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Vancouver International Airport (YVR) ranks as one of the best airports in Canada. It is also the second busiest after Toronto's Pearson Airport. It has received multiple awards, has been given the distinction of Best Canadian Airport in the regional results and has been named the best airport in North America. There are many options of transportation out of the airport and a 21 minute drive will take you straight to downtown Vancouver if there isn't much traffic. It has a main Domestic and International terminal along with the South Terminal that is still in use and is located in a remote part of the airport.
Car rental companies such as National, Avis, Budget Hertz and Dollar all have desks set up on the ground floor of the terminal. Each offers pickup and return services at this point. Car rental giant, Enterprise, offers an off-site service at the Vancouver Airport.
After picking up your rental car you will head out of the airport area on Grant McConachie Way going East. Watch for overhead signs directing you to either Vancouver or the Richmond / Seattle area on I-99. To continue to Vancouver, hug left on the Grant McConachie Way, as you follow the road into the city.
When returning your rental car from the City of Vancouver, you will enter back into the airport facility in the same way that you left the airport when you picked up your car. When you get within about 1 km of the facility, you will notice overhead blue signs directing the proper lane choice for your rental car return. There is a Petro-Canada fueling station on the left side of the road just before you enter into the airport area. Filling up your rental vehicle before returning the car should save you a little in fuel costs. After fueling, take a left at the Y into the car rental return area.
In the International arrival hall you will come across a large beautiful waterfall down the escalators leading to customs and immigration. If you want to leave the airport, one way out is taking the SkyTrain that will get you to the downtown core in 25 minutes and avoid traffic. You can take the SkyTrain straight to the Ferry Terminal that will take you to enjoy the nice sightings of Tsawwassen, BC. If you prefer a Cab to the main part of the city, it will cost you around $30 Canadian, but due the lack of public transportation compared to Toronto renting a car for a couple of days would not be a bad idea. If all else fails, you could always take the N10 night bus to either Richmond or the downtown area of Vancouver.
In the airport you can enjoy the collection of the largest Pacific Northwest Coast Native art collection in the world. You will find everything from banking facilities, foreign exchange booths and a wide range of shops to keep you busy. If you're ever feeling hungry there are also restaurants, bars and fast food places to make sure that you are fed and happy.
If you're looking for something fancy and relaxing, why not head down to the independent Plaza Premium Lounge that will cost you around $35 to $40 to enjoy. In there you will find business and entertainment facilities, showers and spas along with the spacious lounges that they offer. Looking to get internet? Then open up your phone or laptop and connect to the free WiFi services offered at the airport and pass the time surfing the internet.
Vancouver International Airport is a good place to have a transit in. If you're to enjoy the city though, Vancouver is the most fun and exciting city to be in the West Coast of Canada. So if you do stop by for a few hours, why not explore the city and see what it has to offer. You can get a breath of fresh air and everyone knows that visiting a city never counts if you don't leave the airport. So I hope you find this helpful and have fun at your next stay in Vancouver.
The Vancouver Airport offers an "on-premises" luxury hotel called the Fairmont. The hotel is fairly expensive, so purchase at your own risk. As far as we can tell, the hotel doesn't offer any day rates, so a minimum of one night is necessary to book. The hotel touts itself on being soundproofed, to block airplane sound.
There are several hotels within 5 km of the Vancouver Airport. Marriott, Hilton, and Holiday Inn (among others) will all have facilities much cheaper than the above-mentioned Fairmont.
From the Airport to the city center of Vancouver is about 11 km. See directions above. Many folks, however, land in the Vancouver Airport with ideas of traveling somewhere other than Vancouver itself. So, for your benefit, we have compiled a list of other nearby cities and attractions - and the car rental driving distance to get to them. These are only estimates, and are from the airport itself.
Richmond, British Columbia, Canada 7 km.
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada 21 km.
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 25 km.
Delta, British Columbia, Canada 26 km.
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada 396 km.
Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada 40 km.
Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada 82 km.
Virtually all types of vehicles are available at the Vancouver International Airport. SUV's, Compacts, Economy Cars, Minivans and Standard Vehicles are all available at the Vancouver Airport. Just run a booking request above and see what comes up. Thanks for shopping with Eurocar Rental for a Vancouver Airport Car Rental!