meowgodde

Just found out that Grouse Mountain is having an event the day we plan on touring it - "Whistler Water One Climb", June 14, 2014.

How much of an impact will this have on crowds, etc.? Looks significant, but maybe they'll be in their area and we'll be in ours and it won't be a big deal. Any insights?

Thanks all. I wish Southwest flew to Bellingham, would be a much easier decision!

For now, I've got Southwest booked both ways, switching to the 6:10pm departure out of Seattle for more wiggle room on departure day. We can easily cancel and get our points back if there are deals for airfare or I chicken out on the "adventure". Its cruise season, so I'm not sure if flight costs will get much better? $400 RT Non-stop per person.

Anyone have experience with

1. Using Southwest points for rental car bookings.

2. Using Southwest points for rental car gift cards.

I appreciate your expertise and opinions!

Hello, Looking for insights.

Family of 3 (or 4 - pending grandma) with a 4y/o. Sailing Vancouver RT June Monday to Monday. Plan on arriving in Vancouver on the Friday prior and departing the Monday of disembarkation.

We have Southwest points that can fly all of us to Seattle and also cover the cost of two one-way rentals for crossing the border (approximately 30k points total for cars).

Scenario 1:

Arrival

Arrive SEA at 10:50am, get luggage, rental car, on road around Noon.

No time constraints for crossing border, but with 4 y/o in tow would like to cross as soon as possible.

Drop off husband and 4 y/o at hotel, return rental car. Do not need rental car for Vancouver site-seeing weekend.

Departure

Disembarkation around 10am, get rental car, on road by 11am. (could bump up by handling own luggage)

Return rental car, check in luggage, etc. by 3pm for 5pm flight (too early?.. there's also a 6:10pm)

Scenario 2:

Fly direct SFO-YVR RT for $400 per person.

Scenario 3:

Car for northbound, flight for southbound, $200 RT per person.

Looking for insights on...

1. Using Southwest points for rental car bookings.

2. Using Southwest points for rental car gift cards.

3. Border-crossing and Seattle/Vancouver traffic thoughts mid-June on Fridays (Northbound, mid-day) and Mondays (Southbound, mid-day).

4. Flight costs for direct - bad/could be better/great?

5. Flight costs vs. travel burden, all-in-all assume adding 3-4 hours each way for travel time with car.

6. Traveling with a 4 y/o... hasn't traveled much, not into "scenery", fine with "long" drives, will probably be grouchy/ready to go home as soon as possible for return.

We've explored Amtrak, times with flight times would mean another overnight (somewhere), especially not interested on return leg.

Looked into Bus, if 4 y/o is crabby would rather bare that burden solo.. but then she'd still be crabby for the return flight from Seattle, oh well.

Part of me wants to just do the easy route for direct flights, the other part says that $$ could go to an awesome excursion.

Thanks!