Hi! Could you help me? I could use some advice on
means of transportation. I'm
travelling with my mother who
is a young 70 for 7 days in July. We're going to
Victoria (including Butchart
Gardens) and Vancouver. What
transportation is most efficient
and economical? I hope not to have to drive at all.

Vancouver airport to
Victoria (Harbor Towers Hotel on Quebec street)
a. bus from airport to BC Ferries?
If a bus,which bus service? Where
do I catch it?
b. Tsawassen to Victoria via BC ferry?
c. Taxi from ferry to my hotel?
(Harbor Towers on Quebec Street - is a shuttle less expensive?)

Victoria to Quality Inn
Waddling Dog, about 4 miles from
Butchart Gardens
a. Take a Grayhound bus to Butchart, then a taxi to hotel? Then return
to Butchart via taxi?

Butchart to Vancouver(Blue Horizon Hotel on Robson)
a. Butchart to ferry
(which ferry - Tsawwassen is my only option? So take a bus back to Victoria, taxi to ferry, then hop on the Tsawwassen ferry to Vancouver?)
b. Ferry to Blue Horizon hotel
on Robson (take a taxi?)

Vancouver (hotel) to Vancouver airport
a. Bus/shuttle pick up?

I'm not sure what the bus situation is at the Vancouver airport these days but if there is a bus to the ferry, you will be able to take it right across to downtown Victoria. Harbour Towers is only a few blocks from the bus depot. (You could actually roll your luggage over there if you were so inclined, so taxi fare shouldn't cost much.)

While at the depot, ask about their trips to Butchart's. The bus will take you to Butchart's and back to town.

The Waddling Dog isn't convenient to much of anything if you don't have a car.

To get to Vancouver, go to the same bus depot in Victoria (by the Empress Hotel) and buy a ticket to Vancouver. There's no need to take a taxi to the ferry terminal.

While on the ferry, make note of your bus number because there could be several similar looking buses when you return to the vehicle deck. Luggage is locked on the bus during the trip.

http://www.pacificcoach.com/Schedule/Airport

To add to April's information, there is a bus from the Vancouver airport to the ferry. I think they run every couple of hours.

Thanks so much for the info!

By the way, I heard the best
monetary exchange rate is from
the bank, so go to the bank or
use a credit card. Can I get by with travelers checks and a creditcard with no Canadian currency when I arrive?

Will taxis take a credit card?

I just researched one chunk of your trip for myself and I decided to take Pacific Coach for 40 CAD they will take you from Vancouver airport on the ferry and directly into downtown Victoria. Have fun.

Moch - be sure and read Daniel's post.