Hi I've booked to go on the Trans-Canada Odyssey departing Vancouver on Saturday 28 June. Just wondering if anyone had been on this particular tour before and if so any tips offered would be appreciated by this single-traveller.

Hi Chele. I've noticed no one has replied to you. I'm Canadian and have travelled across the country, so I might be able to give you some tips.

I've looked at the itinerary and I can honestly tell you it is very impressive. You start in Vancouver, which is one of the beautiful cities of the world. It is green and lush and has a spectacular mountain backdrop. Your hotel is in the harbour area. I don't know the hotel personally, but the harbor area is very nice. You'll be near huge Stanley Park, which is a nice place to go for a walk and a fabulous jogging area.

I don't know much about the Sunshine Coast, but Victoria is beautiful. It's also veddy British, and the Butchart Gardens are spectacular.

Banff and Lake Louise are fantastic. You'll be staying at the Banff Springs Hotel. I haven't stayed there myself, but I do know that it's very famous and first-class.

I can't give you a first-hand comment on the Canadian Train that you're taking, but I want to take the train myself. You'll be travelling through the Prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. They're really flat and you can only spend so much time staring at wheat, but the train ride will be enjoyable.

The Hilton Hotel in Toronto is nice and very centrally located. My personal favourite museum on Museum Row is the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). They have very interesting Egyptian sarcophagi and other exhibits.

The Maid of the Mist boar ride at Niagara Falls is great fun and the falls are beautiful. The City of Niagara Falls has a lot of amusements, but don't look for any culture.

If you have any time after the tour, come to Ottawa, which is where I live. It's the national capital and a great place to be in the summertime; it's five hours by train from Toronto. Montreal is a beautiful city, only two hours from Ottawa and Quebec City is three hours from Montreal, and is the most European-style city in North America. I would recommend going on from there to the Maritime provinces, but that all depends on your time and resources.
All in all, it sounds like a fantastic trip, and is one I would recommend to a lot of my friends who haven't seen the country. I hope you enjoy it.

We made this trip in 2006- my report is somewhere on this site!! Email me if you wish to...

We have taken the Rockymountaineer Rail Tour from Vancouver to Calgary in September, 2004. It was outstanding. If this train is part of your tour, be sure to book gold leaf service which is first class. All drinks for 2 days are included including alcoholic.

Expofan thanks for all that information - always good to hear from someone who lives in the country give recommendations on what to see and do. Unfortunately I won't have time to go to Ottawa - I have a friend in Chicago who I have never visited so I'm going there instead. I was sort of thinking that Ottawa and Quebec City would be worth doing in another trip where I would spend more time on eastern side of Canada.

Thanks again for the info you have given me.

You're welcome, Chele. Chicago is a great city to visit, too. Enjoy your vacation.

Don't forget that Quebec City is celebrating their 400th anniversary this year and there will be lots of activities going on. We visited in 2006 and will not be able to go back this year.