Bus from Amtrak to Westin Bayshore?

[iluvnm65]

I have heard that Vancouver has an excellent transit system, and we were thinking of taking a bus to our hotel. Is this doable for 5 people with one rolling suitcase each, and if so, where do we go to catch the bus when coming in on the train from Seattle?

 

Thanks!

[LeftcoastBC]

No problem getting on at the Station it is a hub. Closest you can get however is two blocks. Down hill most of the way though :) No transfers. Take the Stanley park bus (19)

[Putterdude]

You come out of the train station and you cross Main Street and bear a liitle south (left) and you will see the Sky Train station. Take Sky Train to Granville (Hudsons Bay store) and get off but keep your ticket, it is a transfer. Come up out the station (it is a subway at that point) to the front of the Hudsons Bay store, Georgia St. and get on a bus going west. Just tell the driver where you are going and he/she will let you off the closest stop, they are very good about that.

[LeftcoastBC]

You come out of the train station and you cross Main Street and bear a liitle south (left) and you will see the Sky Train station. Take Sky Train to Granville (Hudsons Bay store) and get off but keep your ticket, it is a transfer. Come up out the station (it is a subway at that point) to the front of the Hudsons Bay store, Georgia St. and get on a bus going west. Just tell the driver where you are going and he/she will let you off the closest stop, they are very good about that.

 

The bus you would transfer to in this scenario is the one that left right from the Amtrak station :) #19

[Putterdude]

Left Coast is correct Transit lists both as options but clearly the #19 bus is the most direct. I didn't check how often it runs but there would likely be a transit official at the Station hub that could tell you. But either way is pretty simple and should be quite managable with one roller bag each. Oh, the fare is $2.50 each and they would expect the exact fare in Canadian funds so you may want to get some Canadian money before you come. There maybe an ATM in the Amtrac Station, but it is likely to dispense $20 bills only, however there is a branch of the VanCity Credit Union adjacant the Sky Train Station so it shouldn't be a big problem.

[BCHappyGal]

The ticket machines at the skytrain station take credit cards

[iluvnm65]

BCHappyGal, do these machines sell bus tickets also? It sounds like that #19 bus would be easiest (no transfers).

[LeftcoastBC]

The machines are for all transit......Bus Skytrain and seabus...you will need Canadian cash or as BC G says you can use your CC

[scottbee]

The machines are for all transit......Bus Skytrain and seabus...you will need Canadian cash or as BC G says you can use your CC

 

To expand on that a bit for our out of town visitors;

Buses, Skytrain (elevated rail outside of downtown, subway downtown), and Seabus (between Waterfront Stn and the Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver) are all part of the same 'Translink' system. It's very handy for cruise travelers, because the downtown Skytrain/Seabus station is the Canada Place cruise terminal (ok, it's next door, but close enough).

 

Depending on how many zones 1/2/3 you travel, the fare is 2.50/3.75/5.00 (2.50 all day sat/sun, and after 6:30pm) for a 90 minute ticket good on any/all modes of travel listed above. You can buy your ticket on the bus (exact change), or at a ticket machine located at any Skytrain station (takes cash/credit and gives change). Keep that ticket, it's your 90 min pass. http://translink.bc.ca/ for more info

[iluvnm65]

I feel much better when I have a clear picture of what to expect. My hearfelt thanks to everyone who helped out!!! :)

[orchid72]

Here's the translink website. I've used the trip planner many times.