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Vancouver is the best of both worlds. It’s a bustling city with a vibrant culture, arts, music, nightlife, theatre, food, and cafe scenes, while being surrounded by breathtaking mountains and natural beauty. Spend days hiking along the Fraser River and nights at theatres and buzzing bars. To get out to these beautiful places around the city, hiring a car will allow you to see everything you want to see and move at your own pace. Vancouver is well connected to the rest of British Columbia, a state known for its glorious wide spanning roads, incredible vistas, and endless road trip opportunities.
To experience some of the best roads and views that Canada has to offer, you won’t regret hiring a car. Plus, it couldn’t be easier. Vancouver International Airport has plenty of choice when it comes to car hire. You’ll probably instantly recognise the international, big-name brands like Hertz, Avid, Enterprise, known for being reputable car hire firms. There are also firms that are more wallet-friendly, but still trustworthy and reputable, like Budget and Thrifty. But sometimes, the local, independent car firms are even cheaper, like Routes, Evo, and ALIGO. We recommend shopping around to find the right deal and car for you.
Although hiring a car at the airport is convenient, it comes with additional fees and charges. If you’re travelling on a budget, these fees can add up. In that case, you also have options deeper into the city, where you can hire a car without the extra charges. You’ll find them dotted all over the city, but there are a collection of car hire firms in the West End area. There’s the typical big name brands like Rent A Car, Enterprise, and Avis, but there are also a healthy selection of local, independent brands. Look out for the aptly named Independent Rent A Car, Bayshore Easy Drive, and more. These local brands tend to be a bit cheaper, so it’s worth taking a look around if you’re on a budget.
Like another major city, driving through Downtown Vancouver can be busy and prone to traffic jams. If you’re staying in the city, you will find it easier to have a car to get around, but it’s not strictly necessary. However, if you want to go on hikes, explore the beautiful British Columbia, and take on exhilarating adventures, you’ll want a car for that. Driving in British Columbia is a joy, zipping down the wide, smooth roads with the sprawling mountain ranges in view. There's no better way to explore it.
We can’t talk about road trips in Vancouver without mentioning the famous Sea-to-Sky Highway. It’s a long old stretch of 254 miles, but the windy coastal rides, dramatic scenery of snowcapped mountains, the deep blue lakes, and the many waterfalls along the route make it worth it. It starts off from Horseshoe Bay, which is just a twenty-minute drive from Vancouver. The area is also known for being home to Whistler, a town known for its adventure sports. For thrill seekers, who also love incredible scenery, this is the road trip of a lifetime. If a big undertaking like the Sea-to-Sky Highway isn’t for you, then we still highly recommend taking the hour-and-a-half journey to Whistler. It’s worth making the trip for the drive alone, but the Sea-to-Sky gondola is a must, taking you through beautiful alpine vistas in the sky. Fraser Valley also makes a great day trip, it’s just under two hours away and is the iconic birthplace of British Columbia. Step back in time at the Fort Langley National Historic Site and try out the region’s fresh produce. You might end up staying over, as the Valley is famous for its boutique wineries and wine tasting.
Our customers rated Vancouver airport with an average of 9.0 based on 60 ratings, and these are the most recent tips, experiences and highlights.