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Victoria International Airport
Victoria International Airport (YYJ) is a 30-minute drive from The Fairmont Empress.
Driving Directions
Airport Shuttle
Akal Airporter Express
Akal Airporter Express operates a shuttle from Victoria International Airport to the downtown area, which stops at The Fairmont Empress. The shuttle picks up at all terminals every 20 minutes through the day and every 30 minutes through the night. Reservations are recommended from the hotel to the airport. Please contact the Concierge.
Tickets are available from the driver, or from the ticket booth located at the hotel.
Tel: +1 (250) 386-2525
Taxis
Taxi prices from the airport to the hotel range from CAD 35.00 to CAD 40.00.
Limousines
Limousines cost CAD 90.00 for an ultra-stretch, CAD 65.00 for a super-stretch, and CAD 55.00 for a formal style from the airport to the hotel.
Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) caters for most major airlines. It is around a three-hour drive and ferry trip from the hotel. Guests should make their way from Vancouver International Airport to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal and catch a ferry to Vancouver Island. Driving directions are below.
Driving Directions
From the Airport to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal (Vancouver)
Takes approximately 25 minutes (non-rush hour).
From Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal (Victoria)
Passenger and / or car ferry sailing time is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.
From Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to The Fairmont Empress
Driving time is approximately 40 minutes.
Airport Shuttle
Pacific Coach Lines has seven departures from the airport going to the Victoria bus depot.
Taxis
Guests can take a taxi from Vancouver Airport to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, get on the ferry to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal, and then take a taxi to The Fairmont Empress. The cost is approximately CAD 100.00.
Car Rental
Tilden, Avis, and Budget are located across the street from the hotel.
Limousines
Requests can be made through The Fairmont Empress.
Regent Limousine
Tel: +1 (250) 380-1911
Bus Transportation
Gray Line of Seattle
The bus departs Seattle from several downtown points each morning and travels to Victoria via Washington State Ferries. It is a year-round service.
Pacific Coach Lines
Pacific Coach Lines runs a service between Vancouver and Victoria.
From Vancouver to Victoria By Bus
The journey should take approximately 3 hours 30 minutes.
Most guests travel from the Vancouver depot (Pacific Central Station) to the Victoria depot (behind the hotel). A direct telephone line to The Fairmont Empress is available for guests to request complimentary assistance with their luggage from the bus depot to the hotel. Rates vary.
Train Information
There is no way to get by train from the mainland to Victoria. Those interested in train travel on Vancouver Island should inquire with the Concierge.
Via Rail
Via Rail offers service between Victoria and Courtney, British Columbia. The station is located at 450 Pandora Avenue, 3.5 kilometers from the hotel
E&N Railway
E&N Railway offers service to the Upper Island. The station is located five minutes from the hotel
Heli-Jet
Heli-Jet is a great way to travel from Victoria to Vancouver and vice versa. For more information and reservations, call:
For bookings from outside North America, please contact your local travel consultant.
Seaplanes
Harbor Air
Harbor Air offers "harbor to harbor" service between Vancouver and Victoria. The seaplanes take off and land on the water. The departure and arrival point is within walking distance from The Fairmont Empress at 950 Wharf Street in the Victoria Marine Adventure Centre. For reservations, contact the Concierge Desk or Harbor Air direct at:
Kenmore Air
Kenmore Air offers scheduled flights, charter service, and packaged excursions from Seattle, WA. Kenmore Air is right across the street from the hotel.
The luggage weight restriction for Kenmore Air is 24 lbs (excess baggage is at CAD 1.00 per pound, space permitting).
By Sea
BC Ferries
Frequent daily scheduled service is provided between Tsawwassen (south of Vancouver) and Swartz Bay (north of Victoria) or between Tsawwassen and Duke Point (south of Nanaimo). There is also frequent service between Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver) and Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to the Gulf Islands and other points in British Columbia. Full cafeteria service and other amenities are found on main route ships.
Tel: +1 (604) 444-2890
Victoria Clipper
High-speed passenger service between Seattle's Pier 69 and Victoria's Inner Harbor.
Tel: +1 (800) 888-2535
Black Ball Transport
The MV Coho offers scheduled vehicle and passenger service between Port Angeles, WA and Victoria 's Inner Harbor.
Tel: +1 (250) 386-2202
Victoria-San Juan Cruises
Daily passenger-only service between Bellingham, WA and Victoria's Inner Harbor (May through October only).
Tel: +1 (800) 443-4552
Washington State Ferries
Scheduled vehicle and passenger ferry service between Anacortes, WA and the town of Sidney (30 minutes north of downtown Victoria).
Tel: +1 (888) 808-7977
Cruise Ship Terminal
The few cruise ships that dock at Vancouver Island dock at Ogden Point, which is about a ten-minute drive from the hotel. It's near to where the Heli-Jets land.
For more details go to the Tourism Vancouver web site and click on "Travel Trade."
Ferry and Driving Directions to the Hotel
From The Fairmont Vancouver Airport to The Fairmont Empress:
Total driving / ferry travel time is 3 hours.
Step 1
It's a 25-40 minute drive to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal in Vancouver. A taxi should cost CAD 25.00 to CAD 30.00. Buses also go there.
Step 2
Take the ferry from Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal (Victoria)
(1 hour 30 minutes sailing)
Step 3
Drive from Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to The Fairmont Empress. This should take 40 minutes.
From The Fairmont Vancouver to The Fairmont Empress:
The trip should take 3 hours 15 minutes.
Step 1
The Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal is a 45-minute drive from The Fairmont Vancouver. A taxi to Tsawwassen from The Fairmont Vancouver will be CAD 40.00 to CAD 45.00.
Step 2
Take the ferry from Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal (Victoria)
(1 hour 30 minutes sailing)
Step 3
Drive from Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to The Fairmont Empress. This should take 40 minutes.
From Fairmont Waterfront to The Fairmont Empress:
The trip should take 3 hours 15 minutes.
Step 1
It's a 45-minute drive from The Fairmont Waterfront to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. A taxi will cost CAD 40.00 to CAD 45.00.
Step 2
Take the ferry from Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal (Victoria)
(1 hour 30 minutes sailing)
Step 3
Drive from Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to The Fairmont Empress. This should take 40 minutes.
From The Fairmont Chateau Whistler to The Fairmont Empress:
There are three ways to get from Whistler to The Fairmont Empress. All routes include driving from Whistler to a ferry terminal, taking the ferry, and driving from the landing spot to the hotel.
Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo (Departure Bay)
From The Fairmont Chateau Whistler to Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal
Travel time by car is 90 minutes.
From Nanaimo Ferry Terminal to The Fairmont Empress
Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay / Nanaimo (Duke Point)
From The Fairmont Chateau Whistler to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal:
The journey should take 2 hours 40 minutes.
From Seattle to The Fairmont Empress:
To drive from Seattle to Victoria in the summer (mid-May through mid-September), you may do the following:
Key Cities and Distances
Parking Information
Valet or Self Parking
Self parking passes are available at the Front Desk.
Cost:
CAD 25.00 a night including taxes. Includes in / out privileges, effective until 4:00 pm on day of departure. Indoor and outdoor parking is available (same price).
Payment:
Both self and valet may be charged to the guest room. Debit cards are not accepted, but cash and all major credit cards are taken.
Location:
Lot is owned by Robbins Parking and is located below the Victoria Conference Centre off Douglas Street.
Restrictions:
The height restriction is 6' 3". Overheight parking is located on a different lot. Cost is also CAD 25.00 per night.
Please note:
Prices quoted are correct at the time of publishing but are subject to change.
