Jasper Life and Visitor Travel Tips

(Jasper, Alberta - AB, Canada)



Home to the vast Jasper National Park, the largest of its kind in the whole of Canada, much of life in Jasper is based around this natural phenomenon. Part of the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Jasper National Park attracts many thousands of visitors, who travel here from all over Canada, North America and the world, to enjoy the views of the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Offering a host of recreational activities throughout the year, life in the Jasper area is fairly relaxed and visitors are always welcomed to the town, being well catered for with numerous hotels. At night Jasper's bars and restaurants are particularly lively, especially during the summer months.


Tourism and Tourist Information


Jasper Information Center
Address: 500 Connaught Drive, Jasper, Alberta (AB), T0E 1E0, Canada
Tel: +1 780 852 6176
Standing in the heart of downtown Jasper, this center offers in-depth travel advice and a range of leaflets about the numerous hiking and walking trails in the National Park.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 16:30

Jasper Municipal Library
Address: 500 Robson Street, Jasper, Alberta (AB), Canada
Tel: +1 780 852 3652
Offering a number of computers with Internet access, which can be hired for a nominal hourly fee.
Open hours: Monday to Thursday - 11:00 to 21:00, Friday and Saturday - 11:00 to 17:00

Language

There are more than 300 languages spoken throughout America and Canada, with English and French being the main languages in Jasper. Most highway signposts and tourism leaflets in Jasper display both languages. Canadian English is widely spoken in the Jasper townsite and is based upon British English, featuring many individual expressions. In the provinces of Quebec and Manitoba, Canadian French has always been the main language. Jasper is home to an array of different nationalities, and a number of regions in Canada are known for their unique local dialects, particularly around Newfoundland.

Currency

Currency in Jasper, Alberta and throughout Canada is structured in a similar way to the USA, with Canadian dollars. Noteworthy denominations include:


Paper notes in Jasper consist of $5, $10 and $20 notes and these are regularly used as daily currency, with higher notes such as $50 and $100 dollar bills being used less frequently. Tourists staying in Jasper are able to use both their credit and debit cards at ATMs, which are in plentiful supply, providing a popular and competitive way to exchange currency. Also, travel agent companies in Jasper offer excellent rates of exchange, together with local banks. Most banks in Jasper open between Monday and Friday, with opening hours being shorter than most shops in the Jasper townsite.

Visas and Documents

Visitors to Jasper and other cities throughout Canada must bring photo identification and also at least two or three types of formal ID. Passports are always an absolute necessity when visiting Jasper, except for those arriving from the USA and Greenland. A driver's license is no longer satisfactory ID for US citizens arriving in Jasper and should be used together with a valid birth certificate or similar authentication, such as an official certificate of citizenship. Those visiting Jasper from Commonwealth and Western countries do not require visas, although visitors from most other countries do, not including Mexico. Visa applications for travel to Jasper and throughout Canada must be made at least one month in advance. All inquiries need to be directed to Canadian Immigration Centers.

Driving

Motorists intending to drive in the city of Jasper must get a 'Canadian Nonresident Interprovince Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card' or 'Visitor to Canada Insurance', which can be obtained at most US insurance companies. Most car rental agencies in Jasper expect you to be at least 21 years of age when hiring a car, although for some agencies this is 26 years. In Jasper, Alberta and all over Canada, cars always drive on the right-hand side of the road.

Tipping

Tipping in Jasper is usual and many restaurants expect around 10 to 15 per cent of the bill as a tip, although a number of eateries may include service charges on the bill. Taxi drivers, barbers, hairdressers and hotel staff in Jasper also expect to receive gratuities.

Smoking and Alcohol

All over Canada you may only purchase alcohol at local government-run shops, although in the provinces of Alberta and Quebec, including the Jasper townsite, many privately owned shops can sell a range of alcohol. Canada's legal drinking age is 19 years old, with the exception of Alberta and Manitoba, where the age is only 18. Smoking is now restricted at many places in Jasper, including public transport and eateries.