Hotels and other ramblings

[knowledge]

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How is Via Rail still in business?

A while back I priced out tickets from Aldershot to Ottawa and back. Turns out it was cheaper to drive my truck to Ottawa. $150 in gas or $180 for rail fare. WTF. I took the Amtrak from Port Huron to Chicago (return) for $26.

Last year, it was $3000-5000 to take the train that goes across Canada. The views are supposedly breathtaking...but 3k+ for 4-5 days? FUQDAT. & When I used to take via rail for business trips to Montreal, the prices were triple what it takes to take a bus, slightly less than taking a plane, and about the same to fly porter.

The only people who get a break are musicians - they get a discount on their ticket if they're willing to play for the people on the train lol.

 

[Major]

Almost everything in Canada is more expensive than the USA. It's just a fact of life we have to face. It's due to many factors (high taxes to pay for education, health care, social assistance to less fortunate, etc). Also, we have a smaller population (a tenth) and an enormous geography (2nd largest state in the world).

All this leads to increased costs around the board... higher minimum wage laws, higher internet prices for businesses (and consumers), higher infrastructure costs making support businesses charge more (delivery drivers, food, etc).

We here in the GTA cannot imagine what's it like to live in smaller towns and cities in Canada. Unless you've lived elsewhere, it's almost night and day. I've been fortunate to visit and live in many places across Canada (and the world) and almost ALL of Europe is FAR, FAR more expensive than anything in Canada.

No easy answer, but I do wish it was easier to visit other places in this GREAT nation of ours!

 

[nobbie48]

Last year, it was $3000-5000 to take the train that goes across Canada. The views are supposedly breathtaking...but 3k+ for 4-5 days? FUQDAT. & When I used to take via rail for business trips to Montreal, the prices were triple what it takes to take a bus, slightly less than taking a plane, and about the same to fly porter.

The only people who get a break are musicians - they get a discount on their ticket if they're willing to play for the people on the train lol.

I hope you can see in the dark. The train didn't stop at night the last time I took it. IIRC the food prices were like Skydome.

 

[suzuki2000]

Hotels are way over priced here. 2 week trip to FL, we stayed in at least 6 different hotels, none of them spectacular , but all nice enough, clean, 2 beds, parking, pools, free wifi and ussually breakfast included

cheapest were around the $50 mark most expensive were Miami and Key West at about 100-150 respectively, neither a surprise.
Our first place in Ket West was not good, we left, full refund, nobody at the hotel argued just apologized and moved on.

In 2 weeks, we experienced what was almost unilaterally the definition of southern hospitality especially from locals. The only people I could say were anywhere near rude were tourists from South America (we saw a lot of Brazilians) or other Spanish locales.

I know it's horrible to say, but i would rather spend my vacation diollars down south then at home, gas is cheaper, hotels and food are cheaper, weather is better and I generally can experience more. I work very hard for my income, I want to get the best value from it as possible

 

[jc100]

One thing that surprised me was how reasonable the maid of the mist boat trip is. It's the one thing they could absolutely gouge tourists with but don't. The CN tower on the other hand....

I'm also surprised how much museums cost here.

 

[suzuki2000]

One thing that surprised me was how reasonable the maid of the mist boat trip is. It's the one thing they could absolutely gouge tourists with but don't. The CN tower on the other hand....

I'm also surprised how much museums cost here.

jc100, where are you from?

 

[LiNK666]

Last year, it was $3000-5000 to take the train that goes across Canada. The views are supposedly breathtaking...but 3k+ for 4-5 days? FUQDAT. & When I used to take via rail for business trips to Montreal, the prices were triple what it takes to take a bus, slightly less than taking a plane, and about the same to fly porter.

The only people who get a break are musicians - they get a discount on their ticket if they're willing to play for the people on the train lol.

I want to punch those people in the face. They suck. It's a reason why they can't fly because they are lame *** musicians

 

[jc100]

jc100, where are you from?

UK originally but I've been here nearly 20 years.

 

[suzuki2000]

UK originally but I've been here nearly 20 years.

I was wondering based on your comment about Museum cost. I read recently (heck, it could have been somewhere on this forum) or recall a report or something in the Olympic coverage by NBC or some other channel that in the UK there is no charge to go into museums. imagine, not gouging tourists and locals to learn some history

 

[jc100]

I was wondering based on your comment about Museum cost. I read recently (heck, it could have been somewhere on this forum) or recall a report or something in the Olympic coverage by NBC or some other channel that in the UK there is no charge to go into museums. imagine, not gouging tourists and locals to learn some history

Yes that's correct. The government there thinks its a worthwhile cost to suck up in order for kids to roam museums and learn stuff. I agree. I've seen how much it costs for a family to go to a museum here and it's ridiculous.

 

[invictus43]

Yes that's correct. The government there thinks its a worthwhile cost to suck up in order for kids to roam museums and learn stuff. I agree. I've seen how much it costs for a family to go to a museum here and it's ridiculous.

At work, from time to time, the issue of arts funding is raised..and I do say that some things maybe shouldn't be profit-driven when it comes to government agencies or issues. I think it's unfortunate when certain activities or events are terminated because they don't make money. I understand tax payers blahblahblah..but we all suffer I think for these little cuts.

 

[caboose56]

Yes that's correct. The government there thinks its a worthwhile cost to suck up in order for kids to roam museums and learn stuff. I agree. I've seen how much it costs for a family to go to a museum here and it's ridiculous.

I wonder if kids in the UK know that the Titanic was a real ship.

 

[knowledge]

I hope you can see in the dark. The train didn't stop at night the last time I took it. IIRC the food prices were like Skydome.

hahaha there goes that idea. I wanted to take it one day to see the rockies...but I'd like to actually see them. Did they have that car with the panoramic roof when you went? Their trains are supposed to be a lot better.

I want to punch those people in the face. They suck. It's a reason why they can't fly because they are lame *** musicians

[video=youtube;M5uhALROtgs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5uhALROtgs[/video]

imagine, not gouging tourists and locals to learn some history

I never realized it was that bad. But for the truly frugal, most museums have off-days where it's half price or free. But now that I think about it, I was only ever enticed to go to AGO when it was free on a Tuesday. And no one ever wants to go to ROM 'cause it's like 20 bucks. You can't ask my generation to pay to learn. We don't even do that for university!

Such an interesting topic. TBH, I think I'm okay with having expensive entertainment if it means that the work opportunities are more stable. My mom works for the bank and she says how the world used to make fun of Canada because our banking system was so conservative...now, we're the ones laughing (but who knows for how long).

I'm also surprised that no one's said anything about booze yet! But then again, maybe it's just Ontario that's retarded when it comes to booze pricing. Montreal certain isn't that bad...but I've never been to the other provinces (maybe I would have if it didn't cost an arm and a leg )

 

[invictus43]

I wonder if kids in the UK know that the Titanic was a real ship.

They certainly know that the IRA built the iceberg..

 

[jc100]

They certainly know that the IRA built the iceberg..

A Jew and a Chinese guy walking down the street....suddenly the Jew stops and kicks the Chinese guy in the balls "wtf was that for" says the Chinese guy... " that's for Pearl Harbour" says the Jew. "that was the japanese you idiot" says the Chinese guy. "Chinese Japanese same difference" says the jew. A bit further down the street the Chinese guy stops and boots the Jew squarely in the nads "that's for sinking the Titanic" he says. "that was a ****ing iceberg" says the Jew...."iceberg...Goldberg... Same difference".

 

[infernobuster]

Just returned this week from Virginia area and i gotta say the hotels werent cheap.

On a side note, i did have an American ask me this. " why do all you Canadians drive down to the US? Is Canada that boring you have to come down here all the time?"

 

[sonnythebull]

Just returned this week from Virginia area and i gotta say the hotels werent cheap.

On a side note, i did have an American ask me this. " why do all you Canadians drive down to the US? Is Canada that boring you have to come down here all the time?"

and the answer is YES YES YES

 

[nobbie48]

hahaha there goes that idea. I wanted to take it one day to see the rockies...but I'd like to actually see them. Did they have that car with the panoramic roof when you went? Their trains are supposed to be a lot better.

)

I haven't taken a train in ages due to the pathetic cost / fun ratio. Took the train as a kid to Manitoba and the stuff along the Lake Superior shoe was nice but so is the Trans Canada Highway around Montreal River etc.

Wanted to take the train from Calgary to Vancouver but the weather was foggy and rain so flew instead.

If you want a scenic train ride the Agawa Canyon might be a better deal but I can't speak from personal experience.

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