Portland Travel Question (Enterprise: rental car, rentals, hotels)

[RjRobb2]

In April I am going to be traveling with a group of four from Vancouver. We are taking a rental car from Vancouver and I am curious to know if we should keep it for the weekend or just turn it in when we get there to save some money. I am not sure where we are staying but we are there for a Portland Timbers game so we will be staying somewhere near Jeld-Wen Field.

Also, we will not have a ton of time for sight seeing but is there anything that we should absolutely see. None of us have been to Portland before and not sure when we will be back, if ever.

[hamellr]

Vancouver BC or Washington?

Depending on what company you're renting from, the mileage may be your real killer, or the one way fees. Enterprise is free mileage for instance, but their one way fee is another ~30% over the daily fee.

I'd keep the car as one of the things you really want to see is going to be the Columbia Gorge, which will need a car.

Also, there aren't many hotels near Jen-Weld field, you'll be able to stay in downtown easy enough as you're only talking about ten to fifteen blocks. If money is a concern, you might save money by staying outside of downtown (and the nicer hotels,) and driving or taking MAX to the game.

[SETabor]

How are you going to get back to Vancouver? It would likely be cheaper to get a weekend car rental and keep it the whole time than to get two one-way rentals.

[RjRobb2]

Originally Posted by hamellr

Vancouver BC or Washington?

BC

Originally Posted by hamellr

Depending on what company you're renting from, the mileage may be your real killer, or the one way fees. Enterprise is free mileage for instance, but their one way fee is another ~30% over the daily fee.

I'd keep the car as one of the things you really want to see is going to be the Columbia Gorge, which will need a car.

Also, there aren't many hotels near Jen-Weld field, you'll be able to stay in downtown easy enough as you're only talking about ten to fifteen blocks. If money is a concern, you might save money by staying outside of downtown (and the nicer hotels,) and driving or taking MAX to the game.

To drive from Vancouver BC to Portland, it is like $220 a day plus $60 in fees. But, if we can find a way to get to Bellingham, WA and get a car there, we can get a car for $200 to have from Friday morning to Sunday morning. If we can find a cheap and easy way to get to Bellingham, WA we will do the second option.

[RjRobb2]

Originally Posted by SETabor

How are you going to get back to Vancouver? It would likely be cheaper to get a weekend car rental and keep it the whole time than to get two one-way rentals.

We are from Kansas City, we arent returning to Vancouver, we are going home on Sunday.

[SETabor]

Look into Amtrak. Depending on the number of people, it may be cheaper or close to the same cost and there's no line at the border.

[RjRobb2]

Originally Posted by SETabor

Look into Amtrak. Depending on the number of people, it may be cheaper or close to the same cost and there's no line at the border.

Amtrack from Vancouver to Bellingham? We want to drive to Portland because we have never been in the area and want to be able to stop in Seattle and wherever else to check things out.

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by RjRobb2

BC



To drive from Vancouver BC to Portland, it is like $220 a day plus $60 in fees. But, if we can find a way to get to Bellingham, WA and get a car there, we can get a car for $200 to have from Friday morning to Sunday morning. If we can find a cheap and easy way to get to Bellingham, WA we will do the second option.

Amtrak does go between Vancouver and Bellingham. Looks like the fare is $12., and leaves Vancouver at 5:45 pm ... and takes 2 hours to Bellingham. Or, there's a shuttle service. It's more expensive ($28) but goes more often.

[RjRobb2]

Originally Posted by hamellr

Depending on what company you're renting from, the mileage may be your real killer, or the one way fees. Enterprise is free mileage for instance, but their one way fee is another ~30% over the daily fee.

I'd keep the car as one of the things you really want to see is going to be the Columbia Gorge, which will need a car.

Also, there aren't many hotels near Jen-Weld field, you'll be able to stay in downtown easy enough as you're only talking about ten to fifteen blocks. If money is a concern, you might save money by staying outside of downtown (and the nicer hotels,) and driving or taking MAX to the game.

What rental cars charge mileage fees? I have never been charged a mileage fee anytime I have rented a car and all the quotes I have gotten have said unlimited mileage.

We got a hotel a 1/4 mile from Jen-Weld. I dont recall which one it is though.

Originally Posted by EnricoV

Amtrak does go between Vancouver and Bellingham. Looks like the fare is $12., and leaves Vancouver at 5:45 pm ... and takes 2 hours to Bellingham. Or, there's a shuttle service. It's more expensive ($28) but goes more often.

Unfortunately, we are wanting to leave Vancouver around 9AM or even earlier so that isnt an option.

I think taking a cab to Bellingham and then picking up a rental car there is the best way to go.

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by RjRobb2

What rental cars charge mileage fees? I have never been charged a mileage fee anytime I have rented a car and all the quotes I have gotten have said unlimited mileage.

We got a hotel a 1/4 mile from Jen-Weld. I dont recall which one it is though.





Unfortunately, we are wanting to leave Vancouver around 9AM or even earlier so that isnt an option.

I think taking a cab to Bellingham and then picking up a rental car there is the best way to go.

There's a train that departs from Vancouver BC at 6:45 am on Friday mornings and gets to Bellingham at 8:45 am. I'd think that a cab to Bellingham might be pretty expensive.

Alternatively there's the option of just taking the train all the way to Portland from Vancouver BC(unless you wanted to see something on the way down). If you wanted to see something further out around Portland(Columbia Gorge, Mt. Hood, the Coast) for a day, you could just rent a car for the day downtown--pretty cheap usually and you could just drop it off at the airport. It might be a better deal for 4 people though to rent a car compared to the cost of a train ticket all the way to Portland. But if you're staying near downtown and just want to see stuff around the central part of Portland(Washington Park and the Japanese Garden, Powell's Books, Crystal Ballroom, the Pearl District, downtown restaurants and bars, Chinese Garden, etc) it's actually easier to get around without a car.

Timbers games are a whole lot of fun at Jeld-Wen and I'm sure you guys will be treated well as KC fans... The Timbers Army is pretty passionate bunch, but except for games against the Sounders, it's usually pretty respectful...