Toronto to Ottawa?

[dagibbs]

So, I'm going to need to get from Toronto to Ottawa on Sunday November 22nd. Looking at ideas.

1) Porter from Toronto island. How easy is it to get to island airport? Is there a fee associated with the ferry? How much? Fare & fees - about $180.

2) Via rail. Only carry-on. I have to figure out if my luggage will be small enough to carry on. (Do they enforce the size very carefully?) About $70.00 And, I'll be departing from the train station in Ottawa going the other way, too. (Wonder what parking costs there.)

3) Greyhound. $41. (21-day advance)

4) Is someone driving to Ottawa that day that wants a passenger?

Bus & train take about the same amount of time in passage. Plane is faster, but how much lead time at airport? Porter supposed to be pretty comfortable (at the airport at least), though.

(I'll be in Toronto for the tribe birthday. I won't have my car since I'll be flying there from Montpellier, France.)

Comments

[corbet.livejournal.com]

I flew Porter from Montreal to TO last December, and don't recall any ferry fees. It's not the normal Island ferry, and it's super short -- just a quick hop an skip from one dock to the other.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

And, on the land-side, does it leave you somewhere close to convenient transit?

[(Anonymous)]

Fly Porter, and write a review for inquiring minds! I've been meaning to check them out. :D

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Maybe.

[xiphia.livejournal.com]

Oops, that was me.

[corbet.livejournal.com]

Yep -- it drops you at the bottom of Bathurst St, where you can get a taxi or streetcar, or hop their shuttle to the Royal York.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Ok, that sounds fine. I'd be looking at it from the other direction -- transit to ferry.

[mycrazyhair.livejournal.com]

I took the Porter flight from Montreal, and I quite liked it. It's nicer from Toronto to Montreal, though, since they have a nice lounge at the Toronto airport, and just a normal one in Montreal.

There's no fee for the ferry. The shuttle is also free.

[mycrazyhair.livejournal.com]

Of course, you're coming from Ottawa, but I have no idea what the Ottawa lounge is like.

[metalana.livejournal.com]

Island airport is close to my apt where you'll be staying. Subway to Union, then the Porter shuttle or the streetcar, then the ferry. Or walk to Bathurst station & take that streetcar to the ferry. Closer than Pearson airport!

Train: People often bring big 27" suitcases on board, plus big packages. If you can wheel it & lift it, you can bring it. They don't help you much with your luggage. There is an area at the front of each train car for suitcases, plus overhead bins as on an airplane.

Both train & bus stations are one subway ride from my place - easier than getting to the Island airport. Train seats are a bit more comfortable than the bus. Ottawa bus station is walking distance to your house, though.

Not sure how much advance time is required at Island airport, but it's shorter than big airports. 15min advance is enough for train & bus stations, but come earlier to line up for your choice of seat.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'm going to Ottawa, from Toronto -- so I get the nice Toronto lounge.

I'm coming from France.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Porter shuttle sounds like a good idea. I'll have to figure the details as an option.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

I figured all would be pretty easy from your place. (Pearson is a bit obnoxious, but looks like I can do it on TTC -- there is an airport express to the end of the Bloor-Danforth line.)

[zenten.livejournal.com]

It's basically the same run to doing any of the cons out there, like a number of Ad Astras and TTs that happened in the past before the current locations.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Except, having never lived in Toronto, I've never done that run by Toronto transit -- I've driven to Ad Astra when it was out at the airport -- e.g. at the Howard Johnson's out there.

[zenten.livejournal.com]

...Right. I've done it a few times by taking in the Greyhound and then heading up by TTC. It's a long bus ride.

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

I did VIA to Montreal and back with my usual con suitcase and they have a good size space for suitcases that you get to handle all by yourself.

[http://users.livejournal.com/niall_/]

A bit late, but...

I've taken Porter a number of time from Island to Ottawa. The shuttle bus is on the side of the Royal York, literally facing the Beni Hana restaurant. Shuttle is free, and is every 15 minutes or so. Expect to take it 1 hour before your flight departs; 45 minutes before is cutting it close. It gets you to the entrance of the ferry - go in, go up, and while waiting for the ferry, use the kiosks to check in (they don't work within 30 minutes of your flight).

Ferry is about 5 minutes across - or less. I should time it. Then you go in and down and security's there. Then the very nice, roomy lounge; all coffees/teas/soft drinks/cookies are free and self-serve. Several PC and Mac stations are available, free of charge, for web perusal while you wait. Lots of comfy chairs.

You can't get lost after that, since there's only one door by which everyone goes, and only one flight leaving at a time so they cordon off at the gate you use. On the flight, all drinks are complimentary, including beer or wine, and served in glass-material glass-containers. If you want cookies, I suggest taking them in the lounge to be sure to have the ones you want.

It's very relaxing, but along with the increased service (the last flight used to be 7pm, is now 9:30) is the increased price. Used to be $130 total before.