Planning rail vacation.

People I know who have used them speak very highly of Ted & Sylvia B.

Ted & Sylvia

Its best to contact Amtrak or VIA rail directly. A whole lot cheaper for the same or better service.

Clem k 

I used Ted and Sylvia B. They provide good service. There is a service fee. But they also give you a coupon for future travel. Amtrak's Empire Builder's service was very good, but personally as far as the train itself I would travel VIA Rail for the quality in the dining car and the "domes". If you wish to travel sleeper, Rail Canada sleepers have a shower room at the end of the sleeper but toilet and sink are in the room. 

I think Ted and Sylvia are a better choice for you, since you do not have experience with train travel.  They will tell you the good and the bad and will help you with ground transportation, lodging, etc. at your destination.  You will get someone back east if you call Amtrak, and they likely will not be well-informed about the northwest and western Canada, whereas Ted and Sylvia have been to these places and know all the quirks involved in train travel.

The lowest-cost option is reservations by internet, but you have to know what you are doing, and it's a significant cost anyway.  For the small extra fee, Ted and Sylvia will work to make it a memorable trip for the satisfaction you get, instead of for the things you'll find out that nobody at Amtrak told you.

"Ditto" on Tom's comments.

Hello 2356

Just looked at Amtrak site.

$1500.00 round trip for two 

Leave Portland Or. June 5th large bedroom on Empire builder arrive next day at West Glacier National park Rooms at the lake Lodge inside the park are about $200 per night .

Leave Glacier on june 13th large bedroom on Empire builder arrive Portland june 14th.

Meals included on Empire Builder shower and toilet in room. This is a 62 and over price.

This will get you an idea of cost for comparison.

Clem k

Watch the VIA website for a few months.  They often run reduced fares.  Best trip I ever took was from Winnipeg up to Churchill.    It's a stunning change from the "ordinary."  We went in mid August, which was a good time.  Last summer we went from Toronto to Vancouver on VIA.  It was another great trip--the food in particular was absolutely first class!  The classic 1954 Budd cars are immaculate and service is excellent.  First class experience all the way!  We've also traveled by rail in England, and that was nice too but not nearly as nice as VIA.  One thing I'll add is that the VIA run to Vancouver has adventure travelers from all over the world riding it.  This really is a "world class" trip!

I've been to Glacier NP several times, and while it's nice, it's not as fun as Vancouver and Victoria.  Wife & I received a credit from VIA and are thinking of another run to Churchill this summer.

Kent in SD

Two23

Your right the VIA Canadian is the best. I went the last three winters Vancouver to Toronto. Like you said if you check with VIA you can get 50% off when they run specials.

Clem k

It may not get you everywhere you would like to be in Glacier but there are Red Bus tours in addition to Park Service shuttle buses.   My wife and I did a Red Bus to Waterton, Canada. Passports required.

You want to plan a trip to Glacier late July or August, still a chance of snow, but probably the best weather.  July, both times I was there, and some of the most popular trails had just been opened.  Hiking experience, on my bucket list, is to do an overnight at Granite Park Chalet.   IMO, Most beautiful National Park.   Park heritage is the Great Northern RR, James J. Hill.  

Ah! Glacier Nat'l Park! The Red Bus tours are very good. We stayed at the Isaac Walton Inn in the 2010.  It was very nice. We had breakfast and dinner included in our rate. The food was excellent. It is near the BNSF RR tracks. Amtrak disembarks you at the hotel.

A White, now Ford refurbished Red bus made my layout.

May be 30 of the Red buses still exist at Glacier.  There are a few Yellow buses at Yellowstone.  Primary access to Glacier National Park is either West Glacier, Apgar, or East Glacier, St Mary.  The park centers on the Going to the Sun Road, you can access the mountain tops via the road. As with all the National Parks, take your time spend a bit more than the average stay, 2 hours, 15 minutes.   There is a wonderful back country place called "No Name Lake", accessed from Two Medicine camp ground, South Glacier. Early morning at No name.  For us easterner, the upstate waters of Montana, are crystal clear. Apparently the granite  silt from the mountain snow melt run-off quickly settles from the water.  Another interesting feature at Glacier is a triple continental divide. Water from Glacier, makes the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Hudson Bay. 

 You can access alpine glaciers if they still exist. Discussion usually lead to the fact, that they are quickly disappearing due to warmer climate.  Most popular glacier, IMO, is Grinnell Glacier, accessed from Many Glaciers Camp Ground.  Walking on the glacier surface is not recommended.

My sweetheart on our hike to Grinnell Glacier, you have to negotiate a snow melt water fall. 

Mike

Your right.

Going to the Sun Road

This was a fun ride on the red bus. My wife and I really enjoyed it.

Larry

Here is a wonderful link to Snow Removal on the Going to the Sun Road.  Enjoy the pictures.  Some of these pictures date well into June (??25??) 2014.  There is always discussion at Glacier about a 4th of July snow storm that stranded a lot of visitors on top of the mountains.

Glacier was to be James, J. Hills (Great Northern Railroad) ultimate vacation spot, just like the Grand Canyon was for the Santa Fe and Union Pacific RRs.  Only trouble was a limited 2, maybe 3, months of the year, that you could gain full access to the park.