Private car service Seattle to Vancouver?

Has anyone used a private car service for transportation from Seattle airport to the cruise terminal in Vancouver? If so, which company did you use and how much did it cost?

Would you consider a bus shuttle service?

There's a regular Vancouver to Seattle and vice versa bus service called Quick Shuttle.

Has anyone used a private car service for transportation from Seattle airport to the cruise terminal in Vancouver? If so, which company did you use and how much did it cost?

I cannot imagine how much that cost, probably in the high hundreds if you can find someone that is licensed to cross the border. You're looking at 150+ miles as SEA airport is on the far side of Seattle, and Seattle has some of the worst traffic you can imagine. (2hrs for 20 miles across town isn't uncommon during rush hour)

I'm curious, do you really think you'll save that much money vs flying into Vancouver?

It'll run well over $300 each way. Why not take the train to Vancouver and a taxi from the rail station? Or as previously stated fly into Vancouver.

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There are some limo firms here in Vancouver that specifically offer cross-border trips - but due to the border variability any fixed rate is generously padded to approx $400 (towncar, good for 3 people; bigger car = bigger price) or they simply bill the regular hourly charges ($75 min while travelling in a towncar, ~half that for wait time, and bigger vehicles have higher legal minima. Plus mandatory 15% grat, 5% tax).

CAD$400 equates pretty well with the guesstimated US$300 above, so I'd agree that's the ballpark you're looking at - unless you are traveling in a big group it's pretty much 100% likely that simply flying to YVR will be cheaper.

If you're looking to save money, a one-way rental car is almost certainly cheapest for a group of 3+ with Bolt Bus a close second (as low as $1pp, but more likely $15-20pp). Amtrak is a nice balance of cost ($32pp coach Saver tix, per cab in Seattle <$40 and in Vancouver <$20) and pleasantness IF the schedule works (early morning or early evening). Quickshuttle is the priciest regular service, but is very convenient since they pick up right at Seatac and drop at downtown Vancouver hotels not just bus station.

Sounds impractical! Thanks for the feedback.

There are some limo firms here in Vancouver that specifically offer cross-border trips - but due to the border variability any fixed rate is generously padded to approx $400 (towncar, good for 3 people; bigger car = bigger price) or they simply bill the regular hourly charges ($75 min while travelling in a towncar, ~half that for wait time, and bigger vehicles have higher legal minima. Plus mandatory 15% grat, 5% tax).

 

CAD$400 equates pretty well with the guesstimated US$300 above, so I'd agree that's the ballpark you're looking at - unless you are traveling in a big group it's pretty much 100% likely that simply flying to YVR will be cheaper.

 

If you're looking to save money, a one-way rental car is almost certainly cheapest for a group of 3+ with Bolt Bus a close second (as low as $1pp, but more likely $15-20pp). Amtrak is a nice balance of cost ($32pp coach Saver tix, per cab in Seattle <$40 and in Vancouver <$20) and pleasantness IF the schedule works (early morning or early evening). Quickshuttle is the priciest regular service, but is very convenient since they pick up right at Seatac and drop at downtown Vancouver hotels not just bus station.

Thank you for the detailed information. It was very helpful.

I had looked into this too. The easiest for us is to use the Quick Shuttle- very reasonable- We will be returning a rental car across the street at Hertz after being in Seattle for a few days. Then the shuttle will drop us off at our hotel in Vancouver.

We did check into Amtrak- but it leaves so early in the am, that it just wouldn't work for us.