Does anyone have any idea, has there been any local news as to whether attending the olympics will be feasible if staying on Vancouver Island? If have checked with BC Ferries about an extended schedule but did not get an answer. Also wonder about transport from the ferry docks to the venues? Perhaps it's a little early for this info but it would be a lot cheaper to stay with the rellies on the Island than booking accommos in Vancouver!

Not an expert but if one wanted to "feel the excitement" and do a one day trip, it's probably do-able.

However, if one was thinking of attending multiple days/events, I don't think it's very live-able. Whatever savings are had in accoms would probably be eaten up with car rental & ferry fares.

Depends where on the island too. If one arrives at Horseshoe Bay, there are busses that go direct to downtown (GM Place), others that can be transferred on from downtown to Richmond, Pacific Coliseum, other venues being used.

The events are in Whistler too. Those events might be hard to get to for just a day event.

Depending on the time of the events, including travel time, the ferries may not run early/late enough.

Enjoy-la!

Thanks for the reply. Just talked to the s-i-l in Lake Cowichan. We would have the expense of the walk-on ferry fare, parking in Nanaimo and bus transpo from ferry to downtown. The whole thing would be a major pain for sure. (Our room and board and use of a car would be free...so it would have that advantage!) My concern is applying for tickets and then finding that accommo prices in Vancouver are just too astronomical to justify attending. At least if I have the VI back up plan I can work it out!!

Are you saying you would stay in Lake Cowichan??
Then forget it.
Lake Cowichan is 45 minutes inland from highway that takes you to Nanaimo, , Nanaimo is another hour north. So almost two hours travelling to Ferry.. now, figure ferry is about 2 hours, thats four hours of travel one way,, 8 hours return..sounds like a waste of time and money to be able to spend maybe 4 or 5 hours top at the venues.

I would only consider staying going from island( where I live BTW) if I lived in Namaimo, or Victoria or Sidney. Even then,, its a lot of hassle , so unless you are really really obsessed, I wouldn't do it.

Luckily it is far enough off you could just save money for a hotel. They won't all be out of this world,, and with the gas and ferry costs you may end up breaking even, or even coming out ahead.

If you buy tickets and can't use them, I am sure you could resell them, as long as it is an interesting event, and you don't mark them up.

Correction, Namaimo is actually more then an hour north of highway junction ,closer to 1.5 hours.

Remember that skytrain will be available out of the airport. So I'm guessing that there will be a bus from the Tswassen ferry terminal to that location. In any event, I think questions about transporation will start to crystalize as we get closer to the games.