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I know this is an Amtrak forum but the forum related to this subject appears to be poorly attended. I am interested in taking just one luxury train trip, Grand Luxe, Trains Unlimited, other private car company. I know they are expensive. Have any of you ever done this? Is there a website to help find possible trips (other than the two company sites noted above)? Opinions please. If I took the Grand Luxe one I am interested in I would need to get to or from Jackson, Wyoming/Los Angeles. Is that possible by train???
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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(No, I've never indulged in one of these travel experiences. But I can dream, can't I?)
-------------------- --------Eric H. Bowen
Stop by my website: Streamliner Schedules - Historic timetables of the great trains of the past! Posts: 413 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: Mar 2006
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I guess it is mostly train, but interspsersed with motor coach (bus). The cost is up there...around $5400 for the 9 day excursion, for a "single sleeper". For a "parlor suite" sleeper (whatever that is) is is around $ 5800. I guess, when you compare it to a delux ocean cruiser it isn't too bad, but probably beyond my budget.
I really would like to try the "GoldLeaf" service on the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Jasper. I took the Mountaineer roughly 10 years ago, but they only had the standard service. The Goadleaf allows you to sip up in a dome car and they have a seperate dining car for the GoldLeaf service.
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I concur with Yukon11......I really, really someday want to do the Goldleaf service on the Rocky Mountaineer. I think I would rather do the Calgary to Vancouver trip though. Rocky Mountaineer is more affordable because the trip is not as long and you're sleeping in hotels. The train stops overnight.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by notelvis: I concur with Yukon11......I really, really someday want to do the Goldleaf service on the Rocky Mountaineer. I think I would rather do the Calgary to Vancouver trip though. Rocky Mountaineer is more affordable because the trip is not as long and you're sleeping in hotels. The train stops overnight.
*********************** If you haven't done the Canadian Rockies, David, just as a suggestion you might like the leg up to Jasper more than Banff/Calgary. We did enjoy going over to the Banff Springs Hotel, in Banff, and Lake Louise was a great spot to visit and hike around. I thought Banff and Calgary were a little too commercialized. Jasper was my favorite. It isn't as commercialized as Banff and a fun little town to just walk around in. There are also a lot of interesting places to visit around Jasper, such as Athabasca Falls, the Iceberg Parkway, and a large tram ride south of Jasper. Whether you go to Banff/Calgary or Jasper, the highway between Jasper and Lake Louise/Banff is one of the most scenic in the world.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Yukon, I totally agree with you. That ice fields highway is incredible. With each turn we were saying "oh my". The ice fields and glacier are a not to be missed experience. We have not been there for a while so some things have probably changed but we stayed in a cottage right in the middle of jasper. That town was our favorite too. I just got a video The Canadian Rockies by train and in that there were some sights of Jasper. BTW at the beginning they said the video was partially sponsored by Amtrak and the Coast Starlight. This video featured the Skeena and its route.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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I've got my eye on the Calgary leg of the Rocky Mountaineer simply from the vantage of getting 'new mileage'. My wife and I rode the 'Canadian' from Vancouver to Winnipeg in April 2004. Admittedly much of the great scenery was passed during the night but the route through Jasper is now in my journal as a 'done it'.
We would love to return to Jasper in warmer weather. Any trip on the Rocky Mountaineer is likely to include a side trip to Jasper.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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I visited Banff and Jasper Parks this past June, getting to Jasper on the Skeena from Prince Rupert, BC. That is a great two day rail trip, and a relative bargain. I too liked the town of Jasper better than Banff, but I did think that the scenery was more spectacular in Banff Park. Three tips: See Moraine Lake near Lake Louise - it is more beautiful than Lake Louise, and not as crowded. Also, check out the stretch of railroad track west of Lake Louise, along Route 1. It is a hangout for grizzly bears. Further along the same road is a viewpoint for the famous Spiral Tunnels. You can take some very interesting train photos there.
Posts: 133 | From: Canaan, CT | Registered: Dec 2004
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Great info people, thanks. I saw a repeat of the Skeena trip on Scenic Rail Journeys, PBS, last night. So beautiful. I have ended up booking an Amtrak trip - SW Chief LAX to CHI, side trip with Uncommon Journeys up the Lake Michigan coast, back to CHI, then on to MSP to see family, finally EB to Essex, MT, stay at Isaak Walton Inn for two nights, tour Glacier Park, move on on the EB to the CS and home from Portland. This will all be in late June. Have sleeper room 2 on all overnight legs. Will be taking the SL to NOL in January, a report on that will be forthcoming. Happy Holidays to all!
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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I think there a number of things to do and see in both the Jasper and Lake Louise/Banff. I did enjoy Lake Louise..we took the hike up to the "tea house" ...about a 45 min hike above the lake.I also enjoyed the short hike up to see Peytoe Lake...north of Lake Louise, very impressive with its turquoise color. I may be mistaken, but I believe the old train depot, at Lake Louise, was used for the train depot scene from the movie, "Dr. Zhivalgo". I wanted to get a chance to see Moraine Lake but we didn't have time.
One advantage of the Banff/Calgary leg, on the Rocky Mountaineer, is the ability to access the airport in Calgary. I believe it is a fairly long drive to the Edmonton airport from Jasper, I wonder if VIA will ever consider a train link bertween Edmonton and Calgary?
Another trip I would like is the new Fraser Discovery route from Whistler to Quesnel (overnight) then to Jasper the next day on the Rocky Mountainner. If I go again, I probably would take the VIA train from Vancouver to Jasper, then the Rocky Mountaineer "GoldLeaf" service from Jasper back to Vancouver. It has been a while since I was on the VIA and would like to try it, again.
One thing I did notice was the tremendous changes in weather in the Canadian Rockies. On our first trip the weather was quite pleasant, only getting cold after sundown. The 2nd time in Jasper, it was so cold the lifeguard at a local hot springs was wearing a parka. One enduring sight...which has imprinted in my mind, was the sunlight reflecting off Mt. Robson, on the Mountaineer back to Kamloops and Vancouver. It was near sundown and the whole peak, of Mt. Robson, turned a pink color.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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I think VIA would love to restore its Skeena back to terminating at Edmonton, rather than Jasper, just for the population and airport access for passengers at Edmonton. This is what I got from a VIA marketing rep a few years back. As a matter of fact, on a Skeena trip last year, I had heard it was a done deal - to commence running the Skeena to Edmonton in 2006. It was to be extended to Edmonton (from Jasper) and then reduce frequency back from 4x per week to 3x per week. The later ended up occurring (courtesy of Rocky Mountaineer's new service on the route I believe), but not the extension to Edmonton. VIA is operating a special winter snow train between Edmonton and Jasper. The Skeena is highly under-rated. It's a great trip - in Totem Deluxe that is!
As for your "luxury trip" my choice would be the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Banff or Calgary. This is rare mileage for most these days, as its the only regularly (if you want to call it that) scheduled passenger/tourist train to operate on the original CP transcon route (in the West). And definitely splurge for Gold Leaf Service. It's worth it! We rented a car in Banff and drove from Banff up the Icefield Parkway to Jasper where we eventually caught the westbound Canadian back to Vancouver. Many car rentals offer the one-way rental between Jasper and Banff, just watch if they charge you for mileage. They will certainly charge a drop fee - but it wasn't that bad, if I recall correctly.
The other route that just opened up on the Rocky Mountaineer - and that I highly recommend - is their Frasier River Discover Route (Jasper - Quesnel - Whistler). This traverses the former BC Rail Route (again this is now rare mileage with no more BC Passenger Rail). It's a spectacular ride as well. Lots of changes in scenery. Then from Whistler there's the Whistler Mountaineer to Vancouver. Again both the Frasier Discovery Route and Whistler Mountaineer come highly recommmended by this passenger.
I took the Frasier Discovery Route from Jasper to Whistler this past June. I think traffic is more heavier in the opposite direction (i.e. Whistler to Jasper). There were only about 12 of us in Gold Leaf. We had a great time though! It was like we had our own private rail car!
And I agree - I tend to like Jasper better than Banff these days. Jasper is like visiting a mini Banff, but still spectacular scenery all around.
Posts: 337 | Registered: Jun 2003
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