We took my Mom, who was then 87, on this trip in the fall of 2021. DH and I had enjoyed the Rocky Mountaineer Vancouver to Banff trip back in 2004 and we wanted to do something easy with my Mom once travel started loosening up late in the pandemic and this was what we chose. We went in late Sept to early Oct so we could enjoy the fall foliage (Mom is originally from New England and she misses that living in CA).
I booked the flights on my own, and the rest of the itinerary below was their package.
Day 1: flew SFO to SLC, got ourselves to the Marriott City Center Hotel via the light rail
Day 2: morning bus ride to Moab, afternoon free, stayed at the Hoodoo Moab, Hilton Curio Collection
Day 3: bus to train boarding just north of Moab, train ride to Glenwood Springs, CO, stayed that night at Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge
Day 4: reboard train and ride to Denver, stayed at The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square
Day 5: got ourselves to the airport (light rail again) and flew back to SFO
The meals on the train are very good but they don't have a restaurant sized kitchen, so you have a choice of two or three items. It's much better than airline food, a lot better than an Amtrak dining car and somewhat better than the food we had on the Glacier Express in Switzerland. Also, there is plenty of wine and hard liquor available for anyone who wants it.
The attendants in the train cars are excellent. They narrate a bit, but not too much, and are happy to answer any questions or chat with you about their work and places they like to visit on their off days.
We all enjoyed the scenery and fall foliage, and DH and I liked Glenwood Springs enough that we went back there on a road trip in 2023. We didn't see as much wildlife from the train as we had in Canada, but didn't really expect to. Mom still talks about the trip and how much she enjoyed it, so I'm really glad we were able to take her and it was a perfect way for someone who is older and still mobile, but not comfortable traveling alone, to get out after being cooped up due to the pandemic.