**** Vancouver FAQ Thread **** A few updates in main post!

[smb6]

Has anyone stayed at the Holiday Inn Express? I'm seriously considering booking it! We have stayed at other Holiday Inn Expresses and always have had a good experience. We are flying in two days before the cruise and need two rooms each night. Their rate is only $122 per room per night- they have free breakfast and free cruise shuttle! Also free self parking. I think I'm sold! But would love to hear from anyone that has stayed here.... Also, it's just over 3 miles from the cruise terminal.

 

[lenzs4]

Just booked through hotwire and got the Sutton Place for 129 a night!!
I actually thought it was going to be Pan Pacific but Sutton wil be OK too!!
Anyone ever stay there? Reviews? None seem current on Hotwire...

 

[pouncingpluto]

Just booked through hotwire and got the Sutton Place for 129 a night!!
I actually thought it was going to be Pan Pacific but Sutton wil be OK too!!
Anyone ever stay there? Reviews? None seem current on Hotwire...

Did you check tripadvisor.com? I actually read Sutton Place is where a lot of actors stay when they are filming in Vancouver. It sounds really nice... I think you got a great deal!

 

[jlwhitney]

Has anyone stayed at the Holiday Inn Express? I'm seriously considering booking it! We have stayed at other Holiday Inn Expresses and always have had a good experience. We are flying in two days before the cruise and need two rooms each night. Their rate is only $122 per room per night- they have free breakfast and free cruise shuttle! Also free self parking. I think I'm sold! But would love to hear from anyone that has stayed here.... Also, it's just over 3 miles from the cruise terminal.

I have not stayed there either, but I am also staying one night there and then 2 nights at pan pacific. I would double check the free cruise shuttle since I only read free shuttle to airport, but could be totally wrong.

 

[smb6]

I have not stayed there either, but I am also staying one night there and then 2 nights at pan pacific. I would double check the free cruise shuttle since I only read free shuttle to airport, but could be totally wrong.

Actually what I read said there was a surcharge for the airport shuttle, but the cruise shuttle was free. I may give them a call to double check......

 

[smeecanada]

Actually what I read said there was a surcharge for the airport shuttle, but the cruise shuttle was free. I may give them a call to double check......

That would make sense. The cruise terminal is about 5 minutes away. Where as the airport is about 1 hour approximately.

 

[jlwhitney]

That would make sense. The cruise terminal is about 5 minutes away. Where as the airport is about 1 hour approximately.

We must have different Holiday Inn Expresses, we are staying at the one by the airport...Holiday Inn Express Richmond Vancouver Airport

 

[smb6]

We must have different Holiday Inn Expresses, we are staying at the one by the airport...Holiday Inn Express Richmond Vancouver Airport

You are right, they are different! I'm looking at the one 3 miles from the cruise terminal.......

 

[Pooh667]

I am assuming that you mean the Coast Coal Harbor Hotel. I've been looking at that one. They have a "pay ahead" rate of $148/nt. You have to book and pay in full at least 14 days in advance. That's significantly less than their regular rate. Looks like a nice place and close to the harbor and port. It is a new hotel from what I've read -opened for the Olympics.

I am looking at that hotel too for 6 rooms. It gets good reviews on tripadvisor and other hotel booking sites.

 

[cryssi]

Can you go the night before? I think most people will vouch that for sanity's sake that is the best thing to do.

We are actually thinking of maybe going a couple days earlier, but not sure if that will fly with the rest of our party, so I wanted to make sure that getting in at 9-something will get us to the port in time...

 

[smeecanada]

We must have different Holiday Inn Expresses, we are staying at the one by the airport...Holiday Inn Express Richmond Vancouver Airport

There is more than one Holiday Express in Vancouver.

 

[hockeymom944]

I am looking for some advice if anyone out there has done this. My family and I are on the Apr. 27th Repo cruise. We are staying in Canada until Saturday, May 6th. My plan is to stay in a downtown Vancouver hotel on Friday night, take a taxi to the train station in the morning, and take the 6:40am train to Seattle. The train arrives in Seattle at 11:05am (I have read that we go through customs before leaving Vancouver.) I would then take Sounder transit directly to the airport. I am looking at booking a flight that leaves at 3:00pm. Do you think this gives us sufficient time, plus a little extra in case we get held up somewhere along the way? Thanks for any advice!

 

[mellers]

I am looking for some advice if anyone out there has done this. My family and I are on the Apr. 27th Repo cruise. We are staying in Canada until Saturday, May 6th. My plan is to stay in a downtown Vancouver hotel on Friday night, take a taxi to the train station in the morning, and take the 6:40am train to Seattle. The train arrives in Seattle at 11:05am (I have read that we go through customs before leaving Vancouver.) I would then take Sounder transit directly to the airport. I am looking at booking a flight that leaves at 3:00pm. Do you think this gives us sufficient time, plus a little extra in case we get held up somewhere along the way? Thanks for any advice!

Check and see if your Vancouver hotel is on the Quick Shuttle's pickup list (http://www.quickcoach.com/ ). If it is, it might be much more convenient than making all of those trips--it will take you directly from your hotel to Sea-Tac. I would not recommend cutting it that close with Amtrak--I've had too many problems with delayed trains.

 

[geoffrey]

I am looking for some advice if anyone out there has done this. My family and I are on the Apr. 27th Repo cruise. We are staying in Canada until Saturday, May 6th. My plan is to stay in a downtown Vancouver hotel on Friday night, take a taxi to the train station in the morning, and take the 6:40am train to Seattle. The train arrives in Seattle at 11:05am (I have read that we go through customs before leaving Vancouver.) I would then take Sounder transit directly to the airport. I am looking at booking a flight that leaves at 3:00pm. Do you think this gives us sufficient time, plus a little extra in case we get held up somewhere along the way? Thanks for any advice!

Just a note, you won't be taking the Sounder. Instead you will take Link Light Rail. I would hate for you to follow the signs to the Sounder and really get lost.

 

[hockeymom944]

Check and see if your Vancouver hotel is on the Quick Shuttle's pickup list (http://www.quickcoach.com/ ). If it is, it might be much more convenient than making all of those trips--it will take you directly from your hotel to Sea-Tac. I would not recommend cutting it that close with Amtrak--I've had too many problems with delayed trains.

My original plan was to take quick shuttle to Bellingham, but Alaska Airlines changed flight times and it just won't work. My husband does not want to take a 4 hour bus ride to Seattle and I will not pay $500 dollars more to fly out of YVR, so we agreed on the train. I also have a son who is obsessed with trains. In your experience how long are the delays, and why is the train delayed? I live in S. California and there are about three later flights that are possible (just not my 1st choice.)

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hi Michelle! I'm on the Repo, and I just wanted to invite you over to our cruise meet thread if you would like to plan along with us - there is quite a bit of info on there by people in the areas we are visiting, and we are working on arranging a charter bus to the port from DL, etc. we are at:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2282872

edited to add: Oops I see you are probably set up, being from So. Calif, but come on along anyway, maybe you can help us with LA info!

 

[mellers]

My original plan was to take quick shuttle to Bellingham, but Alaska Airlines changed flight times and it just won't work. My husband does not want to take a 4 hour bus ride to Seattle and I will not pay $500 dollars more to fly out of YVR, so we agreed on the train. I also have a son who is obsessed with trains. In your experience how long are the delays, and why is the train delayed? I live in S. California and there are about three later flights that are possible (just not my 1st choice.)

May is less likely to result in delays (less likely to have bad weather, but not impossible--we have had bad rainstorms), but I would leave at least one flight later if you can. Also, you won't want to take the Sounder when you get into the station--you'll want to take the light rail--make sure you're on the correct side of the tunnel, or it will take you in the wrong direction. I haven't taken the train to or from Vancouver, but almost every time I took Amtrak in Northern California, Washington, Oregon or Southern California, I had delays ranging from 30 minutes to 2 hours on short trains (<4 hours), and 1 to 8 hours on long trains.

It's possible the Vancouver train is better about that (if anyone on the list has ridden it regularly, they might know better than me), but I know that, at least on the US side, freight trains take priority over passenger trains--it almost inevitably leads to delays.

Regardless of how you travel, there can be delays in customs, depending on events on the ground in the United States and Europe, and that can delay any travel between the US and Canada--in extreme cases, for several hours. If it's possible, it might be better to take the train the day before, and stay in Seattle that night. Whatever your choice, I hope you all have a wonderful cruise!

 

[aml3679]

My husband and I went out of Vancouver this past September on a cruise to San Diego - we love Vancouver.

As far as our recommendations:

We stayed at The Loden in Coal Harbor. Very close to the cruise terminal. Rated #1 on Trip Advisor for customer service. They have a car that will take you anywhere you want to go. They dropped us right off at the cruise terminal and took care of our luggage.

It was our 25th anniversary. They upgraded us to a 750sq foot suite - it is the BEST place we have ever stayed.

RESTAURANTS

Cardero's in Coal Harbor - fantastic food, service and views
Voya at The Loden
So many places

We crossed the Capialano Suspension Bridge - beautiful
Took the Big Red Bus for a City Tour - worth it
Vancouver Aquarium - Nice
Stanley Park - beautiful

We could live there. We were very impressed.

 

[Ohana 4]

My husband and I went out of Vancouver this past September on a cruise to San Diego - we love Vancouver.

As far as our recommendations:

We stayed at The Loden in Coal Harbor. Very close to the cruise terminal. Rated #1 on Trip Advisor for customer service. They have a car that will take you anywhere you want to go. They dropped us right off at the cruise terminal and took care of our luggage.

It was our 25th anniversary. They upgraded us to a 750sq foot suite - it is the BEST place we have ever stayed.

RESTAURANTS

Cardero's in Coal Harbor - fantastic food, service and views
Voya at The Loden
So many places

We crossed the Capialano Suspension Bridge - beautiful
Took the Big Red Bus for a City Tour - worth it
Vancouver Aquarium - Nice
Stanley Park - beautiful

We could live there. We were very impressed.

I have a question about the Big Red Bus Tour. Do they give you a 2-day pass on that? And could I possibly use that second day to have it take me from my hotel (where it stops) to the port, or would that look really stupid with all the luggage?

 

[hockeymom944]

May is less likely to result in delays (less likely to have bad weather, but not impossible--we have had bad rainstorms), but I would leave at least one flight later if you can. Also, you won't want to take the Sounder when you get into the station--you'll want to take the light rail--make sure you're on the correct side of the tunnel, or it will take you in the wrong direction. I haven't taken the train to or from Vancouver, but almost every time I took Amtrak in Northern California, Washington, Oregon or Southern California, I had delays ranging from 30 minutes to 2 hours on short trains (<4 hours), and 1 to 8 hours on long trains.

It's possible the Vancouver train is better about that (if anyone on the list has ridden it regularly, they might know better than me), but I know that, at least on the US side, freight trains take priority over passenger trains--it almost inevitably leads to delays.

Regardless of how you travel, there can be delays in customs, depending on events on the ground in the United States and Europe, and that can delay any travel between the US and Canada--in extreme cases, for several hours. If it's possible, it might be better to take the train the day before, and stay in Seattle that night. Whatever your choice, I hope you all have a wonderful cruise!

Thanks for all the info. I did some more research last night and found that the particular train I want to take is late 55% of the time! It does not say how many minutes/hours it is typically late. I found some other flights leaving at 6pm, so I might go that route.