Vancouver Meeting Planners Guide 2008-2009 - (Page 9) How to Get to Vancouver Whether by Air, Land or Sea, Getting Here and Getting Around Is a Breeze! Getting Here Vancouver is located just 30 kilometres north of the Canadian/U.S. border at the southern edge of British Columbia. The city sits at the foot of the Coastal Mountain Range near the mouth of the Fraser River and on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. Coordinating your delegates’ travel from one location to the next is a major challenge in most cities. Thankfully, Vancouver makes things easy with its reliable, clean and efficient public transportation network, its variety of coach companies providing group travel options and its world-class network of ferries designed to move people and cars throughout the surrounding region with comfort and ease. Getting Around By Coach: There are plenty of options for group travel by coach, including regular routes to Victoria, Whistler, Vancouver International Airport and other destinations. A variety of companies listed in this guide are ready to work with you on arranging transportation, whether it’s for two people or a group of 200. For more details about coach travel, please see the listings for transportation companies in our Industry Services section, which begins on page 69. By Public Transit: A modern, clean and safe public transportation system makes getting around Vancouver as easy as reading a map. Your attendees can travel from Vancouver International Airport to their hotels aboard TransLink buses in less than the time it takes to rent a car. TransLink recently added 400 new and cleaner buses to its fleet. Additionally, a new Canada Line rail system, scheduled for completion in 2009, offers automated rail-based rapid transit service connecting Vancouver with central Richmond and the Vancouver International Airport (canadaline.ca). Take advantage of the public transportation system by directing your delegates to TransLink’s SkyTrain, its various ferry routes and its express rail service. Getting from downtown Vancouver to some of the outlying areas is simple; take the SeaBus ferry to the North Shore’s Lonsdale Quay or the SkyTrain automated light-rapid transit system to nearby Burnaby, New Westminster and Surrey. For more details on public transit in Vancouver, visit the TransLink website at translink.bc.ca where you’ll find complete information on routes and schedules. By Boat and Ferry: One of the great experiences when visiting Vancouver is taking a ferry to points beyond the city. If your attendees are planning to visit Victoria or Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, they can take a passenger ferry across the Strait of Georgia. They can also explore the Sunshine Coast and a variety of smaller islands near Vancouver by taking a ferry. For more information about ferry service in and around Vancouver, visit the websites of Vancouver’s ferry service companies. BC Ferries (bcferries.com) offers a comprehensive system of routes with two terminals in Vancouver. Clipper Vacations (victoriaclipper.com) offers service between Seattle and Victoria on Vancouver Island. For more information about transportation options in Vancouver, turn to the Transportation Services listings on page 79 for contact information from local member businesses. Photography (top to bottom): Vancouver International Airport ©Tourism Vancouver/Vancouver International Airport; TransLink ©Tourism Vancouver/TransLink By Air: Most visitors travel to Vancouver by air, taking advantage of a convenient network of international flights and a number of different air carriers. If your delegates are flying to Vancouver, they’ll pass through Vancouver International Airport (YVR), a modern and fully updated facility offering access to Vancouver from around the world. With direct flights to many U.S., European and Asian cities, your attendees will be able to get to Vancouver in a timely and efficient manner, giving them more time to enjoy everything the destination has to offer. For more information, visit yvr.ca. By Car: If your attendees are travelling to Vancouver from the United States, they can also drive across the border in their cars and RVs. Interstate #5 (I-5) from Seattle becomes Highway 99 across the Canadian/U.S. border. This highway will take them directly to Vancouver. Driving Times Vancouver–Whistler Vancouver–Seattle Vancouver–Kelowna 2 hrs. (120 km/75 mi) 3 hrs. (235 km/145 mi) 4 hrs. (400 km/250 mi) Approximate Mileage Conversions 50 kph = 30 mph 100 kph = 60 mph By Rail: Rail travel is another great option and a memorable way to travel. PacificCentral Station is located in downtown Vancouver and offers routes to destinations across Canada and the PacificNorthwest. VIA Rail, Amtrak and Rocky Mountaineer Vacations all offer rail service to and from Vancouver. See page 79 for more information on rail service. Train Times Vancouver–Bellingham Vancouver–Seattle Vancouver–Jasper North Vancouver–Whistler 1.5 hrs. 4 hrs. 18 hrs. 2.5 hrs. 9
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