Going to be in Vancouver for a week in September for one of the missus' friend's wedding.
We've got a few spare days so I was wondering -

Is Vancouver's public transit system as bad as everybody makes out if you're just visiting?
Car rentals seem to be full of hidden fees if you're picking up from the airport. Anybody have any idea of how much I should be looking to pay for a week's rental for a compact or mid-size vehicle, all costs included (in other words has anybody done it recently and how much did you pay)?

That is all for now.

Thanks for any help.

No,the buses and Skytrain are quite good. Not like Europe but better than most N. American cities.

Rental car should cost you between 250 - 300 dollars for the week.

I looked up this, especially for you ....

Transit is the best way to do Vancouver. You can get a multi zone one day pass that covers all transit buses, sky train and sea bus. There is also a hop and and off tram bus that goes around Vancouver and Stanley Park. Would avoid renting a car unless you want to get out of town, you'll spend half you time trying to park and half your budget paying for it.

http://www.translink.ca/

I dont't get it!! am I being dense . .

anyway = airport is a good bus ride from downtown (bout $40 taxi)- but you can pick up hire cars ceharper downtown than at the airport.

If yr staying downtown then Public Transit is fine for 2 days -unless you want to head out further . . . .

Don't worry Carrie - I was just being silly - Mr Lee will get it (and hopefully will just smile )

Won't the new canada line be open then too

No.

I will rent a car just to drive to Cochrane and hunt you down so you can be "dealt with" for your insensitivity.

I know where it is you know.

Thanks all. Looks like public transit wins the day.

hmm - bit touch & go on that . . .

Canada Line opens next week!

http://www.canadaline.ca/

P.S. In my experience a taxi from the airport to downtown is more like $25-$30 but I guess where downtown and at what time you'd been travelling.

Thats the grand opening adele - dont believe then that it will be full service from then on!!

Time of day's the big factor - I've rarely seen much change out of $50 (from YVR to W.Broadway, which is still a little distance from reaching the downtown core), but almost always been travelling at peak commuter times.

I heard on the radio last night that it's about to go operational. Certainly will be by September. It seems like they only just started it. Very impressive and on time (in fact it's early) and on budget - how often does that happen!

As far as being in Vancouver and the immediate area, you don't need a car. Between transit and cabs you'll do fine. Transit is very reasonably priced. Most of downtown will be zone 1 which is 2.50 I think (ticket good for 1.5 hours). day pass is under 10 I believe.

I wouldn't bother renting a car.

I used to find cabs annoying hard to find being used to just being able to hail them anywhere you are; however you do get used to going to the hotels etc to find them.

I agree about the downtown core - you can walk from one end to the other in 25 minutes in either direction.