Question about driving in Vancouver and passports expiration

[jtkboston]

did you find a time machine?

Oops, I meant 2014!

 

[kiford]

I believe that Canadians going to the US and vice versa - passports only need be valid for the duration of your stay.

How much remaining time you have to have on your passport is determined by the country of origin (of the passport) and the country visiting. There is no single standard to go by; it's on a country-by-country basis linked with the country of origin. If you are going on a cruise, you have to look at every single port you visit (regardless of whether you leave the ship or not) and determine which port requires the longest remaining expiry time and that's what you have to go by. You also need to determine whether you need a visa for each particular port and obtain those in advance (normally those are only required if you do leave the ship). You also need to check if the ship gets a blanket visa or if you need to obtain them yourself

I believe that you also need to take into consideration every transit airport when flying even if you aren't changing planes just in case there's an emergency and you have to deplane (that word never makes sense to me - I didn't "plane" in the first place, I boarded the plane - why don't I deboard? but I digress) due to an emergency or inability of the plane to continue.

 

[DVCTX]

The one thing I found confusing while driving in Vancouver was the flashing green lights. Basically it is the same as a solid green light, it just means that the light at the intersection can be changed by a pedestrian pushing the crosswalk button.

 

[MelSpees]

The one thing I found confusing while driving in Vancouver was the flashing green lights. Basically it is the same as a solid green light, it just means that the light at the intersection can be changed by a pedestrian pushing the crosswalk button.

Didn't know that, thanks!

 

[xlxo]

And if you decide to check out Storybrooke... there's a scramble intersection.
[URL]http://www.richmond.ca/newsevents/2011city/stevestonscrambleopen.htm[/URL]

Do you like Roundabouts? There's one near the border, a few around UBC and a huge one in Stanley Park. Even the locals are confused.
http://bc.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=598033

 

[scm]

Do you like Roundabouts? There's one near the border, a few around UBC and a huge one in Stanley Park. Even the locals are confused.
http://bc.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=598033[/QUOTE]

 

[scm]

At least in the Kitsilano area, side streets are full of single lane roundabouts which help keep local traffic moving but aren't as intimidating as multi-lane ones. Be aware that Vancouver is a bike friendly city so be prepared to share the road appropriately.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I've driven in Vancouver a few times. Never even occurred to me to get a special license. It was fine. However , unless you plan on going outside of Vancouver, like up to whistler, there really isn't a reason to get a car. Downtown Vancouver is very walkable. And Stanley park is easy to get to. There are good busses to get around. Or take a taxi. Parking is a pain and very expensive to park at hotels. The drive up to Whistler is fabulous, though.

 

[bumbershoot]

However , unless you plan on going outside of Vancouver, like up to whistler, there really isn't a reason to get a car. Downtown Vancouver is very walkable. And Stanley park is easy to get to. There are good busses to get around. Or take a taxi. Parking is a pain and very expensive to park at hotels.

You make a fabulous point!

 

[LilyRaine]

I am going to add my two cents. This is my first post but I finally registered for the boards specifically for this post. I live in East Vancouver and I don't drive. I would like to note that NO ONE likes driving downtown especially where the cruise terminal is. That is a huge mess and FULL of one way streets. It is always backed up and there is a street called granville downtown that you CANNOT drive on unless you are a bus or a taxi. It is only a section of the street but it is the downtown part. I would recommend taking the train from the airport. You go from the station (follow the signs and it is not possible to catch the wrong train) and go to the very last station on the route and you will be in Gastown area of downtown. It is next to the cruise terminal. There is a little bit of a walk to the terminal. Since you said that you are staying in a hotel if it is downtown taking a cab from the train station could be quite cheap within downtown. Meters start at $3-ish.

IMO I think it would be messier driving in an unfamiliar location trying to locate where you are going. Especially when you get downtown, as someone mentioned it is full of one way streets.

Also depending on the time of day that you are driving traffic is insane. Though maybe not as bad as some US cities.

When it come to the passport, I have been given the impression that if you are going on a cruise it needs to be 6 months before expiration.

If you must drive from the airport I think GPS would be important my friend gets lost going to Richmond by car which is where the airport is located. Also driving could take you an hour to get to the city as opposed to the train taking 25 mins to downtown Vancouver.

 

[kiford]

When it come to the passport, I have been given the impression that if you are going on a cruise it needs to be 6 months before expiration.

It's entirely dependent on the country of origin of the passport and the country being visited - there's no one single standard. If you are from the US visiting Canada and vice versa, your passport (if issued by either country) only needs to be valid for the period of time that you are visiting the other country. The method of visiting (flying, driving, cruising) is not relevant. Every time you cruise, you have to check the requirements of every port you visit and take the longest requirement to ensure you are going to meet all requirements. There are a number of countries where you do need six months so sometimes that is quoted as the requirement since it almost always is sufficient (although that doesn't tell you if you need visas which may also be the case).

 

[xlxo]

I am going to add my two cents. This is my first post but I finally registered for the boards specifically for this post. I live in East Vancouver and I don't drive. I would like to note that NO ONE likes driving downtown especially where the cruise terminal is. That is a huge mess and FULL of one way streets. It is always backed up and there is a street called granville downtown that you CANNOT drive on unless you are a bus or a taxi. It is only a section of the street but it is the downtown part. I would recommend taking the train from the airport.

If you must drive from the airport I think GPS would be important my friend gets lost going to Richmond by car which is where the airport is located. Also driving could take you an hour to get to the city as opposed to the train taking 25 mins to downtown Vancouver.

Some thoughts...

• Airport to downtown is about 35 minutes by vehicle, but longer during commuter hours.. I generally prefer to the cab over public transit when I have luggage.
• Actually Vancouver has greatly REDUCED the number of one-way streets in the city. There was a big change in the late 70's or early 80's.
  • Pender and Keefer used to be one way through Chinatown
  • Homer and Hamilton used to be a one way street
  • Abbot, Carrall and Columbia used to be one way
  • Cambie downtown used to be one way
• I believe the Granville Mall used to be car free as far away south as Davie in the 70's, not just Smithe it is today. At one point it was car free until Nelson.
• those bike lanes are brutal with right turn restrictions near the cruise terminal.
• depending on how many days you are in Vancouver, you might find bringing your own GPS is cheaper than getting the one with the car rental. Love my Garmin.
• yah that Richmond to Vancouver cloverleaf is a nightmare.... should we mention the bridge is sometimes closed for boats crossing underneath?
• in addition to accommodation costs, call ahead to check out hotel parking rates. It may be $30 a day. It's free at some Richmond hotels.
• Do you know what a "red-light" camera is? It can be expensive on a car rental.