Vancouver advice

[Masonmj84]

We've booked the 5 night Alaska cruise for 2017 that's scheduled to leave Vancouver on Wednesday, August 2. Prior to the cruise, we're planning on spending at least 5 nights in British Columbia (2 in Whistler, 2 in Victoria, and the night before the cruise in Vancouver).

Under this plan, our first night in Whistler would be on a Friday. We'd probably fly in on Alaska Airlines, and while flight schedules do not yet exist for our dates, it looks like (based on past schedules) the earliest we can expect to land in Vancouver would be around noon. Then, we'd have to go through customs, claim our checked luggage, and get the rental car before driving up to Whistler. What's uncertain to me about this scenario is: (1) how long it will take from wheels down until we're driving off in the rental car? and (2) how bad will Friday afternoon traffic be at this point?

A second option would be to reverse the trip and go to Victoria first then Whister. However, I'm not sure if this is necessarily a better option than the first, because I don't know how bad the ferry traffic typically is on a Friday afternoon in the middle of the summer (don't want to have to wait for a second ferry due to a long line).

A third option would be to fly in on Thursday evening and stay at a hotel by the airport (or the Fairmont in the airport) and then drive up to Whistler the next morning after rush hour. This would alleviate most of my concerns about traffic but I'm not sure whether it would be worth the extra cost of an added night in a hotel.

In all of the above options, we'd return the rental car to the airport the Tuesday before the cruise and then probably just take a taxi to a hotel downtown.

I know we have some Vancouver experts on the board, so I'd appreciate your advice on the above three options.

 

[bcwife76]

I would not go to Victoria and Vancouver Island the day you arrive - ferries are horribly busy every weekend in summer so unless you are making a ferry reservation (which you need to pay for and cannot miss, there is a window when you MUST arrive by, otherwise you are back to standby) I would go to up to Whistler that Friday. If your flight arrives about noon you should be in your rental car on your way by about 1pm or so, depending on how many flights came in with yours (to guage the customs line). At this time you should miss the worst of the traffic and be on your way up to Whistler in no time.

By the way, we are on the same 5 night cruise as you and we live in the Vancouver area so please join our cruise meet thread!

 

[Masonmj84]

I would not go to Victoria and Vancouver Island the day you arrive - ferries are horribly busy every weekend in summer so unless you are making a ferry reservation (which you need to pay for and cannot miss, there is a window when you MUST arrive by, otherwise you are back to standby) I would go to up to Whistler that Friday. If your flight arrives about noon you should be in your rental car on your way by about 1pm or so, depending on how many flights came in with yours (to guage the customs line). At this time you should miss the worst of the traffic and be on your way up to Whistler in no time.

By the way, we are on the same 5 night cruise as you and we live in the Vancouver area so please join our cruise meet thread!

Thanks for the advice!

Sounds like taking the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Naniamo on a Sunday morning is going to be a cakewalk as compared to Tsawwassen to Schwartz Bay on a Friday afternoon.

And it's always a bit of a slow go driving through Vancouver with all the lights and such (regardless of whether or not it's rush hour), just didn't want to get stuck in gridlock trying to get over the Lions Gate Bridge on a late Friday afternoon. Hopefully, the flight will be on time and we won't be stuck in customs (or the rental car line) for too long.

 

[bcwife76]

Oh yes, it's much easier to go to the island from Horseshoe Bay then it is from Delta!! Plus, on the Nanaimo side there are now two ferry terminals - Departure Bay and Duke Point, so coming back from Nanaimo is again much easier!

Downtown is a pain to drive in and I avoid it at all costs. For me, I'd go the outskirts, going through Richmond, etc just to avoid going through downtown. But fingers crossed you will avoid the bulk of it.

 

[ILovePixieDust]

I think you might want to anticipate more than a 1 hour window to get through customs and claim your luggage. My in laws arrived yesterday and we live 10 minutes from the airport. Took them 2 hours from flight landing to arrive at our home after customs and luggage. It will be summer so there will be lots of flights and luggage claim can take awhile and then there is car shuttle line to get through as well. I would say it's safer to say you'll be on the road between 2-3pm. That will only be early rush hour so going through downtown should still not be a problem.

And you might also want to look into picking up car from the airport and dropping it off at a location downtown. Several car rental companies should have locations at the airport and downtown. That would save you doubling back all the way to the airport if you plan on taking the horseshoe bay/naniamo ferry back.

Having said that, if your destination on the island is Victoria and not Nanaimo do note that it is an 1 hr 30 min drive between the two as well.

Also note that Departure Bay(nanaimo) will bring you back to Horseshoe Bay.
Duke Bay (Nanaimo) and Swartz Bay (Victoria) will both bring you to Tsawwassen. So if you come back to the mainland via Tsawwassen you would be passing the airport on the way downtown as well and that would make more sense for car rental return to the airport.

I also recommend prebooking if you are travelling on weekend in the summer as it is not uncommon to have to wait several ferries during peak times.

 

[bcwife76]

@ILovePixieDust is totally correct - the Duke Point ferry terminal (near Nanaimo) takes you to Tsawwassen, not Horseshoe Bay, sorry! I've only taken it once from Duke Point and I had it in my head that it went to West Van

Customs and luggage are a crap shoot at YVR. We flew home yesterday morning, got in at 7:30am and there were four international flights including ours (two from Maui, one from Honolulu and one from Sydney AU) that all landed within minutes of each other. Customs took us 10 minutes, luggage came down very quickly. The customs line for non-Canadian residents was about the same as the one for Canadian residents. But middle of the day you can probably count on more than 4 international flights coming in around the same time.

Enterprise, National and Alamo all have car rental drop offs and pick ups at Canada Place (where our cruise departs from) so that would be handier than having to return your car to the airport and then come back downtown.

 

[westcoastminnie]

What about flying into Victoria instead of Vancouver? Alaska Airlines and Delta both fly into YYJ, which is a very nice, small airport. Customs and bag pick up is usually very quick!

Pros: You would only have to take the ferry one way. This would save you time and money.

Cons: Car rental may be more expensive if dropping off at a different location than picking up.

 

[bfost87]

Welcome to Vancouver! Personally I would arrive the night before and grab a hotel around the airport. There are a number of hotels within 5 minutes driving from YVR for under $150CAD/night. That was you can relax, and get up to Whistler earlier in the day. If you land at noon, you're probably leaving the airport around 2pm, and heading through Vancouver at the beginning of rush hour (which if you haven't heard is some of the worst in North America). You probably wouldn't arrive in Whistler until sometime between 6-7pm. The nice thing at YVR is that most of the car companies are right on site outside of the terminal.

Definitely don't drop off at a different city with the car, the cost will at least quadruple in some instances. So flying into Victoria isn't a great idea because of that, but if you can stomach the cost then it's feasible.

 

[xlxo]

We've booked the 5 night Alaska cruise for 2017 that's scheduled to leave Vancouver on Wednesday, August 2. Prior to the cruise, we're planning on spending at least 5 nights in British Columbia (2 in Whistler, 2 in Victoria, and the night before the cruise in Vancouver).

Hmm.... the long weekend is August 5 to 7th in 2017. You will be on the Wonder avoiding the downtown chaos. What are you plans Saturday night, July 29th???

Expect downtown congestion in the evening for the fireworks competition kickoff. Are you interested in seeing a complimentary 25 minute show as there will not be a fireworks show in Alaska?

 

[xlxo]

Under this plan, our first night in Whistler would be on a Friday. We'd probably fly in on Alaska Airlines, and while flight schedules do not yet exist for our dates, it looks like (based on past schedules) the earliest we can expect to land in Vancouver would be around noon. Then, we'd have to go through customs, claim our checked luggage, and get the rental car before driving up to Whistler. What's uncertain to me about this scenario is: (1) how long it will take from wheels down until we're driving off in the rental car? and (2) how bad will Friday afternoon traffic be at this point?

A second option would be to reverse the trip and go to Victoria first then Whister. However, I'm not sure if this is necessarily a better option than the first, because I don't know how bad the ferry traffic typically is on a Friday afternoon in the middle of the summer (don't want to have to wait for a second ferry due to a long line).

A third option would be to fly in on Thursday evening and stay at a hotel by the airport (or the Fairmont in the airport) and then drive up to Whistler the next morning after rush hour. This would alleviate most of my concerns about traffic but I'm not sure whether it would be worth the extra cost of an added night in a hotel.

Additional thoughts...

• I agree with looking at airport hotels a little away from the airport for savings. I always like the Raddison Vancouver Airport (great rates, free rental parking and subway station across the street)
  https://www.expedia.ca/Vancouver-Hotels-Radisson-Hotel-Vancouver-Airport.h14039.Hotel-Information
• I would skip the car rental the first 24hours of landing in Vancouver. There is a 17.5% tax if you get your car in the first 24 hours! Grab the hotel shuttle and then get the car rental 24 hours after you land for savings. http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=a1aeb1ee-0289-4c57-8c3f-6a17b8c5aa07
• I would say 30 minutes to exit customs and be at the car rental counter. Another 30 minutes to get the keys and on the road with the car rental.
• Friday afternoon traffic before 2pm should not be bad going to Whistler.... after 3pm can be painful until 6pm. Especially this summer with the Marine Drive watermain reconstruction.