Our Recent Travel

Stella – Europe – October 2019

Where: Europe

When: October 2019

Airline: Qatar
We were very lucky to experience sitting upstairs in the A380 which was very quiet with brilliant service.

Our Trip:
Barcelona was beautiful. We stayed in the heart on the city centre near the Sagrada Familia. There is plenty to do with lots of lovely restaurants showcasing the traditional Spanish food and drinks. Paella and pasta was very popular with my family. After 4 days is Barcelona we flew to Nice with Eazy Jet. There was a 4 hour delay due to bad weather but we finally arrived in beautiful Nice. We had 2 days in Nice where we explored Nice’s old and new towns as well as visiting Monaco and experiencing the lifestyles of the rich and famous if just for a few hours.

From Nice we took the train to Genoa, Italy. We picked up our Hertz hire car and then had 6 days where we travelled without a plan through Northern and Central Italy. We stayed in Milan, Villa Ambrosetta in Verona, The Holiday Inn in Bologna. We had a wonderful farm stay in Saturnia called Agriturismo Fonte Nuova which is a 30 hectare organic farm with its private olive grove, vineyard and woods. It isn’t far from the Saturnia thermal open air waterfall and baths. Our Italy stay finished with 1 night in Rome before flying Vueling to Santorini.

Santorini was a highlight especially for the kids. We had 5 days at Hotel Hippocampus in Kamari, on the east coast of Santorini. The black beach with volcanic rock was 100 metres away from our hotel. We went on a day cruise where we climbed the dormant volcano as well experiencing snorkelling, traditional Greek food and dancing.

From Santorini we took the ferry to Athens staying at The Ciel Living in the Plaka for 2 nights. It was in the perfect position in the centre of Athens. We had 1 day in Athens where we took in the sights of the city centre and old town as well as the Acropolis. From Athens we flew with Aegean Air to Thessaloniki in northern Greece doe a quick visit, staying at a retro apartment called The Caravan. It was a bed and breakfast which was in the centre of the town and perfect for exploring the city and Port. The rooms and breakfast were definitely one of the best we had experienced. We flew home to Melbourne with Qatar from Thessaloniki.

Sue – South America – October 2019

Where: South America – Galapagos, Patagonia, Argentina & Ecuador

When: October 2019

Airline: Latam
Excellent airline, Extremely punctual, efficient & polite

Tour
Peregrine 7 Night Cruise – Galapagos Islands
Includes all meals with a maximum of 16 passengers onboard
Volcanic Islands with incredible shaped rocks, wildlife and greenery. Animals we saw included Sealions, giant tortoises, iguanas, Penguin, flamingos, blue footed booby birds. When snorkeling you encountr hammerhead sharks, manta rays and turtles.

Patagonia & Argentina
Puerito Moreno Glacier – access if via El Calafate (village which accesses to
the Glacier – approx. 1 hour away)
This is a majestic glacier where you can ice trek. A wonderfu destination which was extremely interesting

Buenos Aires is a modern and active city. The food is great and lots to see such as Eva Peron House and Musuem, La Boca and Recoleta Cemetery.

Quito Ecuador is a very unsettled city with political problems. It was interesting but really it is a gateway to other avenues. Sightseeing includes travelling to the equator, markts and old town.

Liselotte – South America October 2019

Where: South America with Scenic Tours

When: October 19, 2019

Airline: Latam, Economy Class.

We travelled via Sydney & Santiago to reach our destination of Lima, Peru.  The journey was a long 30 hours.

Tour:
After over 30 hours since we left Sydney we arrived at Lima airport. There we met our lovely Scenic Tour Director Ms Amparo.

After collecting our luggage and going through customs, we crossed the street and stayed overnight at the very convenient WYNDHAM COSTA DEL SOL LIMA AIPORT hotel.

Day 2
After an early start we were back at Lima airport for our flight to Cuzco. All the suitcases were already tagged by our lovey Tour Director and staff, so all we had to do was waiting at the group check-in desk. It seemed that our group did not move much, but the airport looked very busy (apparently a South American carrier that morning went into receiver ship.). After 1 hour we reached the front of the check-in only to be told, that we were too late and the flight to Cuzco was closed. Luckily we had our Tour Director and after lengthy and passionate negotiations in Spanish, the desk was open again and we got our boarding passes. WELCOME TO SOUTH AMERICA ! We finally arrived in Cuzco at 3399m above sea level !! We had to wait a short moment and were directed to our coach. We checked in at our first hotel TAMBO DEL INKA a Luxury Collection & Spa, Sacred Valley, Urubamba. Our relaxing stay in the Sacred Valley allowed us to experience history, unique lifestyle, culture and majestic scenery of this heartland of the former Inca Empire.

Sundowners 
We had a lovely Garden View room. Every aspect of the hotel was truly Scenic Tours standard, gorgeous hotel with 5 star amenities. Breakfast was a highlight. (we stayed for 3 nights)

Day 3
Visit and walking tour of the spectacular OLLANTAYTAMBO Ruins in the Sacred Valley (photos don’t do it justice) and some free time at the local market. This is the site where Incas defeated the Spanish conquistadors. At Hacienda Huayoccari we enjoyed a delicious lunch of Andean specialities and later enjoyed the Chinchero village weavers demonstrate their centuries old hand-woven technique. Beautiful lunch on the way home in local farm house.

Day 4
Tour the impressive ruins of Pisac and its colourful markets or see the ruins of Moray. Back at the hotel for lunch an unforgettable, culinary experience of ingredients grown in the hotel’s organic garden. Back to the hotel and a beautiful TACO DINNER with the Pisco Sour.

Day 5
MACHU PICCHU
A short 5 minute walk from the hotel to the train station. The mighty Incan Empire built this astonishing World Heritage-listed Site in the 1th century. Standing 2,430 metres above sea level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the mighty rock escarpments. Abandoned when the Spanish conquistadors arrived and only rediscovered in 1911, you’ll be amazed as your expert local guide shares the misteries of these majestic ruins.
What can you say….PRICELESS ! 
Machu Picchu was an Incan retreat for its emperor. Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca site located on a ridge between the Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu mountains in Peru. It sits 7,970 feet (2,430 meters) above sea level on the eastern slope of the Andes and overlooks the Urubamba River hundreds of feet below.
After conquering Macchu Pichu, we headed back to Aqua Calient for the night.

Our hotel SUMAQ MACCHU PICHU HOTEL
In the evening we enjoy a special dinner hosted by the hotel. After breakfast exploring the village of Macchu Picchu at leasure. Marvel at the spectacular views from the glass dome carrianges on our rail journey through the incredible Andes. Around lunch time we make our way back by train and coach to Cuzco. For the next 3 nights we are lucky enough to stay in the heart of Cuzco at the PALAZIO DEL INKA a Luxury Collection.

Day 6
Visit of a local school that is being supported by Scenic Tours. And also a brief visit of the Ruins of Sacsayhuaman near Cusco. Evening free for meal in one of those funky Cusco Restaurants. Guinea pig is on the menu.

Day 7
In the morning City Tour of Cusco and visit of Cuzco Cathedral. The former capital of the Incan Empire, Cuzco is a city with incredible architecture. On ourwalking tour we uncovered the history of the World Heritage-listed Site. Afternoon lunch time for last minute shopping…..
Farewell Dinner at the hotel.

Sue -Israel Intensive Cruise – Regional France and Crete – August 2019

Where: Israel

When: August 2019

Airline: Swiss Air – Business Class
This combination provided a less expensive option for Business Class to Europe. It provided the flat bed seats which make thoes long haul sectors more manageable

Cruise Line: Azamara
Fantastic cruise on Azamara Pursuit, it is a great size ship offering lots of the amenity of the larger cruise ships but the intimacy of smaller group of passengers. The meals are excellent and service was exceptional. The average age was around 60 and whilst mainly from US there were a high number of Canadians & Australians. My cabin was an Oceanview, which was adequate given that we were in Port so many days and off the ship sightseeing. This intensive itinerary had a total of 5 nights in Israel which meant that you were able to visit all of the major sites ie Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Red Sea and Tel Aviv. Being my first visit to this area travelling by ship gave me a feeling of confidence and security visiting the region.

France
Self Drive around the Champagne Region of France then south to Avignon. France has so many hidden secrets from the historic cities to the wonderful french markets.

Crete
Staying in a beachfront resort, soaking up the sun and cretan food. Crete offers so many wonderful resorts and well as many ancient ruins to visit. One of the less expensive options for travel in Europe.

Natasha – Duoro River Cruise – August 2019

Where: Portugal

When: August 2019

Airline: Emirates
I was fortunate enough to travel to Porto with Emirates on the A380. Emirates were amazing with the best leg room of any of the airlines I have travelled along with a fantastic entertainment system. Meals were of a very high standard and drink service was frequent throughout the flight. Staff were very helpful when I requested and further beverages out of drink service. I would highly recommend travelling with Emirates.

Hotel: Onboard Evergreen Radiance

About:
I was very fortunate enough to participate in an Evergreen Duoro River Cruise, what an amazing experience! If you enjoy amazing food and wine then look no further than this tour – a very relaxed destination. We enjoyed many beautiful and unique Portuguese Towns. One of the highlights was the beautiful town of Salamanca in Spain. Evergreen was an amazing company to travel with and the food on board is just delicious. Another highlight was to experience a Traditional Portuguese BBQ Lunch. the meats were amazing and salad’s to die for. The selections of wine on board are amazing, the chef will match wines to go with your meal. Wine was also included with Lunch and Dinner.
Evergreen also offer many activities on board. I managed to take advantage of:

• Cooking Demonstrations
• Portuguese lessons
• Tile Painting
• Wine Tasting

Anita – Europe River Cruise – August 2019

Where: River Cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest

When: August 2019

Airline: Emirates
The service and meals on Emirates where fantastic. The airport is very big so I would allow at least 2 hours to for connecting flights.

Cruise: Scenic Tours

The River cruise was fantastic and I cannot name any faults. The service on board was efficient and friendly and the meals where of a great variety. The afternoon talks on board by the tour director where both informative and entertaining. I shared the cabin with my mum so we had a twin bed, balcony cabin.

The excursions at each stop met our expectations and the scenery was beautiful. There was a good variety of tour options, I travelled with my mum and she enjoyed the easy pace tours.

One of my favourite Ports was the day we travelled to Melk and visited the Melk Abbey in the morning and then cruised to Durnstein in the afternoon where I walked to Durnstein castle.

A river cruise allows you to make the trip as active or easy paced as you like.

Bridie – Bangkok – August 2019

Where: Bangkok, Thailand

When: August 19, 2019

Airline: Thai Airways, Economy Class. Service was excellent on Thai. Meals were excellent and the seats were comfy.

Hotel: Marriott Marquis Queens Park
I stayed in a Deluxe City View Room including breakfast and access to M Club, their business lounge. Breakfast was amazing. Asia is generally well known for their breakfast buffets but this hotel took it to a new level. With a large variety of different cooking stations you might need to allow yourself plenty of time to check out the options. I was lucky to have access to the hotel’s M Club. It was a large lounge that was open all day. During the day you were able to get tea, coffee and soft drinks. At night it included alcoholic beverages and food. Location of the hotel was fantastic. I could easily walk to a number of shopping centres and plenty of restaurants and bars. The hotel had an outdoor pool and gymnasium.

Sightseeing
Most of my stay I spent relaxing by the pool, shopping or getting a massage. I did do a Thai Cooking Class which was excellent. We were taken to the local market and shown the many different produce for sale. We also purchased ingredients to make our lunch. Heading back to the cooking school we made 4 dishes. Everyone had their own cooking station so it was completely interactive.

Julie – Bali – August 2019

Where: Bali

When: August 2019

Airline: Jetstar
A good value low cost airline. Seating comfortable, friendly staff, easy check in.

Hotel: Bali Mandira

Absolutely love this resort. Grounds and pool area are stunning and create an instant feeling of being on a tropical holiday. The location in Legian is perfect. Right at the end of the hustle and bustle of Jalan Padma, yet once in the hotel you’d never know that even existed outside, and opposite the beach where you can pull up a bean bag and enjoy the sun all day and a beer and sunset at night. We stayed in the Deluxe Club cottage which come with club lounge benefits.

Classic Balinese style cottages located in single storied and two storied cottages. Nestled amongst lush tropical garden and artfully decorated with contemporary teak wood furnishings. All rooms feature private terrace or balcony with tropical garden view. The rooms are spacious with connecting door facilities and a flexible bedding configuration.The single storied cottages features bathtub, an open air shower and connecting room facilities, just steps away from the restaurants, swimming pool and the beach. The upper – storied cottages feature modern chic design with sofa bed and large private terrace. Step through the large sliding glass door and onto your terrace to enjoy the lush garden view or sip your coffee in the morning.

Elenora – Vietnam – May 2019

Where: Vietnam

When: May 2019

Airline: Vietnam Airlines
I was pleasantly surprised and very much enjoyed the flight and services. As soon as we got onboard, we received a fresh cold towel and comfort pack which included a blanket, pillow, slippers, toothbrush and toothpaste. There were also two meal services on the flight. Lunch service with a choice of seared fish in hot bean sauce or Hungarian style goulash with mashed potato. I had the fish and it was really good. I don’t really like plane food and I quite enjoyed it. You also had the standard sides to go with it. We then had a refreshment meal of a choice of creamy chicken seeded mustard pie or beef scallop dumpling. Both served with fresh fruit. I had the dumpling and it too was very nice. The entertainment had some good recent movies too such as a star is born and Bohemian Rhapsody. Overall a great flight.

Tour: Wide Eyed Tours

Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi
When you get off in Ho Chi Minh, you join the main line through customs to present your visa etc. You then head down to the baggage carousel where staff members are already there looking for your luggage to connect through to the next flight. They had already grabbed mine and I just had to identify it and pass it to the group of women who then take care of it as it has a transit sticker on your bag. You then make a 5 min walk from the International area to the domestic to catch the next flight.

Hanoi – Vespa Tour
It is very busy city so the best way to see it is on a back of a Vespa! We did a vespa tour and I have to say it was so awesome! You really felt like a local weaving in and out around cars and other motorbikes. Despite how busy the roads are I felt completely safe in the driver’s hands and they were so well mannered and lots of fun. We passed a lot of great sites where we got to stop and take photos and then get back on again. Both city and rural. We went over one of their oldest bridges from the city into the fields where we also stopped to have fresh fruit from the locals. Bananas are amazing there!

Hanoi – Food & Nightlife
At the end of the Vespa tour we stopped for lunch at a place called Little Hanoi. This was the start of some amazing food that we had while in Vietnam. Everything is in bite size and made to share which is great because you can try so many amazing new foods. This is an optional at the end of the Vespa tour. I would recommend adding it on because you finish around lunch time anyway.

A great place for dinner in Hanoi is at a place called Highway 4. It was a really great experience. It had a bit of a Japanese style to it with the short low tables and you have to take off your shoes and place them in drawers near your table. Again, sharing plates recommended here as well as they have a great variety of food. First time I tried crickets here. Tasted like chicken.

It is a 4 star property in a great location. Right near shops and a short walk to the lake. It has a roof top bar and restaurant which lights up beautifully at night and a roof top pool. The rooms are comfortable and spacious. Beds were comfy and the bathroom was lovely as well. It has a shower over bath in the room we stayed in. Opposite this hotel is a 3 star hotel that wide eyed tours also use which is called the May De Ville, so in the same location.

Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay
The bus trip from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay was 2 hours and 30min. They just finished their highway which has now made the journey a lot quicker. We made one stop halfway where you can go to the rest rooms and buy some snacks before continuing the bus ride. The bus itself was really nice. It only had single seats on each side so every got a window seat. Each bus is different depending on what boat you are boarding as each transfer belongs to each boat company. We left our big luggage at our hotel in Hanoi and just took an overnight bag on the junk for the 1 night. This was actually a good idea because you wouldn’t need everything and much easier to carry around.

Lan Ha Bay on Perla Dawn Sails (2 days/1 night)
Lan Ha Bay is a beautiful alternative to Ha Long Bay. They have pretty much the same views of the limestone cliffs, but they only have 4-5-star ships and only 30 of them in the bay. Whereas Ha Long Bay has 3-3.5-star ships and there are 300 of them. So, a really great option for your higher end clients. The Perla Dawn Sails is a beautiful 5-star ship. It has the 3 decks. When you first walk in your welcomed with a fresh cold towel which is amazing when it is so hot! The first floor you have the lower deck cabins. I stayed in one of these cabins which also had a door for interconnecting so a great cabin option for families as well. We were lucky as our room had our beds facing out onto the balcony, some of the other rooms were facing sidewards. Still lovely but I quite liked waking up and staring straight outside from the bed. Bathrooms were great in size for a ship. They had a bath overlooking outside, as well as a separate shower. Only thing was that the bathroom part of the room doesn’t have air con, only where the bed is.

The 2nd floor has more cabins and also the restaurant where they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner as a buffet style. The food was amazing. Great quality and variety. This was the room that we also enjoyed one of their included activities onboard which was the cooking class. Great included option to have. We made rice paper rolls which were delicious. Great for clients to experience and then take that learning experience back home with them. The staff onboard were always friendly and helpful, nothing was too much for them. You also have the very front point of the ship on this deck as well, which is great for photographs.

The 3rd floor has a bar and sun deck chairs. A beautiful area to watch the sunset and sunrise. They also have included Tai Chi that you can do in the morning after the sunrise. It was a really lovely peaceful experience in an environment with gorgeous views. What more could you want!

There were also many other included activities that they had to add to the experience. On the first day we did a visit to Bright Cave on a bamboo boat. What a fun day and a great way to experience Lan Ha Bay! We had a local rower who took us through the bay and under the caves to get the most out of this beautiful area. We even took turns in trying to row ourselves. It wasn’t as easy as it looked. And then a beautiful end to the adventure by a swim in the gorgeous water!

On our boat they also tried a new included dinner option to a floating farm. I hope they continue to do this because it was a really lovely experience. Not only was the food great, but they had a gorgeous man playing local instruments to entertain the guests. It added that something extra to the cruise. When we went back onto our boat guests then have the option to go squid fishing if they wish.

The last day they had an included kayaking trip at Tra Bau area. We visited a fishing farm and learnt about their life and how they work every day. It was a really lovely way to end the trip. We then did the 2 hours and 30min bus ride back to Hanoi and picked up our luggage and made our way to the airport.

Hue
What a gorgeous place! There is so much history here and we were told that a lot of tourists miss out on this area, but it really is a great stop. It is the city that is either really hot or really cold. This city is so different to Hanoi. The roads are a lot wider and not as narrow it looks completely different. It has more of a higher end vibe however it was much cheaper as it is not as touristy. We had dinner at a local restaurant called Ushi, amazing 3 course meal and it only cost $8.00. It’s crazy cheap and the night life here is amazing. If you are after a western style meal for a change to the Vietnamese food there is a place called the DMZ bar and they have pizzas etc as well as local food, a good variety. It also has a pool table and a karaoke room. Lots of fun for a great night on the town!

Again what better way to see the city than on the back of a motorbike! Yes we did it again. Even if you have clients that are a bit scared, reassure them that you do feel safe in their hands, as it is such a great way to see the sights. Our guide was great he had a good sense of humour and he really knew his history of the area. It is good to do the tour in the morning as it does get quite hot in the afternoon this time of year. Get clients to invest in a fan, its so worth it! We finished up with lunch at a Buddhist monastery where they put out an amazing spread of vegetarian food.

Accommodation in Hue
El Dora Hotel – 5 Star – What a gorgeous hotel! It is a very elegant property with an old-fashioned luxury feel to it. It is simply stunning. We stayed here our first night after getting in quite late at night. The foyer has a grand feel to it and the rooms have a very provincial style of living in terms of their furniture. They have a standalone bath and separate shower. The hotel also has an indoor pool with a great city view. It is a short walk to the restaurants.

Romance Hotel – 3 Star – We stayed here for our 2nd night. It is a good 3 star option, clean, comfortable and in a good location. Within walking distances to the shops, restaurants and night life. It is a 30min walk to the perfume river which is a lovely area to walk around as well. There pool is a decent size on the rooftop with great views of the stadium. This hotel is great for the younger traveller.

Da Nang
We travelled from Hue to Da Nang by bus on te scenic route over the Hai Van Pass. It was a 2.5-3 hour drive. Good option for a change as opposed to flying. Da Nang has great beaches! We travelled from Hue to Da Nang by bus on te scenic route over the Hai Van Pass. It was a 2.5-3 hour drive. Good option for a change as opposed to flying. Da Nang has great beaches!

Fusion Maia Hotel Da Nang – A truly beautiful 5 star property. It has a very relaxed feel to the resort. Really feels like your on holidays here. You can have breakfast at any time of the day at this resort, so if you want to have a really long sleep in you will never miss out on breakfast. All room types have all inclusive spa treatments and every room is a villa with its own private pool. Everyone has use of the non motorised water sports as well. They also include a complimentary shuttle service to Hoi An. This property is situated right on the beach and has a gorgeous pool area.

Hoi An
This would have to be my favourite city in Vietnam! It is beautiful by day but even more stunning at night! It is the city of lanterns! The lanterns are there all the time, however when there is a full moon there is more decorations on the river. We were lucky to be there at this time. At night there is no vehicles allowed and all the shops and restaurants are open till quite late. In my opinion it is the best time to shop as it is too hot during the day. At night all the markets are also open so it is a really lovely atmosphere. A great tailor for clothes that we were told about is called Yaly Couture. So a great one to recommend for clients. I tried on a dress at a shop called Pink Tailor. It was too big for me so the lady said she would make one in my size. She measured me up and because I wasn’t able to come back to collect it she dropped it off at my hotel the next night. They are very quick and efficient over there. The street food is also very cheap here, you can get a meal for $5. Otherwise there is some nice restaurants you can have dinner at also. We had dinner at a place called Lantern Town. Amazing food. You at least need 3-4 nights here. There are 2 different areas to Hoi An. You have the beach area and the city area.

Accommodation in Hoi An
Palm Gardens – 4 Star on the beach – This is a lovely hotel option on the beach. It offers free shuttle service into town. We took a taxi and it was approx. 10min and cost 100,000 dong which is about $5.00. The resort has a lagoon style pool with a lovely feel of the palm trees around it. The only thing was that the pool was quite warm. So after a hot day it didn’t give much relief. So good thing we were right on the beach as the water was much nicer. The rooms are a decent size and feature a private balcony. A good hotel option for clients who still want to be slightly closer to town but also right on the beach as opposed to staying in Da Nang.

Hoi An Silk Marna – 4 star in town – A great 4 star option in town. Great location and it really is a property for everyone. A good safe option to book. Rooms are nice and spacious and offer a private balcony. Some have city, pool or river view rooms. Has a great pool area which is good for a hotel that is in town away from the beach.

An Bang Beach – This is another lovely area to stay in as well. It has a nice local feel to it and there are private villas you can book as well. The wide-Eyed staff own these villas and book them out to clients. A lovely place to eat dinner here is at Salt Pub.

Sightseeing – Tra Que Minty Garden – This garden was amazing to see. The Vietnamese family was so welcoming in showing us their herb garden and how they water and take care of everything, it was really great to see. A great option to immerse yourself in their culture, and then to be able to sit down and enjoy a fresh lunch knowing that all the herbs are all grown there is amazing. Definitely a must do!

Sightseeing – BaNa Hills – You can do this day trip from Da Nang or Hoi An. It is a day trip I would definitely recommend doing. It is also best to do early in the morning to avoid most of the crowds as it can get very busy. It is the longest cable car in the world. When you get to the top there is a few different things you can see. The main thing is the golden bridge!! Great photo opportunities. There is also the flower garden and the French village which is great to see too. Please note though there are a lot of stairs at the flower garden so may be hard for people who have difficulty walking. Overall an amazing trip!

Hayley – Canada – May 2019

Where: Canada

When: May 2019

Airline: Air Canada
fantastic times and great service

Tour: APT

Fairmont Hotels through the Rockies are part of the destination. Fairmont Lake Louise has amazing views of the lake only available to the Fairmont and the food on offer is amazing. In Banff the Fairmont is like an ancient Scottish medieval castle sporting views of the valley with the bow river flowing past. The Fairmont in Jasper is totally different again with the hotel kind of set up like the movie Dirty Dancing with cabins scattered around the lake. The infinity pool with lake views and the local wildlife was most enjoyable.

Touring with Apt through the spectacular Rocky Mountains was truly an unforgettable way to experience such wonderful scenery. From the beautiful lake louise to the breathtaking mountain ranges of Banff. Jasper and Athabasca Glacier provide endless awe inspiring views of mother nature at work. The Rocky mountaineer is a slow train ride in first class luxury that allows you to take in and absorb every bit of this beautiful scenery even spotting a few bears along the way. Victoria plays host to the beautiful Buchart gardens. Gardens are not really my thing and I did not think I would enjoy it as much as I did. A stunning old quarry converted by a lady into a spectacular garden for everyone to enjoy. Victoria is a lovely city with a very welcoming vibe with many restaurants and bars to experience as well as maybe enjoying a whale watching cruise or horse and carriage ride. The Rockies are definitely somewhere everyone needs to experience at least once in their life.