Cheap flights from Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau to Vancouver International

Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau to Vancouver International

Vancouver has all the qualities that you would expect of a great city of the Pacific Northwest. It’s culturally diverse, liberal, artsy, and, it’s full of natural, scenic beauty. If you’re planning a trip from Montreal to Vancouver, here are essential travel tips to arm yourself with.

Getting ready to fly out of Montreal

Technically, Montreal has three airports. Pierre Elliott Trudeau International is the only one that actually counts for commercial passenger traffic, however.

One of the easiest ways to get to the airport is by the 747 Express, the $10, hour-long bus service that runs between the Gare d'autocars de Montréal bus station in the city, and the airport. There’s a train, the Air Connect airport shuttle, as well, that connects the airport to the VIA rail network. Taxis and hotel shuttles are an option, as well.

The Montreal airport has one terminal. As with many airports these days, this one strains under the burden of excessive passenger traffic. It is usually a good idea to set aside an hour and a half for the lines alone. Since this is a vast airport, you will usually have long distances to cover on foot to get to your gate. Because signage tends to be sparse and misleading, you also need to make sure to ask for directions.

There’s free Wi-Fi at this airport for one hour, but it tends to be unreliable (you get a fresh hour if you’re willing to watch an advertisement). There are plenty of shopping and dining opportunities, however, in addition to children’s play areas, baby care areas and luggage storage.

Arriving at Vancouver International

Vancouver International is, in many ways, a well-run airport. Here again, however, crowds tend to be a problem. You don’t want to cut things close and plan to be anywhere in Vancouver shortly after landing. Everything from getting off your plane to getting your luggage and getting on some transportation can be a half-hour or more each time.

If you’re planning on spending the night at the airport, these facilities are designed with some sensitivity for these needs. You can ask staff (they wear green vests) for the airport’s quiet area where you can stretch out for the night. You need to be ready with a valid reason why you need to do that, however, and able to show tickets and ID. If you’re staying at the airport for a while, you should be sure to check out the beautiful aquariums that this airport is famous for.

You have plenty of choice when it comes to transportation to get to the city. While car rentals are always an option, the Canada Line train can be particularly quick and easy. Since there’s always something fun and important happening in Vancouver, hotel prices tend to be on the high side if you book at the last minute. Using a tool like Skyscanner's Skyscanner tool a few days in advance can give you more control over how much you pay. If you have a hotel, you can always expect them to pick you up on one of their complimentary airport shuttles.

Exploring Vancouver

As one of Canada’s most happening cities, there’s never a shortage of things to do here. From spectacular views of the Pacific at Stanley Park to the market and activities of Granville Island, the winter sport action of Grouse Mountain and the entertaining streets of Gastown, you’ll have everything that you need to have the time of your life.