Alaska-Yukon-BC vacation

[alfred russel]

I checked Hertz in Fairbanks Alaska. Nothing restricted rentals based on the term of the license. This is the only applicable part:

An acceptable, valid driver's license issued from your country of residence must be presented at the time of rental.  The driver's license must be valid for the entire rental period.  If the driver's license is in a language other than English, and the rental is in the United States, an International Driver's Permit is recommended.  In all cases, a valid driver's license issued from your home country must be provided, whether or not you possess an International Driver's Permit.  You will not be allowed to rent a Hertz vehicle with only an International Driver's Permit.

[Tonitrus]

Only way to and back from Nome is flight.

Or dog sled. 

[Tonitrus]

This kinda matches your itinerary...but I am sure is outside your price range...but does kinda show what might be realistic in a 3-week timeframe...it actually seems rather rushed to me...but then, your goals are pretty ambitious.

http://www.alaskafares.com/tourpackages/motorcoach/legendary.html

[katmai]

Only way to and back from Nome is flight.

Or dog sled. 

In summer time

[Syt]

I think most Yuro countries require a driving course that costs a trillion yuros before you get a license.

2000 EUR in Austria is what you look at. I don't have a license. For most friends the parents financed the license when they turned 18, but my parents were poor, and we didn't have a car, anyways (rather unusual in Germany). Later, when I had the money, I didn't see the need, and the cost for having a car in Vienna easily outweigh the use I'd get out of it - I'd only need it for vacations or when I take a trip to the country side.

If I ever moved back into a rural area I'd go for a license and car, I guess.

[Barrister]

This kinda matches your itinerary...but I am sure is outside your price range...but does kinda show what might be realistic in a 3-week timeframe...it actually seems rather rushed to me...but then, your goals are pretty ambitious.

http://www.alaskafares.com/tourpackages/motorcoach/legendary.html

If you want to tour that area in 3 weeks, then the itinerary seems reasonable.

But this goes back to why I think a car/tenting is a good idea.  Take it from someone who has been there - while the landscape is jaw-droppingly beautiful, there is fuck all to do in most of the towns.  You do not want to spend a night in Grande Prairie, Watson Lake, Beaver Creek, Dease Lake, or Tok.

But what you DO want to do is camp somewhere outside all of those locations (well except for Grande Prairie, which as the name implies is in the middle of the bald prairie).

[Jacob]

Just do it. Don't listen to the nay-sayers.

[Syt]

IIRC Greyhound has a pretty reasonably priced pass. Don't know what the connections are like between those specific cities, but the Greyhound is actually not a bad way to travel in North America if you are backpacking.

Also, to meet the fellow traveller who will stab you in your motel room?

[Maladict]

This kinda matches your itinerary...but I am sure is outside your price range...but does kinda show what might be realistic in a 3-week timeframe...it actually seems rather rushed to me...but then, your goals are pretty ambitious.

http://www.alaskafares.com/tourpackages/motorcoach/legendary.html

Yeah, that looks about right, price is doable too. I just don't see myself doing that kind of group tour.
Even among friends, when we come across someplace interesting and I'm the only one who wants to go see it, I tell them to go fuck themselves and we'll meet at the hotel for dinner.
Because that's the kind of sociable person I am.

Looking at that itinerary, going from Whitehorse to Skagway and back and not being able to see the Chilkoot pass even though it's just a few miles away, that shit just isn't going to happen.

edit: oh wait, the price doesn't include getting there and back. That's not doable, then.

[Maladict]

2000 EUR in Austria is what you look at. I don't have a license. For most friends the parents financed the license when they turned 18, but my parents were poor, and we didn't have a car, anyways (rather unusual in Germany). Later, when I had the money, I didn't see the need, and the cost for having a car in Vienna easily outweigh the use I'd get out of it - I'd only need it for vacations or when I take a trip to the country side.

If I ever moved back into a rural area I'd go for a license and car, I guess.

That's exactly it, now that I can afford it, I don't want it anymore. Owning a car would just be a nuisance.

[Maladict]

If you want to tour that area in 3 weeks, then the itinerary seems reasonable.

But this goes back to why I think a car/tenting is a good idea.  Take it from someone who has been there - while the landscape is jaw-droppingly beautiful, there is fuck all to do in most of the towns.  You do not want to spend a night in Grande Prairie, Watson Lake, Beaver Creek, Dease Lake, or Tok.

But what you DO want to do is camp somewhere outside all of those locations (well except for Grande Prairie, which as the name implies is in the middle of the bald prairie).

Public transport will pretty much rule out camping, and I agree that is a shame. But the towns being boring isn't such a big deal, I really just need a place to eat and sleep, not looking for lightlife much. And Vancouver is there at the end to make up for it, as well as the inevitable book-buying frenzy to max out luggage allowance on the plane.

[garbon]

Just do it. Don't listen to the nay-sayers.

I don't know - if BB is advising someone against visiting the Yukon (at least insofar as what Maladict has planned) that says something.

[garbon]

That's exactly it, now that I can afford it, I don't want it anymore. Owning a car would just be a nuisance.

But knowing how to drive can be a boon.

[Maladict]

But knowing how to drive can be a boon.

Certainly. And since I don't drink, I know exactly whose boon it will be. 

[Jacob]

I don't know - if BB is advising someone against visiting the Yukon (at least insofar as what Maladict has planned) that says something.

True enough.

Still I wonder how much experience BB has using the public transportation and no-car-required-tourism infrastructure in the Yukon? I mean, I assume cruise ship passengers don't bring cars with them and there's stuff for them to do and see where ever they come ashore.