Hi - My wife and I are planning a VIA Rail trans Canada trip in late September. We plan to travel the Silver and Blue Class. Can anyone tell us about the weather during late September, using a tour company vs going it alone, traveling east vs traveling west. Has anyone used Cartan
Tours? Any input will help

It's a big country re weather: http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadat..._in_canada.htm or http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/canadaweather.htm. But September isn't likely to be too extreme.

You can make online reservations on the Silver and Blue service (http://www.viarail.ca/classes/en_ser...voit_toja.html) without the aid of a tour company but it doesn't specifically say Silver and Blue on the VIA online booking site and then make tour plans after the train trip. But if a tour includes the train that might be a good idea. I tried a few dates for September on the VIA site and double and single bedrooms were sold out already. Some rooms might be set aside for tour companies.

What do you want to do before or after the train?

Where are you arriving from? I'd take it from Toronto to Jasper and see that area and then continue to Vancouver if you haven't seen the Rockies.

I enjoyed taking the Canadian both directions Toronto--> Vancouver and the reverse.

However, it was Toronto-->Vancouver that was most exciting for me because

1. I did this leg first.
2. I'd never been to Vancouver before, so there was always the anticipation of this city that loomed ahead.
3. The Rockies and BC Interior were so different from the terrain around Montreal where I live. I've lived in eastern Canada, the eastern USA and the UK; in Western Canada, the scenery, flora and fauna are so different... I would tend to recommend this direction to anyone Mississippi River east, if only for the sense of anticipation of approaching something one doesn't see every day (and especially if one's not been out west).

If you're from the US or Canadian West (or other boreal/mountainous location), I would recommend both directions equally.

I did the trip alone, using the excellent transit systems in Toronto and Vancouver to get to the train stations. I had a great time and met many interesting people (despite not being in a group) since the experience inspires social behaviour, especially in the Dome Car and dining car as travellers shared their backgrounds and excitement over all that they'd seen. Don't know anything about tours.

Best wishes, DAN

If you have not already stumbled on it, I'm sure you'll enjoy reading Dan's account of his cross-Canada trip by train:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34654108

I remember glancing at a VIA schedule the other day -- but I don't know where I placed it.

The answer to your main question depends on the amount of sunlight / daylight you have between Hinton, whioch is about where the mountains start, and Vancouver.

If you can find the schedule, you can figure this out. I think you're asleep part of the trip, either direction. And an hour doesn't make much difference; three hours could be a decision maker.

Remember, if you get off in Jasper, it will be a couple of days before the next train arrives to take you the rest of the way, I believe.

BAK

Thanks to all. We WERE planning on going the Vancover-Toronto route but based on your comments we are now planning Toronto-Vancouver train travel. Can anyone give hotel advice in the Jasper area?
Thanks again.

What's your accommodation price range?

Will you have a car or not?

The question about a car is relevant because some of Jasper's popular chalet-styel accommodations are a couple of miles outside of the town.

I do hope you'll have a car, because it's difficult to do justice to the Jasper area without a car.

However, if you don't have a car, you could do half-day tours or day tours with SunDog Tours.

In addition to that, there is a shuttle bus that connects Jasper townsite with the base of Whistlers Mountain, where you can catch a tram up the mountain.

Thanks Judy. We would like to stay under $150US/night. We prefer not to rent a car but we will rent if that is the best way to see the sights. Can you give us some sights to see – we plan to spend two days in the Jasper area. We checked out some tours that are “all-inclusive” but they seem to be expensive and may not be flexible.

The end of September is still the busy tourist season, although it is not as busy as July and August. Hotel prices will start to "soften" by then; in the peak season, they start at about C$200 (there is not much difference between the Cdn and US dollars now - only about 5%).

For more economical accommodations, you might want to try private home accommodation or Bed & Breakfast. A complete directory for Jasper is at <http://www.stayinjasper.com>. There is also a map of the town, showing the train station in the centre of town, and how the street addresses are laid out (low numbers at the north end of town, higher numbers at the south end). When you arrive in town with your luggage, you will probably want to take a taxi - fares anywhere in town are less than $10. The whole town is "walk-able" - it's only 2 miles long, but you may have a preference for being closer to the downtown area, which is on the 500 and 600 blocks of Connaught & Patricia streets (around the train station). Some home accommodation operators offer free pick-up and drop-off at the station too.

Hope this helps!

>>>>>>Can you give us some sights to see – we plan to spend two days in the Jasper area.<<<<<<

You could spend one day visiting Maligne Canyon, Maligne Lake and Mount Edith Cavell. An alternative to Mount Edith Cavell would be a ride in the tram up Whistlers Mountain.

On another day you might like to go part way down the Icefields Parkway (Hwy #93) and visit the Columbia Icefields. There you can ride an Ice Explorer vehicle onto the Athabasca Glacier if you wish.

On the way down Hwy #93, also stop at Athabasca Falls and Sunwapta Falls.

Nice to see you at Fodor's, krp329.

I was in Union Station in Toronto today when the announcer called passengers to board Via Train Number One, and listed themain stops from Toronto to Vancouver.

Sure sounded like a great trip -- even if I ws just listening to the announcer.

Have fun.

Take good books.

BAK

A friend and her extended family were just in Jasper and they enjoyed these places (and had a fabulous time):

"2 B&Bs that we had in Jasper and the rooms we requested:

(1) Gingerbread House, 801 Patricia Street, Jasper. 780-852-4743.
We paid $170 per night for 1 bedroom with 2 d beds and 1 with single bed, 1 bathroom.

(2) Dave and Honey's, 804 Turret Street,$170 pn, 780-852-4743. Again we paid $170 per night for the same number of rooms. But this space had 2 bathrooms. Dave was a really nice guy."

Thank to everyone – based on your input we decided not to go the escorted tour route. Instead we booked our train trip on the VIA Rail web site. We are from New Jersey, so we are flying out of Newark to Toronto. We will spend 2 ½ days in Jasper taking a few local tours – that should be enough for us – at least this time. After the train trip, we will spend a couple of days in Vancouver and then drive to Seattle for the plane ride home. Again thanks to everyone. Your suggestions and comments have been a real help.

Think you will really enjoy the trip. We've taken it twice. The Silver and Blue Class is very nice. The first time was part of our honeymoon when we went from Banff to Vancouver (VIA used the old Canadian Pacific route at that time). Beautiful trip through the rockies. Years (and a child later) we and several members of my family took it from Jasper to Toronto (after VIA changed to the current Canadian National route). Just as interesting - some mountains, the vast prairies through Saskatchewan, the rugged Canadian Shield, and lakes in Ontario. Food was very good, great staff. Take advantage of the domed Park observation cars - no better place to see sunrises and sunsets.

Have a great trip.