Oh, to be the weary Island traveller come wintertime.
Bogged down with suitcases and bags, she sits at a bus stop in the midst of a customary December rain storm, or worse yet, knee-deep in snow.
At best, she finds her way on to a packed bus with no room for her personal items. At worst, she misses her BC Ferry altogether.
It needn’t be so.
Offered by the Wilson’s Group, the BC Ferries Connector is a convenient, hassle-free way to get travellers home or away for the holidays between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen.
Simply put, this professional bus service lets you forget about taking your vehicle, avoids inevitable traffic snarls and relieves you of the stress around making ferry reservations. The BC Ferries Connector buses are guaranteed on board the sailings that they are scheduled for.
“It’s a comfortable ride and it’s hassle free,” explains Samantha Wilson-Newton, brand manager with the Wilson’s Group. “We take care of your bags, we take care of the ferry reservation. All you have to do is load on the bus and you’re on your way.”
Imagine you’re an Island resident wanting to attend a Canucks game or a concert at BC Place. You’re faced with exorbitant hotel fees and overnight parking charges, or potentially pricey on-street event parking.
Forget about all of that noise.
The BC Ferries Connector offers on-route stops in Vancouver that are all close to Skytrain stations, making transfers quick and easy. On-route stops in Vancouver include:
- Cambie and Broadway
- Cambie and 25th (King Edward)
- Cambie and 41st (Oakridge)
- Cambie and 49th (Langara)
- As well as 10-plus downtown hotel pick up and drop off options
The popular Victoria on-route stops include:
- Multiple stops in the downtown area
- Mayfair Mall area at Douglas and Finlayson
- Uptown area at Vernon and Saanich
- Saanich on Elk Lake Drive
- Central Saanich pick-up at Pat Bay and Mt. Newton
There’s quite literally no segment of the population who wouldn’t benefit from this service: people looking to save money by not taking a car on the ferry; those who walk on the ferry; students looking to return home for the holidays; seniors who do not/cannot drive; or those who want to avoid driving in busy holiday traffic.
And that’s not all.
Additionally, the service extends its utility to travelers with destinations at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) or the Canada Place cruise ship terminal. This is particularly advantageous for those looking to sidestep the challenges of driving in potentially congested traffic, providing passengers with a more relaxed and hassle-free journey. Moreover, it can be a cost-effective alternative to parking fees, fuel costs, and potential vehicle maintenance expenses. The service emerges as a convenient and stress-free option for individuals across different demographics, proving to be an excellent choice for those traveling further abroad.
“There are some Islanders who are not comfortable driving in Vancouver,” Wilson-Newton says. “It’s a different kettle of fish driving through downtown Vancouver compared to driving on the Island.”
Not unlike air travel, the BC Ferries Connector operates via Book Early and Save, a dynamic pricing system that provides discounts to travellers who book online in advance, or purchase their tickets in person at Capital City Station in Victoria, or Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station.
B.C. residents can enjoy a 20 per cent discount on fares, while B.C.-based seniors receive a 25 per cent discount.
“With the BC Ferries Connector, you don’t have to worry about all those extra stressors that holiday travelling can sometimes bring,” Wilson-Newton says. “And by taking our service you’re reducing your carbon emissions by 75 per cent because we have the ability to take 56 cars off the road as well. So for the environmentally-conscious traveller, travelling by bus is a very environmentally friendly way to travel.”
Bus Bucks Gift Cards are on sale now! Bus Bucks are just like cash, they have no transaction fees and no expiry. Give the gift of travel this holiday season, learn more at bcfconnector.com/bus-bucks-gift-card, and to book your next trip in advance, visit bcfconnector.com/tickets.