My husband and I are planning to go to Eastern Canada this fall for a few days and really need some advice. We are thinking of traveling on the Twilight Shoreliner to Boston, MA, renting a car and driving to Montreal or Quebec. We are looking into the "romance by rail" trip from Montreal to Halifax,NS. renting another car (we would have dropped the first one off before the train trip) and touring around the area for a couple of days in that area before catching a ferry to Maine or to St. Johns,NB, driving back to Boston, dropping off the second car and and catching the Shoreliner home. I would like to have a travel agent arrange the trip. Does anyone have any personal experience with a particular agency? (I am a bit hesitant to try to arrange this myself.) This will be a RARE vacation for us and a first trip to Canada. I have boned up on travel in that area but would love to have some input about "not to miss" sights and so on. Does anyone know if the "rbr" train can be boarded in Quebec City rather than Montreal? Is there any problem with renting a car in, say, Halifax and dropping it off in the US? We would like to go in September or October--when do off season rates begin? And what is the weather like that time of year? Help, please!
Posted by rresor (Member # 128) on :
First, any travel agent can book your tickets, or you can book through VIA Rail Canada's Web site. There are few enough trains that there's no chance of confusion.
As to your proposed itinerary:
I've been to Canada many times, and to Nova Scotia on vacation with my family the last two years. Here's what I'd suggest.
Go first to Montreal. Best route is to catch the "Adirondack" from New York. Great scenery most of the way, and a 5:30 pm arrival in Montreal. Stay near the station. I'd recommend the Marriott Chateau Champlain, one block from the train station (ask for a room with a view of Mount Royal), but the Queen Elizabeth (on top of the station) and the Hilton Bonaventure (across the street) are also possibilities. Plan to spend a day in Montreal. It's a great city, and with the Canadian dollar at US $0.66, very cheap.
Take a morning train to Quebec, which is also worth a visit. If you want to stay overnight, the standout choice is the Chateau Frontenac, but it's pricey. Stay in the "Old City", inside the city walls, though.
You can board the "Ocean" in Charny, across the river from Quebec, at 10 p.m. (VIA provides taxi service from Gare Palais in Quebec). It will arrive at about 4 the next afternoon in Halifax. Rent a car and head for Cape Breton Island. Nice scenery and lots of places to stay there.
For a return, I'd suggest dropping the car in Yarmouth (south end of Nova Scotia) and taking the "Scotia Prince" to Portland, ME. By September, there will be train service between Portland and Boston (I hope) and you can go home that way.
Enjoy the trip. French Canada and Nova Scotia are both wonderful places.
Posted by reggierail (Member # 26) on :
Hi Dee, Sounds like a great trip you're planning. There are a few concerns including dropping off a car rented in Boston In Montreal or Quebec. If possible it would be pricey. Same on the return to Boston. I would be happy to help you with your trip as I am a rail travel specialist as well as a Canada travel specialist. I work for Uniglobe Golden Empire Travel in Bakersfield Ca. & can make any arrangements for you. I have organized several rail tours to Ontario & Quebec, the last one a 16 day rail tour from Southern California to Wash. DC, Toronto, Niagara Falls & Montreal. The last tour had 40 people in Oct. '99. Please E-maill me if you are interested as I have booked & stayed in many hotels in both Montreal & Quebec City. Yours Reggie
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Posted by Dee (Member # 5) on :
Thank you, rresor, for such wonderful information. This is one of the things I like so much about this forum--the great help and advice you get.