Coming over to VAN in August! Need help!

[RedRaptor]

Hey guys,

I'm visiting Vancouver in late August for the first time ever!  Being a Toronto boy all my life, I'm looking forward to the seeing the west coast!

However my trip starts off a little hectic!

So I need your help regarding car rentals.  The plan is to arrive at Vancouver Intl airport and head over to Victoria.  I guess we are going to take a taxi from the airport to Tsawwassen bay to hop on the ferry to Swartz Bay.  We would like to rent a car on Vancouver Island for a day but the question is, are there any car rental places by Swartz Bay?  It seems like the closest agencies are only in Sidney which is 15 min away?  Should I make a reservation there and have them pick me up at Swartz Bay?  Which agency should I go with?

[derrick]

You could also taxi to the Victoria Airport. You would have a selection of car rental places there. I think the airport is pretty close to Swartz bay.

But I am sure many places do offer to pick you up from the Ferry.

Sorry, can't recommend an agency to go with.

[HeaTransfer]

There is bus service from the ferry to ... somewhere.  Probably Victoria, so it should be possible to take the ferry, use the bus service to Victoria and pick up your car there.

[Heavenclosed]

there is a bus service to downtown Victoria, right beside the Empress Hotel. There are several rental agencies near there, Budget, Discount and others.  It leaves from right on the ferry.  Check the Pacific Coast Bus Kioak on the ferry. 

There is not much at Swartz bay.  But a taxi to the airport could work.  It is about 10-15 minutes away from the ferry terminal. 

As far as which agency to go with, that is pure speculation which is best.  I have always used Budget due to great government discounts. 

[rancid]

you should check out hotwire.ca

They have some wicked deals on rental cars....I know the prices are in US dollars but you can still book with them.  Check them early in the morning like 6am to 8am.  They usually have some blowout prices at that time.  I just got a car rental deal for Calgary for about $18USD per day with unlimited mileage.  Most places have an unlimited mileage thing attached to it when you rent from the airport.  This would be the cheapest route instead of a taxi.  It's bloody expensive here for taxis.  I know toronto is quite pricey as well cause when I was down there for my friend's wedding, my transportation cost went through the roof.  Shoulda rented a car instead!  Oh and hotwire does have some good deals on hotels but not as good as priceline.  

There is another website: priceline.com  But I haven't had much luck with them with rental cars.  I had luck with them for booking hotels though.

[M Speed]

are you going to return the car while you are on the island? AFAIK, the charge to drop off and pickup at different location can get costly.

Taxi from YVR to Tsawwassen isn't exactly cheap. If you need a car in Vancouver, I'd say call for reservation on a rental other then the ones at YVR...as there is a premium for airport pickup/drop off.

a little more details on your time frame can better help us to help you.

[tonyzoomzoom]

Rob.  Just drive your 3 over here and you won't have these problems 

[RedRaptor]

So I should be taking the bus from YVR to Tsawwassen then?  The only issue with buses is time.  I don't want to spend 1 hour on a bus ride when I could get there in 15 on a taxi.

From Swartz Bay, it looks like I will have to take a bus or taxi to the Victoria airport, then book a rental car there.  I will ask if they can pick us up from the Ferry Docks so I don't have to waste taxi money.

If this all works out, then I'll have a rental car for a day in Victoria (thats all I'm spending there).

I'm coming over August 23rd for a week.  Tickets are booked!

[RedRaptor]

Rob.  Just drive your 3 over here and you won't have these problems 

I would love to!  Unfortunately I only have a week off and it would take me half the week just to drive there.  You guys just want to see an Ontario plate in BC, huh? 

The one thing I do want from BC is a Rho Plate! hehe.

[RedRaptor]

are you going to return the car while you are on the island? AFAIK, the charge to drop off and pickup at different location can get costly.

Thats the idea.  Rent from the island and drop it back off on the island.

[Keiichi]

I'm guessing you'll have a car or access to transportation in Vancouver?
If not I was just wondering why you wouldn't rent a car from YVR and then drive it over to Victoria?

I guess the ferry fare would be a bit more expensive though.

[Heavenclosed]

YOu can catch a shuttle from the airport to the ferry terminal. The fares are reasonable and the bus drives right onto the ferry. The Pacific Coast Bus Schedule is timed to meet the ferry exactly so you would not be losing much time catching it. 

http://www.pacificcoach.com/

[RedRaptor]

YOu can catch a shuttle from the airport to the ferry terminal. The fares are reasonable and the bus drives right onto the ferry. The Pacific Coast Bus Schedule is timed to meet the ferry exactly so you would not be losing much time catching it. 

http://www.pacificcoach.com/

Awesome, this is what I was looking for.  This is exactly what I want to do.  Straight from YVR to the Ferry docks.

[RedRaptor]

I'm guessing you'll have a car or access to transportation in Vancouver?
If not I was just wondering why you wouldn't rent a car from YVR and then drive it over to Victoria?

I guess the ferry fare would be a bit more expensive though.

Yeah, the cost of transporting the rental car over just wouldn't be worth it.

[HeaTransfer]

I'm guessing you'll have a car or access to transportation in Vancouver?
If not I was just wondering why you wouldn't rent a car from YVR and then drive it over to Victoria?

I guess the ferry fare would be a bit more expensive though.

Yeah, the cost of transporting the rental car over just wouldn't be worth it.

Don't forget how valuable your (vacation) time is as well!

Tsawassen --> Victoria is $30-45 each way, for the car only:
http://www.bcferries.com/promotions/coastsaver.html

You will almost certainly spend more on a Cab, should you cab it from YVR to Tsawassen.

Good luck!

[M Speed]

Awesome, this is what I was looking for.  This is exactly what I want to do.  Straight from YVR to the Ferry docks.

I think that bus takes you all the way to Victoria. Then you can find a rental...again I think pick up at any airport has a surcharge premium on top.

You could also bus back the same way as the bus stops at airport, and downtown.

[Jodo McFatty]

So I should be taking the bus from YVR to Tsawwassen then?  The only issue with buses is time.  I don't want to spend 1 hour on a bus ride when I could get there in 15 on a taxi.

From Swartz Bay, it looks like I will have to take a bus or taxi to the Victoria airport, then book a rental car there.  I will ask if they can pick us up from the Ferry Docks so I don't have to waste taxi money.

If this all works out, then I'll have a rental car for a day in Victoria (thats all I'm spending there).

I'm coming over August 23rd for a week.  Tickets are booked!

DO NOT do this.  Every airport charges an airport tax for rentals.  The Victoria one last time I worked there was 11.5%...that is on top of all the other taxes.  Rent from Sidney if you really need.  They will/should pick you up.  I'm not sure if National is still running a store out of Sidney but they are pretty good either way.

If you take the PCL from the airport, you can take this all the way to downtown Victoria and it won't waste too much time.  There are a lot of rental companies right near the Victoria bus depot(Budget, National, Hertz)