[Newfy]

There is a strong possibility that I will be coming over to Suffield for a 6 month tour starting in April. I was just wondering if any of my army brothers out there could give me any info on cheapest way to travel around. I've got friends and family in different places around Alberta and would also like to go back to Thunder Bay, Ontario where I grew up, if I get the chance. Just wanted to know if there are any car hire companies/ airlines which offer discounts to soldiers or do they all over there? Any special codes I can use online? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. I really hope I do get to go as I haven't been back on home soil in 11 years!

[DrCaleb]

Might seem outlandish, but just buy a POS car while you're here. Much cheaper than hiring taxis all the time.

[Newfy]

DrCaleb wrote:

Might seem outlandish, but just buy a POS car while you're here. Much cheaper than hiring taxis all the time.

Excuse my ignorance but what does POS mean?

[BartSimpson]

Newfy wrote:

DrCaleb wrote:

Might seem outlandish, but just buy a POS car while you're here. Much cheaper than hiring taxis all the time.

Excuse my ignorance but what does POS mean?

Typically that means a Ford or a GM...

Seriously, it means 'Piece of sh!t"

[saturn_656]

Newfy wrote:

DrCaleb wrote:

Might seem outlandish, but just buy a POS car while you're here. Much cheaper than hiring taxis all the time.

Excuse my ignorance but what does POS mean?

You weren't kidding, you have been away.

[SprCForr]

Things haven't changed that much from 11 years ago with respect to highways, cars and shit.

[Regina]

Newfy wrote:

There is a strong possibility that I will be coming over to Suffield for a 6 month tour starting in April. I was just wondering if any of my army brothers out there could give me any info on cheapest way to travel around. I've got friends and family in different places around Alberta and would also like to go back to Thunder Bay, Ontario where I grew up, if I get the chance. Just wanted to know if there are any car hire companies/ airlines which offer discounts to soldiers or do they all over there? Any special codes I can use online? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. I really hope I do get to go as I haven't been back on home soil in 11 years!

Sweet! I'll get you a Robin's!

[DrCaleb]

BartSimpson wrote:

Newfy wrote:

DrCaleb wrote:

Might seem outlandish, but just buy a POS car while you're here. Much cheaper than hiring taxis all the time.

Excuse my ignorance but what does POS mean?

Typically that means a Ford or a GM...

Seriously, it means 'Piece of sh!t"

I think you misspelt 'Dodge' there.

But yea, POS. Get some 5 year old econobox for $4k or so, put $500 - $1000 in fuel and maintainence into it, then sell it in 6 months for $3500 or so. $1000 to $1500 has to be less than you'd rent a car for 6 months.

[Newfy]

I wasn't of driving age when I moved away and I don't think abbreviations were used as much then. Obviously, being in the military now means that I can carry out whole conversations in abbreviations especially as I am a signaller. Seriously though, i'm not after a car for the whole time i'm there just for the odd occassion when I might get enough time off to visit old friends. Plus i'm after flights to Thunder Bay, I don't really fancy driving that distance!

[Newfy]

Regina wrote:

Newfy wrote:

There is a strong possibility that I will be coming over to Suffield for a 6 month tour starting in April. I was just wondering if any of my army brothers out there could give me any info on cheapest way to travel around. I've got friends and family in different places around Alberta and would also like to go back to Thunder Bay, Ontario where I grew up, if I get the chance. Just wanted to know if there are any car hire companies/ airlines which offer discounts to soldiers or do they all over there? Any special codes I can use online? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. I really hope I do get to go as I haven't been back on home soil in 11 years!

Sweet! I'll get you a Robin's!

Cool! I'll hold you to that.

[Regina]

Newfy wrote:

Regina wrote:

Newfy wrote:

There is a strong possibility that I will be coming over to Suffield for a 6 month tour starting in April. I was just wondering if any of my army brothers out there could give me any info on cheapest way to travel around. I've got friends and family in different places around Alberta and would also like to go back to Thunder Bay, Ontario where I grew up, if I get the chance. Just wanted to know if there are any car hire companies/ airlines which offer discounts to soldiers or do they all over there? Any special codes I can use online? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. I really hope I do get to go as I haven't been back on home soil in 11 years!

Sweet! I'll get you a Robin's!

Cool! I'll hold you to that.

[Newfy]

Regina wrote:

Newfy wrote:

Cool! I'll hold you to that.

Where abouts are you?

[Yogi]

Get a *scooter! Cheap enough to buy over here, and certainly cheap to run. Insurance will only cost about $300.00 per a year!

* donor cycle
murderbike etc

[Regina]

Newfy wrote:

Regina wrote:

Newfy wrote:

Cool! I'll hold you to that.

Where abouts are you?

TBay.......south.

[Caelon]

Yogi's idea has merit. An older sport bike in the 500 to 750 cc range can be had for about $2000 and sold for $2000+ when you are done. A couple of good candidates are the Kawasaki and Suzuki 500cc parallel twins. They get about 4.5 L/100km for fuel economy and can travel all day at highway speeds if your backside is tough enough. The 600 cc inline 4's have more power and use correspondingly more fuel. Cruiser style bikes need more displacement to be comfortable at highway speeds.

Rental companies will have special weekend rates for cars so you might get by with $30 per day. The catch 22 is if you do not have existing insurance to cover you on the rental then you will pay a fairly high rate through the rental company. I think your closest rental outlet would be Medicine Hat so you would have to bum a ride into town to start.

Flying to Thunder Bay would require you to travel to Calgary for the flight. West Jet has the most frequent flights to TB and if you watch the prices online you can get a flight for under $150 plus taxes each way (roughly $450 round trip). That little jaunt to Calgary is about 270 km by memory.