Getting to Vancouver is generally a pretty easy thing to do and once you have arrived, moving from place to place is just as easy. Since Vancouver is the Gateway to the Pacific Rim, services by land, sea, and air are all excellent and the local transportation system is an award winner.

If you are arriving by air then your destination is Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Located just twenty-five minutes from downtown, the construction of a new international terminal has recently been completed. The airport is serviced by major airlines from all over the world, as well as many regional carriers. After arriving, transportation to and from the airport is excellent. You can use, rental cars, taxis and Limos, hotel courtesy shuttles (see below), or BC Transit. There is even an express service from the airport to the Whistler Mountain area.

Hotel Courtesy Shuttles:

Courtesy shuttle service is provided for the customers of the following hotels: 

Richmond Hotels: Abercorn Inn (Best Western) - Comfort Inn Delta Hotels (Pacific Resort and Marina Airport) - Executive Inn Holiday Inn - Howard Johnson Hotel - Radisson President Hotel & Suites - Richmond Inn (Best Western) - Stay'N Save Motor Inn - Travelodge Hotel

Vancouver Hotels: Coast Vancouver Airport Hotel - Fraser Arms Hotel - Quality Inn

Tsawwassen Hotels: Tsawwassen Inn (Best Western)

Hotel courtesy shuttles depart from the courtesy shuttle pick up location on Arrivals Level of the International Terminal and the Ground Level of the Domestic Terminal..

Arriving by Vehicle:

If coming by car from an eastern point in Canada you would likely take Hwy 1 and if you are driving north from the US you would probably use I-5 and cross into Canada at Blaine, Washington and then just carry on. Amtrak service is available from Seattle and from Vancouver Island you would use the BC Ferry system. There are also many charter plane services that can bring you from remote locations.

Once in Vancouver one inexpensive and quick way to get around is by using BC Transit. Another possibility is to rent a car since all the major car rental agencies have locations at the airport or downtown or both. 

BC Transit has a tri-modal system consisting of buses, light rail (the Skytrain) and harbour ferries that can take you to anywhere in Greater Vancouver, including the BC Ferry Terminals, on a regular basis. This transit system won a first place award in it's class, in 1996, from the American Public Transportation Association.

BC Ferries Information

Extensive ferry system linking the Lower Mainland with Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Hourly sailings in summer months, 7:00 am - 10:00 pm; odd hours in the winter months 7:00 am - 9:00 pm. Online Reservations available.

Important Phone Numbers:

If you would like to talk to a Passenger Service Agent, or access recorded information with your touch-tone phone, call:

Vancouver: (604) 669-1211 Victoria: (250) 386-3431 Toll-free from anywhere in British Columbia: 1-888-BCFERRY (1-888-223-3779)

BCRail

BC Rail provides comfortable passenger transportation from North Vancouver to Prince George aboard the Cariboo Prospector train on a fleet of self-propelled, air-conditioned Budd cars. 

An additional summer train, the Whistler Explorer between Whistler and Kelly Lake is used extensively by tour groups from overseas and the United States. BC Rail also operates the popular Royal Hudson steam train excursion from North Vancouver to Squamish between June and September. 

Greyhound Canada

Visit Greyhound's site for fares and schedules for travel from major towns and cities in Canada to points in British Columbia.

The Canadian, Via Rail's Western Transcontinental train, takes you through the most spectacular scenery in the world: the forests of northern Ontario, the endless skies of the Prairies, Jasper National Park and the majestic Rocky Mountains, the Pacific Coast... You'll see Canada and its snow-capped mountains, forests, gorges, rolling plains, and mighty rivers.

And you'll love the comfort and elegance of the Canadian! Its interior has been completely renovated in the original art deco style. And it is, incidentally, the only train on which you can enjoy the many luxurious comforts of our internationally famous Silver & Blue class. 

Check with Via Rail for reservation availability and fares.

VIA RAIL Canada Inc. 1-800-385-8630 (Canada) 1-800-561-3949 (USA)

Sites of Interest relating to Canada.

Government of Canada 

Government of Canada's primary site is the Internet electronic access point through which Internet users around the world can obtain information about Canada, its government and its services. Direct links are also provided from this site to government departments and agencies that have Internet facilities. 

Transport Canada - Transport Canada Information Service
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
Canada Immigration

Sites of Interest relating to the Aviation Industry.

Transport Canada
Transport Canada Information Service
Airports Council International - North America
Airports Council International - Pacific Region
Airports International 

Regional Airport Links

Nanaimo Airport

Other Sites of Interest

U.S. Customs
U.S. Immigration