Getting from Vancouver to Seattle?

Orlandoaddict · 20 Jan 17, 01:17 PM

We had planned to get the train from Vancouver to Seattle as part of our trip this summer, but have now found that it only leaves twice a day at 6am (which will be far too early for us to get to from Whistler) or 5.30pm. Having never been to Seattle before, I am worried about arriving after dark in an area that we don't know - It's never easy for us to jump straight into a cab as we are a family of 5 and don't want to struggle to get onward transportation late at night.

An alternative is the bus but I am hearing horror stories about 3hr waits at the border so not an ideal solution either.

I'm pretty certain I can't do a one way car rental as a UK citizen - But please correct me if I'm wrong.

Has anyone got any experience of an of the methods of travelling this route? Or the location/Safety of Seattle train station?

Any advice or suggestions would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks.

**arielrocks** · 21 Jan 17, 06:41 AM

Originally Posted by Orlandoaddict

We had planned to get the train from Vancouver to Seattle as part of our trip this summer, but have now found that it only leaves twice a day at 6am (which will be far too early for us to get to from Whistler) or 5.30pm. Having never been to Seattle before, I am worried about arriving after dark in an area that we don't know - It's never easy for us to jump straight into a cab as we are a family of 5 and don't want to struggle to get onward transportation late at night.

An alternative is the bus but I am hearing horror stories about 3hr waits at the border so not an ideal solution either.

I'm pretty certain I can't do a one way car rental as a UK citizen - But please correct me if I'm wrong.

Has anyone got any experience of an of the methods of travelling this route? Or the location/Safety of Seattle train station?

Any advice or suggestions would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks.

We went from Seattle to Vancouver by train and remember it being an early start, I think the train went at 7am.

It was such a beautiful journey I would highly recomend it! You could stay in Vancouver the night before and catch the early train?

Seattle station is downtown, and didn't feel unsafe.

Or there is the Bolt bus, crosses the border so yes you'll have to get off and do that.

One way car rentals are pretty much cost prohibitive! Although I think thrifty/hertz do them for an extortionate fee.

Have you looked at a flight from whistler to Seattle?

Disney_time · 21 Jan 17, 09:41 AM

We got SeaCat from Seattle to Vancouver Island, but I don't know if there's one into Vancouver itself. The border stuff was done on leaving Seattle.

Orlandoaddict · 21 Jan 17, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by arielrocks

We went from Seattle to Vancouver by train and remember it being an early start, I think the train went at 7am.

It was such a beautiful journey I would highly recomend it! You could stay in Vancouver the night before and catch the early train?

Seattle station is downtown, and didn't feel unsafe.

Or there is the Bolt bus, crosses the border so yes you'll have to get off and do that.

One way car rentals are pretty much cost prohibitive! Although I think thrifty/hertz do them for an extortionate fee.

Have you looked at a flight from whistler to Seattle?

Thank you for your reply - I think we are going to rearrange our hotel bookings and go for the train. Did you just need your passport and ESTA for the border crossing?

Orlandoaddict · 21 Jan 17, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Disney_time

We got SeaCat from Seattle to Vancouver Island, but I don't know if there's one into Vancouver itself. The border stuff was done on leaving Seattle.

Thank you - Unfortunately they don't do a route to Vancouver

**arielrocks** · 21 Jan 17, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by Orlandoaddict

Thank you for your reply - I think we are going to rearrange our hotel bookings and go for the train. Did you just need your passport and ESTA for the border crossing?

We went the other way round but I don't think you need an ESTA IF entering USA by land. Just check though.

Orlandoaddict · 23 Jan 17, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by arielrocks

We went the other way round but I don't think you need an ESTA IF entering USA by land. Just check though.

Thank you

Melbatb · 23 Jan 17, 06:36 PM

We went from Vancouver Island to Seattle by ferry which counted as a land crossing so no ESTA needed. However, the immigration suggested that having the ESTA would make life easier! We had to fill in the white waiver form for the kids. This was 3 years ago!