TRAVELER REVIEWS

There's no better way to learn what a trip is like than from the firsthand experiences of your fellow travelers, and our Traveler Reviews are the real deal—unbiased and unedited—giving you an honest appraisal of the experiences that await you on this trip.

Canadian Rail Adventure & the Rockies

The first part of the trip from Vancouver to Jasper was magnificent. Everything from the train (The RockyMountaineer) the food, the sightseeing , the great service was excellent. The accommodation on the train from Jasper to Toronto leaves much to be desired, especially when we learned what was available for more money (but we were never informed).

Canadian Rail Adventure & the Rockies

An excellent experience and adventure that appeals only to those who really want something different. Any tour group can contain a few unhappy members, which this one did, but for those who travel with an open mind, this was a great example of an unforgettable experience.

Canadian Rail Adventure & the Rockies

My wife and I had a wonderful trip. Alian our tour guide went way beyond his job for each and every person on the trip. We had get commendations, in the hotels and on both trains. This was so good that we have done this trip twice now. The hotels were outstanding service was unbelievable. Thank you, Vantage for wonderful memories.

Canadian Rail Adventure & the Rockies

Beautiful trip through the Rockies--highlight was Banff National Park.

Canadian Rail Adventure & the Rockies

Our cruise director Michelle did an outstanding job.

Trans-Canada Rail Odyssey & the Rockies

This tour was very relaxing, but never boring. A perfect combination. Hotels are top notch and train accommodations, while a challenge, are quite adequate. The scenery makes the trip and it never fails to provide beauty and pleasure.

Trans-Canada Rail Odyssey & the Rockies

This is two very different trips. The trip from Vancouver to Jasper is five star all the way. Simply incredible. The VIA Rail from Jasper to Toronto is not for everyone. First if you are over 200 lbs forget it the rooms are too small for you. If you need a walker or a cain forget it. We had two people fall and get hurt one 71 years old the other 85. If one person gets a chest cold on the train you will get it too. 75% of our members got a bad chest cold by the time we arrived in Toronto. 72 hours of sharing the same air in the train is a problem. I would do the first half of this trip many times, never the second half of the trip. Our travel guide was fantastic and the service on both trains was very good. The structure of the trip on VIA Rail is the problem with this. When we got to Toronto we were so sick we could not cnjoy the city and the beautiful King Edward Hotel -- all we wanted to do was sleep and go home. If you do the VIA get a B12 shot....and take tons of vitamins before you go and with you. It you do not get sick the trip is OK but not worth the premium price of the second half of this trip

Trans-Canada Rail Odyssey & the Rockies

Except for scenic Vancouver, the beautiful views and Gold Leaf travel on the Rocky Mountaineer and the awesome Banff experience (including the exceptional Rimrock Resort) ... this tour was a big disappointment, mostly because of the horrible 3-day train trip from Jasper to Toronto (from which there was no escape). I would have been even more disappointed if I had chosen the Red Leaf option on Rocky Mountaineer.

Trans-Canada Rail Odyssey & the Rockies

This was a superb trip. Our guide, John Chardine, was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The views of the Canadian Rockies are incredible and the Rocky Mountaineer was comfortable, the train crew took care of all our needs and the food was superb. This is a once in a lifetime trip and should be on your "bucket list".

Trans-Canada Rail Odyssey & the Rockies

Our trip started off a bit rocky, as the Rocky Mountaineer wasn't able to get to Vancouver to pick us up the first day due to a derailment of a freight train. However, Vantage stepped up to the plate and got us on a motorcoach to Kamloops, and we were taken to several spots that we would have missed had we been on the train. We went to Hells Gate and they provided us with tram tickets and $10.00 each for whatever we wanted at the shops in Hells Gate--also free beverage. We were able to buy a couple of so things as a rememberence of our experience. They also provided free lunch and beverages, and each person received a refund of so much per person--so all in all a positive experience. One we arrived at Kamloops they gave us a lovely buffet lunch then took us to our respective hotels. The hotel was downtown and very nice. We enjoyed the town then the next embarked on the RockyMountaineer,. What a great experience that was!!!! Super fun, and we were in Red Leaf Service. Our guide on the train even gifted my husband with a great Rocky Mountaineer train hat, as his birthday was that week. When we got to Banff we were taken to the beautiful Rimrock Hotel, which is superb. The whole trip was fantastic, and our guide Walter was excellent. I don't have room enough or time enough to tell the whole story, but suffice it to say it is a super great trip!!! Don't hesitate to book it, even with "problems" Vantage really took care of us and we appreciate it. Can't wait to book our next trip---don't know where yet, but know we will soon be enjoying ourselves with Vantage again!!!

Trans-Canada Rail Odyssey & the Rockies

this was "once in a lifetime" trip. Everything went extremely well. The other passengers were all extremely friendly, which helped a great deal. Our guide was most informative at every stop and answered all our questions. It made me appreciate Canada more than any other visit I have had.

Trans-Canada Rail Odyssey & the Rockies

Our trip started off a bit rocky, as the Rocky Mountaineer wasn't able to get to Vancouver to pick us up the first day due to a derailment of a freight train. However, Vantage stepped up to the plate and got us on a motorcoach to Kamloops, and we were taken to several spots that we would have missed had we been on the train. We went to Hells Gate and they provided us with tram tickets and $10.00 each for whatever we wanted at the shops in Hells Gate--also free beverage. We were able to buy a couple of so things as a rememberence of our experience. They also provided free lunch and beverages, and each person received a refund of so much per person--so all in all a positive experience. One we arrived at Kamloops they gave us a lovely buffet lunch then took us to our respective hotels. The hotel was downtown and very nice. We enjoyed the town then the next embarked on the RockyMountaineer,. What a great experience that was!!!! Super fun, and we were in Red Leaf Service. Our guide on the train even gifted my husband with a great Rocky Mountaineer train hat, as his birthday was that week. When we got to Banff we were taken to the beautiful Rimrock Hotel, which is superb. The whole trip was fantastic, and our guide Walter was excellent. I don't have room enough or time enough to tell the whole story, but suffice it to say it is a super great trip!!! Don't hesitate to book it, even with "problems" Vantage really took care of us and we appreciate it. Can't wait to book our next trip---don't know where yet, but know we will soon be enjoying ourselves with Vantage again!!!

Trans-Canada Rail Odyssey & the Rockies

Was an exceptional journey, hotels were excellent. Booking gold leaf on Rocky Mountaineer was best decision we made. Tour host made sure we were always fully briefed on upcoming sections of the journey. Trans-Canada Rail portion was very relaxing. This was a top notch tour and we would recommend it to anyone. On many tours we have felt rushed at times - but not on this one. The relaxed pace was great.

Trans-Canada Rail Odyssey & the Rockies

Was an exceptional journey, hotels were excellent. Booking gold leaf on Rocky Mountaineer was best decision we made. Tour host made sure we were always fully briefed on upcoming sections of the journey. Trans-Canada Rail portion was very relaxing. This was a top notch tour and we would recommend it to anyone. On many tours we have felt rushed at times - but not on this one. The relaxed pace was great.

Trans-Canada Rail Odyssey & the Rockies

The Rocky Mountaineer train was fun and interesting. The guides on our car were very knowledgeable and enjoyed what they did, which made the trip much more interesting. We were treated well. The scenery was beautiful -even though there had been a lot of rain, rivers were rushing, but still things were beautiful. We really enjoyed Banff. Great city. It rained some the day we went to Lake Louise, but still had a great time. The sun came out later and allowed us to enjoy the lift up the mountain. We took a bus to Jasper for the next leg of the trip. We were fortunate enough to see a momma bear and 3 cubs cross the road in front of us. We also saw other bears along the route to Jasper. The visit to the Columbia Ice Fields and the Athabasca Glacier was great. The vehicle we rode to the glacier was quite amazing. It was quite exciting to walk on the glacier. We then went on to Jasper - seeing beautiful mountain scenery and wildlife. The VIA train was an experience. The meals were great, the company was fun to be with, and the change in the landscape was quite interesting - now flat land, farms and lakes. We stopped in Winnipeg for train maintenance, and Annik led a group on a walking tour which was quite interesting. We arrived in Toronto,and toured the city by bus, A trip to Niagara Falls was again,interesting. Annik had made arrangements for a tour of a beautiful winery with wine tasting, and then a stop for lunch at a quaint orchard. Then on to Niagara. We toured the falls - just amazing!! Back to Toronto for our farewell dinner.The trip was great, people were great, scenery was wonderful, and Annik,our guide was amazing. She was fun, extremely knowledgeable and personable. All in all, it was a wonderful trip.

Trans-Canada Rail Odyssey & the Rockies

The Rocky Mountaineer train was fun and interesting. The guides on our car were very knowledgeable and enjoyed what they did, which made the trip much more interesting. We were treated well. The scenery was beautiful -even though there had been a lot of rain, rivers were rushing, but still things were beautiful. We really enjoyed Banff. Great city. It rained some the day we went to Lake Louise, but still had a great time. The sun came out later and allowed us to enjoy the lift up the mountain. We took a bus to Jasper for the next leg of the trip. We were fortunate enough to see a momma bear and 3 cubs cross the road in front of us. We also saw other bears along the route to Jasper. The visit to the Columbia Ice Fields and the Athabasca Glacier was great. The vehicle we rode to the glacier was quite amazing. It was quite exciting to walk on the glacier. We then went on to Jasper - seeing beautiful mountain scenery and wildlife. The VIA train was an experience. The meals were great, the company was fun to be with, and the change in the landscape was quite interesting - now flat land, farms and lakes. We stopped in Winnipeg for train maintenance, and Annik led a group on a walking tour which was quite interesting. We arrived in Toronto,and toured the city by bus, A trip to Niagara Falls was again,interesting. Annik had made arrangements for a tour of a beautiful winery with wine tasting, and then a stop for lunch at a quaint orchard. Then on to Niagara. We toured the falls - just amazing!! Back to Toronto for our farewell dinner.The trip was great, people were great, scenery was wonderful, and Annik,our guide was amazing. She was fun, extremely knowledgeable and personable. All in all, it was a wonderful trip.

Trans-Canada Rail Odyssey & the Rockies

This was a wonderful experienced. The first part of the trip we paid extra to ride in the dome car. The service was great, & the scenery was beautiful. The food service was very excellent. We stayed in extremely nice hotels. Banff was extremely scenic, & getting to walk on an iceburg was quite an experience. I enjoyed the end of the line at Toronto, especially the trip to Niagara Falls.

Trans-Canada Rail Odyssey & the Rockies

This was a wonderful experienced. The first part of the trip we paid extra to ride in the dome car. The service was great, & the scenery was beautiful. The food service was very excellent. We stayed in extremely nice hotels. Banff was extremely scenic, & getting to walk on an iceburg was quite an experience. I enjoyed the end of the line at Toronto, especially the trip to Niagara Falls.