**Please note that the information below was relevant to last year 2010 and is no longer current. To check availability for September 2011, please click here and enter your travel dates in the hotel search box.**

September long weekend is almost upon us, and not surprisingly it is difficult to find a hotel room in Jasper, particularly for Saturday night, September 4. If you are planning to spend the Labour Day weekend in Jasper and you still need to book your room, you will need to act quickly to avoid disappointment. At the time of writing the following accommodations were still showing availability for both Saturday and Sunday nights:

Amethyst Lodge has availability for a minimum two night stay in a standard room, at an average nightly rate of $169.50 plus applicable taxes for Saturday and Sunday nights. To check availability at this hotel, click here.

Chateau Jasper is showing vacancies for a minimum two night stay, at a rate of $195.00 per night plus tax for Saturday and Sunday nights. To check availability at this hotel, click here.

Whistler’s Inn is still showing availability for both Saturday September 4 and Sunday September 5 at a rate of $225.33 per night plus tax for a standard room with queen bed. To check availability at this hotel, click here.

If you only need a room for either the Friday or Sunday night, you will have more hotels to choose from, and I recommend taking a look at our main Jasper hotels page, by clicking here.

Another option if you can’t find what you are looking for in Jasper, is to consider a hotel in Hinton, which lies just 15km from Jasper National Park, and an 80km scenic drive from the Jasper town site. With lower rates and a good chance of finding a vacancy, Hinton is a reasonable alternative to Jasper, particularly on a busy holiday weekend. To see a list of hotels in Hinton, click here.

*In most cases the above rates are subject to all applicable taxes and are based on double occupancy. The information above was accurate at the time of writing, however the availability and rates are likely to change as the weekend approaches. For up to date information, please check availability and rates yourself using the links provided.

Jasper National Park is a fantastic place to spend the August long weekend, which is why it can be quite difficult to find a hotel room if you don’t book far enough ahead. If you are still looking for a Jasper hotel for this holiday weekend, don’t despair, there are still some rooms available but you will need to act quickly.

**The information below relates to the weekend of July 31 to August 2. For information about vacancies for Labour Day Weekend, September 4-6 2010, click here.**

At the time of writing (July 28), we were able to find vacancies at the wonderful Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, with rooms starting at $399 per night. If you select their 99 Ways to Play package you will get a $99 resort credit per night, which essentially brings the room rate down to a more attractive $300 while giving you a great excuse to treat yourself in one of their amazing restaurants. This was the only hotel where we found availability for Saturday night. To make a reservation, click here.

The Amethyst Lodge still had availability for Friday and Sunday nights, with Friday’s rate starting at $239 and Sunday’s rate starting at $169. To make a reservation, click here.

Mount Robson Inn also had availability for Friday (from $189.74) and Sunday (from $215.38). To make a reservation, click here.

Tonquin Inn also had vacancies for Friday with rates starting from $159 and for Sunday starting from $215. To make a reservation, click here.

Wherever you decide to stay we recommend that you make a reservation as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Have a great holiday weekend!

*In most cases the above rates are subject to taxes and are based on double occupancy. The information above was accurate at the time of writing, however the availability and rates are likely to change as the weekend approaches. For up to date information, please check availability and rates yourself using the links provided.

Spring is a wonderful time to visit Jasper and the Canadian Rockies. The mountain peaks are still covered with snow, and for many people the views are more impressive than during the summer. Most summer tours and activities are already up and running, yet the roads and sidewalks are still nice and quiet. And best of all, being low season, hotel rates are generally more affordable in May and early June than during the busier summer months. If you plan to visit Jasper during springtime, you should take a look at some of the special offers we found at various Jasper accommodations:

Maligne Lodge has a bed and breakfast special from May 1 to 31 starting at $67 per person for one night’s accommodation plus breakfast the following morning. A similar B&B package at their sister property, the Tonquin Inn, starts at $72.50 per person, again valid for the month of May.
Mount Robson Inn is offering a May special, whereby the 2nd night of a 2 night stay is given at a 40% discount. This offer applies to any room type throughout May, except for the long weekend of May 21st, 22nd and 23rd.
The Alpine Bed & Breakfast Package at Best Western Jasper Inn & Suites starts at $79 per person for a standard room. This offer is valid until May 31st and includes one night’s lodging, a buffet breakfast, plus a $15 food credit, and the package can be upgraded to include a studio, or a one or two bedroom suite.
For the cabin experience, Pocahontas Cabins has a Soak & Sun package which includes cabin accommodation for one night, a hot breakfast, and a free pass to Miette Hotsprings. From May 7 to May 31 the package starts at $109 per person.
If you are looking for a cheap hotel deal, it’s hard to beat the Spring B&B Special at the Astoria Hotel which comes in at just $44 per person in a twin standard room or $49 per person in a queen standard room, and is valid until May 20th.

If your trip to Jasper is part of a tour of the Canadian Rockies, and you need to find a hotel in Banff, you might also want to check out the hotel deals over at Banff Hotels.org.

*The above offers are based on double occupancy, and are subject to availability, subject to taxes, subject to change, and certain date restrictions may apply. To confirm full details and for reservations, please contact the relevant Jasper hotel directly.

What better way to relax in the Canadian Rockies than to combine a visit to Jasper National Park with a well deserved spa treatment and if you’d like to have all the arrangements taken care of before you arrive, one of the following spa & hotel packages may be just what you are looking for:

The Sawridge Inn offers the Escape Spa Package, which includes 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast plus a spa treatment at Mountain Wellness Day Spa, conveniently located on-site at the Sawridge Inn. Choose between the Classic Facial, the Relaxation Massage, or the Wellness Soak. From May 1 to June 15, and for the month of October 2010 the package costs $276 per person based on double occupancy and from June 16 to Sept 30 the cost is $336 per person.
For a shorter stay, Mountain Park Lodges offer a spa package with one night’s accommodation, breakfast, plus a choice between the Relaxation Massage, the Classic Facial or the Spa Pedicure, again at Mountain Wellness Day Spa. Rates start at $174.50 per person during May 2010 and go up to $210.50 from June 1st to Sept 30th, and are based on double occupancy in a standard room at Marmot Lodge. The package is also available at other Mountain Park Lodge properties at different price points.
No discussion of Jasper spas would be complete without mention of the Spa & Health Club at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. In August 2010, their new $6.7 million Fairmont Spa will be unveiled, which by all accounts will be yet another world class spa facility at a Fairmont Hotel. In the meantime, guests can still enjoy the outdoor heated swimming pool and gym, and a full range of spa treatments are offered at the hotel by the Insignia Salon & Spa.
If you would like to spa in Jasper, and stay at a different hotel to those mentioned above, there is nothing stopping you from putting together your own spa package by combining a stay at any hotel in Jasper with a spa treatment of your choosing.

*The above offers are subject to availability, subject to taxes, subject to change, and certain date restrictions may apply. To confirm full details and for reservations, please contact your Jasper hotel directly.

**Note – the ski deals below are from last winter, and are no longer valid. For current ski packages in Jasper for the 2010/2011 season, click here.**

If you are planning to visit Jasper midweek and ski at Marmot Basin, you should take a look at the Jasper Snow Days packages which are being offered by many hotels in Jasper. These ski deals offer big discounts on accommodation from Sunday to Thursday and skiing from Monday to Friday and and are available for most dates until the Marmot Basin closing day.
Unless otherwise specified, the following packages are priced per person (based on double occupancy) for one night’s accommodation plus a one day lift ticket for Marmot Basin.
Snow Days packages at Whistlers Inn start at $89 per person and include one drink per day in the Whistle Stop Pub!
Tonquin Inn offers a Midweek Ski Madness package which includes one night’s accommodation plus a one day ski pass starting at $85.67 per person, with blackout dates from Mar 29 to Apr 2.
The Sawridge Inn has midweek packages starting at $107 per person and includes a hot breakfast as well as hotel accommodation and ski pass.
The Best Western Jasper Inn & Suites is offering a Snow Days Midweek Ski Package including a one night stay and one day lift ticket for $110pp in a standard room, $115pp in a studio kitchenette, $119pp in a one bedroom or upper loft suite, and $129pp in a two bedroom suite.
Finally, at the Astoria Hotel, the midweek ski package costs $100.29pp, with blackout dates of Mar 29 to Apr 2.

For more Jasper ski deals, including multi-day packages, click here.

*The above packages may be subject to availability and subject to change, and certain blackout dates may apply. To confirm rates and for reservations, please contact the individual Jasper hotels directly.

There’s no doubt that Jasper is a superb destination for a ski holiday and UK skiers have been travelling here for many years, attracted by the uncrowded slopes, the excellent Canadian Rockies snow conditions, and the warm hospitality found throughout the area. Most ski holidays to Canada from the UK are organized by the many UK tour operators, who sell packages to all the major Canadian ski resorts, including Jasper.
While the package holiday certainly seems to be the easiest option, is it the most cost effective? To find the answer we compared the cost of some packages offered by UK tour operators with the cost of organizing an equivalent trip independently.
We based our research on an 11 day holiday for 2 people departing on March 13th 2010, flying between London and Calgary. We also looked at 3 different price points – a charter flight combined with a mid range hotel, a scheduled flight combined with a luxury hotel, and a charter flight combined with a luxury hotel.
Here is what we found:

Charter Flight & Mid Range Hotel

The best direct deal on a charter we could find was with Canadian Affair, where a Monarch flight from London Gatwick was available for £403.20 per person.
For accommodation we chose the Astoria Hotel, and were quoted a total of $1520.70 CAD for the 11 night stay.
Using today’s tourist exchange rate of £1.00 = $1.71 CAD, the total price for this combination booked independently was £1695.70 for 2 people, not including airport transfers.
Inghams are now the only major UK ski tour operator using charter flights into Calgary. Their holiday included a Monarch charter flight from London Gatwick, an 11 night stay at the Astoria Hotel, and airport transfers between Calgary and Jasper for a total of £1325.00 for 2 people, a saving of £370.70 compared to the independent trip.
We also did the same comparison but including 10 day lift passes.
The Astoria Hotel was able to package together the 11 night stay with 2 x 10 day passes for a total of $1864.48 CAD, making the total price of the direct deal £1896.74 for 2 people.
The Inghams price including 2 x 10 day lift passes was £1915.00 for 2 people, which is £18.26 more expensive than the direct deal.
A third option we looked at was a package provided by a tour operator based in the Canadian Rockies. Ski Holidays Canada quoted an 11 night stay at the Whistler’s Inn including 2 x 10 day ski passes and a free ski shuttle (valued at $14 per person per day) for $1699. Adding the Monarch flights for £403pp brings the cost of this package to a competitive £1799.56 for 2 people. Airport transfers are not included in this package, however car hire can be organized through the same company, costing $423 (£247.37) for 11 days full size car with unlimited mileage.

Scheduled Flight & Luxury Hotel

The best direct deal we found for a scheduled flight was with British Airways, which came in at £592.90 per person return from London Heathrow.
For an 11 night stay at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, we were quoted a total of $2732.22 CAD. The total for this combination of flights and accommodation is £2783.59 for 2 people, not including airport transfers.
With the tour operator Crystal Ski we found the same holiday including airport transfers between Calgary and Jasper for £2229.68 for 2 people, a saving of £553.91 compared to the independent option.
Including passes, it just so happens that the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is offering 2 x free 10 day passes with an 11 night stay, as part of their remarkable Ski for Free Package, so the total independent holiday cost remains at £2783.59.
Crystal are selling 10 day passes on their website for £231 pp, bringing the total cost of the Crystal holiday to £2661.68, which is still cheaper than the direct deal by £121.91.

Charter Flight & Luxury Hotel

Combining the Monarch flights with the direct deal at the Jasper Park Lodge above including ski passes, gives us a total of £2404.19 for 2 people for an independent package, not including airport transfers.
Inghams price for the same package, but including airport transfers, was £2636 for 2 people.
Ski Holidays Canada were able to offer the same package including flights, accommodation at the Jasper Park Lodge and 10 day ski passes for £2384.36 for 2 people. Adding the optional extra car hire for £247.37 brings this total to £2631.37, beating the Inghams package price.

Conclusion

In most cases the ski holidays booked through the UK tour operators are cheaper than trying to book the same holiday independently, over 20% cheaper in some instances. That price difference is reduced when you include lift passes, thanks to the competitive ski packages offered locally by Jasper hotels. It’s important to note that the independently booked holidays do not include airport transfers between Calgary and Jasper, and due to the limited scheduled shuttle service in the winter, most independent travellers would be forced to either rent a car, or pay the considerable cost for a private transfer. Alternatively you could find a hotel in Calgary for the night and then take the scheduled shuttle the following day.
Taking the price differences and the airport transfers into consideration, it seems that the most convenient and most economical way to come to Jasper on a ski holiday from the UK is to book a package holiday. However for the more independent traveller, using a locally based tour operator can help keep the cost down while also providing a more tailor made Jasper ski holiday.

*The information contained in this article was correct at the time of writing, but can change at any time. To confirm current prices and packages, please contact the respective tour operators, hotels, and airlines directly.
While we have made every effort to display accurate information, we cannot be held responsible for any discrepancies which may occur.

It may well be the middle of summer, which is peak tourist season in the Canadian Rockies, but several Jasper hotels are offering considerable discounts for dates in August when some other years you might have struggled to find a vacancy. Maybe it’s time to consider bringing that Fall trip to Jasper forward a few weeks!

The biggest discount we found was 40% off regular rates for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights at the Astoria Hotel. The Astoria is also offering 30% off the rate for all nights until the end of August.
Whistler’s Inn has a 30% discount off room rates until August 31st, which would bring an economy room to below $135 per night before tax.
The Sawridge Inn is also offering a 30% discount on regular room rates until October 8th, as well as a $25 daily dinner credit for their restaurant plus discounts off spa treatments and selected tours & activities.
Finally, both the Tonquin Inn and Maligne Lodge are offering from 10 to 35% off room rates until September 30th, as well as a ‘last family outing before school starts’ promotion from August 24th-27th, which at the time of writing, gave us a standard room with 2 queen beds for less than $149 per night before tax at both hotels.

The above special rates may be subject to change and availability.
To confirm rates and for reservations, please visit the websites of the individual hotels.

** This article was valid for Spring 2009. For updated specials for Spring 2010, click here. **

May is a wonderful time to visit Jasper Alberta. The town is free of snow and uncrowded, yet the views of the snow-capped peaks are in many ways better in spring than during the peak months of the summer. An additional bonus of visiting Jasper National Park in the springtime is the low rates offered by many hotels. We have scoured the websites of all the major hotels in Jasper looking for deals, and have uncovered some specials which we’d like to share with you:

Marmot Lodge has a bed and breakfast special for the month of May, which includes a one night stay with breakfast for $153 for 2 people. There are also various other special packages for May at the Marmot Lodge.
Maligne Lodge and the Tonquin Inn are both offering a Spring Bed & Breakfast special from May 1-31 which starts at $60 per person for 1 night’s accommodation including breakfast.
The Sawridge Inn is offering a special Summer Time Out Package which starts May 18th and is valid for the whole summer. The package includes a 30% discount on regular room rates, a $25.00 daily dinner credit per room, plus spa and activities discounts.
Last but not least, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge has put together an Alberta Escape Package valid until August 31st, which starts at $249 per night and includes a $100 Resort Credit per room per night which can be put towards a meal or drinks in one of their fine restaurants.

With all of the above specials, some restrictions may apply. Be sure to confirm rates and reservations directly with the appropriate hotel.
For more places to stay, take a look at the JasperHotels.com hotels and bed & breakfast guides.

Probably the largest selection of Jasper hotels offered by one company is found under the umbrella of Mountain Park Lodges. This group manages the accommodation at the Amethyst Lodge, Chateau Jasper, Lobstick Lodge, Marmot Lodge, and the Pocahontas Cabins.
The Pocahontas Cabins are located 25 mins from Jasper in a quiet, natural setting, while the other four properties are in the town of Jasper itself. Between the five properties you can find hotel, motel or cabin style lodging, and a price point to suit any budget.
For more information visit www.mpljasper.com.

For accommodation in downtown Jasper Alberta with some character and history, you can’t go far wrong at the Park Place Inn. This boutique hotel was recently renovated, and all the rooms have been furnished and decorated in a tasteful heritage style. The hotel does not have its own restaurant, but the central location means that you can find a selection of Jasper restaurants within a few minutes walk.
For more information and reservations visit www.parkplaceinn.com.