Seattle to Vancouver

[stevenikkij]

Can anyone help me figure out a way to Seattle to Vancouver on a Sunday after a cruise. My sister and family need to find a way up there- they need to be there by about 1pm. My brother in law is attending a conference- they have to meet another person at the airport around 10:30am. There are 5 of them. We tried quick shuttle- but the timing didn't work. Does anyone know any limo companies, or van or bus services that could do this? Thanks for any help!!:)

[mapleleaves]

Can anyone help me figure out a way to Seattle to Vancouver on a Sunday after a cruise. My sister and family need to find a way up there- they need to be there by about 1pm. My brother in law is attending a conference- they have to meet another person at the airport around 10:30am. There are 5 of them. We tried quick shuttle- but the timing didn't work. Does anyone know any limo companies, or van or bus services that could do this? Thanks for any help!!:)

 

It would be close to impossible to leave SeaTac at 10:30 and be in Vancouver by 1pm. Sunday traffic at the border is rough. Where in Vancouver?

Assuming their US residents, why not try a one-way car rental ?

[zephyr17]

Can anyone help me figure out a way to Seattle to Vancouver on a Sunday after a cruise. My sister and family need to find a way up there- they need to be there by about 1pm. My brother in law is attending a conference- they have to meet another person at the airport around 10:30am. There are 5 of them. We tried quick shuttle- but the timing didn't work. Does anyone know any limo companies, or van or bus services that could do this? Thanks for any help!!:)

Concur with other poster that it is pretty much flat impossible to get to Vancouver, especially downtown Vancouver or North Van by 1 if leaving SeaTac at 10:30 using ground transportation. It is almost 160 miles from SeaTac to downtown Vancouver, a 2 1/2 hour driver WITHOUT border delays. You'd do best in a car, but the border on a summer sunday would be pretty tough, as Mapleleaves points out. Figure on an hour at the border, 30 minutes if you are lucky.

 

If you need to be in Vancouver starting at SeaTac at 10:30, your only guaranteed option is to fly SEA-YVR.

[stevenikkij]

It would be close to impossible to leave SeaTac at 10:30 and be in Vancouver by 1pm. Sunday traffic at the border is rough. Where in Vancouver?

Assuming their US residents, why not try a one-way car rental ?

Well they could get there as soon as they could. The one way car rental they would need a larger vehicle with 5 adults plus luggage for 2 weeks would be alot. So they were hoping for a limo or van or something. I guess at the one of the hotels downtown??

[Putterdude]

As a veteran I-5 warrior I would place the drive time closer to 3 hours depending upon where you leave from Seattle. While the line into Canada tends to be shorter than that into the US I would still budget an hour. So you really need to be leaving Seattle by 9 am to be here by 1 pm. So short of a schedule adjustment or flying from SEA to YVR it can't be done.

[zephyr17]

Pretty much agree with the drive time, Putterdude. 2 1/2 hours was the absolute best possible, including avoiding run ins with WSP for going 80 on I-5.;)

[mapleleaves]

Well they could get there as soon as they could. The one way car rental they would need a larger vehicle with 5 adults plus luggage for 2 weeks would be alot. So they were hoping for a limo or van or something. I guess at the one of the hotels downtown??

 

Yes, a one-way rental will be high but a limo will be much more. I mean it's a car AND a driver!

Figure a limo will run around $80- $100 an hr and the driver will be gone 6 hrs. With tip you can figure a minimum of $600. Seattle Express has many different types of service included limos, town cars, and small vans. www.shuttleexpress.com . Stila has the airport contract. Already There Limo gets positive comments on this forum. Do a search and you'll find other vendors.

I looked at Budget for a random Sunday in August. A one way rental from SeaTac to Vanc Airport was $370 for an SUV ( Ford Edge was the example). Doesn't seem outrageous to me; split 5 ways.

[Putterdude]

Pretty much agree with the drive time, Putterdude. 2 1/2 hours was the absolute best possible, including avoiding run ins with WSP for going 80 on I-5.;)

 

Must have left at about 5 am...and I once bought a whole new uniform for a WSP but have done likewise for a CHP member.;) But now I have retired my driving habits have reformed, well most times.;)

[zephyr17]

Must have left at about 5 am...and I once bought a whole new uniform for a WSP but have done likewise for a CHP member.;) But now I have retired my driving habits have reformed, well most times.;)

 

Went from Tacoma to the border in 90 minutes once...left at 4:30 am.:D Got to border around 6 and I was the only one there, so that was fast, too. Was in Vancouver by 7. It was also like 15 years ago.

 

Don't think anyone could replicate that leaving at 10:30 on a summer Sunday, though..:p

[scottbee]

Went from Tacoma to the border in 90 minutes once...left at 4:30 am.:D Got to border around 6 and I was the only one there, so that was fast, too. Was in Vancouver by 7. It was also like 15 years ago.

 

Don't think anyone could replicate that leaving at 10:30 on a summer Sunday, though..:p

 

Tacoma - Blaine is 145 mi, divided by 1½ hrs = 96 mph average. Maybe it's me, but I think that might just be a tiny bit of an exaggeration.

[zephyr17]

Tacoma - Blaine is 145 mi, divided by 1½ hrs = 96 mph average. Maybe it's me, but I think that might just be a tiny bit of an exaggeration.

Well, it was a long time ago, but I remember hitting the border at 6 something but well before 6:30. 85 mph would be 1:42, so call it 6:10/6:15, which, in light of your calculation, is more likely (and consistent with my driving habits at the time:cool:).

 

I know I never made in anywhere close to that time on any other occasion.:o

 

In any case, it seems unlikely that the OP can duplicate it, either the 85 mph or 96 mph version:rolleyes:

[Putterdude]

Now we have to have to have accuracy here...was it from Central Tacoma, North Tacoma or South Tacoma...or was it Fife, McCord or Fort Lewis...all of this really important .... we can't have frivolous details get in the way of a good story,:rolleyes: as far as I am concerned you hold the record for the dash to the border.:) Back when I used to travel weekly to Seatte (ok Bellevue and later Kirkland) I used to figure on 2.5 hrs from North Vancouver with a stop for a donut and coffee to go from Winchell's in Mt. Vernon.

[stevenikkij]

Thanks all for all of the suggestions!!! She is looking into all these options. My brother in law is going to a medical conference in Vancouver- they will be staying at a hotel by the convention center there. He doesn't have to be there at exactly 1pm, but pretty close after. It will be my sister and her family(they are all considered adults- so no little ones)- plus another teenager flying in- so they would be paying for the whole thing. She is gonna try Shuttle Express and Already There Limo as well. :D

[mapleleaves]

I'll be curious to hear which option they decide on and what it costs.

I remember this question came up once before, where someone wanted a limo to Vancouver. Never heard the outcome. Good luck

[stevenikkij]

I'll be curious to hear which option they decide on and what it costs.

I remember this question came up once before, where someone wanted a limo to Vancouver. Never heard the outcome. Good luck

 

I looked into a rental one way- sure enough found one for 1 way from Seattle airport to Vancouver airport through Budget- $175 for a grand jeep cherokee. They are very happy with me- of course I did tell them I got the advice from my friends at cruise critic. Thanks for all of the suggestions!!!!:D Can't wait to be there on Saturday!!

[zephyr17]

I looked into a rental one way- sure enough found one for 1 way from Seattle airport to Vancouver airport through Budget- $175 for a grand jeep cherokee. They are very happy with me- of course I did tell them I got the advice from my friends at cruise critic. Thanks for all of the suggestions!!!!:D Can't wait to be there on Saturday!!

Just remember there is usually a speed trap around Lake Samish south of Bellingham where the speed limit drops to 60.;)

[Gardyloo]

Just remember there is usually a speed trap around Lake Samish south of Bellingham where the speed limit drops to 60.;)

And driving at the limit along BC 99 north through Delta will get you run over.

 

Regardless, 1 PM is still out of the question IMO.

[scottbee]

I decided I should possibly slow down a bit last night, when I realized I was doing 140km/h (about 82mph) on I5 heading south to Bellingham last night; however, it really wasn't any faster than anyone else.

 

Do slow down around (either side) the border though, they love speed traps there.

[Putterdude]

Another spot the WSP watch carefully is that flat straight area north of Marysville around the Tulalip Casino and mall.

[zephyr17]

Another spot the WSP watch carefully is that flat straight area north of Marysville around the Tulalip Casino and mall.

Yeah and the extended the 60 mph zone around there in the last few years, too, IIRC.