Tomaeroeng From Germany, joined Nov 2006, 33 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 1 month 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 2178 times:
Hello all,
i will be flying FRA-YVR on friday 20th and have a 5 hour layover there while waiting for the YVR-HNL flight. I will be arriving and departing Terminal M in YVR. My question is, do you recommend leaving the airport and have a look at the city? Or is it preferrable just to go to the Plaza Premium Departures Lounge for 30$ ? Is it worth the money?
Ill be flying back HNL-SFO-FRA and i m looking forward to post a trip report
AC747 From Ireland, joined Jan 2007, 276 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 2166 times:
Five hours ? You could get to Downtown Vancouver and have a quick look around and be back in YVR well within that time.
OK, I'm biased as it's my hometown, but it would be a massive shame for you if you were to leave and not see something of this amazing city.
When you leave the airport, rent a Limo (costs about CDN$30-40) to get you to the city. It's the nicest way.
Other than that it's a cab (meter is running !!) or the bus (you don't want to do this !).
You have so many options from then.
The trip Downtown will only take around 20 minutes.
If you go into the Downtown area you could stop off outside the Vancouver Library (unbelievable building), or Robson Square or if history is your thing, go down to Gastown (where the city was founded).
The Downtown core is not a massive area and you can get around it pretty easily.
Grab some Sushi (best in the world outside Japan - so I'm told), or a coffee on Robson Street and sit outside watching the people walk by.
Honestly, there is so much you could pack into your time that I could be writing this all day.
Let's just say, sitting in the airport would be a waste if you have the opportunity to go see the city......even for such a short time.
You'll leave YVR then and see from the skies what a stunning place it is.
WestJetYQQ From Canada, joined Jan 2007, 2986 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 2161 times:
As an Aviation fan, I would advise stopping at Aviation World. It's a wonderful enthusiast's store with many models (I bought a $110 UA 767 the last time I was there), aviation books, posters, bags, briefcases, radio equipment, clothing. All the nice Aviation stuff! It's just a couple minutes drive East of the terminal, and is almost directly under the approach to Rwy 26L. It's a great spotting location.
The trip to downtown that AC747 recommended will be repeated several times in this thread, as it is very wonderful, and I advise it as well.
Cheers
Carson
Will You Try to Change Things? Use the Power that you have, the Power of a Million new Ideas.
Ayqzbr From Canada, joined Mar 2007, 60 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 2156 times:
Great ideas but be aware that I believe you will have to go through Canada Customs on arrival from FRA and then pre clear US immigration and customs prior to the onward travel to HNL. Time needs to be allowed for this and that can vary, which will have an affect on any spare time in between to go sightseeing. If you have checked bags, you will need to pick them up, they will not go through. I am not sure how YVR handles International to US baggage transfers, but you will meet up with any checked bags prior to US formalities. However Vancouver airport is very attractive and a great place to walk around, and it is easy to see the outside world and airport activities from within the US departures area.
ACDC8 From Canada, joined Mar 2005, 7598 posts, RR: 40 Reply 4, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 2154 times:
As much as I would love for you to see the city, I highly advise against it. 5 hours is not enough. Once you get off the plane, you have to clear Canada Customs which can take some time depending on how busy it is, then you have to collect your luggages ( sorry, couldn't resist). After that, you need to go upstairs, check-in with your cnx airline, go through US customs and drop off your luggages. There is another option that may allow you to bypass Canada Customs, but this takes you straight in to the post security area of the US departures, so you can't leave again.
The drive to downtown Vancouver is anywhere between 20-40 mins depending on traffic, as well as the drive back.
PHLstudent From United States of America, joined exactly 7 years ago today! , 498 posts, RR: 8 Reply 5, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 6 days ago) and read 2135 times:
Quoting WestJetYQQ (Reply 2): As an Aviation fan, I would advise stopping at Aviation World
I'm going to be spending an evening in YVR while in transit later in May, How do you get to this store? Is it easily accessible on foot?
WestJetYQQ From Canada, joined Jan 2007, 2986 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 2127 times:
Quoting PHLstudent (Reply 5): I'm going to be spending an evening in YVR while in transit later in May, How do you get to this store? Is it easily accessible on foot?
It is not hard to find at all. It is Russ Baker Way, the main road running North-South at the east end of the airport. The store is in the building at the corner of Russ Baker Way and Gilbert Road, Next to McDonalds.
If you need more in depth directions, feel free to message me with where you are staying and such, and I will help you with the best way to get there.
Cheers
Carson
Will You Try to Change Things? Use the Power that you have, the Power of a Million new Ideas.
PHLstudent From United States of America, joined exactly 7 years ago today! , 498 posts, RR: 8 Reply 7, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 2114 times:
Quoting WestJetYQQ (Reply 6): If you need more in depth directions, feel free to message me with where you are staying and such,
Vinovalentino From Canada, joined Nov 2001, 103 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 2103 times:
I haven't been to Vancouver for a couple of years but if you don't have enough time to get downtown there is a great bar very close the airport called the Flying Beaver (in honour of the DH Beaver). It's got a great patio and the view is spectacular.
From their website:
"The Flying Beaver offers great microbrew beers and inspired menus in an utterly unique West Coast environment. Located at the North End of the No.2 Road Bridge in Richmond, the Beaver lets you sit and watch the arrival and departure of the Harbour Air seaplanes on the Middle Arm of the Fraser River.
Throughout the summer, the patio is open for plane spotting and taking in the panorama of the Georgia Straight, the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island in the West."
ZBBYLW From Canada, joined Nov 2006, 1923 posts, RR: 7 Reply 10, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 2090 times:
Unfortunately 5 hours is not enough time, to head down town. I dont know if you will be traveling with some other people or do not mind to spend some coin, but perhaps going to Helijet or Harbour Air and asking for a local scenic flight around Vancouver could be nice, quick 1 hour and back, it would be well worth it. As for aviation world, IMO do not go. Every time I go I have a nasty habit of buying way to much, the fact that you are traveling you will have to carry it around with you. Its your call but I would seriously consider a quick tour around by airplane because its more cost effective .
ZBBYLW From Canada, joined Nov 2006, 1923 posts, RR: 7 Reply 12, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 2068 times:
HAHA wow speaking off all this I am spending 5 hours in YVR right now... well 4h45m. Just connecting and I got to the airport in YLW early so I took the earlier flight. Right now I am just cruising a.net... that is a good way to burn some time. How ever I used to live here in YVR so its not that "special" to me anymore. Have a good trip.
Tomaeroeng From Germany, joined Nov 2006, 33 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 2057 times:
thank you all for the valuable information
i suspected i had to clear Canadian immigration..and i am not that comfortable with only 5 hours at the airport...
i guess ill just stay inside !!
but it ll be a cool trip. first ride on the A346 and on a 777 for me bought a digital SLR to make nice pictures for a trip report
Don't just stay inside, once you clear customs and all, head outside of the international terminal, there is a little garden/park area to sit down and relax and enjoy some sunshine.
ACDC8 From Canada, joined Mar 2005, 7598 posts, RR: 40 Reply 15, posted (6 years 1 month 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 1986 times:
Quoting WestJetYQQ (Reply 6): It is not hard to find at all. It is Russ Baker Way, the main road running North-South at the east end of the airport. The store is in the building at the corner of Russ Baker Way and Gilbert Road, Next to McDonalds.
I'm glad I remembered this thread. I'm at YVR right now and wanted to take a look at that store, thanks for posting the directions Carson!
WestJetYQQ From Canada, joined Jan 2007, 2986 posts, RR: 5 Reply 16, posted (6 years 1 month 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 1985 times:
Quoting ACDC8 (Reply 15): I'm glad I remembered this thread. I'm at YVR right now and wanted to take a look at that store, thanks for posting the directions Carson!
Haha, hope you find it alright! Enjoy.
Will You Try to Change Things? Use the Power that you have, the Power of a Million new Ideas.
Found it, no problem's at all. I'm off to Germany for a week and my KL flight's been delayed from 18:55 to 01:15, so I had lot's of time to kill. Thanks again!
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From Germany, joined Nov 2006, 33 posts, 
From Ireland, joined Jan 2007, 276 posts, 
From Canada, joined Jan 2007, 2986 posts, 
sorry, couldn't resist). After that, you need to go upstairs, check-in with your cnx airline, go through US customs and drop off your luggages. There is another option that may allow you to bypass Canada Customs, but this takes you straight in to the post security area of the US departures, so you can't leave again.
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