Am taking the quondam Skeena from Prince Rupert BC to Jasper AB. Need hotels in Prince Rupert and Prince George. Anyone travel this route and can recommend good ones (reasonable rates, close to stations)?
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
Looking at my AAA tour book, I see only a few listings for Prince Rupert. The "Coast Prince Rupert Hotel" and the "Inn On the Harbour" look like they are both downtown locations. Both have reasonable rates and received a 2 diamond rating.
For Prince George, there is a "Best Western City Centre" that has resonable rates with a 2 diamond rating. Two hotels with 3 diamond ratings are "Four Points by Sheraton Prince George" and "Treasure Cove Casino Hotel". They don't give rates for either. I can't tell if either is near the city center.
Richard
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
Richard, thank you. Both the hotels you cite have pretty good ratings on Tripadvisor as well. I think I'll choose those.
Lake Louise (we are driving down from Jasper for a couple of days) is a different matter. The storied Fairmont Lake Louise Lodge starts at $577 a night. Somehow I don't think my best bib overalls would pass muster in the dining room. The other hostelries range from $200 to $300 a night. Does the AAA Guide offer any suggestions?
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
Yes, Henry, $577 a night isn't exactly Motel 6-like rates. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is spectaculor, however, a must see even if you don't stay there. A nice hike around the lake and about a 1/2 hr hike up to the tea house, above.
Well, it looks like the cheapest would be either Lake Louise Inn or Mountaineer Lodge. They are both on village road and rate 2 diamonds.
The one I would look at is the "Post Hotel and Spa" It has a 4 diamond rating and not cheap, somewhere around $250-300/night for the least expensive rooms. It has a 5 diamond rating. If you don't stay there, the restaurant at the Post Hotel is superb.
I hope to go back to Lake Louise either next summer or the summer of 2015, on the Rocky Mountaineer. Before, you couldn't get off at Lake Louise..had to detrain in Banff. Now they will let you off at the Lake Louise train station. Even for their "red leaf" service, you can stay at the Chateau Lake Louise at a discount.
Richard
Posted by DonNadeau (Member # 61606) on :
The Coast Hotel in Prince Rupert has become the Prince Rupert Hotel, which is apparently getting in my opinion a long overdue renovation. Its membership in the Coast chain has ended. The hotel does enjoy a central location and its staff was great. To the best of my knowledge there are no hotels right at the station.
A couple I know, who just came back from a Skeena trip, were very impressed with the Crest Hotel in Prince Rupert, also in a central location.
In Prince George two years ago, I liked the centrally-located Coast Hotel. Without the name, I would not have known it was a member of the same chain.
Please enjoy your trip.
Posted by SilverStar092 (Member # 2652) on :
Stayed at the Crest Hotel years ago. Loved the location overlooking the harbor, just a block from the train station. Good restaurant and nice rooms.
Posted by DonNadeau (Member # 61606) on :
@Silver Star092
Unfortunately, Via Rail moved its station away from the Crest Hotel and downtown.
As mentioned though, according to my friends, the Crest remains a great hotel. The old station they said is still there.