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

[jlwhitney]

I wouldn't stay there - I can't stress enough to people to just pay the extra in Vancouver, if it is a $69 special it is that for a reason! Unless its hotwire/priceline!
If you are spending thousands on a vacation, just spend an extra $200 for your hotel and you will be grateful in the end. Hotels here are pricey in cruise ship season, but you can get deals on hotwire and priceline!

Well, it is not a 69 dollar deal, its about 200 dollars less and its easier to get a refunable rate there. I really do not like booking non refunable rates at all. They think I like the most is free internent and the valet parking is 10 less a day. I am not looking for fancy just clean and safe. I have stayed at days inn before and they were fine.

 

[poohj80]

Pan Pacific offers refundable rates. We booked a AAA rate similar to its non-refundable rate.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

It takes you through each hotel for hotwire and what most of them are based on amenities - so it says suite, non-smoking, pool, free breakfast 3*, so then it shows you what hotels that could possibly be.
I use hotwire a LOT and that site is 99.9% dead on right!

 

[poohj80]

It takes you through each hotel for hotwire and what most of them are based on amenities - so it says suite, non-smoking, pool, free breakfast 3*, so then it shows you what hotels that could possibly be.
I use hotwire a LOT and that site is 99.9% dead on right!

Thanks again! Specifically looking for a deal at Pan Pacific but it lists same amenities as Sutton Place:

5* The Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver
Amenities: Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Spa
(can be same as Sutton Place)

5* The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver (previously 4.5*)
Amenities: Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Spa
(same as Pan Pacific)

So was hoping to find some other distinguishing feature.

 

[richmo]

Just adding a parking update. The official Vancouver (YVR) airport site has a coupon for $45 a week parking in the long term lot at YVR. There appear to be some pretty hefty taxes in addition, but still way under the $20-$30/day rates elsewhere. Remember, if you drop a car at YVR, at least one person will need to get back to Canada Place, but I understand that's pretty simple with the SkyTrain.

If you're interested, go to the YVR website www.yvr.ca and you'll see a link for 'Long Term Parking Coupon'. I believe it goes into September...

 

[Evette]

Does anyone have any tips to have a good idea which hotel you are getting on Hotwire or Priceline before booking? I know there are some tips on the DIS Boards to help book the Hyatt in the Orlando airport, but haven't found anything yet to help know about Vancouver.

Thanks!

I was lucky and ended up with the Pan Pacific on Hotwire.com. I chose a 5* Hotel for $200 (before taxes of course) and an area around Canada Place. I was very happy when the Pan Pacific came up as the Hotel. I spent a few dollars extra for the Trip Insurance for our one night stay since you pay upfront.

 

[poohj80]

I was lucky and ended up with the Pan Pacific on Hotwire.com. I chose a 5* Hotel for $200 (before taxes of course) and an area around Canada Place. I was very happy when the Pan Pacific came up as the Hotel. I spent a few dollars extra for the Trip Insurance for our one night stay since you pay upfront.

Thanks for the feedback! That's not much cheaper than we booked directly with Pan Pacific so think I'll just keep what we have to be sure.

 

[tink&cinderella]

Sorry if this has been posted before..

Does anyone know anything about Club Intrawest in Vancouver? We traded in our DVC points to stay there for 4 nights prior to the cruise.

Thanks

 

[poohj80]

Sorry if this has been posted before..

Does anyone know anything about Club Intrawest in Vancouver? We traded in our DVC points to stay there for 4 nights prior to the cruise.

Thanks

I hadn't thought about that possibility. I'd love to hear about Club Intrawest too.

 

[NWmom]

I know Club Intrawest Vancouver is related to the one in Whistler. Beyond that I do not know specifics.

I do not recommend the one in Whistler. If you are DVC you have been spoiled by DIsney and will not be pleased by Whistler.

Holes in furniture, cigarette burns, dust everywhere.
Let's just say my then 10 yr old son is the one that showed me how much his room needed dusting.

 

[NWmom]

I would love an opinion. I am located north of Seattle, have my own car. No rental, no airfare involved.

We are debating just getting up early day of cruise and driving to the port and parking the car. Customs usually involves a smile and a wave through when driving, but it has been awhile.

or

Taking Amtrack up. Having to go through customs timewise after the train arrival around noon.

The main reason I am considering Amtrack is wondering about safety of leaving the car. Price for both is close enough not to be a factor in deciding.

On the way home, having the car to explore for the day would be nice.

Also thinking having a hotel the day before would be harder than just leaving early in the morning. If we leave from here and miss something it will still be here when we get back.

 

[Momof3greatkids]

Looking for someone to pick us up after disembarking, and give us a tour of North Shore, and downtown, with a drop off at Airport Hotel. I am having no luck, anyone know of a company or person who does this??

 

[richmo]

I would love an opinion. I am located north of Seattle, have my own car. No rental, no airfare involved.

We are debating just getting up early day of cruise and driving to the port and parking the car. Customs usually involves a smile and a wave through when driving, but it has been awhile.

or

Taking Amtrack up. Having to go through customs timewise after the train arrival around noon.

The main reason I am considering Amtrack is wondering about safety of leaving the car. Price for both is close enough not to be a factor in deciding.

On the way home, having the car to explore for the day would be nice.

Also thinking having a hotel the day before would be harder than just leaving early in the morning. If we leave from here and miss something it will still be here when we get back.

It's great you don't have to deal with a car rental!

I like the timing of Amtrak going north, but I don't like Amtrak's times going south, after the cruise. You'd miss the early train, and the late one gets you back to Seattle pretty late. (Of course, you're much more familiar with the area than I am, so that may not be as big an issue with you).

What I'm planning on is dropping the car at YVR (rates are about $50 + taxes for the week), then take the short SkyTrain ride to the port. Of course, you could also drop everyone and the luggage at the port, then take the car to YVR and SkyTrain back. Just a thought...

 

[sheri117]

I was lucky and ended up with the Pan Pacific on Hotwire.com. I chose a 5* Hotel for $200 (before taxes of course) and an area around Canada Place. I was very happy when the Pan Pacific came up as the Hotel. I spent a few dollars extra for the Trip Insurance for our one night stay since you pay upfront.

I just got two rooms at the Pan Pacific for May 9 for $143 each through Hotwire. I am very excited!

The website says that the Canada Line will take you within one block of the hotel. We're not arriving until late (after 10:30 p.m.) Is it safe to walk that block at that hour (which will likely be closer to midnight by the time we get our luggage and take the train).

 

[mellers]

I just got two rooms at the Pan Pacific for May 9 for $143 each through Hotwire. I am very excited!

The website says that the Canada Line will take you within one block of the hotel. We're not arriving until late (after 10:30 p.m.) Is it safe to walk that block at that hour (which will likely be closer to midnight by the time we get our luggage and take the train).

Check here: http://tripplanning.translink.ca/hiwire?.a=iTripPlanning&.s=8150c080 to make sure the schedule is conducive to your arrival. I know the SkyTrain does not run 24/7.

 

[NWmom]

It's great you don't have to deal with a car rental!

I like the timing of Amtrak going north, but I don't like Amtrak's times going south, after the cruise. You'd miss the early train, and the late one gets you back to Seattle pretty late. (Of course, you're much more familiar with the area than I am, so that may not be as big an issue with you).

What I'm planning on is dropping the car at YVR (rates are about $50 + taxes for the week), then take the short SkyTrain ride to the port. Of course, you could also drop everyone and the luggage at the port, then take the car to YVR and SkyTrain back. Just a thought...

I like that idea- much cheaper. Any idea of how long the ride would be from YVR to port?
and cost per person?

Also wondering if the traffic in the morning might make it worth taking everyone on the SkyTrain as the kids would love it and think think hauling luggage is fun too.

 

[sheri117]

Check [link removed because I'm a newbie] to make sure the schedule is conducive to your arrival. I know the SkyTrain does not run 24/7.

The last train runs at about 12:30 or so - so we should be fine (unless the plane is very late, then we'll have to catch a taxi). Thanks for the link!

 

[Yensidfan]

Can someone tell me the different ways to get from the cruise port (after the cruise) to the airport? Our flight leaves around 1:00pm on the day we disembark.

Cost of Taxi for four of us?
Is there a train and if there is, the cost?
And how far is the airport from the port in distance and time?

Thanks in advance,
Faith

 

[megsablue]

I like that idea- much cheaper. Any idea of how long the ride would be from YVR to port?
and cost per person?

Is there a train and if there is, the cost?
And how far is the airport from the port in distance and time?

There's actually two different "train" systems in Vancouver. The Canada Line (which goes from downtown Vancouver to Richmond and YVR) and the SkyTrain (which goes from downtown Vancouver into the outer suburbs of Metro Vancouver and into the Lower Mainland). I don't want you trying to find a SkyTrain at YVR when there will only be signs for the Canada Line.

The ride on the Canada Line from the Port to YVR (end to end) is about 30 minutes according to Translink (the company that runs transit service in Vancouver) once you get going. However, there may be a bit of a wait (anywhere from 5-20 minutes) depending on when you arrive. For an idea of the schedule, the website is http://tripplanning.translink.bc.ca/hiwire?.a=iScheduleLookupSearch&LineName=999&LineAbbr=999
(Scroll down to the Canada Line). I usually give myself 45-60 minutes when heading to the airport from downtown (but I'm almost always early!).

To understand cost, it's helpful to understand that the bus/SkyTrain/CanadaLine systems are divided into zones. Vancouver is one zone, Richmond (where YVR is located) is another zone. So to travel from Vancouver to Richmond, one pays for a two zone ticket.

As for cost:
From Waterfront (Canada Place) to YVR (two zones)
- Weekdays from start of service to 6:30 p.m. it would be $3.75 for adults and $2.50 for children (4 and under are free).
- Weekdays after 6:30 p.m. and all day Saturday, Sunday and Holidays it would be $2.50 for adults and $1.75

From YVR to Waterfront (two zones)
- Take the above fares and add $5 to them.
- Note: Daypasses ($9) are exempt from this YVR Add-on Fare, so if you're going to do some sightseeing the same day, it may be worth it to just get a DayPass. FareSaver tickets (a booklet of individual prepaid tickets bought at a discount) are also exempt. If you're going to be sightseeing in Vancouver and utilizing the bus/Skytrain/CanadaLine systems a lot, it may be worth while to purchase this instead. What you can do is buy the tickets for one zone (all of Vancouver) and then "upgrade" to a two zone ticket at YVR (that gets you around the $5 add-on).

Hope that helps - I know it can be confusing!

 

[Candy Apple]

There's actually two different "train" systems in Vancouver. The Canada Line (which goes from downtown Vancouver to Richmond and YVR) and the SkyTrain (which goes from downtown Vancouver into the outer suburbs of Metro Vancouver and into the Lower Mainland). I don't want you trying to find a SkyTrain at YVR when there will only be signs for the Canada Line.

The ride on the Canada Line from the Port to YVR (end to end) is about 30 minutes according to Translink (the company that runs transit service in Vancouver) once you get going. However, there may be a bit of a wait (anywhere from 5-20 minutes) depending on when you arrive. For an idea of the schedule, the website is http://tripplanning.translink.bc.ca/hiwire?.a=iScheduleLookupSearch&LineName=999&LineAbbr=999
(Scroll down to the Canada Line). I usually give myself 45-60 minutes when heading to the airport from downtown (but I'm almost always early!).

To understand cost, it's helpful to understand that the bus/SkyTrain/CanadaLine systems are divided into zones. Vancouver is one zone, Richmond (where YVR is located) is another zone. So to travel from Vancouver to Richmond, one pays for a two zone ticket.

As for cost:
From Waterfront (Canada Place) to YVR (two zones)
- Weekdays from start of service to 6:30 p.m. it would be $3.75 for adults and $2.50 for children (4 and under are free).
- Weekdays after 6:30 p.m. and all day Saturday, Sunday and Holidays it would be $2.50 for adults and $1.75

From YVR to Waterfront (two zones)
- Take the above fares and add $5 to them.
- Note: Daypasses ($9) are exempt from this YVR Add-on Fare, so if you're going to do some sightseeing the same day, it may be worth it to just get a DayPass. FareSaver tickets (a booklet of individual prepaid tickets bought at a discount) are also exempt. If you're going to be sightseeing in Vancouver and utilizing the bus/Skytrain/CanadaLine systems a lot, it may be worth while to purchase this instead. What you can do is buy the tickets for one zone (all of Vancouver) and then "upgrade" to a two zone ticket at YVR (that gets you around the $5 add-on).

Hope that helps - I know it can be confusing!

So, if I'm reading this right, to get from the airport to the cruise terminal would be $8.75 for adults and $7.50 for children (since it is a Tuesday cruise). If so, that is cheaper than the $50 per person roundtrip that Disney wants to charge for the bus. How convenient is it to get to the train station at the airport? How convenient is it to get from the train station to the port? If these are just a short walk, this is definitely something to consider.