Vancouver and Victoria

[mjwcruising]

We will be on a Cruisetour in Alaska in June 2008. We will be arriving in Vancouver post cruise on Friday June 27th. DH and I were thinking of spending Friday and Sunday in Vancouver, and Saturday in Victoria.

I have done a bit of research and came up with a possible itinerary. Does this sound doable? I would welcome any suggestions about the following plans. Should it be changed in any way for better time allotments at the different places.

Friday: Arrive by Cruiseship and take a celebrity transfer to Sutton Place Hotel

(I'm not sure what time this will be!) Get a all day transit pass for $8. PP and go to Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain. Possibly have dinner at Grouse Mountain in Altitudes Bistro.

Saturday: have either Pacific Coach or Landsea pick up at our hotel and take us to Victoria via the Ferry and back. (We are interested in seeing Butchart Gardens)

Sunday: Get an all ay transit pass for $8. PP and go to Gas Town, Granville Island, and Stanley Park.

Monday: Celebrity Transfer to Airport.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Mary

[LeftcoastBC]

Yes that is doable.

 

The trip to Victoria and back regardless of how you do it other than by air must include 4 hours on the ferrys. (plus add a bit for getting to and from.... so it takes a huge whack out of your day.

 

(Butchard if you are into gardens is a must)

[Langley Cruisers]

Saturday: have either Pacific Coach or Landsea pick up at our hotel and take us to Victoria via the Ferry and back. (We are interested in seeing Butchart Gardens)

 

Hi Mary,

 

Does Pacific Coach Lines pick up at your particular hotel? I read on their website that you need to contact them directly for that information, as they do "select downtown Vancouver hotels". Anyway, they go from Vancouver to Victoria downtown, not the Butchart Gardens which are actually in Brentwood Bay, not Victoria city. You'll need to arrange to get from the ferry to the Gardens, which is about 13 miles. Maybe a cab - OR, there may be a tour bus that goes to the Gardens, I don't know.

 

But, I did want to let you know that PCL is not going to be your link to Butchart Gardens - once off the ferry, they go directly to the bus depot in downtown Victoria. I believe you can purchase your ticket just to the ferry, which will obviously be cheaper than going all the way into downtown Victoria, BUT - Victoria is beautiful. I lived there for 35 years. Did you want to go into the city, or just see the Gardens?

 

Hmmm. Come back and chat, we'll figure this out for you. :)

 

EDIT to add - Woah, after just checking the fares for PCL, I wonder if you'd be better off to rent a car in Vancouver and drive over to Victoria? I know you are taking the easy route with the bus and I do applaud you, but in June the bus fare looks like it will be well over $80.00 RETURN, plus remember it doesn't go to the Gardens directly. Holy moly!! That's a lot - I think after taking cabs and more tours once you are in Victoria, it might very will pay for you to check into renting a car in Vancouver.

[LeftcoastBC]

But

 

Ferry costs for car .. Approx 38 + 11 per pax + fuel surcharge of almost 3 (one way)

:(

[Langley Cruisers]

Yes, but I neglected to mention the bus fare is per person. Can you believe how expensive it is now? Wow! :eek: I remember when it was $9.75. heehee, I'm dating myself here.

 

 

Fares at this link:

http://www.pacificcoach.com/index.cfm?method=pages.showPage&PageID=b98e793f-3048-2446-ac42-e7b2afb41f29

 

and this is only until March. I'm sure it will be more expensive in June, when the poster is going. So twice that is approx. $160.00 for PCL bus fare alone and it's even more expensive for the hotel pick-up she mentioned. I kind of think the rental car might pay for itself at that rate.

[Langley Cruisers]

Yes, but I neglected to mention the bus fare is per person. Can you believe how expensive it is now? Wow! :eek: I remember when it was $9.75. heehee, I'm dating myself here.

 

 

Fares at this link:

http://www.pacificcoach.com/index.cfm?method=pages.showPage&PageID=b98e793f-3048-2446-ac42-e7b2afb41f29

 

and this is only until March. I'm sure it will be more expensive in June, when the poster is going. So twice that is approx. $160.00 for PCL bus fare alone and it's even more expensive for the hotel pick-up she mentioned. I kind of think the rental car might pay for itself at that rate.

[Urban trekker]

Another way to do the Victoria trip is to do a full day escorted trip from Vancouver to Victoria.

 

Here's a link to a company that takes you from Vancouver to Victoria and includes admission to the Butchart Gardens:

 

http://www.vancouvertours.com/tours_3.html

 

If I find some more links I will post them as well.

 

Hope this helps

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[cruiseryyc]

Agree with UrbanTrekker, if you really only want to see Butchart Gardens you would be best to take a tour bus from Vancouver instead of regular PCL bus.

[Luckysll]

Here are a couple more for a day tour to Butchart Gardens:

 

http://www.city-discovery.com/vancouver/tour.php?id=1706

 

http://www.lotuslandtours.com/victoria.htm (scroll to the bottom for the "Victoria and Butchart by land and sea".

 

Enjoy your day here.

[mjwcruising]

Langley Cruisers, Here is what I have come up with so far. Again, any input is welcome.

I will have to check out the sites Luckyll mentioned.

A. Hertz rental car $72./day including taxes and navigation, system, hotel parking $26/day, Ferry $36 for vehicle and $11 PP ONE WAY and Butchart gardens admission $26.50 X 2 TOTAL= $261.00 (If we were to rent a car we would most likey rent it for our whole stay and would be more expensive than using public transportation while in Vancouver).

B. Pacific Coach: “Simply want to get to Victoria and explore on your own? The Royal Victorian Excursion will take you from your hotel* directly to the heart of Victoria" Round Trip $83 PP. Grayline Shuttle Bus "Garden Express" $39 PP includes transportation and admission to Gardens.

TOTAL: $224 ( I would have to see if Sutton Place or somewhere close by is a pick up spot)

C. Pacific Coach same as B. ($83.00 PP) Buy all day public transit pass $7 PP + Garden admission $26.50 PP. This would take longer to get to the gardens but we would see downtown Victoria. TOTAL$223.

D. Pacific Coach has a tour according to e-mail I had with A customer Service Agent. however i don't know prices as of yet.

question "Do you have a bus that will pick customers up at a Vancouver Hotel, goes to Vancouver by Ferry, and go to Buchart Gardens and Then returns persons to Vancouver hotel? ( all in the same day)

answer "Thank you for your email. Yes we do offer the Butchart Gardens Tour with the Victoria City Highlights. We do not have our brochures for the summer season, however I will send out a request to be mailed at your given address. I would also advice you to check our website sometime mid February or early March for more detailed information about the tours and services that we do offer in the summer."

E. Landsea tours has a hotel pick up and tour to Butchart Gardens including admission and one choice of another muesum including admission and back again to hotel for $169.00 PP

TOTAL $338

I feel the con of D or E is price and limited time at the gardens, which is the main reason we want to go to Victoria.

[Urban trekker]

Another thing to remember if you are going to take a car - the ferries can be very busy in the summer and it looks like you will be traveling on a weekend - while the ferries may run hourly - a two to three sailing wait is not uncommon at that time of the year - you can book a reservations for a ferry but that will add another $15.00 each way to your costs - also do you not have to fill the gas tank when you return the rental car - gas is about $5.00 a gallon Canadian at present.

 

As you are staying at the Sutton Place you are in the heart of the hotel district so you won't have far to go to pick up the bus.

 

I rarely recommend taking a car over to Victoria if it is only for a day or two - too much hassle with the ferries and traffic in Victoria can be crazy even when you know where you are going.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[mjwcruising]

Urban Trekker,

I thought of it but forgot to write down $ for gas under car rental.

I don't think renting a car would be the greatest way to go, We already have transfers to and from the hotel included in our Celebrity cruise package.

Do the buses have to wait 2 or 3 sailings or can they get right on the Ferry?

Do you think I should stick to the layout for Friday and Sunday while in Vancouver or do you think it needs rearranged ?

Thanks,

Mary

[Langley Cruisers]

I feel the con of D or E is price and limited time at the gardens, which is the main reason we want to go to Victoria.

 

Yes, agreed. I think that LandSea tour allows 2 hours at the Gardens? Uh, that's not enough. It's a long way to come to not have ample time for doing what you want to do; you'd feel rushed. Although, one of the "other" museums included in the price can include the Royal BC Museum, which is absolutely first class and well worth the trip to the city as well.

 

OK, let's figure this out by answering this question: are you going ONLY to the Butchart Gardens? Are you interested at all in seeing downtown? Because remember, the Gardens are not in Victoria; they are closer to the ferry terminal than to town.

 

The car rental was just a thought; I too, as well as many of these fine folks on this board, have spent many hours waiting in a ferry line-up. It is no fun at all. :(

 

Buses go right on the ferry in their own line.

 

I, personally, think your other days look great! You're very adventurous and I know you will have a great time here.

[mjwcruising]

Langley Cruisers,

We are From Pennsylvania and have heard how lovely Butchart Gardens is. We totally enjoy gardens and since we are that close thought it was something we shouldn't miss. Then again, our frame of mind is since we are so far from home and if we are going to Vancouver Island to see the gardens we should probably see Victoria, but our main goal is definitley the gardens.

I'm not too much of a museum person, but in addition to gardens, we enjoy architecture and seeing things in the great outdoors, (but not heavy duty activity). We were on a Europe (Paris to Buapest) last summer on a river cruise, and a Celebrity cruise to Canada (Quebec and Nova Scotia) / New England ( R I, Mass, Maine) last fall and thoroughtly both those trips. (We are retired and these are a few places we wanted to see while we are still in decent health. Hopefully we'll take a cruise in Italy/Greece area in a year or two and then all our big trips will be a reality.)

 

We booked this Alaska trip the first day it was available last spring, and when I started actually started planning the day to day itinereary in early fall I found Cruise Critic. With all the helpfull information I found on the Cruise Critic Boards I too think we are in for a truly awesome vacation.

[mjwcruising]

Langley Cruisers, I see I missed a word in my last thread. I mean't to say "we thoroughtly enjoyed both trips". :o

[giblert]

A. Hertz rental car $72./day including taxes and navigation, system, hotel parking $26/day, Ferry $36 for vehicle and $11 PP ONE WAY and Butchart gardens admission $26.50 X 2 TOTAL= $261.00 (If we were to rent a car we would most likey rent it for our whole stay and would be more expensive than using public transportation while in Vancouver).

 

The ferry rate of $36 car $11 passenger is the winter rate. I would expect it to be closer to $45 car $13 passenger come summer (including the fuel surcharges). Oh, and did I mention if you want to guarantee that you're not waiting 2 or 3 sailings (hours) a reservation is another $17.50 ea way?

 

Taking your car is just not a good idea for a specific day trip to the island. I lived on the island for nearly 30 years, commuted back and forth every weekend for 4 of them, and hardly ever took my car.

 

If you really want to get there, do it quickly, and do it inexpensively:

 

Downtown Vancouver -> Tsawwassen ferry terminal;

Bus #601 connecting to the #620 bus in Ladner - 1hr, $5

Tsawwassen -> Swartz Bay;

BC Ferry, walk-on $12est - 1hr40min

Swartz Bay -> Buchart Gardens

BC Transit bus #81 - $3 - 50min

Reverse the process at the end of the day.

 

thats $20 + $26.50 + $20 = $66.50/ea.

 

Vancouver (& Victoria) have great inexpensive public bus systems, that are reliable & inexpensive. For full details on the transit systems in Vancouver and Victoria, see http://bctransit.com/

 

Victoria has a lot more to see than the gardens, you might want to consider making it a longer trip, going to the gardens you'll completely bypass the city.

 

If you haven't done your flights already, consider trying to get a flight into Vancouver - cruise - go to VIctoria, fly out of Victoria (YYJ). YYJ has daily service to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Seattle and Salt Lake City.

[mjwcruising]

Giblert,

Lets forget renting a car.. I like your itinerary but I have a few questions.

1. Where do we get bus #601? I looked on http://bctransit.com/ and I was wondering what departure place I should use. We will be staying at The Sutton Place Hotel.

2. Will I be able to get right on the next ferry when we arrive at the the terminal or might I have to wait for another sailing due to a full boat? (this is a saturday)

3. A $3.00 pass for bus #81 is good for 1 way only isn't it? But if I want to see the Gardens and downtown Victoria, wouldn't it be more cost efficient to buy an all day transit pass of $7.00 instead of one stop to the gardens for $3.00 each way?

4. If we go downtown, I'll have to figure out what we want to do, any suggestions? We could just walk around, we walked all around Quebec City last fall, including a stop into the parliment buildings.

Also on this web site

http://oceanisland.com/faqs/pdfs/butchart_gardens.pdf

it says to use bus #75

See if I have this right? #81 takes us from Swartz Bay to Butchart Gardens and #75 takes us from Butchart Gardens to Downtown Victoria? Would we use bus # 70 to get from Downtown back to Swartz Bay Ferry terminal? With your help and the BCtransit web site maps I'm starting to think I may be understanding this whole bus system, sort of :rolleyes: (I'm not the greatest navigator)

Also: We already have our air booked. We are flying into Fairbanks staying 1 night on our own, then doing a 6 night cruisetour, then onto a 7 night cruise which starts in Seward and ends in Vancouver. We are staying 3 nights post cruise in Vancouver booked through Cebrity but doing all sightseeing in Vancouver on our own. They will be providing shuttle service from cruise ship to hotel and hotel to airport.

[Langley Cruisers]

Mary, let me ask you - is cost a factor? Because with some people it is not - they just want to do it quickly and efficiently, but you've never really indicated either way. I appreciate the effort giblert took to find out the information, but that is an awful lot of connecting, waiting for transit, looking for the stops, etc. Let's be honest, you could be spending hours waiting for transit, when you could be exploring the city. Since you won't be renting a car, would it not just make the most sense to take a tour bus and be done with it? Just asking.

 

As I stated earlier, you seem like an adventurous couple and all of this might seem like fun for you; but is it something you really want to undertake?

[mjwcruising]

Langley Cruiser,

We definitley don't have unlimited funds, however, we are willing to spend what it takes to see as much as possible without spending foolishly. I think renting a car or doing a floatplane is probably not going to be the way we want to go. They are the two most expensive ways. So, what it comes down to is do we want to do a bus tour with a limited amount of time at the gardens, (I think there are three companies to compare and chose from) or B. or C. from my Jan.22, 11am thread?

If we did it on our own, would we really be spending hours waiting for transit? There is so many things to consider:eek:

 

I have requested info. from Vancouver, Victoria and some of the tour companies, but probably will not receive it another month or two. Right now I am in research mode. DH is busy working on a few projects and hopefully by the time I have the different options figured out he will be ready to review them with me, and we will make our final decisions together.

[giblert]

Giblert,

Lets forget renting a car.. I like your itinerary but I have a few questions.

1. Where do we get bus #601? I looked on http://bctransit.com/ and I was wondering what departure place I should use. We will be staying at The Sutton Place Hotel.

You can type in your hotels address and it will tell you on the translink.bc.ca (Vancouver area transit) website. for the 601/620 trip, you get it on Howe Street @ Georgia (a couple of blocks away). Just a clarification, the Vancouver and Victoria bus systems are not linked with each other, so a day pass in Victoria doesn't help in Vancouver. Although it's still all really cheap.

 

 

2. Will I be able to get right on the next ferry when we arrive at the the terminal or might I have to wait for another sailing due to a full boat? (this is a saturday)

Yes, you'll get right on. The only times the boats fill up for foot passengers are generally Friday and Sunday nights during winter when you have a combination of fewer boats, smaller boats and University students.

If you plan it to be on an odd hour ferry 9am/11am etc, you'll get the newer nicer boats (Spirit of BC, Spirit of Vancouver Island). The other two boats that run the even hours are perfectly serviceable, but they were built in the early sixties. As you'll be on the move most of the day and may not have a chance to eat a good meal, I would recommend the breakfast buffet on the odd-hour sailings (Spirit Class boats only). The trick with the buffet is wait for 30-40 minutes after the boat leaves dock. Not only will the lineup subside, but at the 40 minute mark you'll hit the best part of the sailing. The boats travel through an unbelievably narrow passage called Active Pass (and pass the ferry going the other way). If you think your cruise ship was close to shore, you aint seen nothing yet. Docking at the Swartz Bay end is also an impressive maneuver worth watching, which you'll be able to with your walk off.

 

 

3. A $3.00 pass for bus #81 is good for 1 way only isn't it? But if I want to see the Gardens and downtown Victoria, wouldn't it be more cost efficient to buy an all day transit pass of $7.00 instead of one stop to the gardens for $3.00 each way?

Yep it would, if you intend heading into downtown

 

4. If we go downtown, I'll have to figure out what we want to do, any suggestions? We could just walk around, we walked all around Quebec City last fall, including a stop into the parliment buildings.

It's all very pretty. My favourite tourist attraction in all of Victoria is decidedly un-bus friendly, being the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, but then I'm a geek. If you're there on a Saturday night, it's a can't miss.

However, the Royal BC Museum is excellent, and walking around the inner harbour and seeing the Parliament buildings is all good.

 

Also on this web site http://oceanisland.com/faqs/pdfs/butchart_gardens.pdfit says to use bus #75

See if I have this right? #81 takes us from Swartz Bay to Butchart Gardens and #75 takes us from Butchart Gardens to Downtown Victoria? Would we use bus # 70 to get from Downtown back to Swartz Bay Ferry terminal? With your help and the BCtransit web site maps I'm starting to think I may be understanding this whole bus system, sort of :rolleyes: (I'm not the greatest navigator)

Yep, #70 will get you from Downtown to Swartz Bay. It's a bit of a milk run, taking a little over an hour, but on the plus side you'll enjoy it as the #70 almost always runs with a double decker, and it's a great view from the upper deck.

 

 

 

Oh, and did I mention your Vancouver-side bus fare is going to be cheaper as it's all one zone on weekends? ($2.50 vs $5.00)

[mjwcruising]

Giblert,

Thanks for all the info. It is very helpful. At some point I will sit down with bus schedules and map out a plan and see what I can come up with. Then we can decide if we want to do it on our own or take a tour that includes hotel pick up and drop off.

Mary

[jean s]

We stayed in Vancouver before our cruise. We took a bus tour that included Butchart Gardens and Victoria Highlights. It was awesome. We were picked up early at our hotel and had breakfast on the ferry. We visited the gardens first. If you are a gardener or just love flowers it is spectacular. Then we took a bus tour of Victoria. Finally we were dropped off in downtown Victoria. We had a lovely lunch at a pub, walked around and saw the sights and did some shopping. There were also tickets to a local museum included. Victoria is well worth the trip. It is a very pretty city. I can't remember the name of the bus company but the concierge at the hotel arranged this for us. It was a busy but very enjoyable day.

[mjwcruising]

Jean S.

A tour like you took is definitely easier than doing the whole thing on our own. The fact that you said your day was awesome is very intriquing, but I am concerned we will not have enough time to fully enjoy the gardens, due to the limited time the tours allows. Could you please answer several questions I have?

1. I figured we would have breakfast on the ferry. How was the coffee and the food?

2. Do you think the tour was by Pacific tours or Landsea? Landsea includes the gardens and one other place you can pick from a list of place. I don't have any specific info. on Pacific Tours yet.

3. How long did you get to spend at the gardens? Was it a sufficient amount of time to see a good part of them?

4. Approx. what time did you leave Victoria for the ferry back to Vancouver? Were you on the ferry for dinner? Once again, how was the food? I take it they have wine or beer available for a relaxing trip back to Vancouver.

5. Do you know if the Pub was

Gastro Brewpub

308 Catherine St. (just over the short Johnston Street Bridge)

or

Canoe Brewpub and Restaurant

450 Swift St. (close to the bridge, on the city side).

they are two of the possiblites I had listed to eat at.

I take it you enjoyed it since you said it was a lovely lunch?

You are the first person I have chatted with who has taken a tour.

Thanks for your input, I appreciate it. :D

[robinsegg]

If your main reason for going to Victoria is to see the Butchard gardens, why not save all that travel time and go to Vancouver's wonderful botanical gardens - the gardens at the University of British Columbia (where, even though you aren't a "museum person" there is the amazing Museum of Anrthopology with much native art), and VanDusen Botanical gardens.

 

Here is a link to VanDusen: http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks/parks/vandusen/website/

 

And a link to the gardens at UBC

http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/

 

If you are coming in early June, given our west coast climate, no gardens will be in their 'full glory'.

 

Cheers

 

Robin

[giblert]

5. Do you know if the Pub was

Gastro Brewpub

308 Catherine St. (just over the short Johnston Street Bridge)

or

Canoe Brewpub and Restaurant

450 Swift St. (close to the bridge, on the city side).

they are two of the possiblites I had listed to eat at.

I take it you enjoyed it since you said it was a lovely lunch?

 

My votes would be;

#1 Spinnakers (no one actually calls is Gastro): 308 Catherine Street is awsome. The harbour ferry to get to it is cute too http://www.spinnakers.com/

 

#2 Swan's/ Buckerfield Hotel/Brewery: 596 Pandora. Also very good.

 

Come to think of it, if you like beer, everything is good in Victoria. There are three good local (Victoria) breweries and numerous great brewpubs. Next to Portland, is probably the best beer city I've ever been to.

 

If you're looking for something great, and a little different in the downtown Victoria core, NOODLE BOX is my favourite http://thenoodlebox.net/