Summer vacations and long weekend getaways are upon us, so it’s time to start planning to have some fun in the sun.
Whether it’s a couple days away or a full two-week escape, transportation is sometimes the last thing Vancouver Island travelers think of when they plan their local trips across the water to the Lower Mainland. Many travelers end up trading their work stress for travel stress as they become frazzled with lugging suitcases and bags, and worried about traffic, busy ferries and missed connections.
The is a convenient, hassle-free way to take travelers between Victoria and Vancouver, whether they are going home or away for work or pleasure.
Offered by the , this professional bus service lets passengers forget about taking their vehicles, thus avoiding inevitable traffic snarls and relieving travelers of the stress around making ferry reservations, especially during the busy spring and summer tourism seasons. For added peace of mind, the BC Ferries ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½or buses are guaranteed on board the sailings that they are scheduled for.
“It’s a cool, comfortable ride and it’s hassle free,” explains Samantha Wilson-Newton, brand manager with the Wilson’s Group. “We take care of your bags; we take care of your ferry reservation. All you have to do is load on the bus, stretch out and you’re on your way.”
Making transfers even more quick and easy, the BC Ferries ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½or offers on-route stops that are all close to Skytrain stations in Vancouver. The on-route stops include:
- Cambie and Broadway
- Cambie and 25th (King Edward)
- Cambie and 41st (Oakridge)
- Cambie and 49th (Langara)
- 10-plus downtown hotel pick up and drop off options.
The on-route stops in Victoria include:
- Multiple stops in the downtown area
- Mayfair Mall area at Douglas and Finlayson
- Uptown area at Vernon and Saanich
- Saanich on Elk Lake Drive
- Central Saanich pick-up at Pat Bay and Mt. Newton
Additionally, the service extends its route for travelers with destinations at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) or the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Place cruise ship terminal.
Island residents wanting to head over to Metro Vancouver to shop, enjoy a concert or spend a day at the PNE can now do so without dealing with exorbitant hotel fees, overnight parking charges, pricey on-street event parking, and fuel costs.
Multiple segments of the Vancouver Island population also stand to benefit from this service, including people who walk on the ferry; students looking to return home; seniors who do no drive, and those who want to avoid driving in congested traffic. With the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½or, you are guaranteed to get on board every time.
The service emerges as a convenient and hassle-free option for choice for those traveling further abroad.
“There are some Islanders who are not comfortable driving in Vancouver,” Wilson-Newton says. “It’s a different kettle of fish driving through downtown Vancouver compared to driving on the Island.”
“With the BC Ferries ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½or, you don’t have to worry about all those extra stressors that holiday travelling can sometimes bring,” Wilson-Newton continues. “And by taking our service you’re reducing your carbon emissions by 75 per cent because we have the ability to take 56 cars off the road as well. So for the environmentally-conscious traveler, travelling by bus is a very environmentally friendly way to travel.”
The BC Ferries ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½or operates via Book Early and Save, a dynamic pricing system that provides discounts to travelers who book online in advance, or purchase their tickets in person at Capital City Station in Victoria or at Pacific Central Station in Vancouver.
ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ residents can enjoy a 20 per cent discount on fares, while ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½-based seniors receive a 25 per cent discount. Bus Bucks Gift Cards are on sale at . Like cash, Bus Bucks have no transaction fees and no expiration date, so you can give the gift of travel all travel season long.
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