Vancouver answers from a Vancouverite

[Putterdude]

[SIZE=4]You got it Tweedy, the ticket is good for 90 minutes.:)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=4][/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]We don't hear much from you these days.[/SIZE]

[scottbee]

[quote name='flyorange']thanks for the tip! so i looked on the transit system's website and it says that 1-zone ticket can allow you to travel through multiple zones on sunday. Since i'm arriving on sunday and will only be spending time in downtown vancouver before my cruise, would 1-zone ticket work ? and this might be a dumb question....the faresaver comes in 10 single tickets ? it's not like one ticket with 10 uses right?
thanks ![/quote]

It's a little book of 10, one-zone tickets. Mucho cheap for the 1zone (and yes, only 1 zone after 6:30pm and all day weekends). $21 for 10. Again, not available on the platform, but are available at the 7-11 and Pharmasave in the terminal building. Each ticket is good for 90 minutes.

[flyorange]

[quote name='scottbee']It's a little book of 10, one-zone tickets. Mucho cheap for the 1zone (and yes, only 1 zone after 6:30pm and all day weekends). $21 for 10. Again, not available on the platform, but are available at the 7-11 and Pharmasave in the terminal building. Each ticket is good for 90 minutes.[/quote]

thank you ! i'm going to buy that then. it's cheaper than taxi and isn't subject to the airport surcharge ! i love it :)

[Mocha'shuman]

We are flying in on May 15 and staying at the Pan Pacific prior to our cruise leaving on May 16. I've gotten some great tips on this and other boards [sometimes by reading others questions/answers] and we have a fairly good idea of what we will do on the late afternoon evening of the 15th. Now I have to work on micromanaging the morning before we can board the cruiseship. According to our Itinerary boarding commences from 12:00-3:00 but we are to arrive after 1:00 :confused:. Check out at the Pan Pacific is a 12:00 so... [having annalyzed all the times and come to the realization that it would be too rushed to do the Horse Drawn Tours:mad::(] does anyone have a recommendation on a nice not overly expensive place for breakfast that is unique to Vancouver? [I should note that we are taking a tour from the ship when we return that gives us a taste of Vancouver and drops us at the airport for our return trip home] Gosh I get long winded... Thanks for any suggestions

Fern [24 sleeps :D]

[aohkay]

[quote=Mocha'shuman;33463631]We are flying in on May 15 and staying at the Pan Pacific prior to our cruise leaving on May 16. I've gotten some great tips on this and other boards [sometimes by reading others questions/answers] and we have a fairly good idea of what we will do on the late afternoon evening of the 15th. Now I have to work on micromanaging the morning before we can board the cruiseship. According to our Itinerary boarding commences from 12:00-3:00 but we are to arrive after 1:00 :confused:. Check out at the Pan Pacific is a 12:00 so... [having annalyzed all the times and come to the realization that it would be too rushed to do the Horse Drawn Tours:mad::(] does anyone have a recommendation on a nice not overly expensive place for breakfast that is unique to Vancouver? [I should note that we are taking a tour from the ship when we return that gives us a taste of Vancouver and drops us at the airport for our return trip home] Gosh I get long winded... Thanks for any suggestions

Fern [24 sleeps :D][/quote]

There's Cardero's Restaurant. Waterfront, but a bit expensive. [url]http://www.vancouverdine.com/carderos/menus/lunch[/url]

There's The Rouge a couple of blocks East of the Pan Pacific. [url]http://www.roguewetbar.com/menu[/url]

[Putterdude]

[SIZE=4]Both of the above are great ideas but I am n ot sure that either are open for breakfast. Here is one that is unique to Vancouver and just a couple blocks of the Pan Pacific.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=4][/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]Mocha'shuman, just so you are aware the Pan Pacific of course transfers your luggage to the pier and the dock porters start to accept luggage about 0930 (maybe earlier for hotel quests, but check) so with a time frame of 0930 to 1300 you certainly would have time to do some sightseeing. Just grist for the mill.[/SIZE]


[URL]http://www.scoozis.ca/[/URL]

[music]

I started reading this thread...there is so much!

We are coming in on the Radiance on a Friday and leaving Sat 6 am flight out.

We are deciding between renting a car for the day at the airport & price line there also, or priceline downtown and do the HOHO trolly. I see cab fare is about $35 to the airport from downtown, the trolly is about $40 pp. Will parking be an issue if we try to do some of the big attraction by car? I am guessing we will be paying for parking at a downtown hotel also?

Thanks for the help!

[Putterdude]

[quote name='music']I started reading this thread...there is so much!

We are coming in on the Radiance on a Friday and leaving Sat 6 am flight out.

We are deciding between renting a car for the day at the airport & price line there also, or priceline downtown and do the HOHO trolly. I see cab fare is about $35 to the airport from downtown, the trolly is about $40 pp. Will parking be an issue if we try to do some of the big attraction by car? I am guessing we will be paying for parking at a downtown hotel also?

Thanks for the help![/quote]

[SIZE=4]I would seriously consider a tour and a cab. Vancouver is becoming less and less car friendly by the month. Parking at almost any downtown hotel will run you $25 and you will be paying for parking at most attractions.[/SIZE]

[scottbee]

[quote name='music']I started reading this thread...there is so much!

We are coming in on the Radiance on a Friday and leaving Sat 6 am flight out.

We are deciding between renting a car for the day at the airport & price line there also, or priceline downtown and do the HOHO trolly. I see cab fare is about $35 to the airport from downtown, the trolly is about $40 pp. Will parking be an issue if we try to do some of the big attraction by car? I am guessing we will be paying for parking at a downtown hotel also?

Thanks for the help![/quote]

Check your luggage into the luggage storage facility at Canada Place; buy an all day transit pass ($9/ea), and just use the local buses to get around and see the sights like Grouse Mt, Capilano suspension bridge, QE Park, Granville Island, Stanley Park etc etc. Then, grab your luggage, grab the Canada Line Skytrain (subway) back toward the airport, and check into your airport hotel (assuming that's the area you're staying at). All on a $9 all day pass.

[em-sk]

[quote name='scottbee']Check your luggage into the luggage storage facility at Canada Place; buy an all day transit pass ($9/ea), and just use the local buses to get around and see the sights like Grouse Mt, Capilano suspension bridge, QE Park, Granville Island, Stanley Park etc etc. Then, grab your luggage, grab the Canada Line Skytrain (subway) back toward the airport, and check into your airport hotel (assuming that's the area you're staying at). All on a $9 all day pass.[/QUOTE]

If you do the transit pass, there is also Lansdale Q (Public Market and speciality shops). Short ride across the harbor on the seabus ferry that departs from Waterfront station just next to Canada Place.

[laiki]

Does anyone know what time you can normally board? I know in Miami, you can always board several hours before the posted time. Does anyone know if this is true for Vancouver?

[aohkay]

[quote name='Putterdude'][SIZE=4]Both of the above are great ideas but I am n ot sure that either are open for breakfast. [/SIZE][/quote]

You're right...they don't open until 11:30am.

[Putterdude]

[quote name='laiki']Does anyone know what time you can normally board? I know in Miami, you can always board several hours before the posted time. Does anyone know if this is true for Vancouver?[/quote]

[SIZE=4]I have no experience with RCL but most of the lines begin embarkation between 1130 and noon. If you have had this experience in the past with RCL then I am sure that it will follow in Vancouver.[/SIZE]

[music]

Thanks for all the help!

[trinaM]

[quote name='martincath']Unless you're down at Richards & Davie then [URL="http://frenchies-diner.com/home/"]Frenchies[/URL] should be the most convenient - it's between Richards & Homer. If you are near Davie, then [URL="http://www.fritzfries.ca/"]Fritz[/URL] will be closest (it's on the third block along from Richards).

You also asked about Frites - the only actual Belgian menu I know downtown is [URL="http://www.chambar.com/"]Chambar[/URL], which is a dinner-only semi-fancy joint. You can sit at the bar and order appies, which includes IMHO the best poutine in town, but stray onto the entrees and you won't find much of anything for less than $25-30. Very tasty, but not cheap.

Cheap eats downtown - noodle places abound everywhere, Japanese/Chinese/Vietnamese/Fusion based and all will feed you pretty well for $10 or less a big bowl. My favourite is the premium pork broth at [URL="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/1602269/restaurant/Yaletown/Ramen-Jinya-Vancouver"]Ramen Jinya[/URL], 270 Robson St (2 blocks off Richards).

Izakayas (= Japanese Pub serving small nibbly plates of a wide variety of foods) are also common throughout downtown Vancouver; local chains with a great rep include [URL="http://hapaizakaya.com/"]Hapa[/URL] and [URL="http://guu-izakaya.com/"]Guu[/URL].

A tremendous cheap meal can be had at [URL="http://lataqueria.ca/"]La Taqueria[/URL] - original branch at 322 West Hastings St is just over a block off Richards. Just a little further down Hastings at Victory Square (huge war memorial is easy to spot) you'll find the main branch of [URL="http://nuba.ca/"]Nuba[/URL], a Lebanese resto (have the cauliflower, even if you normally hate the stuff - it's sooooooo good).

Anywhere on Richards you won't be too far from Yaletown - while there are some pretty pricey restos there, you can also find some bargains. [URL="http://www.hamiltonstreetgrill.com/"]Hamilton Street Grill[/URL] always places among the top few steakhouses in the local newspaper/magazine annual awards and is half the price of Gotham; [URL="http://www.cachebistro.com/"]Cache[/URL] offers a very good value table d'hote dinner for $35; Hapa Izakaya has a branch here.

If you don't mind walking through somewhat sketchy areas, then the non-touristy parts of Gastown offer some options too - [URL="http://saveonmeats.ca/"]Save On Meats[/URL] diner is outrageously cheap (one of the best burgers in town for $6, a breakfast sandwich & coffee to go for $3.48) and [URL="http://www.deaconscorner.ca/"]Deacon's Corner[/URL] is often praised as serious value for breakfast/lunch (caveat - I find the service randomly surly/slow and the kitchen rather heavyhanded with salt; they're right across the road from the [URL="http://www.alibi.ca/"]Alibi Room[/URL] though which is hands-down the best pub for craft beer in town - heck, pretty much anywhere in Canada).

If that doesn't do it for you, give a more detailed breakdown of $ you want to spend and genre of food preferred and we'll go from there...[/QUOTE]

Thank you Dennis for the info. What is a "table D'hote" dinner?

[Mocha'shuman]

Thank you for your suggestions for breakfast Scoozies looks great and would kind of incorporate a bit of a walking / shopping morning. The others made it to my where to eat on Tuesday night list. I'm getting so much information just reading other threads and other peoples questions and all of the answers. First time cruiser cruising with a friend who is another first time cruiser - we want to plan enough to be secure but be ready to go with the flow when possible. Cruise Critic Boards have given a wealth of info - cannot thank those who take the time to give advice enough. :)

Fern [23 sleeps 'til the cruise and not excited at all]:D

[ell52]

[quote name='trinaM']Thank you Dennis for the info. What is a "table D'hote" dinner?[/QUOTE]
Table d'hote is a fixed price meal (the opposite of a la carte where you pick individual items as you like.)

Added edit: I just looked at Cache Bistro. Their table d'hote consists of 3 courses - appetizer, main and dessert. You get a choice of a couple items in each category. Edited April 23, 2012 by ell52

[lurvecruise]

Arrive YVR on May2. We will use skytrain cuz fast,cheap:p
what station should we get off? direction pls:)

thanks in advance
corey

[scottbee]

[quote name='lurvecruise']Arrive YVR on May2. We will use skytrain cuz fast,cheap:p
what station should we get off? direction pls:)

thanks in advance
corey[/quote]

[B]Vancouver City Centre[/B] is the closest station
[url]http://maps.google.com/maps?q=sheraton+wall+centre&hl=en&ll=49.28025,-123.120131&spn=0.010891,0.027874&sll=26.902477,-95.712891&sspn=58.870997,114.169922&hq=sheraton+wall+centre&t=m&z=16[/url]

[Tweedy]

[quote name='laiki']Does anyone know what time you can normally board? I know in Miami, you can always board several hours before the posted time. Does anyone know if this is true for Vancouver?[/quote]

We've usually arrive at the Port around 11:00. By the time you drop off your luggage, go through security and get checked in, you are usually on board no later than noon. Of course, timing depends on how many ships are in port. We've been on board in 30 minutes while another time, we had to sit in the waiting area.

[Tweedy]

does anyone have a recommendation on a nice not overly expensive place for breakfast that is unique to Vancouver?

Fern [24 sleeps :D]

 

 

Besides the recommendation you've already received' date=' I would also suggest Moose's Down Under for breakfast. Click here for a link to their webpage and breakfast menu. They are below street level.

 

There is also Sciue. Click here for a link to their webpage. They are located in the same block as Moose's.

 

Of course, there is always Tim Horton's which is also on Pender Street (1/2 block from Sciue).

[lurvecruise]

Vancouver City Centre is the closest station

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=sheraton+wall+centre&hl=en&ll=49.28025,-123.120131&spn=0.010891,0.027874&sll=26.902477,-95.712891&sspn=58.870997,114.169922&hq=sheraton+wall+centre&t=m&z=16

thank you very much for info scottbee:D

[CanWeGoYet?]

3rd time I've tried to post on this cheap netbook I'm using - i hope this time I don't lose the message. I just wanted to thank all of you for the kind and helpful advice I've received over the past year planning my cruise.

Just got into Vancouver last night, found a cab right away. At the BW 10 minutes after getting off the train! This place has been just fine, we have something of view, it's clean & in good repair, microwave & fridge in the room. Can't imagine why so many complaints about homeless milling about. Unless it's recently changed, I've only seen a few & this is after walking around a bit last night & today. This is nothing compared to Seattle!

So the cruise is nearly here & I'll be on board the Spirit this time tomorrow. Thanks again to all for helping me plan my trip!

[Tweedy]

Can't imagine why so many complaints about homeless milling about. Unless it's recently changed, I've only seen a few & this is after walking around a bit last night & today. This is nothing compared to Seattle!

So the cruise is nearly here & I'll be on board the Spirit this time tomorrow. Thanks again to all for helping me plan my trip!

 

Unfortunately, the homeless usually show up once the cruise ships start rolling in.

 

Enjoy your cruise. Glad it has dried out for you a little this afternoon. Hopefully the drying trend will continue right through sailaway tomorrow.

[scottbee]

Besides the recommendation you've already received, I would also suggest Moose's Down Under for breakfast. Click here for a link to their webpage and breakfast menu. They are below street level.

 

There is also Sciue. Click here for a link to their webpage. They are located in the same block as Moose's.

 

Of course, there is always Tim Horton's which is also on Pender Street (1/2 block from Sciue).

 

I'll second the opinion for Moose's. Great service, home cooking, with an Aussie twist.