Let us welcome you to Canada, where rainforest and mountains line the West Coast, and historic lighthouses are dotted along the East.
At Canada Rail Vacations, we know it's never just a vacation. It's your introduction to someplace new.
That means it's about you — what calls you there, the things you’ll love, and the memories that will stay for years to come.
We know there's a lot depending on your journey, and a lot to think about when booking a trip to Canada. We have a whole team of expert Travel Designers dedicated to doing just that! They're here to think about everything so you don't have to.
This is what you can expect when working with us to plan your Canada trip.
Common Questions | Canada Rail Vacations
We will cover:
- General Questions — working with Canada Rail Vacations
- What we Book — what we can, and can't, help you with
- Payment and Policies — how to pay when the time comes
- How to Book — how to get started planning your trip
If you're looking for more specific advice, please visit:
Common Questions | Visiting Canada
Common Questions | Canada Rail Travel
The Bow Valley and Banff | Credit: Parks Canada
General Questions
If you have any further questions, reach out to one of our Travel Designers — our team of in-house travel experts.
Who is Canada Rail Vacations?
Canada Rail Vacations is an inbound tour operator with over 25 years of experience designing dream trips in Canada. The brand is powered by Discover Holidays.
As destination specialists — experts in all things Canada — we plan fully packaged vacations for visitors across the country, working one-on-one with guests to find what matters to them most, and building their trip around that.
Is this a guided or escorted tour?
While we do offer some small-group tours, most of our tours are not traditional guided or escorted tours.
Instead, we curate and arrange the individual aspects of your trip, booking everything that you need along the way — like accommodations, tours, and transfers — and then give you the freedom to complete them. This means you will be traveling independently between destinations, whether by car, rail, or private transfer.
This doesn't mean you are entirely alone — while you are here, you will have access to on-the-ground support from our expert Travel Designers throughout your entire trip.
At the stops along your journey, we may have arranged for tours, excursions, and experiences for you and your travel party. Some of these are guided tours.
Please see detailed tour descriptions on our individual packages for details.
What do the terms Double, Single, and Triple mean?
Our pricing is broken down into Double, Single, and Triple. These refer to hotel room occupancy:
- Double — Two adults sharing one room.
- Single — One adult per room. This is typically subject to a single-occupancy surcharge.
- Triple — Two adults + one additional person sharing one room. This person may be an adult or a child.
Do you supply travelers with documentation?
We supply travelers with a detailed itinerary which includes all confirmation numbers, necessary tickets, and, in some cases, vouchers they will need during their trip in Canada. For self-drives and independent road trips, this itinerary includes detailed directions and driving instructions.
Canada Rail Vacations is not responsible for visitors' entry into Canada, and we do not supply any visas or travel documentation used to enter Canada. For information on necessary documents for traveling into Canada, please see the entry requirements to visit Canada on the Government of Canada's website.
What age is considered a child on your trips?
The age we consider a child varies between packages and excursions. Children must be accompanied by their legal guardian. Please ask a Travel Designer when booking your trip for more details.
Are meals included in the tour packages?
Meals are only included in the tour packages where specified in the itinerary. Some individual tours also allow you to pre-purchase your meal.
Can you send me a brochure?
Unfortunately, Canada Rail Vacations does not currently offer brochures. Instead, we invite you to browse our website or subscribe to our newsletter for trip inspiration.
Are Americans still welcome in Canada?
Yes, American travelers are very much welcome in Canada and Americans continue to make up one of our largest international visitor demographics.
Canada is a safe and welcoming place and Canadians are famously friendly. Locals are always happy to welcome American visitors to our home!
Afternoon Tea at Lake Louise | Credit: Destination Canada
What we Book
At Canada Rail Vacations, we arrange the details so that our clients can travel without worries.
Do you book plane tickets?
We do not book international flights. Your package begins upon arrival in Canada.
However, several of our packages include local small craft air transfers, helicopter transfers, and flightseeing tours. In these cases, all required tickets will be booked for you by your Travel Designer.
Do you book train tickets?
As a tour operator, we book whole vacation packages, not individual segments. These often include train tickets.
If you are just looking for a train ticket between cities, they can be booked online at the Rocky Mountaineer or VIA Rail websites.
If your itinerary includes time on a train, we have booked it! And if you want to add an additional train trip to be added to your package, we can arrange that too.
Do you book Amtrak tickets?
Unfortunately, we are unable to book Amtrak tickets for guests.
Can you book services in the United States?
In 2015 we launched our sister brand Alaska Rail Vacations. Since then, we have been sending people on bespoke adventures through America's largest state.
For trips to Alaska, please visit alaskarail.com.
How does your car rental work?
Rental car pick-up and drop-off time are specified on your itinerary.
Car rental is based on 24-hour periods. For this reason, we arrange for your designated drop-off time to be during the last full day of your rental. This allows for a buffer so that you are at no risk of incurring an extra charge or late fees should you arrive slightly after the designated drop-off on your itinerary.
If you need further clarification, reach out to your personal Travel Designer for information on your specific booking.
Can you include travel insurance?
We do not sell travel insurance and cannot include it in our bookings. We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance locally to cover your vacation for any medical needs and/or trip cancellation or interruptions, as there are no exceptions to the cancellation penalties.
Downtown Vancouver and English Bay | Credit: Mike Benna on Unsplash
Payment and Policies
When the time comes, we want to make payment easy.
What is your final payment and cancellation policy?
Our final payment schedules and cancellation policies vary by tour. Please refer to our booking conditions page for more details, and contact a Travel Designer for any extra questions.
Do you accept Discover credit cards?
Unfortunately, we do not accept Discover credit cards. We accept most other major credit cards.
Canada Rail Vacations Team Members
How to Book with Canada Rail Vacations
Now that we’re acquainted, reach out to a Travel Designer and let us take care of the rest.
The planning process starts here, where you can submit an enquiry or arrange a call with a Travel Designer directly.
From there, your personal Travel Designer will work one-on-one with you to craft a unique trip, tailored to what you love most. With our travel experts — and locals themselves — helping you plan, you can find hidden spots that few others know, and make a trip truly yours.
But, if you're not yet ready to book or just want to stay in touch, subscribe to our newsletter. There, you will find further trip inspiration, deals, and more. We look forward to hearing from you soon.