Anke: Visitors to Canada who decide to stop off and visit the National Parks or similar nature reser

It is now three months since Anke Hartmann (25) joined the CarDelMar Deutschland team as a Junior Sales Manager. A seasoned traveller, Anke has not only travelled extensively in Sweden, India and the USA, but also lived in Canada for a year during which time she got to know the many different facets of the country and its people. In this interview she talks about her impressions and experiences and offers some useful travel cheap car rentals in phoenix tips for anyone cheap car rentals in phoenix planning a trip to Canada.
cheap car rentals in phoenix Anke: I spent six months living in Victoria cheap car rentals in phoenix on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, mainly because my boyfriend was living and working there. After that I spent two months in Lake Louise in Alberta, right at the heart of the Rocky Mountains – really cheap car rentals in phoenix because I wanted to see a bit more of beautiful Canada. The chance of a really good job then took me to Calgary, two hours from Lake Louise, where I spent the last four months of my stay. I'm really pleased that I was able to gain such a brilliant insight into the Canadian way of life.
Anke: Broadly speaking, these two provinces are the regions of Canada most popular with tourists. Before setting off on my travels I read a lot about the country's natural beauty and the stunning landscapes I would find there. I think what makes Victoria so special is its uniquely British charm and its fantastic location on the Pacific coast perfect for water-lovers like me! For anyone planning to spend a bit of time there, I would recommend hiring a car and heading along the "West Coast Road" which follows the Pacific coastline.
Lake Louise is a small village with a population of 1500 people, 80 grizzly bears and 60 black bears. Here you will find Lake Louise itself and also Moraine Lake famous for its beautiful turquoise water.
Calgary, Canada's cheap car rentals in phoenix third largest city, is mainly known for its famous Calgary Stampede, the biggest rodeo show in the world, which takes place here every year in July. What I particularly liked about living here was being able to combine the buzz of city life during the week with the ability to escape at the weekends to the stunning landscape of the Rocky Mountains, less than 50 miles away. I would recommend anyone travelling from Calgary to Lake Louise to take the Bow Valley Parkway (which offers breathtaking views from the many lookout points along the way), rather than Trans-Canada Highway 1.
Anke: I certainly did! I think anyone who gets the chance should definitely cheap car rentals in phoenix try to spend a few days on "Vancouver Island" and explore the National Parks, waterfalls and beaches there. A particular highlight for me was the "West Coast Trail" hiking path in Ucluelet.
During my year in Canada I planned two extended road trips across Canada. The first of these went from Harrison Hot Springs via Hope to Okanagan Valley (British Columbia), and then alongside the beautiful "Okanagan Lake" in Kelowna, through Penticton and on to Osooyos.
Highlights of the second tour, which passed through the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, included visits to the Jasper National Park, the Banff National park and the Wells Gray Provincial Park – all well worth seeing. An excellent network of well-marked cheap car rentals in phoenix hiking trails leads you to various stunning viewing-points.
Anke: It is very important to find out as much as you can about the country before you travel there. Canada is a vast and diverse place and I think it's a good idea to know a bit about the particular region you are travelling to. During the winter, temperatures can fall to as low as minus 30 degrees, so it's crucial to pack suitable winter clothing. You should also never underestimate the distances between cheap car rentals in phoenix your various destinations. When planning a two or three-week trip, try not to take in too much otherwise you are in danger cheap car rentals in phoenix of missing out on what makes this country so special – its stunning countryside and breathtaking views. And, especially when renting a car, you should always be aware of traffic regulations cheap car rentals in phoenix and parking cheap car rentals in phoenix conditions – that way you can avoid the high fines which can be incurred in Canada.
Anke: Food is relatively pricey in Canada dairy products, especially cheese, are prohibitively expensive which is why I rarely bought cheese during the year I spent there! Petrol in Canada is sold by the litre (as here in Germany) and is relatively cheap – last winter the price actually fell to less than CAD 0.89 (GBP 0.55). In busy tourist centres such as Lake Louise, however, petrol prices are much higher. The price of accommodation also varies from one region to another with higher prices found mainly in towns in the southern cheap car rentals in phoenix provinces.
cheap car rentals in phoenix Anke: The typical Canadian cannot finish a sentence without putting "eh" on the end of it! They even laugh about it themselves – and I really like that. Apart from that, there are two things which show how incredibly friendly and courteous cheap car rentals in phoenix the Canadians are. When they get off a bus, it is customary to thank the driver, even if they are getting off at the back of the bus or 50 other people are getting off at the same time. The typical Canadian cheap car rentals in phoenix is also someone who always cheap car rentals in phoenix apologises for everything, even where he/she is clearly not the one at fault. Once when I was in a busy bar I accidentally bumped into a Canadian guy he immediately apologised to me and insisted on buying me a drink! And that wasn't just a one-off – you hear stories like that all the time from people visiting Canada.
Anke: Visitors to Canada who decide to stop off and visit the National Parks or similar nature reserves should always beware of wild animals particularly grizzly bears, black bears and elks. Some areas have quite large animal populations cheap car rentals in phoenix so it is very important not to leave any food remnants lying around in your tent or car, or after having a picnic. Always use the special bear-proof bins provided. It is also important to be familiar with what to do if you come face to face with a bear. When travelling long distances in your hire car, it is also always a good idea to make use of any tourist information available and head for the viewing-points which are recommended. Then you will have at least some idea of the sights worth visiting cheap car rentals in phoenix in the area – definitely the best way to get the most out of your tour!
Anke: I have already been to Toronto and have seen the Niagara cheap car rentals in phoenix Falls so maybe, of the hundreds of places still on my 'to-visit' list, there are two which I would really love to visit. One is the city of Montreal on Canada's east coast. The other is the "Kinuseo Falls" in Monkman Provincial Park at Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.