flames game, rent a car, hit the Hitmen-Rebels game in Red Deer on the 14th, Oilers game on the 17th. Not a bad prairie hockey trip if I do say so myself. Though Highway 2 is probably the most dreadfully boring highway to drive on earth.

If you want to go to Vancouver, you will almost have to fly. It is an 11 hour drive from Calgary to Vancouver in the summer. In early spring, who knows what the mountain passes will be like driving? Personally, on a trip like this, I would rather spend the extra money to fly, and spend those 24 hours sightseeing rather than driving.

As far as tickets go, I would suggest getting in touch with all three teams immediately, explaining where you are coming from, and what you want to do. All three teams have sold out every game this year, and there is no reason not to expect that all three of those games will be sellouts. In Calgary and Edmonton, you are virtually guaranteed to be paying a premium to scalpers if you go that route.

RougeUnderoos · 12-22-2006, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluesFan67

Ha. True. But I've got a thing for older arenas and the Saddledome and Rexall are two venues that I've wanted to go to for a long time. I'd hate to skip any of the games, but Vancouver might be the odd man (city) out.

If you skip Vancouver game you could go to Edmonton and watch the Wild play the Oilers on the 15th. That would save you a lot of money. Hell, take the bus up there from Calgary. It's maybe 60 bucks.

BluesFan67 · 12-22-2006, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

That wouldnt necessaraly be a bad thing.

If you wanted to catch a third hockey game anyway, Calgary and Red Deer have a WHL home-and-home series on March 13 (@Calgary) and 14 (@Red Deer). The Hitmen and Rebels typically have had one of the best rivalries in the WHL.

Catch the Flames game, rent a car, hit the Hitmen-Rebels game in Red Deer on the 14th, Oilers game on the 17th. Not a bad prairie hockey trip if I do say so myself. Though Highway 2 is probably the most dreadfully boring highway to drive on earth.

If you want to go to Vancouver, you will almost have to fly. It is an 11 hour drive from Calgary to Vancouver in the summer. In early spring, who knows what the mountain passes will be like driving? Personally, on a trip like this, I would rather spend the extra money to fly, and spend those 24 hours sightseeing rather than driving.

As far as tickets go, I would suggest getting in touch with all three teams immediately, explaining where you are coming from, and what you want to do. All three teams have sold out every game this year, and there is no reason not to expect that all three of those games will be sellouts. In Calgary and Edmonton, you are virtually guaranteed to be paying a premium to scalpers if you go that route.

That's a great suggestion regarding hitting up a WHL game. So let's say we fly into Calgary, rent a car, catch the Blues/Flames on the 12th, then make the drive through Red Deer, and then drive to Edmonton. Does that sound doable? Certainly could save us some money though it might be a slight inconvenience. How long would it take to drive from CGY to EDM if you had to guess?

As for tickets, we just want to work out some of the logistics before we worry about that and we know they won't come cheap.