Canadian Train Vacations - www.canadiantrainvacations.com

Our trip was beautifully managed, save for the inexplicable "loss" of some 10+ hours on our train schedule between Jasper and Toronto (due to endless goods trains sidelining our passenger train). Our hotels were fabulous, the transfers from train to and from the hotels went like clockwork, and the journey overall was quite wonderful. Our particular favorite was Fiona Scott, a marvelous manager from start to finish, and a person we highly recommend to anyone interested in training about the great Canadian nation.

Loved Vancouver and Victoria. Hotel was super first class.It was a very long day to Victoria. but lots of fun and we had a really good group of people.

The train trip to jasper was fine after I was able to obtain a room.

Food on the train was excellent.

Off at jasper overnight at the jasper lodge. Fun. 9 am the next am we were off through the jasper national forest and touring. Trip was excellent, great guides. Arrived at the banff springs hotel to find out of 11restaurants, only 2 were open during our stay of 2days.

We went on great tours .the glacier trip was a highlight.

Went swimming at both banff and jasper.

Back to jasper for the next night and a tour the next day before boarding the train for 3nights to Toronto. We flew home from Toronto later that day.

Would have liked to understand the size of the rooms on the train before we agreed to the trip.

Great food, Competent and enthusiastic service from the staff and outstanding scenery made this two day trip from Jasper to Vancouver one of the best we have been on.

From the champagne and appies welcome, to the chocolate on my pillow at night and the opportunity to really see this country from ground level- OK, up a few feet, we had a great journey from Vancouver to Toronto with a short break in Jasper. One night's entertainment was watching a lightning storm on the prairies from the dome car at the rear of the train. It was spectacular from lightning streaking to the ground to layers of clouds illuminated by shafts of electricity.

The meals provided an opportunity to talk to many different people at the tables for 4 at each meal, and the food was wonderful. The staff were always helpful and courteous when trying to accommodate individual needs.

I have always heard about the grain elevators, such a symbol of an agricultural way of life but I had to stop counting after about 15. It was sad to see so many of them neglected or derelict by the side of the tracks.

We had plenty of time to study modern freight cars in some detail though.

Our holiday was a journey to remember.

We crossed Canada from Vancouver to Halifax by train, 20 days -- some nights in sleeper car -- some in hotels -- and day tours in different cities -- bus -- boat -- train. The trip was very well planned for us. We were given an itinerary which told us all we needed to know for each day -- what time we'd be picked up -- where we'd be going -- whether tips were included or not -- whether there would be meals or not on that day. It all went like clockwork (except for the train schedules, where we learned that in Canada freight takes precedence over passengers--but they even made up for the delays with an extra meal, treats, etc.) Included meals were very good. Our hotels were almost all very, very good, clean, attractive (there was only one that we thought was bad -- but most were better than expected -- and a few were so great we took pictures of the rooms). It was kind of a long time on trains -- but we usually like to see as much as we can in a period of time -- so it worked very well for that. Fresh Tracks Canada was great to work with. Amazing how such a long trip, with so many stops and moves and tours could go so smoothly, but it did. They did all the planning for us -- all the transportation -- everything. All we had to do was show up and check in and out of hotels and trains.

I loved seeing Canada by rail;it was an experience I wouldn't trade and I'm so glad I spent part of my vacation with Via Rail. My train car accommodations were clean and comfortable. The food was excellent and the train staff were pleasant and always helpful. The train even slowed down as we passed some beautiful sites so we could get good pictures! I would recommend the trip to friends. The only thing to keep in mind is that if you get sick in a car when reading, you will most likely get sick while reading on a moving train.

We have heard of the trans-canadian railway trip via media documentaries and word of mouth. It was

dutifully entered into the bucket list of trips to take, and indeed relive days of the past when the railroad

was the chief mode of transportation in the U.S.

The journey fromVancouver to Banff was awesome, and the vistas spectacular. Our servers onboard kept

everyone well fed, and in good humor for the entire first leg into Banff. Every where we turned in the mountains we had another, "gosh look at that," moment.

The transport changed from Banff to Jasper, but not the adventure. We had the services of a very knowledgeable

guide who showed us places we would never have dreamed of looking for on our own. Awesome!

The journey from Jasper across

eastern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario was not as dramatic scenery wise certainly, but the

beauty of the flowering grain fields created a peaceful scenario that was truly enjoyable.

The final big event for us was the view of Niagara Falls, both from above and from the Maid of the Mist.

Extraordinary.

Our Hotels along the way were first rate and the service from your hired hands was out of sight. We were

fearful that our late arrival at Vancouver would cause some problems, but your guy was patiently waiting

and, gave us a two in the morning tour of Vancouver on the way to our Hotel. THANKS FOR THE ADVENTURE

The tour agency we worked with, Fresh Tracks Canada, did an outstanding job. All details were in the information provided to us. Every activity was accurately described and our tour pickups and transfer went like clockwork. We were met by guides or transportation at all locations that we were staying or traveling from or to. Everything was spelled out in detail and everything occurred according to the details in the information provided to us.

Now the not so good side of the travel experience. Passenger train travel in Canada is at a very low priority relative to freight traffic. We started our trip in Toronto and were to board the train at 10 PM. However, due to heavy freight traffic our passenger train was delayed and we did not board the train until 1:30 AM and left the station at 2 AM; not a good start. Fortunately we had the sleeper car with a separate toilet room that allowed us to not have to travel the hallway in the early hours to use the toilet. The room, though was very small. It was difficult for two people to get dressed simultaneously. We had to dress in shifts: one person dressed while the other stayed in the lower bed and waited their turn.

Our trip on VIA Rail to Jasper was uneventful except for the relatively poor service for our sleeper compartment. The beds were properly made up but neither the sink or the trash container were cleaned or emptied. I intentionally left a trash container on its side with a plastic water bottle on the floor next to the container. When we returned to our room the beds were made up but the trash container and the plastic bottle were still on the floor. In addition, the upstairs dome car had spotty service. The service on the first leg was very good; the attendant was very attentive and provided drinks and snacks on a regular basis and always kept the car tidy. There was a change of attendants about halfway to Jasper and the new attendant was very rarely seen. There were empty glasses and plastic bottles that were left in the car overnight and through the next day and very little service in the form of drinks or snacks. The food served and food service provided on VIA Rail was very good; this took some of the sting out of the negatives we had experienced.

The accommodations and services in Jasper, Lake Louise, and Banff were outstanding as was the transportation and tours in those areas.

The conflict between freight and passenger train traffic showed up again in our trip on the Rocky Mountaineer to Kamloops. The train was two hours late at the Banff station. We were to leave at 10 AM. We didn't leave until about noon. Then the horrible experience with the train scheduling recurred. We were moved onto spurs or side tracks very frequently. What was supposed to be an 8 hour trip took 13 and 1/2 hours. It was a terrible experience.

The only saving grace was the outstanding train cars and service personnel of the Rocky Mountaineer. Constant attention to the passenger needs for either food or drinks was provided by the service staff. The food was very good as was the service.

The trip from Kamloops to Vancouver went without a hitch and all was well again. The service was great as were the meals served.

Our stay in Vancouver and a trip to Whistler were outstanding experiences. All food, service, tours, and service personnel were excellent.

Overall our experience with Fresh Tracks personnel was exceptional, who steered us through the arrangements before embarking on the trip.

In spite of not being able to get to Banff and Lake Louise, we had a great time in Jasper. We found an owner of a taxi company willing to take us all around to several different locations for photos. He lived in the area so he knew where to take us. Freshtracks kept in tpuch with us and booked some great tours. I think they did an excellent job of helping us when there were problems getting into the hotels due to the flooding and influx of tourists.

All in all, our time in Jasper and the Rocky Mountaineer railroad trip were great. We were lucky to be upgraded

to the gold service so that was a surprise and a lot more fun.

I would recommend Freshtracks as a great company to organize one's trip to Canada.

Thanks,

Dianne Graham

Great & Enjoyable Experience! From the initial enquiry from Australia to the end of the actual tour, everything was Spot On. Had no problems with pick ups or train transfers or the hotels. Everything was delivered by Package Mail to Australia on time, prior to our departure. The hotel itinerary was chalked out perfectly. They are a credit to your organisation! I would definitely recommend your Organisation to my friends. Thank you very much for a hassle-free and enjoyable time we had on the tours and the Tour Guides who were very knowledgeable and courteous.

Regards, Gulu