"Alex Heney" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 18:32:41 GMT, "stuart"
wrote:


"G" wrote in message
...
I am skiing in Banff over the Christmas and New year and was wondering
how
prices are compared to here in the UK as I want to buy
a) some new ski's
b) new ski jacket (Spyder)
Anyone help??????

I would NEVER buy anything other than a cup of coffee in Banff. Try
Calgary,
or better yet, Edmonton.

Presumably, then you live in the area, and have your own transport?

For anyone going from the UK, doing as you suggest would cost a days
skiing, plus the cost of transport to Calgary or Edmonton. (Most
people travelling to ski in Canada from UK will be on a package trip,
with transfers from airport to hotel included, but no other "side"
trips included.

Most resorts are rip-offs compared to shops in the cities a few miles
away. But they are banking on the fact that most people buying
equipment while on a ski trip are doing so at least partly because of
proxi,mity to the slopes. They can try them out, and go back for
adjustments if necessary, without losing much ski time.

Sure, good point, but there are literally hundreds of ways to get from the
airport in Calgary to Banff. Unlike Europe, we are a culture of
transportation junkies. Got cars for rent, gotta be dozens of buses to
Banff. If I were travelling from the UK, I would rent a car at Calgary, then
drive the 90 minutes to Banff, or better yet, stay in Canmore for 50 bucks a
night. Then you can ski Nakiska, Sunshine, Lake Louise, or if the roads are
good, spend the three hours and drive up the famous Icefields Parkway to
Jasper and ski a day or so at Marmot.
I would never buy a package which was all inclusive, and extremely
restrictive. You can do cheaper, by getting the best airfare, then arranging
your own accomodation and transportation. Remember, Banff, Jasper, Golden
and Canmore are summer resorts, and NEVER get much above 20% occupancy
during winter (The Euros don't know this so they get the "on hill"
accomodations $$$$$$)



Alex Heney, Global Villager
I'll jump off that bridge when I come to it.

To reply by email, my address is aDOTjDOTheneyATbtinternetDOTcom