hotel before Amtrak to Vancouver

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Kadeycat

Guest
We arrive on Saturday night at Sea-TAC airport. We have to catch the train the next morning to head for Vancouver. Is it better to take a taxi and stay near the train station or is there any hotel that has a shuttle from the airport and to the train station??
We have a family group going and they are depending on me to find the best solution. Any help is appreciated.
 
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BSeabob

Guest
As the train leaves Northbound only at 7:40 AM I would recommend an in town stay for just time management in the morning. We have stayed at the Crowne Plaza. Sorry I am not failure with Seattle shuttles.
 
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scrappyconch

Guest
we are staying at the Holiday Inn Express and they have advised that they will arrange to take to the station. I think they have a shuttle....but am not sure because they won't pick us up from the airport.

Scrappy
 
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Kadeycat

Guest
We ended up taking the train 'bus' that afternoon into Vancouver. It made me feel better to know I didn't have to deal with customs and the 3 to ?? hr trip on the day of the cruise embarkation. It actually took over 5 1/2 hrs. but was only $24 vs. the double airfare ($199 vs $400) that it would have cost to fly into Vancouver. I could not believe that it was bumper to bumper traffic almost the whole way north. We stayed right across the street from BC Stadium at the Hampton Inn. Very nice hotel, includes breakfast and we had time for a Vancouver city tour that dropped us off at the pier.
Hope this might help anyone who is doing the research.
 
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BSeabob

Guest
thanks Kadeycat.
What day of the week did you travel and
Which border crossing did you go through into Canada ?? Peace Arch or Pacific (truck) ??
have you returned ?
How was the trip ???
 
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Kadeycat

Guest
We flew into Seattle on Saturday from Denver. Our flight landed at 10:20 am. We booked through Amtrak for the trip up to Vancouver . They have a 10:45, 1:15, 6:15 and 9:30 pm bus. Only the first 7:45 trip of the day is by train although they are hoping to add another this summer. That way the traffic is not so much a factor. My dad had taken the train into Seattle from Michigan and actually got there 20 minutes early. I'm not sure what its called but the border crossing was on I-5. They make you get off, claim your luggage and return to the bus. It can take awhile. Most got through with no issue but there was this one college student from Amsterdam. He was really nice but the profile sent up warning signals and they did a secondary screening on him.
Our trip was wonderful. The seas were rough the last week in April but not much rain at all. Very windy and cold weather but not too bad. Still made our excursions.
The ship went up Tracy Arm until we could see Sawyer Glacier but its stil frozen over so we could not get too close. The scenery was more special due to lots of snow. Saw lots of little avalanches fall off the cliffs.
Any specific questions.
 
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BSeabob

Guest
thanks..just wondering about buses at the border....the train is so much easier but with one only a day lots of folks are like you and end up on a transfer or a bus of some sort.
Your crossing would have been the main one at the Peace Arch. USA is working on their crossing but that started AFTER you crossed so I think there are more factors at play now.

Glad you had a great experience. Stick around and add some comments..Have you every thought of doing a review?
 
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