Banff Tips | Things I Learned On My Trip to Banff

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You are in for a treat if you are planning a trip to this fairytale like world in Banff and its surrounding area. It is a place like no other. Aqua colored lakes and mountains with pointed peaks that surprise you on every corner. I hope these Banff tips help you make your trip wonderful like ours was.

1. Most places take credit/debit card. I didn’t find it necessary to exchange money before traveling to Banff. The tea houses are cash only and do accept US but for an extra fee (which you would pay your bank anyways.)
2. There is no cell phone service in the mountains. However, I have Verizon Wireless and I had no trouble in the Lake Louise and Banff areas using my cell phone. I only had to pay an extra $5 for a 24 hour period to use my normal plan.
3. Download the Gypsy Guide package if you are doing all of the area. If not, you can buy the guides for just Banff, Jasper, Yoho, etc. They give you details, directions, and tell you must stops along your drive. They are a must have in national parks!
4. Most people plan their vacations around Banff and Jasper National Parks. Don’t forget Yoho! It has so many wonderful areas you don’t want to miss out on, like Emerald Lake!
5. Remember to do a rolling stop when you see wildlife to avoid traffic congestion and the wildlife getting used to the traffic.
6. If you don’t have time for the entire Icefields Parkway, go as far as you can. My favorite was up to the Athabasca Glacier.
7. Check the weather. If it’s forecasted to be foggy, wait for it to clear before starting the Icefields parkway or you will see nothing.
8. Be at lake Moraine BEFORE 6AM due to people making time lapse video of sun rise. The road does close and it they bus people up.
9. June seems to be the best month to go to beat the fires. Once they start, it can be smoky until the snow comes in September.
10. Gas was more expensive the more north we travelled.
11. Food is expensive. Grab a cooler at Safeway in Canmore to put sandwiches and drinks in. We stocked up on snacks for the week here, too.
12. Mount Norquay has a great view overlooking Banff that you can drive right up to.
13. Vermilion Lakes weren’t all they were cracked up to be. We just saw a film over the water with bugs. 🙁
14. If you have an annual season pass to Canada’s National Parks you can enter the Cave and Basin National area for free.  This is the only place in the world where you can see Banff Spring snails.
15. If you can’t choose between the gondola rides, here’s a good way to decide: the Banff Gondola provides beautiful sunrise/sunset views on a CLEAR day whereas the Lake Louise Gondola provides a view of the Lake Louise area and surrounding mountains with a better chance of seeing wildlife if done in the early morning hours.
16. There’s really no good time to visit Lake Louise. We stayed there and even when it was raining the hotel was busy. If I HAD to choose the best time it would be morning because less people want to get up early on their vacation.

I hope these tips help you on your trip to Banff. It is a wonderful place to visit and is up there with one of my favorite places in the world.

Book Your Trip To Banff

We stayed at the Fairmont Banff Springs and recommend it. You can find the best rates on other hotels in the area here.

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