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I spent 6 hours in business class on a Canadian train for $200. It was more luxurious than Amtrak trains in the US.
The author traveled in business class on Canada’s Via Rail train from Toronto to Montreal.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider
- I booked a business-class ticket on a Via Rail Canada train from Toronto to Montreal in 2022.
- For $200, I sat in a business-class seat with two tables and complimentary meal and drink service.
- I thought it was nicer than most US trains I’ve been on, and I’d gladly ride again.
In the past four years, I’ve spent nearly 200 hours traveling 5,500 miles on trains, from 30-hour overnight rides to quick, three-hour journeys.

I’ve taken trains in the US from the Northeast to the Southwest, into the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and between the European countries of Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Along the way, I’ve tried out a wide range of seating options, from business and first classes to shared bunks and private cabins.

In August of 2022, I spent six hours traveling in business class from Toronto to Montreal on Via Rail, Canada’s main railroad system. It was my first time using Via Rail, and I was surprised by all the business-class offerings, from comfy seats to snacks and meals.

It was better than my business-class Amtrak experiences in the US — and totally worth the $200 ticket.

Similar to Amtrak, Via Rail is one of the most accessible and popular ways to travel by train in Canada.

A Via Rail train at Union Station in Toronto.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

ViaRail serves more than 400 stations in eight provinces across Canada, with economy seating, business class, and sleeper accommodations.

My journey began at Toronto’s Union Station on a cloudy, late-summer morning.

Union Station on a cloudy morning.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I arrived at 7 a.m. for my 8:30 a.m. train to Montreal.

I arrived early because my business-class ticket included access to an exclusive lounge at the station with plenty of seating and free refreshments.

A look at the refreshments offered in the lounge.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Via Rail’s lounges are available to passengers traveling in business class, sleeper plus, prestige, and VIA Rail Premier members traveling in economy.

Amtrak has lounges at select stations, too, but they’re only free to access for first-class passengers.

The lounge was mostly empty on a Friday morning.

A look inside the lounge.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I thought it was a quiet and peaceful place to enjoy a coffee and get some work done.

Around 8 a.m., I made my way to the track where my train was boarding.

People wait in line to board the train.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

My business-class ticket came with priority boarding, so I was able to skip a long line of passengers.

When I got to my assigned single seat, I was surprised to find a side table and a tray table that pulled out in front of me.

The author’s seat on the train.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

No train I’ve ever been on in the US has offered two tables per passenger.

Throughout the trip, I used the side table to hold my coffee while working and to store my laptop while taking work breaks. Beneath the side table, a conveniently placed outlet charged my devices.

Right away, I thought my Via Rail seat was one of the most comfortable I’d ever experienced on a train.

Seats in Via Rail’s business class.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The Toronto Star reported that Via Rail business-class seats are 18.5 inches wide with a 39-inch seat pitch.

An Amtrak representative told BI that its business-class seats are about an inch wider than Via Rail’s, with an additional three inches of legroom, but I don’t think they’re nearly as comfortable.

Unlike Amtrak seats I’ve sat in, the top of my Via Rail seat was curved, so I was able to rest my head in a comfortable position for lounging.

The author relaxes in business class.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The seats reclined, too, just like in the US. This made them even more comfortable.

I also noticed that, unlike on my rides with Amtrak, Via Rail’s seat back compartments held a safety pamphlet.

An emergency plan for evacuating the train.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Like every flight I’ve ever taken, there were directions for what to do in an emergency situation. I found this comforting.

The train started moving right on time at 8:32 a.m.

The author enjoys a coffee while taking notes.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Shortly after leaving, a train attendant came around with a complimentary drink service. I ordered a coffee.

Then, it was time for breakfast. Unlike Amtrak’s business-class fares, Via Rail’s ticket comes with complimentary meals brought to your seat.

The author’s breakfast.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The train served a warm bagel with cream cheese. It was no New York bagel, I thought, but it was decent and filled me up.

An hour later, an attendant returned with savory snack packs filled with nuts, pretzels, and crackers.

A salty snack on the train.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Then, train attendants came around again with warm hand wipes before lunch service, which I thought was a nice touch.

Lunch was another business-class perk. The menu was announced over the loudspeaker. The entrée choices were trout, chicken, or pasta.

The author’s meal.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I went with the pasta. It was a rigatoni dish with sides of corn salad, bread, and carrot bread for dessert. The meal was better than I expected, with an al dente cook on the pasta. I also thought it was much better than the pasta I’ve tried on Amtrak trains.

After lunch, I went to the bathroom and was impressed by how clean it was compared to most train bathrooms I’ve used.

The author uses the bathroom on the train.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I often find overflowing trash cans in train bathrooms, but VIA Rail’s looked like it was cleaned recently.

Due to some delays at stops along the way, the train arrived in Montreal about an hour later than scheduled at 2:30 p.m.

The inside of the business-class train car.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

While I thought this was frustrating, at least I was comfortable.

Even though we were late, I found business-class train travel more comfortable and pleasant in Canada than in the US.

The author enjoys her carrot bread on the train.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

This 6-hour business-class ride cost $200, while a 10-hour Amtrak business-class ride booked around the same time cost $163. Although it was more expensive, I think the Via Rail ride was worth the additional cost since I found it to be so comfortable.

Now, I want to explore more of Canada by train.

Read the original article on Business Insider
March 20, 2025
I took a winter trip to Utah for the first time and made 4 mistakes I won’t repeat on future visits
Business Insider’s reporter traveled to Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah, during the peak winter season.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider
- On a winter trip, I explored Salt Lake City, Park City, and surrounding suburbs in Utah.
- It was my first time visiting the area, and I regretted booking my trip during peak season.
- I made other mistakes, like packing too light and missing out on winter activities.
In January, I flew from my home in NYC to Denver and hopped on a 15-hour Amtrak train to Utah’s Silicon Slopes — a tech hub lining the Wasatch Front that includes Salt Lake City, Park City, and the surrounding suburbs.

I spent three days exploring the luxurious wealth enclave amid ski season and made four mistakes I’m still mulling over two months later.

My first mistake was booking my trip in the peak winter season as a non-skier.

Skiers in Park City, Utah.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

As a first-time visitor to Salt Lake City and Park City, I thought seeing the mountains blanketed in snow would be nice — and it really was.

I knew it would be a popular time to visit Utah since it’s a ski hub, but I didn’t realize just how busy it would be. Park City was packed with winter sports enthusiasts. Skiers and snowboarders roamed the sidewalks of traffic-filled streets in downtown Park City all suited up — some with gear in tow.

I stopped by the slopes at Deer Valley Resort and spotted long lines of skiers waiting for lifts. I waited in lines to ride a funicular up and down the mountain.

Maybe seeing the snow was worth the crowds — I won’t know for sure until I visit during another season. But had I realized I’d be visiting during the busiest time of year, I would have likely pushed my trip to the spring during shoulder season.

I didn’t pack enough clothing.

The reporter layers up in downtown Salt Lake City.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Overpacking is a common mistake when traveling, so I go to great lengths to avoid stuffing too many outfits into my bag. But this time, I overcorrected.

When packing for a trip that’s less than a week long, I typically only bring layers that can be worn all at once when needed or that I can mix and match. Since I was traveling in winter, I brought a couple of extra shirts, one additional pair of pants, and zero extra outer layers.

But in January along Utah’s Wasatch Front, when temperatures ranged from 24 to 44 degrees Fahrenheit, I needed to wear most of my layers daily.

After bundling up for a flight and a train ride, I felt desperate for fresh layers when I arrived in Salt Lake City.

Doing laundry at the hotel was another mistake.

The reporter’s clean laundry in her hotel room in Salt Lake City.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

What do you do when you need clean clothes on the road? Utilizing the hotel’s laundry services seemed the most straightforward solution, but I regretted it.

That night, I stayed at the five-star Grand America Hotel, where laundry services were top-tier. My shirts and sweaters were returned to me on hangers in individual hotel-branded bags. Smaller items were wrapped in paper in a cardboard box.

I felt like I was opening a present as I sorted through my clean clothes. It excited me — until I saw the receipt.

I paid $115 for three shirts, two pairs of pants, one hoodie, six undergarments, and one two-piece blazer. It was certainly the most luxurious laundry service I’d ever experienced, but for the same money, I could have bought a whole new outfit — and what a great excuse it would have been to treat myself.

I should have made time for winter activities aside from skiing and snowboarding.

Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah.

GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images

I didn’t consider the other winter activities I could have enjoyed that weren’t skiing and snowboarding.

I wish I’d taken time to tour Utah Olympic Park in the snow and get a feel for what it was like during the 2002 Winter Olympics.

After my trip, I learned that Park City offers mountain-top snowshoe yoga classes, which I would have loved to try.

Next time I travel to the Silicon Slopes, I’ll pack enough clothing and make use of the season’s offerings.

Read the original article on Business Insider
March 15, 2025