ramsay

Flying in to Vancouver for one night, then to Victoria by ferry. After two nights in Victoria, headed to Salt Spring then Tofino. We are trying to decide whether we should rent a car at Vancouver airport, or wait until the day we leave Victoria for Salt Spring. Pros/Cons?
Thanks!

misha2

We went through the same type of decision. We ended up renting a car at the airport because we got a decent rate with National. I know it is more expensive with a car on the ferry. However, I'm not sure how much a cab or transport from the ferry to Victoria town would cost. It was about a 20 minute drive. We also needed the car to get to Butchart Gardens. But, everything else we did in Victoria was walkable, since we stayed at the harbour. Hope this was helpful. Others here are far more experienced.

Carmanah

You won't need a car in Victoria, but you'll want one on Salt Spring and in Tofino, for sure.

Consider taking the Pacific Coach Lines bus from the airport to Victoria - look up their schedule online. They'll get you on the ferry (your luggage stays on the bus during the ferry ride while you get to visit the upper decks and enjoy the scenery). You then board the bus again and it drives off the ferry and down the highway 30 mintues or so before dropping you off behind the Empress Hotel in the heart of downtown Victoria.

Butchart Gardens are located a 30 minute drive outside of downtown Victoria, but you can take a bus there - very easy and cheap.

Carmanah

Pros of having a car for Victoria - having it just in case you want to explore outside of downtown.

Cons - Victoria's so small, everything is walkable, you'll likely just have the car parked and will be paying for parking for a car unused. It also costs an extra $70 or so to take the car on the ferry, one way. Gas is also expensive ($1.35 per litre at the moment).

rivet

Check the drop off fee for the car. Assuming that you will take the Nanaimo ferry back to Vancouver for your flight home, you will incur drop off fees if you leave the car in in Nanaimo or possibly even steeper charges if you drop in Vancouver since you would have rented it in Victoria.

http://www.pacificcoach.com/Bus-Coac...VR-to-Victoria

It makes good sense to take Pacific Coach for one person traveling. Looks like the price is around $30. For 2 or more, I would be tempted to get the car at VYR. The convenience might be important to your itinerary. Agree that a car can be a burden in DT Victoria, but when you think that Butchart Gardens is an easy detour on the way IN to Victoria, perhaps you could veer that way on your way in to the city, another way to justify getting a car in Vancouver.