Car Rental vs public transportation Victoria & Vancouver

[tamsocal]

last minute cruise & trying to make plans. There will be 7 of us. Trying to decide if it is better to rent a car in either or both Victoria & Vancouver for both price & convenience. 2 seniors & 2 toddlers- so want to keep things flexible & not to scheduled. No specific plans for either city-- thinking about

Victoria- Butchart Gardens and looking for other suggestions

Vancouver- been to Stanley park & loved it- probably want to go again and considering Grouse Mountain.

 

How is parking in both cities & ease of driving for those not familiar with the area?

thanks for the help

[scottbee]

last minute cruise & trying to make plans. There will be 7 of us. Trying to decide if it is better to rent a car in either or both Victoria & Vancouver for both price & convenience. 2 seniors & 2 toddlers- so want to keep things flexible & not to scheduled. No specific plans for either city-- thinking about

Victoria- Butchart Gardens and looking for other suggestions

Vancouver- been to Stanley park & loved it- probably want to go again and considering Grouse Mountain.

 

How is parking in both cities & ease of driving for those not familiar with the area?

thanks for the help

 

the transit system is excellent in both cities. My only comment is that transit to Butchart Gardens does take a while as the gardens are 15 miles out of downtown.

 

Vancouver: http://translink.bc.ca/

Victoria: http://bctransit.com/

[LeftcoastBC]

Just for getting all those folks around Vancouver Island and back I would recommend the rental of a vehicle that fits you all. As long as you do it with eyes wide open on ferry charges and parking etc. in Vancouver however. Victoria is a little more reasonable for parking.

It would just make everything more flexible.

[Putterdude]

With 7 of you I would be inclined to investigate the renting of a van for economy. Victoria is very easy to get around in and parking is fairly available and not overly expensive. Vancouver being much larger is a little more difficult to drive around in and parking while readily available is more expensive.

[tamsocal]

thanks everyone!- I will keep w/ my mini van car rental.

How is parking at Stanley Park & suspension bridge?

[Putterdude]

You will find lots of parking in both locations although parking in Stanely Park can get a bit tight on a summer weekend. If you are visiting the park on a weekend you may be better off to do it in the morning and then proceed over the Lions Gate Bridge to the suspension bridge.

[d39jweb]

We're coming into victoria & vancouver on the splendor this week...

Since there are 8 of us (incl. 4 kids) renting a car is difficult.

 

Are we able to walk to a trolley line from the terminal?

 

What would you suggest as a 'do not miss this' in each place?

 

Thanks in advance for help...trying to reschedule ourselves in a pinch..

[Urban trekker]

My trolley I assume that you mean a hop on hop on type of service - if so - provided that you are berthing at Canada Place - both Vancouver Trolley and Big Bus will be waiting for you right outside the terminal - Vancouver trolley now has two runs - a blue and a red loop - Canada Place is the meet point.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis