Transportation from Vancouver airport to Pan pacific NEW QUESTIONS

[bumbershoot]

I probably won't have to exchange money.

I was going to say you likely wouldn't have to anyway, but then I saw...

I don't have an ATM card

Aha. Well, can you get one? That makes it super-easy. We generally stay at Sutton Place for our Vancouver visits and stop at the "Green Machine" ATM on our short walk to Robson Street, and go on with our day.


This is one of those questions where there's no true bad answer. It's like next December, when we cruise (Royal) out of San Juan and have to decide to stay close to the port (requiring a cab into Old San Juan and back whenever we want to go play), or stay in Old San Juan, requiring a cab to get to and from the ship when it's time for that. There is truly no wrong answer. It depends on budget, plans, and the result of the flip of a coin, if necessary.

I personally LOVE downtown Vancouver and would stay there. I personally would not, and have not, stay at the Pan Pacific as it's too expensive from my perspective. Downtown Vancouver is so close in, so easily move-around-in-able, heck, so easily WALKable if necessary (and I did a half marathon in and around the area so I literally know what that's like), that I have no need to sleep ON the pier (Pan Pacific is ON the pier Canada Place is on). I mentioned Sutton Place...that's our absolute favorite so far (and we saw Sean Lennon checking in with his band the last time we stayed there, and I would imagine he could stay literally anywhere he wanted to, so there's some sort of good choice being made with Sutton). An easy-breezy cab ride there with your bags and your vacation is started. Plus you're close to coffee, nice shopping, crepes, JapaDog (if you're a Psych fan you might get the reference), Roots athletic apparel, Lush, cheap Samsonite luggage stores...just everything.

As mentioned above, Fairmont Waterfront is *right there* as well, literally across the street from Pan and Canada Place. If you really need or want the luxury, it would be a good choice, too.


I think I could only do the Fairmont Airport if I weren't leaving the airport area. It looked really nice as we were exiting the airport a few months back, but I wouldn't want to make the journey in for sightseeing purposes and then have to go back. I like public transportation in general, but the Skytrain took weirdly longer than I expected and was, I don't know, I guess not what I expected. Not sure what the issue was there LOL.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Another option you could consider is staying at the Fairmont Waterfront through DCL and book their transfers from the airport to the hotel.

That isn't a choice being offered to me. I probably booked after the waterfront was sold out. I did look at staying there on my own and it was a lot more money than my other choices.

I personally LOVE downtown Vancouver and would stay there.

I'm going to explore this option. I have a lot of hilton points and can probably stay at a hilton there on my points. That would save me a few hundred dollars.

Does anyone know if Stanley Park is always open? That is something I'd probably visit if I ended up staying downtown.

 

[Cibahwewah]

We used aerocar limo for 4 passengers including an 8 yr old that they did not make use a car seat at YVR straight to Pan Pacific, paid with credit card, IIRC. Just met them outside the terminal at the walk up stand, no particular prearranged time, which was good because we got the extra extra special treatment from Canadian customs/immigration which delayed us for an hour. Then at checkout in AM Bell Services handled our luggage straight to the cruise ship (they have these big locking cargo nets that go over it). So, we explored downtown Vancouver on foot for the morning. DH fell into a fountain soaking his clothes, and we couldn't get access to the bags until they were on board. Departing the cruise ship terminal we used aerocar again (had prearranged, paid, and had a pickup time) but waited an hour for driver to show up. I would get a taxi back to airport rather than wait on the limo driver. [Lessons learned: limo to/taxi back, don't walk quickly in front of immigration to try to get in line in front of 50 Chinese people each carrying two large cardboard boxes, and don't lean too far towards a fountain while wearing a backpack full of cameras/electronics/important papers]

 

[xlxo]

Does anyone know if Stanley Park is always open? That is something I'd probably visit if I ended up staying downtown.

• The only time Stanley Park is officially closed is if there is a windstorm. They always lose some trees when the wind picks up.
• there has been some fires in the park by the homeless and poorly discarded cigarette butts that requires partial closures.
• you may not want to be in the park trails in the dark... the park houses a few thousand homeless. Yep the park is open.
• Watch this link closer to your sailing dates for the park aquarium operating hours
  https://www.vanaqua.org/visit/hours
• Check this link on the mini heritage train operating hours...
  http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/stanley-park-miniature-train.aspx
• check this link for horse tour hours....
  http://www.stanleyparktours.com/Schedules & Rates_Group Rates.html

 

[sharksfinatic17]

Last summer we stayed at the Fairmont at the airport after our cruise. We had a day room. While the rooms are lovely, I wouldn't stay there versus staying in downtown Vancouver. There so much to do there compared to the airport. Pre-cruise we stayed about two blocks from Canada Place...a wonderful way to see Vancouver. We took a taxi to get to the airport post cruise (we walked to the cruise).

 

[Ofinn]

That isn't a choice being offered to me. I probably booked after the waterfront was sold out. I did look at staying there on my own and it was a lot more money than my other choices.

I'm going to explore this option. I have a lot of hilton points and can probably stay at a hilton there on my points. That would save me a few hundred dollars.

Does anyone know if Stanley Park is always open? That is something I'd probably visit if I ended up staying downtown.

When is your cruise? "Last minute travel CLub" (you must join the club all it takes is giving them your email) has the best rates of any website. I'm looking at May 21-23. 139.00 for Hyatt regency(2 blocks from Canada Place), the Pan Pacific is 178.00, the Westin next to Stanley Park is 154.00. There are other options too.

 

[cruisehopeful]

When is your cruise? "Last minute travel CLub" (you must join the club all it takes is giving them your email) has the best rates of any website. I'm looking at May 21-23. 139.00 for Hyatt regency(2 blocks from Canada Place), the Pan Pacific is 178.00, the Westin next to Stanley Park is 154.00. There are other options too.

Thanks for that info! We are doing the last sailing in May. Those prices are great.

 

[Ofinn]

Thanks for that info! We are doing the last sailing in May. Those prices are great.

The Pan isn't available your dates.I'm probably going to book the Westin because it's next to Stanley Park, and I like to run and bike ride. We stayed at the Pan before our Hawaii cruise it's very nice. If you end up booking the Pan make sure you request 2 beds if you need them. I got in a huge argument with the manager because they only gave us one bed and the hotel was sold out. He kept telling me I need to request 2 beds. I never occurred to me that I would need to request 2 beds when the reservation was for four people. He kept telling me it wasn't that uncommon for families to sleep in one bed. WHAT??? LoL. He also told me he sleeps with his kids ewww. He was from India so maybe that's why. To make a long story short we go upgraded to suite. I know in the US it would be against fire code to stuff four people into the room they gave us, but I guess Canada's different.

 

[KingRichard]

You can exchange cash right after you get off your plane. Very low fee.

 

[bumbershoot]

139.00 for Hyatt regency(2 blocks from Canada Place)

In 2 hours we're driving up and we'll be staying there! I love it when DH's work trips help me research things.


Eta... I like this place. Very nice lobby. This is a business trip and it's a slow time so prices are low and dh was able to book Club. Nice. Booze isn't included but it's an honor bar.

Bed is comfy to sit on, at least. Short walk to Robson for shopping crepes Lush etc. Another easy block further up for cash then Japadog and the IGA grocery store. Go the other way from the hotel for Canada place.

Starbucks in the lobby, Tim Hortons just next door. Tons of other stuff around.

Not sure what the rates are during cruise season but in winter it's decent.