Rocky Mountaineer Train Review | Cost Breakdown | Is it worth the MONEY?
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11 ай бұрынThis video is about Rocky Mountaineer Train and the "Journey Through the Clouds" in 2023. We tell how to save money in 2024 on this amazing train journey. We give a full review of the train and its service. We explain the train's gold leaf and silver leaf service and our recommendations to save money on train travel in 2024.
We thoroughly enjoyed our 9-day/8-night train and bus journey that took us from Vancouver, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, Lake Louise, Banff National Park, and finally Calgary.
We hope you enjoy our review of the Rocky Mountaineer and some tips to save you money if you are planning this trip in 2024.
▶️ We started our channel to inspire and share our world travel lifestyle, adventures, and optimistic outlook on life with others. After completing a two-year journey in our Airstream to see all 50 states and 51 National Parks, we left to travel abroad. We have downsized our possessions and sold our home so that we can wander about with only the things in our backpacks.
We love living on the road, traveling each week to a new location. We plan to travel extensively to every part of the world. Ours is not a slow travel lifestyle but rather a vagabondish one. The goal is not to check a country off a list, but to experience it by meeting new people, seeing how others live, and making new friends. We believe in laughing, loving, and living our lives to the fullest.
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Video # 129
A special thanks to Rocky Mountaineer Railroad for helping us with some of the exterior shots of the train.
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@MakeYourBestMove 11 ай бұрын
4 years ago we did the Rocky Mountaineer Gold leaf from Vancouver to Jasper only. One of the best parts of the trip was getting to Vancouver for days early and enjoying all that Vancouver had to offer before getting on the train. We opted for Gold leaf because really wanted the full luxury experience for this part of the trip. We were not disappointed in any way. We picked the standard hotel since we knew it would only be an overnight. You are correct there is no need for dinner after all the food that they offer you all day long along with all the drinks. We did the rest of the trip on our own renting a car and a cabin along the river in Jasper we drove the entire Columbia icefield Parkway making the stop on the glacier and then opted to stay just outside of Banff in Canmore in a condo to save a little money on lodging and stay out of the huge crowds in Banff. We were traveling at the beginning of October so winter was beginning to set in and it was stunning. We were able to see all of the things that you mentioned and probably saved significant money on the portion of the trip from Jasper through Banff to Calgary. Having our own car on that portion gave us a lot more flexibility to spend extra time in the places that we really enjoyed. This was absolutely one of my very favorite trips of my life and the rocky mountaineer portion was 100% worth it.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Well stated and thanks for sharing your experience. Glad you had a wonderful trip. We certainly enjoyed it too. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@shajithanawaz766 11 ай бұрын
Love your travel adventures! Your energy and optimism is infectious!
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thank you so much!! Glad you are enjoying our channel. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@travelman677 11 ай бұрын
Great summary! We appreciate the honest evaluation of the train, excursions, and hotels. Very helpful.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful! Rocky Mountaineer was a great experience and hope you get to do it sometime. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@julialembcke6854 11 ай бұрын
Wow. I've never even considered this trip, but now it's on our bucket list! The train/bus is SO cool!!! Great information all the way around.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for following along with us. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@Jacktoll 11 ай бұрын
Hi guys....great job in breaking this adventure down! I'm sure it will help many people trying to decide how to best use their travel $$$$. It was great to see the others back home and hear about their experiences too. Safe travels and miss you. C&R
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks so much! We had a great time with the HR crew. ❤️ Thanks for watching and miss you guys. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@FunFoodie78 11 ай бұрын
John and Bev, My husband and I took advantage of this awesome experience this past May for his birthday, but we did the Rockies to the Red Rocks from Colorado to Utah. We also selected the gold leaf package. It was a wonderful experience of you are fortunate enough to do this trip. We did spend 2 days in Colorado and did my own DIY excursions and 2 days in Utah doing the same thing. Thank you both for sharing your honest review and great experience. I am glad you both enjoy this wonderful experience with friends.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Glad you had a great trip. Utah and Colorado are so beautiful as well. Thanks for following along with us. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@stlhsal 9 ай бұрын
John and Beth, it was great to have you on the Brewster Tour from Jasper to Lake Louise. It was wonderful to have you share with the other bus guests all about your adventures. Patrick
@RetirementTravelers 9 ай бұрын
Great to hear from you Patrick. We have fond memories of your bus ride through some amazing territory. Thanks again for a wonderful tour. Hope all is well in Canada. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@giorgismama8024 11 ай бұрын
Thank you for the great tips. This looks like a beautiful trip.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
It was! The Canadian Rockies are spectacular. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@claytonspann8032 11 ай бұрын
Thanks for another great video, much appreciate the insight as this is a trip on our to do list.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for following along with us. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@krism4139 11 ай бұрын
Excellent video!! Just hit the subscribe button! We are newly retired and trying to get ourselves into the spending/traveling mindset after all the years of saving. You packed a lot of info into 11 minutes. Thank you.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Awesome! Thank you! Congrats on your retirement and we hope you find our travel and retirement videos helpful. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@geograph-ology4343 10 ай бұрын
As another ex-Floridian who retired in 2019, I loved this video. It was well done and the information was something I needed because I have been contemplating the very same trip. I will take everything you advised into consideration for when my wife and I finally get around to finishing a trip to our last continent. Good work and unlike every other Floridian who moved to North Carolina, you guys seem to be traveling too much to settle down with the rest of the Florida ex-pats. Keep up the good work...er..correction... good retirement!
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Thanks. It is a "working" retirement, but we love it. Getting to experience the entire world is a dream come true for us. Glad the video was helpful to you. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@erinaustin9968 11 ай бұрын
We were in the Banff area in July too. Very crowded but we weren’t too disappointed because we had gone previously for a conference that spared no expense. This area is a bucket list location especially if you can get out and explore the outdoors. Thanks for the honest review.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks. It is a magnificent area. Glad you got to experience it. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@frankiethedrifters9973 11 ай бұрын
Great Video! Thanks for the info. We were thinking about taking a trip on the this train and this helped us decide.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful! Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@kimharris6649 11 ай бұрын
Great intel,thx!😊
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks. Glad it was helpful! Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@joycem2795 11 ай бұрын
Thank you for this video! This was very helpful for deciding how to book a trip on this train.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
That’s great. Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@rhondapelletier3036 11 ай бұрын
OMG you are my favorite you tubers! You do a excellent job on yr videos. ❤
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Wow, thank you! Much appreciated and so glad you are enjoying our channel. Safe travels and many blessings, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@rosemarie9956 10 ай бұрын
Really enjoyed your perspective on this trip. It is expensive as many have commented but most travel that involves this type of service is. A DIY version would save money but you would need to plan ahead and be willing to drive. Many people are willing to pay to have this stress removed and when you want to travel with a group. We would do the DIY now to see more of the area as we had the opportunity a few years ago to fly into Calgary and drive to Banff and stayed at the Banff Springs hotel. This was simply beautiful and the drive was stunning. So many places we want to visit. Looking forward to checking out your videos
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing. Safe travels and hope you enjoy our channel. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@maryflanagan3193 11 ай бұрын
Enjoyed your post. As a recent retired healthcare professional I am eager to start traveling when my husband retires next year
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks so much and hope you enjoy our channel. Good luck with retirement and safe travels. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@gazzafloss 11 ай бұрын
Hey folks, 100% agree with you on the cost and relative value of the fancy hotels. All thats needed is a clean reasonable room and bed with a clean bathroom, all the rest is superfluous to needs. We paid $1000/ night for a fancy hotel one stay in Singapore we were so disappointed with what we paid for a king bed and gold plated faucets in the bathroom and staff with a "superior attitude". Much happier with our regular $100/night clean queen bed room closer in to city center with chrome plated tap wear and friendly staff. Thanks for your "sage" travel advice, keep on traveling !
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Completely agree. Thanks for sharing your experience. Glad you are enjoying our channel. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@karinjones4380 11 ай бұрын
Thank you… I agree with your thinking on this!
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching! We are really DIY people, but had a great time with our friends. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@stephclark4715 29 күн бұрын
What an amazing review! Good work ❤
@RetirementTravelers 29 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@onecasual1 10 ай бұрын
Great insights! Really appreciate your honest review of hotels, excursions & overall train ride!
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@Milestonemonger 11 ай бұрын
Great info. Thank you.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful! Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers 11 ай бұрын
Defiantly a once in a lifetime journey! Thank you for showing us along and all the tips! I don’t think my frugal self would ever hit the book button. But thank you for sharing and taking us along! ~Cara 😊 (Plus; I would melt without A/C 😢)
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
It’s easier when you aren’t paying for a home or two! 😉 Just did the Norway Flam Train and Ferry through the fjords. You guys would love this and it’s easy on the pocketbook! John & Bev ❤️
@martinwhetter6041 11 ай бұрын
First off, I'd like to say that I'm a local and I've been to all the areas noted. Totally agree that you can do the trip in a more budget friendly manner and have just as good as of an experience. I almost fell out of my chair when I heard how expensive the hotels were in Jasper and Lake Louise. For the Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff & Calgary section I think renting a car or hiring a van (not sure of the cost) and booking your own hotels would be a good option if you don't mind doing the self guided thing. This is a trip of a life time if you like mountains, so however you choose to do it will be worth it. Good luck and safe travels.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing. You live in a beautiful area! John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@maryloua777 11 ай бұрын
I’ve taken 3 of the four RM tours. All were on silver leaf. The benefit was not having to walk up and down narrow winding stairs to get to the other level in the gold leaf. And I loved being served at my seat. For me the extra cost wasn’t justified especially because I wanted to avoid those narrow stairways. It was a great experience and the shoulder season does make a difference. My favs - the ice field on that glacier rover and crossing the American Rockies from Denver to Moab. But none of it was bad. I’d do it again in a heart beat. They even managed to satisfy my vegetarian tastes. Highly recommend this company and their tours. Great report.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Glad you had great experiences. Thanks for sharing. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@kitwong4033 11 ай бұрын
Very frank review. Visit the Canadian Rockies with a family of five many times by driving from Calgary. We will visit there again next year. Driving has its advantages too. We took many side excursions which buses and trains could not reach. Our children really enjoyed those side trips. Next year will only be my husband and I 😏, so we are considering taking the train from Vancouver to Calgary. Your vlog comes just in time for our planning. Thank you.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks and so glad it was helpful. We appreciate you following along with us. Safe travels and many blessings. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@jacquiweston4253 11 ай бұрын
Loved and agree with your assessment. As a previous tour guide, I experienced the train multiple times. A wonderful and equal experience in my mind on the Silver. I loved the extra excursions you also did - great choices, the money saved means more travel 👍😅
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing! And yes, more travel is better. 😀 Safe travels and hope you enjoy our channel. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@jamesabbott9301 10 ай бұрын
Thanks, good info!
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful! John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@jbcallender 11 ай бұрын
We took the Mountaineer Gold Leaf service, Banff to Vancouver at the and of July '23. We stayed at the Fairmont Palliser in Calgary, Rimrock Resort in Banff and Sandman hotel in Kamloops. The service was excellent and everything was first class in every way. We were completely satisfied. Hats off to Rocky Mountaineer.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
That’s great. So glad you enjoyed your trip. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@debbiericker8223 11 ай бұрын
Thank you a hundred times for this. $1,500 - $2,900 hotel upgrade to the Fairmont with no air conditioning? That's nuts! We've looked at this trip online and on YT videos several times. Yes, we can afford it, but the price seemed exorbitant for what you actually got. (We didn't accumulate our sizeable nest egg by being wasteful.) Also, there is no info on the website about the bus portion, so that seemed overpriced, too. After seeing how great Brewster Tours was for you, I'll definitely look at that kind of tour instead. We could take an entire other trip on the money we saved, but still have a great experience. Thanks again.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
So glad it was helpful. We like all levels of experiences around the world as we travel. We also like to find bargains. This is probably not something we would do, but it was special getting to do it with our friends. It does sound like our travel thoughts are similar, perhaps our paths will cross on the road someday. Thanks for sharing and safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@marthas8108 11 ай бұрын
"We didn't accumulate our sizeable nest egg by being wasteful." Bingo!
@caroleanne8529 8 ай бұрын
@@marthas8108 Yes!
@elizaC3024 11 ай бұрын
Thanks for the breakdown. In future videos continue to talk about the prices of locations. We want to travel more, but money is tight.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks and will do. Glad you found it helpful. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@lindab5789 11 ай бұрын
My husband and I have talked about taking one of these train trips for a long time, and it does ideed sound like a wonderful, pampering experience. However, we have visited almost all of these spots on our own, from Victoria to Calgary via car. And because we need to be conscious of how we spend our vacation dollar, DIY is a lot less expensive. So, your advice is solid, i.e. if you can afford it, go for it! Thanks for another good review!
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks and we agree about DIY. This is the way we normally travel, but it was nice spending time with friends in this case. Thanks for following along on our journey. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@JayandSarah 11 ай бұрын
Absolutely. This rail is a luxury experience and the price is according. We would not do it, regardless of price because it's not the type of experience we would want. But I have heard that is it, first class and outstanding.
@foopah 11 ай бұрын
Another great video. Thank you so much for doing these. It would be nice to get an on screen summary of the total cost breakdown.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching and thanks for the suggestion. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@bearisland55 11 ай бұрын
We splurged to take our mothers on the gold leaf trip to Banff. Wonderful train and staff. The food and the cider was great. The silver leaf customers came up to see our first class coach after we arrived in Banff and they looked so jealous. Gold leaf is the way to go!
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Glad you had a great trip. Thanks for sharing. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@Anonymous-One1 11 ай бұрын
Thank you for sharing your honest feedback regarding your trip. We are similar when it comes to hotel rooms. We usually go for something in the middle. Sometimes the lower end rooms are scary, such as holes in the blankets and cob webs - true story about a room we stayed at in San Francisco. We don't find it worth the money to stay at high end rooms, since we are usually out and about doing activities and don't spend much time in the room. Regarding wildlife - we live in Colorado and hike a lot. We are most concerned about getting attacked by a moose. They are big and can quickly have a bad temper. We don't have grizzly bears in Colorado, but if we did we would be as concerned about them as the moose. Just a tip for those who don't know.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks for the tip on moose! 🫎 Glad you found our feedback helpful. The Fairmont hotels are very expensive and we just don't need that for a great experience. Thanks for following along. Safe travels, John and Bev
@1603shadow 10 ай бұрын
I live in Kamloops BC & I see this train quite a lot, thank you for visiting my beautiful city.
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Thanks. You live in a beautiful part of the world. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@jdhsingi 11 ай бұрын
Wonderful insight..thank you for sharing. If I may, I would like to suggest a video specific to the different train tours that you have taken around the world. I think that many would find that very interesting.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Great suggestion! Thanks. Be sure to check out our video from the 3 New Zealand trains we rode earlier this year. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@clarkcalabrese292 10 ай бұрын
Love, Love, Love the Rocky Mountaineer!! Gold Leaf service is the best. Our trip was from Vancouver to Jasper but did not get to go to Jasper due to the wildfires. So, from Kamloops to Banff and for our inconvenience was given an extra night at Fairmount Banff Spring Hotel. Plus got a refund of just over $1,000 from RM for our inconvenience. Not bad at all.
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
That's awesome. So glad you had a great experience. Sorry to hear about the wildfires, but sounds like it turned out fine. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@jh276 10 ай бұрын
I am so glad I found your channel. Very honest review and enjoy the content. Thank you for such great effort! May I ask if there're other great alternatives to tour Rocky Mountain like this high-end luxury train but perhaps 1/2 the price (other train companies)? We live in Seattle and I plan to take my parents to visit Rocky Mountain and would love to ride in these dome trains if possible. Thank you again. Subscribed!
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Thanks and glad you liked our video. We know VIA rail in Canada has many routes, but we've only taken a few in the Quebec and Montreal area. Thanks for subscribing and hope you enjoy our channel. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@user-hb1wy5gk6x 10 ай бұрын
I am a tour manager who takes groups on the Rocky Mountaineer each year. I totally agree either your assessment of taking Silver Leaf and should season. Gold Leaf is not worth the extra cost. Scenery is the same and meal choices are superb. Save the $$ and go Silver Leaf
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing your experience as a tour manager. Very helpful. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@user-di6dd2xd7p 10 ай бұрын
We took the Rocky Mountaineer this past June (2023). Gold leaf. A little over $10k for the two of us. For us, the Gold leaf was worth it. You mentioned the lower level cards on silver had glass roofs too, but we did not see that. Our rooms were incredible - we were near the top floor overlooking Lake Louise and I have a sunrise photo that words can not describe. The only thing that went "wrong" for us, was the first day of our trip from Banff to Vancouver (we were reverse order of you) was overcast and rainy so we didn't see any of the beautiful views, but the bus you talked about made up for it. Like many others, we thought it was a week of trains, but it was really a week of bus with a day and 1/2 of train. But so wonderful, so beautiful, I'm not complaining. We went in reverse order to we could catch our Alaskan cruise a couple days after arriving in Vancouver. Expensive, but WELL WORTH IT. Your description was excellent !
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Excellent. So glad you enjoyed your RM journey. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@debbiewood7718 11 ай бұрын
Moose are outside my window regularly, glad you got to see one in the wild. The shoulder seasons might just be better times to travel. In May there are more animals in the valleys and less leaves on the trees so they are easier to spot. In the fall the deciduous trees will be changing colour. Jasper in September is my favorite time of year there. It will be colder so pack accordingly and plan to swim in the outdoor pool at Jasper Park Lodge.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks for the suggestions. It is such a beautiful area. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@deecharron3338 6 ай бұрын
Wow, im glad I found you guys 😊
@RetirementTravelers 6 ай бұрын
Were glad you found us too! ❤️ Hope you enjoy our channel and website. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@lizswinney2637 10 ай бұрын
I took this trip a few years ago. It was great. My trip was the last one from seattle to calgary. It was great. Kamloops hotel wasn't as good as other nights but lake louise was amazing. I enjoyed Banff so much.
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing and glad you had a great time. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@ellsrustia6329 4 ай бұрын
Excellent! From a retired couple in Ontario, Canada ❤
@RetirementTravelers 4 ай бұрын
Awesome! Thank you! Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@leannebree2459 11 ай бұрын
We did it super budget about 10 years ago, hired a car and drove. Loved it. We can’t afford the train - or Fairmont - prices but it is an option that is so rarely mentioned.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
That's a great way to do it. That is a beautiful part of the world and so glad you got to experience it. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@NZTiberius2023 11 ай бұрын
I wish we had done this. We thought we would have a different view of the scenery from the train, but I felt that really we saw less. Certainly didn't see any wildlife at all. We will go back though and hire a car!!
@jacquiweston4253 11 ай бұрын
@@NZTiberius2023 As a former Tour Director I did this drive every 2 weeks, great views. I never tire of it, now that I’m retired I only do it once every couple of years. Glad you enjoyed my beautiful country. Most of my passengers were from New Zealand or Britain.
@NZTiberius2023 11 ай бұрын
We did the silver leaf and stayed at the Fairmont hotels in 2014. TripAdvisor did warn us that really from the train all you see is trees and the odd bald eagle, we thought we knew better. It was a beautiful train, but we felt that we didn't have enough time in Jasper to appreciate our nice accommodation. We got in late (train had to allow freight trains to pass) and then we had to leave early on our coach tour the next day. Chateau Lake Louise was beautiful, but considering the price, we felt nickel and dimed for things like WiFi which we felt should have been included. The room was very small for the price and the only place to have dinner was in their very expensive restaurant. Also, the coach tour was fine, but we found it frustrating that the stops were very short and by the time everyone had gotten off the bus, there wasn't much time to see anything. For example there was a 2 hour round trip hike, but we could only see 15 mins of it. Coming from New Zealand, we were impressed with the quality of the roads in the Canadian Rockies and we'd love to go back, but we'd hire a car and experience at our own pace and use the mid-range accommodation. Banff is still our favourite place in the world. We opted out of the gondola, went down to the Banff canoe club (corner of Wolf and Caribou streets I believe) and hired canoe for a paddle on the Bow river. It was fantastic and one of our most favourite memories.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing your experiences! John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@JayandSarah 11 ай бұрын
A car is the best way to experience this area, hands down. That said, the price of lodging in Canada is outrageous. It is no wonder that the majority of tourists coming here now are just from wealthy countries, and a small group from there. Some of the most expensive tourism in the world.
@petermilburn5425 8 ай бұрын
We were supposed to go on the Rocky Mountaineer this past August. The trip was cancelled due to the wild fires. 1st time in 30 years they have cancelled. We are rebooked for August 2024. Can't wait for this trip!!!
@RetirementTravelers 8 ай бұрын
Sorry about the cancellation. Hope you have a great trip. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@user-xh5gd5vf2c 6 ай бұрын
Great advice. We too considered this excursion and discovered that a Viking riverboat cuise would cost less and give us a more memorable experience. You just confirmed our decision.
@RetirementTravelers 6 ай бұрын
Glad we could be helpful. We are doing a Viking cruise in 2025. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@user-xh5gd5vf2c 6 ай бұрын
We did the Blue Danube cruise from Passau to Budapest. If that's what you're planning, I strongly recommend you start at Passau and go south. The experience of arriving in Budapest at night resembles the love child of Cinderallas Castle and a Snow Globe. It should definitely be on your bucket list. @@RetirementTravelers
@VeldboerMike 11 ай бұрын
I would suggest taking the Rocky Mountaineer to the Rockies and then rent a car to spend at least a week there. There are actually 7 national parks in the Rockies and each has its own amazing views and things to do/see. The smaller parks such as Yoho and Kootney are actually many locals favourites because they give a much more intimate atmosphere. There are hundreds of hiking trails with different ranges of difficulties. The views are specular and the experiences are incredible. If you go to any of the visitor centres, you can find free maps and brochures with information on the more popular spots in each national park, along with info about the wild animals you may encounter. The Canadian Rockies is one of the easiest places to have a self-guided trip. Combined with the tours you can purchase, e.g. the Columbia ice field experience, you can get a much more diverse experience of the whole area.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks for the suggestions. Like we have said, we much prefer DIY travel and rarely do package tours. This was special because we were doing it with some friends. The Canadian Rockies are spectacular. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@denisriel5015 10 ай бұрын
Great video
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Thanks. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@jolenecreech7648 9 ай бұрын
You can see moose in the Grand Tetons and in Colorado! Driving through Banff and Jasper is the way to go! But the train ride does look nice! And all that food…oh my! ❤
@RetirementTravelers 9 ай бұрын
Thanks for the tips! That area is beautiful. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@croberts709 11 ай бұрын
We've been to all the places you described and an alternative, cheaper idea is to do it yourself. We rented a car in Montana and drove up to Banff and then the full length of the Icefield Parkway (amazing) and then spent time in Jasper. Way better to do it on your own, stopping where you want to stop and staying as long as you like. As for the train, the Via Rail does the same route between Jasper and Vancouver. The only difference is that they will travel through the night but we still saw incredible scenery on that route. We actually were on the Trans Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver which I would highly recommend. We did the driving trip in early September and the trans canadian in May. Great times to go with fewer crowds.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
We agree completely about the DIY. We've had this trip planned for 4 years with friends and couldn't get our money back. We've taken some Via Rail trains, but not the Jasper to Vancouver. Sounds like a better value. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@jimkiely1583 9 ай бұрын
We travelled from Ireland to Calgary and our wonderful tour operator Canadian sky provided us with the most breathtaking vacation possible.banff, lake Louise , rocky mountaineer gold leaf/ silver leaf hotels absolutely fine but definitely gold leaf on the rocky essential in my mind .the various trips to beautiful lakesabd vistas , Athabasca etc all included and to top it off Neptune suite in Holland America to Alaska all under €15,000 for us both ... magical Canada we will never forget you ❤
@RetirementTravelers 9 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing your experience in Canada and Alaska. That's awesome. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@gruncletim 11 ай бұрын
I love train travel, and would highly recommend it if the traveler is seeking to enjoy the journey as much as, or more than, their destination. In my opinion, it's just a much more relaxed way to travel. As far as the hotels are concerned, I never found myself spending any more time in the room than was necessary for sleeping, bathing, and changing clothes. When I'm traveling, I am out and about the town or countryside. As long as the room is clean and functional, I'm happy to pay a lower price.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Totally agree! Thanks for sharing your experience. We love traveling by train all over the world. We just spent some time in Scotland and decided to drive. Between driving on the left, narrow roads, large tour buses and rainy weather it was VERY stressful driving. Train travel is much more relaxing. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@lovehandr 10 ай бұрын
I went with a friend in 2019, in late April, so the start of the season. Our route was from Calgary to Vancouver via Banff and Lake Louise. We chose Silver Leaf, so we got the Silver Leaf discount and a significant early season discount. It was a great experience, meeting all our expectations. We had very nice accommodation in Calgary, Banff, Kamloops and Vancouver and stayed at the Chateau Lake Louise as well. Our Banff hotel was right in the centre of town, so I considered this a bit of a plus over the more remote luxury hotels. Going so early, it was chilly in the mountains and Lake Louise was still frozen over, but views were probably better with trees still not leafed out. If budget is of any concern, choose Silver Leaf. The service and food was still great.
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Thanks for confirming what we thought. We did Gold to be with our friends, but agree the Silver would have been more cost effective. Thanks for sharing. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@DarkpawTheWolf 9 ай бұрын
The other major difference between Silver and Gold leaf is that Gold gives you a fully OPEN area in the back of the car. So you can actually go outside and experience the trip directly exposed to nature while on the train. I think this was a huge part to leave out, as it's one of the biggest reasons to choose the Gold Leaf class.
@RetirementTravelers 9 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing that additional info. That open car is nice. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@ggreg2258 10 ай бұрын
It ay be a wonderful experience but it sounds like a heck of a lot of money for the product that you receive. Just before COVID, I took The Canadian from Vancouver to Toronto in a private room for one. Altho small the room was extremely nice and the bed was great. Meals for the four days were fantastic (fresh fish, lobster, filet, etc) and they changed every day at every meal. Entertainment every day with wine and beer tastings, lectures, etc etc. And my total cost for the crossing (remember this was 5 years ago) was $1450 USD. NIghts are aboard the train and not in hotels. But isn't the train like a moving hotel?? I would highly recommend The Canadian to anyone who loves train travel.
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Thanks so much for sharing. That sounds amazing and certainly more budget friendly. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@RossJohnsonVIA1 10 ай бұрын
My buddy and I did the Rocky mountaineer in gold leaf service april of 2018 we did the 2 day rail to Banff and added in a rental car for 2 days with drop off at Calgary airport. We did the rail only package Vancouver to Banff. We booked our own accommodation in Canmore Alberta just outside Banff national park. We did not take the extra day in Vancouver or the hotel night in Vancouver as we that is our home city. By booking our trip as rail only we paid around $2,600 cad for the train and next time we go we will go gold again. I was the special guest onboard our departure when we went in 2018 I got to press the foot whistle on the all aboard call and the bag pipe guy started playing as we boarded our train. I was recognized by Rocky mountaineer on this trip as a major rail rider who at that time had completed 84 trips on the Canadian (VIA’s transcontinental train) and I got all of Rocky mountaineer’s souvenirs after our travels as a special gift
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
The extra hotel nights certainly add a lot of cost. Thanks for sharing your experience and costs. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@hunterfitzgerald5415 10 ай бұрын
We did the Rocky Mountaineer in late July as well but went from Lake Louise to Vancouver. Pro tip… do it the way you did. Start in Vancouver and go east. The views improve as you go east. We ended in Vancouver sitting in rail yards waiting for train traffic to clear looking at the back end of ugly buildings. We did the top tier service on the train and mid level for hotels and were very pleased with all services. The Rocky Mountaineer staff made transitioning from train to hotels seamless. Great food too. Fantastic trip. Would highly recommend.
@hunterfitzgerald5415 10 ай бұрын
Edit… in Banff we stayed at the Rimrock hotel which is built into the side of a mountain. Absolutely gorgeous.
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Thanks for the edit. Banff is such a beautiful place. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Definitely agree that the views get better as you go east and thanks for the tip. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@margueritecox3645 9 ай бұрын
We took this trip in October and really enjoyed the silver leaf.the only thing I would change was supper served on the train.
@RetirementTravelers 9 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing. Glad you had a nice time. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@johnbilinski6830 10 ай бұрын
This is the first program of yours that I have had the pleasure to enjoy. Forgive me if this question has been asked and answered before. Do you quote prices in local currency or American dollars. Thank you.
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
So glad you found us. Hope you enjoy our channel. Everything is quoted in USD. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@BeanCruisers 11 ай бұрын
We are lucky we can drive our Scamp from Montana -> Banff -> Jasper -> Alaska. Train looks fun though! 👍
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Your way is much cheaper. 🤣 Keep traveling and enjoying life. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@Dina-vj6ps 11 ай бұрын
I took my parents on the same trip about 8 years ago and could only afford the Silver service. It was a great trip and we had great memories from the trip. I agree taking the Gold service is not worth it even if I was to do it again.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Glad you had a great trip. Thanks for watching. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@valorieb5229 11 ай бұрын
I took my mother on this trip and stayed in Fairmont Hotels.. Yes very expensive but well worth it. Now I realize I could have taken 3 trips for that 1 trip.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the trip with your mother. Special memories! Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@lrvogt1257 27 күн бұрын
Whether or not something is worth it is entirely subjective. Our gold leaf vacation journey from Vancouver to Banff and then a flight home from Calgary was pricey but the service from beginning to end was excellent. The four attendants on our car were personable, attentive, and extremely knowledgable about the land, the history, and the people of the area. The three chefs on our car did four seatings of 36 guests each day and the food was very good. The one hotel in Kamloops was adequate but comfortable. The other three hotels very nice indeed. Lake Louise was still frozen over in May 2024 but beautiful nonetheless. We are very pleased with our trip.
@RetirementTravelers 27 күн бұрын
Thanks for sharing your experience! John & Bev.
@hansdegroot8549 11 ай бұрын
Beautiful trip and great video. Thanks for sharing. I don't think I would ever spend so much money for a trip like that. How do you stay so slim? If I would make this trip, I think I'd hire a motor home for 10 days or so.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks. We like DIY better actually. We are on a DIY train trip now in Norway for about 1/10th the price and it is incredible. Slim?? 😳. We don't feel that slim. We eat too much, but we do lots of walking. Thanks for following along. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@hansdegroot8549 11 ай бұрын
@@RetirementTravelers So you went from Scotland to Norway? I've never been to Norway, but I've heard a lot about this beautiful country. My aunt lived there for a couple of years and her son (my nephew) lives there now. I can imagine making a train trip in Norway only in the southern part. I guess the most beautiful part of Norway is the west coast with its fjords. Friends of mine went to the Lofoten Islands last week. I'm looking forward to see their pictures and videos. Happy travelling to you.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
@@hansdegroot8549 Scotland to Faroe Islands to Norway. All 3 are beautiful places! John and Bev
@user-qd4hn6ct7h 10 ай бұрын
Definitely an amazing experience. We took the 12 day trip Vancouver to Vancouver on Gold Leaf with premium hotels along the way. I agree the hotels were beautiful but very overpriced for underwhelming rooms. In hindsight you don’t spend a great deal of time in the hotel. My only disappointment with Rocky Mountaineer was our second leg experience from Banff to Vancouver. Our carriage was not the beautiful one on your video which we had on our first train leg. It was obviously old rolling stock, fabric seats no automatic reclining feature and no power outlet. The viewing windows were considerably smaller and the window panel obscured the view. Carriage was definitely very dated. We paid the same rate for this experience and honestly felt like we’d been downgraded.
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Glad you had an amazing experience and thanks for sharing. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@radiusnorth1675 10 ай бұрын
Did you actually read their post? @@RetirementTravelers
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
@@radiusnorth1675 Yes, but should have commented on their frustration as well. Thanks. John and Bev
@bw5911 11 ай бұрын
Great video! Hey, I have an offer f topic question. I got the power cord you recommended. My return window closes in a week so just want to check-in and see if you are still loving it. Do all the usb and c ports work well? Is it working well in Europe? Can it handle charging a computer? Is it loosing it’s ability to still charge your devices? Thx u!!!!
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks. We’ve been in several countries in Europe for the past month and have had no issues. We are charging 2 Macs, 2 phones, 2 watches, 2 AirPods, and a bunch of camera batteries. Thanks for following along with us. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@bw5911 11 ай бұрын
Great to hear! thx u! @@RetirementTravelers
@davidchen92127 10 ай бұрын
I had doubts about how well the views are taking the Rocky Mt. Train. So we flew to Seattle rented a SUV drove to Vancouver then Rocky Mt highway 1 all the way to Banff. We took our time and stopped at many interesting places that train couldn’t possibly offer. Even saw Jason Momoa shooting an Apple TV in the wild. Stayed at different interesting hotels and eating different local food with Canadian Ice Wine. Then we drove south to Glacier NP and back to Seattle on the US side. It was much more fun, interesting and cheaper than the train, I think.
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
This is the way we would normally travel. Thanks for sharing. Sounds awesome. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@davidchen92127 10 ай бұрын
The interesting thing was that we walked right into the Apple TV "SEE" shooting set right by the railroad track near and at Old Alexandra Bridge in 2019. Jason Momoa was shooting a scene singing with guitar and two kids when Rocky Mt. train went by. We were standing just 15 ft away from them. Timing, someone radioed in that the train was coming by and rushed to shoot the scene, and Alfre Woodard was on the set too. I highly recommend visiting the Old Alexandra Bridge if you are nearby. Google Map it and you will see why.
@irishinusa1615 10 ай бұрын
Question: What is the difference in food between Gold and Silver? Great tips👍 we are foodies and are considering booking this trip in 2024. Thank you. Safe Travels ❤️
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Great question. We didn't take the silver, so we don't know for sure. We have heard the food is still very good on the silver, but not as many selections as gold. You also eat at your seat instead of going to a dining car. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@sailinglatis 11 ай бұрын
Awesome!! Thank you.I Live in Canada and it is on my bucket list. Do you know if u can cover most of the train experience route by road??? Go at ones own speed…thanks 🇨🇦
@leannebree2459 11 ай бұрын
Yes you can drive it and see the same things. In fact often while driving the route you can see the train.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Yes you can! This is certainly a lower cost option, but the train is a nice way to travel with a group of friends. A few years ago we visited all 50 states in the US by RV and loved the freedom of going at our own speed. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@gincherry 10 ай бұрын
the routes we were on went some places where you can't go by road and the view was fantastic. I'd do it again by tran.
@pinkpet25 11 ай бұрын
Hope you make it to Dorset, you can stay in my home. Would give you a tour by car to the sights. I’m British born, American raised in Los Angeles been living in U.K. since 2000. Love your adventures and have valued your tips. Stay safe, oh, my parents live in Sanford, FL not far from your base.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Maybe one day! Thanks so much for the kind offer. Glad you are enjoying our channel. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@A_Canadian_In_Poland 11 ай бұрын
Hotels in Canada are almost all middle-of-the-road. There really aren't many 1-star or 5-star options available (I often had to search for the 1-star motels when I was travelling Canada in my younger days). I was only willing to pay a 2-figure nightly rate...
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing. We don't like to spend a fortune on hotels. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@gr8bkset-524 11 ай бұрын
Kinda of expensive, especially if you're used to paying prices in other countries. I think a first class ticket for Trans Siberian railway is $1330.
@henrymerritt6703 8 ай бұрын
We took the RM this past October, from Lake Louise to Vancouver. Was it worth the money? Not really. Nice scenery, but if you've ever taken a train through the Alps, this isn't all that stunning. The food was Holiday Inn quality. And we spent a lot of time parked in train yards. After Kamloops, the scenery was mostly uninspiring. On the plus side, the staff was superb.
@RetirementTravelers 8 ай бұрын
Can't argue with anything you said. Thanks for sharing your experience. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@abdurRahmaN77.7 11 ай бұрын
Hey dear❤ i am your big fan😊😊 I always follow your video on youtube🥰 Are you looking for a professional KZfaq thumbnail designer at a low price?
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Thanks so much. Not looking at this time but will keep you in mind for future. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@harveyh3696 11 ай бұрын
Nice, but cost is waaay out of my league.
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
Understandable. This is not how we normally travel. We love visiting low cost countries and public transportation as well. Thanks for watching. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@autobotdiva9268 11 ай бұрын
Id like a train 🚆 travel experience but my 9 year old wouldn't lol
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Could be a bit long for a 9 year old. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@jimseviltwin1 10 ай бұрын
Canadian or U.S. dollars?
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
USD Thanks for asking! John & Bev www.retirementtravelers.com
@margaritatrinidad2407 5 ай бұрын
Retired and travelling, but this one is expensive!
@RetirementTravelers 5 ай бұрын
It is. Have you done the Flåm railroad in Norway? kzfaq.info/get/bejne/p9mFm9l5x7fMgKc.htmlsi=_h-K5GVledHFuO9F John & Bev
@margaritatrinidad2407 5 ай бұрын
@@RetirementTravelers we have not been to Norway, but hopefully while we can still walk properly we can visit. We are from Ontario, Canada and both retired. I am 68 and my husband is 73. We try to travel at least twice a year but we choose carefully for trips we can afford. Sadly, canada is a little expensive even for locals. We love your channel and we always watch your videos. We are learning a lot.
@starsrgood 8 ай бұрын
I would love to go on the Rocky Mountaineer but the idea of bus and train tour instead of just train turns me off of this companies tours.
@RetirementTravelers 8 ай бұрын
The Rocky Mountaineer is nice, but we think it is very expensive for the value compared to trains we have been on in Europe and New Zealand. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@sandralauzon9416 3 ай бұрын
Only 2 days on train...then in couch....paying $12,000...pass
@RetirementTravelers 3 ай бұрын
That was our take as well. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@Mochi-sn3ud 10 ай бұрын
So you do not sleep on the train? Na, not for me. I want to sleep on the train:)
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
No sleeping on the Rocky Mountaineer. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@thomasharhen2168 10 ай бұрын
$ 12 grand??????? Who can afford that ??? Maybe 5% of travelers!!!!
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
We agree it is very expensive, yet they stay pretty booked up a year in advance, so many people are taking it. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@DarkAngelBright 10 ай бұрын
too expensive
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
Agree. Not something that we are planning to repeat. There are lots of cheaper train options around the world. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@alikao8478 9 ай бұрын
Horrible service! Huge RIP-OFF! Will never travel with Rocky Mountaineer again! We didn't even get to ride the train. Gave us a two-day bus ride instead! Super devastated. Haven't even offered a refund and have been ignoring my messages too. Disgraceful company!!!
@RetirementTravelers 9 ай бұрын
Wow, so sorry to hear that. Completely unacceptable. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@thomasharhen2168 10 ай бұрын
Not worth it!!!!!! Sorry 😮
@RetirementTravelers 10 ай бұрын
This is not how we normally travel. We prefer DIY for better values. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@Ron-ws5lu 11 ай бұрын
A very overpriced journey!
@RetirementTravelers 11 ай бұрын
It is very expensive! John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
@shankarsarkar1799 5 ай бұрын
Great travel videos. I have travelled extensively throughout the Canadian Rockies and In British Columbia by car. Of course a different experience than train travel but certainly much more up close and personal and also a lot less expensive, even while staying at the top hotels and doing everything in style.
@RetirementTravelers 5 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing! We plan to do some more car traveling in Canada in the coming years. So many beautiful places. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@shankarsarkar1799 5 ай бұрын
I did research this train trip but opted to drive and see a whole lot more.
@RetirementTravelers 5 ай бұрын
We thought the views were better driving as well. Thanks for sharing. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
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