Travel Information

The Vancouver International Airport is easily accessible by Skytrain or by taxi.  The airport is often referred to on maps and signs by its airport code, YVR, and the code has become ubiquitous in the Metro Vancouver area.

Via Public Transportation

The Skytrain system is the cheapest and often fastest way to get around Vancouver. YVR is connected to downtown Vancouver via the Canada Line Skytrain. Canada Line operates from about 5:00 a.m. in the morning to 1:00 a.m. at night everyday.

• We recommend purchasing a Compass Card, which is reusable.
• The closest station to the host hotel is: Yaletown-Roundhouse Station. The station empties onto Davie Street. 
• There is also a cabstand to the east the Yaletown-Roundhouse station in case your rubber and fetish gear wardrobe is large.

For more information and current route information, see the airport’s public transportation page, Translink, or the City of Vancouver transportation site .

Via Taxi

Taxi is the simplest but most expensive way to get around town. It costs about $35.00 to go downtown from the airport. Signs in the airport direct you to the taxi stands. For more information, see the airport’s taxi page.

On your return to the airport, your hotel is able to call a taxi for you. WE HAVE NO UBER….yet.

Should I Drive?

There is no need to bring a car. The events are close and easy to get to. Vancouver has very good mass transit if you need it. Taxis are also a good option. Sadly, there is no Uber option….yet.

Let it be known that driving and parking in downtown Vancouver is a futile, expensive, emotional experience…you’ve been warned. We got rid of our expressways decades ago.

Parking

If you do decide to drive, most hotels do charge a daily rate for parking.  Please check with your specific hotel for details. Also, because of the neighbourhood setting and the city of Vancouver’s mandate to reduce car congestion in the city centre, street parking is often difficult to find and during the day is a two-hour maximum until 10pm in most spots.

Additional Travel Information

On a Budget?

Here are some things you can do to save money:

• Share a room with friends.
• If you don’t have a local phone plan, put your phone in Airplane Mode to avoid roaming charges. Most venues have wi-fi.
• If you need to exchange foreign currency, it is our opinion that VBCE is reputed to have the best rates and lowest fees.

Language

Metro Vancouver, the City of Vancouver and the Province of British Columbia are English-speaking, eh!

Currency & Debit/Credit Cards

Most international credit and debit cards are widely accepted at stores and banks in Vancouver. However, recently some local ATMs have started to require that cards have a chip embedded in them for extra security. Since most U.S. cards are not chipped, they will not work in these ATMs. If you need to exchange foreign currency, VBCE is reputed to have the best rates and lowest fees, though there are many exchanges around town.

Canadian currency ($CAD) includes a $1 coin called a ‘Loonie’ because it bears the image of a loon. In satirical Canadian style, the $2 coin is called a ‘Toonie’ (with a polar bear on it). Canada started rolling out polymer currency in 2011, and now has a plasticy, vibrantly coloured $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 bill series. We don’t do pennies anymore!