CANADA
vancouver | victoria travel tips | getting there CANADA
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unsolicited advice Thanks to our travel credit card, I enjoyed a complimentary breakfast for four, a discounted rate, and an indulgent room upgrade.Don’t forget to bring travel-size containers! The Empress Hotel offers Le Labo Rose 31 soap and lotion, and you’ll want to take these luxurious scents home with you.Use a travel credit card to avoid pesky international feesFerries can fill up fast, so be sure to plan and book your rides ahead of time. Check out my detailed guide below for a hassle-free experience.When dining out, it’s customary to tip 15-20% of the pre-tax bill for servers. For bartenders and wine stewards, a slightly lower tip is standard.
vancouver, bc
vancouver, bc
EAT
Cadero Cafe
Cheesecake Etc
Maska
MeeT in Gastown
Nuba in Gastown
☆Tim Hortons Coffee
SEE
Alley Oop
Granville Island Public Market (touristy, eat candied smoked salmon)
Jericho Sailing Center
Stanley Park
Prospect Point Lookout
SHOP
Boboli Retail Group Inc
JAK's Beer Wine Spirits
☆Provence en Couler
Goat milk soap
Lavender Vanilla Tea
Shaughnessy Granville Neighborhood
Turnabout Thrift
SLEEP
Cascades Casino Delta (affordable, 30 min to city/ 20 min to ferry)
victoria, bc
victoria, bc
EAT
10 Acres Bistro
Cafe Brio
Cafe Mexico
☆Citrus & Cane
Crust Bakery
Floyd's Diner James Bay
Fuego Old Town Eatery
☆Habit Coffee
Ted Lasso Shortbread
Jam Cafe
John's Place Restaurant
Nourish Kitchen & Cafe
☆Q at the Fairmont Empress
Empress Gin Drinks
☆Red Fish Blue Fish (plan for a line)
The Ruby on Johnson
☆The Village Restaurant (cute surrounding area)
Victoria Pie Co
SEE
Hatley Castle
☆Water taxi to/ from Fishermans Wharf
Walk one way, taxi back
☆Sapphire Day Spa
☆Tasting at Victoria Distillers (Empress Gin)
☆Tea at Empress Hotel
Blue Suede Shoes
Rose Congou
Kyoto Cherry Rose
Spring
SHOP
Murchie's (Gmas fav tea spot)
Public Mercantile
Rook & Rose
Spank Clothing
Turnabout (cute surrounding area)
STREETS TO SHOP ON
Fisgard St.
Fort
Government
Lojo
Lower Yates
Oak Bay Ave
Pandora
SLEEP
☆Empress Hotel
The Butchart Gardens
The Butchart Gardens
Underwhelming and expensive. If you go, ensure its a full bloom season.
My favorite roses:
Jolly, Netherlands, 1934
Fragrant Cloud, Germany, 1963
Fragrant Charm, Germany, 1983
SHI-UN, Japan, 1985
Radient Perfume, USA, 2002
Perfume Factory, USA, 2016
Parade Day, USA, 2018
GETTING THERE
GETTING THERE
Planes
Planes
Vancouver
Fly directly into Vancouver International Airport (YVR). It's well-connected with flights from major cities worldwide.
From the airport, you can take the Canada Line SkyTrain to downtown Vancouver in about 25 minutes.
Victoria
Fly into Victoria International Airport (YYJ), which is smaller and typically requires a connection through Vancouver or Seattle. From the airport, it’s a 30-minute drive or shuttle to downtown Victoria.
Tip: For budget-friendly flights, book in advance and consider flying into Seattle and then taking a bus, ferry or car.
Ferries
Ferries
Vancouver to Victoria
Take BC Ferries from Tsawwassen Terminal (south of Vancouver) to Swartz Bay (north of Victoria). The ferry ride takes about 1.5 hours, with stunning views of the Gulf Islands along the way.
Seattle to Victoria
Alternatively, take the Clipper Ferry directly from downtown Seattle to Victoria’s Inner Harbour, which takes about 2.5 hours.
San Juan Islands to Victoria
: Take a ferry from Friday Harbor or Orcas Island to Sidney, BC. From Sidney, it’s a short 30-minute drive to Victoria.
Victoria to Port Townsend
Take a ferry from Victoria to Port Townsend, drive 2 hours to Bainbridge Island and take the ferry into Seattle.
Tip
Arrive at the ferry terminal early, as they can be busy.
Walk-on passengers usually have more flexibility than vehicles, especially during peak times.
Automobiles
Automobiles
From the U.S.
If you’re driving from the U.S., head towards the Peace Arch or Pacific Highway border crossings near Blaine, Washington. From Seattle, it's about a 2.5-hour drive to Vancouver, depending on border wait times.
To Victoria
To reach Victoria by car, drive to Tsawwassen (about 45 minutes south of Vancouver) and take the BC Ferries ferry to Swartz Bay, which is a 1.5-hour sail. From Swartz Bay, it’s a 30-minute drive to Victoria.
Tip:
Check border wait times online and have your passport ready. The ferry to Victoria is popular, so book your spot in advance, especially in summer.
last visited june 2023
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