Kamloops Accommodation Guide
from WorldWeb.com Travel Guide

City Lights of Kamloops 1

Kamloops, thought to mean 'meeting of the waters' (derived from the Shuswap word, Tk'emlups), truly is a meeting place. Perhaps at no other place in British Columbia's interior is there such a convergence of rivers, roads, commerce and activities.

For many, the city is a convenient, mid-way stop along both the Trans-Canada Highway and passenger rail trips across BC. With major highways leading to Vancouver, Calgary, the Okanagan Valley, Prince George and the US border, most routes through and around British Columbia pass through Kamloops. Likewise, on the popular Rocky Mountaineer scenic rail tours from Vancouver to Calgary or Edmonton, Kamloops is consistently a scheduled break.

For others, the city is home to championship golf courses and the nearby Sun Peaks Resort, as well as numerous lakes and rivers. From fishing deep waters to skiing deep powder, visitors who like to get outdoors have little excuse not to.

	Horses Grazing in Cowboy Country 2

For others still, Kamloops is both cowboy country and all-out tournament territory. Deemed the Tournament Capital of Canada, the city regularly hosts hundreds of tournaments including the BC Summer Games, the Strauss Canada Cup of Curling and numerous hockey competitions. While Kamloops draws sports fans to its many new and modern facilities, the city also remains true to its western heritage. The Kamloops Cowboy Festival and regular rodeos are held every summer and visitors wishing to experience the significant ranching community that surrounds the city can do so via stays or trail rides at some of the local ranches.

But whether visitors are just passing through or have come to take advantage of the many activities available, Kamloops offers a host of accommodation options to suit every taste and budget.

HELPFUL LINKS

WorldWeb.com offers three useful links for finding accommodation in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Accommodation Directory – A complete accommodation directory containing detailed information about hotels, B&Bs, luxury resorts, hostels, campgrounds and more. With links to accommodation websites and interactive maps, this directory is designed to help visitors find the right place to stay based on their personal preferences.

Secure Room Reservations – A convenient online room search and reservation page allowing the user to check for room availability and then make a secure room reservation at appropriate properties. Although this is a useful feature anytime of year, the online Secure Room Reservations page is particularly helpful in the peak seasons when finding accommodation can be difficult.

Interactive Maps – The Kamloops maps can assist visitors in choosing where to stay by not only indicating the locations of accommodations, but also where they are in relation to attractions, restaurants, shops, tours and transportation.

ORIENTATION & TRANSPORTATION

Kamloops to ... Distance Est. Time* Vancouver 355 km (220 mi) 3 hr 30 min Calgary 620 km (384 mi) 6 hr 30 min Edmonton 800 km (496 mi) 8 hr 15 min Prince George 525 km (326 mi) 5 hr 30 min Jasper 441 km (275 mi) 4 hr 30 min Kelowna 163 km (101 mi) 1 hr 45 min Hope 203 km (127 mi) 2 hr 15 min Seattle 507 km (314 mi) 5 hr 30 min
Kamloops Distance Table (*Estimated driving time)

Kamloops, located in south central British Columbia in the Thompson-Okanagan region, is more or less halfway between Vancouver and Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. With a population just under 100,000, the city is the region's largest municipality and serves as a hub for local industry, transportation and services.

Getting There
By car, the city is easily accessed via several highways from all directions. The Trans-Canada Highway runs to and from Vancouver and Calgary and passes directly through Kamloops. Highway 5 (also known as both Yellowhead Highway and Coquihalla Highway) leads north to Jasper National Park and south as a toll highway directly to Hope. Kelowna and the nearby Okanagan Valley can be reached either by the southbound 97 via Vernon or Highway 5A and 97C via Merritt. Highway 97 also leads north to Prince George.

Bus and rail travel to and from Kamloops have proven popular alternatives and the city boasts the 10th busiest bus station in Canada. Greyhound operates daily bus routes to all of the municipalities above while VIA Rail runs three weekly trains to Vancouver, Jasper and Edmonton. In summer, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations offers scenic rail tours between Vancouver and Edmonton (Jasper) or Calgary (Banff), but while Kamloops is a scheduled stop on the trips, the tours are sold as a package and do not include individual segment travel.

Rocky Mountaineer Vacations Scenic Rail Tours 3

Kamloops is also home to a small airport with regular flights to eight destinations throughout British Columbia and Alberta. Air Canada Jazz, Central Mountain Air and Pacific Coastal Airlines all operate domestic flights out of Kamloops while Horizon Air flies daily to and from Seattle, Washington.

Getting Around
For visitors staying downtown, the attractive city centre of Kamloops is relatively compact and easy to get around by foot. For further afield, Kamloops Transit operates several bus routes around the Greater Kamloops area, including services from downtown to the Aberdeen shopping area, Thompson Rivers University, the North Shore and the Westsyde area north of the city. Taxis and rental cars are also readily available for those without their own transport.

WHEN TO GO

Aside from its central geographic location, a significant part of the Thompson-Okanagan area's draw is its weather. Kamloops boasts 2,000 hours of annual sunshine, making it the second sunniest city in BC. Hot, arid summers with average temperatures around 28ºC (83ºF) might lead visitors to think they are in Southern California rather than rainy British Columbia and makes catching rays along the many lake shores a popular summertime activity.

Winter is no less appealing when the area enjoys mild average temperatures of -7.6ºC (20ºF) and sunny days. Combine that with dry powdery snow and winter enthusiasts can hit the slopes or the snowmobile trails without risking frostbite. Spring and fall are equally enjoyable but experience cool nights and more chance of rain so visitors should be prepared with layers and rain gear.

ACCOMMODATION

From budget motels and historic hotels to lakeside resorts and riverside retreats, there is something for everyone in Kamloops.

The Plaza Heritage Hotel, Downtown Kamloops 4

Hotels / Motels
Kamloops offers a great selection of hotel and motel rooms, most of which are located at the east and west ends of town along the Trans-Canada Highway. On the west end of town, Accent Inn, Best Western and the Holiday Inn Express, along with several other chain hotels, all offer dependable overnight accommodation along with the amenities that these hotels are known for. All feature fitness rooms, spa facilities, wireless Internet access and in-room coffee makers, as well as on-site restaurants and bars. Accent Inn has some kitchen units and suites available for longer stays, while business travellers are well-catered to at the Best Western and Holiday Inn Express. These latter two hotels also offer the off-season bonus of indoor pools.

Likewise, the Thompson Hotel & Conference Centre offers similar rates and amenities but with the added convenience of a downtown location. Also downtown is the Plaza Heritage Hotel, a restored 1920s boutique hotel. The grand, six-storey Plaza offers visitors a change from the somewhat characterless chain hotels in that each of its 68 rooms have been individually decorated to their original designs. Guests at the historic hotel are treated to great views from the top floors as well as the ambiance of staying in the heart of downtown.

For travellers just passing through and looking for more basic rooms and services, the Sage Brush Motel, located along the western part of the Trans-Canada, and Scott's Inn and Knights Inn, both downtown, all offer economically-priced stays in clean, pleasant rooms.

	Riverside B&B from across the South Thompson River 5

B&Bs / Inns
Kamloops has numerous bed and breakfast-style accommodations for visitors after some local hospitality (only a few of which are listed here.) Some deliver upscale riverside retreats while others offer cosy downtown stays or modest suburban rooms.

Travellers wishing to have a luxurious room with spectacular views are spoiled for choice in the Kamloops area. Three such establishments are the Lac Le Jeune B&B, the Lazy River B&B and the Riverside B&B. Located 20 minutes south of Kamloops on the shores of the lake by the same name, Lac Le Jeune B&B is a luxury log home offering a private loft suite with its own entrance. Guests can look forward to a host of outdoor activities near and around the lake knowing that relaxation in the B&B's hot tub awaits afterwards.

Equally enticing are the Lazy River B&B and the Riverside B&B, both just minutes east of the city. These modern, stylish homes enjoy settings on the South Thompson River and offer guests private suites, gourmet breakfasts and hours of riverside relaxation and views.

For more moderate prices and cosy in-town stays, guests might choose Joyce's B&B or the Drop Ins. Joyce's, formerly a 1911 banker's house, is located in the tree-shaded heritage district downtown and welcomes French and Spanish speaking guests as well as families. Outdoor enthusiasts, on the other hand, will feel right at home at the Drop Ins. The proprietors—avid mountain bikers and climbers—not only offer visitors information on where to go for the best rides, hikes and climbs, but also invite experienced riders and climbers to come along on one of their excursions. After a day at play, the hospitality continues and guests are welcome to use the B&B's kitchen and outdoor barbecue.

Lastly, for travellers who want acres of country relaxation without breaking the bank, the Wind & Sky B&B is a tasteful, western-style home with sweeping views of the surrounding hills and wildlife.

Mountain Biking above Kamloops 6

Resorts / Guest Ranches
An alternative form of accommodation in Kamloops is, of course, to stay at one of the several lakeside resorts or cabins, or to take advantage of the area's ranching community and book a stay at a working ranch. While there are numerous resorts and cottages around, the South Thompson Inn & Conference Centre melds together a riverside resort with the white fences and horse paddocks of an equestrian centre. Guests can enjoy the Kentucky-style inn while either relaxing by the pool, going on one of the resort's trail rides or playing a round at the Rivershore Golf Course next door.

On a quieter, more modest scale, Dreamscape Ranch, south of the city is a small guest ranch offering horse riding, horse boarding or even just horsing around. Guests and groups can choose to relax, ride or help with the work on the ranch. Whether it's a one-night bed and breakfast, a weekend bed and bale or a longer stay, Dreamscape is happy to create a customized holiday escape.

An accommodation guide of Kamloops would not be complete without mentioning the nearby Sun Peaks Resort. Located less than an hour's drive north of Kamloops, Sun Peaks is a year round recreation spot and, as Canada's third largest ski resort, is especially busy during winter. The resort village features its own myriad of places to stay and holiday-makers can choose from budget digs to deluxe vacation rentals.

	Helmcken Falls 7

Hostels / Campgrounds
Travellers wishing to self-cater on a budget have a couple of options near Kamloops. The Sun Peaks International Hostel is a large, A-frame cabin structure close to the skiing and nightlife of Sun Peaks Resort. The hostel offers private or semi-private sleeping rooms and a fully-equipped kitchen and lounge in addition to wireless access, lockers and laundry. Those with RVs can choose the Kamloops RV Park east of town or Alpine Meadows Resort at Hallamore Lake. Not only does Alpine Meadows offer the usual hook ups and facilities for RVs but guests can take advantage of the resort's restaurant and many activities.

The Kamloops RV Park also offers tent sites for those wanting to stay closer to nature, and in this case, the BC Wildlife Park. In addition, Steelhead Provincial Park, Paul Lake Provincial Park and Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park all have campgrounds with varying amenities and operate on a first come, first serve basis.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF:

1. Kelly Funk; c/o Tourism Kamloops; City Lights of Kamloops; Kamloops, BC, Canada
2. Alan Fortune; c/o Tourism Okanagan; Horses Grazing in Cowboy Country; Thompson Region, BC, Canada
3. c/o Tourism Kamloops and Rocky Mountain Vacations; Scenic Rail Tours; Thompson Region, BC, Canada
4. c/o The Plaza Heritage Hotel; The 1920s Plaza Hotel in downtown Kamloops; Kamloops, BC, Canada
5. Cynthia James; c/o Riverside B&B; The Riverside B&B from across the South Thompson River; Kamloops, BC, Canada
6. Don Weixl; c/o Tourism Okanagan; Mountain Biking above Kamloops; Kamloops, BC, Canada
7. c/o Tourism Kamloops; Helmcken Falls; Thompson Region, BC, Canada