Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Note:
Drinking and driving (with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher) in
British Columbia can get you imprisoned for up to five years on a first offense and will
cost you your license for at least 12 months.
Car and RV Rental
All major car rental companies are represented in both Vancouver and Victoria. There is
no real advantage to renting in one city rather than the other. The hassle of returning a
vehicle in Vancouver to rent another in Victoria just isn't worth it to save the ferry fare.
On the other hand, you may decide to go without a vehicle in Vancouver but then rent one
in Victoria, where the attractions are more spread out. In any case, try to book in advance,
especially in summer, to get your vehicle of choice. Expect to pay from $50 per day and
$250 per week for a small economy car with unlimited kilometers.
Vehicles can be booked for Canadian pickup through parent companies in the United
States or elsewhere using the Internet or toll-free numbers.
Discount
(604/303-0063 or
800/263-2355,
www.discountcar.com
)
is a Canadian company with 300 rental outlets
across the country. Its vehicles are kept in service a little longer than those at the other
major companies, but rates are excellent—even through summer—especially if booked
in advance. Other companies include
Avis
(800/974-0808,
www.avis.ca
),
Budget
(800/
268-8900,
www.budget.com
)
,
Dollar
(800/800-4000,
www.dollar.com
),
Enterprise
(800/
325-8007,
www.enterprise.com
),
Hertz
(800/263-0600,
www.hertz.ca
)
,
National
(800/
227-7368,
www.nationalcar.com
)
,
Rent-a-Wreck
(800/327-0116,
www.rentawreck.ca
),
and
Thrifty
(800/847-4389,
www.thrifty.com
).
Vancouver is also home to many companies specializing in camper van (RV) rentals,
including
Cruise Canada
(480/464-7300 or 800/671-8042,
www.cruisecanada.com
) and
Go West
(604/528-3900 or 800/661-8813,
www.go-west.com
). In summer, expect to pay
from $170 per day for your own home-on-wheels. Remember to figure in higher ferry
charges for crossing to Vancouver Island with an RV.
To enter Canada, a
passport, passport card,
or
NEXUS card
is required by citizens
and permanent residents of the United States. For further information, see the website
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