Canadian train operator VIA Rail offers 15%-40% discounts on its trains until October 10, 2023 06:59 CEST. With this discount, you can e.g. travel for four days from Toronto to Vancouver in Sleeper Plus class for just CA$754 (~€515). From Toronto to Montreal, the train would only cost you CA$43 (~€29).
You should consider train travel in North America as an experience, rather than a transport method. As freight companies own most tracks, delays occur frequently. On longer routes, we highly recommend that you not have tight plans.
If you use the landing page, the code automatically applies. Otherwise, you’d have to apply the coupon code CANADA upon check-out. You also have to select “Show fares with taxes included” to see the full fare.
Terms & Conditions
You will receive the following discounts:
- 15% Discount on Sleeper Plus Tickets on Winnipeg – Churchill
- From November 20 to April 30
- 25% Discount on economy tickets in Canadian, Ocean and regional trains
- Routes: Toronto – Vancouver, Montreal – Halifax, all regional trains and partial segments
- From November 1 to April 30, except between December 15 and January 3.
- 30% Discount on economy and business tickets in the Corridor (Windsor – Quebec)
- From October 11 to December 14
- Only on departures before 8 am and after 6 pm
- 40% Discount on Sleeper Plus Tickets in the Canadian
- Route: Toronto → Vancouver (and partial segments)
- From November 1 to April 30, except between December 15 and January 3
- Only 25% discount on private cabins.
These are the allowed “regional” routes:
- Winnipeg-Churchill
- Jasper-Prince Rupert
- Sudbury-White River
- Montréal-Jonquière
- Montréal-Senneterre
Routes
Here are some example routes (prices include taxes):
- Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver (4 days)
- CA$436 (~€298) in economy class
- CA$754 (~€515) in Sleeper Plus class (upper berth)
- CA$886 (~€605) in Sleeper Plus class (lower berth)
- CA$1,672 (~€1,141) in a one-person cabin
- Canadian from Japer to Vancouver (23 hours):
- CA$135 (~€92) in economy class
- CA$314 (~€214) in Sleeper Plus (upper berth)
- CA$695 (~€474) in a one-person cabin
- Ocean from Montreal to Halifax (22 hours)
- CA$131 (~€89) in economy class
- Corridor from Toronto to Montreal (5 hours)
- CA$43 (~€29) in economy class
- CA$106 (~€72) in business class
Trains in Canada
You can see VIA Rail’s map below. As you can see, they don’t have many routes, but the ones they have are pretty scenic.
Obviously, the most interesting part of the deal is the 40% discount on long-distance trains. The flagship train, the Canadian, runs from Toronto to Vancouver while stopping in Winnipeg, Edmonton and Jasper among others. If you are an adventure wanting to see beautiful places, you should consider visiting Jasper.
There are other very interesting routes, such as the Ocean from Montreal to Halifax, or trains from Winnipeg to Churchill. If you choose the Corridor, you will see an almost European-like transport network, with frequent services. While the main corridor line runs between Windsor and Quebec, you can also travel to Ottawa or Niagara Falls.
Although (as mentioned above), be aware of long delays. Especially the Canadian likes to run several hours late. We suggest having an additional day in your final destination, especially if you fly back from there. We have reviewed the Corridor service in Business Class before:
Information & Tips for Canada
The North American country of Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of surface area. In Canada, English and French are the official languages. Tourists visit Canada because of its many natural attractions and large cities, and the flight prices vary between the east and west coasts. Flights to the east coast e.g. to Toronto or Montreal regularly cost less than 400€. For flights to the west coast, e.g. to Vancouver or Calgary, prices are closer to 400€ – 600€. Other destinations are mostly only reachable with an additional domestic flight. Just like in the USA, most airlines now only offer cheap fares that do not include checked baggage. For checked baggage you should budget an additional 50€ per direction.
Best Time to Travel
Canada is a huge country with many varying climate conditions, but it is safe to say that the winters (November to March) are very cold and snowy in most regions. Summers are relatively mild and partly rainy.
Immigration & Visa Requirements
Most EU citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 6 months. However, an electronic travel waiver (eTA) must be applied for, similar to the ESTA required for entry into the USA. This costs CA$7 (~€5) and is valid for up to 5 years.
Currency
Canada’s national currency is the Canadian Dollar (CAD). One euro is approximately CA$1.46. Many credit cards may charge a foreign currency fee of up to 2% to pay in CAD.
Transfer from Canada to the USA
Canada is located north of the USA and is the only other country apart from Mexico that shares a border with it (2 borders, actually: Alaska borders Canada in the southeast!) At many airports in Canada US immigration is already done before departure, so you arrive in the USA as a “domestic” passenger in the domestic terminal which can potentially save you lots of time since you do not have to stand in line at customs upon arriving. By land the same entry formalities take place as at the airport or by train at the station in Canada. Most EU citizens don’t need a visa and can instead make use of the digital ESTA procedure.
Finding the Best eSIM Plan
We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as Airalo and Maya Mobile. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for Canada 🇨🇦 Compared
→ All Dealz for Canada
Cover Picture: Les Argonautes
Comment (1)
Great offer. Thanks a lot!