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Whether you're on your own, with friends, or with your family, there's nothing like a road trip you can't wait to take.
Published May 21, 2024 • 4 minute read
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Banff, a popular town in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, was the final destination for Touro's booked vehicle.Photo by Dave Pollard/Toronto Sun
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There's nothing like a long-awaited road trip, whether you're on your own, with friends, or with your family.
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It's almost a Canadian tradition. With your best friend riding shotgun, music blaring, and your brother providing running commentary as each kilometer passes, you set out to explore a vast and wonderful country the old-fashioned way.
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Turo, a peer-to-peer car sharing company that has been in Canada since 2016, makes it easier to get to and drive to your vacation destination. Easy is the key word.
Turo is an alternative to traditional car rental companies. Traditional car rental companies typically require you to visit a brick-and-mortar location, wait in line, and often have to accept hidden fees associated with rental cars. Turo streamlines and simplifies the process, allowing you to pick up your reserved car at a convenient location.
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To help you understand the concept, think of Turo as the Airbnb of car rentals. In exchange for a place to stay, Turo hosts list vehicles available for rent.
A BMW SUV reserved through the Turo car-sharing app. (Dave Pollard/Toronto Sun)
“Turo's key advantages over traditional car rentals are our unmatched selection, convenient experience and peer-to-peer community,” said Cedric Mathieu, senior vice president and head of Turo Canada. “Instead of having to choose a car based on a vague vehicle category and then waiting in line to rent, Turo lets you quickly book the vehicle of your choice from a catalog of everything from rugged Jeeps to luxury SUVs and minivans that can fit the whole family.”
“Our host community creates a five-star experience by offering convenient options like custom delivery to your doorstep or at the airport and additional services like bike racks, child seats, and rooftop tents.”
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We recently booked a Turo-registered vehicle to travel from Calgary through Banff, Cochrane, and Canmore to the heart of Canada on one of Canada's most epic and scenic road trips I learned how easy it is. majestic Rocky Mountains.
The luxurious lobby of the Fairmont Palliser Hotel in Calgary. (Dave Pollard/Toronto Sun)
The first thing you need to do is download the app and create a Turo account, a process that anyone with some technical ability can easily follow. After that, select the date and destination for picking up your vehicle, and choose your ride from a wide list that ranges from 10-year-old compact cars to the latest luxury sports cars and SUVs. Once you've selected your insurance options and finalized your booking, the total cost of your policy will be calculated.
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I booked a 2021 BMW X1 through my host Monique Johnson. He provided clear instructions on where to pick up the car at Calgary International Airport and promptly responded to any trivial questions via text. There was no need for an in-person meeting, Monique remotely unlocked his SUV and communicated online.
“Turo takes many steps to ensure the safety of all vehicles on the market,” Matthew said. “Each vehicle must meet our eligibility criteria for safety, condition and operation before it is available for reservation.”
After picking up my car, I headed to downtown Calgary (a short 18-kilometre drive) and stayed overnight at the Fairmont Palliser, the city's premier luxury hotel in the shadow of the Calgary Tower. Celebrating its 110th anniversary in 2024, you'll be amazed when you enter the luxurious lobby of Palliser.
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Dinner at KAMA, a popular Mediterranean restaurant just a short walk from the hotel, was the first time our group met to discuss Touro with Mathieu and several of the company's all-star hosts. It was enlightening to hear about Turo's success and what the company plans to do to improve its processes.
“We are continually working to develop tools and processes that improve the overall guest and host experience,” says Mathieu. “Whether you're booking a car or listing a car, we're making the Turo experience as seamless as possible so more Canadians can join us in our mission to get more out of Canada's 26.2 million cars. I want to be able to do that.”
A hike in the shadow of the Three Sisters outside Canmore, Alta., was a highlight of the trip. (Dave Pollard/Toronto Sun)
Our first use of the car was early the next morning, when we left for Banff, having breakfast at Cochrane Coffee Traders, a 30-minute drive from the Calgary suburbs. After a quick stop in Cochrane, a quintessential Western town dating back to 1885, we got back behind the wheel and headed into the Rocky Mountains to hike the picturesque Three Sisters Creek Trail just outside Canmore. Lunch break at Bridget's Bar.
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We left Canmore and headed to Banff, about a 30 minute drive away.
Fairmont Banff Springs is one of Canada's most iconic and famous hotels. (Dave Pollard/Toronto Sun)
Our final destination was the Fairmont Banff Springs, one of Canada's most iconic hotels, founded in 1888. Modeled after a Scottish baronial castle, this hotel was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway as a luxury resort and still stands today. Have a comfortable life.
Our group enjoyed a private dinner in Rundle Sidecar, a secret room located beside Rundle Bar, one of the hotel's most popular restaurants. The entrance to the room was hidden behind a bookcase, giving our gathering a special feeling and complete privacy.
The next morning, after a quick walk down Banff's famous Main Street, I returned to Calgary, returned the car, and flew home. The return process was as easy as picking up the car. I texted Monique and told her that her SUV was in the parking lot and she took care of the rest. No mess, no fuss.
Our two-day trip was shorter than Turo's typical reservations — Matthew says the average is four days for car reservations, with a minimum of 24 hours — but it gave us a good idea of what to expect. did it.
So if you're looking to hit the highway for a new adventure, we recommend leaving your vehicle at home and checking out Turo's wide selection of vehicles.
The secret entrance to Randall Sidecar at the Fairmont Banff Springs is hidden behind a bookshelf. (Dave Pollard/Toronto Sun)
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