My wife and I are thinking about taking TT's Best of Eastern Canada tour in fall. Wonder if someone who has been on this tour can share some experience about this tour. Haven't seen a lot of discussions on the BB about Canadian tours which makes me a bit concerned.

Thanks.

TP

Hi TPC:

I understand your concern. I was interested in Canadian tours (mostly Western Canada) but didn't see a lot on it. So my wife and I just planned a four day individual getaway to Montreal (with daytrips via Greyline tours within Montreal and to the Laurentian Mountians and Quebec). I think the reason that you don't see anything on Canada is that people don't feel unsure of themselves in Canada as they do on multi-country tours to Europe. I've done two trips to Europe...one with Trafalgar, one with Globus and the first trip over is always a concern. Canada, however, just doesn't seem to bother too many people. As far as going on a Trafalgar tour, just check with them to see how many people have signed up... if there is no problem with possible cancellation... it shouldn't be a problem...Good Luck to you both.

Hi Eagles:

Thank you for your response. I think your're right about Canada tours. I will do some checking and we may change our travel plan.

Yes, you can travel quite safely around Canada. I do it all the time. Why not buy a Vial Rail pass and then you will be able to get on and off the train as you wish. You can plan out your route and reserve hotel rooms ahead of time. I've walked alone in Halifax, Toronto and Ottawa. There is crime, of course, but if you stay in the tourist areas you will have no trouble. You can always buy a guided bus/boat tour when you are in these cities. Quebec City is also lovely to visit with a real European flavour. There are plenty of organized bus tours in North America you can arrange through a Travel Agency in you own country. These are just like the Trafalgar ones in Europe.

Correction from Skye:
Typing area. Should be Via Rail, not Vial Rail. Check out the website for info. on the train passes.
If you are in Montreal anyway, why not take the train to Quebec City for the day (about 2 1/2 hrs.)? The train stations in both these cities are right downtown within walking distance of the tourist areas.

I just returned yesterday from the Best of Canada tour and it was amazing. The tour director (Mathew) was fantastic and the tour itself was well-paced and included great restaurants, a dinner cruise and many other things, all of which were included. There was quite a variety of ages which was also a plus. The reason you have not heard much, is because this was only the second tour of Best of Canada and Mathew will be doing all of them this summer. I think I can safely say that everyone in our group had a truly memorable time and saw and did lots without being overwhelmed. Let me know if you would like additional information.

quote:

Originally posted by Skye:
Correction from Skye:
Typing area. Should be Via Rail, not Vial Rail. Check out the website for info. on the train passes.
If you are in Montreal anyway, why not take the train to Quebec City for the day (about 2 1/2 hrs.)? The train stations in both these cities are right downtown within walking distance of the tourist areas.

Touring Canada by train sounds like a good idea. I will check info on the Via Rail website.

Thanks. TP

quote:

Originally posted by kay:
I just returned yesterday from the Best of Canada tour and it was amazing. The tour director (Mathew) was fantastic and the tour itself was well-paced and included great restaurants, a dinner cruise and many other things, all of which were included. There was quite a variety of ages which was also a plus. The reason you have not heard much, is because this was only the second tour of Best of Canada and Mathew will be doing all of them this summer. I think I can safely say that everyone in our group had a truly memorable time and saw and did lots without being overwhelmed. Let me know if you would like additional information.

Glad to know that you had a good time on the Best of Canada tour. We're not sure if we'll be able to go in September. But I would like to know more about this tour if you don't mind.

Was your tour the Best of Eastern Canada or the Best of Canada's West? How much free time did you have? What optionals were offered and how much did they cost? How were included meals? What were highlights of the tour?

TP

My tour was the Best of Eastern Canada. Probably the highlight for us was Quebec City which is very European and absolutely lovely. We also enjoyed Montreal (we spent two days in each of these locations), and then we had a vacation from our vacation at a beautiful log cabin resort at a lake in the mountains - very quiet and restful after the cities. The two optionals were a wonderful traditional Quebec dinner at a maple sugar farm (can't remember the French term) which was excellent and very reasonably priced, and a boat cruise in Montreal which we did not take. We found Canada to be quite beautiful, very friendly, and as I stated earlier the Tour Director is outstanding. We also found that our US dollar went a long way - as an example the optional Quebec dinner was only $25 each US. We were certainly busy, but did have plenty of free time. I hope you can go especially in September when the colors are changing - I think you will be very pleased.

Kay, thanks for your info. Now we feel comfortable about the tour. Thank you so much!

TP

hi there: i occasionally read this bulletin board (when bored at school) and came upon your posting.

a couple of things: 1) i have previously travelled with trafalgar (but not in canada); 2) i am canadian.

going to canada mid september to mid october is probably the best possible time of year to my way of thinking. the weather is cool but not hot (it can be occasionally wet) and the leaves have turned colour. the canadian people, while reserved, are basically friendly and honest. crime is not a problem to any great extent(if you are in a large city, you would perform the same security practices that you would in any large city worldwide). the country is diverse in every sense of the word...in most places attractive, in some places breathtaking.
trafalgar usually puts together a very well run program, including excellent amenities.

tourism boards are run provincially and have web sites. play around with the provincial name and the word tourism...you should be able to locate any desired additional information.

take heart. if you can go, and if your tour is not cancelled...definitely come and see us. You won't regret it.

mthompson, toronto, canada.

tpc, we have just returned from Canada. We have previously travelled with Trafalgar to UK and also through Europe, but this time found that ****** offered tours that better suited us. Started in Montreal and did the Maritime Canada & Quebec tour which travels through Quebec, New Brunswick, PEI and Nova Scotia. We found the people to be very polite and friendly and the scenery was just spectacular. Montreal and Quebec City are both very clean and well worth a visit. I think that Montreal was my favourite, but that could have had something to do with the weather as it was rainy when we were in Quebec City. The areas that we visited were not overrun with tourists and the emphasis was on the sights and scenery rather than souvenir shops. After this tour we joined another ****** tour in Toronto and went to Niagara Falls, so we did get to see a bit of Eastern Canada and I would recommend that if you get the chance to visit - do it. Part our our second tour was on VIA Rail's Canadian, the trans-continental train. We had 3 days and 2 nights on the train and it was definitely a highlight of our trip. Some people were not too happy with it but we thoroughly enjoyed the experience, met a lot of people from all over the world and would do it all again. We left the train at Jasper and travelled by coach through the Rockies and on to Vancouver. This is also a tour that I would recommend. Hope that this helps.

Lou Lou, thank you for your info. Glad to know that you had a good time in Canada. We will check out ****** tours.

TP