Top 14 tips for traveling across Canada + Canadian Travel info. /hotels/car rentals links!

• ****NEW click here for a review of the Canadian passenger railways a detailed trip report across Canada by rail excellent!
•  Important Super tip here: If you are intending to visit Canada from the US the Canadian $ has been dropping against the US $ by the day what this means to you is that Canadian travel is becoming cheaper by the day! For the best rates you should book with a Canadian Travel agent requesting that they use the Canadian $ prices and let your credit card do the conversion! and if flying do so on Canadian airlines to get the best prices! Current exchange rate info. below! ( You could save hundreds)
• #1. So you want to see Canada EHHH! You have some options lets see by boat no chance, they have not yet found an across Canada North West passage yet! ..............Plane, come on flying over it you miss it all + big $$$$ to land in each city no............. Drive!! OK for you, but not me, after a week at the wheel you won't feel like seeing to much, besides you have to drive back too! ............OK so the bus, wow quick convenient and a comfy night sleep...... NO Chance, ever slept on a bus ?? such great leg room and plenty of room to walk back to the bathroom! Get real! .................So the answer to the best way to see Canada obviously the Train,!!! Well you came to the right place. In April 1997 our family 3 kids mom & dad spent a month riding Via rail Canada's passenger train net-work all across Canada. We spent a lot of time researching and booking this trip & have plenty of tips to offer you! So read on. (note: when done the top 11 tips return to main menu for a review of our trip)
• #2. So you are taking the train to see all of Canada, great choice, the 1st thing you need is the "Trans-Canada Rail Guide" by Melissa Graham, Trailblazer Publications. This is an excellent little book available around the world that provides everything you need to book and organize your trip, details on how to get here etc., rail tables for the main routes, mileage guide pointing out history and what you are passing and tips and maps for most major cities, what to see where to stay and eat . This book will more then pay for itself, a must have for Canadian Rail travel. If your local book store can't find it; Contact Trailblazer by E-mail, , http://www.trailblazer-guides.com/ or write Trailblazer, The Old Manse, Tower Rd, Hindhead, Surrey, GU26 6SU, UK or call them at 01428-605797, in Canada you can order their publications from; the Canadian distributor - Raincoast Books in Vancouver (tel 604-323-7100), 8680 Cambie St, V6P 6M9 and the US distributor Seven Hills (tel513-381-3881) 49 Central Ave, Cincinnati. 45202
• #3. Before booking anything on Via Rail make sure you obtain and register each person that is traveling with a Via Preference card! Via Preference is like an Air Miles card only its a train miles card! Earn points for traveling and accommodation on the train and for car rental and Hotels. You only need to spend $500 (cdn. $ or approx. $350 US$) for 1 free return trip over a section of the railway, more points more trips. By booking with the Via Preference program you can pay for part of your trip and use your Via Preference for the last leg or your trip! For more information contact Via Rail and click on Via Preference or call 1-888-VIA-PREFER
• #4. The most economical way to travel is with a Can Rail pass; 12 days of unlimited train travel within a 30 day period, 3 extra days available for purchase, you also get a $15 phone pass, discounts on Hotels, Car rentals, tours. Excellent value. TIP use your Can Rail Pass for long trips; short of days! Try and arrange trips to make stops close to mid-night! (Can Rail passes count travel within a day Midnight to Midnight, any # of Via trains within one day) getting on close to midnight can be cheaper to buy a ticket between location you are boarding and the next stop after midnight, then use a day on your pass from there on.
• #5. The best way to travel on the main line routes is in Sleeper class,??? to expensive??? try this option; you can often purchase a bed just for the night if you are in coach class, which allowed use of the bed 10pm to 8am , shower and breakfast, (in the spring of 97 it cost $80 for a bed [big enough for 2 kids] ). Sleeper class has different names and services for each route; Between Vancouver & Toronto the mainline route you will be traveling on the "Canadian", sleeper class on this service is called "Silver and Blue", this is the most expensive (and popular) class on Via rail; but gives you all 1st class meals excellent service, use of the dome cars, access to the Park car lounge, bar service, a bed and use of the showers. On the Ocean route you have Eastern Class bed and breakfast.
• #6. Many of the best attractions Across Canada are the museums and science centers found in many larger cities, Purchase a year family pass at one of these museums/science centers and it will get you into most similar ones across Canada but also the US and around the world 200 in all!!! Best move we made especially with the kids on our cross Canada trip! The local family rate for a year is only $65 (about $45 US$) will pay for itself many times over! You can order a pass from the Vancouver Science World, Click here for more info. then click on Members at top of page! Be sure to ask for a list of places around the world that the pass is good for.
• #7. Want to see the best scenery in Canada; then you want to take the trip Between Vancouver /Kamloops/Banff/Calgary; only one problem Via Rail does the Vancouver to Kamloops section at night east and west bound (guess they don't want you to see the raging Rivers just over the edge below you the whole trip or the mountains hanging 2-3000 feet above you + many tunnels along the way) Stunning and spectacular you really don't want to miss this! Kamloops to Banff you pass through several mountain ranges to the heart of the Rockies in Banff, and Via no longer goes through Banff! Via used to run a train though here during the days but sold out; good thing for you though as you now have the opportunity to ride "The Most Spectacular Train Trip in the World" as billed by "Rocky Mountaineer Railtours" click here for more info. For my review of the Rocky Mountain Railtours trip click here! They do a 1st class job well worth the trip and the $'s. DON'T MISS IT get the hint! (Note they also offer a complete package "Trans Canada Rail Adventure" RMRT Vancouver to Banff, Bus tour through to Jasper and Via rail Silver and Blue service to Toronto.)
• #8. So hopefully I have convinced you to take the train Rocky Mountaineer no doubt; I would suggest that you take the trip Vancouver to Calgary, take a day to rest and check out Calgary ? (the famous Stampede in July). I personally recommend that you take the LRT transit south line from your down town hotel to Calgary Heritage Park (get there early for a free breakfast), busses right to the site just ask any bus driver. Next day rent a car and drive to the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology get a great view of the dinosaurs, (your science world pass gets you in here free,) then I highly recommend you head along the Dinosaur trail over the Bleriot Ferry up to Steller for a historic steam train ride includes a stop for dinner. Gives you a real feeling of early prairie life and an appreciation for the steam train that linked the country. Excellent dinner. (for my review of this trip click here). I recommend this trip as #1 for rail rides, #2 is Rocky Mountaineer! Next day catch a bus or early train back to Banff take a look around and a Bus tour up Ice fields parkway to Jasper, you can then board Via's Canadian east! ( Can also do trip in reverse)
• #9. If you are doing the return trip across Canada on Via Rail I recommend that you get off at Jasper and catch Via's Skeena train to Prince George/Prince Rupert it now runs through the day through several mountain ranges to the coast quite a view, then you can catch an Alaskan ferry North to Alaska or B.C. ferry south to Vancouver Island an all daylight trip, overnight at Port Hardy and a bus south down Vancouver Island, suggest you get off at Courtney for a bit of a stop and take Via's E&N train south to Nanaimo rent a car and drive to Pacific Rim National Park on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, on the way stop to see 800-1000 year old massive trees in Cathedral Grove. Head south to Victoria/train or bus from Nanaimo.
• #10. Want the best of tours of Canada (for the rich pocket book) 1st class all the way, (I could swear they read our cross Canada itinerary to prepare this trip they make all the best stops on this trip)! Prices $6930 to $10,960 for a 9 day trip all across Canada Vancouver to Montreal on the premier train "American Orient Express". I have some photos of the train on its cross Canada trip click here to view. For more info. contact American Orient Express or Travel Power Several other trips are offered all over North America, but the greatest demand is for Canadian trips July 3- Sept. 9 as the train runs across Canada and into the Maritimes.
• #11. To help plan your tour and for some great discounts (eg: we received free 1st class upgrade coupons for our whole family on 7 Via 1 trains on our cross Canada trip in April 97, ie: free meals 1st class too!, 1st to board, private lounges with snacks) order the free Rediscover Canada Vacation guide + ask for the free Rediscover Canada CD at 1-888-534-8401. Also recommend you contact each province that you plan to visit. Most have free information maps and discounts that will best help you plan your trip. Listed below by province are all the #'s West to East/North. You can click on the province for quick access to information, but order the maps and tour guides for the most info. ( you probably would prefer to carry a few brochures rather then your pc on your trip).
• #12 Via and Amtrak just started the North America Rail Pass; unlimited Rail travel anywhere or time on either Railway within 30 days. Unlimited stops at over 900 destinations within the 30 days. Travel up to 28,000 miles of North America. Click on either site above for more info......Suggestion; Travel across Canada on Via Rail to Vancouver and take Amtrak south then travel Amtrak over the historic rival Great Northern Railway back.
• E-mail me for more information or tips or if you would like me some further suggestions on traveling Canada??? Already booked your trip still E-mail me let me know what you are doing and your interests and I might be able to offer you some other suggestions to improve your trip this is a free service!

IMPORTANT: Call Rediscover Canada 1-888-447-4424 for free coupons and travel guides to Canada. Saved us over $500 on our cross Canada trip + received free 1st class up grade coupons including free meals for numerous trips on Via Rail

To obtain a complete set of current Via Rail Canadian Passenger Train Brochures & Schedules Fax your request to Via rail with your address at 1-800-304-4842

 Planning a train trip anywhere in Canada. Book with the West Coast Rail Tours 1-800-722-1233. Rail travel experts booking rail travel and operating special Rail adventures in Canada since 1961!

Canadian Passenger Railway timetables.........Canada index......Check out CyberRouter for your own custom driving guide from city to city anywhere in North America.....Check here for current US/Canadian dollar exchange rates, current weather and more links to information across Canada. ....Canadian info. search engine....Maps of everything including city street maps right across Canada, + locational maps of attractions. .......Rail Travel Center Escorted Canadian Rail tours.

Canadian Provinces; guides to attractions in each province.

(or try this site by Via Rail with other Canadian travel info. links)

For Canada wide wilderness and sightseeing adventures and maps visit; The Great Canadian Adventure Company

British Columbia 1-800-663-6000......... Travel B.C............Super Camping B.C........Search B.C. links to everything on the Web B.C. based!....Other BC Stuff

Alberta 1-800-661-8888

Saskatchewan 1-800-667-7191

Manitoba 1-800-665-0040

Ontario 1-800-ONTARIO or parks info. or Ontario Travel links..Attractions Ontario coupons!

Quebec 1-800-363-7777

New Brunswick 1-800-561-0123

Nova Scotia 1-800-565-0000......Nova Scotia video site!

The following do not have direct Via rail train service but can be accessed through connecting road/ferry/plane services.

Prince Edward Island 1-800-463-4PEI......or 1-888-PEI-PLAY.... Drive across new PEI bridge

Newfoundland/Labrador 1-800-563-NFLD ..........Ferry service from Nova Scotia

Yukon 1-800-78-YUKON..... .Other Yukon travel info.....take Via's Skeena to Prince Rupert then Alaska ferry to Skagway and train /bus to Yukon

Northwest Territories 1-800-661-0788

Nanavut 1-800-491-7910

Other Canadian travel attractions information:

For info. on Canadian Heritage sites contact 1-819-997-0055.........Attractions Canada info. on major Canadian attractions

Parks Canada 1-800-213-7275........Foreign Language for Travelers; tips.

Car Rentals:.....Budget....Avis..... Hertz ( a Via preference points partner earn free travel)

Hotels chains: CP Hotels (most built by Canadian Pacific Railways many years back)........Sandman.......Coast........Delta....... (The following 3 are Via preference points partners earn free travel with a stay); Best Western.......Novotel........Radisson. 1-800-333-3333.....Sheraton 1-800-325-3535....Holiday Inn 1-800-HOLIDAY

Also try this site by Via Rail with other Canadian travel info. links and information.

Information on rail travel around the world!

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