British Columbia: Whistler rail + free hotel night

Did you know that Travelzoo puts out a Canada edition of their weekly Top 20 list? It sometimes lists stateside deals that don’t make the cut for the Top 20 U.S. edition, as well as good-looking deals for travel within western Canada. With the U.S. dollar having fallen behind the Canadian dollar, finding real deals up north is more valuable than ever.

Deal: This week, Travelzoo’s Top 20 Canada list points out a British Columbia vacation package that includes a round-trip journey from Vancouver on the Whistler Mountaineer railway, plus a one-night stay at the elegant Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

The total package price of $201.01/adult per double occupancy includes breakfast on the train and rail station transfers in Vancouver and Whistler. For seats in the panoramic Glacier Dome car, the price of $317.91/adult includes afternoon tea with china and linen service during the return trip. That’s a real savings of 30%-35%, compared with booking the same hotel and train trip separately.

Is this train trip one of Canada’s most scenic? Tell us why or why not in the Comments section below.

More…details: Solo travelers are out of luck, because a minimum of 2 adults is required per booking. The good news is that round-trip airfares from LAX to Vancouver (YVR) for next weekend (October 12-14) start at just $301/person on Alaska Airlines.

When: This offer is valid (subject to availability) only through October 13, 2007.

Caveat: How much will this trip really cost in U.S. dollars? Remember the exchange rate that eventually appears on your credit-card statement will likely be less favorable than today’s bank exchange rate. Ask your credit-card provider about surcharges (typically 3%-5%) for foreign currency transactions.

Why Go: A spur-of-the-moment trip to see beautiful fall foliage up north.

Why Not: The weather in western Canada is unpredictable during October. It could rain most of the time.

Connect: The Fairmont Chateau Whistler offers wired high-speed Internet access in all guest rooms and wireless access in the hotel lobby. It regularly costs $14.97 per 24 hours, but it’s free for members of the Fairmont President’s Club, which is free to join.

Contact: Whistler Mountaineer, +1 (604) 606-8460, (888) 687-7245
Alaska Airlines, (800) 252-7522

Related links:
Visit Canada and get $100 plus AmEx rewards
Five ways to explore British Columbia’s spectacular Whistler in winter
In B.C., knocking on heaven’s door

— Sara Benson

[Photo: Courtesy of Whistler Mountaineer]

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This entry was posted on Thursday, October 4, 2007 at 6:28 pm by Sara Benson and is filed under Fall, Last Minute, Rail Travel, Weekend Getaways, Western Canada. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.