My husband and I along with another couple returned yesterday from a train trip across Canada booked through Bridget Allen at Vacations by Rail. Overall we enjoyed our trip, however, the customer service from Bridget and her support people (especially Derek) was lacking. Then, just before we left on the trip, my husband broke his leg prompting a need to know how to navigate some scheduled activities, etc. We had to personally call each excursion and the VIA train office individually after asking for but not receiving help from Vacations by Rail. Would think before using them again. read more

I will never recommend Vacations by Rail. For a company recommended by AARP they are heartless when it comes to the elderly's welfare. My 83 year old mother booked a trip for herself and 3 other family members. Starting in Chicago and ending in LA. When the corona virus outbreak started her doctor and health navigator at her retirement community both advised her not to go and wrote letters stating this which were sent to Caroline at Vacations by Rail. This was the response, "I spoke with our operations team and they've confirmed nothing can be refunded at this time. These are our standard terms and conditions that we must enforce for all tours visiting areas that are considered safe for travel" Now my mother has to either go against her doctors orders, risks her health or lose $10000. We even just requested a postponement not a refund. read more

Vacations By Rail - Heartless Company for the elderly - Travel Services Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I am very pleased so far in the process. Hilary has been very helpful, very professional. I am looking forward to my 'Trip of a lifetime'.

Had a wonderful time in Switzerland. Hilary and staff were extremely helpful. Learned to ride the trains, really need to pay attention to where you are going and the exact time. HIGHLY suggest you download the SBB app to be able to ride trains more easily Need more precise information to get to hotel when arrive in village/city. Would have preferred to spend more time in each village/city to explore instead of riding the panorama trains. Could have skipped Chur and gone to Appenzell region. Instead of Grandia boat excursion in Lugano check out riding the funicular to top of Mount San Salvatore for the breathtaking views. All breakfast buffets were fantastic except Chur breakfast was lacking PACK LIGHT!!! Having to lug heavy bulky suitcases up and down stairs on trains/busses and ramps at train stations is not fun. We averaged 4 miles a day (10,000 steps). read more

I booked the Trans Canada by Rail Moderate tour, from Vancouver to Toronto. I know that booking through a tour company can be quite expensive but I'd booked a tour with another tour company and expected a comparable level of services so I may not have done due diligence in exploring what was included in the tour. Best I can tell, the only services provided were booking the train with VIA Rail and booking 2 nights in hotels. There were no meals or gatherings other than the ones that were included in the VIA Rail fee. Most of the transfers between hotels and train stations were not included, which is unusual. There was no representative from Vacations by Rail on site, at the pre and post trip hotels or on the train. But unfortunately that was not the issue I'm writing about. Due to wild fires in Canada, the train only made it to Jasper and had to turn around and go back to Vancouver. Clearly, no one was at fault for that. And the rail company, VIA Rail handled the situation beautifully. They paid airfare for everyone to get from Vancouver to Toronto and paid for a hotel for the night in Vancouver before our flights home. They announced on the public address system that passengers would receive a refund that would be the difference between the economy fare and the upgraded fare that we had paid (through Travels by Rail). My traveling companion spoke with a representative of VIA Rail after the trip and was told that the refund would be $908, which would be refunded to Travels by Rail and then they would refund us. So I assumed that would be the refund we would receive with maybe a small percentage deducted for administration. But the refund that Travels by Rail provided was $352! So you gotta wonder, where did the other $550 go? Several requests for an explanation as to how the refund amount was determined went unanswered. My advice--book with the rail line yourself. These people are not honorable. read more

This trip was very BAD, My mother wasn't able to go because broke her back 2 weeks before we could go on the trip, so call an asked about changing the name on the 1 ticket to my Dad & I was told "NO" to changing the name but was told "NO" & I could go by myself or cancel the trip or go by myself no refund or partial so I went by myself Frist night food buffet was on a warming table which was cold not even warm second day went to breakfast it was the temp has dinner as the night before. The last day of the trip train was 3 hours late arriving which should have been 8pm & then Train getting into Union Station 1:30pm which it was late should have been 8am so I'm VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH VACATIONS BY RAILS & I will not use them in the future plans. I think someone need to looking into this problem going forward. Good luck to Vacation By Rails read more

RE: Vacations By Rail (VBR) Luxury Rockies to Toronto featuring VIA Rail's Prestige Class WOW! Great - 5 Star rating on VBR's Consumer Advertising & Pro-mo campaign! BUYERS BEWARE! VBR, a 2-3 Star Travel/Booking agency. I would like to start by saying, my wife and I have travel the world for the last 30 years. Some of our past trips we just planned ourselves while others where arranged by travel companies as private tours i.e.; Peru, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Ecuador, Copper Canyon Train, just to mention a few. All were very successful and went without a hitch. After our initial contact with VBR, reading some of their reviews, looking over their Terms & Conditions (scary) and receiving their 1st of many Quote/Invoice, we were a little apprehensive about booking with them. But it was a trip we really wanted to take so we decided to risk all the negatives and proceeded with the booking Be aware, once you pay the deposit, you are on the hook. You will not be sure of your final itinerary until about 2 weeks before the start of your trip and long after the final payment - (VBR Terms - 45 - day of departure 100% non-refundable). Make sure you have a clear understanding of the vague line items listed on your Quote/Invoice. Don't assume anything i.e.; know the difference in transfers types. A private transfer can be by a Luxury Sedan or a Passenger Van, a scheduled transfer can be in an older bus that runs on a specific time schedule - we had all these on our "Luxury Tour". It did make a difference in our experience. Our January 2023 Luxury Rockies to Toronto featuring VIA Rail's Prestige Class started for us with many airline delays. By the end of the day our final scheduled arrival in Calgary of 8:06PM (actual was 9:30-10:15PM) verses the originally scheduled 1:40PM. VBR notified us that our original Private Transfer to Banff had been cancelled (with NO refund) but they were able to book another Private Transfer at a cost of $250 to us. It was in a Lincoln Navigator. (VBR Email - For reservation ##### I booked a private transfer to Banff with Allied Limousine. I'm just waiting for their email confirmation. If clients need anything or if they arrive early/late they can call 403-299-9555 to contact their driver). (Another VBR Email - The transfer company that we booked your transfer from Calgary to Banff through was unable to accommodate your late arrival due to the flight delays. Because it was a same delay cancellation the fee for the transfer was not returned to us). Buyer Beware - there was no time limit stated on our Quote/Invoice. (VBR #1 line item Invoice - Wednesday, January 4, 2023 Private Transfer - Calgary Airport to Banff (Brewster's Mountain Lodge). By arriving a day early in Banff, even thought it was almost mid-night, we got a good night's sleep and spent the next day doing a self tour of the down town Banff which we would have missed otherwise. We enjoyed our 2 nights at the Fairmount Hot Spring Hotel. The 5 hr private sightseeing tour of Banff Nat. Park by Discover Banff Tours was not rushed, it was flexible and at an easy. At the start of the tour, a nice heard of elk to welcome us to the frozen & snow covered scenery, cold and beautiful but it was early January. Our Private Transfer from Banff to the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise was in a multi passenger tour van. It was OK but not what you might expect on a tour labeled as "Luxury". Our one night stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise was the best of the four Fairmount's we stayed at. From our 5th floor Lakeview room, the frozen lake bustling with ice hockey, ice skating, cross country skiing, an Ice Place and Ice Bar and even a horse drawn snow sled around the lake, together with the fresh fallen snow, made the Chateau a magical winter wonderland. We found the entire staff to be friendly and extremely helpful. We could not have asked for more - well maybe another night for sure. Our "Luxury" trip continued with a "scheduled shuttle" (an older bus with 25-30 seats and a cracked windshield) that picked us up 3.5 hrs after the hotel check-out time and then drove about 1 mile before taking a 20 minute brake for the other passengers. We then headed on to the Fairmount Jasper Park Lodge. The route was Hwy 93 (per VBA promo - This morning you are off once again, this time to the beautiful town of Jasper. Your driver will take you on a scenic drive through the mountains, along the famed Ice Fields Parkway and into the resort town center of Jasper National Park. Keep your camera handy for this drive). Very disappointed, we were really looking forward to this famous scenic drive. Our very able drive did take us this route, the problem was we left late afternoon / arrived in Jasper after 8PM, long after dark. In fact, most of the drive was it was dark and even if it had been light would have been difficult to use your camera through the small bus windows. Poor planning by VBR (you don't always get what is promised). ++MORE++ read more

You will hear from the "sales team" just two times. When you first sign up and when your payment is due. Forget about asking questions of any kind in the interim. If you do get a response, be prepared to wait weeks. Then if you want to make a change, they need to get with "another team" and get back to you on that. I'm still waiting. And, I am getting auto-nagged to pay the invoice for the trip I don't want. Customer service is terrible. read more

I worked with Hilary at Vacations by Rail to assist me with booking my clients on a rail trip to Scotland. Hilary was thorough and efficient, making sure my clients were able to book the trip of their dreams. Having taken the same trip myself, I know the quality of the tour guides, accommodations and transportation are all excellent. so excited for them to experience the same adventure I did! read more

BEWARE of Rocky Mountaineer Train Travel in Canada. In June of 2019 I booked a vacation with them for My 50th Wedding Anniversary ( all paid up front BIG BUCKS}. We were scheduled to travel in September. Covid- arrived in March and no travel or refunds. For the past three years plus, I have requested a refund due to a change in my health status. All I get is do this email customer service or I will call you back or I will send an email...they never followup. Terrible customer service and always send you to a travel specialist not someone who could get something done! read more

Haven't taken the trip yet, but worked with Hilary to set it up. She was great!

It has been such a pleasure working with Charles. He has made preparing for our journey an absolute joy.

Terrible! They do not give you any information and you are all by yourself traveling. We could have booked our own hotels and train tickets for half the price they charged us. We did everything on our own anyways....no one picked up the phone when we called and the 1 out of 5 times they did they did not have any clue about our itinerary and did not newer any questions. They outsourced their tours to local tour companies. Other guests on our tour also gave them terrible reviews. We call them "Ghost Vacations by Rail". Spend your hard earned money elsewhere. read more

The attention to detail leaves a little to be desired. We were a group of 10, but we were seated far apart on the train so that we were unable to all eat at the same time. We requested one king bed, but 4 out of 5 nights, we had 2 double beds so that my wife and I had to sleep in different beds. The other details of the trip were fine. We mentioned these 2 things to them after we had returned, thinking they might care, so they could improve things for future guests. They did not seem to care. read more

The service representatives try their best but operations seem to be an obstacle. Things take forever to be "processed". Very difficult to make changes. In times when staff is short, management should be focused on ways to streamline operations so that the staff and the customers are happy. The service is slow or nonexistent when you have a question but reminders to pay your balance are never ending. read more

My friend and I did the Colorado Rail Adventure this past month and it was a wonderful experience! I've never done any rail travel in the U.S. and had tons of questions that were answered promptly and patiently by Vacations By Rail's staff. The tour itself was seamless from start to finish - They took care of all of the accommodations and hit all of the major sights we wanted to see. I'm looking forward to booking another trip with them soon! Canada I'm coming for you!! read more

Our Autumn in New England "rail" tour with Vacations by Rail was a Vacations by Bus tour that included two *brief* train rides. The tour was one we have no desire whatsoever to repeat. I'm kicking myself for not being more diligent reading reviews. No more Vacations by Rail or, more accurately, by Bus. The VBR Project Manager needs training about confirming and reconfirming stops and checking that things are actually open so that the Tour Director isn't stuck trying to find a place at the very last minute in remote Vermont to feed 40 people because she just found out that our hotel up on a mountain's restaurant was closed. Tour director didn't know how to use Google, so a passenger found a place. Tour director openly berated the kind, professional, always friendly, careful driver, which is really unprofessional. He was a last-minute sub and was unfamiliar with the area, but he was very careful and professional. I know he could not wait for that tour to end, just as we couldn't. We started in Boston (terrific city tour by a great guide, Cindy!), then were bused down to Hyannis. Next day drove back up to Plymouth Plantation and back to Hyannis for a second night. On to Newport, RI, and over/down to Mystic (got a whole 20 minutes there), then off west to Springfield, MA, for the night. From Springfield to West Dover, VT, where the hotel's restaurant was closed (see above). From West Dover, we went to North Conway, NH. Got one-half of the scenic train ride before having to board the bus that took us back through North Conway to a restaurant for dinner an hour away and another hour ride back to North Conway. Clearly, the project manager wasn't paying attention. I've been a project manager making sure crews on the road all over the country had the information, reservations, tickets or locations, money, etc. they needed. This was shoddy work, at best. (This shows my location as Chicago. I do not live in Chicago or Illinois) read more

What an outfit! Cancelled the trip with minimal notification and then acted as if they were doing me a favor by "considering" whether or not they would offer the refund! It took a month to do so and I needed the money for a vital health concern. Avoid them like the plague. read more

Was hoping to use Vacations by Rail for a trip to Alaska - put a full deposit down on Feb 9 on a trip that was advertised on their website only to find out that what was offered didn't exist. Now 15 days later I have only received a fraction of my deposit back and was forced to dispute charges with my credit card company. Would never use this company again! read more

Best vacation ever! Vacations by Rail and Alaska Railroad did an excellent job of giving us information as we needed it, with our itinerary and transfers well planned. We laughed the entire week with friends made along the way. It was great and jammed packed! read more

Vacations By Rail - Alaska Glass Domed Railways - Travel Services Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

AVOID. They will force rebook you when they cancel trips, then not refund the deposit if you don't go on it! AVOID. they agent EFI is the absolute worst read more

Just completed a Vacations by Rail 10-day Fall Foliage trip, and had an excellent time. Our tour director was really awesome (Tom S.), and we had a superb driver (Kenny O.). We covered a lot of ground in 10 days, but we saw some gorgeous fall colors, and took quite a few side excursions too. You do have to be ok with staying just one night in some places (unpack/pack), and getting up a bit earlier than you normally might on a vacation, but it is totally worth it. Would definitely do again. read more

Do not waste your money on this "service." For a service-oriented business, little was done except take our money, and refuse any refunds for any reason. Yet, their end of the bargain is not kept. Travel documents were sent less than a week before departure, when promised 14 days in advance. Difficult to reach anyone, and calls are not returned. Very poor itinerary, and hotels are booked by them through Priceline. We were on a train for 2 days with no access to the dining car. Agents will only talk about "Terms and Conditions" like robots. You can arrange your own trip, buy your train ticket and book hotels on your own for much less money, and then would be able to reschedule or get a refund without penalty. We abandoned our trip entirely while sitting in the rain at midnight in a rental car, not allowed in locked train station, watching someone shoot up right in front of us and our young children, as train was delayed repeatedly for more than 6 hours. We got our own hotel and booked flights home, never boarding the train again or finishing our scheduled trip. Vacations By Rail will quickly take your money, and then you're on your own, never to see that money again, or receive what you thought you paid for. But they accept no responsibility, per "Terms and Conditions." read more

It is very unfortunate that VBR has little concern about the financial hardship they have placed on their customers by refusing to credit back my Am Exp after the trip was cancelled due to COVID-19. While they are willing to extend their credit for up to 2 years the problem is I have the challenge of a child's school schedule and winters in Alaska to work around leaving very limited time. They are now holding over $ 5,000.00 of our hard earned income for a trip that was cancelled on their part, not mine. I understand business. I have a vacation rental on the Big Island of Hawaii that is sitting empty for COVID and a big mortgage to pay. However "we" are crediting all of our customers back 100% of their funds which is outside of our normal policy. Why? Because it is the right thing to do!! No customer of mine will be held hostage during these financially difficult times. Beware before you book. read more

So far not at all happy with vacations by rail trip. We are traveling to Switzerland by rail. It is very hard to get any details from them about the itinerary. Was told we would get paperwork 2 weeks prior and had to ask them where it was. Finally received less than a week prior to departure. Was also told when we booked we qualified for 1st class train as part of their promotion. Am now being told they booked 2nd class and we didn't qualify for the upgrade. You should honor the information we were given and follow through on the things you promise. Can't wait to see what other disappointments await us. read more

We just returned from a VBR "America's Great National Parks" tour of 2-1/2 weeks. It started and ended with an Amtrak overnight train from Chicago to the Rocky Mountains. A motor coach tour was in between. The motor coach tour was outstanding in almost every aspect. BUT Amtrak is a DISGRACE. I will never take an overnight trip on this excuse for a railroad again. I've traveled all over Europe on trains and never felt uncomfortable in a sleeper or in coach. The US rail roadbed is totally unfit for passenger travel. I've slept on my sailboat while sailing thru storms and heavy seas and never felt like I would fall out of my bunk. A roomette is no place for two adults to travel. The seats do not really recline and there is no place to put your feet. You have to escape to the a coach seat or to the observation car during the day. The food was just so-so and the service was spotty, some excellent and much "I don't care". Book a cruise, a motor coach tour or fly. But stay away from Amtrak sleepers. read more

My daughter and I took the Rail and Land Tour of Alaska in Aug. of 2018. All paper work was waiting for us when we arrived at each motel, train travel and rental car pick up. The Denali park tour was awesome. Lots of bears, moose, caribou were spotted. The train ride to Denali was excellent because of the sunny day we were among the 30% that get to see the top of Denali. The drive to Valdez from Fairbanks was beautiful. We took the Columbia Glacier Tour which was excellent. A sunny day for viewing the glacier. The Denali Bluffs motel was great, along with the La Quinta Motel at Fairbanks. Wish we could of stayed a few more days at each. I have to say all tour guides, motel staff and everyone associated with the trip were friendly and very helpful. The only bad mark I have to put on this tour is, The Ramada Inn at Anchorage. First of all the motel is in a not so desirable part of town. To walk downtown it was all up hill and past a few questionable buildings and people. Places to eat were all a walk, and at night it was not a good idea. The rooms were small, but clean. We arrived a day early which we paid for at a price of $240. Had I'd known where we were staying earlier, I would of made my own reservation. This price was way too much for the room. Doing things on our own was a good idea. Only wished I had resourced a few more side trips. All and all, I would go again and book the trip through Vacations of Rail. read more

We were greatly disappointed in vacations by rail. We encountered many issues: incorrect hotel information, no information on times for pick up or departure, closed car rental site, which left us scrambling for alternative plans, transfers for 3 instead of 5 people. When we had so many issues, I looked up the prices listed on the websites of the Rocky Mountaineer and the hotels, car rentals etc, to determine approximately the price of their service ( vacations by rail would not tell me their rate or give an itemized cost for our services when I asked). It would have been far cheaper and less of a hassle to have booked the rail trip and hotels myself. When I asked for reimbursements for our extra expenses, and those we did not receive but had paid for, it took 5 weeks and 3 days to determine what that would be. I received a letter stating they did not receive any calls on Sunday, questioning my honesty. ( my husband had to ask the hotel concierge to call for him, and he tried several times, as our cell phones did not have coverage in Canada. ) They finally refunded a paltry sum compared to the thousands of dollars we spent and overpaid on this trip. read more