Pure West
Pure West / Tour of Gaspesie
We've just completed our epic 6 week adventure in BC and Quebec.
We had a fabulous trip.
Many thanks to Allyson and Christina at Authentik for their outstanding customer service.
Upon arrival at our first hotel the Roadbook , Maps and pre-programmed GPS was waiting.
Watching Grizzlies in Fish Creek (Stewart/Hyder)
Whale watching both on Vancouver Island (Orca's) and at Tadoussac (Beluga's, Humpbacks and Minkes)
Hiking in the Rockies and Haute-Gaspesie
Royal Tyrrell Musem in Drumheller
Saguenay Fjord
Seafood in Gaspesie
All our accomodation was excellent and we had no problems with the 3 car rentals and 2 ferry crossings arranged by Authentik.
Our favourites were the tree house in Cap Jaseux and the cabin in Jacques Cartier National Park
Our only comments regarding the itinerary would be to pre-book a cabin on the Port Hardy to Prince Rupert Ferry (we were able to book one onboard)
Our suggestions for the other travellers would be an extra night in Port Hardy to explore northern Vancouver Island especially Telegraph Cove.
We were glad we arranged our own accommodation in Drumheller for the Dinosaur Trail / Royal Tyrrell / Hoodoos which were all excellent. An easy drive from Calgary but too much to see and do for a day trip.
Amanda, Mark & Brad (aged 6)
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Excellent proposals and advice, successful trip... thank you!!!
(Translated by Google) We were generally very satisfied with our circuit and particularly with the activities offered.
Although the hotel in Ucluelet was amazing, it would have been better to stay in Tofino to avoid the daily road trips for activities. The detour to Stewart was worth it, even if the distances are very long to get there. The Fish Creek grizzly had to wait 2 days before giving us 2 hours of show! We recommend the additional trip to Salmon Glacier.
In Jasper, we couldn't see the mountains because of the smoke from the forest fires. We regretted being assigned a chalet without a view of the river and closer to the road... Apart from the latter, all the accommodations were fully satisfactory to us.
We weren't expecting so many tourists at Lake Louis, but we enjoyed the calm of Lake Morraine.
For us, inhabitants of a small country, the distances were very long, but it is the price to pay to admire your great spaces!
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A very nice overview of western Canada
(Translated by Google) Hello
Regarding the trip, it is a very nice itinerary, with a well-balanced pace for a first glimpse of the sites visited, and a good balance between the ocean part and the mountain part. We came home happy. To take full advantage of certain places, for example for day hikes, do not hesitate to plan additional hotel nights in the places concerned. Also expect to do a lot of driving: we have done almost 5000 km in total, including visits. The hotels offered were all of good quality, and we had no bad surprises. Note that a number of restaurants were closed, having not survived the Covid crisis.
Regarding Authentik's service:
I find the concept very interesting, combining the flexibility of a self-organized trip and considerable time savings thanks to the selection of routes, hotels and services. Our contact was very available and allowed us to solve a lot of points on the phone that the site did not allow us to do. The roadbook is complete and the guide includes great usefulness, but sometimes with small failures (example Dinosaur Trail proposed when it is 500 km round trip from the nearest point of the circuit).
Some suggestions for improvement, because it is necessary :-)
1°
The concept of booking the different stages of the circuit is very interesting and promising, but the actual booking lacks responsiveness. This caused us problems for our trip during busy times. Indeed, several weeks can pass between the moment when one chooses an accommodation marked "available" and its actual reservation. As a result, we had several accommodations refused several weeks after having chosen them, because full. When selecting an accommodation that appears "available", you expect immediate confirmation, as on all major booking platforms. Also I suggest to reserve the "available" status for accommodations for which immediate confirmation is possible, and to put another status for the others (eg "subject to availability"), and of course to improve the confirmation.
2°
For the vehicle, I recommend that Authentik checks that the vehicles offered are capable of doing the proposed circuit. Indeed, I discovered a few days before departure on the Authentik site that the vehicle was not allowed to go to Alaska while the main (and fabulous) attraction in Stewart is in Alaska. For once it's the only time I found Authentik's answer really borderline. Indeed I was told that I could not make the visit, while the Stewart stage made a detour of several hundred km mainly for this visit. Fortunately, the story ended well: I called the rental agency directly, which confirmed that the vehicle could well go to Alaska (obviously the information from Authentik was inaccurate, probably based on the US contract and not on the lessor's Canadian contract).
But let these recommendations not overshadow the fact that we are very satisfied with the trip and the service provided by Authentic!
Matthew
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Great nothing to say!
(Translated by Google) Thanks to Authentik Canada and especially to Maryse for the organization, nothing was wrong...
Wonderful trip and what a beautiful country !!!
Goodbye
Superb trip
(Translated by Google) A beautiful country in every way.
To do !
nature in all its splendor
(Translated by Google) The monument lover is sure to be frustrated. But we go to Western Canada for nature and we are not disappointed. The encounter with the animals remains random, but what happiness when it is there. The highlight for us was seeing a bear fishing in Stewart and the whales accompanying us on the magnificent ascent of the Inside Passage that we had the chance to do under the sun. The mountains and the lakes will always be there. Of course you have to be lucky enough to see them under the sun, but even if it is not always present, a walk remains pleasant on the paths, most of the time very well maintained.
The help of Authentik Canada was invaluable for the preparation and organization of the trip and the responsiveness of the advisor Marie-Pascale, real. A downside for the choice of certain hotels with a value for money that is not always favorable. Greater dissatisfaction with the Parks Entrance Pass whose one-year duration will end for us in March 2020, as our trip began on August 6, forcing us to buy a new one in the event of a new trip to Canada in June 2020.
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Great trip but...
(Translated by Google) We enjoyed our trip but it was a long way to see something,
Few activities and accommodations that were out of the ordinary.
Don't do the killer whale tour in Victoria as there are no more.
Lack of information in the roadbook.
A very nice trip
(Translated by Google) Our trip went without any problems. The advice on visits was sound with a special mention for the kayak trip from Tofino: the provider Remote Passages is of quality, both in terms of equipment and supervision: Lizzie was a charming guide who taught us many things about the nature that surrounded us. The hotels were of good standing with a downside for the K'was lila for which we had breakfast included but as we took the boat at 5:30 am, nothing was offered to us... Again, special mention for the Ripley hostel Creek in Stewart, a place full of charm whose small restaurant is excellent for breakfast or lunch. On the other hand, you can avoid the crab dish at the King Edward Hotel, expensive for what it is...
In the end, an enriching experience in a magnificent country!!!
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An exceptional roadtrip for lovers of wide open spaces
(Translated by Google) Combining a month of discovery of Vancouver, Vancouver Island, northern British Columbia to Alaska and the Rockies in Alberta, this exciting tour offers a superb palette of landscapes and wildlife of Western Canada. .
A camping and hotel mix that allows you to live fully at the pace of Canadians and in direct contact with nature. We must salute the impeccable organization and the relevance of the proposals of our advisor Marie-Michele!
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Overall: Satisfied with the trip
(Translated by Google) The total of the trip is very satisfactory, but there are still various points for improvement, points for which Authentik Canada is not at all responsible, but for which Authentik Canada could well intervene to improve them in the future.
1) You informed us to confirm the transfer with the ferry from Port Hardy to Prince Ruppert: Neither the hotel receptionist succeeded, nor after us-
same, It was totally impossible!
2) The ferry had a technical failure, which only allowed a maximum speed of 40-50% of normal speed. The engineers on site were not
capable of remedying this situation and the delivery of the spare part by helicopter would have caused too much expense. The tourists were the wronged. 12 hours from
delay. A passage of the night on the hard floor, covered by a simple blanket without even a pillow. But in "compensation" we were offered
as breakfast a cup of coffee with some pastries for free ---> "hat" ---> pathetic and derisory.
So the inside passage could not be achieved and we were deprived, although paid, of the routes and visits to piers such as the towns of Bella Bella and
Klemtu
3) In the towns "Smithers" and "Prince George" there is nothing special to see. We understand that the distances are enormous, but we suggest that in a
such case it is better to invest 2 x 600 km (Stewart/Fort Fraser and Fort Fraser/Prince George than) 3 x 400 km (Stewart/Smithers 338 km, Smithers /Prince George
374 km and Prince George/Jasper 379 km, i.e. search for accommodation between Smithers and Prince George (e.g. Fort Fraser), which would save an entire day,
which could well have been invested in Jaspers, where in fact a day was missing.
4) It would be appropriate to inform tourist customers about the possibility of buying a Park Pass for ± 67.- Cad p.p., instead of paying a separate entrance to each park.
5) For the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria we were condemned to a wait of ± 3 hours. Customers should be informed to reserve in advance the catch of the
ferry.
6) The road from Revelstoke to Ashcroft and from Ashcroft to Vancouver: Ashcroft is a town where there is absolutely nothing to see. With great luck we
found a decent restaurant. It would be best to drive immediately to Whisler, where there is more to see and a large number of
restaurants.
The Jasper Sky Tram and Sea to Sky Gondola are huge highlights of this trip.
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a beautiful journey in western Canada
(Translated by Google) positive points: circuit that is off the beaten track (inside passage, Stewart...)
the negative points: very long distances between the different stages, stage to stage; Prince George is uninspiring, some accommodations are very poor. we regretted of not having visited Victoria on Vancouver Island and generally the west coast of the Island
Danielle
(Translated by Google) Many km between the points of interest so plan even more time than 3 weeks. The proposed hikes are difficult to achieve in time if you like nature and not racing against the clock.
very nice trip
(Translated by Google) he proposed circuit was magnificent and the organization of the trip satisfactory even if the use of the 3 ferries on the first 2 required us to travel. a long and meticulous preparation in France without any real assistance from the agency. In fact, we had to juggle the schedules of the different boats so as not to miss them. The agency could have offered us flexible schedules; respect with advice for visiting between two ferries.
We have also been surprised by the exorbitant cost of restaurants and food in general (including breakfasts sometimes not included in hotel reservations) due to taxes and additional services not displayed; s, which could have been partly compensated. by the favorable exchange rate CAD against EUR!
Fortunately the beauty to breathtaking landscapes and the friendliness of Canadians has erased all these inconveniences.
Something else to note; know: AIR TRANSAT charges for the reservation of its seats and the meal at the airport. on board which further extends the budget for this trip, in the end the prices are not as competitive as those of competitors in the sector..
In the end, we highly recommend this trip, but it requires a very large budget to carry it out in good conditions.
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This trip will remain one of our most beautiful because so "authentic"
(Translated by Google) I comment below in detail on this sublime trip
Exceptional trip
(Translated by Google) This trip delighted all four of us with the beauty. landscapes, by the interest of each stage, by the location of the hotels and B&Bs selected.
(Translated by Google) We loved it. the stay out of the world at; Stewart, the bears of the Salmon River, the meal of King crab and lobster, the kindness and the excellent breakfast at the restaurant. the Smithers Logpile Inn, the Sundance Ranch experience, the friendliness the friendliness of the staff and the excellent cuisine.
We didn't like it. the Port Hardy Ocean View BB - putting on your shoes as soon as you walk through the door, the bathroom and toilets on the ground floor, the breakfast bag straight out of the supermarket.
What mistakes in the travel diary: we were going from Campbell River to; Port Hardy, Skookumchuck Narrows Rapids are on the mainland near Powel River, Cape Scott Park Forest is a short drive away. 1h30 from Port Hardy, difficult to reach; reconcile with Telegraph Cove. Sundance Ranch's attack is wrong: à; left take Kirkland ranch road instead of Evans raod (along the river).
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(Translated by Google) Accuracy and reliability of your organization. Everything was working fine. wonder.
Nothing to do improve in terms of transport! Our car was perfect, although the staff at AVIS at; Vancouver is uncooperative and very unfriendly and unpleasant. But the same experiment we made at Montreal two years ago.
Everywhere accommodation has been provided. perfect. Clean, comfortable and all the people were nice and friendly. So nothing to worry about. to change ! We left friends everywhere behind us, often with a few tears in their eyes (on both sides).
We did not participate. to many options, but your advice on the road-book was very valuable. I think we should travel with open eyes and open minds.
The notebook is wonderful! Keep this way. When our Garmin GPS was no longer doing, your road-book got us out of it with precision. Like you, we have noticed Google maps weren't always correct. But sometimes we have to engage our own brain!
We are very happy with the organization. We have Swiss friends, who live in Thailand, who are very interested in visiting Canada with you, because we have told them all about it. and shown.
A huge thank you to; Rafael and Catherine of the Ranch Beaverfoot Lodge at; Golden. Rafael was so concerned about our comfort and well-being, that he even made us change the chalet because the first one was too close to the ranch where there was a big party. for young people who were celebrating the end of the season. This couple is magnificent with their human warmth and their sense of hospitality!
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(Translated by Google) Already 4 years this trip, but it is still there... Sumptuous landscapes, very good quality accommodation, everything perfectly organized.
Ready to go start again as soon as possible!!!