Navigating Yourself Through Vancouver British Columbia
Inner-City Transportation Options
Vancouver is one of the few remaining North American cities to place a higher level of importance on its’ communities over road infrastructure. Instead of a 6 lane highway cutting through the downtown core, SkyTrains and other public transit vehicles have been used to service the increasing transportation needs of the city’s residents. This translates into a direct benefit for travelers as they are presented with a number of transportation options. In Vancouver, guests are not relegated to a specific area/community; for example, tourists may stay in a vacation rental or hotel in the nearby city of Burnaby while still only being a 15 minute SkyTrain ride away from downtown.
Vancouver’s public transit system spans across the Greater Vancouver area through a combination of SkyTrains, shuttles, buses, and sea-buses. Tourists are able to go from The Vancouver International Airport to Grouse Mountain for the nominal price.
Although renting a car, taking a taxi, or riding public transit may be quick & easy; renting a bicycle can sometimes be the best way to see Vancouver’s beauty. Wrapped around the majority of the downtown coast is a bike path which showcases many of Vancouver’s diverse settings. Along the way, guests will be treated a host of popular attractions including: Stanley Park, Granville Island, and The Telus World of Science.
Airport Transportation Options
At the end of a good vacation, most people have to return to where they came from; and in most cases, that requires returning to YVR (Vancouver International Airport). Luckily this trip can be made quite easy as tourists are presented with several options in getting to the airport.
RAV Line – The Richmond Airport Vancouver Line, or simply RAV Line, was completed prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics and stretches from the center of downtown Vancouver all the way to YVR. Passengers will travel underground for the majority of the trip and cross over the Fraser River before arriving at the airport. The RAV Line is the typically the least expensive method of getting to the airport.
Another efficient way of getting to the airport is by use of the traditional taxi-cab. All taxis in Vancouver use standard metered rates, so there is no need to negotiate beforehand. For guests arriving in YVR, there is always a line-up of taxis right outside the airport doors.
For guests arriving in Vancouver but heading out to other local destinations, like Whistler Blackcomb for example, there are charter bus options available; however it is recommended that guests pre-book their seats, especially for charters that pickup at the airport.