Canada: Banff
If you like Australian’s head to Banff for the winter. Don’t bother making the long trek down under!
Don’t take this the wrong way and don’t be put off by these comments. I have nothing against the Aussies, but this place is teeming with them. I met more Australians in my first week working in Banff than I met in 10 months travelling around Australia – and I’m not even joking a tiny bit. For so many of this breed to leave their own beautiful country and head up to North America says something for the beauty of Banff. This place is stunning and hundreds of travellers and tourists flock to the area each winter and summer to work and/or experience everything the Rocky Mountains has to offer.
Take the winter for example. Sunshine Village, Norquay and Lake Louise ski resorts are all within easy travelling distance for great skiing and snowboarding in the National Park (and it really does deserve that status). In the summer these places are also great for mountain climbing, hiking and wildlife spotting.
This is a great place to watch the transitions of the seasons – especially fall (autumn) to winter. Watching the mountains slowly become covered in a blanket of snow is truly magical.
Banff is not only a great place to play during the day – but also has a reputation for being one of the liveliest Canadian towns by night. Combine the locals, transient population and the tourist and you are sure to have an interesting mix of people wherever you go in the evening.
Working: Finding work in Banff isn’t hard. The town relies on the tourist industry so most employment can be found in customer service/service industry. Don’t expect the wages to be great, but if you work in a bar or restaurant your tips will definitely help supplement your income. The ski resorts all start hiring around October and then fill vacancies as they come up throughout the season. Places to look for work include the local newspaper The Crag and Canyon, Diversified Staffing employment agency in town and by looking in shop windows and on noticeboards.
Accommodation: Housing is the biggest problem in Banff. With so many people flocking to the town to work and the area having National Park status means no new housing can be built, but the tourist industry tries to grow each year. Some jobs offer staff accommodation to employees – including some of the big hotels such as Fairmont Banff Springs and the Rimrock, as well as some of the shops in town and ski resorts. This accommodation often means sharing bedrooms with other people, but comes at a reduced price in an over inflated market. If you aren’t successful with staff accomm or would like your own space then expect to pay anywhere from $400 a month upwards.
Places to look for rented accommodation include the local paper (Crag and Canyon) which publishes on a Tuesday or the Rocky Mountain Outlook which comes out on a Thursday. Both are free. Also try looking at noticeboards in shops, internet cafes and hostels. Some people make the decision to base themselves in nearby Canmore which is slightly cheaper and also easier to find accommodation in. If you think this is a better option, pick up a copy of the Canmore Leader.
In rented accommodation many places will want you to sign at least a 6 month lease and some landlords aren’t happy about renting to travellers full stop.
If you are just looking for somewhere to rest your head for the night then Banff has many options – although not many at the cheaper end of the scale. The town’s main hostels are the SameSun on Banff Avenue and the HI hostel at Tunnel Mountain. The YWCA near the Bow River also offers cheaper rooms as well as long term accommodation. If there are two of three friends travelling together then you might like to look into staying at some of the cheaper B&Bs in town.
Eating: As a tourist town Banff has plenty of options to tickle your taste buds, though many of them will not be affordable for the average traveller. Some good places to check out in this case are Barpa Bill’s on Bear Street for some cheap Greek, the food court in Cascade Mall or if steak is your thing then try the Elk and Oarsman on a Tuesday for $8 steak, Tommy’s Neighbourhood Bar or Melissa’s. If you are really on a budget, or it’s 2am, then head to Aardvarks on Caribou Street for a slice of pizza. The Living Room on Banff Avenue also offers free pasta nights on Wednesdays. Call them on 403 760 2423 for more details.
Drinking: Now this is what Banff is most famous for (apart from the mountains, of course) – the nightlife. If you know where to head you can drink very cheaply in this town. Try Hoodoos on a Tuesday for ladies night or Thursdays for $1 drinks till 11, Auroras on a Sunday for 25c beers before 11 or 123 Wednesdays. Melissa’s bar (above the steakhouse with the same name) does specials on Hi balls (that’s vodka, rum, rye etc), as does the Pump and Tap downstairs in the Sundance Mall. Pick up a copy of the yellow Taxi Mike’s Dining Guide dotted around the town for more tips.
