If you can get in, the big Canadian Pacific hotels, the Fairmonts, have the best views. Though the rooms with the views are usually all booked up by the tour groups.

We saw Peyto Lake, the Athabasca Glacier, Athabasca falls, Lake Louise, and IMHO, the 2nd most beautiful spot on earth I've ever been, Moraine Lake. I'd suggest taking a look at whatTauck Tours does to get some ideas of where to go and what to see. They've been doing the area for a long time and hit all the highlights. But you'll want to see it your own way doing your own thing. Being on your own affords you lots of opportunities that a tour group simply can't do.

But it is incredibly beautiful there and you will have a wonderful time.

A great drive is to start in Banff (Lake Louise) and then drive to Jasper along the Icefields Parkway. It's a gorgeous drive. I prefer Jasper (fantastic hiking) over Banff (tourist trap) so if you can do both it's well worth it.

Icefields parkway

I did find a "stay 5 nights, get 1 night free" Lake View room at the Fairmont Lake Louse. That deal made the rate (still high) more palatable. Is that too many nights in the Lake Louise area? DH & I like to do activities during the day: hiking, biking, possibly horseback riding. In the evening: a meal, a cocktail & then a novel. He's not a shopper & we're really not looking for nightlife, except a nice walk to a restaurant. We loved the hiking in the Grand Tetons.

I've just started researching on TripAdvisor but will also check out Taulk Tours.

Thanks for replies. I know this isn't Tripadvisor but was so impressed with all the generous amount of information on another vacation thread that I thought I'd ask here.

Blfenton-I'll check out Jasper as we love fantastic hiking. Thanks!

I was able to book a great room for 3 nights at the Lake Louise Fairmont at a great rate by joining AAA. Now, I'm off to research Jasper.

Annie, what is your 1st most beautiful spot on earth?

Romy, sorry for the hijack if I may, but I have a related inquiry.

We were thinking of skiing Lake Louise next yr for the kids' spring break. But it seems to me that what makes the area special is the color of the water; of course it'd be white if we go in March. Is it kind of a waste to ski Lake Louise?

Opinions, anyone?

romy, Bryce Canyon.

mtnrd, I know nothing of skiing, but the water color at Lake Louise is incredible...it looks much like the copper patina that's on the Statue of Liberty. Moraine Lake is an entirely different color.

I just read about 20 pages of reviews on Tripadvisor for Lake Louise - most of them for the winter months. It sounds like a winter wonderland & made me wish we were skiers. The views for the winter months seem to be as breathtaking as the summer months.

We haven't been to Bryce Canyon - adding that to our bucket list.

romy, i was just doing the same thing ... but it does seem as though the color of that water is what makes is distinctive ... so i am wondering ,,,,

thanks though!

Annie, I have to agree with you about Bryce. One of our favorite places to hike too but the altitude is tough for us flat-landers.

Romy, You are going to love your stay at Lake Louise. We were incredibly lucky to check in early and got an upgrade on our room, overlooking Lake Louise. It was incredible. We took a wonderful hike up to a lovely tea house at Lake Louise. We drove to another town for dinner, but the hotel looked great. Lake Morraine is extremely crowded, but so beautiful. Go very early or very late. Poor parking.

Jasper was great too and we loved the boat ride on Maligne Lake.

Mtn,
The color of the lake is just one of many stunning things about Lake Louise, but it's not *the* thing. I think skiing there would be an amazing experience. Go for it!

Romy, we enjoyed all the same things others have mentioned, and an unexpected treat was the Saskatchewan River the flows next to the road as you get up near Jasper. It's a wild, braided, glacial-fed river and it captivated both of us.

The Athabaska Glacier is a treat too. And of course the Fairmont Lake Louise - an essential part of a visit!

If you decide to spend time in the Banff area, stay in Canmore rather than Banff. It is much cheaper and, in my opinion, a much nicer town. It is just a few miles from Banff and is a lovely little town with cute shops and restaurants that have the authentic feel that Banff used to have 25 years ago. I worked in Banff in my early 20s and couldn't believe the change (not for the better) when I went back with my family a few years ago. We had planned on staying in Canmore to save money, but spending our time in Banff. A couple of hours in Banff was all we could stand and ended up loving Canmore and doing some really lovely family hikes from there.

We just spent a day in Lake Louise. There is a place you can rent bikes in town and we went on a really nice trail ride with a friend who lives there.

I've been online for 3 days straight trying to sort this out. We are flying into Calgary (July) & staying 11 nights. Our flight arrives late & we are staying in a hotel near the airport & heading to either Jasper or Glacier National Park, the next morning. Jasper 3 nights, Chateau Lake Louise 2 nights, Glacier National Park, St. Mary's 3 nights & back to Moraine Lake Lodge for 2 nights. I don't have any nights in Banff. I know the Lake Louise & Moraine Lake hotel areas will be packed with people. I'm hoping by staying in on-site hotels we can enjoy less crowds in the mornings & evenings. Are we going to get tired of beautiful scenery? I'm also contemplating rearranging the order - maybe do Glacier first & then Lake Louise or Lake Moraine followed by Jasper & then back to Lake Louise or Lake Moraine.

When we went (3 or 4 years ago), it was late June/beginning of July and I was surprised how few people there were everywhere we went (except Banff, of course).

Are you going to the Canadian side of Glacier or crossing back to the US? Driving there? Are you wanting to do a circular route flying in and out of Calgary?

We're doing West Glacier and the Salmon River, Idaho late August early September. We've got a house booked via VRBO For Glacier but still trying to figure out where to stay in Salmon, how we will travel and what kind of vehicle and transports. I've never been to this part of the country and look forward to it but the roads are such an unknown. DH is even thinking of renting a motor home for the trip but I think it will be too much. We want to take our lab beacause we'll be gone so long. Love our critters but it sure makes travel difficult. Will you board your dogs?

Bbtrix - We are flying in & out of Calgary & renting a car in Calgary. We're going to the east side of Glacier, staying in St Mary, MT. I would have enjoyed driving but I can't get DH to take more than 10 days off from work. After 10 days, he's ready to come home. Not me.

We have an elderly Aunt & Uncle who keep our dogs. She cooks for them & they take them everywhere. We say they (the dogs) are going to the Ritz. In August, DD & her husband will drive their cat to our house (9 hours) so we can babysit him, for their vacation. We do love our animals, don't we?

You have a lot of driving planned! I think I'd rather do the major part of the driving first, go to Glacier then work your way back round to Calgary. It's such beautiful country.

We'll be in Kalispell, Mt for 10 days and hopefully at least a week in the Salmon area. I'm trying to get all my siblings there to visit our eldest brother. I'm just not sure how this is going to work with our pup and kitty. I'd rather fly but don't want to board our pup. You are so lucky to have your Aunt and Uncle and yes, it is the Ritz!! Yes, we do love them so! I retired early so we could travel, but did not know a large pup would be in the picture (and wouldn't have it any other way)!

We are going to do Glacier first & then back to Canada. We'll just be getting a little taste of Glacier - enough to entice us back. Your pup (and family) are going to enjoy that trip.

Thanks, Karin. That's pretty much what I thought. Where are you in Montana?

We're in southwest MT, not far from Yellowstone.

Ogoopogo - thank you for the advice about the extra fees for taking a rental car out of the province or country. It wouldn't have occurred to me to check for that. So far, I've discovered that Budget (Calgary) does charge extra, Avis & Hertz (Calgary) do not.