Vancouver trolley company

[lovetotraveltx]

For hop on/hop off are they the way to go? Or, do you like someone else?

 

Thank you!

[onefishtwofish]

We would like to know as well...contemplating renting a car in Vancouver.....

[tweety33]

Have not been there yet, but all my research says the hop on bus is the way to go. So that is our plan for June.

[Kamloops50]

A car in Vancouver isn't recommended. Much of the sightseeing is in the downtown core close to Canada Place . Unless you plan on going to Whistler (2 hrs North of Vancouver) or to Victoria (recommend transit) or Stevenson . Most are easily accessible by public transit.

Parking is poor and expensive ($25 /day) . On street parking is also very expensive as well if you can find it. Most tourist places charge for parking ($4/hour)

[4cats,1dog]

HO HO Trolley is pricey, get ticket on their website and you get a second day free.

[Ontario cruise duo]

I would not go to the expense of renting a car. If you are sightseeing in just Vancouver, and are fit and able to walk, it's great exercise. If not, use the trolly system (I have heard that you may waste a lot of time waiting for the trolly) or you can just use public transit or taxi.

[xlxo]

For hop on/hop off are they the way to go? Or, do you like someone else?

 

Thank you!

To clarify... how many days are you in Vancouver? What do you hope to see?

 

Looking at the route map... you can get a $9.50 Translink Day pass may be better value.

http://bigbus.ca/home/route-map

 

I guess it's cheaper than the LandSea Tour....

http://vancouvertours.com/tour/pre-cruise-vancouver-city-tour/

[Miss Dot]

Following this thread; as we just have the day there!

[Miss Dot]

To clarify... how many days are you in Vancouver? What do you hope to see?

 

Looking at the route map... you can get a $9.50 Translink Day pass may be better value.

http://bigbus.ca/home/route-map

 

I guess it's cheaper than the LandSea Tour....

http://vancouvertours.com/tour/pre-cruise-vancouver-city-tour/

 

Thanks for the links! I'm still looking for the Translink Day Pass. After looking at the Hop on Hop off that may be a good choice for us and cheaper than what is offered thru the cruise line.

 

Does anyone know if the tickets for the Hop on Hop off can be bought at the Cruise Terminal??? I know in NYC you have to purchase them at certain places. Also, I notice the Hop on Hop off shuts down at 6:30 pm; how would we get to the airport after touring?

[Miss Dot]

Thanks for the links! I'm still looking for the Translink Day Pass. After looking at the Hop on Hop off that may be a good choice for us and cheaper than what is offered thru the cruise line.

 

Does anyone know if the tickets for the Hop on Hop off can be bought at the Cruise Terminal??? I know in NYC you have to purchase them at certain places. Also, I notice the Hop on Hop off shuts down at 6:30 pm; how would we get to the airport after touring?

 

SORRY answered my own part one of the question. Here is the answer for anyone else looking:

 

Where can I buy my ticket(s)?

 

We make it easy to ride with Big Bus. Here are 6 ways you can buy your ticket(s).

1.Right here on bigbus.ca. Simply go to the 'Buy Now' page and follow the steps. You can Buy, Print & Go in just a couple of minutes!

2.At the WESTCOAST Sightseeing Welcome Centre in Gastown (Stop #1 on the map). Or at the Canada Place Kiosk (Stop #3 on the map)

3.The concierge or front desk staff at your hotel.

4.Directly from the driver as you Hop-On at any Big Bus stop.

5.From a Big Bus sales representative at select stops.

6.From various Big Bus retail outlets around the city.

 

Maybe a good answer for the 2nd part of my question (anyone done this train)???

 

There is an underground stop right across the street from the cruise terminal (Waterfront), and for $4, it took us right up to the YVR airport in about 20 minutes. It sure beats the $40 per person the cruise ship wanted to bus us to the airport! Make sure to take the YVR train or else you will have to get off the train and transfer.

Edited February 19, 2015 by Miss Dot

[xlxo]

Thanks for the links! I'm still looking for the Translink Day Pass. After looking at the Hop on Hop off that may be a good choice for us and cheaper than what is offered thru the cruise line.

 

Does anyone know if the tickets for the Hop on Hop off can be bought at the Cruise Terminal??? I know in NYC you have to purchase them at certain places. Also, I notice the Hop on Hop off shuts down at 6:30 pm; how would we get to the airport after touring?

The Hop on services does NOT go to the airport. You would get a cab. I recommend this with a weeks worth of cruise luggage.

 

The Translink Day pass are available to at select locations or the train stations. The passes cannot be used before 9:30am.

http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/DayPass.aspx

[lovetotraveltx]

SORRY answered my own part one of the question. Here is the answer for anyone else looking:

 

Where can I buy my ticket(s)?

 

We make it easy to ride with Big Bus. Here are 6 ways you can buy your ticket(s).

1.Right here on bigbus.ca. Simply go to the 'Buy Now' page and follow the steps. You can Buy, Print & Go in just a couple of minutes!

2.At the WESTCOAST Sightseeing Welcome Centre in Gastown (Stop #1 on the map). Or at the Canada Place Kiosk (Stop #3 on the map)

3.The concierge or front desk staff at your hotel.

4.Directly from the driver as you Hop-On at any Big Bus stop.

5.From a Big Bus sales representative at select stops.

6.From various Big Bus retail outlets around the city.

 

Maybe a good answer for the 2nd part of my question (anyone done this train)???

 

There is an underground stop right across the street from the cruise terminal (Waterfront), and for $4, it took us right up to the YVR airport in about 20 minutes. It sure beats the $40 per person the cruise ship wanted to bus us to the airport! Make sure to take the YVR train or else you will have to get off the train and transfer.

 

Sorry! I got lost somehow. What is the big bus?

[xlxo]

There is an underground stop right across the street from the cruise terminal (Waterfront), and for $4, it took us right up to the YVR airport in about 20 minutes. It sure beats the $40 per person the cruise ship wanted to bus us to the airport! Make sure to take the YVR train or else you will have to get off the train and transfer.

Yes, the Canada Line serves the airport to downtown.

• It's typically $9 from the airport ($4 for 2 zones and $5 airport surcharge) per person
  
• It's about $4 for 2 zones ($2.75 after 6:30pm) to the airport
  
• going to the airport, it's best to board at the Waterfront station. It's the first station on the line and means you get first dibs with your bulky luggage on the train.
  
• Board the Canada Line at the middle doors closest articulating joint. This area has an open common area without seats for your large luggage pieces. Sadly it also means you will be competing with cyclists and wheelchairs who have priority in the area
  http://www.seataf.com/blogs/canadaline/2009-04-09/images/KICX2098.jpg
  
• pay attention to the signs, you don't want the "Richmond/Brighouse" train that takes you to the Orient (Richmond)
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp23NjEILyc
  
• don't confuse the Canada Line with Expo/Millenium line. That train takes you East.
  
  
  

While I love riding the Canada Line... and do encourage tourists to explore the world-class system... it's not pretty with a weeks worth of cruise luggage and I find $35 taxi's simplier.

• It's $9 per person from the airport. You are not likely travelling by yourself. At a certain point, it's about the same price as a taxi.
  
• for red-eye flights, the train runs something like once every 20 minutes. The taxi will get your faster.
  
• You need to drag your luggage to the train station which can add to the 20 minute travel time. Taxi's can pick you up right at your hotel doorway and whisk you straight there.
  
• I've seen tourists struggle trying to figure out the vending machines
  
• many tourists walk in the wrong doors and block the aisle with luggage. This train is not exclusive to airport passengers... the general public also use the train... which can be crowded, especially during commuter hours.
  
• once you get out of the train station... how far is your hotel? Do you need a taxi anyways? Not all hotels are near the two train stations.
  

[xlxo]

Sorry! I got lost somehow. What is the big bus?

the big bus is the Vancouver Hop on service...

http://bigbus.ca

 

Is anyone following this thread planning to be in Vancouver on August 2, 2015 to use the Hop On service? DON'T!!!!

 

Downtown Vancouver will be in major gridlock for the annual Pride Festival parade. You want to avoid the Big Bus due to downtown road closures and will be very poor value for the Hop on service because of road closures. I recommend going to Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain on that day. Otherwise, stay downtown and check out the family parade.

• http://vancouverpride.ca/events/pride-parade/
  
• 
  

Edited February 19, 2015 by xlxo

[martincath]

... The Translink Day pass are available to at select locations or the train stations. The passes cannot be used before 9:30am.

http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/DayPass.aspx

Actually Day Passes can be used from first service until last xlxo, no need to wait until 9:30am - it actually confirms that on the link you posted... they're also available in any location that sells transit tickets, such as 7-Eleven, Safeway, and London Drugs.

 

Also, Big Bus is just one of our HOHO options. Big Pink/Grayline (who for now are connected to Big Bus, tickets valid on both services for the moment at least) and the Trolley are the others. Double-check route maps as the trolley does go to a couple of places the others don't like Science World, Urban Winery, Police Museum, Maritime Museum, Casino and also doesn't need to change vehicles for the stops around Stanley Park (their smaller vehicles can get places the bigger buses cannot).

 

As to Skytrain with luggage - I'm 6'1" and can sit with my 28" roller case in front of me at my seat no problem and that takes 2 weeks of clothes & toiletries for me. The bike/wheelchair area is NOT for luggage - it's for wheelchairs and bikes, so anyone using it for other purposes is of course expected to move along should someone actually want to use it for the designated purpose. Seats have huge legroom to ensure luggage can stay right next to your legs. If you are able to self-disembark there is absolutely no reason except freedom of choice not to use Skytrain to get to & from Canada Place.

 

Yes, a taxi is even simpler (unless you share no common language with the cabbie of course...) - but the ticket machines use simple words and offer multiple languages; a Grade 3 education level is considered the baseline for understanding them so anyone who can make sense of a daily newspaper is more than capable of navigating the screens. The only potentially tricky factor is the Offpeak/Peak pricing, so worst case someone who doesn't know what time the discount applies overpays by $1.25.

[xlxo]

Actually Day Passes can be used from first service until last xlxo, no need to wait until 9:30am - it actually confirms that on the link you posted...

Thanks for the correction.... In the old days, the zones would be off at 9:30am and the later day pass start was to discourage 3 zone riders from using them. Now that the zones run until 6:30am, the day pass increase reflects this.

Yes, a taxi is even simpler (unless you share no common language with the cabbie of course...)

I haven't run across a Vancouver cab driver that did not understand English.

 

 

The only potentially tricky factor is the Offpeak/Peak pricing, so worst case someone who doesn't know what time the discount applies overpays by $1.25.

• Peak pricing is Monday to Friday from start of service (5am) til 6:30pm.
  
• Other times are off peak, including holidays.
  
• There's also the YVR Canada Line $5 surcharge when leaving the airport. That $5 surcharge for a family can justify a cab ride airport to hotel door.
  

[martincath]

Thanks for the correction.... In the old days, the zones would be off at 9:30am and the later day pass start was to discourage 3 zone riders from using them. Now that the zones run until 6:30am, the day pass increase reflects this.I haven't run across a Vancouver cab driver that did not understand English.

 

 

 

• Peak pricing is Monday to Friday from start of service (5am) til 6:30pm.
  
• Other times are off peak, including holidays.
  
• There's also the YVR Canada Line $5 surcharge when leaving the airport. That $5 surcharge for a family can justify a cab ride airport to hotel door.
  

A less-than-100%-complete answer from me above, and your notes while useful also help illustrate one of my points - how many tourists actually know when BC holidays are? Even other Canadians often don't know we have Family Day, or that it is not the same date as the other provinces which do - so expecting a tourist to learn this is unrealistic (heck, sometimes I have to double-check whether it's 6 or 6:30pm before I can use Off Peak fares).

 

I believe the poster above only mentioned going TO the airport. Inbound surcharge remains easily avoidable by purchasing a Day Pass or a pack of FareSavers at the airport 7-Eleven rather than on the platform.

 

Language comment was in respect of tourists who don't speak good English rather than a dig at local cabbies. There are also several neighbourhoods around here were you can function perfectly well without a word of English spoken... I work with kids every week who are the only English-speakers in their whole family!

 

The archetypal English-only or English/Indian-subcontinental-language cabbie can't help someone who speaks Mandarin or Spanish, two extremely common tourist languages - that's the beauty of automated ticket machines in general, it's easy to code multiple languages and they are always available whereas there is no requirement for any local cabbie to speak anything but functional English.

[Lizzie68]

Haven't read the whole thread (sorry:o) but HOHO is definitely the way to go. And if you join Groupon for Vancouver, there are often half-price tickets offers on there.