service code: rdwafb
service code: rdwafb

At Exclusively Canada, we aim to exceed your expectations through the provision of first class experiences, tailor fit planning, and service that is second to none. Please take a moment to review what travelers and travel agents have to say about us.

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Traveler Testimonials

Hi Carla, Many thanks for making all the arrangements. It all worked smoothly and I had a lovely time. I will definitely recommend you and your comapany to all my friends. You did really well to work out my trip so quickly and it fitted in nicely between the yoga retreat that I did near Picton and my stay at Niagara Falls where I ran the marathon. Perfect! Vancouver was great. The suite was very roomy and I liked the district where the hotel was placed as it had plenty of restaurants and shops on the street. Very colourful with character. I now realise that from where I was staying I could have jogged to Stanley Park. I was really chuffed to meet other passengers on the train at the champagne reception. A very nice welcome. The meals are not viaRail best feature but it was an opportunity to meet other passengers. It was good the way they placed you at tables so that I was not sitting on my own for dinner and breakfast. I was so suprised how comfortable sleeping on the train was. I really enjoyed travelling this way. It was the first time for me and I will do it again but I have been so spoilt on this trip with a single private room that I wont be able to travel any other way now! I found out from other passengers that the mountaineer train passengers actually have to come off the train at night and stay overnight in a hotel. Sleeping on board viaRail was so much more better. There was one lady who had semiprivate sleeping accomodation who was travelling to Toronto who mentioned that she booked in August and wasn't able to get a private room. So I am so pleased that you were able to book that room for me. The observation cabin was brilliant. The mountains are totally awe-inspiring. The train commentary was very helpful. They informed you of what you were looking at and also let you know beforehand what was coming up. The hotel in Jasper was very good and comfortable. Free internet and telephone access was very good. I managed to catch up with my friends and family then. The wildlife tour and the all day tour were very good. The tour company were very informative without being pushy. They left you to do as much as wanted or as little. Again I was lucky that they were running as I was informed that they had continued for 1 more week as the weather had been quite mild and normally we would not have visited the Icefield. Quite a few of the passengers that I met on the train were also on the tours so that was good as well. We got in very late to Banff. Just as well as the hotel I stayed in was really awful - probably my fault. I will know next time to go up a grade. Flights and transfers to Vancover and from Calgary to Toronto went well. So thank you for making this a holiday to remember. I have got some wonderful photographs.
Y. Todd Coast & Mountain Rail Getaway
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Carla
Hi, Everything was great, especially the tours, both of them. One little thing to keep in mind is that it gets very hectic trying to get into Jasper and to the hotel etc. for the tour with so little time in between. The train was a little late arriving which I think is a good thing to plan on happening all the time. But,, considering what was involved,, all in all it went seamlessly,,all was good,, from start to finish. Vicki was blown away with the sights, wild life and as a bonus, from Calgary, the West Edmonton Mall after and Waterton Lakes National Park. So, in conclusion,, you did a great job for us in all respects,, and we won't hesitate to use your service again. Thanks again Jennifer
D. Casper Coast & Mountain Rail Getaway
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Jennifer
Dear Carla, My clients had an unforgettable, once in a lifetime trip. They where extremely happy with the hotels and all the excursions. I will definately be calling you with any future clients looking to visit Canada. You where great to work with, I could not have asked for more. Thanks so much
C. Crews (Give Me A Break Travel) Canadian Railroad Cariboo Discovery Tour
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Carla
Hi Carla, We've been meaning to email you since we returned from our trip. We had a wonderful and amazing time. The VIA Rail train exceeded expectations. We can't figure out how they could make such gourment meals on the train! We were very happy with all the hotels in terms of location, amenities,comfort, and service. We particulary loved the Pyramid Lake Resort and highly recommend it for others. We ate many of our meals in the hotels and the food was excellent. Your choices for our sightseeing met our interests and needs. We particularly enjoyed the hot springs in Maligne. And, we appreciated having lots of time in addition to the planned sight seeing to follow our "noses." Everything went very smoothly, which added to the enjoyment. We are hoping to return to the majestic Canadian Rockies. A number of our friends said they are interested in the same type of trip. If they decide to make arrangements, we will refer them to you. Again, thanks for helping us put together such an outstanding vacation!
J. Hornstein Canadian Railroad Explorer
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Carla
Hi Jennifer, John and I had a wonderful time and the weather was fantastic. We had beautiful blue skies for the trip from Banff to Vancouver on the train. The trip to the ice fields was cancelled after our bus was turned back because of the snow. We were told the tickets were refunded. Thanks for your help. All of our arrangements were perfect.
G. Harris Trains of the Canadian Rockies Circle Tour
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Jennifer
Jennifer, the trip was great, the weather cooperated nicely. I would recommend some changes though: I would recommend adding a first night in Vancouver. We enjoyed the Comfort Inn. It was convenient to all points downtown and relieved any tension from late flight arrival, delays through customs, etc. The train was late arriving Jasper. We arrived at 1330 and the afternoon tour was scheduled for 1345 which made for some necessary phone calls so as not to miss it. The Fairmont Hotels have a free President's Club, which I joined prior to the trip. We got a room upgrade at Banff which included a free breakfast, etc. I would recommend that your travelers join the club before their trips, they might enjoy upgrades as well. The breakfast at Jasper was a pricey $26 each. I might change the tour option for Jasper to offer something more physical. I know the rafting wasn't offered because of low water levels, but I felt the two tours were repetitive: lakes, waterfalls and roadside wildlife was well covered on the Sundog tour through the ice fields. Maybe activities centered at the Jasper resort; canoeing, etc. We didn't get on the water this trip but I saw several opportunities. The shuttle to the Jasper lodge did not charge a fee. The cab would have been expensive. I enjoyed the pace of the trip. I liked that we kept moving, with no wasted time. Everyone we met was very friendly. Tour guides were terrific. Even the shuttle driver to Calgary airport was a good guide. My complements to everyone. Thanks for all your help. I will recommend you to family and friends.
J. Lill Coast & Mountain Rail Getaway
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Jennifer
Hello Jennifer: We had a wonderful trip, enjoying every new adventure. The weather was stunning, warm and no clouds for 5 days. Our trip was all too short and we definitely have to return.
B. Willard Canadian Rail & The Rockies Adventure
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Jennifer
Dear Chris Thanks for your note, and for planning and organising a holiday we really enjoyed. Your bookings all worked without problem, for both the hotels and the bus travel. The Fairmont Lake Louise was a particularly memorable stop. The lovely weather throughout the two weeks also helped confirm our perception of Canada as a beautiful country :-) Thanks once more...
P & C Brennan Mountain Landscapes
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Dear Chris, We had a wonderful trip. We thank you for your help especially the help with the hotel. When the hotel sent us to another place without explanations we felt not being respected. Thank you for calling the hotel manager for us. The ride with VIA RAIL was awsome, and we have seen what we wanted to see in this trip. This is a great trip that my family would always talk about. Thanks. Best Regards
E. Liu Canadian Rockies & Rail Highlights
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Chris, Overall we found trip to be an experience that we enjoyed but we would not do the trip again by train. The one thing that we found was the one day stay at each city was to short. If we had it to do over again we will stay a minimum of two days at each city. We enjoyed all of the cities that we visited and well go back at a latter date for longer stay. The tour that really stood out was the Halifax tour to Peggy’s Cove. We were very disappointed with the tour in Jasper. The reason was that it did not start until 6:15 PM and it was almost dark by 6:45 PM. It was suppose to be a wildlife tour and because of the late start we only got to see some elk at a distance. I fell that they should have adjusted the time as fall arrives with an early start time. I felt that it was a waste of money for that tour. We saw more wildlife from the shuttle from the train station to the hotel the night before. The other tours that we went on were OK but nothing outstanding. We did not go on the tour in Vancouver, BC because the train was 3 hours late. We really enjoyed the Fairmont Hotel Chain and joined the President Club. We are planning to stay at different hotels in the Fairmont Hotel chain in the future. We really like the Gold rooms. Thank you for the experience. We felt that the train sleeping quarters were tight especially on the Ocean Train from Halifax to Montréal. We had more room from Toronto to Vancouver, BC which made quite a difference. We talked to a number of people and they had the same feeling as we did and were glad that they were making this trip but would not do it again by train. Also the food on the Ocean was not good at all. They also served the same menu on the train to Quebec City, Ottawa and Toronto. We would not eat the food because it was so bad after the overnight trip experience. The food on the train from Toronto to Vancouver, BC was excellent. The over night trains were late as you had warn us. The Ocean was two hours late, the train to Jasper was fours hours late, and the train to Vancouver, BC was three hours late. We will go back to Jasper and the surrounding areas in the near future as it is such a beautiful place. We will also be visiting Vancouver, BC again probably within a year. Thank you for everything that you have done. We both know that when you make trip like this things can and will go wrong. You just try to keep them to a minimum.
J. Neuman Discover Canada by Rail (Summer)
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Chris, We received the documents late afternoon yesterday. I want to thank you for everything that you have done and making the planning so easy. Now all we have left to do is enjoy the trip.
J. Neuman Discover Canada by Rail (Summer)
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Dear Jennifer: Overall we had a good experience. As with all travelling, there are high points and low points. The unexpected high point was the Residence Inn by Marriott in Vancouver. They had superior customer service at the front desk and an excellent restaurant where we had a wonderful dinner after checking in. The room was very spacious and had a beautiful view of the city and water. The complimentary hot breakfast the next morning got us ready for a day of touring Vancouver before boarding the train. The next time we're in Vancouver we will definitely stay there. The highs for the train were the food and wonderful views from the observation car. Service was what I would consider average. Met a lot of great travellers. The biggest disappointment on the trip was the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. After 4 days on the train we were looking for a little luxury. Upon arriving at our room we were surprised it was not nearly as nice as the Marriott in Vancouver, nor as nice as other Fairmonts where we have stayed. We enjoyed the trip and would consider using ExclusivelyCanada again.
B. Walmsley The Canadian Express - Toronto to Vancouver
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Jennifer
Dear Chris, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the mail yesterday and found the SnowCoach refund. Thank you so much for taking care of this matter, it is very much appreciated. I must say that all dealings that we have had with you have been more than satisfactory. We certainly will do business with you again if the opportunity arises and will recommend you to our friends who are thinking of a Canadian trip. It has really been a pleasure.
J. DeLancey Canadian Railroad Vistas (Summer)
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Chris
Dear Chris, We had a wonderful time on our trip in Canada and things worked so well. We were picked up and delivered on time and in high style, the hotels were comfortable and the included tours all interesting. Thanks fo much for your help. We had a bit of serendipity on our train trip from Toronto to Jasper. There was a massive freight train derailment which prevented the VIA train from getting to Toronto without a huge delay so the company put us on another train to just past Cabrielle (sp) where we got off and walked around the problem and boarded the VIA train. For this inconvenience we were rewarded an upgrade to two adjoining bedrooms, an unheard of luxury for which we are very grateful, and a rebate in our train price. Sometimes you just can't help smelling like a rose.
J. DeLancey Canadian Railroad Vistas (Summer)
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Chris
Dear Jennifer, We thank you for the gift certificate and for the repayment of 100$ we have got recently. We really appreciated your professionalism and we enjoyed our vacation in Canada.
Y. Massard Skeena Wilderness Rail Journey
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Jennifer
Chris: My parents arrived Saturday from their trip. They enjoyed it fully and have great memories. They referred everything was well organized, the choice of hotels and restaurants were excellent and the food was great. The strike in the hotel was not a big deal compared with all the beautiful things and great time they had. I want to thank you for helping me design this package and giving my parents a 50th anniversary trip that they will always remember. Special thanks for letting the Quebec hotel know it was their anniversary. They upgraded the hotel room and even send them a little card and chocolates. It was a beautiful detail. Thanks again and we will definitely think of you for any future trips to Canada.
A. Lugo Montreal & Quebec - Two Cities by Train (Summer)
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Chris
Jennifer, We had a great time! The ons were wonderful in every spot. In Charlottetown, the hotel was quite modern, very nice, but very plain. We saw a couple small bed & breakfast places in the historic district, and I wondered if those might make this part of the trip a bit more intimate. The wharf there was great though. Leaving Quebec so late at night, after having to check out early made for a sort of slow last afternoon and evening, so a planned river cruise there might have been a nice option. The restaurant there was AMAZING!! The train travel was great and the staff really nice. Thank you again for all your help.
L. Boss Romance of Quebec, PEI, & Nova Scotia by Rail
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Jennifer
Hello Chris, Sorry to be so slow in responding to you but we didn't get home until Monday night and have been busy getting caught up on things. We had a wonderful trip. Your arrangements all worked beautifully and we thank you for doing such a good job for us. The package you sent us with the itinerary and maps and such was very well done and very helpful to us. The two limos in Toronto and Vancouver were right there when we arrived and the drivers were very pleasant and helpful. I would keep on using them as I don't see how you could do better. Likewise for the two tours. We were the only ones on the Jasper tour which was nice and the guide was very knowledgeable and did a good job for us. The Vancouver tour was very good as it gave us a quick overview of the whole city and let us know which areas we wanted to go back to spend more time. So, all in all, it was a great and memorable trip. We will not hesitate to recommend you to friends who might want to do the same and we may well come to you for another Canadian trip within the next few years. Thank you again for all of your help. Best regards
VIA Rail Across Canada Express
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Chris, Our entire experience was very nice and came off without a hitch. We had the car that met us at the Vancouver airport drop us off downtown where we had lunch and then took the two hour bus tour of your outstanding city. (You might offer that for those that arrive in time to take advantage) The train experience was outstanding. The train people handled everything as one would expect and the scenery, accommodations and meals were excellent. Our stay in Jasper was also excellent; the hotel was just perfect and the afternoon tour guide was exceptional. The trip/tour down the Glacier Highway was also quite well done. Again we had an outstanding guide and our "bus" trip onto the glacier itself was a unique experience. The stop off at Lake Louise was also just right as were our accommodations that evening in Banff. The ride to the airport the next morning was almost anticlimactic; sad only in the sense that our brief sojourn was coming to an end. We’ve touted our experience to many of our friends here in Jacksonville. Thanks again for organizing and arranging this terrific experience.
Coast & Mountain Rail Getaway
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
The trip was great. I would definitely recommend your services.
M. O'Bryan The Canadian Express - Toronto to Vancouver
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Hi Chris, I have to say THANK YOU, once again as the trip was amazing. You were definitely right about the long hours of driving, but it was well worth it. The hotels for the most part were fantastic. The one in Quebec and the one in Wolfville were slightly disappointing. Quebec I found was a little rude and not so helpful, but then again it was the 400 year anniversary and we spoke English so I can understand. Wolfville unfortunately smelled of paint and cigarettes, maybe one hotel to take off the list. Very early 70’ feel to it, and I don’t think on purpose. As for the rest of the hotels you made perfect choices, we only wish we could have stayed in them longer. We particularly enjoyed the Pictou, Louisburg, and White point. Fantastic views, great service and all around great time. We the Pines was another great place although we did feel a bit under dressed and out of touch but that was a good thing. If we had been prepared for it I think we would have utilized it much more. There is nothing that I can say about the train because it far exceeded our expectations with the service, food and comfort. Thank you again for letting them know about our Honeymoon; we were spoiled with Bottles of Champagne (last over night into Halifax) and chocolates (last night in Halifax). We will be using you again and again for all our trips. We have recommended you too many of our friends and I am sure they will be in contact with you for their trips. Thank you.
D. Knight Canadian Cities by Rail - Coast to Coast (Summer)
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Hello Chris, We had a fantastic trip – thank you very much. Both Martha and I were very impressed that we did not have to worry about any arrangements. Our hotel stays were great as were the sightseeing tours – our travel guide could not have been better. We were most impressed at how much local knowledge these tour guides had. We did enjoy the train but found it difficult to sleep – but the food was great!!! All in all we could not have asked for a better trip and better arrangements and are certainly recommending exclusively Canada to our friends. Thank you again for all your help.
R. Gardiner Romance of Quebec, PEI, & Nova Scotia by Rail
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Dear Jenn, Thank you for helping us book the trip of a lifetime. Our trip by Via Rail (Easterly Class) to Halifax and then Self Drive throughout the Eastern Provinces was amazing. Your company took the guess work out of travelling in unfamiliar locations. From the time we boarded the Train in Oshawa till we arrived in Halifax we were treated like royalty. The fact that everything had been prearranged , the great food and very friendly service were fabulous. The Self Drive Tour by Rental Car meant that we could have our own adventure and still not have to worry about where we were staying that evening. We met so many friendly people and the service was great. You provided maps and directions to help us find our way and tour information that made looking for attractions etc. very helpful. All our accommodations were always above our expectations. The variety of accommodation you booked made that our adventure even more fun and pleasant. We stayed in large city hotels (Delta) in Moncton, Country resorts in PEI and some by the ocean in Cape Breton, that had Seafood Buffets. Our favourite was the Digby Pines in Digby Nova Scotia where we had our own large private two room Cottage, with a cozy fireplace. We truly enjoyed our tour and visited as many sites and attractions that we could in our 10 day tour.
K & H Tedford Atlantic Canada Sunsets & Seascapes Self Drive Tour
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Hi Jenn. Jeane and I had a wonderful trip. I have never seen such beautiful scenery. Everything went without a hitch. Thanks for booking it for us.
R. Geis Canadian Rockies Rail Circle
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Hi Jennifer, I meant to send you an e-mail after I came back but it must have slipped my mind. Sorry about that! I had a great time on the trip and everything worked out well. I was really fortunate with the weather and saw so many incredible things. The two highlights of the trip had to be Jasper National Park and the Zodiac tour which was a blast. Jasper was really incredible because I didn't know what to expect and was completely blown away. The day trips that you planned for that area were incredible with excellent tour guides. I didn't golf in Vancouver or Banff but had a chance to play in Cochrane, Alberta at a beautiful course. Thanks for organizing a great trip!
P. Bogart Canadian Rail & The Rockies Adventure
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Jennifer
Hi Chris, In short, it was everything I had hoped it would be. The itinerary ran like clockwork, there were no problems anywhere and I certainly did get some fantastic pictures... about 700 of them! The weather was very kind too; there were a couple of wet days but that is to be expected this time of year, however nothing too disruptive. I think one of the main outcomes of this trip is the list of places I would like to return to and explore in more detail - I need no encouragement to return to Canada! That was one of the real benefits of travelling coast to coast. I found the whole Via Rail experience extremely enjoyable, if a little eccentric at times, particularly on The Canadian. I can sleep like a baby on trains though barely at all on aircraft!. Their staff were, without exception, excellent. Very professional and customer focused at all stages, Food and table service incredibly good, how they manage that while on the move is remarkable. It would have been preferable to have had more time in daylight in the Rockies section of the journey, so I will need little persuasion to go back to somewhere in that region at some time. Also the trains all ran pretty much on time, which is something of a rarity over here! I found the 'dome cars' wonderful for viewing but less good for photography because the glass is curved, which can distort the image and also because they are very bright inside, there is a lot of incident light bouncing around. I got most of my best pictures from the ordinary (flat) train windows. The only very slight negative was that on arrival in Toronto, although there is a direct, underground path to the Royal Oak Hotel from the station, it requires negotiating several staircases and, if I remember rightly, a revolving doorway. These are very difficult to manage loaded down with baggage. I think it likely that elderly people could find this very difficult. As far as I could tell it would be almost easier to exit the station at ground level and walk across the street to the hotel. It's quite possible I missed something blindingly obvious of course but I thought it might be worth your investigating this and if appropriate adding some guidance here in your very helpful and comprehensive notes for future travelers. All of the hotels were excellent, extremely comfortable; impossible to find fault. So much so that I will try to make a point of using Fairmont hotels myself on future trips which I haven't previously, though I have no criticism whatever of the Westin in Halifax. I loved Halifax! The conference in Montreal was definitely well worth attending. Montreal was wonderful - I think Quebec deserves another visit sometime, under more relaxing circumstances than a conference though! What can I say about Vancouver? It still delights me as much as my first visit quite a few years ago. I enjoyed the tour round the city, though that Monday, (13th Oct) you probably remember was a washout. I know I will come back again! Next visit, well maybe next year. No promises here yet. One of the things I would most like to do in the next couple of years is a trip much further north, during the winter months, to see the Northern Lights. My recent experience has confirmed my view that paying a premium price secures a (hopefully) problem free vacation. I've seen a number of packages to Yukon (via Vancouver!) or other locations further northeast for this purpose. Maybe you could tempt me?!
Canada by Rail - Coast to Coast in 8 days!
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Chris: Thanks for following up with us. We enjoyed the train trip, and we appreciated the first class amenities on VIA Rail VIA 1. So thank you very much for steering us into VIA 1. The Delta Centre-Ville in Montreal was a short walk from the Central Station, and it was lovely as was the hotel in Quebec City. I think I liked the Hotel Clarendon in Quebec better than the hotel in Montreal just because it was centrally located to all we wanted to see there. Having the limo service pick us up in Quebec was also very helpful. We enjoyed the bus tour of Montreal, but 2 hours would have been adequate to see the historical and other sites of interest. We had an hour that covered residential and apartment building details that we didn't really have any interest in, and it kept us from getting to use the Museum pass (BMMD) as much as we would have liked. We were only able to see 3 museums with the pass and would like to have seen more but ran out of time. We have been telling our friends about the trip and Exclusively Canada as a booking agent. Several have said that they might be contacting your company in the future. We may travel through the Rockies in 2 or 3 years and will certainly contact you again. Thanks for all of your help.
J. Hecht Montreal & Quebec - Two Cities by Train (Summer)
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Chris
Thank you Chris, I had a great time on my Rocky Mountaineer vacation. I told all my friends how great the trip was. Two of them are planning to do that next year. They have your e-mail address. Again thank you.
L. Valenzuela Rocky Mountaineer® - Kicking Horse Route
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Chris, it was absolutely wonderful! it was so relaxing to just show up everywhere and be taken care of. and the scenery - incredibly magnificent! I particularly enjoyed the tour from Jasper down to lake Louise. Robb was very knowledgeable and tailored the day to our preferences. Happily, two lovely ladies from the train were on the same tour with me that day, so we doubly enjoyed it. I had one of the best, most restful trips of my life. Also, i LOVED the Rimrock in Banff, so no regrets that the Fairmont was full. My gosh, 5 minute walk from the springs and gondola, and the best gym on the whole trip. I am a very happy customer :-) Life is normal back here, too busy, too stressful, but I won't be here forever. And I WILL visit Canada again and use your service, too. Thanks for everything
K. Wheatley Canadian Rockies & Rail Highlights
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Chris
Hi Chris, Thanks for the welcome back. We had arguably our best vacation ever! We'd like to thank you for all your help and assistance. Canada continues to be our favorite vacation destination. Nova Scotia a few years ago was beautiful but this trip was even better. Accommodations were first-class all the way and the excursions were great! The only two bumps along the way were the delay in the train in Vancouver that caused us to miss the Maligne Wildlife tour and then the confusion at the Delta Calgary which you resolved very quickly. We will seek you out again the next time we vacation in Canada and will no doubt be sending referrals your way. Thanks again
B. Tousignant Canadian Rail & The Rockies Adventure
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Chris
Dear Jennifer Odette and I have now returned to London and we want to say that the holiday you organized for us was altogether excellent. It helped that we had cloudless blue skies every day. All the arrangements worked well, Everyone was on time and courteous. The hotels were pleasant and the excursions well led. We got a lot of good information well presented by each guide/driver. Entertainment en route was fun. The train journey was stunning. The only slight disappointment was with the Lake Louise Inn for our final night. The room was overfilled with two queen beds and its only window was an interior one which overlooked the indoor swimming pool. The main restaurant was good but lacked two of the nine main course menu items advertised. As we had been out all day on the wonderful One-way Mountain, Lakes & Waterfalls Tour and had already visited Lake Louise that day, we did not want to go there again and therefore did not make use of the Lake Louise Taxi you had included. Please accept our thanks for an outstanding holiday.
D. Elliott Majestic Rockies by Rail - Eastbound
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Jennifer
Hi Jennifer - Jerry and I would just like to drop you a quick note to thank you for everything you did to make our trip to Vancouver one of the most enjoyable ones we've every had. The accommodations, tours and transfers couldn't have been better. We especially enjoyed our stay(s) at the Fairmont Waterfront and Fairmont Whistler Chateau, the Railway ride up to Whistler and the Salmon Bake on top of Blackcomb Mountain. The weather was absolutely perfect all 7 days, which was icing on the cake! The tour up to Grouse Mountain was fun as well as our bike ride around Stanley Park. We will definitely recommend you and Exclusively Canada to anyone we know who will be visiting the Vancouver area. Thank you again for you professionalism, accuracy and the quick manner you handle things.
J. & C. Harding Sea to Sky Rail Escape
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Jennifer
I just wanted to let you know how very much we enjoyed our Atlantic Maritimes Tour. Everything was so wonderfully well organised. Annette, our tour operator, and driver, Paul, were most helpful. Thank you again for all your help.
D. Bowman Atlantic Maritimes Tour
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Dear Chris, Both Joan and I had a great holiday. The choice of hotels and the train etc were more than satisfactory. We were particularly thrilled with the location of the hotel in Quebec. What a great spot! Right in the heart of the activity in the 'old city'. We also enjoyed the War Museum in Ottawa; so thank you very much for encouraging us to go there when we were slightly reluctant. Keep up the great work you do and and I have already recommended you/ Canada Your Way to others. Good wishes,
R. Sugden Ontario & Quebec Highlights by Rail
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Chris
Chris: I just wanted to let you know that Barbara and I returned back to Houston, late last night and had a simply fantastic adventure! Your arrangements were simply exemplary! More later! Thank you so much for arranging such a memorable and wonderful trip.
R. Narayan Bay of Fundy Adventures by Road & Rail
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Hi Jennifer – We had a GREAT time! The hotels were both lovely. We really appreciated that the Toronto hotel was so close to the train station – it made for an easy start to the trip. The train trip was beautiful. The train staff were (mostly) delightful, and solicitous without being smarmy – the only downside to the trip was that we traveled through the Rockies at night. Can’t think of a reasonable way to change that, other than traveling during the high season. Anyway, thanks for asking and thanks for your help in planning this trip. We had a great time
S. Howard The Canadian Express - Toronto to Vancouver
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Jennifer
Chris, Thought I should send an email to say that we were pleased with your holiday arrangements. All worked well. The hotels were well chosen within the price ranges. Deer Lodge is a must for Lake Louise. Summer catering in Sun Peaks is a bit hit-and-miss as the few open restaurants seemed to book up for coach parties and weddings, and then didn't take reservations. The lack of breakfast facilities in the lodges also seemed odd; leading to queues at the few places that were open. But we got by and it was a convenient overnight stop on the itinerary. The excursions were also well chosen. Without guidance we could easily have missed Lake Maligne, for example. One suggestion: traveling from Banff to Lake Louise, the hotel receptionist advised us to take the Bow Valley Parkway rather than the Trans Canada Highway. This journey was a highlight of the trip with fabulous views as well as wildlife and no problems with traffic: one of the best journeys of the trip. I would certainly recommend that route to anyone unless they are in a rush. So, thanks for planning the itinerary, which worked well with the inclusion of a family visit as well. I am not sure when we will be back in Canada, but we will certainly be considering a return visit and would recommend this approach to friends.
R. Daniels Mountains, Lakes & Lodges of Western Canada
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Hi Chris, The trip was great! Many of the places we went were just about to close for the winter...so you did great job in getting us there in time. The lodges were really nice and we have no complaints about the car or you itenary. My only complaint is the train ride. I cannot believe how they separate the gold leaf from the red leaf. I know the cost is double but the Red Leaf price was still a lot of money. The food was cold sandwiches & crackers and the train host was not interested in us or interesting at all about the scenery,history, etc. I really think that they should make the train ride one price and let everyone have fun...not just the chosen few. We loved Vancouver and the Hotel Le sol was excellent. We even went the opening Maple Leaf/Canuck game..great fun.We also had a great time riding bikes around Vancouver. In closing, thank you for a job well done. If I was to do the tour again, I would keep the rental car and skip the train. We saw prettier scenery from the car.
C. Kuthy Tracks & Trails of the Canadian Rockies Lodges
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Dear Jennifer, We have just returned home from the wonderful cruise and rail vacation which you planned for us -- I can't begin to tell you what a pleasure it was! Every detail was planned and executed perfectly -- we didn't have to worry about a thing! Upon arriving in Vancouver to embark on our cruise to Alaska, I'm sure we missed the driver you had arranged for us because we were "herded" as a group from the plane directly to an area for cruise ship passengers. But all went well -- we (and our luggage!) arrived at the ship with much time to spare! The cruise itself was fabulous -- we were treated like royalty. On our return to Vancouver, we enjoyed a delightful night at the Fairmont Waterfront -- a truly luxurious hotel. In the morning, your driver took us to the Rocky Mountaineer train station to begin our journey through the Canadian Rockies. You were absolutely right about the Gold Leaf Service -- it was well worth the additional expense. The views from the dome car were spectacular, and the meals were 5 star restaurant quality. Amazingly, our luggage arrived at our destinations and was in our room before we got there -- a very pleasant and somewhat surprising experience, considering how many people were on the train. In Banff, your driver was kind enough to give us a brief tour of the town before dropping us at the hotel, and SunDog Tours was prompt to pick us up in the morning for our trip to Jasper -- we had several delightful stops along the way -- our favorite was the Icefields, where we walked on a glacier! The Sawridge Inn in Jasper kindly provided transportation to the train station through a cab voucher, and we made our way to Edmonton, where we visited with my friend. It was a marvelous trip, meticulously planned down to the last detail -- thank you for not making us think while we were on vacation! We look forward to working with you in planning our next trip to Canada. Thank you again for all your efforts on our behalf.
C. Hockey Rocky Mountaineer® & Alaska Cruise Discovery
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Jennifer
Chris, The Fairmont Banff Springs was amazing. It was impressive how the staff was always ready to help, and knew us by name despite there being a different staff member each time we passed by. Moraine Lake was fantastic and even enjoyed it more than Lake Louise. We preferred the more rugged, less developed aspect of the Moraine Lake area. The trip went flawlessly and enjoyed how everything was planned out really well.
S. Lindgren Fairmont Banff Springs Summer Escape
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Chris
Hi Chris! The trip was fabulous! My husband and I commented as we were returning to Washington, DC that it was one of THE BEST vacations we had had in a while. You did a tremendous job for us! Thank you! "Seamless" is the perfect descriptor for our time in Canada. We were able to move from activity to activity without barely a thought. Everything was planned to a "T"! The hardest decision we faced was deciding what and where to eat during the non-scheduled dining events as Toronto has SO many wonderful options. But, as you can tell, even that was an enjoyable activity. The hotels were awesome. The Fairmont truly lived up to its reputation as a leader in the hospitality industry. And, the view from our room at the Sheraton of the Horseshoe Falls at Niagara was something we'll never forget. Both properties were very appropriate choices for the level of package we purchased. The packaging of the travel itinerary, receipts, etc., was a perfect start to the trip...it created a nice anticipatory excitement within us. Quite impressive assembly with the travel portfolio, etc. Nice! Finally, even the one, small glitch we encountered -- not having the Toronto attraction coupon booklet vouchers included in the travel portfolio -- was handled with ease. We made the request from the hotel to your office...left to explore Toronto... and, by the time we returned, VOILA!, there they were waiting for us in our room. Wow! We had such a great time we have already begun to view our calendars to see when we can fit in a longer visit...this time to not only Toronto, but perhaps also another city. What would you suggest? Whenever we decide to visit Canada again, I have your number on speed-dial, and your email address in my book, so that you can be the first one I contact to be sure I do it right! Thank you, THANK YOU, for providing a marvelous service, Chris.
C. Grantham Toronto & Niagara Falls Rail Escape
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Hi Chris: I am sorry that i am so late in answering you back. We did enjoy our trip very much and appreciated the work that you did for us. Our flight connections went well and our train journey was very good.
D. Bunner Canada by Rail - Coast to Coast in 8 days!
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
CHRIS - We had a wonderful time, everything you planned worked out just as the plan said. The train is fabulous. We particularly enjoyed the "Gold Floor" at the fairmont hotels. A very nice touch. We have recommended the trip to everyone who would listen. Thanks for a wonderful time.
D. Miller Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service® Experience
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Thanks so much for planning a wonderful vacation for us! I know you had nothing to do with the weather, but each and every day was PERFECT – especially coming from 95-degree humid days in Florida. Every hotel we stayed in was wonderful – clean, friendly and beautiful – ending with a 19th floor view in Vancouver. Trains were great (we had no schedule so 6 hours late was no problem). VIA Rail had great service – the people – all of them – were just charming. We loved being in the Park car, seeing everything during the day and visiting with new friends after dark. We did not realize the double “bedroom” would be quite so tiny, but it was an experience. I cannot say enough about the food – to die for! I would recommend VIA without hesitation. The other train was fine but not as friendly. Of course, we were in Red Leaf, not Gold, and maybe that made a difference. We were about to upgrade when we met people in Jasper who were coming the other way and said it was not worth it. Perhaps not if we had not experienced VIA’s dome car for 3 days.... I had to keep moving from side to side or to the back and stand outside to see what the attendant was talking about. You really could not see everything from those windows. My husband liked it fine for the $2000 or so we saved! And the cold food made no difference as we had to buy our own at night anyway. On a good note, though, since we got in 6 hours late, Via fed us supper and saved us the price of a meal for that night. A pleasant unexpected surprise! Again, this was a great trip you put together, including the Niagara Falls tour. All details were taken care of, and I would recommend you and your company to anyone.
M.A. Miller A Tale of Two Trains ... see Canada in a week!
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Hi Chris: We had a very good time. The highlights of the trip were the activities: The Ice walking. What a special and wondrous thing to do - and Peter the guide was competent, informative, and just very personable. Whitewater RAfting - fun, fun, fun ...Great guides. Mountain biking. Don and my son had a terrific time. They said the bikes were great and were very surprised and impressed that the shop simply called a taxi to take them up to the top of the mountain. After they took the ride the shop recommended, they took another which they said my son said was one of the best he's ever taken. One thing to note - if you have clients who really like to mountain bike, you might suggest they bring their own peddles, which Matt and Don did, and gloves (Don forgot his and had to buy some more.) The shop did forget to charge Exclusively Canada and charged us, but immediately corrected the error. The hike at Lake Louise - this was good but not as spectacular as the others. The guide was informative, but I think he oversold the idea that we were going into the "back country where real hikers go." We went to the Plain of Five Glaciers which turns out to be a very popular hike in the park, and the destination point was actually crowded! The Fox Hotel in Banff was good, but perhaps a bit disappointing because it was right on the busy main street of Banff, or "hotel row." This is my fault because it was an option for me to switch from the other hotel which was a bit more remote. We ate one meal at the Banff Springs (see below) and another very nice tiny restaurant named Cilantro. The room in the Coast Pyramid is really tiny and a bit worn, but the location is very nice and scenic, and we did swim in the lake and use the outdoor hot tub. (We were treated there to a terrific thunder and lightening storm in the middle of the night - quite something over the mountain.) We liked Jasper very much. Here we saw two bears, a huge elk, and small herd of goats just walking down the road. The Lake Louise Inn is very nice. The room was spacious and well equipped, although a bit odd (the upstairs bathroom was huge with a large empty space the purpose of which escaped us). We ate in the upstairs restaurant one night, but the food was not very good. Another night we ate at Bill Peco's cafe (a hostel - loads of fun), and the final night at the Station House (lovely). With the US dollar being so low, we did find things pretty expensive. However, we found that you could have a casual meal at those great park Fairmont Hotels on their patios at a very reasonable cost. In fact, how much better could it be to have a drink and meal on the patio of the Banff Springs Hotel with the mountains in the background?? (We didn't actually do it at the others, but their patios are in great locations and I think the menus are similar). You probably know this already, but it might be something to pass on to other clients. Thank you for all your assistance.
C. Weiden Heart of the Canadian Rockies
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Chris
Hi Chris, We had a great vacation. Your itinerary was great. Thank you for pulling this all together for us. We have already recommended this trip to many people! Thanks again, Chris.
J. Moe Spectacular Rockies by Rail
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Chris
Dear Chris, It was wonderful trip. The train trip was especially fabulous. We are planning to take our son as soon as he can get away. everything went well. I will be sure to contact you for our next trip.
S. Yu Rockies & Rail Sampler
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Chris
Thank you for the the FABULOUS vacation. We enjoyed very minute. With our small window of time, we visited every "must see" attraction in the Canadian Rockies. The accommodations were OUTSTANDING and comfortable. Our hotel rooms had "picture postcard" views. And no problems with transportation. I will highly recommend your services to our friends.
S. Owens Canadian Rail & The Rockies Adventure
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
We greatly enjoyed ourselves. The accommodations in Lake Louise and Banff and Vancouver were unbelievable. Thank you.
C. Anderson Majestic Rockies by Rail - Eastbound
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Thanks for the note. Dale said " We had a great time. The service and food were very good. We were lucky to be in a half empty car." Thanks for all your help.
D. Frost Rocky Mountaineer® - Kicking Horse Route
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Dear Chris, We were very pleased with our train trip. Everything worked out very smoothly. Loved the Toronto Fairmont. No complaints at all. Thanks for everything.
P. Heller A Tale of Two Trains ... see Canada in a week!
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
We were very satisfied in the other arrangements you made for our trip, the services were excellent in picking us up at the airport and at the rail station and taking us to our hotel and they were there promptly on the last day of our vacation to take us to the airport. The Fairmont Royal York, Toronto and the Residence Inn, Vancouver were excellent choices. We couldn’t have been more satisfied. The tour of Victoria and Butchart Gardens was breathtaking.
D. Smith The Canadian Express - Toronto to Vancouver
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Jennifer: Just thought I would let you know about my trip. First, I loved the whole experience. Canada is a beautiful country, and this was the best trip I have taken in a LONG time. I met wonderful people and had great food. Again, thank you for setting this trip up for me. It was wonderful!!!!!
S. Walters Discover Canada by Rail (Summer)
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Jennifer
Dear Chris, We had a great trip! Thanks for all your help.
S. Nussel The Canadian Express - Toronto to Vancouver
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Chris
Hi Chris, We had an amazing time - what spectacular scenery! The train journey was value for money and the hotels were just fine. We liked the convenience of the transport to and from our destinations throughout. I have already recommended Exclusively Canada to several friends and at work!
P. Morgan Rockies & Rail Sampler
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Jennifer, thank you for the email. We each had a wonderful time and will likely go again. We only saw three Bears and two Deer, but that was OK. Again, thanks for all you did and if you have any suggestions for Alaska, let me know. Thanks B. Youngblood
Mr. Youngblood Mountain Magic by Rail
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Hi Jennifer, I wanted to call to tell you about my trip, but the afternoons get busy and it doesn't happen. So, my trip was absolutely amazing! Every day was wonderful! I really liked the Cathedral Mountain Lodge; the cabin was great. I also really enjoyed the dinner that I had at Moraine Lake Lodge. It was excellent! The horseback riding was also great. I had my own private tour around Lake Louise. The next day I enjoyed my waterfalls and lakes tour with high tea at the Fairmont Lake Louise. I chose that over the buffet lunch. The train ride on the Rocky Mountaineer was really beautiful. I met many nice people. Vancouver was very nice and I had dinner on my own at the Blue Water Cafe. That was excellent! Victoria was great and seeing it from a vintage Daimler was wonderful! Everything was beautiful and the weather was perfect that day too. Then it was off to King Pacific Lodge. I loved my room -- room #7 with a balcony. The lodge was very cozy and we had a wonderful group of people. I fished for 3 days straight and caught 4 Koho salmon (proof below). Three of which are in my freezer. I also went kayaking around the bay and took the cultural tour. The spa was also nice for a sore adventurer. Robert and the staff there were great. We had perfect weather there too. The staff said it had not been that good all summer. It began to rain just before we left in the float planes. It was a wonderful, amazing, fantastic trip! Thank you so much for all of the great bookings and great rooms. Sun Dog Tours worked out really well for the transfers. Their staff was excellent. I had just a couple of small hiccups -- the driver in Banff picked up the wrong guests to take to the train, and the company had to send out another driver (their fault). When I went to the Fairmont Lake Louise, they weren't sure where to send me for my lunch. They brought me to three different places. Then I asked if I could have the tea. The Four Seasons in Vancouver insisted that I must have a voucher. I showed them my itinerary and they made a copy of it. I recall that another hotel asked for a voucher too. That may have been the Rimrock. And, the horseback ride turned out to be great, so thanks for your help that day. As a single traveler, the King Pacific Lodge turned our to be great. I really enjoyed the group dinners in the evening. It was nice to be able to talk to others and share our experiences. I also enjoyed fishing and kayaking with others too. That worked out very well. Alberta and British Columbia are amazingly beautiful. I wish all of my trips could be like this one. I will come back for more. Thanks again for all of your help.
L. Horaist Royal Wilderness and Nature Journey
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist: Jennifer
Hi Chris! We had a fabulous time all the way around. Trains, locations and weather worked together for the trip of a life time. I’ll send you some pictures when I have time. Overall, this was a great experience and I will definitely work with you again when the opportunity arises.
A. Maass Rocky Mountaineer® - Fraser Discovery Route
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Dear Chris, I do not know whether or not I. de Maaijer already contacted you or not, but, just in case she did not have the time to yet, please let me thank you for arranging the wonderful vacation we had in Canada. On the 12th we flew to Toronto. An uneventful flight and they were waiting for us at the shuttle counter. The only thing that was a little off was that we had to hurry to catch the bus, and they did not give us time to buy something to drink. The bus trip to Niagara was fine. Radisson Falls View : excellent view ! Check in was somewhat mixed up, as they could not find our reservations and then could not give us the room with the pull out couch. We settled for a roll away bed, which was okay, but makes the room crowded of course. It is a beautiful room by the way, and the bathroom is first class. The view from the jacuzzi tub is amazing ! The sleep number bed is awesome. You can recommend other travelers. The train ride from N.F. to Toronto was a little on the early side. The brochure said to be there 1 hour in advance. Well, the train station was not even open ! I think that, on these "hop on with your own suitcase" trains, you can arrive like 15 minutes in advance. This train was delayed along the route and we just made the Ottawa train in Toronto. We literally were pushed and carried by the train employees from the one train to the waiting one. Now this one was excellent ! We were very glad with the comfort and the service of the Via 1 class. Our purser was extremely friendly and the seats you had booked for us were terrific. We really enjoyed the ride. Lord Elgin Hotel : super location. Check-in was a breeze; everyone was very helpful and friendly. The rooms are good, but a little dark, because of the small window. Very clean and comfortable, and you can see the guards going up the hill from your room. Super ! Excellent breakfast buffet for only $15. Very good location to the tourist info center, restaurants, the tour booths, and of course Parliament. You can recommend this hotel. The train ride to Montreal was just as great as the other Via 1 train. (Living on an island, you have to understand that we have absolutely no experience with trains!) Our seats were perfect and the service was A-1. Montreal Bonaventure Hilton : super fancy and expensive. The hotel is across the train station and is connected by underground shopping and restaurants. This was great as it was raining when we arrived. The hotel rooms are beautiful, the beds are great and chic, but a little narrow and the bathrooms are deluxe. However, a roll away bed or cot would cost us $35. a night ! We opted to use that money to shop instead and slept a little cramped. The hotel pool and gardens are wonderful. The location of the hotel is very good and service was good. Concierge was very knowledge-able and friendly. Only thing is that they tried to charge our credit cards for the lodging, which problem we know you later fixed for us. The museum and Metro passes were great. So was the 3 hour bus tour. We had a very good time with our driver/guide. We also got a form to claim back most of the taxes we paid in Canada, and have to return it, complete with copies of all invoices, as to get back a check. So this is still valid.
K. Den Dulk Ontario & Quebec Highlights by Rail
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Hi Chris, I had been meaning to contact you to thank you for organising my holiday in Canada this past May. Although the weather was rather chilly I had a wonderful time, and could not have asked for a more personal, well organised and enjoyable experience. I really enjoyed the rail part of my tour, it was quite comfortable and the service was great. The only disappointing thing was that it had to get dark and I missed some of the scenery! But it was a great way to start to trip. All the hotels I stayed in were lovely, all clean and comfortable and no problems with my bookings. Same for my tours - no problems with being picked up from my hotels, the guides were fantastic, and I loved the small groups and personal feel to each of the tours. I appreciated all the information provided, with maps and brochures etc. Having traveled on my own I was grateful for having organised my trip with such a professional and organised company. It met all of my expectations and more, and I would love to be able to go back to Canada for longer at some stage and would definitely consider booking a holiday through you again. Thanks again for all your help and for a fantastic holiday experience.
H. White Canadian Rockies & Rail Highlights
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Dear Chris We had an amazing trip across Canada on the train and you planned everything wonderfully! I cannot say one bad thing about the whole experience, except it went by too quickly! Taking your advice and going Gold star on the Rocky Mountaineer was the best thing, and everything was so well planned we had a dream holiday. We would love to try going the other way, east, next time, do you offer that trip? Many thanks once again, for the trip of a lifetime.
L. Manning The Canadian Express - Toronto to Vancouver
Exclusively Canada Travel Specialist:
Scheduled Tours: Calgary – International Hotel Suites This definitely was a high point in our trip. This hotel is well managed, rooms had everything we needed. Everything was just great! Calgary to Banff – Caribou Lodge Lodgings were fine. The tour to Banff was just great. The driver made it work. Everything was just great. Banff to Lake Louise – Chateau Lake Louise Hotel was five star class. There were so many transient tourists there that getting anything to eat for lunch was really difficult. We learned and dinner was different. We exhausted everything we could do during our brief stay. All in all, it was enjoyable. Lake Louise to Jasper – Lobstick Lodge This lodge was not up to standards in my opinion. The hotel management did not even know where Kamloops, BC was, when I asked about the morning pickup. I asked about air conditioning in our room and was told there was none (temp was 90 degrees at the time). They said I should use a fan to cool off. Jasper was great. We enjoyed Canada Day (July 1st) with fireworks etc. Eating out was fun. Jasper Train to Kamloops (Gold Leaf Service) – Coast Canadian Hotel This definitely was the high point in our whole tour. I don’t know how they do it, but every detail was handled for us (baggage, food, personal comfort, etc.) I can not say enough about how fine those Rocky Mountaineer Train people are. We enjoyed the musical show with dinner that evening. Kamloops to Calgary (Gold Leaf Service) – International Hotel Suites Even better, just great, the bags transfer to our rooms was flawless. Thank you kindly for a truly wonderful vacation.