Transportation from Vancouver airport to Pan pacific NEW QUESTIONS

[cruisehopeful]

NEW QUESTIONS 12/31/2015, Please look at page 2.

How do people get from the airport to the Pan Pacific at the cruise ship terminal? DCL is only taking reservations for the hotel inside the airport. I can book on my own for the one at the terminal and it includes full breakfast, late check out and transporting my luggage to the cruise ship (booked directly through the hotel).

At this time, I have both options booked while I figure out which one is going to be best. We are only staying one night, the night before the cruise. Originally, I was just going to stay at the airport and use Disney transfers, but I'm sure we will want to explore Vancouver for a couple hours and started to think we may be better off paying a little more to stay at the terminal so we can walk around there.

How would we get from the airport to the hotel? It doesn't look like the hotel has a shuttle. If we take a taxi, can we pay with a credit card?

 

[dclpluto]

Taxi think it was 35 Canadian not counting the tip. Get some Canadian money from your bank

 

[KingRichard]

Take the Train!

Cost like $2 and is only 200 yard walk?

If your luggage has wheels, the very easy.

Just map it and see for yourself.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

We used Aerocar service right outside the airport. They took us in a limo. We didn't need to make reservations.

 

[bcwife76]

Canada Line is the skytrain and it is about $9 per adult from the airport to downtown. A cab from the airport to downtown is a flat $35 plus tip and yes, they take credit cards.

 

[KingRichard]

Canada Line is the skytrain and it is about $9 per adult from the airport to downtown. A cab from the airport to downtown is a flat $35 plus tip and yes, they take credit cards.

Weekdays after 6:30 p.m. and all day Saturday, Sunday and Holidays.


Zone Adult Price Concession Price
All Zones $2.75 $1.75(child)

During the week I believe 2 zones?

Regular Fares
Weekdays from start of service to 6:30 p.m. All bus travel is a one-zone fare.


Zone Adult Price Concession Price
1 Zone $2.75 $1.75
2 Zone $4 $2.75
3 Zone $5.50 $3.75

 

[anricat]

Taxi think it was 35 Canadian not counting the tip. Get some Canadian money from your bank

Or just use a credit card! We plan on getting ZERO Canadian dollars from our bank prior to our trip. We're pretty much credit only people. If we need cash, we'll use an ATM. Usually ATMs have pretty good exchange rates, even with the ATM fee.

 

[bcwife76]

Weekdays after 6:30 p.m. and all day Saturday, Sunday and Holidays.


Zone Adult Price Concession Price
All Zones $2.75 $1.75(child)

During the week I believe 2 zones?

Regular Fares
Weekdays from start of service to 6:30 p.m. All bus travel is a one-zone fare.


Zone Adult Price Concession Price
1 Zone $2.75 $1.75
2 Zone $4 $2.75
3 Zone $5.50 $3.75

That's for Millenium line and Expo Line. Canada Line is a bit different in their pricing, at least when you get it from the first two stations that leave YVR. They tack on an extra $5 just from those two stations.

http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/Canada-Line-YVR-AddFare.aspx

 

[poison ivy]

We used Aerocar service right outside the airport. They took us in a limo. We didn't need to make reservations.

We also used aerocar. They are conveniently located right outside near the baggage claim. There were 5 of us and the price was 50 Canadian to the Pan Pacific. very easy to use. They had a limo ready and waiting and we just hopped right in.

You will love the Pan Pacific. We also had the breakfast package and bell services picked up our luggage and delivered it to the ship.

 

[KingRichard]

That's for Millenium line and Expo Line. Canada Line is a bit different in their pricing, at least when you get it from the first two stations that leave YVR. They tack on an extra $5 just from those two stations.

http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/Canada-Line-YVR-AddFare.aspx

Ok It was free when we traveled from YVR(machines down) and only paid for return trip and found out we didn't even need to do that. Problems with the system at that time.

 

[bumbershoot]

Or just use a credit card! We plan on getting ZERO Canadian dollars from our bank prior to our trip. We're pretty much credit only people. If we need cash, we'll use an ATM. Usually ATMs have pretty good exchange rates, even with the ATM fee.

We are partial to the Green Machine ATMs for when we need them. Since we often stay at Sutton Place, the one on the way from there to Robson is "our" ATM.

Ok It was free when we traveled from YVR(machines down) and only paid for return trip and found out we didn't even need to do that. Problems with the system at that time.

Wow, lucky.


I was not the biggest fan of the lightrail while toting luggage! And we just had carryons since it was a short weekend for the Rock 'n Roll running events. If I were going for a cruise I would take a cab.

 

[dreaming in MI]

I think we are going to try the train. I don't want to mess with carseats/taxi. There is an extra surcharge for the train leaving from the station at the airport. I think we are going to try and buy the book of tickets from the 7-11 at the airport to avoid the surcharge.

 

[bcwife76]

I think we are going to try the train. I don't want to mess with carseats/taxi. There is an extra surcharge for the train leaving from the station at the airport. I think we are going to try and buy the book of tickets from the 7-11 at the airport to avoid the surcharge.

Please by aware that that tickets might very likely be GONE by the time you cruise, as they are all being phased out in favour of the new Compass Card that is slowly being introduced now.

http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/Compass-Card.aspx

 

[xlxo]

I like the train, but prefer the door to door convenience of a cab with luggage.

• No ticket machines
• no confusing instructions
• no $5 airport surcharge
• no elevators, no escalators
• no 4 meadering block hike from the train station to the cruise terminal
• no long tunnel that robs you of views into the majestic city, downtown and port.
• no concern about public climbing over your luggage to get from one side of the train to the other.
• no concern about pick pockets.

Oh BTW.... with this morning's currency collapse... that $35 cab ride is only $26 US for the CARLOAD!

 

[xlxo]

I don't want to mess with carseats/taxi.

In Vancouver, there is no car seat requirements for young children in a taxi. Drivers are professional. There is also no freeways/highways into the city. So taxi's don't get to travel at high speeds.

Car seats are required in rental vehicles for children under 9 or underweight.

Are car seats a UBER requirement? There is no UBER at this time.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Oh BTW.... with this morning's currency collapse... that $35 cab ride is only $26 US for the CARLOAD!

Ouch! I did read one trip report where the taxi driver was very happy to get tipped in USD. I wonder if that will still be the case when I am there.

Thanks for all the helpful posts, everyone. I am leaning towards taking a taxi to the Pan Pacific and probably using DCL transfers to get back to the airport after the cruise.

 

[xlxo]

while cab drivers enjoy US tips... most restaurants and retailers not so because of currency conversion hassles. Credit cards are the best situation there.

 

[anricat]

In Vancouver, there is no car seat requirements for young children in a taxi. Drivers are professional. There is also no freeways/highways into the city. So taxi's don't get to travel at high speeds.

Car seats are required in rental vehicles for children under 9 or underweight.

Are car seats a UBER requirement? There is no UBER at this time.

We use a Bubble Bum car seat, even in taxis. If your child is old enough for a booster, it's a great little invention!

 

[cruisehopeful]

I am reviving this thread because I still haven't made my final choice and am still booked at Pan pacific and at Fairmont Airport (via DCL). My PIF date is coming up in a few weeks and I'd like to be done deciding by then. Anyone have any last thoughts?

Fairmont Airport Pros/Cons:
Pros: Done through DCL and I feel like I don't have to think about anything and am counting on them to take care of me the entire time.
I probably won't have to exchange money.
Cons: Expensive and if we want to walk around Vancouver for a couple hours, we will be far away from everything.

Pan Pacific at the port:
Pros: It's at the port and I have a rate that includes breakfast, late check out and they will take my bags to the cruise ship.
It will probably be a nice place to walk around and probably have nice views.
Cons: I have to taxi there from the airport.
My credit cards charge a surcharge for international and I don't have an ATM card, so can't easily get cash in CAD.
I won't have the security of Disney holding my hand in the background and if I have any issues, I am on my own.
Expensive, but not more than the DCL hotel and this one will come with breakfast.

 

[Aby]

I would vote for staying at the Pan Pacific. Although I haven't stayed there yet (we have it booked for our next Alaskan cruise though) I have stayed right across the street at the Fairmont Waterfront. Besides being right above the cruise terminal, you will be very handy to the shuttles and trolleys that go all over the city as Canada Place is usually their first stop, and also handy to walk down to Gastown to explore, shop & eat. Taking a cab should be no big deal from the airport to downtown - I find the cab drivers to be a bit fast for my tastes, but we've gotten there twice in one piece!

Another option you could consider is staying at the Fairmont Waterfront through DCL and book their transfers from the airport to the hotel. Last I called for my Alaska cruise you could choose either the Fairmont Airport or the Waterfront - I think the downtown one was a little more expensive but not that much more. Then, you wouldn't have to worry about taking a cab, and DCL would have your back which sounds important to you. It's a beautiful hotel too, and literally just across the street from the terminal so not much less convenient than the Pan Pacific. The only reason I didn't book the Waterfront through DCL this time where we have 2x previously is that the price is just too high for a room considering the CDN $ exchange for us - since they bill in USD our cost in the end is about 1.4x that - when we were close to par the last few times it was more equivalent to booking on our own, but unfortunately that's not the way it is now.

I hope this helps!

Aby