Travel Suggestions to Bellingham, Campbell River, and Port McNeill

BELLINGHAM

To Bellingham, Washington

• Fly to Sea-Tac International Airport.  For information on this airport, please visit their website at www.portseattle.org/seatac/
• Rent a Hertz or Avis rental car (these companies offer a 1-day-1-way no drop off fee rate).  Hertz can be reached at 800-704-4473, their website is www.hertz.com.  Avis can be reached at 1-800-831-2847, their website is www.avis.com.
• Follow I-5 to Bellingham, take the 256-A exit, turn left onto Meridian Street, at 3rd light turn right onto Squalicum Parkway (the light immediately after the railroad tracks), follow the parkway for 2 miles then make a right onto Coho until you reach the stop sign.  The San Juan Sailing office is located to the right across the parking lot, overlooking the water. 

From Bellingham, Washington

• You may choose either to fly from the Bellingham Airport (BLI) to SeaTac (SEA) or rent a car from either Hertz or Avis (these companies offer a 1-day-1-way no drop off fee rate) to drive from the Bellingham Airport to SeaTac.  Hertz can be reached at 800-704-4473, their website is www.hertz.com.  Avis can be reached at 1-800-831-2847, their website is www.avis.com. 

CAMPBELL RIVER

• Ferry/Car:  Ferry service to Vancouver Island is available from Anacortes, WA to Sydney, BC or from Vancouver, BC's Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminals to Nanaimo, BC.  From Nanaimo, follow HWY-1/Trans Canada HWY north to HWY-19A/Island HWY North.  19A will bring you to Campbell River.  The boats will likely be docked at the Discovery Harbor Marina (1434 Island HWY, #392 / Campbell River, BC).  From Sydney, BC HWY-17 South/Patricia Bay HWY will connect you to HWY-1/Trans Canada HWY.  Follow HWY-1 past Nanaimo to connect with HWY-19A, continuing on to Campbell River.  The distance from Nanaimo to Campbell River is 95 miles.  The distance from Sidney to Campbell River is 176 miles.  Detailed driving directions may be found at www.maps.google.com.
• Air:  Pacific Coastal Airlines (www.pacific-coastal.com) offers multiple daily flights to Campbell River (YBL) from the south terminal of Vancouver International Airport (YVR).  The Campbell River airport is located about 15 minutes away from the waterfront.  Both taxi service (Bee Line Taxi, 250-287-8383) and an airport shuttle (Campbell River Airporter, 250-286-3000) are available to transfer you to the harbor.  The boats will likely be docked at the Discovery Harbor Marina (1434 Island HWY, #392 / Campbell River, BC).  Shuttle service from Bellingham or Seattle to Vancouver International Airport is available through Quick Shuttle (www.quickcoach.com, 1-800-665-2122).
• Seaplane:  Kenmore Air (www.kenmoreair.com, 866-435-9524) offers seaplane flights from Lake Union and Lake Washington in Seattle to the Campbell River waterfront most days from early May through the end of September. The seaplanes land at Tyee Spit in Campbell River, a short taxi ride (or 15 minute walk) from the Discovery Harbor Marina.

PORT MCNEILL

To Port McNeill, Vancouver Island, Canada

• Fly to the Vancouver International Airport.  You will disembark at the International Terminal. For more information on this airport, please visit their website at www.yvr.ca.  You may also choose to take the Quick Shuttle (bus service, 1-800-665-2122, www.quickcoach.com ) from SeaTac International Airport (Seattle) to the Vancouver International Airport.
• Take the Pacific Coastal free shuttle to the South Terminal.  The shuttle will pick up and drop off at 5 to the hour and 25 after the hour on Level 2, Pillar 2 of the International Terminal.
• Fly Pacific Coastal Airlines to Port Hardy (located on Vancouver Island, approximately 30 minutes north of Port McNeill).  Pacific Coastal Airlines’ telephone number is 1-800-663-2872.  Their website is www.pacificcoastal.com.  We suggest making your flight arrangements with Pacific Coastal as soon as possible not only for the best fare but seating is limited and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• There are several taxi options for traveling the 30 minutes between Port McNeill and the Port Hardy Airport.  Rainbow Taxi (250-956-8294, based out of Port McNeill) has either a 10-passenger or 6-passenger van.  Fees as of 11/06 were $21 each for 2 people and $15 each for 3 or more people.  North Island Taxi (250-949-8800) or Town Taxi (250-949-7877) both charge for the vehicle rather than by seating.  North Island’s fee, as of 11/06, is $55 for a 5-person van.  Town Taxi’s fee, as of 11/06, is $53.50 for a 5-passenger 93’ Oldsmobile.  Costs are subject to change without advance notice.

From Port McNeill, Vancouver Island, Canada

• There are several taxi options for traveling the 30 minutes between Port McNeill and the Port Hardy Airport.  Rainbow Taxi (250-956-8294, based out of Port McNeill) has either a 10-passenger or 6-passenger van.  Fees as of 11/06 were $21 each for 2 people and $15 each for 3 or more people.  North Island Taxi (250-949-8800) or Town Taxi (250-949-7877) both charge for the vehicle rather than by seating.  North Island’s fee, as of 11/06, is $55 for a 5-person van.  Town Taxi’s fee, as of 11/06, is $53.50 for a 5-passenger 93’ Oldsmobile.  Costs are subject to change without advance notice.
• Fly Pacific Coastal Airlines from Port Hardy Airport to the Vancouver International Airport.  Their phone number is 1-800-663-2872.  Their website is www.pacificcoastal.com.  We suggest making your flight arrangements with Pacific Coastal as soon as possible not only for the best fare but seating is limited and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Take the Pacific Coastal free shuttle to the International Terminal.  The shuttle will drop off at 5 to the hour and 25 after the hour on Level 2, Pillar 2 of the International Terminal.
• Fly out of the Vancouver International Airport back home.  For more information on this airport, please visit their website at www.yvr.ca.

ALTERNATIVES

Beside Pacific Coastal Airlines, which we have suggested above, there are “charter” airlines that will fly you directly to Port Hardy and/or Port McNeill. Below is a list of airlines, their “home port” and contact information.   Also listed is information on the Quick Shuttle bus service between Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, Canada.

• San Juan Airlines – Seattle - 1-800-874-4434 – www.sanjuanairlines.com - Seattle, Washington  to/from Port Hardy, Vancouver Island, Canada
• Kenmore Air -  Seattle – 1-800-543-9595 – www.kenmoreair.com - Seattle, Washington to/from Port Hardy or Port McNeill, Vancouver Island, Canada (seaplane)
• NW Seaplanes – Seattle – 1-800-690-0086 – www.nwseaplanes.com - Seattle, Washington to/from Port Hardy or Port McNeill, Vancouver Island, Canada (seaplane)
• Eagle Air – Vancouver – 1-866-949-5151 – www.flyeagleair.com - Vancouver, Canada to/from Port Hardy or Port McNeill, Vancouver Island, Canada (seaplane)
• Quick Shuttle (bus service) – 1-800-665-2122 – www.quickcoach.com - Seattle, Washington to/from Vancouver International Airport, Vancouver, Canada

Travel regulations regarding CO2 cartridges for inflatable life vests: