BC Ferry Help
 

I am travelling from Vancouver to Vancouver Island on a Friday in July. We need a car on the Island for the entire stay. We then will return to Vancouver on Thursday August 1 where we need to catch a flight departing at 12:20pm. I am overwhelmed with the ferry schedules and horror stories about getting cars across during the summer. We are leaning towards renting upon arriving on the Island and dropping it there before heading over to Vancouver Airport, if we do that what are the best options and fastest way? <BR>Any ideas and time frames I should be considering would be so helpful...<BR>Thanks in advance...<BR>Ellen

Hi, Ellen - there is a bus that runs between the Vancouver airport and Swartz Bay, where you catch the ferry from Victoria. Pacific Coach Lines has a website that would probably give you times, schedules etc. I can't remember the web address exactly - maybe pcl.com or something like that. <BR> If I were you, I would allow a LOT of time between the two points. The crossing itself is only about an hour and a half, but you have to get from Tsawassen to the airport, which is maybe an hour. Other people might have more helpful suggestions, but I'd be tempted to take the last ferry across the evening before, and stay somewhere near the Vancouver airport - Richmond, maybe - and drop the rental car there.

Ellen, <BR><BR>Your best bet would be to take the Pacific Coach Lines bus from Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Victoria and return the same way. Once on the bus, you are guaranteed onto the ferry and you don't have to worry about dropping off the rental car, etc.<BR><BR>Do the rental in Victoria and return before going back to the mainland. If you go on the ferry by car, you'd need to make a reservation to guarantee getting on a specific sailing (& which costs extra).<BR><BR>Here's the url for their Airport-Victoria schedule: http://www.pacificcoach.com/schedule-service/airport.cfm<BR><BR>According to the schedule, if you catch the first bus out of Victoria at 6 am you'd get to the airport at 9:15 am - which should be okay for a 12:20 pm flight if nothing goes awry. If you're prone to worrying, do what the previous poster suggested and get back to Vancouver the night before.<BR><BR>Lou

This board is one sick puppy tonight. Eating posts and spitting them up god knows where.<BR><BR>www.bcferries.ca<BR><BR>All the schedules and reservation info.<BR>$15 for a reservation and no worries.<BR>Cheap compared to waisting a days vacation at a Vancouver airport hotel.

rand, If you take the first ferry, like the bus, wouldn't it be more hassle to get in about the same time as the bus, but still have to return the rental car, get to the terminal, etc.?

bc'er<BR>Like everything, it depends on numbers. <BR>The answer to Life the universe and everything is 42'?<BR><BR>RIP Douglas Adams (hitchiker's guide to the galaxy)<BR><BR>One in a car is more expensive than by bus, but four in a car?<BR><BR>We do know answer, but do not know the question.<BR><BR>Yes Ellen, you are entering the zone.<BR>I hope you enjoy your trip.<BR>

I would also err on the side of caution and get back to the mainland the night before you fly out. A big wind comes along and the ferries are cancelled - what do you do? It doesn't happen often, but it can happen.<BR><BR>If you are going to Victoria from downtown Vancouver, you can take a bus from there as well that will take you right to downtown Victoria. You may not even need a car for the first day or two, depending on what you want to do.

Those 'big winds' happen in winter never in summer-no worries.<BR><BR>Ellen-Your original plan is best.<BR>

Hi again, Ellen - on reflection, perhaps you could drop the rental car at the Victoria airport the evening before, get the ferry/bus to the Vancouver airport area, and take one of the numerous (free) shuttles to a hotel near the airport. They could then shuttle you back for your flight the next morning. I know it's a lot of shuffling around, but with your flight leaving when it does, you're going to be scrambling in the morning anyway. If it were me, I'd feel safer spending the night on the mainland.<BR> Have a wonderful trip!

Apparently Nanaimo is hosting the BC Games August 1 - 4, so going to the island might be a problem those days. Has anyone else heard about this? Please correct me if I'm wrong. <BR>We decided to get our car in Vancouver, then take the ferry over. Since it looks like it might be very busy I'm thinking of making a ferry reservation.<BR>When leaving the Island we're going to leave late afternoon, return the car and take the shuttle to a hotel where we will spend the night before catching the flight the next day. I prefer this way, especially with the extra airport security these days.

Thanks everyone for your input and suggestions...we too may err on the side of caution and get back to <BR>Vancouver the night before our flight.<BR><BR>I appreciate the help... if anyone is ever coming to the Boston area hopefully I can return the favor.<BR>Ellen