Seattle to Vancouver travel options

[bobmacliberty]

We end our Alaska cruise in Seattle on Sept 26 this fall and then 3 days later begin a cruise from Vancouver to Hawaii.  I'm looking at options to get from Seattle to Vancouver.  We'd ideally Uber from Pier 91 to the Seattle train station and then take an Amtrak train, but it's not clear when that train will start running again.  Anyone have any local knowledge about when those trains might start running?  Plan B would be to rent a car and drive ourselves.  That way, we could keep the car for a day or 2 in Vancouver.  Every web site that I've used to search for cars tells me that there are none available.  Are rental cars still not able to drive into Canada?  Flying is an option but it's both expensive (including getting to/from the airports), has the hassle of getting to/from airports, and doesn't really save a lot of time since I'd book a mid-day flight to be safe.

 

That leaves buses.  The Quick Shuttle looks convenient since it would pick us up at Pier 91 and drop us literally at the curb of our hotel in Vancouver (Pan Pacific).  I'm not excited about sitting on a bus for almost 5 hours.  How long are the stops at the Tulalip Premium Outlets and the Bellingham Airport?  Do you have enough time to go to the bathroom and stretch your legs?    Does the bus stop at all of the Vancouver locations (River Rock Casino, Holiday Inn, etc.)?  I can't find a detailed itinerary on their web site.  The Amtrak bus is only 3.5 hours and gets us there 30 minutes early but we'd have to add taxis to/from the train stations.  Is there any significant difference in comfort between the 2 bus options?

 

Sorry for such a long winded question.  I'm essentially looking for anyone with insight into Amtrak trains running again, one-way rental cars, or the Quick Shuttle, plus any and all opinions on what you would do. Thanks!

[Ferry_Watcher]

No Amtrak trains until very late 2022 or early 2023 (well past cruise season).

 

I think your best bet would be either flying up to Vancouver, or taking one of the two buses (Quick or the Amtrak bus).

 

Another option might be taking the Victoria Clipper from Seattle's Pier 68/70 and visiting Victoria BC.  I think you need to buy a round trip ticket, but the Clipper offers a Hotel package in Victoria.  I believe that there is a connecting ferry to get you to Vancouver.

 

https://www.clippervacations.com/seattle-victoria-ferry/

[Gardyloo]

I looked on Expedia and found plenty of cars available for one-way drives; however most involved picking up the car in suburban Seattle and/or dropping the car in suburban Vancouver, and all were very expensive - $250+ per day counting the one-way surcharge.

 

By comparison, flights from Seattle to Vancouver are $104, so less for two than the car for one day.  Ordinarily I'd say drive, but for that price I'd just fly and enjoy my days in Vancouver.

[bobmacliberty]

Thanks.  Sounds like we'll need to decide between the bus and a plane.

[Jamietravelstheworld]

No Amtrak and most rental cars can't be taken into Canada. I live just north of Seattle and was hoping to take Amtrak from Vancouver back after a cruise in August. The train stops a mile from my house but no, I need to fly to Seattle. Amtrak says they haven't restarted north of Seattle yet because they're short staffed and it'll be late this year at the earliest before they restart.

[bobmacliberty]

39 minutes ago, Jamietravelstheworld said:

No Amtrak and most rental cars can't be taken into Canada. I live just north of Seattle and was hoping to take Amtrak from Vancouver back after a cruise in August. The train stops a mile from my house but no, I need to fly to Seattle. Amtrak says they haven't restarted north of Seattle yet because they're short staffed and it'll be late this year at the earliest before they restart.

 

Thanks for the confirmation.  The cheaper flights are either too early in the morning or too late in the evening.  A mid-day flight will cost $500 or more with luggage.  Looks we'll be sitting on a bus for several hours.  Joy.  Now to decide between the Quick Shuttle that goes almost literally door to door but involves sitting on a bus for 4:50, or taking an Amtrak bus that "only" takes 3:30 but needs taxis to/from the train stations.  I think we'll choose Amtrak just for the shorter bus ride.

[westcoasttech]

On 6/12/2022 at 7:26 AM, bobmacliberty said:

That leaves buses.  The Quick Shuttle looks convenient since it would pick us up at Pier 91 and drop us literally at the curb of our hotel in Vancouver (Pan Pacific).  I'm not excited about sitting on a bus for almost 5 hours.  How long are the stops at the Tulalip Premium Outlets and the Bellingham Airport?  Do you have enough time to go to the bathroom and stretch your legs?    Does the bus stop at all of the Vancouver locations (River Rock Casino, Holiday Inn, etc.)?  I can't find a detailed itinerary on their web site.  The Amtrak bus is only 3.5 hours and gets us there 30 minutes early but we'd have to add taxis to/from the train stations.  Is there any significant difference in comfort between the 2 bus options?

The main difference between the buses are pick up and drop off points.  Northbound Quick Shuttle picks up from Seatac, downtown Seattle (Pike/8th), the Outlets and Bellingham Airport (and during cruise season, the two pier locations).  On a recent trip, Southbound the driver did not give time for a bathroom break at the Outlets or Bellingham - but there is onboard facilities and time at the US border to visit the washroom.  Going Northbound, the driver did allow time at Bellingham to use the facilities there - crossing the Canadian border was the quickest I've ever had (about 24 people on the bus).  Northbound QS drop off available just over the border in Surrey, then the River Rock Casino, then downtown Vancouver.  The bus driver will sometimes offer to drop at specific hotels in the DT core - don't know if they are meant to, but if you get a helpful one, they do.

 

Been a few years since I used the Amtrak bus, but they start at King Street train station in Seattle and their main drop off is the Pacific Central Station, slightly outside of downtown Vancouver, about 5-10 mins walk from the Skytrain station, or a short taxi ride to the main downtown hotels.

 

I too miss the train service ... but I doubt it will be back till 2023...

[volk904]

We took the Quick Shuttle back from Vancouver to Seattle.  We had no passengers for the mall so we did not stop there. Our bus made stops at a small airport near the border.  5-6 min. The border customs where you get off and downtown and the cruise port.    
 

The bus we were on was no more cramped than and plane.  Did not use the restroom. Most passengers used it at the customs stop.  Our trip was about 5 hours including the 70 min extra long border stop. 3 buses together and ours was last.  It was not a bad ride.  
You could fly but the Uber to SeaTac is 40 min, security, boarding and the flight is 2 hours probably then you have another 30 min ride from VCR to downtown plus customs.  My the time you do that the bus is finished and likely cheaper.  quick. Shuttle charges $20 per checked bag and $35 for the passenger. I am a big guy and we had 3 checked bags so I just bought 3 seats for the two of us.  
 

AmTrac does have a bus option and they don’t charge for bags.  It might be quicker.