Banff Car Rental  Banff Hotel Discounts  Banff Flight Discounts

Banff Life and Banff Visitor Travel Tips
(Banff, Alberta - AB, Canada)



The Banff townsite may only be a fairly small location, but its vast National Park and endless attractions have made this an outstanding tourist destination. Attracting huge numbers of visitors each year, people travel from all over the world to enjoy the charm and appeal of Banff, together with the scenic views of the nearby Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Life around Banff is enjoyed at a fairly leisurely pace and the town offers a range of recreational attractions throughout the year, meaning that Banff is always busy.

At night time, particularly between July and August, the town really comes alive and the many restaurants and bars contain a definite party / festive atmosphere. Here are some useful travel tips about life in Banff.




Banff Life and Travel Tips: Banff Tourism and Tourist Information - Banff, Alberta (AB), Canada
Here is the main tourist information office and public library in the Banff townsite.

Banff Information Center - 224 Banff Avenue, Banff, Alberta (AB), T1L 1B3, Canada
Tel: +1 403 762 8421
Including counters by both the Banff and Lake Louise Tourism Bureaus, and free leaflets about the Banff Historical Walking Tour, together with 'Trails in Banff', which provides details about the many footpaths and walking trails around the Banff townsite.
Banff city tourist information center open: daily, mid-May to mid-June - 08:00 to 18:00; mid-June to September - 08:00 to 20:00; October to mid-May - 09:00 to 17:00

Banff Public Library - 101 Bear Street, Banff, Alberta (AB), Canada
Featuring a number of computer terminals with limited access to the Internet.
Tel: +1 403 762 2661
Banff city tourist information center open: daily

Banff Life and Travel Tips: Language in Banff - Banff, Alberta (AB), Canada
With around 300 languages spoken in America and Canada, English and French have always been the main languages in Banff, and most signposts and tourist leaflets in the townsite display both. Canadian English is widely spoken in Banff and is based very much upon British English, with many unique expressions. In the county's states of Quebec and Manitoba, Canadian French is the main language. Banff features numerous different nationalities, and a number of regions in Canada have become known for their local dialects and colorful colloquialisms, and this is particularly so around Newfoundland.

Banff Life and Travel Tips: Currency in Banff - Banff, Alberta (AB), Canada
Currency in Banff, Alberta and throughout Canada is structured in a similar way to the USA, with Canadian dollars. Noteworthy denominations include:

• 1c - penny
• 2c - quarter
• 5c - nickel
• 10c - dime
• $1 dollar - loonie
• $2 dollars - twoonie / toonie

Paper notes in Banff are made up of $5, $10 and $20 notes, which are regularly used as daily currency, with higher notes such as $50 and $100 dollar bills being less commonplace. Tourists visiting Banff are able to use their credit and debit cards at ATMs, which can be found almost everywhere, providing a convenient way to exchange currency. Also, travel agent companies in the Banff townsite provide good rates of exchange, together with local banks. Most banks in Banff open between Monday and Friday, although their opening hours are slightly shorter than regular shops and stores in Banff.

Banff Life and Travel Tips: Visas and Documents - Banff, Alberta (AB), Canada
Visitors to Banff and other cities around the country must have photo identification and a minimum of two or three types of formal ID. Passports must always be brought when traveling to Banff, except for those arriving from the United States and Greenland. A driver's license is no longer adequate identification for US citizens arriving in Banff and should be used in conjunction with a valid birth certificate or similar documentation, such as an official certificate of citizenship. Those visiting Banff from Commonwealth and Western countries do not need visas, although visitors from most other countries do, excluding Mexico. Visa applications for travel to Banff and throughout Canada must always be made at least one month in advance. The Canadian Immigration Centers will assist with inquiries.

Banff Life and Travel Tips: Driving in Banff - Banff, Alberta (AB), Canada
Motorists thinking of driving in the city of Banff must attain a 'Canadian Nonresident Interprovince Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card' or 'Visitor to Canada Insurance', which may be obtained at most US insurance companies. Most car rental companies in Banff need you to be at least 21 years of age when hiring a car, although for some this is 26 years. In Banff, Alberta and all over Canada, cars always drive on the right-hand side of the road.

Banff Life and Travel Tips: Banff Tipping - Banff, Alberta (AB), Canada
Tipping in Banff is generally expected and many restaurants hope to receive around 10 to 15 per cent of the bill as a tip, although a number of eateries now automatically include service charges on the bill. Taxi drivers, barbers, hairdressers and hotel staff in Banff also expect tips, however small.

Banff Life and Travel Tips: Smoking and Alcohol in Banff - Banff, Alberta (AB), Canada
Throughout the country you are only able to purchase alcohol from stores run by the local government, although in the states of Alberta and Quebec, including the Banff townsite, many privately owned stores are allowed to sell a range of alcohol. The current legal drinking age all through Canada is 19 years old, with the exception of Alberta and Manitoba, where this age is only 18. Smoking is now banned at many venues in Banff, including public travel and restaurants.

 
BANFF TRAVEL GUIDE...