Suggested Canada itinerary

jackieblack

As an aside, we saw the Northern Lights from the plane on our flight home
No guarantees of course, but worth looking out for.

enthusiasticsaver

skid112 wrote: »

I have done this, two days on the Rocky Mountaineer.....unless you go premium and even then its debatable, its uncomfortable, the views are fabulous but the journey is slow and they feed you several times a day to keep you awake and interested. Personally I would choose another way

We were planning on the Gold Leaf service but it is expensive. My husband was suggesting we use the money we save if we don't do the Rocky Mountaineer to do a helicopter ride over the Rockies instead. I am just about to watch the Channel 5 programme on the Rocky Mountaineer on Scenic Railway journeys on catch up. We have not committed to anything but not much positive response to the Rocky Mountaineer here. We thought it would be a good way to see the rest of the Rockies although I guess a coach trip would also do the job at a fraction of the cost.

enthusiasticsaver

jackieblack wrote: »

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)

Thanks. Whistler is a suggested trip and there are coach trips from Vancouver that go there. The cable car is on our list of things to do.

enthusiasticsaver

Thanks for all the advice and much to mull over.

TELLIT01

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

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.[/QUOTE]


I don't know if it still runs but there was a trip by steam train from Vancouver to Squamish, returning to Vancouver by boat. That train journey was the biggest let down we have ever had. Advertised as being near the waters edge for most of the journey, what it failed to mention was the thick stand of trees between the track and water which completely obliterated the view for most of the trip. The boat trip back was far more enjoyable.

enthusiasticsaver

TELLIT01 wrote: »

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

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.[/QUOTE]


I don't know if it still runs but there was a trip by steam train from Vancouver to Squamish, returning to Vancouver by boat. That train journey was the biggest let down we have ever had. Advertised as being near the waters edge for most of the journey, what it failed to mention was the thick stand of trees between the track and water which completely obliterated the view for most of the trip. The boat trip back was far more enjoyable.

Thanks and will bear that in mind. My husband loves trains so he might well have gone for that. Not sure where Squamish is though.

enthusiasticsaver

Just found Squamish on the route up towards Whistler.

Did anyone do any whale watching from Vancouver?

Loanranger

Another vote here for Niagara on the Lake. It is such a pretty little place. I believe they have a theatre devoted to just George Bernard Shaw plays...please check this out as It may have changed since I was there.
Also, I vote for Vancouver Island by ferry . We stayed in the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver on the waterfront. Again some years ago so check trip adviser for up to date reviews.


I have done the train trip through the Rockies twice but some years ago and am shocked to hear of recent reports of how it has changed and not for the better. I would still do it again though as to me it is one of the wonders of the world. How they built it fascinating and the spiral tunnels through the centre of the mountains, not once but twice is truly staggering. The river is fabulous too.

enthusiasticsaver

Thanks Loanranger and I must admit I was so taken aback by the bad reviews on here I asked our travel agent to check out an alternative mode of transport from Banff to Vancouver and see how that affected the price as the Gold Leaf Rocky Mountaineer comes to about a third of the cost of the whole holiday. However I have been on tripadvisor and there are almost 800 really positive reviews of the trip and about 30 very negative ones and some of those are more to do with the other passengers or things outside the companies control like the freight trains which I now know share the lines and take precedence. There is a program tonight on Channel 5 showing it as one of the Worlds greatest scenic railways so am leaning towards doing it now. Massive feat of engineering so I can imagine my husband as an engineer will appreciate the spiral tunnels.

The travel agent has included some trips in with the package they are offering us and one is visiting Victoria on Vancouver Island so nice you enjoyed that. I have read lots of good reviews about Niagara on the lake too and again the agent has given us lots of free excursions and a bus ticket for exploring the Niagara Falls area so I am reassured we will find enough to do for the two days we are there.

jackieblack

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

Just found Squamish on the route up towards Whistler.

Did anyone do any whale watching from Vancouver?

We did whale watching from Tofino (also bear watching, by boat) and Campbell River (both on Vancouver Island) and from the San Juan Islands (between mainland USA and Vancouver Island) but not from Vancouver