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

[SoCalDCLfan]

Does anyone know what the taxi fare would be from the airport to downtown area hotels (we're staying at the Hyatt Regency)?

I see that there's a skytrain, and was considering it, but I'm afraid we'll have too much luggage (and too high a kid to adult ratio) to easily get on and off of the train; not to mention, I'm not sure there would be enough room to store all of our luggage.

I also saw that there's a "shared ride" van that will take us from the airport to the hotel, but it only leaves once an hour and takes 45 minutes to get to our hotel. So I'm wondering if a taxi would be much more expensive (we'd need three taxis with our sized group).

Also, does anyone know how to handle infants in a taxicab? We have young children and will not have a carseat.

here's a site that calculates taxi fares:

http://www.worldtaximeter.com/vancouver/yvr/downtown

It says YVR to downtown is about $25 Canadian. Also read that mini-vans taxis are readily available, just ask at the taxi stand. We're planning on this option for our family of 5. we were also worried about all of our luggage on the SkyTrain. $25 for the 5 of us is a pretty good deal I think.

 

[mmmears]

Does anyone have a good & reliable towncar service to recommend?

I'm thinking it might be easier to have a car "reserved" to take us to and from the airport instead of trying to get a taxi with all the "commotion" when we disembark from the ship.

Anyone have any experience with this???

 

[rsjj]

I am paying 73 dollars for 2 days, night from YVR to Pan Pacific. If you are coming from Seattle that sounds about right since you are crossing the border.

no, it was the price from yvr to canada place!

 

[rsjj]

another option i was looking into was to stay a night in vancouver, rent a car from canada place after the cruise, and returning it to yvr the next day. but the cars are all sold out! i guess i'm late in the game.

now...since i won't be able to check into our hotel around 3pm after the cruise...and we get off the ship around 8am. we can sight see, but might be a bit difficult w/our luggages in tow. any suggestions/ideas? really can't think this thing thru...

 

[rsjj]

I thought that the price tag couldn't be right, and tried it out for kicks - Alamo really was asking for $600 for two nights for a compact car to pick up at YVR and drop off at Canada Place. They wanted $200 for two nights if you picked up and dropped off at Canada Place.

crazy, right?!!? i thought i did something wrong!! and i had to do it several times, to make sure i input the info correctly.

 

[smeecanada]

now...since i won't be able to check into our hotel around 3pm after the cruise...and we get off the ship around 8am. we can sight see, but might be a bit difficult w/our luggages in tow. any suggestions/ideas? really can't think this thing thru...

Not sure where you are staying, but you can most likely check in to your hotel earlier. Your room won't be ready, but they will hold your luggage for you until it is available. We've done this many times when travelling.

 

[Shanny145]

another option i was looking into was to stay a night in vancouver, rent a car from canada place after the cruise, and returning it to yvr the next day. but the cars are all sold out! i guess i'm late in the game.

now...since i won't be able to check into our hotel around 3pm after the cruise...and we get off the ship around 8am. we can sight see, but might be a bit difficult w/our luggages in tow. any suggestions/ideas? really can't think this thing thru...

You can check into the hotel early and they will let you stow your luggage until your room is ready at 3:00....we have done this several times.

 

[jlwhitney]

no, it was the price from yvr to canada place!

So, I plugged in my dates again and got quoted $700 something for 2 days including taxes. I have no idea what made the price go way up like that. I am so thankful I made my reservation a few months ago, just can't change it at all or I would lose the wonderful price I have.

In regards to doing pick up and drop off at YVR, did you check all the car rental companies there:

National /Alamo
Avis
Budget
Hertz
Dollar/Thrifty
Enterprise (off site with a shuttle)

I wish you good luck on getting all of the logistics to your trip planned out.

 

[mellers]

does anyonoe know if there are car rental places from canada place? i'm thinking of renting a car for our days prior to the cruise from the airport, but returning it to canada place? not even sure if that's an option?

Given the expense you're quoting for two days use of the car (if I understand correctly), I would not bother renting a car. You would be better off taking a taxi to your hotel, and then taking public transportation around town, with perhaps a taxi thrown in here and there.

If you have a lot of people, try http://www.ridebooker.com/ (somebody else also posted a good link for a car service). They have 10-passenger vans you can reserve, at decent prices.

 

[littleprince]

Has anyone done the Big Bus Hop On Hop Off deal? Is it worth the money?

 

[Pooh667]

Hi,

I have read the whole thread over the last couple of months but I didn't print info up and have forgotten. We will be flying into the Vancouver airport and staying at the Pan Pacific. We are 18 people. Is it better for us to take a couple of taxis or the train? My immediate family is 4 people so money wise is it cheaper to take the train or taxi? I have gone to the skytrain site but I don't understand what the fare is? It says fare then concession fare , do you add those 2 up for the fare price? Really I am not a stupid person but I don't get it. Also today I was told that I have to go to Victoria Gardens. I thought that was in Victoria, Canada. When I researched it it says Vancouver Island. Is that off of Vancouver? Thanks for any info you can give me.

 

[mellers]

Hi,

I have read the whole thread over the last couple of months but I didn't print info up and have forgotten. We will be flying into the Vancouver airport and staying at the Pan Pacific. We are 18 people. Is it better for us to take a couple of taxis or the train? My immediate family is 4 people so money wise is it cheaper to take the train or taxi? I have gone to the skytrain site but I don't understand what the fare is? It says fare then concession fare , do you add those 2 up for the fare price? Really I am not a stupid person but I don't get it. Also today I was told that I have to go to Victoria Gardens. I thought that was in Victoria, Canada. When I researched it it says Vancouver Island. Is that off of Vancouver? Thanks for any info you can give me.

With that many people, I would try http://www.ridebooker.com When you're talking about 18 people, given the airport surcharge, I don't think you would save a lot taking the SkyTrain.

Vancouver Island is quite a ways away from Vancouver--it is the same island on which Victoria, and Butchart Gardens, are located. Are you sure it is Victoria Gardens, and not Butchart Gardens? I would recommend trying to organize a charter bus if you need to go there with 18 people.

 

[Pooh667]

Mellers,

Thank you so much for your reply and for all your replies on the baord. You have been so helpful. I will look into ridebooker. This woman was going on and on about how Victoria Gardens is the must see in Alaska, so I think that is what she met. About how long is it from Vancouver to Vancouver Island? We only have 2 days in Vancouver.

 

[Pooh667]

Sorry duplicate post

 

[mellers]

Mellers,

Thank you so much for your reply and for all your replies on the baord. You have been so helpful. I will look into ridebooker. This woman was going on and on about how Victoria Gardens is the must see in Alaska, so I think that is what she met. About how long is it from Vancouver to Vancouver Island? We only have 2 days in Vancouver.

If you plan to see Victoria, it will take all day. This would be a good choice for this kind of tour, although, with that many people, I would try to negotiate a discount:

http://www.pacificcoach.com/Sightseeing-Tours/Vancouver/Royal-Victoria-Excursion

There are also some beautiful, albeit less well-known gardens in the Vancouver area. My favorite is:

The Interntional Buddhist Temple in Richmond: http://www.buddhisttemple.ca/

and I also like:

The VanDusen Botanical Gardens:
http://www.vandusengarden.org/

 

[Pooh667]

Hi Mellers,

Again , thank you so much for the information. I think we will skip Victoria, just too many things we want to do in Vancouver, though I think I will check out one of the gardens you mentioned.

 

[rsjj]

thanx everyone for your suggestions/ideas! really appreciate you taking the time to answer!

still working on the details...but one more question...sounds like vancouver has a very good public transportation system. is this the same case w/richmond? i think we are going to be staying in that area. oh, i wish we have everything set! but i'm still "planning"...feel so behind!!

again, thank you for all your wonderful/helpful responses!!

 

[mellers]

thanx everyone for your suggestions/ideas! really appreciate you taking the time to answer!

still working on the details...but one more question...sounds like vancouver has a very good public transportation system. is this the same case w/richmond? i think we are going to be staying in that area. oh, i wish we have everything set! but i'm still "planning"...feel so behind!!

again, thank you for all your wonderful/helpful responses!!

It depends upon where you are staying in Richmond. If you're staying near Lansdowne Shopping Centre (which is where I usually stay), you'll have no problems at all--there is a Canada Line station right next to the shopping centre. The FourPoints Sheraton Vancouver Airport and the La Quinta Vancouver Airport are in this neighborhood--there may be others as well.

Also, remember, most Richmond-area hotels have free shuttles to the airport--if you prepurchase FareSaver tickets on the Canada Line, I don't think you have to pay the airport surcharge: http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/FareSaver-Tickets.aspx

(BTW--I should have thought to post this before--if you are primarily planning to use public transit during your trip, these books are worth getting.)

That should get you around nicely.

 

[PE_TCR]

We are gettign in on the train about 11:40 the day before the cruise. We also are planning a group meet for our group that night at about 6. Fort the locals - will we have enough time to get to Grouse Mountain. Just to ride the gondola and maybe do Eye of the Wind and get back in time? Looks like dinner will be at Red Robin so we won't necessarily need to do any more than just freshen up.

 

[mellers]

If you are taking the Canada Line from the airport, and if this is not behind security--you want to go here first:

Pharmasave #22
Vancouver International Airport, Domestic Terminal Bld Level 1
Richmond, BC
V7B 1X8
(604) 303-7033

And purchase a FareSaver book for the Canada Line--this will eliminate the airport surcharge.

I was just looking for dealers in Richmond when I came across this.