 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm in the lucky position of (covid permitting) spending 10-12 weeks in the Vancouver area later this year. Does anyone know any reasonable long term car rental options?
Am toying with the idea of signing up for Modo (a bit like Zipcar) but the nearest one to where I'll be staying is a good 10-15min walk and that probably won't be ideal if, for example, we head up to Whistler for a few days
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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No. But you don't really need a car in the downtown area as public transport is pretty good. You can get to the local hills easy enough that way; I still do that now and then. Cars can be parked for free in both places but you need to know where. Hotels will charge upwards of $20 a day for parking, and much of Vancouver isn't a great place to leave valuables in cars in public car parks. You need to work out where the free car parks in Whistler are, and be slightly careful about parking illegally in the village unless you know your way around.
I think there are "rent a wreck" type places in Vancouver, but you'd need to google them down. You need M&S tyres to legally drive the road to Whistler. All mainstream hire cars come with those as standard but you'd probably need to check less fancy rentals.
You don't need a car in Whistler. Even if you're living out in Emerald or somewhere there are regular buses which run from early morning until late. You can do day trips from Vancouver to Whistler by bus, with the bus stopping at multiple down town locations. You'd likely not want to do that precisely, but my point is that it's fairly easy to get up to Whistler on the bus too.
Alternatively I'll rent you a helicopter, but they're not so good in poor weather.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I've always just searched Holiday Autos and Auto Europe periodically especially when they email me a coupon code, book then cancel when you get a better deal - you can usually end up not far north of £100 per week for a Focus sized car in the end. Rental cos probably make you swap cars after 56 days or something but otherwise ok.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@philwig, thanks - I'm staying most of the time with the in-laws quite close to UBC so a little away from the centre. They are always reticent to let us borrow one of their cars. I seem to be tarred with the same brush as my wife, who has never been forgiven for wrapping her dad's vintage Beemer around a tree in a neighbour's front garden many years ago 
sounds like a mix of Modo, public transport and begging from in-laws will be the best option even if it requires a bit more organisation than just having a car waiting on the drive
quite fancy some heli-assisted touring if I get the chance so may take you up on the heli...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Agree with Philwig that you might not need a car. Public transport in Vancouver is decent and there are regular competitively priced shuttle options to Whistler (having a car at Whistler can actually be a pain you are likely to be paying to park it). Obviously covid is an issue - but I don't see them opening the borders again till it is well under control so if you are there the public transport is likely running as normal (and vice versa).
If you do decide you want to go somewhere where having a car is necessary easy to just rent one for a couple of days.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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From what I recall UBC is a ways out on the left coast. Worth a trip to the first nations museum which is there, interesting architecture & stuff.
Altus in Squamish organise some heli touring I think: https://altusmountainguides.com/
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I suspect @Arno is in the convenience dilemma. While West point is a lovely place it can be a fair walk between the useful places you want to be and a car for general day to day running around can be extremely useful e.g. shopping, visiting friends/family, popping over to North Shore etc. Plus of course the prospect of popping down to Baker on a powder day and tripping out to interior BC.
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@Dave of the Marmottes, tsk - as any rule kno, West Van is er north of downtown, North Van is north east of downtown. I'll be in Kerrisdale/Dunbar to be precise. Good idea on Baker though if the border is open
@philwig, good tip on the museum. I've been with Altus a couple of times so they'll be first port of call
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Mad as it may seem, bike may be another option for around town - in fact taking into account the crazy bridge traffic, I reckon my commute to UBC from Deep Cove would be quicker by bike!
Lots of bike routes round Kerrisdale way as city of Vancouver are very keen on bike paths 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Arno wrote: |
@Dave of the Marmottes, tsk - as any rule kno, West Van is er north of downtown, North Van is north east of downtown. I'll be in Kerrisdale/Dunbar to be precise. Good idea on Baker though if the border is open
@philwig, good tip on the museum. I've been with Altus a couple of times so they'll be first port of call |
Knew it was West something out there hence my sneaky edit  Baker defo worth it over trying to get up to Whistler on a sleeper pow day
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@stuarth, bike is an interesting idea. Might need to get some sort of wheelbarrow style cargo bike to ferry around my wife and kid. Mrs Arno will love it
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| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
| I suspect @Arno is in the convenience dilemma. While West point Grey is a lovely place it can be a fair walk between the useful places you want to be and a car for general day to day running around can be extremely useful e.g. shopping, visiting friends/family, popping over to North Shore etc. Plus of course the prospect of popping down to Baker on a powder day and tripping out to interior BC. |
FIFY
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Should add that the driving standard leaves a bit to be desired.
It seems the punishment for mowing someone down whilst driving twice the speed limit in a raised truck with rack on the front or other assorted ramming device, whilst texting with one hand and smoking a fat one in the other is probably a gentle telling off, so chance of cycling death is high! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Dabber, thanks, will investigate. I've skied with Ross a few times but always in December so Tantalus never really realistic. Would love to get up there one day though
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