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

[2littlestitches]

Hi everyone...

I've been looking for some recommendations for family friendly fishing excursions from Vancouver. Just half-day type guided fishing for our family, including a 9 and 11 year old. Anybody have companies they've used before and loved??

Thanks so much!

 

[Jessebuggy]

I used Hotwire.com to book the Pan Pacific for the night before our cruise on the June 7th sailing and they DO charge your credit card immediately. For my date of June 6 for three adults the cost of the room was $200.00 before taxes etc. This was my first time using the site and I was very happy we got the Pan Pacific.

Thanks for the great information. We've had our June 7th cruise booked for a while now but I am just now finding time to do my hotel/airfare research!

 

[jilljill]

Hi everyone...

I've been looking for some recommendations for family friendly fishing excursions from Vancouver. Just half-day type guided fishing for our family, including a 9 and 11 year old. Anybody have companies they've used before and loved??

Thanks so much!

Have you looked over on cruisecritic.com in their Vancouver boards for more fishing charter info?

 

[2littlestitches]

Have you looked over on cruisecritic.com in their Vancouver boards for more fishing charter info?

I'll try that....thanks!

 

[FourM's]

I have looked online and can't seem to find an answer. Does anyone know what it costs to take the Skytrain from the Vancouver airport to the cruise port? Trying to compare it to the cost of a shuttle or transfer through DCL. TIA!

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Skytrain fares...
http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/Single-Fares.aspx

 

[I<3EvilQueen]

I have looked online and can't seem to find an answer. Does anyone know what it costs to take the Skytrain from the Vancouver airport to the cruise port? Trying to compare it to the cost of a shuttle or transfer through DCL. TIA!

I found the fares here:
http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/Single-Fares.aspx

 

[I<3EvilQueen]

Opps. I see Lolipop's Mom beat me to it.

 

[gohogs34]

delete

 

[littleprince]

is it better to rent a car for 3 days touring vancouver or is there public transportation?

 

[rsjj]

i'm sorry if this has been discussed prior...but are our plans "do-able"?

our plans are...stay at richmond for couple days before the cruise, to explore vancouver.

should i rent a car? if so, is there car rental at the port (cananda place) where i can return our car before getting on the ship?

or maybe i don't need a car to visit vancouver...the transportation is pretty good? i don't know. and do your public transportation allow us to carry our luggage onto the various bus/train/skytram?

thanx in advance!

 

[littleprince]

Avis & National are located at Canada Place Port.
I'm wondering the same thing about car rental. But I hear Victoria is a nice place to visit so it might be worth renting a car for the day to take a trip there.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

FYI on the entertainment card - usually you can buy 'just' the card for 3-5 bucks on ebay, put the number online, get the coupon for the quick shuttle

 

[BelleProfHP]

i'm sorry if this has been discussed prior...but are our plans "do-able"?

our plans are...stay at richmond for couple days before the cruise, to explore vancouver.

should i rent a car? if so, is there car rental at the port (cananda place) where i can return our car before getting on the ship?

or maybe i don't need a car to visit vancouver...the transportation is pretty good? i don't know. and do your public transportation allow us to carry our luggage onto the various bus/train/skytram?

thanx in advance!

My family just got back from 3 days in Vancouver over Spring Break (me, DH and DS8). We left the car mostly, although we did use it to drive slightly out of town to visit the Atkinson Lighthouse. That being said, other than the water taxis, we walked mostly (one cab when we had had enough and just wanted back to the hotel).

My observation was that busses seemed to be everywhere. If you were willing to take the time to study the bus schedules, I would imagine that it would the bus service could take you anywhere you wanted.

 

[E&Cmom]

Even if going on a day trip to Victoria, I suggest going through a bus company (Pacific Coach) than renting a car. Ferry prices with a car is very expensive for just a day not to mention rening a car. The bus leave from the downtown terminal to the Victoria terminal which is walking distance from alot of attractions. You can get a round trip ticket. I live outside Vancouver and have done that a few times and it was a lot more relaxing and cheaper driving. I wouldn't suggest public transit to the ferry terminal and then downtown Victoria since it is super slow. Did it once and never again.

 

[rsjj]

thanx everyone, for your input! back to the drawing board!!

anyone know what would be the best choice of transportation for me if i need to take a public transportation from richmond to canada place? i'm just wondering...b/c all the sightseeing stuff in vancouver, we can leisurely do at our own time. but i'll need to have a definite plan as far as getting to our port from our hotel. again, your expertise is much appreciated!!

 

[mellers]

is it better to rent a car for 3 days touring vancouver or is there public transportation?

Public transportation is readily available--I have gone all the way from Richmond to Grouse Mountain in a wheelchair on public transit (takes a little bit of planning, and a few transfers, but very doable). Whether or not it's better depends upon your tolerance for public transit and where you're located. If you want to find out how and how long to get to where you're going, look here:

http://tripplanning.translink.bc.ca/

 

[mellers]

thanx everyone, for your input! back to the drawing board!!

anyone know what would be the best choice of transportation for me if i need to take a public transportation from richmond to canada place? i'm just wondering...b/c all the sightseeing stuff in vancouver, we can leisurely do at our own time. but i'll need to have a definite plan as far as getting to our port from our hotel. again, your expertise is much appreciated!!

It depends on where you are staying, but you can take the Canada Line to the port--there's the Lansdowne stop, near the La Quinta Vancouver Airport and the Four Points Sheraton Vancouver Airport, or directly from the airport (although I believe that is more expensive--anybody know for sure?)

Try the trip planner I just posted for times/fares/etc.

In all honesty, though, I'm going to splurge and get a car service from Richmond to the port on cruise day--the public transportation is quite reliable, and surprisingly wheelchair-friendly, but our party has a lot of health issues and it's just too hard to schlep all the luggage.

 

[littleprince]

any recommendations of good tourist activities? will be traveling with an infant.
also, any recommendations of hotels? i was told to stay around the richmond area.

 

[mellers]

Hotels in Richmond:

La Quinta Vancouver Airport:
http://www.lq.com/lq/properties/pro...&searchType=GEO&lat=49.163469&lon=-123.137766
Four Points Sheraton Vancouver Airport
http://www.fourpointsvancouverairport.com/

I should probably add, the reason I recommend these two places is that they are both clean, in a good neighborhood, and next door to a large shopping center with a Zellers--think Target. You'll be able to buy baby formula, diapers, or anything else you need for the baby there without having to schlep it on the plane. The mall also sits next to a Canada Line station, so it's easy and relatively cheap to get into Vancouver proper to sightsee.