This time-saving travel hack will maximize your long weekend trips and summer adventures
Sit back and enjoy your bus trip to Vancouver with the BC Ferries Connector, operating daily this summer and throughout the year
Summer vacations and long weekend getaways are upon us, so it’s time to start planning to have some fun in the sun. Whether it’s a couple days away or a full two-week escape, transportation is sometimes the last thing Vancouver Island travelers think of when they plan their local trips across the water to the Lower Mainland. Many travelers end up bogged down with suitcases and bags worried about traffic, busy ferries and missed connections, trading work stress for travel stress. Offered by the Wilson’s Group, the BC Ferries Connector is a convenient, hassle-free way to get travelers home or away for work or pleasure, between Victoria and Vancouver. Simply put, this professional bus service lets you forget about taking your vehicle, avoids inevitable traffic snarls and relieves you of the stress around making ferry reservations, especially during the busy spring and summer tourism seasons. The BC Ferries Connector buses are guaranteed on board the sailings that they are scheduled for.
“It’s a cool, comfortable ride and it’s hassle free,” explains Samantha Wilson-Newton, brand manager with the Wilson’s Group. “We take care of your bags; we take care of your ferry reservation. All you have to do is load on the bus, stretch out and you’re on your way.” Imagine you’re an Island resident wanting to shop, enjoy a concert or spend a day at the PNE. You’re faced with exorbitant hotel fees and overnight parking charges or potentially pricey on-street event parking.
The BC Ferries Connector offers on-route stops in Vancouver that are all close to Skytrain stations, making transfers quick and easy. On-route stops in Vancouver include:
• Cambie and Broadway
• Cambie and 25th (King Edward)
• Cambie and 41st (Oakridge)
• Cambie and 49th (Langara)
• 10-plus downtown hotel pick up and drop off options.
The popular Victoria on-route stops include:
• Multiple stops in the downtown area
• Mayfair Mall area at Douglas and Finlayson
• Uptown area at Vernon and Saanich
• Saanich on Elk Lake Drive
• Central Saanich pick-up at Pat Bay and Mt. Newton
Multiple segments of the Vancouver Island population stand to benefit from this service, including people looking to save money by not taking a car on the ferry; those who walk on the ferry; students looking to return home; seniors who do not/cannot drive; or those who want to avoid driving in busy traffic. With the Connector, you are guaranteed to get on board!
Additionally, the service extends its utility to travelers with destinations at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) or the Canada Place cruise ship terminal. This is particularly advantageous for those looking to sidestep the challenges of driving in potentially congested traffic, providing passengers with a more relaxed and hassle-free journey. Moreover, it can be a cost-effective alternative to parking fees, fuel costs, and potential vehicle maintenance expenses.
The service emerges as a convenient and stress-free option for individuals across different demographics, proving to be an excellent choice for those traveling further abroad. “There are some Islanders who are not comfortable driving in Vancouver,” Wilson-Newton says. “It’s a different kettle of fish driving through downtown Vancouver compared to driving on the Island.”
“With the BC Ferries Connector, you don’t have to worry about all those extra stressors that holiday travelling can sometimes bring,” Wilson-Newton continues. “And by taking our service you’re reducing your carbon emissions by 75 per cent because we have the ability to take 56 cars off the road as well. So for the environmentally-conscious traveler, travelling by bus is a very environmentally friendly way to travel.”
Not unlike air travel, the BC Ferries Connector operates via Book Early and Save, a dynamic pricing system that provides discounts to travelers who book online in advance, or purchase their tickets in person at Capital City Station in Victoria or at Pacific Central Station in Vancouver.
B.C. residents can enjoy a 20 per cent discount on fares, while B.C.-based seniors receive a 25 per cent discount. Bus Bucks Gift Cards are on sale at www.bcfconnector. com. Bus Bucks are just like cash, they have no transaction fees and no expiry, so you can give the gift of travel this travel season.
For more information, visit www.bcfconnector.com or call 1-833-276-5841
The BC Ferries Connector allows travelers to relax and enjoy the convenient, affordable, and hassle- free daily bus service connecting Downtown Vancouver, Downtown Victoria, Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and the Vancouver Cruise Ship Terminal. Experience the comfort of Wilson’s Transportation’s coach bus and stunning views during your cruise through the Gulf Islands on BC Ferries.