Vancouver’s airfield wasn’t good enough for Charles Lindbergh to land at in 1927. By 2003, the International Air Transport Association ranked Vancouver International Airport North America’s best and among the world’s top 10.

Vancouver International, 30 minutes from downtown on Richmond’s Sea Island, served 15.7 million passengers last year. It’s undergoing a C$1.4 billion expansion over the next 10 years.

YVR, as it’s called, includes the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel, with 385 soundproof rooms, meeting facilities, the Globe@YVR restaurant and Jetside Bar. A selection of other airport hotels lies nearby in Richmond’s Lulu Island.

Taxi fare to downtown from the airport averages C$26, while a limo is around C$42. The YVR Airporter shuttle bus is C$12, and public transit, via bus 424 and the 98 B-Line, is C$3.25 (C$2.25 at night and on weekends). A new rapid transit line to downtown will open in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Airport savvy

Vancouver airport features North America’s first pay-per-use luxury lounges. There is also an airport 7-Eleven, a full-service dentist, pharmacy, and most recently, the world’s first airport MetroNaps™ pods for napping.

Like many airports, the Vancouver airport has In Motion Pictures kiosks–where you can rent a portable DVD player to watch movies in the terminal or to take with you on the plane. The cost of the rental includes a headset and a DVD new release rental. When you arrive at your destination, you just drop the player off at another kiosk or ship it back to the Vancouver airport at no extra charge.

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel has a full-service fitness center (604-248-2772). Day-use fees are C$15 for full access to the pool, sauna, fitness equipment, and classes like yoga and pilates; C$10 for just the pool and locker room access. There are showers and locker facilities.

In the domestic departures terminal, Alliance Atlantis is a free screening lounge, where you can sit and watch free movie trailers and excerpts from various television shows.

Ground transportation

If you’re traveling with a group of people, it might make sense to get limo service from the airport. Limousines can comfortably accommodate a maximum of six passengers (luggage pending) and charge flat rates to all destinations. The rate to downtown is C$41.73 (inclusive of all taxes).

If you have questions or need help, look for the Vancouver locals clad in green coats. They’re friendly volunteers who can answer questions.

There are also Tourism Vancouver information counters where you can find out about shuttle services, discounted tickets, and so forth.


_____________________________
Special thanks to the tourism and airport media relations staffs in Vancouver for the information provided in this resource guide.