Living There
How will you get to Calgary? By plane? Bus? Train? Car? There are so many ways. Here are the most popular options.
By Plane
Traveling by plane is one of most popular methods to get into Calgary. Air Canada is the preferred choice, but WestJet is another popular option. It’s very affordable. And, unless you envision yourself wanting to make a pit-stop in U.S., you you don’t have to pay Air Canada rates for the privilege.
Of course, Air Canada is the nation’s largest full-service airline, and largest provider of schedules passenger services. They also have a pricing model that is, more-or-less, consumer-driven. You can log onto their site, choose options you want and then “check out” and hop on your flight.
WestJet is low-cost alternative (the major one, anyway). It has one of most modern fleets of Boeing 737 in the world, so don’t think it’s a slouch in the quality department or that you’re somehow flying on dilapidated planes.
While they don’t have “posh” atmosphere of larger airlines, you’ll notice they make up for it in raw customer service. You sort of feel like you’re flying with family on this airline.
By Bus
Going by bus? Take either Brewster Charter Services or find yourself a motorcoach like National Motorcoach Systems or Red Arrow.
Any one of these options is going to feel about same. Even the best bus in world is still a bus, and while Red Arrow is more of a “day bus,” Brewster bills itself as one of largest in the business
This company prides itself on its fleet of 60 busses and its expertise. They’ll take you across Canada, and even into the Rockies, if you want. Prices are reasonable as far as busses go, and it’s the perfect option for those who want to keep their feet on the ground.
By Car
Going by car is one of the best ways to travel for most people. Unfortunately, it’s also one of most expensive. But, if you stick to major brands, like Avis, Budget, or Enterprise, you’ll probably make out OK. Note that the bigger vehicle, more you pay.
And, just because it’s a big name, doesn’t mean you don’t have to read the contract. Rental car agencies are notorious for charging customers for topping off gas tank – make sure you return the vehicle will a full tank. And, document any damage you see before you pull out of lot.
If there’s so much as a scratch, let the front desk know before you leave. Otherwise, you may end up with an unexpected repair bill.
Going by car also lets you scope out areas of Calgary that you otherwise wouldn’t see. For example, a lot of people move here from other countries. If this is you, you can spend time checking out these Calgary condos for sale, which are traditionally cheaper than the single-family homes you’ll find on major routes that public transport will keep you near.
By Train
Travelling by train is still inexpensive, if not a little cliche. You’ll feel like you’re in an old black and white movie, but it’s reliable, fast, and usually an overall great experience. The only downside is that trains only travel between train stations. You’ll have to supplement this with another mode of transport.
Bradley Davis works as a flight attendant. He loves sharing his travel experiences online. His articles appear on travel and vacation sites.
