The west coast of the island is amazing. Buy a park permit which is a bargain - about $19 dollars for two days - and allows you access to all the car parks, trails and centres. Every trail between Uclulet and Torfino is worth doing for diversity. If you have a chance to join a trail walk with ranger Carl you must do so. His knowledge, enthusiasm and charm was a highlight of our holiday and changed the way I think about Banana slugs. This is genuinely a paradise park.

www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/natcul/natcul9.aspx
+1 250 726 3500
Google map: bit.ly/oEe27g

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This is much larger than i had anticipated and could be a full day trip with a picnic. The walk or preferably a cycle around the water's edge is a good starting point but there is so much more to it. Go up to the viewing point to see Vancouver beneath you - cruise liners and sea planes etc. A great way to start a Canadian adventure.

vancouver.ca/parks/parks/stanley/
Google map: bit.ly/nwh96q

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I had booked a standard SUV for our three-week trip for four adults. We had a Ford Edge from Alamo at Vancouver airport. It was ideal as it took all the luggage and allowed us to sit high to take in the views. A top of the range model that made driving to Vancouver Island and then across to Calgary a pleasure. I booked through Trailfinders in the UK who were excellent brokers. Check-in was speedy and return at Alamo in Calgary airport was almost instant. Highly recommended.

www.trailfinders.com

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If travelling from Vancouver to Banff this has to be the place to stay to break the journey. The welcome, breakfast and accommodation is first class. Stay at least a day to go up Revelstoke Mountain and Bigbie falls. Eat at the Village Idiot in Revelstoke town. What a lovely place to stay where nothing seems to be too much trouble.

www.adventurersguesthouse.com/
1789 Hay Rd Revelstoke, BC Canada V0E 2S1
+1 250 837 4876
Google map: bit.ly/pVJSsM

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Although expensive it is a great experience. I went with two people who were not too adventurous and slightly unsure. After four zips they were hanging upside down as they sped across a canyon 200 feet above the ground upside down. You are among the trees of the forest and it is great trip.

www.ziptrek.com/whistler-canada
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada V0N1B0
+1 604 935 0001
Google map: bit.ly/o9Nh9K

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Imagine what you think it will be like and multiply by ten. The Rockies are awesome. Banff is a great place to stay. We stayed at Fox suites on the Avenue. Free transit bus to town - five minutes. Eat at Nourish or the Elk and Oarsman.
Do not expect speed at Nourish but the vegetarian food is nothing short of amazing. Fruit shepherds pie, you must eat it to believe it.

Trips: Drive highway 1A to Lake Louise for bears and wild elk and stunning scenery. Walk up to Lake Agnes and go to the tea shop. Visit Morraine Lake.
Walk up to Stewart canyon at Lake Miniwanka - it is amazing.
Do the Banff gondola, The Whyte museum and visit Bow falls. What a great place to stay.

www.banfflakelouise.com/
Fox Hotel and Suites:
461 Banff Avenue, Banff, Banff National Park, Alberta T1L 1H8
+1 403 760 8500
Google map: bit.ly/q4nF87

Nourish:
nourishbistro.com/
215 Banff Avenue
+1403 760 3933
Google map: bit.ly/oE8YQL

Elk and Oarsman:
www.elkandoarsman.com/
119 Banff Avenue AB T1L 1B6
+1403 762 4616
Google map: bit.ly/qKmbHq

The Whyte Museum:
www.whyte.org/
111 Bear St, Banff, AB, T1L 1A3
+1 403 762 2291
Google map: bit.ly/rpZW0q

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Worth going at the start of your trip to put the history of the people in perspective. Great exhibits of First Nation artifacts and way of living.

www.moa.ubc.ca/
6393 N.W. Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2
+1 604 822 5087
Google map: bit.ly/rqFlVC

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Uclulet is a very small town on the west coast. It was everything I hoped the Pacific coast would be. Stunning, quiet, rain forested, long beaches and amazing views and trails.
All the trails between Ucluelet and Torfino are worth exploring for sheer diversity. Must do Wickaninish beach, Schooner cove and the wild Pacific rim.
The Cabins at Terrace Beach are amazing, eat at Ukee Dogs or the Driftwood Patio.
Trips at Jamie's Whaling station are awesome. Get on a Zodiac with Narla. Her enthusiastic commentary is wonderful as we tracked a humpback whale and her calves. What a great place!

www.ucluelet.travel/

jamies.com/
168 Fraser Lane, Ucluelet, B.C.
+1 877 726 7444
Google map: bit.ly/rsh8by

The Cabins
thecabins.ca/
1090 Peninsula Road, Ucluelet, BC V0R 3A0
+1(250) 726-2101
Google map: bit.ly/p9TpKm

Ukee Dogs
1576 Imperial Lane, Ucluelet, BC, Canada
+1(250) 726-2103
Google map: bit.ly/nVtQnN

Driftwood Patio
www.driftwoodpatiorestaurant.com/
1672 Cedar Ave, Ucluelet, B.C, V0R 3A0
Google map: bit.ly/nRwhjI
+1 (250) 726-2739

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An eclectic mix of sights and smells that is lively and gives great views across to the Vancouver skyline. The market is full of great stalls and colours and is a dream for fruit and vegetables. The varied eating places in the market allow all members of the group to eat what appeals at the time. Take a trip down the harbour in the little tug boats to see the diversity of Vancouver. A great place to spend up to three hours.

www.granvilleisland.com/
1661 Duranleau Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3S4
+1 604 666 5784

Google map: bit.ly/pzJ40b

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This was a highlight of my trip – €18 for a four-hour trip to the marvellous island of Spinalonga on board the MV Venus from Agios Nikolaos, including a swimming stop.

Excellent introduction on board ship and then left to wander the evocative island. You must read The Island by Victoria Hislop before entering the lepers tunnel – the book is an account of life on Spinalonga.
Prices for drinks on board was actually cheaper than in Agios shops. A must for a trip to eastern Crete.

Google map: tinyurl.com/2v4qv35

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Agios Nikolaos is at the Eastern end of Crete. It would be wrong to say it is not busy or touristy but there is a mixture of real people and tourists. The several excellent local beaches are very cosmopolitan and in August, English is in the significant minority. The response in all tavernas and bars is a warm welcome.
To eat I recommend Pelagos restaurant for high quality, Christofyllis for the Greek experience and the Dolphin taverna on Ammoudi beach for the Shirley valentine experience.
The sea is wonderful.

Google map: tinyurl.com/32j7lvj

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This is an area about ten minutes walk from the Grand Place. Follow the road downhill and you will arrive in Place St Catherine. It is much quieter than the Grand Place but has lots of places to eat.

I can recommend "La Villette" if you want a Belgian experince both in terms of hospitality and cuisine.

La Villette, Place St.Catherine

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A spotless no-frills hotel 20 metres from the Grand Place, which in itself is an architectural gem.

Book the hotel from an internet booking site as we got a rate one third of the rack rate. The hotel provides a substantial breakfast and is close to all the sites.

Strongly recommend Chez Leon to eat. It prepares fresh moules in a huge variety of ways. For an after meal beverage you cannot beat Cafe Delirium which is down an alley 25 metres beneath Chez Leon, directly opposite the feminine version of the Manekin Pis. A trip to Brugges is well worth the train journey including a climb up the magnificent Belfort tower.

Hotel Aris, Rue De Marche aux Herbes

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