Hi all. I'll be visiting Vancouver from California. If I get a hotel somewhere downtown, will I need a rental car to get around? Or can I survive by bus, taxi, or walking? Does Vancouver have a nice public transportation system? Thanks in advance. =)
2007-01-26 11:31:56 · 10 answers · asked by Jon Skywalker 4 in Travel ➔ Canada ➔ Vancouver
I depends on your plans. If you are mostly downtown, a car doesn't do you much good. And most downtown things are walking distance or a cheap cab ride away. Between car rental, hotel parking and trying to find parking where ever you drive to, you are better off with a couple of cab fares.
The Transit is mixed. Short distances are fine. Skytrain is better than a car to get to a lot of places. But Skytrain doesn't go to the airport yet. I don't consider getting from the airport by transit convenient. It is a $25 cab trip or about $10 per person shuttle bus to downtown.
I fly into Vancouver frequently for both personal and business trips. If I am staying downtown 9 out of 10 times I don't bother with a car.
2007-01-26 12:02:48 · answer #1 · answered by JuanB 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are sticking around the downtown area you definitely do not need to rent a car. Most everything is within walking distance and if not there is a good transit system. And if you want to get out of downtown you can take the skytrain East or take the seabus north to North Vancouver, and even up to Grouse Mountain if you like!
I think you will find having a car a pain as you will have to pay for parking, and try to navigate downtown traffic.
I guess it really depends on where you want to go, but if you are not going far I would say don't rent a car!
2007-01-28 05:00:16 · answer #2 · answered by princess402 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you rent a car you will be paying extra to park it at your hotel. For getting around Vancouver a good pair of walking shoes will do you. Just hop on the bus, skytrain, or seabus to get around. All of the major sites are quite accessible by public transport. Just bring a jacket with a hood, ( so you don't have to carry an umbrella) and enjoy. Vancouver is the best city in the world when the sun is shining( like today) and the 2nd best city in the world when it is raining. Cheers
2007-01-26 14:37:38 · answer #3 · answered by moonkwean 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You don't need one, but it can certainly simplify some things. It depends on where you want to go and at what times. Transit is pretty good in many areas during daytimes but can be really bad in outlying areas and in the evenings. If you're going to downtown Victoria, same thing except that if you are really downtown, Victoria is quite walkable with no great distances to cover. You might want to plan things so you don't get a car for the whole trip, just for part of the time for certain destinations. Going to Victoria is very easily accomplished by bus. Get on a Pacific Coach Lines bus in Vancouver and it will take you straight on to a guaranteed ferry sailing time and then into Victoria. Very good way to travel. If you're in a private car, you can't always be sure which sailing you'll get on unless you pay extra for a reservation and it's already $60 or so each way for car and driver.
2016-05-24 03:31:30 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With its pile backdrop and urban beaches, Vancouver gets the rightly acquired standing of being one of the very lovely cities on earth, with hotelbye you can have the chance to see this particular city. Among the places you will need to see in Vancouver may be the Downtown Vancouver. Downtown Vancouver is beautifully situated on a peninsula in the Strait of Georgia bounded to the south by the delta of the Fraser River and to the north by a deep fiord hitting much inland. Here you may also start to see the frequently snow-covered ranges of the Coast Mountains. Stanley Park is one of the most visited parks. Is just a rich Peninsula Park of large trees surrounding to Downtown Vancouver. A paved seawall path encircles the green space, and many guests make an effort to investigate on base or by bicycle. Inland, the park offers a lot of things to accomplish, and readers may invest a full time exploring attractions ranging from the totem poles at Brockton Point to the west coast sea life at the Vancouver Aquarium. Magnificent opinions are a standard throughout the park.
2016-12-20 21:28:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you are staying downtown, you can walk everywhere. it is such a beautiful city that if you are not in a rush, walking ios the best way to see the lovliness of the mountains and ocean. however, the bus works well especially compared to california. i do find that a car is useful to go visit cyress and grouse....mountains near vancouver or visit the capilano suspension bridge. whistler is also a very nice day trip as it is a two hour drive. you don't need a car but i do find it makes it easier to get around.
it is worth taking a visit to dr sun yat san chinese garden in chinatown. pay the extra money to go inside. it is lovely. the granville island market is fantastic. great pies and soup there. take the water bus across the bay. it is a nice little trip. enjoy vancouver. it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
2007-01-29 13:46:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vancouver is one of those cities that has very distinctive seasons. In the summer, all is well and friendly, but if you are visiting soon, you are coming during the late winter early spring. This is the wet and dark time of the year as the days are very short and it rains quite often.
Also, how long will you be visiting ? Will you plan on going to Victoria on Vancouver Island or Whistler in the mountains ?
All in all, I will recommend that you rent a car as it will provide you the most freedom in schedules, movement and protection against the elements.
2007-01-26 21:49:07 · answer #7 · answered by minijumbofly 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beautiful city. Lots of good advice so far. When we have been, we spend days without touching the car and then go on some great day trips as well to botanitcal gardens, fishing villages and mountains. So I'd say don't get a car at first but rent one for 24 hours or so and get the best of both worlds. It is usually cheaper to rent a car off airport do to all the excess taxes they jam on tourists.
2007-01-28 15:39:26 · answer #8 · answered by Eric 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vancouver has great public transportation
Bus , sea bus and sky train takes you every where you would want to go.
When at your hotel ask the front desk to direct you to closest bus stop, you can also call the transportation system tell them where you are and where you wish to go and they will direct you.
All the information is in front pages of the yellow pages that will in your hotel room.
Welcome to Canada!
2007-01-27 03:27:16 · answer #9 · answered by darcy m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vancouver has a good transit system. I use it when I visit. If you would like good quality inexpensive accommodation try the downtown YWCA.
2007-01-26 11:44:42 · answer #10 · answered by hitechsleuth 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋