Vancouver Info if needed

Martin you ROCK! Again you amaze me with your vast knowledge and willingness to share it. The concert tips are INVALUABLE!

When we exit the concert are we to look for a C23 Community Shuttle at Expo & Abbott to return to our hotel and get off at Davie & Granville? (I am not sure how I feel (or how my husband will feel) about that late night transit with my lovely 20 year old daughter in tow. She spent 6 months in Thailand and India and took mass transit all the time, so what I don't know won't hurt me!) It also looks like the run may end at 11:30. This might be before we get out of the concert and over to the bus stop. If so, is there a plan B , close taxi stand, or perhaps the buses run longer on a busy concert night?

I really like the idea of walking to the venue from dinner, and I am trying to work with Google Earth to find something all three of us will enjoy. Calabash looks awesome and I am sure if we had to we could find something Ralph would eat. The Meat Diner fits HIM to a "T" but is a little too meat n potatoes for us girls! LOL Maybe we will just dine close to the hotel and take the bus both ways.

We will definitely be checking out Alpha, and I am looking at the Fish Shack for a Brunch/Lunch Saturday. It looks like there are several food carts near Georgia and Howe, a short stroll from the hotel. Any MUST DO carts in town? My daughter LOVES Indian.

Also on the cronuts, I thought I read somewhere there is a minimum number to order but do you think I can find it anywhere now? Do you know if this is the case and also how much in advance you need to place the order?

Thanks again for your help. You might have to head downtown so we can buy you a drink!

Answers in red.

When we exit the concert are we to look for a C23 Community Shuttle at Expo & Abbott to return to our hotel and get off at Davie & Granville?

 

Yes - last C23 is 11:45pm at this stop (NB: it's the one outside Pita King, opposite side of Abbott from when you got off). If the gig runs longer (very unlikely) and you want to take a cab, either wait near the stadium (lights, lots of people, so nice & safe but you may wait a while) or walk down Abbot to Pacific, cross to opposite side and walk towards BC Place - there's a taxi rank next to the Casino which always has a few cabs waiting, and because of the one-way street they'll pass here before they get to Rogers Arena.

It looks like there are several food carts near Georgia and Howe, a short stroll from the hotel. Any MUST DO carts in town? My daughter LOVES Indian.

 

Vij's Railway Express should be the beginning and end of your food cart journey then. Ask any Vancouverite to name the best local curry chef and you'll hear Vij, Vij, or Vij...

Also on the cronuts, I thought I read somewhere there is a minimum number to order but do you think I can find it anywhere now? Do you know if this is the case and also how much in advance you need to place the order?

 

Half a dozen, one day in advance. If you can't eat two each, they're legal to take across the border.

Thanks again for your help. You might have to head downtown so we can buy you a drink!

 

Unfortunately we'll be swapping cities with you that weekend - we're heading to Portland Thursday 26th! Next time...

What's a good reasonable hotel to stay at pre and post cruise? Good neighborhood with places to eat nearby. Flying in from east coast.

Thanks,

What's a good reasonable hotel to stay at pre and post cruise? Good neighborhood with places to eat nearby. Flying in from east coast.

 

Thanks,

You will be in the $170 to $250 range to stay downtown and $30 to $50 less if you stay out in Richmond around the airport. However if you watch Hotwire or bid on Priceline you can often do much better.

What's a good reasonable hotel to stay at pre and post cruise? Good neighborhood with places to eat nearby. Flying in from east coast.

 

Thanks,

We stayed at the Best Western. Good deal, but far from downtown and the airport. It was 188 a night.

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What's a good reasonable hotel to stay at pre and post cruise? Good neighborhood with places to eat nearby. Flying in from east coast.

 

Thanks,

If you want to stay in Richmond there are hotels walking distance from Chinese shopping malls. That's where we stayed last trip and will stay again this trip, but it does not put you in downtown Vancouver without the addition of a 20 minute train ride.

For Downtown, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency, which is downtown and a short walk to Canada Place (the cruise port), Gastown, landmarks, and plenty of great restaurants. Most hotels in the vicinity are good, so there is no need to pick the Hyatt instead of the Fairmont other than price. If you have not visited Vancouver before, this neighborhood is a good choice.

In Richmond be sure and check the hotel's location before booking because some are quite removed from shopping and restaurants. As for the Hyatt Regency, it remains one of my favourites and I regard it as centre ice for shopping, restaurants, attractions and transportation.

Anyone ever stayed here? Holiday Inn Vancouver Airport, Richmond BC

Anyone ever stayed here? Holiday Inn Vancouver Airport, Richmond BC

Sorry no experience of staying - but the Holiday Inn Express airport is likely a better option as it's cheaper, comparably-rated on google, expedia, tripadvisor etc., closer to the airport, closer to downtown, and within easy walking distance of Skytrain (and Costco). Unless you feel the need for the additional frills provided by the 'full' HI hotels vs. the more minimalist Express versions of course...

There are also HIs downtown and close to downtown (Broadway, just across False Creek) - while undoubtedly more expensive, if you were planning to take a cab to & from downtown they can work out cheaper in total than an airport hotel.

We'll debark Crown Princess on a Saturday morning. I think we've got the whole Skytrain to YVR figured out as how to get to it.

What we don't know is the currency exchange. How/where can we get C$'s and exactly how much will we need per person? We're a bit confused about the surcharge for airport. TIA.

We'll debark Crown Princess on a Saturday morning. I think we've got the whole Skytrain to YVR figured out as how to get to it.

 

What we don't know is the currency exchange. How/where can we get C$'s and exactly how much will we need per person? We're a bit confused about the surcharge for airport. TIA.

No surcharge TO the airport. Saturday = 1 zone ticket is good for whole system, so you need C$2.75 per person in either C$ Cash, or any major credit card. The machines are pretty intuitive, you can select multiple tickets in one go and just make a single transaction.

If that's all you're doing it would be best to just pay with a CC rather than go to the hassle of finding a currency exchange. If you're staying downtown a while and want some local currency, withdrawing from an ATM usually offers the best rate - you'll find at least one inside Canada Place.

Nearly forgot - if you're 65+ you can buy a Concession fare of C$1.75 instead.

What's a good reasonable hotel to stay at pre and post cruise? Good neighborhood with places to eat nearby. Flying in from east coast.

 

Thanks,

We stayed at the Ramada Inn Downtown on Pender. It was a small boutique hotel and the rooms are only small but adequate and very clean. The staff are very friendly. You can get breakfast in the basement, which was adequate for us. They have tea and coffee making facilities in the rooms. You have a bar/restaurant next door. Just around the corner (one block- 5 mins, you have the steamworks restaurant which is great. Just around the corner to that (about 8 mins walk from hotel) you have Gastown with a street full of restaurants. We loved the old Spaghetti house.

The hotel is about 10 mins walk from Canada Place.

The hotel gets some bad reviews about homeless people in the area, but they are in all areas of Vancouver and we even found some next to the Pan Pacific hotel, but if you tell them no thank you, they leave you alone.

The hotel can sort you a taxi to the airport which was a set fee last month of $28CAD. You can walk to Canada place where the ships normally go from but depends how much luggage you have. A taxi is normally $10CAD if you don't want to walk.

:D

Thanks for the review of the Ramada on Pender. It was originally called the Niagara Hotel and my late uncle was the long time general manger of the hotel.

Cheers!

Dennis

No surcharge TO the airport. Saturday = 1 zone ticket is good for whole system, so you need C$2.75 per person in either C$ Cash, or any major credit card. The machines are pretty intuitive, you can select multiple tickets in one go and just make a single transaction.

 

If that's all you're doing it would be best to just pay with a CC rather than go to the hassle of finding a currency exchange. If you're staying downtown a while and want some local currency, withdrawing from an ATM usually offers the best rate - you'll find at least one inside Canada Place.

 

Nearly forgot - if you're 65+ you can buy a Concession fare of C$1.75 instead.

Thank you much, we'll do the cc. Unfortunately, time won't allow for us to stay over this trip so guess we'll be returning:D. Have read much about fantastic Vancouver so we'll definitely return. Thanks again.

Last year our luggage was sent from YVR to Canada Place automatically.

Is this still the case? We had the cruise tags atached before we left home.

Last year our luggage was sent from YVR to Canada Place automatically.

Is this still the case? We had the cruise tags atached before we left home.

Not knowing which cruise line you are with clouds the matter a bit however it is pretty safe to say it will depend upon if you have purchased the line's "luggage direct" program but here is a link for your reference.

http://www.yvr.ca/en/navigating-YVR/cruise_ship/cruise_ship_arrivals.aspx

Hello all! We will be arriving at Canada Place on the Crown Princess at 7:30 am on Saturday, August 30. Will we have enough time to clear customs and make the 9:00 Quick Shuttle to Seattle or would the 9:15 be better?

Thanks in advance!

BCHappyGirl:

You might want to take #17 off your list of places to visit:

From their facebook page from the link provided in your list: "Regretfully, The Society will no longer be operating wildlife conservation & breeding programs, nor our guided educational tours. We continue to offer support to the Northern Spotted Owl Program, that is now managed by the B.C. Ministry of Lands & Forests. The Vancouver Island Marmot program will conclude this year, after 15 years of successful breeding at Mountain View.

More information on how you can continue supporting wildlife conservation programs will be posted here soon, or you can register your support now at info@mtnviewconservation.org

Thank you."

We will be arriving back to port on Jul 6th on Disney wonder the best way to go (3 people). Disney transfer or taxi? I thought years ago they had the onboard checking and US Direct but don't see that now.

We will be arriving back to port on Jul 6th on Disney wonder the best way to go (3 people). Disney transfer or taxi? I thought years ago they had the onboard checking and US Direct but don't see that now.

While unfamiliar with Disney's cruise product, the going rate on most lines seems to be c.$30pp for a one-way transfer Canada Place to YVR. A cab will cost c. $35 and even our predominantly-Prius local cab fleets will handily fit three people with a good chunk of luggage. Plus no waiting until the bus is full to depart, so you'll get there quicker too...

On the US Direct front - it came back in 2013 but was not offered this year. No idea why, so it *may* be back in 2015 - if so, then the more-expensive cruiseline transfers become VERY attractive options as you save anything from one to three hours of queuing! Check with Disney nearer the time, and also check the YVR website blog around May (that's when notices appeared in 2013 it was coming back)

While unfamiliar with Disney's cruise product, the going rate on most lines seems to be c.$30pp for a one-way transfer Canada Place to YVR. A cab will cost c. $35 and even our predominantly-Prius local cab fleets will handily fit three people with a good chunk of luggage. Plus no waiting until the bus is full to depart, so you'll get there quicker too...

 

On the US Direct front - it came back in 2013 but was not offered this year. No idea why, so it *may* be back in 2015 - if so, then the more-expensive cruiseline transfers become VERY attractive options as you save anything from one to three hours of queuing! Check with Disney nearer the time, and also check the YVR website blog around May (that's when notices appeared in 2013 it was coming back)

Thank you very much!! I will.

As I recall, the 2013 version of US Direct was only from YVR to Canada Place and was not offered in the reverse....why I don't know. A few year back when I inquired of the port authority why the highly successful and popular program had been eliminated I was advised that YVR had felt that the program had value to the cruise lines and wanted to levy a $5 fee per passenger, the cruise lines balked and the program was suspended.

We will be arriving back to port on Jul 6th on Disney wonder the best way to go (3 people). Disney transfer or taxi? I thought years ago they had the onboard checking and US Direct but don't see that now.

My opinion is neither. The least expensive (and generally fastest) method is walk the 3 blocks from Canada Place to Waterfront Station; and take the Skytrain Canada line (subway) to the airport for $4/ea. Exit the cruise port turn slightly to your left; walk past the long lineup of taxis and the tempting but incorrect Waterfront Stn entrance (they lead to platforms for other lines) to Cordova street (1 block), turn left walk 2 blocks and enter the big brick building on your left "Waterfront Station". As soon as you're inside, Canada Line is to your left. Trains are designed to carry luggage and are roll on roll off, with elevators in the stations to help you to platform level. Nothing to be scared of, and certainly not the drunks, unwahsed and rabid travellers that another visitor to Vancouver claims.

"certainly not the drunks, unwahsed and rabid travellers that another visitor to Vancouver claims."

Well as a person WHO WAS BORN AND HAS LIVED ALL OF HIS 67 YEARS in the City of Vancouver unlike the person in the previous post. He has has now re-posted that comment on more than one thread. I do echo those comments about BUS travel through parts of the downtown core - always enjoy the ride on the #14 bus out to East Van and the PNE - people getting on with their bags of bottles to take to the bottle depot - having transit police board the bus to remove a sleeping and smelly passenger and of course those getting on with no obvious form of payment and asking the driver to let them on.

Not everyone is able to push, carry luggage their three or so blocks to the Canada Line Waterfront Station.

Hopefully others were able to answer you question about US Direct etc.

Think I will cruise on out of here and go visit my TA to see about booking a cruise or two.

Cheers!

Dennis