We may have the opportunity to take the CANADIAN next year from Toronto to Vancouver. Since this would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, any recommendations as to the best accomodations on-board? Anything to stay away from?
I hope you do have the opportunity. That is a fantastic trip, which I hope to take myself soon. While I haven't ridden the Canadian, I have ridden many of VIA's trains, so I'll offer a little advice.
VIA offers a variety of services on the Canadian, from basic Economy class (where you just have a coach seat...not the best for a 4 day trip!), and several sleeping accommodations. You can read more about them on VIA Rail's website here: http://www.viarail.ca/en/trains/rockies-and-pacific/toronto-vancouver-canadian/train-cars
On that page you can check out all the accommodations and class structures on the Canadian, and see 360º photos of the different options. I would recommend, if you can (especially for a once in a lifetime experience!) that you try to get a Cabin for 2 (double bedroom), or especially the large cabin for 2 in the Park car (VIA's flagship Dome-Observation car).
Either way, if you want the best experience you'll want to book in Sleeper Touring Class, which will give you all your meals included in the ticket price. The food on VIA Rail is very good, and on board the Canadian much of it is cooked on board in the old Budd diner.
Touring class also gives you access to the Park car, which is really nice.
Obviously, the trip can get pricey as you get into the better accommodations, but you have do decide what works for you. Check around on VIA's site. The range of possible accommodations offers the ability to get a trip that matches your desires, or your budget, with some degree of flexibility.
I'm sure you won't regret the trip. I don't really know what to advise you against....the only thing I'd say is don't go in economy coach if you are willing to pay more. Ideally again, the double bedroom is really your best, especially the large Park car ones (but there are only a few of those available).
-Tim
If you make your reservation early enough, you may be able to travel in the "cabin for three" in the Park Car. This room has two lower berths and one upper berth. Of course, if your room is in the Park Car, you have to go up to the next car to take a shower, since there is no shower facility in this car.
The least expensive sleeping accomodation is, of course, the section (which has no lavatory facility at all, but the sections are right next to the public lavatories. If you take a cabin for two, try to get a room F in a Manor car, for this is really a compartment and not a bedroom, and is a little larger than the other cabins for two.
Altogether, my wife and I have enjoyed two trips each way between Vancouver and Toronto, stopping in Jasper once each way.
Johnny
GO FOR IT! You'll never be sorry.
My wife and I rode the Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver a number of years ago. The only trip I've enjoyed more was in MS Zuiderdam from Barcelona to Venice with several stops in between.
I had wanted to book a compartment ("cabin for three"?) on the Canadian but, thanks to my typical last minute planning, none was available. I did manage two adjacent bedrooms with the separating wall folded back to make one large room. Yeah, it cost a bit more than a compartment would have but we felt it was worth it. We had plenty of room and could leave one lower berth down during the day for napping.
We went in late October and should have gone a bit earlier for the fall foliage or a bit later for winter scenery. As it was, there was enough snow in western Ontario to make one night a memorable trip through a "Winter Wonderland". I guess if we had gone later, we would have run the risk of getting too much snow in the upper elevations so maybe late October wasn't so bad.
ChuckAllen, TX
The "cabin for three" in the Park car used to be called a "Drawing Room" in olden times.
Travelling alone I preferred a lower berth over a roomette since the toilet was rather easier to access. Sure you had to have some clothes on to nip across, but trying to swing the bed up in a roomette without also backing into the corridor was a real challenge. But a bedroom will provide more comfort for the long trip.
John
I rode the old CP "Canadian" and that was a fantastic trip, the scenery is awesome. We went from Winnipeg to Banff, stayed a few days and on to Vancouver. We returned via CN, I think it was called "Super Continental" to Jasper, off for a few days and back to Winnipeg.
We had old style Pullman berths on CP and special recliner coach seats on CN.
I've never ridden VIA, so I don't know anything about them, but if they are anything like Amtrak, it should be good. I have taken long-distance on Amtrak Empire Builder, Coast Starlight and Southwest Chief.
But the trip is well worth going just for the scenery. I've been to the Alps and it does not compare to Lake Louise and the Canadian Rockies. And there's no better way to see it than by train.
Sunnyland I rode the old CP "Canadian" and that was a fantastic trip, the scenery is awesome. We went from Winnipeg to Banff, stayed a few days and on to Vancouver. We returned via CN, I think it was called "Super Continental" to Jasper, off for a few days and back to Winnipeg.
Only thing to keep in mind here is that the VIA Canadian now takes the Northern CN route instead of the CP one, so up through Jasper instead of Banff. It's largely the route that was used by the CN (and later VIA) Super Continental (yes, you had the name right), before that train was finally canceled in 1990 (it had previously been canceled in 1981, but briefly revived from 1985-1990).
We take an annual trip from Toronto to Vancouver on VIA's Canadian and have always booked upper and lower berths, yes, just like the old movies with the ladder & curtains! These are the biggest beds on the train, you travel parallel to the train movement and it is very comfortable. We are in our 70's but still able to dress/undress on the beds and with a shower just around the corner and a good sized bathroom really very close by, it has worked well for 8 years for us. If you reserve early and can book & pay early, the price off season is extremely good. If, however, you want to travel in season, and you want to spend the money, that Park car room comes highly recommended by friends who have used it. One of the best rail trips on the planet even after VIA stretched it out to 4 days.
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