Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What travel documentation do I need?

UNITED STATES CITIZENS

All United States citizens must have a Government Issued Passport, valid for at least six months beyond the return date of your trip, in order to travel to Canada. Your passport must have at least one blank page per stamp. More information for United States citizens can be found HERE.

NON-UNITED STATES CITIZENS

If you are NOT a United States citizen (are traveling on a non-United States passport), please verify your specific documentation and vaccination requirements with your country's consulate before departing. Please note that non-United States citizens may require a visa to enter and may require blank pages for entry and/or exit stamps.

ALL GUESTS

It is the sole responsibility of the attendee to verify and obtain all necessary documentation and vaccination requirements when traveling to another country. Many countries require passports to be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return and may require blank passport pages for entry and exit stamps. Some citizens may be required to obtain a Visa and/or have specific vaccinations to enter certain countries.

It is also the sole responsibility of the attendee to verify, obtain, and be aware of all necessary documentation requirements for any required Covid-19 testing, proof of vaccination or negative test, etc. when traveling to another country. Many countries have different requirements for entry and exit; please check your country's specific Covid-19 requirements as well as the requirements of the airline you are traveling on.

We also recommend packing a photocopy of the picture and signature pages of your passport. If your passport should get lost, the photocopies will make it much easier to get an emergency replacement.

Q. How do I get a passport? (United States Citizens)

Click HERE to learn everything you need to know about how to obtain or renew a United States Passport.

Q. What are the Covid-19 testing requirements for entering Canada and returning to the United States?

Entering Canada

There are no quarantine or COVID-19 testing requirements for international travelers visiting Canada.

Returning to the United States

As of June 12, 2022, CDC will no longer require air passengers traveling from a foreign country to the United States to show a negative COVID-19 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board their flight. For more details, please reference the CDC Website.

Q. What airport should I arrive at and depart from?

Flights should arrive and depart from the Calgary International Airport (YYC).

Q. When should I leave for the airport?

The recommended airport check-in time for international flights is three hours prior to departure.

Please check with your airline for schedule changes or flight delays and confirm the recommended check-in time prior to leaving for the airport. Please remember to allow extra time if you are unfamiliar with the airport, are leaving during heavy traffic times, or have excess baggage.

For general travel information issued by the State Department, please visit the U.S. Department of State website at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html.

Q. Should I purchase Travel Insurance?

Because unforeseen circumstances may arise, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. Travel Insurance gives you access to a 24-hour assistance hotline for expert, personalized support in a crisis. Travel insurance can reimburse you for prepaid, non-refundable trip costs - including vacation rentals, car rentals, hotels and flights - if you have to cancel for a covered reason, and can reimburse you for eligible meals, accommodation and transportation expenses during a covered delay. Travel insurance can also reimburse you for care following a covered medical emergency while traveling. Travel insurance can even arrange and pay for a medical evacuation if needed. Coverage is only available for United States citizens.

Please email our Destinations Travel Partner and advise you are interested in purchasing Travel insurance. They will provide the Sequel Travel Vacation Department the necessary information for your travel insurance quote and connect you with an agent.

Q. How much luggage can I take?

Carry-On Bags

Most airlines permit each passenger to take one carry-on bag and one additional personal carry-on item, such as a purse or briefcase/laptop case. All carry-on items must fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead compartment. Carry-on baggage size requirements differ between airlines so please check with your airline before traveling to make sure your carry-on bags fit your airline's specified dimensions.

Checked Bags

Most airlines will allow you to check bags as well. Please check with your airline to confirm the current luggage limitations and any applicable fees for carry-on and checked baggage. Please note that many airlines charge significant fees for overweight or oversized luggage.

Important Items

Be sure that all baggage and personal belongings are properly insured. Items such as medications, jewelry, or other valuables, breakable or perishable items, and travel documents should be hand-carried. Responsibility will not be assumed by the airline for loss of or damage to these items.

*Please note that all baggage fees are at your own expense.

Q. What items can I carry on?

Due to potential security issues on flights, the Transportation Security Administration has updated its aviation security measures. For the latest information regarding what to bring, what to leave at home, and what to generally expect while traveling, please visit the Transportation Security Administration website at http://www.tsa.gov/.

Q. What is the currency used in Canada?

Canadian currency comes in similar denominations to American currency.

Coins come in: five cent (nickel), ten cent (dime), 25 cent (quarter), one dollar (loonie), two dollar (toonie)
Bills come in $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 and are multi-colored. Canada does not have 1 or 2 dollar bills.

Credit Cards

Credit Card use is widespread. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and JCB International are accepted in nearly all shops, restaurants and hotels. Check with the vendor if you are unsure.

Currency Exchanges

If you need to exchange money, Banff's banks can assist. Most banks have automatic teller machines (ATM) which are accessible 24 hours a day. ATMs accept Cirrus, Plus and Interac.

Q. What clothing should I pack?

Banff is quite a laid back, casual ski town. Even for fine dining, smart-casual attire is appropriate. As far as what to wear for the great outdoors, remember that you are in the mountains and the weather can change dramatically throughout the day, no matter what the season.

In August, daily temperature highs are typically around 72°F and daily temperature lows are typically around 44°F.

Here are some tips for what to pack:

Layer clothing so you can adjust accordingly.
T-shirts and shorts are appropriate during the summer months as temperatures rise; however, make sure you are prepared for sudden changes in weather.
Warmer clothing is recommended in the evenings as temperatures can drop: pants, sweaters, and jackets.
Good quality hiking boots with waterproof soles and other athletic attire is recommended if you're out hiking or participating in other strenuous activities.
Don't forget a swimsuit to take advantage of the hotel pools and whirlpools as well as sunscreen if you plan to be out in the sun.

If you forget something at home, don't worry. Banff has plenty of shops and clothing stores where you can find everything you might need.

Q. Do I need to bring an electrical adapter?

Electric current throughout Canada is conformed to 110 volts, 60 cycles. It is the same type used in the United States.

Q. Is parking available at the hotel?

The hotel's parking is located beside the Convention Center. It is a three-level roofed parkade with 415 parking spaces:

Self-parking: $35 CAD/night, with unlimited access
Valet Parking: $49 CAD/night, with unlimited access

Q. What if I have a special health concern?

If you have any health concerns that may require special attention, please contact us prior to departure. Passengers requiring prescription medications are advised to keep them in their carry-on luggage. While we don't require information about the extent of your health concern or disability, the more information you can share with us about your specific needs, the better we are able to assist you.