Suggested Canada itinerary

Neil49

Friends of ours went on the Rocky Mountaineer earlier this year and said that although the scenery was spectacular the biggest problem was that the rail line is intended for freight and the passenger trains have to wait at passing places. They had some occasions where they waited for over an hour as freight trains passed through and then they went at a pretty fast rate to get to the next passing point. It was not the leisurely train journey that they envisaged.

You have had good advice above regarding the Ice fields parkway and Jasper but a rental car would be required.

The ferry trip to Vancouver Island is a definite must do but on a coach trip (as recommended above) in order to get to Victoria and Butchart Gardens

enthusiasticsaver

TheShape wrote: »

I managed to spend 4 nights in Niagara after 4 nights in Toronto. I can't say that I felt the 4 nights in Niagara was excessive but we did just have a pretty chilled out time. We walked around the area a lot, crossed to the American side and spent a fair bit of time relaxing with the view of the falls. We stayed at the Marriot Fallsview. We were on (I think) the seventh floor and the view of the Falls was spectacular. Travel between Toronto was via Greyhound with a short taxi ride from/to the bus terminal to/from the hotel.

This is what we are aiming for. No rushing around and we are hoping that September will be less busy with tourists although given it is a hotspot we are not kidding ourselves it will be quiet. We want to do the walk behind the falls and the boat ride and although spending 3 nights we will not get there until quite late so will only have 2 full days. A leisurely trip walking around a lot is our aim.

enthusiasticsaver

no.1swimmum wrote: »

We spent 2 nights at Niagra Falls and as we both have health issues and can't rush this was perfect for us, we also visited Niagra on the Lake, a lovely little town - we wished we had spent more time or even stayed here and visited Niagra Falls, we had a car but not in Toronto - the subway and tram system there is wonderful.

This is what we have read that the subway and tram system in Vancouver and Toronto is good and many people don't bother with a car. We are choosing a central hotel and are fit enough to walk long distances so see no need for a car. Thanks and I will see if we can ge5 to Niagara on the Lake.

enthusiasticsaver

Neil49 wrote: »

Friends of ours went on the Rocky Mountaineer earlier this year and said that although the scenery was spectacular the biggest problem was that the rail line is intended for freight and the passenger trains have to wait at passing places. They had some occasions where they waited for over an hour as freight trains passed through and then they went at a pretty fast rate to get to the next passing point. It was not the leisurely train journey that they envisaged.

You have had good advice above regarding the Ice fields parkway and Jasper but a rental car would be required.

The ferry trip to Vancouver Island is a definite must do but on a coach trip (as recommended above) in order to get to Victoria and Butchart Gardens

There is a coach trip from Banff which goes to Jasper and the Ice fields so we will look at that. Will bear in mind the advice about the Rocky Mountaineer. That is the most expensive part of the trip so it would be a shame to be disappointed with it.

enthusiasticsaver

TheShape wrote: »

I managed to spend 4 nights in Niagara after 4 nights in Toronto. I can't say that I felt the 4 nights in Niagara was excessive but we did just have a pretty chilled out time. We walked around the area a lot, crossed to the American side and spent a fair bit of time relaxing with the view of the falls. We stayed at the Marriot Fallsview. We were on (I think) the seventh floor and the view of the Falls was spectacular. Travel between Toronto was via Greyhound with a short taxi ride from/to the bus terminal to/from the hotel.

Yes I saw that a Greyhound bus can get from Toronto to Niagara in an hour and a half.

enthusiasticsaver

travellerboy wrote: »

If you are dead against car hire then you would be better to look for an organised coach tour for Western Canada. At Niagra one day would be sufficient / say 2 nights hotel max.then fly to Vancouver.

There are quite a few coach trips to Jasper, lake Louise and the Icefields and we plan to do some hikes on the trails so if we cannot use public transport then we will hire a car but that won't be our preferred option.

enthusiasticsaver

Alan_Bowen wrote: »

Don't spend a night at Niagara Falls, it is one of the worst commercial nightmares I have ever visited. You can visit everything you want to see in a day, we took the train at 0830 from Toronto arriving a couple of hours later and returned around 1700. After the Maid of the Mist, queuing for an hour, lasts 10 minutes, and a walk around taking photographs, we were reduced to visiting a casino whilst waiting for the train back to Toronto.

Toronto is certainly worth 3 nights, Vancouver even more but our favourites were Banff and Jasper where we stayed in a log cabin on the edge of town and saw Moose outside the door. You don't need transport in the big cities but a car would be really useful for crossing the Rockies, then you can stop whenever you want, take a trip across the Icefields Parkway.

Be aware that the Rocky Mountaineer, great at publicity, requires you to check in both days around 7 am, the first meal is breakfast, not my idea of a holiday but each to their own. Do go across to Victoria on Vancouver Island, you can take a coach which goes across on the ferry with you, from vancouver, a beautiful small city surrounded by water

There are quite a few things we want to see at Niagara given this will be the only time we visit. We wanted to see Niagara on the Lake, go up the Skylon Tower and do the White Water Walk and see the Horseshoe Falls and Rainbow Bridge. Yes I think it will be busy and like most tourist attractions may be commercial. We won't be doing casinos. We have 2 full days there and don't like to rush.

I love the sound of Victoria and Vancouver Island is a definite must visit on our list. Will bear in mind the early starts for the Rocky Mountaineer if we do it. It is only 2 days rather than one of the longer trips.

jackieblack

Like others, I would recommend Vancouver Island.
Unlike others though, not Victoria, which was the least interesting place we visited in the 8(?) days we spent on the island, although a car would be required to venture outside Victoria.

enthusiasticsaver

cubegame wrote: »

Don't spend 2 to 3 nights in Niagara Falls. It's a tacky tourist hell hole. There is probably enough to occupy yourself for a couple of days (if you take things slowly) but otherwise you'll be wasting time.

Why won't you consider renting a car? You'll get so much more out of your holiday if you do. Public Transport is very poor outside cities.

We only have 2 days in Niagara as we will probably not get there until late afternoon. We don't like rushing around so will find plenty to occupy us.

Re the renting a car. I cannot see why we would need it in Vancouver or Toronto where the travel systems are good and anything further afield we will either get a coach trip or last resort hire a car. People told us we were daft not to hire a car in the Lake District but we got a North West explorer ticket and used the buses loads. Much better than the stress of driving in an unfamiliar place rather than enjoying the surroundings. Maybe in Banff if we feel we can't use a coach trip or run out of places to visit we will rent one.

jackieblack

The drive from Vancouver to Whistler (the ‘Sea to Sky Highway’) is worth hiring a car for alone, Whistler is lovely and the cable car (?) runs to the top of the mountains year round (not just during ski season)