I had the best news that I was able to travel to Canada with Prestige Travel, but even better we were visiting Vancouver, Banff and given that chance to board the iconic Rocky Mountaineer for 2 days I was over the moon.
In Vancouver we were so lucky to be staying at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver known as the 'castle in the city', prime position and located and only a 10 minute walk to the beautiful waterfront, first evening we dined at the hotels Notch 8 bar & restaurant, all very excited for our jammed packed day in the city tomorrow.
Up bright and early ready for the day ahead, breakfast was at the Fairmont Waterfront, what an amazing way to start the day with amazing views overlooking the water and we were blessed with beautiful weather which always helps. Next stop was a visit to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, loved it here, it was so relaxing and only 15 minutes out of the hustle and bustle of Vancouver city centre. This is a must do for visitors to Vancouver. The suspension bridge is impressive and the main attraction but others include tree top walks which are built into the forest or against the cliff face.
Onto a 3-hour foodie tour of Granville Island an eclectic mix of shops and fresh produce we enjoyed a variety of food on the tour from freshly cooked bread, cheeses, pickles and more I think we tried samples from over 10 different stalls both savory and sweet, then caught the Aquabus back to Yaletown. We enjoyed a brief tour through Gastown back to the Waterfront to enjoy the Vancouver Flyover Experience. An epic simulated ride to explore Canadas landscape without leaving the ground.
Next morning and we were all ready for this, it was time to board the Rocky Mountaineer, I've sold this for over 20 years and had a huge expectation of what it would look like and it certainly didn't disappoint, the train was immaculate, glistening with its traditional blue and gold exterior. We were waved goodbye from some of the Rocky Mountaineer Staff, heading to our overnight stop at Kamloops. The staff is what makes the trip, their enthusiasm and love of the areas we travelled though was infectious. Service and food onboard were outstanding, breakfast and lunch was served in the downstairs dining carriage. Great food and amazing views were the order of the day.
After an overnight stop in Kamloops we boarded the train and headed towards the Canadian Rockies, WOW, what a spectacular sight, going in April we had snow-capped mountains and the scenery was unreal, we were booked on the Goldleaf service, the domed windows and open air viewing platform are more than worth the extra. We were treated like royalty from start to finish, the seats onboard reclined, adjustable heat levels, footrests and pop-up tables. There were loads of dining and drinking opportunities so you would be hard pressed to be left wanting on this journey.
Next stop Banff! Again, I've been selling this amazing town for years and it’s been on my 'list' for years, our home for the next two nights was the brand new Canoe Suites located about 15 minute walk to the main hub of the town. We had balcony rooms located at the front of the hotel with gorgeous views of the Rockies, brand new rooms, and extremely friendly staff, I would 100% recommend this hotel to clients and the breakfasts we had were amazing.
Banff is a gorgeous quaint town, a foodies paradise, Banff has a great bus service called 'roam' which will take you to all the main spots in this National Park. We did catch this bus to the Banff gondola to take up to the stop of Sulphur Mountain, I am scared of heights but I couldn't resist taking a sneak peek at the view on our way to the peak. Once at the top, we dined at the Northern Lights Kitchen and experience views of snowcapped mountain ranges and Bow Valley. Once back on the ground we were picked up and driven to Lake Louise, as we were visiting in the winter and lake was frozen solid and covered in snow but still as beautiful.
This trip has exceeded my expectations and more! I would visit the amazing country in a heartbeat. If you have any questions about my trip to the West Coast or are thinking about booking your own trip to this wonderful country, you can contact me by either popping into the Abergavenny branch, giving me a call on 018735 66004 or by sending me an email, [email protected]
