I am interested in traveling to Vancouver/Victoria next year and would like some input on the best time to go. I would like a time when the crowds are not so bad and the weather is still decent. I was wondering about early September. Any ideas appreciated.
Thanks,
Annie

Early September is probably a very good time to be here. The weather is still pleasant, there are some fall fairs going on if you like that kind of thing, and the crowds will have thinned out.

just remember that the first weeekend in september is a holiday up here so come after that.

Do you mean Labor Day, or is it a different holiday?

It's Labo(u)r Day - both in the USA/Canada, so traffic between Victoria-Vancouver via ferry is brutal. Taking a ferry anywhere is brutal on the Labour day long weekend if you don't make reservations.

So, I think maybe arriving the weekend after Labor Day would be OK. How does one get to Victoria from Vancouver? Do you have to take a ferry, and if so do you need reservations far in advance?

The weekend after Labour Day shouldn't be anywhere near as chaotic as the prior long weekend. Since kids are back in school and summer vacation is essentially over, ferries won't be nearly as busy.

Since there's no bridge connecting Vancouver Island to the mainland, so if you want to get to Victoria, you'll either have to take a ferry or fly.

Seaplanes cost $120 a person one way and take 35 minutes. They go from downtown Vancouver to downtown Victoria. Harbour Air and West Coast Air are the two companies. For more money you can also take a helicopter - Helijet's the company. They also go downtown to downtown.

Ferries take a bit more time. The ferry ride itself is 1 hour 35 minutes and it sails through the Gulf Islands - it's a beautiful ride and you sometimes see orcas, eagles, and seals. BC Ferries is the name of the company and all the info is at www.bcferries.com

The only issue about taking a ferry is that both ferry terminals are located a 45 minute drive outside of downtown Vancouver and downtown Victoria. So by the time you drive to the ferry terminal, you wait in the line to board the ferry, and so on, it really takes closer to 3-4 hours one way if you go by ferry.

You can make a reservation only if you have a car. If you plan to take a tour (with West Coast Sightseeing, Landsea Tours, GrayLine, etc), public transportation, or a shuttle (like Pacific Coach Lines) - you don't need to make a reservation. Even if you are driving, they only have maybe 10% of the total 400 spots for cars saved for reservations. You also pay extra to make a reservation and you must get to the ferry terminal between 30-60 minutes before your sailing, no sooner and no later (otherwise you lose your reservation).

On long weekends the ferries are often so busy that if you don't have a reservation, you have to wait several sailings befor you get on (as it's first come first serve). Weekends are still generally busier than weekdays, but further into September, I don't think it's necessary to reserve - you can show up one hour before the sailing you wish to get on, and you'll probably get on it. If you arrive and there are 400 cars already infront of you for that same ferry, you will end up having to wait for the next ferry (which is usually only one or two hours later). People like to make reservations to guarantee they get on the ferry of their choice, but it's not *necessary* - simply a matter of choice.

I should also say, reservations are for private vehicles only. There are no reservations for walk-on passengers.

My wife and I are thinking of visiting Vancouver and Victoria in September of 2008 so I have been doing some research. I was aware that a reservation is suggested for a private car on the ferry, but I have not seen anything as to how far ahead you have to make a reservation. Are we talking a day, a month, or longer?

Thanks,
jim

It sounds like September is the month you want to travel. However, I would suggest April. I always like going to Vancouver in the spring (especially as its much earlier there than in Calgary, where I am). The weather is usually nice and for me, Vancouver is at its most beautiful when all the cherry trees are in bloom.

How long would you plan to spend in both Vancouver and Victoria? Also, if you don't take a car on the ferry, is it easy to get public transportation when you get off the ferry in Victoria, or should you plan to rent a car there?

<<
How long would you plan to spend in both
Vancouver and Victoria?
>>

How long I would plan to spend there really has no bearing on how long YOU should plan for. What do want want to do/see in either/both places? How much time and/or money do you have? Answering these questions will answer the other...

>>>>>>How long would you plan to spend in both Vancouver and Victoria?<<<<<<

If I have my way, most of the rest of my life.

Reservations can be made a day or two ahead of time. On holidays/long weekends, you'll want to book weeks ahead of time. All that happens in the worst case scenario is that you'll go to make the reservation, and the hour you want to make reservations for is all full. So you might have to reserve another ferry time, or just head down there without a reservation and get on the ferry that way.

Without a car, Pacific Coach Lines is the best option. You pick them up in Vancouver's bus depot (Pacific Central Station). They drive you 45 minutes south to Tsawwassen, then they drive you on the ferry. During the ferry trip you get off the bus and explore the ferry (it has outdoor viewing decks, restaurants, cafes, a giftshop, etc). After the hour and a half is up, you get back on the bus, it drives off the ferry, and about 45 minutes later you're in the heart of Victoria. It's about $40 per person one way.

Since I have not yet researched what there is to do in these areas, I just wanted to get an idea of how much time to plan on.
I assume one would need more time in Vancouver than Victoria. I have about a week to divide between the two places.
Thank you Carmanah for the transportation info. You've been most helpful.

>>>>>>Since I have not yet researched what there is to do in these areas, I just wanted to get an idea of how much time to plan on.<<<<<<

One of the things I have discovered from participating on Internet forums, where all communication is via the written word, is that it is a great challenge to explain to other people exactly what one means. One of the most difficult things of all is to know whether or not one has provided enough background information to enable other forum participants to put one's enquiry into context.

Consequently, it often takes a couple of messages back and forth before folks understand each other fully.

>>>>>>I assume one would need more time in Vancouver than Victoria.<<<<<<

Yes, that is right.

>>>>>>I have about a week to divide between the two places.<<<<<<

That is a very nice amount of time to split between the two places.

Take a look at the Coast section of my website:

http://tinyurl.com/lq4sg

I feel that my web pages about Vancouver and Victoria are quite helpful. In the Greater Vancouver Area, especially, waterways intersect the metropolitan area. So there it makes sense to plan your days in such a way that you group together attractions that are geographically close to each other.

While I feel my thoughts about distributing one's time in Vancouver are of some practical use to the prospective traveller, that is not the main strength of my Vancouver page.

The crown jewels of my Vancouver page are the links to three fabulous websites that different Vancouverites have created about their city. One of those websites was created by our very own Carmanah.

Judy, thank you so much. Your website is most informative. I still have a lot of time to plan my itinerary, but since I use frequent flyer miles, I need the get the basic air reservations soon. Do you think it makes sense to fly right into Vancouver, rent a car, bring that car on the ferry to Victoria and stay in Victoria couple of days and then take the car back on the ferry to Vancouver?