Canadian rail trips.

Nebulous2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82061672#Comment_82061672

That's great to hear. Thanks very much.

I'm roughly planning - flight to Toronto, see the sights, Canadian to Vancouver, spend a few days, fly to Calgary, hire a car, visit some relatives, do a trip to Banff, Jasper etc, back to Calgary and fly home.

I've been before - much shorter than I prefer to do long-haul - mainly to the Vancouver area.

I think either train would be a remarkable experience, and its good to hear from someone who has actually done it.

Humphreyshalfmoon

You should review the numerous YouTube videos of the Rocky Mountaineer, what would put me off irrespective of the price, is the fact it sets off at 0630 every morning, meaning you have to be out of bed by 5 am. That is not my idea of a holiday, With The Canadian you do not have to travel the whole way from Toronto to Vancouver, the really interesting part is from Jasper onwards . Jasper itself was my favourite town in the Rockies, we rented a wooden chalet on the edge of town with a real log fire for the evenings, we were there the last week of September, in the evening we saw Moose outside the front door, it was magical.

I drove across the Rockies from Vancouver through Jasper, Banff , a bit too commercialised specialising in catering to Japanese tourists, who are lovely, but prevalent. We stopped at the Colombia Glacier on the Icefield Parkway which was interesting, if a little unnerving if you are unsteady on your feet. I would strongly recommend a trip across to Victoria on Vancouver Island which was an easy day trip by bus and ferry from Vancouver itself. Canada is one of the most welcoming countries in the world, whatever you do you will enjoy it.

Nebulous2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82061716#Comment_82061716

Thanks - I recognise the prairies may be boring, but if we are comfortable, with a good book and well-fed, I think I could cope with that. The man in seat 61 says the Rockies bit is spectacular.

Flying to Toronto, seeing Niagara first we need to get to the interesting bit somehow. Train tickets are scarce and sell out very early - I'm hoping that booking the whole way will be easier than just doing the high profile section.

I'm up for alternative suggestions however - I'm still considering, and if the Rockies stage was substantially cheaper, with a good way to get to the starting point I'd jump at that.

sheramber

We did the Rocky Mountaineer a few years ago.

We did upgrade to Gold Leaf as it was a special holiday.

Food in the retaurant carriage was excellent.

Staff attentive

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

A little taste of luxury.

You can move about the train to an observation point or view from your seat,

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82061716#Comment_82061716

It's not a fact that the Rocky Mountaineer sets off at 0630 every morning, it was 8 o'clock starts when I travelled recently, but looking at their published schedule, it does seem that the exception is specifically eastbound Kamloops departures to Banff, which are at 06:50:

https://www.rockymountaineer.com/preparing-to-go/train-schedule

silvercar

I’ve done the Rocky Mountainineer. I wouldn’t do it again. It’s expensive for what you get, but the extra for Gold leaf is worth spending if you are already committing to the base price.

bagand96

I haven't done the Rocky Mountaineer. It's obviously a premium experience with excellent service and many people do it as a special holiday.

I have done Vancouver - Calgary as a road trip taking many stops along the way. It's a beautiful journey, amazing scenery, great towns along the route. I enjoyed it in the car, much of the journey is alongside or very near to the railway route. The joy of having the car you can also stop as and when you want to enjoy the scenery or towns along the way.

For the cost of the base Rocky Mountaineer (2 days on the train with one night in a hotel) you could put together a great road trip of a week or more with a nice hire car, decent hotels and good meals along the way. They're obviously different ways of doing it.

sheramber

We did a round trip Calgary to Japer to Victoria to Vancouver to Calgary.

2 hire cars, 2 trains -VIA eail and Rocky Mountainerr- and 2 ferries.

tom192

Not specifically train travel in Canada but I am just back from a trip Vancouver to Calgary with Gadventures, this was done in a mini bus, hands down the most incredible scenery I have ever seen, literally the whole journey just gazing in wonder out of the window.

Trip was very well organised and I met some fantastic people. Had an Australian couple with us on our trip if you are traveling with more than one person. Very recommended they do a number of different Canada trips, our guide couldn't have done more to ensure we had the most fantastic trip. I did the Canadian Rockies Eastbound trip (14 Nights) but others are available.

The prime tourist hotspots are very touristy and busy but our guide knew some less well known places that were honestly more impressive than the known places, the scenery is jaw dropping.

https://www.gadventures.com/destinations/north-america/canada-tours/?destinations=Canada

Highly recommended

This for example was a place the guide took us, tiny car park and hardly anybody about, was more beautiful than Lake Louise.

Rosa_Damascena

I've nothing useful to add - I don't enjoy sharing my space with others so not a train person - except to say I visited Canada 3 years ago now and loved it, much more so that the US. If I ever had to escape my beloved Blighty, I'd head in the direction of Canada.