Behind The Scenes from a Local
Written: Mar 27 '02 (Updated Aug 09 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Scenery, Elegance
Cons: Drugs, Gangs
The Bottom Line: I would recommend Banff and Lake Louise for the Skiing, Scenery, Wildlife.
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| TheExpert's Full Review: Banff |
Well I was 25 years old and it was November when I decided to head out to the Lake Louise/Banff area, to look for work, and to clear my mind.
I flew into Calgary from Hamilton Ontario for about $220.00 at the beginning of November in hopes to find a job with the Hotel/Tourism Industry.
I found it rather easy to get a job in the area, unaware as to the reasons why at the time. I got a Job with Skiing Louise in Lake Louise and thus acquired accommodations at the company's residence "Charleston".
I enjoyed my time in Lake Louise and the Banff area and kept a keen eye as to the way people live in the area. I would like to start with the positive things about the area listing at the top of the list, the scenery.
I found nothing more majestic than the beautiful mountains listing Mt. Temple as the highest in the area, next being Mt. Rundle in Banff, and then Cascade, and Castle Mountain, they are all safe climbs and have many routes to the top. If you are planning on climbing any or all of these I would recommend summer travel as it is safer, and for you to bring allot of water, most of the climbs will take about 4-6 hours up and about half of the time up as it is down.
Among the Majestic Mountains I found the Mineral springs to be the second best part of the area. I visited allot of the hot springs in the area and I think the best would be the Banff Mineral Hot Springs, Radium Hot Springs would be my second favorite. It is most beautiful during the winter when you can be soaking in a soothing hot bath outdoors, while it is snowing.
I found that most of the local people in the area to be of a kind nature, yet some of them lack either common sense or just simply believe that since they were there longer, that they are just better than thou.
Some of the bad things about the area are more secluded to the working industry rather than the people that are just visiting. If you are planning on working in the area, expect for the most part, low wages, Alberta has one of the lowest Minimum Wages in Canada. Second, drugs are very much a part of the areas in Lake Louise and Banff, although I found "Pot" to be of the most common I also found that Cocaine was probably a close second. Most of the places that employ in the areas of Banff and Lake Louise have a high turnover rate due to poor wages and poor treatment of their staff.
I lived in accommodations that weren't up to the minimum standards of living and had been advised by the health department to fix the issues, they weren't fixed when I left nor do I think they will be fixed before the year 2006. I also found that most of the local accommodations for staff in the Banff area were poor commonly housing 2-4 people in a space the size of an average bedroom.
Allot of the accommodations were averaging $400 - $500 a month unless you worked and received subsidized accommodations. Working for Skiing Louise I found that it was difficult to save money as it was difficult to live comfortably as well.
I found that nearing the end of my stay that the Quebec Hells Angels were moving rapidly into the Banff area as the movement of cocaine in the area would be fast and for the most part easy.
While in the Banff area I found a few nice nightclubs that might be of interest, one was Out of Bounds and the other Aroura Night Club. The hotels in the area are beautiful for the most part and the staff are pleasant, mostly just trying to get by.
If you visit the area I ask that you are friendly with the staff in the area as most of them are not living in the best of means, living sometimes 4 to a bedroom, and living on 100 a month spending cash.
If you are planning on living in the area I would advise that you bring a minimum of $300.00 for living expenses and search extensively for a job, most of the areas hire unskilled workers so finding a job shouldn't be the hardest of your tasks.
I would like to take this time to also mention that there are allot of Hostels in Banff and Lake Louise that have for the most part, cheap temporary accommodations, the YMCA also accepts transient persons.
If you are traveling during the summer I would still mention that you should bring a sweater because the nights always get cool. The summers are also beautiful and bring Claritin, if you suffer from allergies. Some days when I woke up I could see a yellowish haze above the trees that would choke you up in an instant.
If you are visiting the Local area of Lake Louise and Banff I would ask that you visit Emerald Lake, and Moraine Lake, they area some of the most scenic areas I have been to.
I would recommend that you visit the area, it is beautiful and for the most part, safe and friendly. If you are going to the area to work then I would advise that you do some research first before committing to the area, save about $300.00 and attempt to have a few interviews set up prior to your departure.
Of the issues I found in the area, they are mostly avoidable. I found the Alcohol to be a major issue in the area of Fighting and Destruction of property as well as theft, I found Cocaine to be the drug that puts people into a downward spiral, usually leading to leaving broke or in jail. All of these situations are avoidable but definitely an issue.
If you have any specific questions about the area or places to apply or visit, and places to go for great deals, please E-Mail me at ludeluver@hotmail.com.
I will end by saying this, the time I spent in Lake Louise were some of the most eventful, wonderful times I have had, the scenery was breathtaking and the wildlife. . . truly wild.
EG: One little tip for you Skiiers/Boarders; want the cheapest way to ride Skiing Louise? Contact me at the listed E-Mail address and I can give you ways of getting 10$ ride tickets or maybe even cheaper. . . e-mail me for details.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Students
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
TheExpert
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Member: John Doe
Location: Welland, Ontario, Canada
Reviews written: 26
Trusted by: 9 members
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