All prices listed are on a per person basis.
 |
|
 |
| |
| |
Oct 23, 09
to
Oct 24, 09 | $5,635
to
$5,635 | $5,635
to
$5,635 |
|
Oct 25, 09
to
Nov 10, 09 | $5,844
to
$5,844 | $5,844
to
$5,844 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
- Triple, quad and children rates available upon request.
- Above pricing does not include 5% Federal Government Goods & Services tax (GST)
Hi, Chris:
Mary and I enjoyed our two nights at the Delta Winnipeg, which was a very nice hotel at a very decent rate, and very convenient for our walking tours of the downtown. The Tundra Inn was quite adequate—clean and with a hot shower. It was basic, but certainly what one should expect in a place like Churchill.
Dave Reid, the Frontiers North tour guide, was outstanding, and more than helpful in resolving a room problem, and also in rescheduling our return flight. Glenn Hopfner was our Tundra Buggy Driver/Guide, and he was also outstanding (he’s written a book on his experiences). We saw lots of bears during our two days on the Buggy, one, as they say, “up close and personal.” We also saw red fox (on the 1st day bus tour) arctic fox, arctic hare, ptarmigans, many waterfowl and some raptors. The scenery was beautiful, and we saw and learned lots about the area, in addition to the bears.
The train ride was an interesting experience, and the food was excellent. The negative was that it was nowhere near the schedule. When you and I talked you indicated it was frequently an hour late, on rare occasions six hours late. Our arrival was. Coupled with boarding at 9:30 PM for an estimated 3 AM departure, this meant we were actually on the train just over 48 hours, arriving in Winnipeg 10PM two days later, 13.5 hours behind schedule. Fortunately we got wind of significant delays before we left Winnipeg, even though direct inquiry of VIA Rail was not at all forthcoming. We were able to change our return flight from Thursday to Friday. Dave Reid handled this for us and United was accommodating in not charging any fees (since we travelled on miles I wasn’t sure this could be done). According to the Bear Season newspaper, the rail line was shut down for 3 days in July, and by August 8 hour delays had become the “new normal.” Message is, don’t book your return flight for train arrival day in Winnipeg. Also, if you did the train up and flight return from Winnipeg, you would miss the first day’s events in Churchill, and many people on other tours did. While these were not nearly as rewarding as the Tundra Buggy, I don’t think train up/fly back would have been nearly as good—given the schedule.
Fortunately we were able to book a room at the Quality Inn in Winnipeg for Thursday night, as the Delta and many others were full. As our flight (same as the Downing’s) didn’t depart until nearly 6 PM, we were able to spend the bulk of Friday at the Manitoba Museum, which was extremely worthwhile.
We will have some expenses to submit to our insurer for the delay. Dave Reid indicated Frontiers North would send a letter (I suggested e-mail with a PDF attachment) confirming the arrival time in Winnipeg so we have this on the record. Perhaps you could also followup on this.
As has been our experience elsewhere in Canada, we found the people universally friendly—whether air, rail, dining, hotel, or museum staff, or sometimes people on the street just trying to be helpful with directions. Thanks for your help with the booking. I hope you find this feedback useful.
Regards,
- B. Howard
Dear Jennifer
Thank you for your email. We had a truly marvelous time and all your planning was exemplary. Thank you so much as everything was very straightforward. And even though we are not that old, neither of us are very experienced travelers so it took all the worry out of everything, it all went like clockwork!!!! THANK YOU!
We loved everywhere we stayed, with the exception of the Banff Springs. Whilst it looks spectacular, staff were cold and rude and everything was twice the price of the other hotels and we were not the only people complaining. Although being reserved Brits we didn’t actually complain at all. When we arrived our room was not ready and we had to wait three hours, and though this sounds ridiculous, in every other Fairmont Hotel, there were zillions of tea bags in every flavour imaginable. In the Springs, only 3, and all herbal. Each day I rang for Breakfast tea and milk and each day they turned up with ONE tea bag and then they charged us for the milk! Also if you don’t arrive in approved transport you are not even allowed to pull into the front of the hotel! In Vancouver we were treated like Royalty and everywhere else really. Fabulous!
Churchill and Frontiers North were fabulous. That has to be the highlight because of the bears. We saw 24 bears and our guides were excellent, as were all the other tours that you booked for us. Sun Dog tours around Jasper and the Icefield were great.
The only hiccough (not your fault by the way), the weather got very bad in Churchill and the train was predicted to be a day late, so Frontiers North flew us out to Winnipeg and paid for the hotel for that night. (They were excellent by the way). They have told us to send the train ticket to you and any receipts for the next two days for you to forward to them and they will reclaim it from VIA Rail. It didn’t spoil anything at all as we got more of a chance to look around Winnipeg and the hotel was more than adequate. The train did actually arrive at 10am the next morning, but in the evening before they did not think it would so we decided to take the flight out just in case we missed our train at Winnipeg. And we got to see some Ice Hockey which we both love and doesn’t happen around here. I will scan in the train ticket and send to you in the post.
We loved Canada and Canadians and we are definitely going to try to come back again. Many, many thanks for everything. It truly was a wonderful trip, it’s impossible to put into words really, but I definitely had the best trip of my whole life. My husband also really loved it, but now accepts he’s just the photographers assistant!
With kind regards
- S. Moody