Vancouver To Seattle Ground Transport

Need recommendation on best way to get from Vancouver to Seattle after arrival on Infinity May 2016 Pacific Coastal. Plan to spend the night in SEA and catch morning flight back to Tampa. Will mostly likely stay the night around the SEATAC airport so the transport should terminate at SEATAC.

Also cost for each option would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

Need recommendation on best way to get from Vancouver to Seattle after arrival on Infinity May 2016 Pacific Coastal. Plan to spend the night in SEA and catch morning flight back to Tampa. Will mostly likely stay the night around the SEATAC airport so the transport should terminate at SEATAC.

Also cost for each option would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

The easiest is Quick shuttle . It runs directly from the pier to Seatac.

Here is the link

http://www.quickcoach.com/

Rental car pricing varies wildly, but can be very cheap (under $50) and consistently under $100 as long as you wait until reasonably close to the date you need it (too far in advance and drop fees, sometimes of well over $100, get added...). If there are two or more of you, this can be the cheapest option and is definitely the most flexible with timing. Downsides are driving in unfamiliar cities can be scary to some, traffic hassles, border delays.

Bolt Bus is potentially as cheap as $1 - but you need to add transport in Vancouver (taxi c. $15 to the station from the pier) and in Seattle (fixed-rate car services like EastSideForHire charge about $30 from downtown to Seatac). All buses have the issue of traffic, especially at the border, and the hassle of getting off to see CBP and waiting for everyone else onboard to be cleared too - if there's one person who needs secondary inspection, you all wait around...

Greyhound and other buses - same as above but bookable further in advance (and while nobody beats Bolts lowest prices, Greyhound can be cheaper for couples due to companion fare deals). Usually $20-30pp.

Amtrak train - since you're flying out next day, the evening train from Vancouver is feasible. Goes to & from same locations as Bolt, but more consistent pricing at $32pp Saver. Most scenic, most civilized (food and booze available onboard, comfy seats, get up and walk around if you like) and also most convenient for customs/immigration as you see CBP in Vancouver before boarding.

While the timing isn't as frequent, if you can make the train work for you it's both cheaper and nicer than Quickshuttle even including cab fare etc.

Another vote for the Quick Shuttle. Direct service for $50 without transfers. 6 to 7 daily trips a day to fit your schedule.

Bolt, Amtrak bus, and Amtrak train requires transfers.

Some may choose to go to Victoria for sightseeing in the afternoon, before continuing to Seattle.

So does the quickshuttle pickup at the pier and drop you off at your hotel in Seattle. We will be staying in one of the hotels around SEATAC. Also will we be able to disembark from the Infinity and board the bus after securing our luggage, or do we have to go through any type of customs/immigration. What would be a recommended time to plan schedule the bus for our trip to Seattle.

How far from pier in Vancouver to Amtrak train station and best way to get there. How far in advance would we need to be at the train station prior to boarding. So if we disembarked say around 10 am. would there be enough time to make a 12:15 train to Seattle.

So does the quickshuttle pickup at the pier and drop you off at your hotel in Seattle. We will be staying in one of the hotels around SEATAC. Also will we be able to disembark from the Infinity and board the bus after securing our luggage, or do we have to go through any type of customs/immigration. What would be a recommended time to plan schedule the bus for our trip to Seattle.

 

How far from pier in Vancouver to Amtrak train station and best way to get there. How far in advance would we need to be at the train station prior to boarding. So if we disembarked say around 10 am. would there be enough time to make a 12:15 train to Seattle.

The train runs twice a day. Early morning and in the evening. The Amtrak terminal is a 15 min taxi ride from the port.

You'll collect your bags then proceed thru customs. The bus or buses are just outside the terminal. The number depends on the number of reservations. Yes reservations are highly recommend for the trip.

At SeaTac you'll have take the shuttle to the hotel.

The bus only drops off near the terminal.

The train offers scenery and views you will not see from the interstate. It follows a different route. You will feel you have an extension of vacation rather than a long ride south on a bus or in a car. I would choose the train.

Since the train doesn't leave till after 5:00, what to do with wait time with luggage. We'd like the train, but prefer to start the trip to Seattle earlier. Wish there were more train departures.

Since the train doesn't leave till after 5:00, what to do with wait time with luggage. We'd like the train, but prefer to start the trip to Seattle earlier. Wish there were more train departures.

You can drop your luggage off at the station - but you might need to pay for storage, as the station is run by VIA (Canadian rail) so Amtrak staff are not onsite all the time (i.e. you can't check a bag for the evening train unless Amtrak staff are present to collect them).

Double-check nearer your departure date, as times and days for luggage storage at Pacific Central do change - but the up-to-date info should always be here for VIA storage, and Amtrak hours can be found here. Both have contact phone numbers so you can triple-check by calling too.

Oh, and if the hours don't suit worst case you can do the same as other folks hanging around town for the day then flying out - store your bags at the pier after disembarking. Priority Baggage/CDS will hold until 4pm - by which time you should already be back to get them so you can get to Pacific Central in time to check in for Amtrak, remember you do US customs/Immigration so they ask you to be an hour early. Or ask a hotel bell desk near the pier - with a generous preemptive tip of say $5 per bag - and they'll almost certainly be happy to look after them for you.

Depending what you do, storing at or near the pier may be the most convenient anyway - unless you're touring around False Creek, Olympic Village, Science World, or further south the train station is likely to be out of your way rather than super-handy.

Thanks for all that info. It surely will help some here. But since we aren't staying in Vancouver ( have spent a week in the area before) and are going to be spending 3 days in Seattle, we'd like to head there asap after disembarkation. Guess it's bus for us.

We take the Bolt Bus all the time. From Canada Place, take the Skytrain it is a couple of bucks and drops you off at the Bolt Bus/Train station. When you arrive in Seattle, you can take the LINK train from the bus station to the Airport, then grab the hotel shuttle. The hotels at the airport are less expensive, but they are not near downtown Seattle. However, the LINK will get you to downtown where you can explore the Seattle Center (Space Needle, etc) and other attractions. I don't remember if you said when you are heading west, but our days are getting longer and in the summer you will have sunlight from before 5 am till almost 11 pm.

You can drop your luggage off at the station - but you might need to pay for storage, as the station is run by VIA (Canadian rail) so Amtrak staff are not onsite all the time (i.e. you can't check a bag for the evening train unless Amtrak staff are present to collect them.

Note: you are unable to check your bags early for Amtrak due to the requirement that you handle your bags through US Customs. You check your bags on the platform next to the train.

Note: you are unable to check your bags early for Amtrak due to the requirement that you handle your bags through US Customs. You check your bags on the platform next to the train.

Thanks for the tip - we've only ever taken carryon luggage with Amtrak's very generous sizing policies.

Thanks for the tip - we've only ever taken carryon luggage with Amtrak's very generous sizing policies.

Glad to be of help!

We always check our bags, unless we need a bag onboard. Some stops do not have checked baggage service, so I always leave the cars luggage storage for others who might need it more than me.

I'm reviving this thread with a followup from some earlier discussions that I hope someone can help with.

We disembark from the NCL Sun Aug. 22 in Vancouver and have reservations on Amtrak to Portland the next day. Departure is 6:30 AM.:eek: All the other departures use the bus connection to Seattle, which we don't want. We considered taking Amtrak just to Seattle later in the day on the 22nd, staying overnight there and going on to Portland on the 23rd. But we're looking forward to seeing a little of Vancouver, and also prefer to just go straight through on the train.

We know we have to be at Pacific Central Station at least an hour in advance to clear CBP.

First question, how much earlier should we get to the station to up our odds of getting good seat assignments (right-hand side)? Is there any advantage to being much earlier than 5:00? E.g., how early are there actually Amtrak and/or CBP personnel on duty; when do people start to line up beforehand?

Related to this: What's the sequence for check-in, seat assignment and CBP? That is, do you check in to Amtrak first and get seat assignments, and then go to CBP? Or do you not get seats until boarding?

Finally, how do you recommend we get to the station at that hour from the YWCA Hotel on Beatty Street? We're thinking a cab, even though it's only a 3-minute drive. A 20-minute walk means an earlier wake-up, and doesn't appeal to us at that hour, especially with luggage. And it looks like public transportation would take just about as long. (Am I correct at that hour it's a bus, no SkyTrain?)

I've learned so much from reading these boards. Looking for all comments/suggestions any of you locals have. Thanks in advance.

Linda

I'm reviving this thread with a followup from some earlier discussions that I hope someone can help with.

 

We disembark from the NCL Sun Aug. 22 in Vancouver and have reservations on Amtrak to Portland the next day. Departure is 6:30 AM.:eek: All the other departures use the bus connection to Seattle, which we don't want. We considered taking Amtrak just to Seattle later in the day on the 22nd, staying overnight there and going on to Portland on the 23rd. But we're looking forward to seeing a little of Vancouver, and also prefer to just go straight through on the train.

 

We know we have to be at Pacific Central Station at least an hour in advance to clear CBP.

 

First question, how much earlier should we get to the station to up our odds of getting good seat assignments (right-hand side)? Is there any advantage to being much earlier than 5:00? E.g., how early are there actually Amtrak and/or CBP personnel on duty; when do people start to line up beforehand?

 

Related to this: What's the sequence for check-in, seat assignment and CBP? That is, do you check in to Amtrak first and get seat assignments, and then go to CBP? Or do you not get seats until boarding?

 

Finally, how do you recommend we get to the station at that hour from the YWCA Hotel on Beatty Street? We're thinking a cab, even though it's only a 3-minute drive. A 20-minute walk means an earlier wake-up, and doesn't appeal to us at that hour, especially with luggage. And it looks like public transportation would take just about as long. (Am I correct at that hour it's a bus, no SkyTrain?)

 

I've learned so much from reading these boards. Looking for all comments/suggestions any of you locals have. Thanks in advance.

 

Linda

I would arrive not later than 5am if you want a seat on the right side of the train. People will start lining up at about 5am, because the ticket scanning doesn't begin until CBP is ready to process passengers, which is generally 1 hour before departure.

Amtrak will scan your ticket and give seat assignments prior to CBP clearance. There are two lines - business class and coach. They will check Business Class in and then proceed to Coach. You then will enter the CBP room and go through CBP and bag scanner. From there, you proceed to the train and can check your bags on the platform. If going to Seattle, Portland, or any station with checked baggage, check your bags so you don't have to worry about them.

With bags and at that time of the morning, just take a cab it will be less of a headache. Should be less than $10 CAD.

^what he said. Only modifier I'd add is that southbound is usually less full than northbound, so you can afford to show up closer to the 1 hour mark and still expect to get seats on the 'good side' - we have never failed to get seats on that side, even when rolling up 30mins before departure in Coach. Still, you're getting up pretty durn early if you want to check bags, so aiming for 5am rather than 5:30am isn't much of a difference, and it sounds like it's definitely your first time on this route so playing it safe isn't a bad idea...

Since so many US citizens have terribly short vacation allowances, same day arrival and departure for cruises is common - and the northbound morning train works well for it, but southbound there's no hope of catching it so the only overlap between cruise pax and train pax is folks overnighting like you are.

From the Y should be five minutes drive tops even if every light is red - and if the meter goes over $10, don't tip your driver because he's obviously scammed you with a longer-than-necessary drive! You should be able to hand over a $10, tell him to keep the change, and be leaving a decent tip.

Tip - best brekky option before boarding is Tim Hortons, just across Terminal from the station. Have one person go get the coffees & Timbits while the others hold their space in line - bribe the Amtrak guys with a honey glazed to maximise the chance of a good seat;-) If you can't eat that early, the train brekky is a little overpriced but palatable - and a good way to get rid of any remaining Canadian coins (NB: spend them before Seattle, as they don't take CAD on the SEA-PDX part of the route).

So much great info, as usual! Thanks, Shadowmeboy and Martincath.

I feel better already about things going smoothly, having the day in Vancouver pretty carefree. We'll stash our luggage at the hotel, take one of the HOHOs. Get off at some of the high points, have lunch or dinner at Granville market, and still hit the sack for a decent night's sleep before a 4 AM wake-up.

We're so looking forward to this Alaska cruise with a week's land tour preceding! This is our first trip to Alaska, which has been on my list for years.

I'm spending too much time on CC, though.:p Got to get busy with real world stuff!

Linda