Seattle to Vancouver transportation pros/cons

[meowgodde]

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!

[Gardyloo]

Inasmuch as you'll have to be up pretty early on disembarkation day, adding the rental car scrum in Vancouver, the drive to the border and border delay, the drive through Seattle traffic and another lengthy car return/baggage yoga/long security wait and THEN a similar process at the California end... with a 4-year old...?

 

Meh. Options 2 or 3. Save the Southwest points.

 

PS I would pick the later flight in Scenario 1.

Edited February 10, 2014 by Gardyloo

[SadieN]

The departure is a bit tight. 4 hours is the minimum without any border wait. During the day you'll have some sort of wait.

 

Could you fly up to Seattle using points and then fly out of Vancouver?

 

Don't forget passports :).

[scottbee]

Scenario 3:

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

 

Due to the taxes placed by the USA on entering by air, Scenario 3b (car for southbound, flight for northbound), will be slightly cheaper

[mapleleaves]

I'd go with #1. Friday afternoon border crossing might be slow but if you;re on the road by noon it shouldn't be too bad. That would put you at the border around 2:30/3 just as traffic is starting to build in Seattle.

Is it a holiday for US or Canada that weekend?

However the return trip would only be possible with a later flight. No way to guarantee you'd make the 3pm flight. Altho why a 10am disembark? Usually the ships arrive early in the morning ... have b'fast and leave by 9am.

[notentirelynormal]

What about flying into Bellingham? Does Southwest fly there? That would be an easy drive both ways.

[Putterdude]

What about flying into Bellingham? Does Southwest fly there? That would be an easy drive both ways.

 

Good idea but no, SWA does not fly into Bellingham.

[meowgodde]

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!

[notentirelynormal]

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!

 

Without knowing anything about Southwest's point program, just double check to make sure that using them is possible in Canada since they don't fly there. I'd hate to see you plan on getting your car that way only to find out you can't.

[jimsig]

Just throwing this out there. Would it be cheaper (points or money wise)to rent the car for the duration and find a place that offers cruise and park? Not sure if VAN has that option, but it could also save a lot of time just keeping the car. Seen a lot of cases where 7-10 days in a rental car is much cheaper then two 5 day rentals.