Hi, I am looking at taking our family of 10 (6 adults and 4 teens) on a train trip in Canada next August. I can plan a Caribbean trip easily, but I know nothing about train trips. Are we better off booking thru an agency or getting a rail pass and try to plan our own trip? What level of service do we need? Thanks, Owa

You can start by going to www.cpr.ca, the webiste for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Sounds like a wonderful imaginative idea! Bon Voyage...

LJ, CPR's trip through the Rockies costs C$6,600 person plus 6% GST for double occupancy. It makes the Rocky Mountaineer look affordable.

Owa, the most affordable passenger train in Canada is VIA Rail at

www.viarail.ca

Even VIA Rail is not all that cheap. At a minimum you would want a berth (bed) for each passenger in your party. I've heard that so called Comfort Class, which involves sitting in a chair that is not unlike a seat on an airplane, is uncomfortable if you do it for the length of time that it takes to get across Canada.

Hope that helps.

Judy, Thanks for your reply. You seem to be the expert on this forum and give lots of time to answer questions.

I saved a "USA Today" July 2006 article about the Rocky Mountaineer. It talks about a Fraser route added which allows, with the southern route, a complete circle of the mountains without repeating the same stretch twice. There is a "deluxe rockies rail" package for about $5,000. Is it worth it for the price, or should we try to book everything separately? Also, the article talks about too much idle time or just sitting. Our family likes to hike and explore. Yet, I don't want someone stuck with the driving. Thanks, Owa

Owa, I think your teens will feel that the train involves too much sitting. If you are into hiking, I think even the adults in your party will feel that way.

I've never been on a long distance train in Canada. But on the travel discussion forums I've read a couple of posts by people who previously worked for the Rocky Mountaineer. One fellow said that the train was better suited to people who were middle aged and older and who did not mind sitting for a long time. He said he did not think it was well suited to young, active people.

The traffic in the Canadian Rockies is light. It is very easy to drive there. Also, you do not have long stretches of driving, in the sense that you get out of your vehicle at scenic lookout points from time to time.

My website may give you an idea of what you can see in the Canadian Rockies:

http://groups.msn.com/CalgaryandCana...iesTravelTips/

If you really, truly want to be free of the hassle of driving, you might consider using the services of Paul, who operates Lone Wolf Tours. He specializes in small group tours. He would tailor the tour to what <b>your</b> travel party wants to see and do. You would not have to fit in with the fixed schedule of a large tour company, you would not be herded around with 30 other people, and so on:

http://www.lonewolftours.ca/

We seem to be assuming you want to be in the west.

You can also take a train from Toronto or Montreal to Halifax.

That said, the west is a whole lot more intresting, and has more opportunities for hiking, etc.

BAK

The reason for &quot;just sitting&quot; is usually the fact that freight has priority over passengers, so you might find your train stationary for long periods waiting for a freight train to pass/clear the section/whatever. No way around it, unless you want to hop a freight (not a good idea).

Thanks everyone for your input. I have decided after the replies and reading other posts that our family is not suited to so much sitting. I love planning trips. I was finding my heart wasn't into either a cruise or a train trip. Since we are paying for this trip, I decided we will go to the Caribbean. We'll snorkel and hike. Thanks again. Owa

owa
Before you give up on your train trip.
I have spent the last 4 months putting together our anniversary train trip for next June. Thanks to the input from many contributors, especially Judy, I have put together a great trip from Toronto (VIARAIL) to Jasper, three night layover) to Banff, etc. back aboard to Vancouver for one overnight, two nights in Victoria, Clipper to Seattle for one night, Coastal starlight to Emeryville California, board Amtrak through Colorado back to Milwaukee. If this trip is half the fun it has been in planning it, this will be even better than my Africa trip. Don't not do it. I put everything together and had our travel agent book it, just for assurance. Amtrak/ViaRail offer some nice packages. Lower car essential do to exagerated sway in upper car. Sleeper critical.
Healthone

Or just go to the Rockies anyway and stay in a hotel - I gotta think the hiking is better than the Carbibbean.