Vancouver

Flying and arriving

Vancouver International (YVR) lies on the island of Richmond, south of the city, and can usually be reached nonstop from Amsterdam with a flight of around ten hours; from Brussels you mostly fly with one connection. You often land in the afternoon local time, nine hours behind the Netherlands and Belgium. Do not forget the eTA: you arrange it in advance via the official Government of Canada website.

YVR is easy to navigate and immigration uses self-service kiosks, which often speeds up the process with children. The SkyTrain takes you downtown in half an hour if you want to sleep in the city the first night. The British Columbia coast is mild and often wet, even in summer, so rain jackets at the top of the suitcase are no unnecessary luxury.

Picking up the RV

Vancouver's RV depots are not at the airport but in the surrounding municipalities, such as Richmond, Delta, Burnaby or Surrey, usually twenty to forty minutes' drive away. Many rental companies collect you by shuttle from a number of hotels or a fixed point; otherwise you take a taxi or rideshare. So book your hotel close to the depot or along the SkyTrain.

Canadian rental companies also almost always apply the 24-hour rule: no pickup on the day your intercontinental flight lands. Plan the pickup for day two and take time for the walkthrough, especially on propane, heating and mountain driving. Ask about the rules for unpaved roads and for the border, should you want to drive part of the loop through the US — not every rental company allows that.

The first night

A quiet first night in the RV lies east in the Fraser Valley, around Chilliwack, Harrison Hot Springs or Hope, one to two hours from the depots, so that the drive to the Rockies stays manageable over the following days. If you want to see Vancouver itself first, choose a campground in the region, for example in Burnaby or on the North Shore, and go into the city by public transport. Reserve provincial parks via BC Parks and private campgrounds directly; in July and August booking ahead is necessary.

Supplies and gear

In the suburbs around the depots you find large supermarkets and big-box stores of the Walmart, Costco or Real Canadian Superstore type, and Canadian Tire or an outdoor store for camping gear, rain clothing and bear spray. Ask the rental company what the RV includes: a kitchen kit and bedding are often an optional package, chairs vary, and firewood you buy at the campground — in the mountain parks there are often rules about bringing in wood. Do the big shop in Vancouver or the Fraser Valley; further into the mountains shops become scarcer and more expensive.

Frequently asked questions