Flying out of YVR

I opted to not rush for a noon flight the day of disembarkation. Instead I got a morning flight at 7am. How early do I need to be at the airport? Would it be better to get a hotel downtown or near the airport? We are flying to USA.

I opted to not rush for a noon flight the day of disembarkation. Instead I got a morning flight at 7am. How early do I need to be at the airport? Would it be better to get a hotel downtown or near the airport? We are flying to USA.

You need a minimum of 2 hours . 3 hours is recommended . If you can afford it. Stay at the Fairmont at YVR . It is located directly above US departures area.

Great choice - a full day gives you a lot of sightseeing potential. Personally I always recommend hotels downtown - you save time, the most critical factor. Getting your bags out to an airport hotel either wastes at least 60 minutes, or costs you cash to store them for the day. A downtown hotel means just dropping them off - your room almost certainly won't be ready, but any hotel will keep bags while you tour - then getting on with your day of sightseeing.

Leaving downtown next morning, either on the first Skytrain of the day c. 4:45am or taking a cab about the same time, will get you to the airport long enough after CBP open that all those unfortunate souls who stick to the recommended 3 hours early advice and get stuck waiting for CBP to open at 4:30am should have been processed so when you get through security you should waltz straight into CBP without delay.

Unless you have a beef with 'staying at the Y' the best bargain to be had, even cheaper than the cheapest remotely tolerable airport hotel, is the YWCA hotel downtown. Rates are simply high/low season, no extra peaks on busy holiday weekends etc. and you can get a regular double en suite hotel room as well as the big family/dorm type rooms. Spend the money you save on your HOHO tickets, attraction admissions, a nice dinner, or cab fare next morning.

Unless you stay at the Fairmont (kaching!) it takes about the same time to get to YVR from downtown at early o'clock as it does using hotel shuttles from the 'airport' hotels which are almost without exception over a bridge and at least 10mins drive away. Unless you literally check out and get right into a shuttle which leaves immediately, you're looking at a 20-30 min round trip for a shuttle - so anything from a few mins to 30mins wait time. You could end up taking longer to get there than a cab from downtown!

As much as the Fairmont sounds convenient it's not in my budget.

We fly in about 9pm the night before the cruise. We fly out at 7:20am the day after the cruise. There will be 4 of us including a 5 yr old. We have some time before embarking as well as disembarking. I have many fond memories of Granville Island, China town and Stanley Park, and would like to take my kids there.

I see benefits to both downtown and airport hotels. I'd like to keep it under $200/night us$.

I opted to not rush for a noon flight the day of disembarkation. Instead I got a morning flight at 7am. How early do I need to be at the airport? Would it be better to get a hotel downtown or near the airport? We are flying to USA.

• downtown vs airport hotel travel time is about the same via cab. 15 vs 30minutes.
  
• if you share your hotel date, we can short list some hotel ideas for you with availability.
  
• Richmond (the airport suburb) hotels will be cheaper than downtown Vancouver.
  
• Check out this link and enter your hotel date to my fav airport hotel. https://www.expedia.ca/Vancouver-Hotels-Radisson-Hotel-Vancouver-Airport.h14039.Hotel-Information . Vancouver offers the "historic Chinatown". This Richmond hotel offers the "New Chinatown".
  
• if you are choosing an airport hotel.... have CDS baggage forward your luggage from the terminal to hotel for $40. Don't waste your port time sightseeing time worrying about luggage.
  

We fly up Sept 6 and disembark Sept 14.

here are some choices in USD for the 14th

Downtown

• $169 Blue Horizon (popular budget choice on the forums). Good dining choices nearby.
  
• $170 Empire Landmark
  
• $177 Rosedale on Robson
  
• $182 Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown
  
• $192 Century Plaza
  

Richmond (airport)

• $111 Abercorn Inn
  
• $112 Holiday Inn Vancouver Airport
  
• $115 Sandman signature
  
• $123 Raddisson Vancouver Airport
  
• $135 Pacific Gateway
  
• $138 Four Points Sheraton
  
• $139 Holiday Inn Express Vancouver Airport
  
• $160 River Rock casino
  
• $175 Sheraton Vancouver Airport
  
• $246 Fairmont Vancouver Airport.
  

Another option is Coast Vancouver Airport for $116. Some like it here on the forums. But I found the nearby roads to be kinda noisy when I'm sleeping.

We had a 7am flight a fews ago out of YVR returning to US on a weekday morning. Left downtown hotel via taxi little after 4:30, arrived airport, about 4:50. To AA counter around 5. Longest wait was for security, probably almost 45 minutes, customs was pretty quick, we were at gate about an hour before flight departed.

We have booked the Days Inn Vancouver Downtown. How early does the security and us customs open? Are there crazy lines first thing when they open? Or does it go pretty smoothly in the early mornings. I was thinking aim to be at the airport by 5am for my 7:20 flight.

We have booked the Days Inn Vancouver Downtown. How early does the security and us customs open? Are there crazy lines first thing when they open? Or does it go pretty smoothly in the early mornings. I was thinking aim to be at the airport by 5am for my 7:20 flight.

I can't speak to that early, but I've found YVR security and customs clearance into the US zone to be SLOOOOWWWW. Your mileage may vary.

We have found leaving Vancouver Airport to be a challenge so we always build in extra time. I would rather be through processing with a little extra time to spare than cutting it close with no time to spare.

Here is what happened to us this past June. We arrived at the airport around 3:15 AM. The Alaska Airlines counter opened up around 3:45 AM. The Alaska Airline representative looked at our ticket and told us that the first leg of our flight was delayed indefinitely (mechanical issue) and she was rebooking us on an outbound Delta flight. Good right? Well, sort of. Now, we had to wait for the Alaska personnel to fill out the new flight coupons and then we had to go over to the Delta line and be reprocessed. After we had our tickets in hand, we had to haul our luggage over to the long line that had formed for checking in our baggage. We had about a 20 minute wait before we could put our luggage on the conveyor belt. Once finished with our luggage, we made our way over to Security and proceeded through the long lines that had formed. At least Security was open and moving. After Security, we were directed over to Customs (which had not opened yet). We filled out our forms at the kiosk and waited in line until agents were available. Once agents arrived on the scene, the lines seemed to move at a steady pace. Our flight was at 5:50 AM and we had about 20 minutes to spare once we arrived at our gate.

We usually take the early flight out of Vancouver and our experiences have varied. For us, we like building in the extra cushion of time. For others, they might not feel the need. Processing can be maddening at times but don't let it get the better of you. The wonderful memories of your trip will outweigh the little inconveniences at the airport.

It is usually recommended that you allow two hours at why VR to pass through security and customs. On cruise days a week could be up to four hours.

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We have booked the Days Inn Vancouver Downtown. How early does the security and us customs open? Are there crazy lines first thing when they open? Or does it go pretty smoothly in the early mornings. I was thinking aim to be at the airport by 5am for my 7:20 flight.

CBP is the key limiting factor, as they only open at 4:30am, and yes - there's always a lineup of all the first-timers and didn't-learn-last-timers of this fact. Flights do run at or even before 6am to the US using preclearance, and most folks know to show up 3 hours beforehand for US/International flights, so basically every flight before 7:30am adds at least some pax to the queue.

Once they actually get that queue cleared - the exact timing of which is variable (how many passengers have never used a kiosk before? how caffeinated or stroppy are the CBP staff? anyone off sick or late?) - things should mellow out.

We quickly learned that the first SkyTrain of the day is the perfect way to arrive even for US-bound early flights - it gets in a little after 5am, so even if you only have carry-on luggage the initial queue at CBP is gone when you arrive. Not being among the very first people through also ensures that any security or CBP who arrive in a bad mood have the chance to take it out on someone else before you show up;-)

We have booked the Days Inn Vancouver Downtown. How early does the security and us customs open? Are there crazy lines first thing when they open? Or does it go pretty smoothly in the early mornings. I was thinking aim to be at the airport by 5am for my 7:20 flight.

The short answer is......if you arrive at YVR at 0500 for a 0720 flight you should not have a problem. In fact I would be amazed if you are not sitting at the departure gate by 0600. There are a number of places to grab a light breakfast once past CBP and security including Starbucks and Tim Hirtons.

We have booked the Days Inn Vancouver Downtown. How early does the security and us customs open? Are there crazy lines first thing when they open? Or does it go pretty smoothly in the early mornings. I was thinking aim to be at the airport by 5am for my 7:20 flight.

You need to be there no later than 4:30. I realize that is early but you have to clear security, plus US customs, plus US immigration and they all take time. Your airline wants you at the gate no less than 30 minutes prior to departure, and they will start boarding your flight about 6:40. Since you are traveling with a child you want to be there then and get on as soon as you can.

Thanks. There seems to be a lot of mixed advice on the best time. I will take the middle road and plan to be there at 4:50am which give me 2.5 hrs.

The short answer is......if you arrive at YVR at 0500 for a 0720 flight you should not have a problem. In fact I would be amazed if you are not sitting at the departure gate by 0600. There are a number of places to grab a light breakfast once past CBP and security including Starbucks and Tim Hirtons.

I would second this. A couple years back, we had a 10:00 flight after a whirlwind trip doing carry-on only. We left the hotel at 8:00, got to the airport at 8:30, did our check-in thing and headed to security. The security line was insane and we were through at 9:15. As soon as we were through, my better half decided to get to the washroom before we headed to our gate on the domestic WestJet side. The moment she walked into the bathroom, we heard a final boarding call page for our flight, so she had to hold it. We were running at that point. Thankfully they let her use the lavatory as soon as we got on the plane but holy smokes, there will be times the lineups will be insane.

Does anyone know the price of a taxi for 4 from the terminal to airport?

Thanks:)

Does anyone know the price of a taxi for 4 from the terminal to airport?

Thanks:)

About $40

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