Vancouver answers from a Vancouverite

[vickie_bernie]

There is also two other large casinos.. Boulevard Casino in Coquitlam and there is a new one in Richmond - on Queensbourgh called Starlight. I know that the Starlight offers shuttles from 22nd Street Skytrain, but not sure of the hours.

 

both Riverrock and Boulevard Casino have great concerts. here are the websites

 

http://www.riverrock.com/home.aspx

http://www.starlightcasino.ca/casino/

http://www.blvdcasino.com/home.aspx

 

The Edgewater is smaller but you should be able to make your donation there. :D

[Aerie]

Scott bee and Vickie,

Thank you both so much for your replies. I now know that we can just walk if that is what we decide to do. Vickie, thanks for the hotel information.

[vickie_bernie]

Scott bee and Vickie,

Thank you both so much for your replies. I now know that we can just walk if that is what we decide to do. Vickie, thanks for the hotel information.

 

you are welcome, my pleasure... so many locals help me when I am travelling to their city I thought it was important to repay the kindness.

[prit]

I bid on priceline and got Delta Vancouver Suites for Aug 2 for $160. It's not exactly the location I thought I'd get. Any comments?

[vickie_bernie]

I bid on priceline and got Delta Vancouver Suites for Aug 2 for $160. It's not exactly the location I thought I'd get. Any comments?

 

Wow, that is great. Good deal. Currently they are asking 299 for the same time.

 

I love that location, close to everything. And with everything that is going on in West End that weekend, you will be glad to be a bit further afield. Now note that if you head East (to the right of the hotel) you will be heading into an area that is a little rougher.

 

You are only three blocks from Canada Place, three blocks from Pacific Centre. Enjoy. Here is the link to the hotel.

 

http://www.deltahotels.com/hotels/hotels.php?hotelId=21

[Putterdude]

Its not the Pan Pacific or Fairmont's Waterfront Centre that you were probably hoping for but Delta are regarded as good hoteliers and I have had many business associates stay there over the years and they have been very pleased with it. I think at the end of the day you will be very happy with it.:)

[dancermom]

We will be driving from Edmonton and were planning to get as far as Hope so that the next day would simply be a leisurely drive to the port. EXCEPT the motels/hotels in Hope are not very appealing. Any suggestions of where we could stay? I suppose we could drive a little farther if it meant a better sleep.

Deb

[startwin]

We will be driving from Edmonton and were planning to get as far as Hope so that the next day would simply be a leisurely drive to the port. EXCEPT the motels/hotels in Hope are not very appealing. Any suggestions of where we could stay? I suppose we could drive a little farther if it meant a better sleep.

Deb

 

You might as well drive on to Chilliwack or Abbotsford, there are a few decent hotels/motels there. It's not too far from Hope, and only about an hour or so from Vancouver.

[Clamett]

Vickie, is there a mass transit system from the airport to downtown? Thanks

[vickie_bernie]

We will be driving from Edmonton and were planning to get as far as Hope so that the next day would simply be a leisurely drive to the port. EXCEPT the motels/hotels in Hope are not very appealing. Any suggestions of where we could stay? I suppose we could drive a little farther if it meant a better sleep.

Deb

 

Abbotsford, Chilliwack or even Merritt

[vickie_bernie]

Vickie, is there a mass transit system from the airport to downtown? Thanks

 

yes you can take transit, take the 424 at the airport to the bus loop and then transfer to the 98 B Line to downtown, fare is $3.75 during the week prior to 6:30 pm.

 

http://tripplanning.translink.bc.ca/hiwire

[Clamett]

Thank you very much for your help.

[Putterdude]

We will be driving from Edmonton and were planning to get as far as Hope so that the next day would simply be a leisurely drive to the port. EXCEPT the motels/hotels in Hope are not very appealing. Any suggestions of where we could stay? I suppose we could drive a little farther if it meant a better sleep.

Deb

 

In Chilliwack there are couple of motels including a Best Western which is one exit west of Chilliwack. If you want to get off the highway there is a very nice quiet hotel called the Rhombus. Here are some links for your convenience:

http://www.rhombushotels.com/hotels_chilliwack.shtml

http://www.bestwesternbc.com/hotels/best-western-rainbow-country-inn/

http://www.choicehotels.ca/hotels/hotel?hotel=CN235

[vickie_bernie]

That is one long day of driving from Edmonton to Chilliwack -- and I drive for a living!

[Putterdude]

I agree, it is a long haul but Albertans seem do do in their sleep...which may account for a number of the accidents on HWY 1. But in all seriousness if you are not going to make Chilliwack then probably you best bet is Kamloops where there is a lot of good accommodation. However Kamllops via of the Coke is a solid 4+ hrs and not the leisurely drive into the city that you are looking for. Merrit would be your next choce, it would shave about 50 mins of your drive into the city but it doesn't have a ton of accommodation. If you don't like either of the above and want to get "beyond Hope" then Chilliwack is your best bet. Chilliwack into the city is about 1.5 hrs, allow 2 hrs and you will be just fine.:)

[Urban trekker]

What about swinging over to the north side of the Fraser and stopping in at Harrison Hot Springs - might not be the cheapest place to stay but certainly one of the prettiest.

 

Nice to finally get some summer like weather - great to be able to sit out on the balcony or rooftop terrace and soak up the rays.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[scottbee]

Thank you very much for your help.

 

In 18 months from now, the answer will be even more of a YES! They're currently finishing construction of a direct subway line from YVR to downtown. Cost will be $3.75 one way.

[Urban trekker]

"Cost will be $3.75 one way:

 

You are correct about the RAV line coming on stream in late 2009 but the fare to the airport is likely to be higher - there is talk of an additional fare for the last airport leg of the service. Something like the airport improvement tax only applying it to the RAV line - remember the line was first slated to be to downtown Richmond only and they later added the Airport.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[vickie_bernie]

In 18 months from now, the answer will be even more of a YES! They're currently finishing construction of a direct subway line from YVR to downtown. Cost will be $3.75 one way.

 

actually $3.75 is more than one way, you can travel back and forth for 90 min on a transfer -- and the last I heard the added fee to the airport was turned down by translink, but who knows what they will do! But don't get me started about Translink!!

 

Great weather we are having! Just spent the afternoon at the BC Highland Games, great day.

[mbjbob]

I am thrilled to find local advice!!! We are staying at the Resident's Inn Downtown in August -- good choice or bad?? Any restaurant recommendations for this area? (mid to high end?)

 

Also, we want to purchase wine to bring onto the cruise ship -- where can we purchase it in this area? Thank you in advance for your valuable input!

[Putterdude]

I think you are referring to the Marriott Residence Inn on Hornby St. That being the case then you have made a good selection, you should be very happy. Alcohol products are sold for the most part in Government Liquor Stores in BC. In my minds eye the closest is at Thurlow and Alberni Sts. which is 2 blocks to the west and about 5 blocks north. However someone like Ut who lives not far from where you are staying may have other suggestions. Because alcohol is very heavily taxed in BC you may care to bring in 2 bottles of wine each from the US which you are allowed to do.

[Urban trekker]

The closest government liquor store to your hotel is at the Corner of Davie and Bute - about three blocks from the hotel - the disadvantages is that it closes at 6PM on weeknights except Friday when it is 9PM and it is closed on Sunday and Stat holidays in which case you will want the one that PD has mentioned.

 

If you are interested in Wine - there is an excellent private wine store on Davie Street that is currently opened to 9PM 7 days a week and is a 1.5 blocks from your hotel. I will see if I can find a web site for it. Here's a link to there web site:

 

http://www.marquis-wines.com/

 

PD is correct I can see the Residence Inn from my apartment a block away.

 

As for restaurants - there are a great number of them on the Davie Street Strip - of you enjoy Greek food - there is Stepho's but be forewarned that one hour or longer waits is the norm.

 

There is a Moxie's in the Sandman hotel and a potpourri of other restaurants along the 3 - 4 blocks that make up the Davie Village - there is also a restaurant in the hotel but I know nothing about it.

 

Hope this helps

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[gracecarmo]

Is there a web site where I can find info re the arrival time of the Infinity on Sept.19th? This voyage will be the repositioning cruise and the ship will not sail until close to midnight. My TA says check-in is TBA and will come with docs.

The Infinity will come from Seattle, and will be empty, as pax will debark there.

A group of us want to see the Infinity arrive (at the Pan Pacific, Cascades lounge) and have tentatively set the time at 4:45 pm, however one of the group's TA says that the Infinity will arrive much earlier.

 

Anyone here with info?

[rrmcdonald]

Vickie, Putterdude, Urban Trekker, and the other Vancouverites, let me say how much we all appreciate the information you are giving to us! It makes it much easier to visit a new place with some background from locals (and not only fluff from the visitors bureau).

 

We (me, my wife, 19 year old son and 21 year old daughter) are arriving the evening of Thursday, July 17, too late to do anything that night, and have cashed in Marriott points to stay 2 nights (Thursday and Friday) at the Marriott Renaissance. We depart Saturday on RCCL. The following Saturday we of course depart the ship early, but don't fly out until 7:45 pm, so I figure that gives us some time the following Saturday, as well (if we are off the ship no later than 9, take an hour to get and take our luggage to a storage place, leave for the airport no later than 4:45 to be safe, that gives us another 6:45 to visit the city)

 

This is our first trip to your city. I thought we would see Stanely Park, of course (perhaps rent bikes). Can you tell me how long we could expect to spend at the park? Also, should we try to make the trip to the suspension bridge (Capilano ?) and if so what would be the best way to get to it? Taxi? Bus?

[isles1]

Vickie, Putterdude, Urban Trekker, and the other Vancouverites, let me say how much we all appreciate the information you are giving to us! It makes it much easier to visit a new place with some background from locals (and not only fluff from the visitors bureau).

 

We (me, my wife, 19 year old son and 21 year old daughter) are arriving the evening of Thursday, July 17, too late to do anything that night, and have cashed in Marriott points to stay 2 nights (Thursday and Friday) at the Marriott Renaissance. We depart Saturday on RCCL. The following Saturday we of course depart the ship early, but don't fly out until 7:45 pm, so I figure that gives us some time the following Saturday, as well (if we are off the ship no later than 9, take an hour to get and take our luggage to a storage place, leave for the airport no later than 4:45 to be safe, that gives us another 6:45 to visit the city)

 

This is our first trip to your city. I thought we would see Stanely Park, of course (perhaps rent bikes). Can you tell me how long we could expect to spend at the park? Also, should we try to make the trip to the suspension bridge (Capilano ?) and if so what would be the best way to get to it? Taxi? Bus?

If you get a very early start you could take the Seabus from Waterfront station over to Lonsdale Quay and grab the appropriate bus to the Suspension Bridge (or be a little different like me and head to Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge on the 229 Bus).

 

Then you could grab the Vancouver Trolley Tour (or just a cab) in front of Waterfront station to Stanley Park. I am not exactly sure where the bike rental is in the park. You could rent bike locks, cruise the seawall, check out the trails and Totem Poles, and maybe grab lunch in the park. If you choose the Vancouver Trolley Tour, it does a big circle around the city. The only other major stops I'd recommend on the tour are Gastown and Granville Island. Otherwise, I'd just stay on the trolley and enjoy the sites.

 

However, you will need to leve your bags at Canada Place, and I beleive you must pick them up by 4:00 p.m. (I could be wrong on that so do confirm).

 

The Vancouver Transit website has all the schedules for the Seabus and Buses. Basically the Seabus runs ever 30 min before 9 a.m., and then every 15 min thereafter. The buses in North Vancouver (near the suspension bridges) usually pickup every 30 minuteson the weekend. So to make the most out of your day, timing is critical. You can read my trip report in my signature for some ideas. Have a great time!

 

EDIT: I just realized you have 2 full days before the cruise...so obviously you do not need to pack all that into one day ;)