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SKIERS HEAVEN,PENNY PINCHERS PARADISE

by Dave Shultz

Canadian Pacific Mountain Resorts in Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper and Kananaskis are offering some of North Americas best inclusive and activity-loaded ski packages this winter. With the longest ski season in North America (Nov. - May) the most consistent snowfalls in the world and the best price-value for US residents, where the dollar is worth $1.40, it's a vacation opportunity that’s hard to ignore.

The Canadian Rockies Winter Experience Packages available at each resort, combine luxury accommodations, all meals, and almost unlimited sports and recreational activities all at one low price. The packages, priced for two people sharing a room, start as low as $418 Canadian (approximately $250 US, a 40% discount off the Canadian dollar), depending on resort and room type (per night/per room/double occupancy basis, with minimum two-night stays).

Individual Hotel and Package Descriptions

BANFF SPRINGS HOTEL, built entirely of stone and fashioned after the baronial castles of Scotland, opened in 1888, the Banff Springs Hotel quickly became known as "the Castle in the Rockies." The hotel was declared an official Canadian Historical Site in 1992. After recently completing a total restoration, the hotel now offers 770 guestrooms and suites, 17 restaurants and lounges and the 35,000-square-foot spa, Solace, cascading waterfalls, mineral whirlpools, indoor and outdoor saltwater pools, solarium lounges, steam rooms, saunas and a wide variety of specialty treatment facilities and program. Banff Springs Canadian Rockies Winter Experience Package includes accommodations, parking, all meals, one 60-minute spa treatment and spa guest membership, a historic hotel tour, cross-country skiing, a tri-area ski lift pass with shuttle service, a "Never-Ever" Learn to Ski lesson at Banff Mt. Norquay, rental equipment for downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, tobogganing, dog sledding and a sleigh ride. Inclusive package prices are per-night/double occupancy, depending on room type, starting at $607 Cdn ($443 US), Nov. 20, 1998-Apr. 30, 1999.

CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE, situated on one of Canada's most beautiful mountain lakes, has been rated one of the top 20 foreign resorts in the world by Cond� Nast Traveler. Known as the "Diamond in the Wilderness," the resort represents the epitome of luxury and elegance. Chateau Lake Louise offers 497 guest accommodations, including 26 rooms with private whirlpools and four split-level suites with balconies overlooking Lake Louise, six restaurants, three bars, a recreation center with indoor pool and fitness facilities. Canada's largest ski area, Lake Louise, is 10 minutes away.

Chateau Lake Louise Canadian Rockies Winter Experience Package includes accommodations, parking, all meals, ski-area shuttle service, lift tickets and equipment for downhill, cross-country skiing and snowboarding, guided interpretive snowshoeing and ice walking and ice skating on a frozen glacial lake. Package prices are per night/double occupancy, depending on room type, starting at $489 Cdn ($293 US), Dec. 1, 1998-Apr. 30, 1999.

JASPER PARK LODGE stands deep in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, on 903 acres of pristine land on the shores of Lac Beauvert. Jasper Park Lodge (dating back to 1922) is in the midst of Jasper National Park, one of North America's largest wilderness areas. This all-season resort is a "village" of cedar chalets and heritage log cabins connected by picturesque paths. Cabins range in size from three bedrooms (each with private bath) to the Milligan Manor (eight bedrooms, nine baths, 900-square-foot living and dining room). In all, there are 446 guest accommodations, seven restaurants including a sports bar with billiard lounge, game room, fitness center, a year-round outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and an 18-hole award-winning golf course.

Jasper Park Lodge Canadian Rockies Winter Experience Package includes accommodations, parking, three meals daily, unlimited health club access, massage treatment, Maligne Canyon Ice Crawl, ski lift tickets at Marmot Basin, equipment rentals for downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoes and ice skates, sleigh rides, tobogganing, children's programs and winter wonderland area tours. Jasper Park Lodge package prices are per night/double occupancy, depending on room type, starting at $465 Cdn ($279 US) per night/double occupancy. This package is available Nov. 27-Apr. 25, 1999 (Christmas period excluded). Skiing and snowboarding are available at Marmot Basin, accessible by resort shuttles.

THE LODGE AT KANANASKIS, opened in 1988 for the Winter Olympics, is situated in a valley of adventure, amidst 1500 square miles of towering mountains, long-grass meadows and glacier blue lakes. The two-building complex (a Lodge and Hotel) in a self-contained village setting consists of 321 guest accommodations, six restaurants, health club and spa with swimming pool, game room, tennis courts and two 18-hole championship golf courses. Family oriented, The Lodge received a "Child Friendly Accreditation" from the Calgary based non-profit organization of the same name.

The Lodge at Kananaskis Canadian Rockies Winter Experience Package includes accommodations, all meals, parking, sleigh rides, dogsledding, cross-country skiing, ice skating, ski- lift passes and shuttle service to Fortress Mountain or Nakiska, one spa treatment per stay, use of the spa and babysitting. Package prices are per-night/double occupancy, depending on room type, starting at $418 Cdn ($260 US), Dec. 11, 1998-Apr. 4, 1999.

For reservations and information, call toll-free, 800-441-1414.
Information is also available online at http://www.cphotels.ca for Canadian Rockies Winter Experience Package information and reservations.

-Updated 11-21-98-

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