Train travel seems to belong to a bygone era, but not only can traveling by train provide a relaxing alternative to taking a car or plane—it can save you money, too.
Case in point: Via Rail Canada is currently offering a four-night, cross-country trip across Canada for $415 and up.
The four-night, three-day trip is on a train appropriately called “The Canadian” and goes from Toronto to Vancouver, British Columbia. The trip offers a scenic view of the country, meaning no looking at grimy industrial buildings covered in graffiti.
“Leave the city centre behind and glide through gentle prairie fields, rugged lake country and picturesque towns to the snowy peaks of the majestic Rockies,” Via Rail writes on its site. Don’t mind if we do.
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The train offers fine-dining options, so you’ll be able to enjoy the cuisines of all the areas of Canada you travel through and sample “exquisite regional specialties,” according to the Via Rail website. And don’t miss out on the large picture windows through which you can enjoy views of towns and cities including Sudbury Junction, Sioux Lookout, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Kamloops and Jasper. Between snowy mountains, glassy lakes and European-esque cities, this train trip offers views for every type of traveler.
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Not only will you ride in style amid incredible views, you’ll likely save some money, too. A quick search for flights between Toronto and Vancouver shows nonstop airfare for upcoming dates at $450 and up.
While this train trip is competitively priced now, it might get more expensive as word gets out. If you want to shell out and make this a truly luxe trip, you can opt for their “prestige” or “sleeper plus” packages, both of which include bonuses such as a la carte dining or, for the prestige package, a personal concierge.
If you want to get away and do something truly different, try train travel! You don’t need to go through airport security and you can bring a full-sized bottle of shampoo with you. You can watch this video for more information, and don’t forget to buy tickets ASAP!