Can anyone give me some advise on riding the Amtrak from Seattle to Vancouver?
We will be staying at the Marriott Waterfront and we were also wondering how much time we need to allow to get to the station before the train leaves in the morning. We will have carry-on luggage only.
Thanks for your advise - it's always helpful.

By taxi it's no more than five minutes. Add ticketing, checkin, etc. as needed. I would think 30 min. would handle it.

We just did that train trip week before last and it was beautiful. I'd say the cab ride from our hotel near the harbour was about 15 minutes. I saved time by reserving our tickets on-line and then just got the boarding passes at the machine in the station rather then standing in line. Once you have your boarding pass, you have to stand in another line to get your passport or other ID checked. It all went pretty smoothly though. The most important thing to remember is to ask for a seat on the 'water' side of the train (the west or left side) so you get to see the gorgeous scenery.

Not long at all, not like airports that needs early check in. Your hotel to the train station is a quick ride. A few minutes in line at the train counters, then everyone lines up and gets on the train. (I'd agree with Garyloo's estimated 1/2 hour or certainly no more than 1 hour max. start to finish).

I'm pretty sure we weren't in the station for more than half an hour.

On that train, I always recommend springing for the extra money for business class instead of coach. What little extra comfort or amenities you recieve is not worth it but business class travelers go through Candadian customs inbound and US customs outbound on a priority basis (ie, they let you off the train first in Vancouver and board you first outbound). It saves standing in the lines another poster referred to.

hi dwooddon,
I'm not sure what you mean. We traveled coach and both coach and first class passengers stood in line to have their passports checked before boarding the train. The only difference was that the first class passengers boarded first but since the seats were reserved, it didn't really make any difference. They did get off the train first too, in Van, but we just walked through customs right after them. I don't know the price difference and I can only speak from the perspective of a coach traveler but I couldn't see much of a difference.

hdm: If you are in the front of the line for coach, it does not make much difference. However, the last time I made that crossing, some coach passengers waited as long as 45 minutes in line to get to the customs desk. Business class passengers were there and gone in just a few minutes.

Oh. Well, actually I was at the front of the line, so I guess that's why I didn't see a difference. Still, isn't it just the difference between waiting in the station and waiting on the train? The first class passengers would just have been sitting in their seats for those same 45 minutes.

Related, but a bit off topic....

We took the train last year from Seattle to Vancouver and loved the convenience of it. The train we took had a dining car, but the food was only ok and wasn't cheap. I recommend going to Pike Place Market the day before and buying fixin's for a train picnic and avoid the dining car. There was also a snack service that was less costly, but I think a picnic is way more fun!

Also, if you are looking for a refund of taxes paid on hotel rooms etc. -- we were told that you could get the form on the train at the border check. It was our experience that this did not happen. We barely got checked at the border and when we asked about the form, we were told we should have gotten it at the train station in Vancouver! And it was at the train station that we were told to get it at the border! I was finally able to get the form online and submit it. And we did get a refund.

As I recall, there are certain requirements to getting the taxes back...it is worth checking into before you go and saving all your receipts.

Hope this helps...
Debi

On small note, the trains often do not run on time. Cascade line is better than the Starlight. But problem is that Amtrak does not own the tracks so often trains must wait for freight cars to go thru.

Our train left on time (7:40 a.m.) but a four-hour trip turned out to be five hours due to delays along the way. It wasn't a problem for us because we didn't have to be anywhere on time, but I wouldn't count on making close connections.

Thanks everyone - some really great insights. Hmm, a picnic lunch from Pike Place Market - I can taste it already! The fresh cashews from there are the best.

Don't forget to pick up a treat from Piroshky Piroshky next to Starbucks. The pastries are fabulous. Every morning we'd get our coffee at Starbucks and a pastry from PP and take it to the little seating area in the market where we'd just sit looking out over the harbour and have our breakfast.

I just had a sandwich from La Panier french bakery in the Market. Boy are they good! 1/2 baguettes filled with choices like: brie, or ham & butter, or pate, turkey, roast beef, crudite, etc. They are 5 bucks even, already made up, and in plastic wrap ready to go.

Yes, yes! A baguette from La Panier; some wonderful soft gooey cheese from the cheese shop nearby; some beef jerky from down the street made from filet mignon or prime rib or something[I'd never even considered eating jerky before trying theirs]; a bunch of basil, some big juicy peaches and wonderful huge ripe tomatoes. Now that's the picnic I'm talking about.

Suze, I am so jealous....
Debi

debi- hey, how did you know i also bought tomatoes and peaches? -LOL! i do consider myself very lucky, and really appreciate my home city (well most days).

Must be all the brain cells I got from eating halibut from the fish place at the Market. We brought back 40 + lbs when we flew home.

Debi