need advice on taking rail tour

[tmanwell-/[e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Hi all:
I'm new to this forum. I'm 51, married for 30yrs, and my wife & I would like to plan a cross Canada rail journey
. something like Toronto to Vancourver
 tho, I could be persuaded to at least *consider something that gets less press, like a 'fjords of Canada' tour.
I'm OPEN to suggestions.


Thing is, tho, I could really use some inside information. Seems like everyone always comes back from these things WISER 
about how they'd do it 'next time.' I'm not sure I'll get a next time, so I want to make sure I do it right the first time. Soooooooo, advice on things like travel 'packages,' time of year, hidden costs, when TO upgrade, when NOT TO upgrade, etc. etc
. all of this stuff would be great.
BTW, I'm a member of AARP
 should I try to use their services in vacation planning?


Ok, I'm sure I'll have more questions, but there's a start.


Thanks!

[Peter Payan backpackca-FFYn/[e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Hi Tmanwell.
My wife and I travel frequently to Vancouver by train.
You and I can continue to explore your options offsite so I will send you a private message to start.
All Aboard!
Peter

[Will [e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Really depends what you want and where you are located/want to start. My blue sky suggestion would be to take the Canadian from Toronto-Jasper, stop off for a week and stay at the Jasper Park Lodge (if budget allows). Drive around and enjoy the rockies, potentially get down to Lake Louise/Banff. Resume your trip on the Skeena from Jasper-Prince Rupert. Arrive Prince Rupert, stay a couple days than grab the ferry to Vancouver island. From there you can drive around, get Victoria/Vancouver and fly home. If your flexible for time of year, I would recommend September - the weather tends to be good with limited crowds. I would probably just book everything yourself, but depends on your comfort level doing everything online.

Will

I'm new to this forum. I'm 51, married for 30yrs, and my wife & I would like to plan a cross Canada rail journey…. something like Toronto to Vancourver… tho, I could be persuaded to at least *consider something that gets less press, like a 'fjords of Canada' tour.
I'm OPEN to suggestions.
Thing is, tho, I could really use some inside information. Seems like everyone always comes back from these things WISER …about how they'd do it 'next time.' I'm not sure I'll get a next time, so I want to make sure I do it right the first time. Soooooooo, advice on things like travel 'packages,' time of year, hidden costs, when TO upgrade, when NOT TO upgrade, etc. etc…. all of this stuff would be great.
BTW, I'm a member of AARP… should I try to use their services in vacation planning?
Ok, I'm sure I'll have more questions, but there's a start.
Thanks!

[[e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Many Canadians have a legendary fascination with the Rockies. I am guessing they are similar south of the border. If you want to tour something not found in the USA, you would start with a trip to Quebec City. Most historic city in North America, lots of things catering to English-speaking tourists. And on the way, have a stop-over in Montreal, Canada's second-largest city. (Quebec politicians always say the best thing about Ottawa is the train to Montreal.) If you haven't seen Montreal and Quebec City, you havent seen Canada.

[tmanwell-/[e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Hi all: Thanks to several of you for the private notes, and also for this very well-made point about traveling EAST.


Here's some more data on my end...


-- The 'trip' is very much in the initial planning stage. What we do will be governed by all of the normal things like time & money. I suspect that we will have a week--perhaps 10 days at the most-- to work with. Our home address is the Chicago area, so a big question would be "where to start." From what I read here, seems like Toronto is the logical beginning point whether going east or west.


-- I must say that after reading Louise Penny novels, in particular "Bury your dead," I could get very excited about visiting Quebec City. On the other hand, ... nothing against points east... but since I first began dreaming about a rail journey across Canada, the somewhat 'natural' inclination has been to imagine going west. [yes, we also have that fascination with the Rockies thing going on down here].


-- Visiting a Banff or Jasper or Chateau Lake Louise... I think... would be an awesome once in a lifetime experience, but I'm not sure that I'd need more than a night or 2, and I think I'd have to choose WHICH ONE it would be at, cuz I doubt there'd be time for more than one. Really, the 'main event' would be the train ride itself.


-- Having said that, even tho I'd have to say it's obvious that I'm leaning west, I have not ruled out Quebec City, Montreal, & a sort of 'best of Quebec' vacation that would include a look at the Saguenay Fjord.


Thank you all for being willing to engage me in discussion on this... which in the end will, no doubt, help my wife & I determine exactly what it is that we want to do.


T.M.

[Jon Calon jon.yg-E/[e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

So if you're wanting to visit/stay at any of the three hotels, here's my thoughts:

The Banff Springs Hotel is likely the best hotel from a variety of factors. But if it's the train trip that decides how you get there, it depends on which train you take. If you're on the Canadian, then to get to Banff or Lake Louise, you'll need to get yourself there via a bus or rental car. (Which can be readily booked from Edmonton or Jasper, and the trip on the icefields parkway between Jasper/Lake Louise is a real treat!) VIA only goes through Jasper and the Jasper Park Lodge isn't much to write home about... Don't get me wrong but Jasper is a much quieter Park than Banff is. The hotels show that fact off.

If you're on the Rocky Mountaineer, then all three destinations are open from the train, but those trains all focus on the Rockies and really don't go east of Calgary or Jasper.

If you want to discuss further, feel free to drop me a line.

Cheers,
Jon
Calgary, AB

Post by tmanwell-/***@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
-- Visiting a Banff or Jasper or Chateau Lake Louise... I think... would be an awesome once in a lifetime experience, but I'm not sure that I'd need more than a night or 2, and I think I'd have to choose WHICH ONE it would be at, cuz I doubt there'd be time for more than one. Really, the 'main event' would be the train ride itself.

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Posted by: Jon Calon <jon.yg-E/5X+***@public.gmane.org>
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