Travel Life 2021/2022 - Canada Plans

[Crystal]

Place to start dreaming....

Me a bit of a road trip, incorporating Fernie, Kimberly and Panorama....hopefully also a detour inland to Apex Nothing booked as yet just working out dates. probably book the cattery first

I am crossing fingers that with the vaccine roll out travel will be okay next season.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Place to start dreaming....

Me a bit of a road trip, incorporating Fernie, Kimberly and Panorama....hopefully also a detour inland to Apex Nothing booked as yet just working out dates. probably book the cattery first

I am crossing fingers that with the vaccine roll out travel will be okay next season.

Sounds like a good plan Crystal. Wouldn't spend too many days at Kimberly. Not a whole lot there, just an opinion before people stomp on me

 

[gareth_oau]

I currently have a plan mapped out - the only question is whether is starts in December 21.

We have a group of Me and Nikki, 3 sons, one daughter in law and 2 girtfriends

The evolving plan is for a week or so at SP, followed by a flight yo Calgary and a road trip back to SP for another 2 weeks.

My difficulty with my deteriorating eyrsight is car hire/driving, and also if it continues to deteriorate whether I will be able to ski/board at all.

For this I'm keen to travel sooner rather than later

 

[Crystal]

Sounds like a good plan Crystal. Wouldn't spend too many days at Kimberly. Not a whole lot there, just an opinion before people stomp on me

I think it was 4 or 5 days at Kimberly.

Basically this is the same trip that was to be happening NOW !!!

 

[northsail]

Did Kimberly and Panorama January this year.
Would cut Kimberly to 4 days and spend more time at either Panorama or Fernie.
Would have enjoyed stomping on you @Captain Caveman but fully agree.

 

[absentskier]

Just so hard to even consider booking anything. I guess booking accommodation that can be cancelled very late in the piece can’t really hurt.

 

[gareth_oau]

Just so hard to even consider booking anything. I guess booking accommodation that can be cancelled very late in the piece can’t really hurt.

That depends on the size of the deposit you pay, and if the owner doesnt go bankrupt when you want your refund

 

[absentskier]

That depends on the size of the deposit you pay, and if the owner doesnt go bankript when you want your refund

Very true.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Did Kimberly and Panorama January this year.
Would cut Kimberly to 4 days and spend more time at either Panorama or Fernie.
Would have enjoyed stomping on you @Captain Caveman but fully agree.

Much prefer it when you slaughter me @northsail.
Something about Kimberly which is my least fav resort in Canada not considering the local mountains in Vancouver. Just wasn't for me I guess. We were done with it in about half a day.

 

[Crystal]

wow I have heard only good things.

 

[SnowRabbit]

Agree with @Captain Caveman and @northsail. I'd be in no hurry to go back to Kimberley. So many better options in BC.

 

[Crystal]

There's been lots of chatter in our household with children saying rather than road trip they may be more interested in putting down roots in a couple of fave resorts and just skiing like mad.

 

[absentskier]

There's been lots of chatter in our household with children saying rather than road trip they may be more interested in putting down roots in a couple of fave resorts and just skiing like mad.

It’s an attractive option IMO.

 

[Legs Akimbo]

There's been lots of chatter in our household with children saying rather than road trip they may be more interested in putting down roots in a couple of fave resorts and just skiing like mad.

I only ever went to 2 resorts each trip, but the daughter and I sat down during planning for a trip and decided we would rather lob in one place for a couple of weeks with some travel either side. We perfected it by finding a service that would ship snow gear back to Australia from the resort.

 

[gareth_oau]

There's been lots of chatter in our household with children saying rather than road trip they may be more interested in putting down roots in a couple of fave resorts and just skiing like mad.

road trips arent for everyone and can be very boring for kids.

The upsides in staying in one or two places:

• you can justify a season pass and reduce your daily costs
• longer stays earn bigger accommodation discounts
• you can afford to take days off just to relax, go hiking whatever - you dont have to hammer every day
• build a great relationship with the locals
• starts to feel like you are at home (this is dangerous -you will want to live there!!!)

 

[KneeDeep]

This ^^^^ Gareth, discovered that years ago.

 

[Legs Akimbo]

road trips arent for everyone and can be very boring for kids.

I still remember a plaintive 4 year old voice from the back seat - "When does the holiday start?"

 

[gareth_oau]

I still remember a plaintive 4 year old voice from the back seat - "When does the holiday start?"

 

[Sbooker]

We’ve always done the road trip style - even when the kids were 3 and 5. They’re now going on 14 and 16 and I’m wondering if they would be bored by staying put in one place? The idea does has certain appeal though.
Maybe we could cut it down to two destinations plus a city break?

 

[Crystal]

We've also dine the road trip every so many years with our kids and they are fine and have thrived on it...I guess next season they will be anticipating the need to just ski like crazy people.

 

[Captain Caveman]

We've also dine the road trip every so many years with our kids and they are fine and have thrived on it...I guess next season they will be anticipating the need to just ski like crazy people.

I very much enjoyed skiing with those crazy kids, bet they are a lot faster now .

 

[Hoodie]

I would like to be optimistic about 2021/2022 but with all the craziness still happening will we be able to travel? I think after this Christmas (northern beaches resident) we will book 3 different holidays next Christmas, one to Canada, one interstate and one local just to be on the safe side!

 

[Crystal]

Yeah I am also hopeful that we can travel but looking at the world it's still a bit crazy. We'll plan and book regardless and hope for the best.

 

[sly_karma]

Yeah I am also hopeful that we can travel but looking at the world it's still a bit crazy. We'll plan and book regardless and hope for the best.

You know where I live. There will be salmon.

 

[main street]

Yeah I am also hopeful that we can travel but looking at the world it's still a bit crazy. We'll plan and book regardless and hope for the best.

You know where I live. There will be salmon.

You know where we live too,.... Currently weighing up a short term focus shift that could result in us being in Canada for at least part of winter.....

 

[gareth_oau]

Canmore looking great at the moment

 

[main street]

Hold on to your butts......



The federal government has confirmed that Canada’s international travel restrictions are to be extended even further.

Sharing the announcement via Twitter, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said officials will “never hesitate to take the strong action needed to keep Canadians safe from emerging variants of #COVID19.”

April 21

The new end-date for the restrictions

Before the update, the restrictions on non-U.S. international travel were set to end on February 21, 2021.

However, due in part to emerging COVID-19 variants, the date has been extended once again.

The rule means that Canada’s borders will remain closed to all non-essential travellers from other countries.

The regulation excludes visitors from the United States, but ongoing travel restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border have also been extended.

Blair confirmed that Canada’s land and air borders would also stay shut to discretionary travel from the States, until at least March 21, 2021.

This date will mark one year since a non-essential travel ban was first implemented between the two countries.

 

[Ret-ro]

H

I currently have a plan mapped out - the only question is whether is starts in December 21.

We have a group of Me and Nikki, 3 sons, one daughter in law and 2 girtfriends

The evolving plan is for a week or so at SP, followed by a flight yo Calgary and a road trip back to SP for another 2 weeks.

My difficulty with my deteriorating eyrsight is car hire/driving, and also if it continues to deteriorate whether I will be able to ski/board at all.

For this I'm keen to travel sooner rather than later

How is this developing.. ?? I see July being talked about as the OS start , We will plan SP in January.

 

[gareth_oau]

H

How is this developing.. ?? I see July being talked about as the OS start , We will plan SP in January.

I'm not holding my breath. I will get my jabs earlier than most because of my diabetes, but others in my group will take longer.

My big concern is that holiday costs are likely to be significanlty higher in the first roud without any typical discounts being available, and then the bulk of my group won't be able to afford it.

I suspect we will be looking at late december 2022, but I havent given up yet!!

My oppositr concern is that my eyesight is rapidly deteriorating, and a big half of me doesnt want to wait another 2 years just in case

 

[jgm]

Have booked 2 weeks at Panorama end of Jan 2022. We usually use points to fly, but there is almost nothing available out of Australia yet.

 

[sly_karma]

The Canadian govt will have you in agony by mid November when they still haven't opened borders and airports. I think by Christmas it will be open but much uncertainty before that.

 

[Roymond]

The Canadian govt will have you in agony by mid November when they still haven't opened borders and airports. I think by Christmas it will be open but much uncertainty before that.

Cmon @sly_karma , Justin will open to Aussie skiers. Everyone loves us. And we aren’t festy like your brethren south of the border.

 

[sly_karma]

In the fall and winter the Americans and other international visitors for the most part aren't interested in tourism to Canada (summer tourism is orders of magnitude greater than winter). The real fear at that time of year is the constant coming and going of Canadians to the US in search of warm sand/cold beer, and the weekly shopping runs for cheap petrol and dairy.

Vaccine programs are gathering momentum but so too are the new variants. Canada can expect another surge in coming weeks before spring lets us go outside. Cases subside over summer anyway, but then in September everyone will be watching and wondering if another wave will hit. We will be well into November before it becomes clear that vaccination has done the job and restrictions can be eased. Hence my prediction of a stressful uncertainty as we wait to see what the ski season might look like for 2022.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Loving the optimism. Considering we still might have to do the 2 weeks quarantine on the return to Oz , that would make it an expensive holiday. Then there is the mumblings also of doing mandatory quarantine when entering Canada. Take an extra 4 weeks out of our holidays to sit in a hotel room at full price. Waiting until November to book flights, accom and season passes at full price will add to the pain. I see we can actually book flights with Air Canada now for under $2K. Not bad compared to the circa $1300 I usually pay. Hmm, book now and sit in hope, wait to November and then risk the rip off that could be. Supply and demand could have the airlines potentially doubling prices .

 

[Sbooker]

Loving the optimism. Considering we still might have to do the 2 weeks quarantine on the return to Oz , that would make it an expensive holiday. Then there is the mumblings also of doing mandatory quarantine when entering Canada. Take an extra 4 weeks out of our holidays to sit in a hotel room at full price. Waiting until November to book flights, accom and season passes at full price will add to the pain. I see we can actually book flights with Air Canada now for under $2K. Not bad compared to the circa $1300 I usually pay. Hmm, book now and sit in hope, wait to November and then risk the rip off that could be. Supply and demand could have the airlines potentially doubling prices .

If tied to school holidays Banff/Pano/Kicking Horse at Easter is nice.
I agree Christmas is too iffy.

 

[gareth_oau]

Not only iffy but prices might be higher as operators try to claw back lost revenue

 

[Roymond]

Loving the optimism. Considering we still might have to do the 2 weeks quarantine on the return to Oz , that would make it an expensive holiday. Then there is the mumblings also of doing mandatory quarantine when entering Canada. Take an extra 4 weeks out of our holidays to sit in a hotel room at full price. Waiting until November to book flights, accom and season passes at full price will add to the pain. I see we can actually book flights with Air Canada now for under $2K. Not bad compared to the circa $1300 I usually pay. Hmm, book now and sit in hope, wait to November and then risk the rip off that could be. Supply and demand could have the airlines potentially doubling prices .

Can you get back?
Last time I looked at their website, I could book the flight into kamloops, but getting back to Oz was a very circuitous journey.

 

[sly_karma]

Not only iffy but prices might be higher as operators try to claw back lost revenue

I guess there was lost revenue last season with most resorts closing 3-4 weeks early, but they're making it back this year. Seaskn pass and day pass sales both well up. Snowbirds can't fly south and families can't do other winter sports like hockey, curling, martial arts, indoor soccer etc. Any outdoor gear is in hot demand, skis and snowboards were mostly sold out by Christmas, and snow machine prices are red hot - if you can get one.

 

[gareth_oau]

I guess there was lost revenue last season with most resorts closing 3-4 weeks early, but they're making it back this year. Seaskn pass and day pass sales both well up. Snowbirds can't fly south and families can't do other winter sports like hockey, curling, martial arts, indoor soccer etc. Any outdoor gear is in hot demand, skis and snowboards were mostly sold out by Christmas, and snow machine prices are red hot - if you can get one.

i was thinking the loss of discount airfares and car r rentals

 

[sly_karma]

Ah right. My friends who still have to travel for work tell me the flights are already eye watering. This is BC/western Canada regional travel which was quite expensive before the pandemic anyway, the old small volume/long distances problem that can't really be avoided in a large country with a small population.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Similar here too Sly as you would know.
Look at a return flight Kelowna or Kamloops to Van are circa $400 . Short distance regional.
You can buy a flight today Van to Calgary for $99
Sydney to Port Macquarie , circa $350
Sydney to Melb easy to find for under $100

 

[absentskier]

Have booked 2 weeks at Panorama end of Jan 2022. We usually use points to fly, but there is almost nothing available out of Australia yet.

How late can you leave it to cancel without incurring any cost?

 

[jgm]

48 hours from original booking. Up til 7 days before check-in it's 50%, ie the amount we've paid already. However I've found that you can usually negotiate a date change without too much trouble if covid closures are still in place.

 

[main street]

Border closure extended again into mid April.

 

[Sbooker]

Border closure extended again into mid April.

Not surprising. I’m expecting it will remain closed until August/September/October.

 

[sly_karma]

Yeah, seems likely. Most businesses here are planning for another no Americans summer season. Some of the slack will be taken up by Canadians visiting BC, but the higher end tourist operators who draw their clientele from worldwide will be down again. Rail and bus tours like Rocky Mountaineer, RV rentals, fishing lodges, wildlife/ecotourism lodges, whitewater rafting, hunting guide outfitters, all will suffer. Definitely no cruise ships, and today the province confirmed there is no chance they will permit gatherings of 500+ this summer. Although tough news, at least it allows organizers of music festivals and other large events to cancel their plans and move on.

Fortunately for BC, tourism is only 8-9% of provincial GDP, not as big a hit to the economy as many would think. Unemployment continues to fall and now sits at 6.9%. Some industries like construction are crying out for workers because it's so busy.

 

[Crystal]

spreadsheet is coming along nicely......I'll be ready when the rest of the world is

 

[main street]

spreadsheet is coming along nicely......I'll be ready when the rest of the world is

Might not be for quite a while yet......


Ontario students move to virtual learning indefinitely amid record-high COVID-19 cases

Students will be staying in remote learning indefinitely following the April Break as the province continues to see record breaking COVID-19 case and ICU numbers, the Ontario government says.

Ontario students were supposed to return to in-person learning after taking the week off for their delayed March Break.

Students in the hot spot regions of Peel, Toronto and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph, were already moved to virtual learning the week before the break.

Peel Region moved its students online the Tuesday after Easter Monday, while Toronto and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph followed suit on Wednesday.

The government said the decision to reopen for in-person learning will be based on public health data.

"As soon as we get the go-ahead from Dr. Williams and his colleagues, we'll make sure parents know with advance notice that they can plan for their kids to return to school," Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce said.

Premier Doug Ford made the announcement alongside Lecce, Minister of Health Christine Elliott and Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health at Queen's Park Monday afternoon.

"It's a risk I won't take," Ford said about the decision. "No one wants their kids in school more than I do but with COVID spreading like wildfire ... we simply can't be too cautious right now."

 

[sly_karma]

ON is in serious trouble. ICUs are maxed out in Toronto so they're air transferring patients to available beds as much as 400 km away.

 

[main street]

ON is in serious trouble. ICUs are maxed out in Toronto so they're air transferring patients to available beds as much as 400 km away.

Manitoba is not doing well either....