Lol! I hope I'm not all partied out by the time I get there. Don't want to disappoint! 

 

I can't wait to take that Sky Train !  Sounds so metro

take the SkyTrain (Main Street/Science World Station) which is just across the street from the Amtrak train station to Waterfront Station which is next to the cruise port hhttp://www.translink.ca/en/Schedules-and-Maps.aspx
or if you have lots of luggage...taxis are available...it's only about a 2 mile trip

Hey! We are going to be on the train! Any tips on transportation from the train station to the port? Thanks

You are welcome.  I went through there to and from Newark in April and it was a good 1 1/2 each way.....I'm sorry to say.  I hope you have a long enough connection.  They say 1 hour is acceptable, but from my experience, that's dicey.

See you in Vancouver.

 Heather

Heather: That is great intel. Thanks so much for the info. I thought I was being "smart" by connecting in Canada. Haha! Oh well, another lesson learned. See you soon!  Bet

You will have to clear customs in Toronto and it's not the slickest thing, but once through you are good to go when you get off at home.

 You will also clear Canadian customs in Toronto when you come up.

The thing is that in Toronto the US flight section is separate from the rest of the airport, so not only do you have to clear customs, you have to clear security again.  SIGH!!!

 Heather

Sorry Michele-Bet...I'm not sure if you go from Vancouver to Toronto then the US if you'll then have to get your bags for customs and then re-check them being as Pokie-Linus said it's first a Canadian domestic flight. It's called Preclearance.

It does work well going from 1 Canadian airport to 1 US airport...at least the last 2 times we flew home from there we didn't have to wait in the long US customs lines when we got home! We just got off the plane and went home!!!

I believe US citizens clear customs at most Canadian airports. So my guess would be that Vancouver to toronto would be a Canadian domestic flight and you would clear US customs in Toronto. 

Sleddog, is that true even though I'm connecting in Toronto back to the USA? Also, where do I clear customs from USA to Vancouver, again connecting in Toronto? Thanks for the great info! Bet

What's great about flying home (to the US) out of the Vancouver airport is that you go thru US customs there and don't need to when you get home.

 

We have people in our group who are doing it both ways, flying direct and taking the train after flying into Seattle.  Guess it all depends on how much time you have

That's exactly what I did. I found flights that work into and out of YVR, and the cost savings to go the SEA route instead would have been under $200. The benefit of not needing to travel once the plane lands is well worth $200.

 

FlaGirl - 

We were going to stay an extra night AFTER the cruise also b/c flights in/out of Seattle are cheaper - however, when I did the math, the cost of the hotel and the train tickets (or bus) for the one night (plus food, etc) and to get back to Vancouver - it's not that much of a savings over just booking your flight home from Vancouver... So we just purchased our return plane tickets and are cancelling the hotel we had booked... Plus, with all the time I have missed from work lately (family related), I just don't think my boss would appreciate me extending my vacation another day at this point! LOL

So I agree with you - it just seems better to spend the money to fly out of YVR than to try and arrange everything to get back to Seattle to only save a few dollars...

~ Marcia }|{ 

 

Hi sled, can you recommend any inexpensive hotels, B and B 's or hostels with private rooms near the Amtrax Train station. We don't get into Seattle  from LA untill 8 45pm ( if the train is on time!) so would be good to have somewhere close to the station. Want to check in asap so we can go and find some night life. A late check out would also be good after a night on the town. We don't have to catch the train to Vancover till 6 50pm so we can have a lie in if we party too hard. Think Toyah  from Melbourne may be there the same time as our Adelaide group and she is bound to be a bad influence!          Any one on the face book group will know what I mean lol !!!!