Initial planning for Vancouver and Tofino in September
May 26th, 2015, 11:32 AM
#1
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Initial planning for Vancouver and Tofino in September
I am starting to plan for our trip to Canada in September. It's quite a bit cheaper for us to fly into Seattle than Vancouver. I've looked at several different possibilities and this is the best, although I dislike having to backtrack…since I do, I'm looking for the most interesting way to do it.
Please provide feedback and any suggestions you might have for how I might need to change this. We have a total of 12 days and nights. Leave early on September 3rd to fly to Seattle. Take the late train to Vancouver. Spend 5 nights in Vancouver.
Take a seaplane to Tofino (is this the best way to travel or should we rent a car?). Spend 2-3 days in the area.
This is what I haven't really figured out. Should we go to Victoria and spend the night? If so, how to get there? If we rent a car in Tofino and drop off in Victoria, would there be a drop off fee like in the states? Is there a way to get from Tofino to Seattle? Ideally, we would like to spend 2-3 days in Seattle before leaving the area.
Should I somehow flip the trip and spend the first few days in Seattle and then go to Vancouver?
Thanks for any insight.
Please provide feedback and any suggestions you might have for how I might need to change this. We have a total of 12 days and nights. Leave early on September 3rd to fly to Seattle. Take the late train to Vancouver. Spend 5 nights in Vancouver.
Take a seaplane to Tofino (is this the best way to travel or should we rent a car?). Spend 2-3 days in the area.
This is what I haven't really figured out. Should we go to Victoria and spend the night? If so, how to get there? If we rent a car in Tofino and drop off in Victoria, would there be a drop off fee like in the states? Is there a way to get from Tofino to Seattle? Ideally, we would like to spend 2-3 days in Seattle before leaving the area.
Should I somehow flip the trip and spend the first few days in Seattle and then go to Vancouver?
Thanks for any insight.
May 26th, 2015, 02:21 PM
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A few thoughts-take a day from Vancouver and spend it on WCVI-nature is better than any city.
Take a bus Vancouver to Nanaimo rent a car there and use it to travel to WCVI & then Victoria then take the Clipper back to Seattle-you'll pay to drop off in Victoria but not nearly as much as other options.
http://www.clippervacations.com/seattle-victoria-ferry/
Flying from WCVI to Seattle means a chartered plane.
FWIW-Seattle is nothing special just a large US city of no particular note.
Take a bus Vancouver to Nanaimo rent a car there and use it to travel to WCVI & then Victoria then take the Clipper back to Seattle-you'll pay to drop off in Victoria but not nearly as much as other options.
http://www.clippervacations.com/seattle-victoria-ferry/
Flying from WCVI to Seattle means a chartered plane.
FWIW-Seattle is nothing special just a large US city of no particular note.
May 27th, 2015, 07:38 AM
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Thanks Sam for the suggestion and the link to the ferry. That sounds like a good choice. One question though….does WCVI mean West Coast Vancouver Island?
Looking at google maps, it looks like I would have to backtrack from Tofino back though Nanaimo. Is that right?
Looking at google maps, it looks like I would have to backtrack from Tofino back though Nanaimo. Is that right?
May 29th, 2015, 02:46 AM
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ferry costs with a vehicle are high but if you can afford it and like driving, i'd consider...
rent a car in seattle and take the ferry to victoria. spend two nights. take a full day to drive to tofino, visiting Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park / parksville and cathedral grove along the way. then take the ferry from nanaimo back to the mainland and spend the remaining nights in vancouver and drive back to seattle.
rent a car in seattle and take the ferry to victoria. spend two nights. take a full day to drive to tofino, visiting Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park / parksville and cathedral grove along the way. then take the ferry from nanaimo back to the mainland and spend the remaining nights in vancouver and drive back to seattle.
