SEATAC-Victoria-Vancouver-Transportation/Hotel Ideas?

[Oldnslow1]

We are booked to depart Vancouver NB on the NCL Sun, June 3 but want to visit Victoria beforehand. Do you have transportation and hotel suggestions for two mobil and energetic couples? I understand there are several options including car rental but what will be best for us? We are considering spending Friday night in either Seattle (10:30 AM arrival) or Victoria, and then overnight on Saturday in Victoria, and Sunday night in Vancouver with a 2 PM (or earlier) boarding at Canada Place on Monday. Car rental is about $550.00 but may be cheaper than the Clipper considering time and logistics from the airport, and taxis or public transportation in Victoria and Vancouver. We will want to see the gardens and usual sights. Any ideas or resources for decision making?

Thanks,

Oldnslow1

[mapleleaves]

This is the ALASKA Forum so you should probably post to the WEST COAST DEPARTURES forum for local advice I'd also suggest you look at the Vancouver forum of Tripadvisor. Under Top question, they have a thread about getting to/from Victoria.

 

How to get around will depend on how much time you want to spend in Victoria or Vancouver or Seattle and where you want to overnite.

The cheapest option would probably be .. the Clipper Sea-Victoria on Sat, then Pacific Coach to Vancouver on Sunday. That would give you time at the Gardens and the harbor, plus an evening in Vancouver and Monday morning for Stanley Park

 

(Pacific Coach also has a day tour from Vancouver .. it's a long day because it involves the 90 minute ferry both ways, plus travel time on either end. I think it's a 12 hr day. )

You could also fly from Victoria Harbor to Vancouver Harbor... price a charter.

[mapleleaves]

Would you rent the car in Seattle with drop off in Vancouver? That would give you the most flexibility in your travels and eliminate trains, buses between all 3 cities.

Don't forget to factor in the BC ferry for the Victoria trip if you end up driving. There's a 90 minute ride between Tswassen and Sidney, 4 people plus car will cost around $100 each way.

[Oldnslow1]

Yes, One idea is to rent a car at SEATAC on Friday and return it to near Canada Place on Monday. We will split the cost and if car rental is equal to or less than the alternatives that's the way we will go. It also seems like a trouble-free way to stow and transport luggage while we are between rooms. Thanks for the tip on the West Coast Departures Forum.

[Colfireman]

We are booked to depart Vancouver NB on the NCL Sun, June 3 but want to visit Victoria beforehand. Do you have transportation and hotel suggestions for two mobil and energetic couples? I understand there are several options including car rental but what will be best for us? We are considering spending Friday night in either Seattle (10:30 AM arrival) or Victoria, and then overnight on Saturday in Victoria, and Sunday night in Vancouver with a 2 PM (or earlier) boarding at Canada Place on Monday. Car rental is about $550.00 but may be cheaper than the Clipper considering time and logistics from the airport, and taxis or public transportation in Victoria and Vancouver. We will want to see the gardens and usual sights. Any ideas or resources for decision making?

Thanks,

Oldnslow1

 

One option is either to stay in Seattle overnight or hop on the clipper for a 3 hour ride into Victoria. it docks in the inner harbour surrounded by many hotels. Have a look at this

Butchart Gardens Tour May 03 - June 14 (operates Daily)

Departures: 9:00am, 9:45am, 10:30am, 11:15am, 12:10pm, 1:10pm, 2:20pm, 3:15pm, 4:00pm

Return Departures from Gardens: 11:15am, 12:00pm, 12:55pm, 1:55pm, 3:05pm, 4:45pm, 6:15pm

Note: Main Departure Point is Fairmont Empress Hotel (721 Government Street). Hotel pick-ups available at Harbour Towers, Royal Scot, Grand Pacific Hotel, Victoria Marriot and other select hotels.

Rate: Adult $52.00 Youth $35.00 Child $19.00

*Rates are in Canadian Dollars and includes Butchart Gardens Admission. Subject to applicable taxes.

Child Rates 5 - 12 years / Youth Rate 13 - 17 years (under 5 years are free)

 

This is well within the area I spoke of. After a nice night in Victoria hop on the bus over to Vancouver and they can drop you off in the downtown area for a night stay before boarding on the Monday.

 

Any other questions please ask.

 

Greg

[bonvoyagie]

Renting a car gives you the most flexibility esp with luggage. To add some more interest to your trip you can make a large loop out of the trip. If you want to see Seattle then you can head north from SeaTac and then take the Edmonds-Kingston ferry and then drive to Port Angeles and ferry accross to Victoria - the ferry lands at the inner harbor. You can then stay in Victoria and sightsee then when you are ready to head to Vancouver - head to Sannich and take the ferry to Tsawwassen and head to Vancouver.

 

If you don't want to do any touring in Seattle, then you can head south from SeaTac to Tacoma and then accross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and up to Port Angeles. It is a nice drive - but you miss Seattle.

 

Other tour type options would include things like taking Amtrak from Seattle to Vancouver and doing an all day bus tour from there to Victoria. Or renting a car there in Vancouver and taking the Tsawwassen ferry to the island - this may be cheaper than doing a one way rental out of Sea Tac. - The train is around 40.00/couple.

 

The last time we were in Victoria we stayed at the Royal Scott and had a great time.