3 Days in Vancouver - ideas? May 2017

[KayKayJS]

We had originally planned on only 1 day in Vancouver (fly in sat night) prior to the Alaskan cruise, but it ended up being cheaper to fly in on Thursday (even after hotel and additional days off) so we'll have 3 full days in Vancouver!

We would love to tour some of the olympic stuff... Any ideas for must sees from past visitors or locals for two 20 somethings?

Thanks!

 

[anricat]

We just had a wonderful stay in Vancouver. Here's what we did over 2.5 days:

Capilano Suspension Bridge
Grouse Mountain
Flyover Canada
Gastown
Stanley Park which included a Hop On/Off Trolly tour, Vancouver Aquarium, Totem Poles, and more
Harbor Park (walk along the waterfront) with stops at the Olympic Cauldron and 8-bit Orca

My trip report is in my signature and the first couple of days are in Vancouver. I haven't posted the whole Stanley Park bit since that's after we came back from the cruise (we had another day on the other side of our cruise).

I know Granville Island is also a popular stop but we weren't able to fit that in. I'm not really aware of any other olympic themed options other than the cauldron. Maybe others can chime in.

 

[Pooh2]

We did the horse drawn trolley tour in Stanley Park in May; was a nice way to rest our tired feet after walking for a few hours on the waterfront.
We enjoyed the Capilano suspension bridge and tree tops walk.
Steamworks bar and grill was a fun restaurant with great food, an easy walk from Canada place.
There were lots of bike rental places along the waterfront to bike through the park and waterfront.
Enjoy your trip! Alaska was an awesome cruise!

 

[missyp]

Capilano Suspension Bridge, Granville Island, Aquarium in Stanley Park

 

[Geomom]

We have 2 girls, age 16 and 12. We stayed at the Westin Bayshore, walked to Stanley Park 1 day--did the Aquarium, the miniature train, and walked the right side of Stanley Park. Day 2 we took the seabus to Lonsdale Quay, took a bus to Lynn Canyon State park for the free suspsension bridge. There area number of trails there, but we just went over the bridge and did the short hike to the 30 foot pool, then back over the bridge. We took the bus back, walked around the shops at Lonsdale Quay, heard live music there, took the seabus back, went to dinner at Cactus Club Café--which is right next to the Olympic Cauldron. We also did a 7+ hr post-cruise Sea to Sky tour through Landsea Tours--it included stops at Britannia Mine and Sea to Sky Gondola, and a picture stop at Shannon Falls. If we had more time, I'd have liked to visit the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver.

 

[xlxo]

Thoughts....

• which May sailing are you on? Some Sunday's have special events that we should do some congestion planning.
• what time is your Thursday flight arriving?
• consider looking at hotels a few blocks away from the cruise terminal for significant savings for multi night stays

Day 1 possible ideas

• Grouse Mountain
• Capilano Suspension Bridge
• Fly Over Canada
• Olympic Cauldron

Day 2 possible ideas

• Storybrooke
• Richmond Oval for Olympic venue
• possibly BC Sports museam at BC Place stadium

Day 3 possible ideas

• Whistler day trip to see some of the sled events.

Day 4 possible ideas if you plan an extended stay

• Victoria day trip

 

[RedSox68]

We walked out the front door of our hotel and just bought the hop on/hop off Pink Bus passes. They were offering second day at half price, so it was perfect. We went all around Vancouver, including Stanley Park, Chinatown (be sure to visit the gardens), Gastown, and Granville Island. Be sure to try a Japadog (they have stands and also fast food places with seating) -- just amazing. There is an underground mall that has lots of eating options and a drugstore, too.

We stayed at the Pan Pacific, which was on the plaza where the Olympic torch rests.

 

[KayKayJS]

We just had a wonderful stay in Vancouver. Here's what we did over 2.5 days:

Capilano Suspension Bridge
Grouse Mountain
Flyover Canada
Gastown
Stanley Park which included a Hop On/Off Trolly tour, Vancouver Aquarium, Totem Poles, and more
Harbor Park (walk along the waterfront) with stops at the Olympic Cauldron and 8-bit Orca

My trip report is in my signature and the first couple of days are in Vancouver. I haven't posted the whole Stanley Park bit since that's after we came back from the cruise (we had another day on the other side of our cruise).

I know Granville Island is also a popular stop but we weren't able to fit that in. I'm not really aware of any other olympic themed options other than the cauldron. Maybe others can chime in.

Thank you! I'll take a look at your trip report!

Thoughts....

• which May sailing are you on? Some Sunday's have special events that we should do some congestion planning.
• what time is your Thursday flight arriving?
• consider looking at hotels a few blocks away from the cruise terminal for significant savings for multi night stays

Day 1 possible ideas

• Grouse Mountain
• Capilano Suspension Bridge
• Fly Over Canada
• Olympic Cauldron

Day 2 possible ideas

• Storybrooke
• Richmond Oval for Olympic venue
• possibly BC Sports museam at BC Place stadium

Day 3 possible ideas

• Whistler day trip to see some of the sled events.

Day 4 possible ideas if you plan an extended stay

• Victoria day trip

This is awesome. We're on the May 22nd 2017 sailing. Flight gets in late (11:50ish pm) thursday night so we booked a night at the marriott near the airport with points and figure we can taxi to downtown friday morning. I am still trying to decide between doing Pan Pacific for 3 nights or 2 nights at a cheaper hotel and 1 night at Pan Pacific.


Thank you everyone!! awesome ideas.

 

[abdgeek]

With 3 days you have time to see a lot. The Olympic Torch is near the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel on the waterfront. I also biked Stanley Park and took the free shuttle from the waterfront to Capilano Suspension Bridge. There is also a free shuttle to Grouse Mountain from the same location. Unfortunately, I ran out of time to see Chinatown, Aquarium, and a lot of the other things I had planned because I only spent 1.5 days in Vancouver.

 

[abdgeek]

I am still trying to decide between doing Pan Pacific for 3 nights or 2 nights at a cheaper hotel and 1 night at Pan Pacific.

That's a tough decision. I know you'll have fun whatever you decide. I stayed at the Fairmont Pacific Rim for my pre and post nights and was glad I chose it. Everything I wanted to do was right outside the door and I was in awe when I walked outside and saw the Olympic Torch. If I remember correctly, the Pan Pacific is about two blocks from the FPR.

 

[rcchello]

I will throw in some great places not on the other lists:
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Museum of Anthropology at UBC
VanDusen Botanical Garden

Each of the above arè unique and hard to find ones of this quality elsewhere. I suggest using Google to look each one, even if you do not go.

 

[Geomom]

Thank you! I'll take a look at your trip report!



This is awesome. We're on the May 22nd 2017 sailing. Flight gets in late (11:50ish pm) thursday night so we booked a night at the marriott near the airport with points and figure we can taxi to downtown friday morning. I am still trying to decide between doing Pan Pacific for 3 nights or 2 nights at a cheaper hotel and 1 night at Pan Pacific.


Thank you everyone!! awesome ideas.

For a 3 night stay, check and see if Westin Bayshore is doing the 'pay your birth year' rate. First night is rack rate, and the next 2 nights you pay the last 2 digits of your birth year--when you first book it, it looks scary as they don't enact the birth year rate until they can verify your age...our rate went from $1782 CAD down to $758.66 CAD. With the current exchange rate, and my birth year of 70, our rate ended up being $191 USD/night. It's an easy walk to Stanley Park, and you can walk to the convention center area. We did take a taxi with our luggage on embarkation day, came to under $10 CAD.

 

[xlxo]

This is awesome. We're on the May 22nd 2017 sailing. Flight gets in late (11:50ish pm) thursday night so we booked a night at the marriott near the airport with points and figure we can taxi to downtown friday morning. I am still trying to decide between doing Pan Pacific for 3 nights or 2 nights at a cheaper hotel and 1 night at Pan Pacific.

Thoughts....

• Downtown vs staying by the airport is 30 minute time difference by cab. Staying at the Marriot? You are saving about 13 minutes travel time. I recommend convenience in staying downtown for multi-night stay.
• May 22nd sailing? This is a major holiday weekend in Vancouver. Hotels will be in high demand.

Looking at hotel options.... USD rates for 4 nights on booking.com with availability....

• $457 Best Western Sands
• $499 Days Inn » strongly recommend checking reviews before committing.
• $584 Time Square Suites
• $606 Residence Inn Marriott Vancouver Downtown
• $621 Hotel BLU
• $623 Century Plaza Hotel and Spa
• $697 Metropolitan
• $711 Listel Hotel
• $743 Rosedale
• $774 Blue Horizon » popular budget choice on forums
• $875 Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre
• $878 Delta by Marriott Vancouver Sites
• $887 Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown & Suites
• $930 Georgian Court
• $960 Hampton Inn & Suites
• $976 St. Regis
• $1032 Auberge
• $1106 Pan Pacific
• $1170 Pinnacle Hotel Vancouver
• $1174 Westin Bayshore
• $1196 Rosewood Hotel Georgia
• $1213 Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle
• $1302 Hyatt Regency
• $1302 Westin Grand Vancuver
• $1381 Trump
• $1383 Shangrila
• $1429 Sutton Place
• $1491 Four Seasons
• $1985 Fairmont Vancouver
• $2296 Fairmont Pacific Rim
• $2420 Fairmont Waterfront

What are you paying to stay in Richmond?

• $920 Marriot Vancouver Airport in Richmond

If your hotel reservation allows for changes.... I recommend a downtown hotel again for convenience.... you are saving just 12 minutes of travel time by cab.

• I strongly recommend looking at Delta or the Sheraton Wall Centre for the same price range at the airport.
• for a little more.... go with the popular Pan Pacific. That low rate I found is not going to stay low when I compare with other hotel prices.

 

[xlxo]

We would love to tour some of the olympic stuff...

Some ideas....

• A visit to the Olympic Cauldron for that selfie?
• Have you considered a bobsleigh ride? Check out "rolling thunder" when in Whistler.... http://www.whistlersportlegacies.com/activities/summer-bobsleigh
• The Oval features the ROX.... http://therox.ca/
• Downtown Vancouver also offers a Olympic museam with artifacts at BC Place Stadium... site of the opening/closing ceremonies.... http://www.bcsportshalloffame.com/

 

[st0nehedge]

We will be on the same sailing as you, and also getting into Vancouver a little early.

Glad we already booked the hotel room! I had no idea that weekend was a major holiday. Will stores/restaurants/sight seeing places still be available even with the holiday?

 

[xlxo]

If you get to the cruise terminal a little later.... you can check out the annual anvil salute in New Westminster before boarding.

If kids like to see things blow up.... it might give them some ideas...

 

[Dug720]

I stayed at the Blue Horizon for one night last year and loved it!!