Spring Break has nearly arrived and throngs of locals will fly, sail, or drive to destinations outside of Metro Vancouver.
The annual break officially runs from March 17 to March 28, according to the Vancouver School Board.
Travellers still looking for a good last-minute deal may find the cheaper options are few and far between, although Mexico offers several destinations for travellers looking for affordable, tropical alternatives to U.S. cities.
Have a look at some handy tips for making your trips from Vancouver go smoothly during March break 2025.
Tips for driving across the Canada-U.S. border
While many Canadians won't cross the Canada-U.S. border this year, anyone planning on doing it should follow the Canadian Border Security Agency's (CBSA) regular advice.
The CBSA also recommends that you
- Check border wait times and expect delays.
- Early mornings are the best time to cross the border to avoid wait times.
- The Monday of holiday long weekends tends to be the busiest.
- Consider an alternative port of entry with shorter wait times or less traffic.
- Check the port of entry’s hours of operation on the official CBSA Directory of Offices and Services.
- If you are using a GPS application (such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze) to direct you to a port of entry, consider checking different navigation options (such as fastest and shortest routes) to determine the preferred route.
- Have your travel documents handy: Whether travelling by land, air or water, you can help speed things up by coming prepared with your travel documents.
- Special forms for dogs (and other animal pals): Anyone planning to bring a pet on holiday or import one back into the country must complete the requisite forms.
- Recommendations for travelling with children: When travelling with children, it is recommended that the accompanying adult have a consent letter authorizing them to travel with the child. Border services officers are always watching for missing children. In the absence of the letter, officers may ask additional questions, to help them identify the relationship between the child and the accompanying adult.
- Medication: Know your responsibilities when travelling with medication and check if it contains a controlled substance.
Tips for flying in and out of the Vancouver Airport (YVR)
Travellers should check weather conditions several days before their flight in their departure city and destination. If your flight is in North America, monitor major storms across the continent.
- Use YVR's Journeys: This tool allows passengers to view a step-by-step guide through the airport based on their specific flight information.
- Follow baggage requirements: The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) outlines baggage requirements in a complete alphabetical list. It notes that liquids, gels and aerosols must be in containers less than 100 millilitres, and packaged into one transparent, closed, and resealable plastic bag under one litre.
- Make a U.S. declaration through an app: The U.S. Customer Customs Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app provides shorter wait times for flights from YVR to U.S. cities.
- Plan parking ahead: Travellers getting picked up and dropped off at YVR can enjoy free parking for 30 minutes in the parkade. However, parking prices for several other options have increased.
- Take public transportation to/from YVR: The Canada Line connects Downtown Vancouver to YVR in roughly 30 minutes. You can access trains from both the International and Domestic Terminals.
- Arrive hours before your flight: Travellers should allow extra travel time to get to the airport during the holiday break. They also need at least two hours to go through security for flights across Canada and three for international or transborder flights.
- Advance CBSA declaration: Canada launched ArriveCAN in April 2020 to collect health information, including vaccine records, as well as pandemic-related travel details. While travellers are no longer required to use the app, they can save time at the border by continuing to use it.
Tips for sailing with BC Ferries
BC Ferries advises travellers to book in advance as sailings book up quickly over the busy travel period. Weekends tend to see the highest traveller numbers.
Travellers planning to drive should expect long waits over the break. They may wish to walk on board to avoid waiting, the company advises.
If the popular route connecting Horseshoe Bay with Departure Bay (Nanaimo) is full, consider sailing via Tsawwassen–Duke Point (Nanaimo). Travellers can also take advantage of lower-priced, "saver" fares when they travel at off-peak times.
Travellers should always check current conditions and all routes at a glance for the status of their sailing on the day of travel before they head out.
Here are a few more tips for BC Ferries passengers:
- Arrive early for your trip: BC Ferries recommends arriving at the terminal approximately 45-60 minutes before your scheduled departure. Walk-on passengers should arrive 45 minutes before their anticipated sailing.
- Have your booking number ready: Let the ticket agent know if you booked in advance and have your booking number ready.
- Ride-share, if possible: Customers are encouraged to carpool or travel as a foot passenger. Vehicle deck space fills up quickly.
- Travel car-free: Take public transit to and from major terminals. For schedule information, visit TransLink online.
- Consider parking options: Parking lots at the major terminals fill up quickly during peak periods. If possible, choose public transit or arrange to be dropped off at the terminal to avoid traffic congestion.
BC Ferries also shares several winter travel tips on its website.
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Want to learn more about a specific destination or have a travel concern or idea you would like V.I.A. to write about? Email us at [email protected]. Send us stories about recent holidays that you've been on, or if you have any tips you think our readers should know about.
