catalina island ferry?

[mrsswat]

how far in advance do you recommend buying tickets for the ferry? Going in July. Thanks

 

[StageTek]

As soon as you know for sure which date you are going, book the tickets.

 

[mrsswat]

that's what I thought.

 

[Sherry E]

Yes, especially for July, because it's summer, which is a more popular time to go to Avalon, you want to be sure you get the specific boat times that you want. I don't know if the Express has changed how they do things, but they used to require a credit card (or debit card) number and use that to book and hold the reservation, but they wouldn't charge you until you actually arrived at the boat terminal and got your tickets, so that way you could pay with cash or another card, etc. I don't think they require full payment up front.

Of course, a lot of folks don't know which boat times will work for them until the last minute, and so they don't like to make reservations. That's taking a risk that the times they want won't be available, which could make a big difference if they have a lot of tours and activities planned for the day on the Island. Then again, there are always no-shows or cancellations, so those folks who are hoping to get onto a fully booked boat may be in luck of a no-show or cancellation happens, but, again, summer is a busier time so it's taking a chance.

 

[PHXscuba]

A couple summers ago we decided we wanted to go to Catalina just for the day to go SCUBAdiving. It was near the end of July. I had waited until the week of to get tickets in case our plans fell through or the weather was bad.

Long story short, we still got there, but we didn't get the ferry times we wanted. It ended up working out OK, but I would book them at least a month in advance. Check the cancellation policy carefully (that should be #1 advice for any trip, hotel, etc.) If you only have a day to spend on the island you don't want to miss the morning!

Catalina is great. My DH and DS14 will spend most of a week there this summer for a diving-centered Scout camp.

PHXscuba

 

[Sherry E]

I love Catalina (it's my second favorite SoCal place after DLR)! I like you more and more all the time, PHXscuba! Did you know they just started a zip line attraction on the Island last week? It's all part of this multi-million dollar project to add more hotels (or remodel old ones), restaurants and adventure-based attractions to Avalon to attract some of the tourists it has lost to the economy. I personally love it the way it is - the quaint, casual, beachy charm cannot be beat. I hope they don't put too much of a sheen on it to where it becomes like a different place!

I love Antonio's - that's my favorite restaurant in Avalon!!

 

[PHXscuba]

A zip-line?!?! Wow, that doesn't really fit my image of Catalina, but they do have the terrain for it. Better not tell the Boy Scouts ...

I am actually trying my first zip-line next week in Puerto Vallarta. I am mucho excited! The rollercoaster lover in me thinks it will be a blast.

PHXscuba