Vancouver Info if needed

[martincath]

Hi Martincath,

You've given us a lot to research. Some of the menus look really interesting (believe it or not, we were just saying the other day that you never see sweetbreads on a restaurant menu!). Thanks for taking the time to help us out-much appreciated.

If you're fans of offal then check out the menu at Wildebeest. They're supposed to be all about the whole 'nose to tail' eating thing. I've been a couple of times now and it was good but with a caveat - for a nose-to-tail joint the number of obscure cuts is very low, and I've never a nose or a tail on the menu;)

 

Seriously though, they have been getting better in the variety of meats of offer - especially the bar menu where I've seen skewers of hearts appear occasionally - and they always have both Sweetbreads and Bone Marrow on the menu (we prefer L'Abattoir's preparation of the former but Wildebeest beats Uva, one of the few other bone-marrow-on-the-regular-menu joints in town, due to the longitudinal cut - and luging the bone afterward seems somehow appropriate in a Winter Olympic host city!)

 

Where they really excel though is the order-a-week-in-advance 'premeditated gluttony' group menus - if there are at least four of you going, or ideally 8, they'll do some really outre stuff for you. I've yet to gather sufficient bodies to try the lamb baked in hay but I've heard nothing but tremendous reviews from those who have. If you don't quite meet the minimum numbers drop me a line, I'd be easily persuaded to help out with the meat consumption!

[jnc411]

Question for you guys. When boarding ship at Canada Place how is the luggage handled ? Are luggage handlers outside at the curb or somewhere else ? To take you luggage, is that the entrance to the Pan Pacific Hotel as well ? Also what is an acceptable tip for luggage per bag there ? Thank You.

Cori

[Putterdude]

The luggage porters are at the curb at Canada Place. To the left of the vehicle ramp down into Canada Place you will see a pedestrian walk that will take you to the luggage porters. If arriving by taxi then you will be let out near the porters and your luggage will be taken from you by them. You can go thru the Pan Pacific but that is going out of your way. As for tipping, you will see signs that tipping is not required but that is up to you. We normally tip $2 per check bag rounded to the nearest $5.

[Milhouse]

We will be in Vancouver for 4 days mid-April, 2014. We are staying at the Fairmont Waterfront. We would appreciate restaurant recommendations. We had fabulous Chinese food on our only other visit to Vancouver (but of course don't remember the name of the restaurant). Any suggestions for authentic, spicy Chinese food? Also, any recommendations for fine dining? We are open to any suggestions- we like almost every nationality/type of cuisine. Thank you for your time and suggestions.

 

It's kind of reached it peak but I think a fun cuisine in Vancouver is Izakaya; basically Japanese pub food / tapas but taken to a higher level. They range from hole in the wall places like Guu w/ Garlic to nicer places like Hapa Izakaya and Kingyo.

 

The other food that's trending in Vancouver is food carts. Beyond the basic hot dog stands, there are a lot of really interesting eats at the various food carts. Safe to eat as they're very regulated and inspected.

 

If you can get out of the downtown core, I'd also like to recommend Lin's on Broadway for northern Chinese cuisine. However, it's a bit of a hole in the wall whereas Kirin is where I held my wedding reception (Richmond location). :D

 

I kind of like the tips and reviews of the local food critic Mia Stainsby. Here's her restaurant guide for 2012 but it was updated June 2013.

[jnc411]

The luggage porters are at the curb at Canada Place. To the left of the vehicle ramp down into Canada Place you will see a pedestrian walk that will take you to the luggage porters. If arriving by taxi then you will be let out near the porters and your luggage will be taken from you by them. You can go thru the Pan Pacific but that is going out of your way. As for tipping, you will see signs that tipping is not required but that is up to you. We normally tip $2 per check bag rounded to the nearest $5.

 

Thanks Putterdude , that is the information I needed.

Appreciate it. Yes , we ususally do $2 per bag and up if it is a larger bag as well.

Cori

[Urban trekker]

One of the people in my regular evening coffee group is a retired longshoreman and he stated that the porters here in Vancouver aren't suppose to accept tips as that is considered part of there job and they are well payed in the first place.

 

He did state that many places on the US east coast do not have longshoremen providing that service and that the porters there are usually lower paid employees so tips are expected.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[Putterdude]

One of the people in my regular evening coffee group is a retired longshoreman and he stated that the porters here in Vancouver aren't suppose to accept tips as that is considered part of there job and they are well payed in the first place.

 

 

Ut, I quite agree with everything you have said & there are signs up at Canada Place saying the tipping isn't required....but I have yet to have one of the longshoreman/porters say "no thanks, we are very well paid" as they put the tip in their pockets.;)

[321allan]

Is the N10 line the most inexpensive way to get from yvr to the cruise terminal.

Flight arrives at 12.50 am on a Saturday morning. Is there much walking involved? Thanks in advance.

[ell52]

Is the N10 line the most inexpensive way to get from yvr to the cruise terminal.

Flight arrives at 12.50 am on a Saturday morning. Is there much walking involved? Thanks in advance.

 

It will be the cheapest for sure. Doesn't look like too much walking. Are you going straight to the cruise terminal (i.e. Canada Place) or a hotel?

 

Use this --> Translink Trip planning guide to check out exact times, distances and transfers.

[321allan]

It will be the cheapest for sure. Doesn't look like too much walking. Are you going straight to the cruise terminal (i.e. Canada Place) or a hotel?

 

Use this --> Translink Trip planning guide to check out exact times, distances and transfers.

 

Decided on staying at the airport marriott and venturing down to the cruise terminal after some sleep. The last n10 leaves yvr at 2:34 am. I did not want to mess with it at that hour of the morning.

 

Can the bags be left at priority check-in in the morning at the ncl terminal, so as to leave a few hours to tour vancouver before boarding?

[scottbee]

Decided on staying at the airport marriott and venturing down to the cruise terminal after some sleep. The last n10 leaves yvr at 2:34 am. I did not want to mess with it at that hour of the morning.

 

Can the bags be left at priority check-in in the morning at the ncl terminal, so as to leave a few hours to tour vancouver before boarding?

 

Yes, they can. However, which cruise terminal are you at? the Pearl on the 29th and the Jewel on the 21st are at Ballantyne pier, not the more usual Canada Place. Getting to Ballantyne is a bit more of a pain

[321allan]

Yes, they can. However, which cruise terminal are you at? the Pearl on the 29th and the Jewel on the 21st are at Ballantyne pier, not the more usual Canada Place. Getting to Ballantyne is a bit more of a pain

Jewel on the 21st. How much a pain from the skytrain terminal to Ballantyne? Seems like the 2 terminals are less than 10 min apart by cab or shuttle. Will we be able to drop our bags early at priority check in and walk around town a bit?

Edited September 11, 2013 by 321allan

[martincath]

Jewel on the 21st. How much a pain from the skytrain terminal to Ballantyne? Seems like the 2 terminals are less than 10 min apart by cab or shuttle. Will we be able to drop our bags early at priority check in and walk around town a bit?

There's no shuttle. If you don't mind paying for 3 cabs (Skytrain>Ballantyne with luggage, Ballantyne>downtown to wander, downtown>Ballantyne to board) at c.$10-15 apiece you'll be fine.

 

Walking from Ballantyne to anywhere is awkward any time, but worse right now as there are extensive works occurring on one of the viaducts. Google and other maps don't have complete sidewalk info on the area. Taxi is the only rational transport method.

 

As an alternative, try offering $10 to store your big bags at one of the hotels close to Skytrain. Delta @ 550 W Hastings is most convenient for Waterfront if you want to walk Gastown; get off at City Centre for Robson St shopping in which case Four Seasons @ 791 W Georgia is closest - though easiest entrance is on Howe around the corner; get off at Yaletown-Roundhouse to wander Yaletown and False Creek with the Opus hotel right across the road from the station @ 322 Davie.

[321allan]

Thanks, will look for the bellstands at these properties instead of backtracking from Ballantyne.

[dsw39]

As a point of interest, we just returned from our rountrip sailing from Vancouver. I had asked the cost for a taxi from the airport to a downtown hotel and was advise about $30-35. We arrived on Sunday the last day of the Stanley Park Celebration. Due to traffic the bill was $52. The replies didn't indicate that the the meter runs by mileage and idle time. We visited Stanley Park a mile from our hotel (Day's Inn Downtown) Due to a backlog to take the bus, we took a cab with the cost being $20 due to traffic to travel the mile. We loved our visit to Vancouver and lookl forward to returning

[justlindal1]

Hello, my plan is to drop off luggage at pier (I believe this is at Canada Place for the Crown Princess) then walk to Water St for the walking tour, then around Gastown, and go to BCL for a wine stop, then go to ship. Would I pass any supermarkets? Would I be able to do this in a two to three hour time frame? Thank you

[ell52]

As a point of interest, we just returned from our rountrip sailing from Vancouver. I had asked the cost for a taxi from the airport to a downtown hotel and was advise about $30-35. We arrived on Sunday the last day of the Stanley Park Celebration. Due to traffic the bill was $52. The replies didn't indicate that the the meter runs by mileage and idle time. We visited Stanley Park a mile from our hotel (Day's Inn Downtown) Due to a backlog to take the bus, we took a cab with the cost being $20 due to traffic to travel the mile. We loved our visit to Vancouver and lookl forward to returning

Yes, taxi fares are based on meter runtime and mileage. Unfortunate that you happened to arrive during the Stanley Park celebrations! You could have saved a few dollars with a flat rate curbside limo from YVR to Downtown for $45.

[Urban trekker]

Yes there is a supermarket called Nester's and a drug store chain called London Drugs located in Gastown at the corner of Abbott and Cordova - it's part of the redeveloped Woodward's site - depending on what you want there is also the Army and Navy - they have groceries but it isn't their main merchandise.

 

Just remember that the liquor store near Gastown is not open on Sundays in case that is your cruising day.

 

Yes you should be able to do it a two or three hour time frame as Water St is part of Gastown.

 

Hope this helps

 

Cheers!

 

Dennis

[justlindal1]

Thank you, I wanted to get soda, water and a few odds and ends for the cruise and I think London Drugs may be what I want. If not I"ll try Nesters. It doesn't look too far away.

[knitpurl]

If we choose to stay at Vancouver Airport area, which would you pick Hampton or Holiday Express..?

For downtown which ???

[Philob]

If we choose to stay at Vancouver Airport area, which would you pick Hampton or Holiday Express..?

For downtown which ???

 

We've stayed at the Hampton Inn, very clean, nice staff, free hot breakfast and about two blocks to the Sky Train. They also have a free shuttle to/from the airport. River Rock Casino is adjacent to the Sky Train station.

 

Both are in an industrial-type area so not much to see. There's a Costco in between the Hampton and Holiday Inn Express.

 

After checking out in the am and while driving to the Aquarium, we discovered Kid left his bear in the room, quick call to the front desk and 10 minutes later a call back, found! They said they would FedEx back to us if necessary.

[knitpurl]

We've stayed at the Hampton Inn, very clean, nice staff, free hot breakfast and about two blocks to the Sky Train. They also have a free shuttle to/from the airport. River Rock Casino is adjacent to the Sky Train station.

 

Both are in an industrial-type area so not much to see. There's a Costco in between the Hampton and Holiday Inn Express.

 

After checking out in the am and while driving to the Aquarium, we discovered Kid left his bear in the room, quick call to the front desk and 10 minutes later a call back, found! They said they would FedEx back to us if necessary.

 

thanks so much for the info..are there any restauarnts in the area? thinking dinner?

[Philob]

thanks so much for the info..are there any restauarnts in the area? thinking dinner?

 

Across the street is a Burger King and a Starbucks :p, but one or two Sky Train stations outbound is Aberdeen Center, a large mostly Asian shopping center. There almost a dozen eating places there from the food court to Korean BBQ.

 

Your technically in Richmond, which is basically a Chinese community, and if you like Chinese food this is the place. Local Chinese from other parts of the Vancouver area tell us they head to Richmond for Chinese food.

 

Of course you can head over to River Rock Casino, about two blocks away next to the Sky Train station http://www.riverrock.com/dining/

 

In the summer you can go to the International Night Market in the River Rock parking lot and meander from booth to booth: spiral potatoes, sirloin on a stick, cotton candy, spaghetti, & deep fried or sauteed squid :rolleyes:

 

Inbound on the Sky Train, you're only 20 minutes from downtown; go back a few pages and you'll there's plenty of talk about places to eat.

Edited November 2, 2013 by Philob

[knitpurl]

so much help thanks..

I am trying to make 10 people happy..so now my next question,,

if we at an airport hotel, which would you suggest..think we are narrowed down to Holiday Inn Express..Hampton Airport or Hilton Airport..

thanks

[Philob]

so much help thanks..

I am trying to make 10 people happy..so now my next question,,

if we at an airport hotel, which would you suggest..think we are narrowed down to Holiday Inn Express..Hampton Airport or Hilton Airport..

thanks

 

As mentioned above we stayed at the Hampton (Inn) Airport and recommend it.

 

It's not the Ritz or Fairmont and is in an industrial area (which is what you get near a major airport). BTW if you stay on the back side you will see the planes come in for final approach, the glide path is about 1/4 mile away. River Rock Casino is practically right under the pathway.

Edited November 2, 2013 by Philob