Getting here

Flight

Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

The Canada Line on the Skytrain, Vancouver's rapid transit system, serves as a direct link from the airport to Vancouver's downtown. The trip takes approximately 27 minutes, or shorter for those staying outside of the downtown core.

Flight

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) or Portland Airport (PDX)

Some people may opt to fly into Sea-Tac airport. From there, you can drive up, or transit into Seattle downtown and take the Greyhound/Bolt buses, or Amtrak Cascades train. The drive is 2.5 to 3.5 hours, excluding the wait at the border, or 4 to 4.5 hours by bus/train. A trip from Portland, Oregon will take 5 to 6 hours by car, or 8.5 to 9 hours by bus/train. A Pacific Northwest trip would be a wonderful way to create lasting memories on your way to, or coming from celebrating us :)

Train

Public Transit

Vancouver's Skytrain regrettably does not operate 24/7, with last trains generally departing Downtown Vancouver shortly after 1 am, depending on the day of the week and stop. Actual times for last trains can be found here https://translink.ca/schedules-and-maps/skytrain They are however frequent (every 2-4 minutes), reliable, and takes you almost anywhere you would want to go in (and out of) Vancouver. Buses likewise are reliable, many of which operate all night. https://translink.ca/ To access our wedding venue at the UBC Botanical Garden, guests will likely have to drive, take a car service, or take the bus (25, 49, 68, or R4). https://botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/visit/hours-directions/ https://botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/visit/visitor-info-maps/maps/ Apologies in advance about the distance to the venue. Please feel free to reach out to us up to the weekend of the wedding if there are any questions or concerns on how to get there. We will provide contact information for the wedding planner in the future for assistance on the day of the wedding.

Travel Note

Uber & Lyft operate in Vancouver :)

You can also call MacLures Cabs at 604-683-6666, Black Top & Checker Cabs at 604-731-1111 or Yellow Cabs at 604-681-1111 for local taxi service

Hotel

Accommodations in Vancouver

Most hotels are located in Downtown Vancouver, and immediately south of Downtown Vancouver. Airbnb, as much as it has contributed to the shortage of affordable housing in Vancouver, is an option. We would like to encourage people to do their due diligence in vetting who they rent from https://www.airbnb.com/ Staying within walking distance to the Canada Line is ideal for traveling to our wedding venue, and exploring Vancouver. Honestly, being located anywhere along the Canada Line or Expo Line makes Downtown Vancouver accessible within 2-18 minutes. Being further away also increases your chance of finding an affordable Airbnb. The venue is located on University of British Columbia's main campus. Short term accommodations near our venue are available to be booked via this site https://www.hr.ubc.ca/housing-relocation/housing/short-term-stay/ Keep in mind that UBC, while gorgeous, and home to the UBC Museum of Anthropology, and a nude beach, is not centrally located to other tourist attractions in Vancouver.

Hotel

But Seriously, Where Should We Actually Stay?

If you want to be centrally located to take in Vancouver, or enjoy hiking and being near the water, Downtown is where it's at. It's built to be eminently walkable, filled with amenities inclusive of touristy areas like Gastown, has good restaurants and views of water and the mountains, and has direct access to Stanley Park. Being in the heart of everything has its costs though. Other places close to Downtown include the Olympic Village, which has its own amenities like a grocery store and nearby restaurants and bars, access to the Seawall, and access to a Canada Line stop; and Kitsilano, which is an idyllic, quiet and tree-lined (though almost everywhere in Vancouver is tree-lined) neighborhood with good dining on the main strolls, their own beaches along the water, and easy enough access to our venue at the UBC Botanical Gardens. The neighborhood is serviced by the 99B Express bus, which can take you to the closest Skytrain Station rather quickly. Though not as trendy or cute, Fairview and Mt. Pleasant are serviced by nearby Skytrain stations, are close to Downtown and the water, and have their own neighborhood spots. South Main has cute shops and good restaurants between 20th and King Edward and easy access to Downtown via bus and a transfer onto the Main St. Expo Line stop (or you can walk 10-15 min to the stop); and Commercial Drive between Broadway and Venables likewise has charming shops, good restaurants, and cafes that trend hipster and chic. It also has easy access to Downtown via the Commercial Drive-Broadway stop. The only neighborhood to 'avoid' may be the Downtown East Side centered on Main St. and Hastings St. due to the prominence of homelessness, which may be startling to newcomers who are not accustomed to seeing the consequences of unaddressed mental illness and housing unaffordability. My experience is that homeless folks in Vancouver mind their own business, so there is no need to avoid strolling through the DTES to get to your destination.