Getting There
FLYING WESTJET
We have a convention number, QC #638, with WestJet. This will guarantee prices if you book 45 days in advance of departure. Travel must be done between May 23 and 30th. Flights are subject to availability and must be paid in full at time of booking with a credit card. WestJet operates without tickets; they will fax or mail each passenger a personalized itinerary with a confirmation number. Phone: 1-888-493-7853 or Fax: 1800-582-7072. Please remember to quote the convention number when booking.
WestJet is a Calgary based airline offering Boeing 737 jet service to the following cities: Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, Abbotsford, Prince George, Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Hamilton, Ottawa and Moncton.
| To Calgary From |
# of Daily Flights |
Total Fares Return |
| Vancouver |
12 |
$204.38 |
| Abbotsford |
4 |
$218.29 |
| Edmonton |
4 |
$159.44 |
| Regina |
3 - 4 |
$227.92 |
| Saskatoon |
3 - 4 |
$209.73 |
| Winnipeg |
4 - 5 |
$292.12 |
| Hamilton |
4 |
$447.27 |
GETTING TO THE HOTEL
Calgary is laid out in a grid system, divided into four quadrants, imaginatively designated NW, NE, SE and SW. The dividing line between east and west is Centre Street, and the dividing line between north and south is the Bow River.
Roads that run east/west are usually "Avenues", while north/south roads are usually "Streets". Inner-city highways are "Trails." The Westin Hotel is at 320- 4th Avenue S.W., and is therefore found between 2nd St. and 3rd St. W., four blocks south of the Bow River.
Many of the roads in the downtown core of Calgary are one-way. Fourth Ave. is one-way heading west, so you must be travelling in that direction in order to reach the main entrance. The entrance to the parking, however, is off of third Ave., which is a two-way road.
Parking at the Westin for guests is $9 Cdn./day on weekdays and $5 on weekends if you park yourself. Non-guests pay $6 Cdn. flat rate on weekends and $1.50/20 minutes on weekdays, up to a maximum of $18/day. Valet parking is $13 Cdn./day. Street parking is free after Six p.m. and on Sundays. Shortly after Six however, you may have trouble finding a spot.
From the Airport
There is a full-size shuttle bus called the "Airporter Hotel Bus Service" which leaves the airport every half-hour and does a circuit of the downtown hotels. Look for the red cardinal on the side of the bus. The cost is $9 Cdn. per person one-way and $15 round trip. The Westin Hotel is the third stop of ten. Getting to the hotel from the airport will take about twenty-five minutes, but if you are returning to the airport on a weekday, allow forty-five minutes. Remember, May 28th is not a holiday in Canada.
There is also the "Airport Shuttle Express" which will take you anywhere in the city from the airport. The cost is $10 Cdn. per person one-way. These seat eleven and can be booked at their counter near the baggage claim. If there are a few of you traveling together, you may prefer to take a taxi to the hotel. Cost is $22- $25 Cdn. Some taxi companies will offer a flat rate, so inquire before you leave the airport.
ARRIVING BY CAR
From the Airport
If you are picking up a rental car at the airport, you will see the downtown core of the city of Calgary to the south as you leave. Ignore the obvious and turn north (left) onto Barlow Trail. Take the first left again onto the new Airport Way, at the Park and Jet parking lot. This road will bring you to Deerfoot Trail, which will finally lead you south towards the downtown. Exit the Deerfoot onto Memorial Drive heading west. Go past the zoo, and take the exit onto 4th Ave. You can take either of the two right-hand lanes off this exit. If you stay in the far right-hand lane, the hotel will be on your right after about six blocks.
From the North
Highway 2 becomes Deerfoot Trail as it comes into Calgary. Stay on this and follow the directions above for coming from the airport.
From the East
Obviously there is more than one route into the city, but I will assume you are coming in on the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy. 1). Within the city of Calgary this becomes 16th Ave. N. Note that is an Avenue not a Trail. Exit the highway south at Barlow Trail, and from there onto Memorial Drive heading west. From here follow Memorial to 4th Ave. From here follow the instructions above for travel from the airport.
From the South
Heading north into Calgary, Highway 2 becomes Macleod Trail. You can follow this all the way into the downtown core of Calgary. When you reach the downtown, Macleod Trail become a one-way street heading north, and is where you would expect to find 2nd St. E. Turn left onto 4th Ave. and more over to the far right-hand lane. The Westin will be on your right.
From the West
If you are travelling from the U.S. by car to Costume-Con and you have some extra time, the most scenic route would be to enter Canada via British Columbia and drive north then east through the National Parks on the B.C./Alberta border. You do not require a park pass if you are just driving through the parks, but you will need to buy one at the entrance if you stop within the parks. This includes visits to the towns within the park borders. The towns were there before the parks were, in case you were wondering.
Within the city of Calgary, the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy. 1) becomes 16th Ave. N. See my warning above. Exit the highway onto Bowness Rd. heading east. Stay on the road as it becomes Parkdale Blvd., and finally Memorial Drive heading east. When you reach 10th St. W., turn right and cross the Bow River. Fourth Ave. is one-way going the wrong way, so you will have to turn left at the first lights onto 5th Ave., which is one-way heading east. Make sure you have driven past 3rd St. W before turning left at 2nd St., and left again, onto 4th Ave. The Westin will be on the far right.
