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Winter Holidays

Winter Vacations

Switch up your holiday itinerary this year with a winter vacation. There are many appealing things about traveling during the winter months: Popular attractions are devoid of summertime tourists, trains are less crowded and, of course, the scenery is amazing. Plains and prairies are blanketed with freshly fallen snow, and mountain peaks are dressed in their winter white. All of this paired with ice-encrusted rivers and frozen lakes make for some of the most incredible sights to behold. The best winter vacations highlight the beauty of the landscape while also capturing the spirit of the season.

Visit alpine towns chock-full of winter activities, such as Banff or Jasper in the Rocky Mountains of Canada or the resort cities of the Swiss Alps. In these destinations, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing are among the most popular ways to savor the winter scenes. Ride a snow train from Chicago to San Francisco or Seattle for a look at the ever-changing vistas of winter as you travel between states. Take a train trip past the Arctic Circle to watch the Northern Lights play across the sky in places like Alaska and Scandinavia. A winter holiday may also venture to Europe, where traditional Christmas markets fill the air with spiced aromas and the joyous sounds of festive music.

Winter holiday destinations do not have to be cold, though. Rather, travelers have the option to escape to warmer havens to soak up the sun and leave the cold far behind them. These trips combine thoughtful train itineraries with ocean cruising to destinations like Hawaii and the Western Caribbean. Winter vacation ideas are as diverse as the travelers that set out upon them.

Our customers love our Winter Tours tours

Cuisine & Culture: Barcelona, Madrid & Seville

06 Jun 2023

LILLIAN SANTOS SANCHEZ

“Booking with VBR was easy. The only challenge was waiting for the confirmation of the services so we can book our flights and take advantage of deals. The hotel upgrade took a while to be confirmed. But overall, the VBR agents I dealt with were very helpful. We just came back from our Barcelona/Madrid/Seville trip and I have to say, everything went very well. The experience was fantastic and we had a wonderful time. The tour itinerary which included sightseeing, guided tours, river cruise, walking tours, cuisine tours (tapas tour and paella lunch) were so organized, timely and done by professional tour guides. I would like to make a special mention to the following tour guides who made our travel experience so much more enjoyable and meaningful: Juan Martin: Juan was our sightseeing tour guide in Madrid. He was very welcoming, friendly, thoughtful and respectful. We felt very comfortable and we trusted him right away. We learned a lot from him. He shared with us background and history of the historical sites in Madrid. He gave us excellent tips as to where to go, what to do and where to eat outside of our scheduled events. He even called the restaurant for us to make a reservation. He is such a gentleman. Top 3 things we really enjoyed: Royal Palace/Cathedral of Madrid, The Prado Museum and Puerta del Sol. We are grateful for Juan's insight and kindness. He sets the standard very highly. Great job Juan! Fernando Alonso Lopez: Fernando was our Tapas Tour Guide in Madrid. He was so much fun! Fernando was very happy to meet us and was friendly and welcoming. Before the tapas dinner, he took us on a walking tour to a few of the historical spots which we appreciated very much. Then he surprised us with a reserved table at San Miguel for our first tapas experience. That was such a treat! We felt very special. Our 2nd tapas restaurant was exceptional. There was a gentleman playing the piano and singing nostalgic songs. That made me very emotional inside and made the experience unforgettable. We had a great time. After dinner, Fernando showed us how to navigate back to our hotel. He took the time to walk us to the closest cross street to make sure we find our way back to the hotel and make it there safely. Well done Fernando! VBR - we would appreciate it if you convey these comments to the tour company Juan Martin and Fernando Lopez are affiliated with in Madrid. Thank you!

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Empire Builder Experience - Chicago to Seattle

30 May 2023

PATRICIA A LONG

“Personnel were great compared to train from Austin to Chicago. Very professional and helpful when needed. Train rooms and bathrooms were clean

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Cuisine & Culture: Rome, Florence & Venice

30 May 2023

Nepal2008

“This was our 2nd VBR trip. I loved it. The excursions and activities were great, everything went smoothly, guides were on time and courteous and helpful. The only thing I would change is for VBR to adjust the star rating on their hotels. We paid to upgrade to 4 star hotels. The hotel in Florence was great. The Rome hotel had fantastic staff and location but no amenities. And the Venice hotel was more like 2 star. But overall great trip. Would travel with them again.

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Montreal & Quebec City by Rail

27 May 2023

DEBRA BURTON

“This trip had a wonderful blend of scheduled sightseeing and free time to explore on our own. Lunch on the train was delicious.

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Grand Canyon Railway Rails to the Rim Adventure

25 May 2023

CAROL THOMAS

“AWESOME !!!! INDESCRIBABLE !!! AMAZING LETS DO IT AGAIN!!!!!

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New Orleans Express

03 May 2023

DORINDA UY

“The first class accommodation at the lounge was perfect with the shower room ( complete with towels and toiletries), snacks and comfortable chairs. The meals in the train were savory and hot. Enjoyed every one of them. The train ride from Chicago to New Orleans went by pretty quickly with views of the Midwest towns. The hotels provided in Chicago and New Orleans were right in the center of downtown where you could walk to most places. Overall, all 4 of us enjoyed our experience!

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Winter in the Rockies

28 Apr 2023

MICHAEL BROOME

“The properties we stayed at were in fantastic locations plus service provided was excellent.

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Aurora Viewing at Bettles Lodge

09 Apr 2023

SUE WALTON

“Amazing! Owners and staff were wonderful.

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The Northern Lights and Lapland