3 days post Alaska

[smurf1635]

We have until Wednesday after disembarking the Norwegian Sun on 6/24, would love to spend some time at any one of the islands or along the coast. Any recommendations about where to stay and how to get there from the cruise port?

 

We currently have a car reserved for those days, but if we were to spend our time on an island, would we really need it?

[smurf1635]

BTW, British Columbia or Washington are both options. We fly home from Bellingham.

[NancyIL]

If you've never been to Victoria, BC before, that would be my recommendation. Are you picking up your rental car in Vancouver and dropping it off in Bellingham? If so, you would drive to Tsawwassen (about 45 minutes from Vancouver) and take the BC ferry (http://www.bcferries.ca/) to and from Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. When we visited Victoria in 2003, we did it as a day trip - but there's plenty to do there for several days. (http://www.tourismvictoria.com/)

 

An option not requiring a car would be to take the Pacific Coach to Victoria from Vancouver (http://www.pacificcoach.com/schedule), and then the Victoria Star ferry from Victoria to Bellingham (http://www.vancouverisland.com/transport/details.asp?id=37).

 

Here's a pretty good map of the various ferry routes: http://www.admiral.bc.ca/ferry.html

 

**One more idea! With a rental car picked up in Vancouver and dropped off in downtown Victoria - you could take the ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, keep the car while in Victoria, then take the passenger ferry from Victoria to Bellingham.

[Budget Queen]

I am one who likes a car in Victoria and now always takes one over. Plenty to do on Vancouver Island/Victoria- http://www.tourismvictoria.com/ and never a day trip for me.

 

With the Tsawwassen ferry, in the summer, it's worth the reservation fee.

 

The one way passenger ferry to Bellingham is a great idea to consider. Private ferry operator and runs once/day. http://www.whales.com/index.php?page=606

[smurf1635]

Thank you, both.

 

Yes, our plan is to pick up the car in Vancouver (at the cruise port) and return it in Bellingham.

 

The one site says to call for ferry to Bellingham, by chance do either of you have an approximate cost? The cost of the ferry from Victoria to Swartz Island is very resonalbe.

 

Now, I am off to see what is available for lodging........ any hints????

 

Smurf

[NancyIL]

Thank you, both.

 

Yes, our plan is to pick up the car in Vancouver (at the cruise port) and return it in Bellingham.

 

The one site says to call for ferry to Bellingham, by chance do either of you have an approximate cost? The cost of the ferry from Victoria to Swartz Island is very resonalbe.

 

Now, I am off to see what is available for lodging........ any hints????

 

 

 

The web site BQ posted says the one-way fare for cruise-only is $54.50/pp: http://www.whales.com/index.php?page=606

 

I had a reservation at the Marriott Inner Harbour when I thought we'd spend a few days in Victoria pre-cruise. You might check Expedia to see what's available - then read reviews at Trip Advisor.

[Budget Queen]

Thank you, both.

 

Yes, our plan is to pick up the car in Vancouver (at the cruise port) and return it in Bellingham.

 

The one site says to call for ferry to Bellingham, by chance do either of you have an approximate cost? The cost of the ferry from Victoria to Swartz Island is very resonalbe.

 

Now, I am off to see what is available for lodging........ any hints????

 

Smurf

 

There is no ferry "Victoria- Swartz Island"??? Swartz Bay is the port of entry for the driving continuation to Victoria from Tsawwassen. Also Bellingham is passenger only, so you are going to have to consider going round trip on the BC ferry- Tsawwassen/Swartz Bay, and then driving to Bellingham. About an hour plus border time. It's about $63 one way, 2 adults and a car, reservations another $15ca.

 

There is also Ancortes/Sidney ferry, from Washington state ferry. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedules/current/index.cfm?route=ana-sid

[NancyIL]

There is no ferry "Victoria- Swartz Island"??? Swartz Bay is the port of entry for the driving continuation to Victoria from Tsawwassen. Also Bellingham is passenger only, so you are going to have to consider going round trip on the BC ferry- Tsawwassen/Swartz Bay, and then driving to Bellingham. About an hour plus border time. It's about $63 one way, 2 adults and a car, reservations another $15ca.

 

There is also Ancortes/Sidney ferry, from Washington state ferry. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedules/current/index.cfm?route=ana-sid

 

The OP can drop-off the rental car in Victoria (Hertz works for this), then take the passenger-only ferry from Victoria to Bellingham.

[Budget Queen]

The OP can drop-off the rental car in Victoria (Hertz works for this), then take the passenger-only ferry from Victoria to Bellingham.

 

They have already posted, they rented the car for Vancouver- one way Bellingham. And as also stated they can ferry to Ancortes with the car and do the short drive to Bellingham.

[NancyIL]

They have already posted, they rented the car for Vancouver- one way Bellingham. And as also stated they can ferry to Ancortes with the car and do the short drive to Bellingham.

 

Unless the rental rate is much higher to make a change, the OP can also change the rental to a one-way Vancouver-Victoria. It doesn't hurt to compare prices with both options.

 

**Just checked Hertz, and the Bellingham drop-off costs a bit less: $274.50 CAD for Victoria drop-off (midsize with AAA discount) vs. $211.25 for Bellingham - for 3 days.

[smurf1635]

Thank you, you have both been very helpful. Clearing my head and trying to organize my thoughts have resulted in a few questions. I apologize if you've already given some of this info, it is just so confusing to soak it all in if you've never been there before and have to research every step of the way.

 

Any recommendations on where to stay at Sidney/Swartz Bay?

The ferry dock is in Sidney, not Swartz Bay?

Is there a ferry to Bellingham from Tsawwassen?

If I wanted to just make a day of Swartz Bay, what is available? Keeping in mind a 14 year old who hates to just hang out and relax.

What do you know about San Juan Island? I know there is an airport, and that San Juan Air is $44 each way into Bellingham. Is that airport at Friday Harbor? How accessible is that from Orcas Island?

 

Thank you much,

Smurf

[Budget Queen]

There is both a Sidney and Swartz Bay, dock. Above is the information on what goes where. No there is no ferry Bellingham / Tsawwassen.

 

Swartz Bay- isn't anyplace for a "day" in my opinion. I pass through to Victoria.

 

Friday Harbor is very layed back.

[NancyIL]

When you look at this map, you will see the different ferries: http://www.admiral.bc.ca/ferry.html

 

From Vancouver, you will take the ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay. As BQ suggested, to return you take a different ferry from Sidney to Anacortes and drive to Bellingham. My suggestion was to drop-off the rental car in Victoria and take the Victoria Star passenger ferry from Victoria to Bellingham, but then you'd have to take a taxi to the airport. Budget Queen's idea (ferry Sidney-Anacortes) is the best.

 

The things to do are mostly in Victoria, not in Swartz Bay. An exception is The Butchart Gardens - which is on the way to or from the ferries on Vancouver Island: http://www.butchartgardens.com/admission/location.php

 

Victoria is the capital of British Columbia, and it's a very pretty city. The Royal BC Museum is great: http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/MainSite/default.aspx Again - look through the Tourism Victoria site I posted a link to earlier: http://www.tourismvictoria.com/

[kehlx2]

Thank you, you have both been very helpful. Clearing my head and trying to organize my thoughts have resulted in a few questions. I apologize if you've already given some of this info, it is just so confusing to soak it all in if you've never been there before and have to research every step of the way.

 

Any recommendations on where to stay at Sidney/Swartz Bay?

 

The ferry dock is in Sidney, not Swartz Bay?

 

Is there a ferry to Bellingham from Tsawwassen?

 

If I wanted to just make a day of Swartz Bay, what is available? Keeping in mind a 14 year old who hates to just hang out and relax.

 

What do you know about San Juan Island? I know there is an airport, and that San Juan Air is $44 each way into Bellingham. Is that airport at Friday Harbor? How accessible is that from Orcas Island?

 

Thank you much,

Smurf

 

If by chance you ferry to Anacortes & drive up to Bellingham--take the Chuckanut Dr route--very pretty drive & sure beats the I-5 for views.