Going to Victoria. Need advice (Seattle, Vancouver: rental car, rental, hotel)

[searevita]

Our family going to Victoria BC for 6 months sabbatical. We are trying to figure out best way to get were. we will traveling from Midwest at the end of December. So far the best way seems to be Amtrak. The train scheduled to arrive at 10:30 a.m., its to late to go on Clipper. The Question is - If we will going to rent a car and drive to the ferry which day is better traffic wise - December 26 Sunday or December 28 Tuesday? Also which ferry should we choose?

[Inkpoe]

State ferries out of the Seattle DT goes to Bainbridge Island, and Bremerton. And its the kind you can drive/walk-on. Bainbridge Island is nice, the waterfront is beautiful and has cute shops and good restaurants. Bremerton's isn't too bad either.

The Victorian Clipper is a different operation from the State ferries. You only walk on. I am assuming that you're getting off from King's Station? You might as well find a hotel room close in the DT area, or look along the light rail route for the closest/cheapest hotel. I would say the 26th will be more quieter than the 28th. If you are going to take the State ferries, make sure you check their schedule.

[Ira500]

My preferred route to get to Victoria is to drive to Tsawassen, British Columbia, which is just over the border, and take the ferry from there. The ferry from Anacortes WA doesn't run very frequently, and it's a schlep to get to Port Angeles (though nice), but the BC Ferry from Tsawassen runs more frequently.

[searevita]

Thank you for replys. We do not plan spend the night in Seattle and because we are going to Victoria for 6 months we will have at least 3 suitcases and we have 2 children. So light rail not for us this time. Looks like we will need to rent a car and drive to Tsawassen. Is it easy to rent a car on Sunday around King's station?

[MaikeerinWA]

I remember reading somewhere that Avis and Enterprise will pick you up a the train station, if you give them 24-hour notice. But Enterprise locations are typically closed on Sundays.

You could always take a cab to a rental car location, but check Sunday hours.

[searevita]

What if we get off the train in Edmons or Everett?

[just4ivaylo]

I'd recommend going up to BC and taking the ferry from there as well. Their ferries are much, much nicer and seem to be more frequent.

[AzDreamer]

You may not have to rent a car. There are buses from Vancouver BC that take you via the Tsawassen ferry to Victoria. From Seattle you can take Amtrak or Greyhound to Vancouver.

I googled 'bus vancouver victoria' and found
Pacific Coach Lines - Bus service between Vancouver and Victoria, and YVR & Whistler

[sean98125]

Travel | The many ways to travel between Seattle, Victoria and Vancouver, B.C. | Seattle Times Newspaper

[sean98125]

If you really want to get to Victoria on Sunday then Kenmore Air is probably your best bet. They can get you from Lake Union to Victoria in an hour. You could be there by dinner time. Driving to Tswassen would take you 2.5 to 3 hours and then there'd be another 90 minutes or so on the ferry, and then another 45 minutes to an hour to get to Victoria. I wouldn't rely on the Empire Builder to arrive at King Street Station on time - it's more likely that it will be a couple of hours late.

If you don't like flying then you might want to spend the night in Seattle and catch the Clipper the next morning. Renting a car to Tswassen and catching the ferry would make for a very long day of travel, especially coming off a night or two on the train. Give the kids a break, play tourist for a day and let them run around, then take the fast boat to Victoria and get there by lunchtime Monday.