Canada the Rocky Mountaineer and Fairmont hotels

Louise Webster on 25 September 2008
I was so excited when I got offered this trip – it's one thing that I have always wanted to do.

We flew from Heathrow to Vancouver and stayed a couple of nights at the Fairmont hotel Vancouver. I felt very safe in Vancouver, in fact I think I could live out there! We stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront hotel – overlooking the harbour and watching all the seaplanes take off to go over to Vancouver Island – it was great!

We visited the aquarium and also the Capilano Suspension Bridge. This was like being on “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’, it was fun though! I met my first Mountie- albeit a bear dressed as a Mountie! We also visited the Grouse Mountain lumberjack show – very funny!

We went on the Whistler Mountaineer from Vancouver to Whistler and stayed at the Fairmont Whistler. It took about 3 hours and 30 mins to get there - the scenery is spectacular!

We stayed at the Fairmont Whistler Resort Hotel which is a true ski in/ski out hotel – right on the slopes and just a 10-minute walk to the restaurant bars and shops – brilliant location! We actually went in the outdoor spa – bit chilly – but overlooking the mountains all around you – what a fabulous feeling!

We then boarded the Rocky Mountaineer to Jasper – via Quesnal. We were lucky to be on the gold leaf service – this is worth the extra money – where you can enjoy the unparalleled panoramic views from the custom-designed bi-level Gold Leaf Dome Coach. Enjoy hot breakfasts and lunches from their a la carte menu, served in the exclusive gold leaf dining room and you also get complimentary beverages and savoury snacks on board whilst listening to the commentary

We stopped in Quesnal for the night at the Sandman Inn – a typical Canadian lodge, then up to Jasper to stay in the Fairmont Park Lodge Hotel, a quite big complex so there are little golf buggies to take you to your lodge!

All the hotels we stayed in had a fantastic lounge area with big open log fires – just lovely and cosy!

We took an excursion up to the Athabasca glacier in one of the big six-wheeled ice explorers. It was completely covered in snow – in September – very breath-taking and very cold!

Then we went to the Chateau Fairmont at Lake Louise – (my hotel) I wish! The views are just like the pictures in brochures – again breath-taking!

We took a trip to Banff and had breakfast at the infamous Melissa’s restaurant – pancakes and syrup – mmmm! Then off to do a bit of horse riding in the mountains. I felt like I should be on a film - though the trees and the little streams! Good experience!

There are lots of places to stay in Banff and quite reasonable too. Sadly our trip had come to an end – off to Calgary to catch our flight home.

The Fairmont hotels are fantastic – I would definitely stay in them again! The Whistler Mountaineer is a good way to get from Vancouver to Whistler – the view is fantastic. On Rocky Mountaineer I would definitely upgrade to the gold leaf service – you see so much more!